"This letter will be short because I don't have much time today. We are going site-seeing with the members and we're leaving real early. We were able to get 5 baptisms here in Phitsanulok this week. It was a straight up miracle because of what happened earlier in the week."
"Monday, I tried talking to a recent convert who was feeling down about something. She just got up and left. I guess there is a lot of gossip that was going on in the branch. I told everyone that I didn't think that they understood what family means and then things went crazy! I said that they need to be a family and that families love each other. That night we get a call from all 6 of our daters to tell us that they were not going to get baptized or go to church. They had all gotten together and decided to drop. This put our whole district in high distress! We were up all night trying to fix it and nothing was working. I was really upset because I felt that I had failed. I cried! I did! I couldn't believe that gossip, lying, and stupid little things, could cause 6 investigators and another 5 new converts to fall away from the church. I felt that no matter what I did, it wouldn't change anything. I felt no spirit and I was frustrated with myself. I could only think to pray to God and have him fix it. And of course he did. The next two days were heck trying to talk to these emotionally wrecked teens and just tell them to stop doing what they were doing. Then God stepped in and fixed it. He got them all together and they argued for hours until they finally forgave each other. That was good."
"Then I had another new member come up to me and said that she was fed up with the church and that she was going back to her old church because the members here did not care enough for God. I talked with her a long time until she finally said her decision was made and thanked me for being a God fearing man. I had thought that she had a great testimony and was doing awesome. I can honestly say that I have never been so angry/sad/sorrowful/and who knows what other emotion. I got on my knees and cried to my Father in Heaven. I told him that I don't know what to do. I needed him. I asked where art thou? Then softly I had an answer that said, "Don't worry. I am with thee." Even though I heard the answer, I had a terrible sleepless night. The next day I get a call from that member and she tells me that she wants to come back. It was funny because in Thai she said that she wanted to go back to her old church. I thought she meant her other church. I said, "Yes, I know. You told me last night. Why are you calling me again?" She then repeated it and I gave the same response again. Then she said, "Do you know what I mean?" I said, "Yes!" and she said, "No!" haha She meant she is coming back to our church. She had prayed that night and read in the scriptures and received confirmation again that the church is true. She is a nurse and she said that right now the church in P-lok is just sick and needs assistance. She is now good and converted and continues to come to me for advice."
"This was the miracle and chastisement that I received. I realized that I needed to rely on the Lord more and stop being so stressed. I need to use faith and listen to the promptings of the spirit. Everything is better now and yes there are still problems, but I face them differently and with more faith in the Lord. The 5 were baptized this Sunday and the other one is on the way. The ward is struggling but through faith all things are possible. I love the Lord and I know that he is real and answers every prayer. He shows us our weaknesses to make us stronger."
"Conference was great, but I didn't watch it in English, so I'm going to do that this week. I ride my bike everywhere. It's nice but my butt hurts and my bike is all rusty from not using it for the last year. There is one thing that I would really like to do. I want to come back and go to the temple with my RCs in July. They really want me to go with them, however, that requires me going to Thailand, then Hong Kong, and then home again. If that is possible, I would really like to do that. I love you all so much!"
