"We are just getting used to being in Phitsanulok. We have 4 investigators from the last Elders. They really liked Elder Tamang, so I'm trying hard to get them to trust me. We are doing really well but we haven't been able to get anyone to church this week. We will work even harder with these investigators. I had 4 baptism interviews yesterday and they all passed which was awesome! The area here is great. The branch is struggling and we have no mission leader. Also a lot of the branch presidents have gone less active. I have talked to the current branch president and with him, the Elders and other missionaries, we are determined to get this place up and running again. I'm excited to work here. I know there are a lot of prepared people for us to teach and baptize. The members are super and there are a lot of youth. We have a lot of work to do with the RCs."
"Elder Parker is doing great and is very skilled. I am helping him a lot with his reading and he is improving fast. I've been a little tough on him but it will help him get good with the language. We get along great and he has a good attitude about everything. He has a big desire to see a baptism and he is a fantastic missionary."
"I have a cool story that I'd like to share with you. There is a 19 year old investigator of the other Elders who has been learning for a couple months now. When I asked the Elders about her, they said that they have taught her everything but she will not be baptized. She accepted everything but just would not do it. She has been on her own since she was 12 and felt that everything that happens is by personal thought and not from the Spirit. I've talked to her and am surprised because she acts and talks like a member already. If she was a member, she would be so Boss! Well, we had a BOM class and hadn't really planned anything, so as DL, I lead the class and talked about 2 Nephi 31. It is about the Doctrine of Christ. After the lesson, she went up to the Elders and told them that she is ready and wanted to be baptized! They were so happy and asked her why she decided to do it now? She walked up to me and told me that she was going to be baptized and that it was because of what I had said when I was teaching about baptism. She said she really felt that she needed to be baptized. WOW! I didn't even plan for it! Later when the other Elders got home, they both came up to me and gave me a big hug and told me how grateful they were for me. They said that it was because of me that she decided to be baptized. I am so unworthy of the praise because I knew it was from God and not me. I was able to interview her for baptism yesterday. It was a long interview because she shared her whole conversion with me. She told me many personal and sacred experiences that she had not even shared with the other missionaries. She already feels that we are good friends and that she can trust me. She passed her interview and I will be really happy to see her baptized. It was a really good week. This experience helped me to know that I must have been prepared to be a leader and DL at this time. I love you all so much!"
Elder Jacob Smith
"P.S. - Elder Sayavong came up and told me that my English really stinks. He is a Khon Lao and said this to me. haha Then Elder Parker agreed and said that I use Thai grammar structure when speaking in English. He understands me but it is weird for him. I don't even notice it, but Elder Parker is now correcting me and it happens a lot! haha Oh well!"
