Upon a Mountain Top

"Last week we had training and there is a big push to get the entire Zones balanced throughout the whole mission. The training was really fun and the best part was we were able to eat pancakes for breakfast there. haha  We talked about how we need to build the walls of baptism and stakes around Jerusalem, aka Thailand Temple. We were asked to go and inspire the rest of our Zones. It was my first leadership meeting and I hope that I was able to show that I can contribute. There are a few missionaries that are still a little upset that I am a ZL instead of them, but I think that it is starting to go away. I have been trying really hard to show that I was called of God and that I can receive the revelation to guide the Zone. It is going really well. I was able to feel the spirit as I trained them. I love that I can see what is going on in the whole Zone and know who needs help and who to pray for. It is way cool."

"Last week we had an activity where we climbed to the top of a mountain. It was really fun and I got some of the missionaries to buy some gloves. haha  I don't know why but they were 20 baht and I felt like I needed to buy them, so the other Elders bought them with me. I actually got a picture of that. Anyways along the way up, the Elders were talking about how we are probably going to get to the top of the mountain and then the Zone Leaders were going to make it into some spiritual lesson. I laughed because well, I am the ZL! haha  When we finally got to the top, we explored a little and looked out over the entire area and then what everyone predicted to happen came true. Elder Cutler got everyone to sit down and talk. I don't think he knew what to say except that he felt guided to do it. I had to support him and got up as well. We talked about many things including how this experience was a comparison to our missions. Then we each shared about how we can use it and it was really spiritual. Then at the end, I had the impression to express my feelings. I told everyone about the importance of the vision of the mission. It is something we can obtain from working hard and not losing faith. Also it is not just for us individual missionaries, but for all missionaries in Southeast Asia. This is God's vision and it is important that we obtain it to do his work. It was very spiritual and I felt that they respected what I shared and that it inspired them. Then we said a prayer and headed down the mountain. Going down was fun because there is a bar that goes all the way down and we sat on a plastic bottle and slid down at high speed. haha"

"This week me and Elder Cutler were having a hard time with finding investigators and then on Wednesday we had a miraculous day. We got 5 member lessons and some referrals and 5 new investigators and 3 RC/LA lessons. We had no idea how to explain what happened other than that God had blessed us. I also went on my first switch off. I went with a greenie, Elder Daybell. We stayed in our area and basically had a normal day. However, it began by us not being able to get out of the building because no one gave me a key card. No one was around so we had to climb out of the window. It was funny because that was also his first switch off experience with the ZL and we had to break out. haha   Then we went to Asoke for switch offs with the APs. I was with Elder Kelly who is from Australia. He is way cool and we taught some interesting people. One was a porn magazine model. She wanted to change her life and I gave her a date for next week and she accepted and will be baptized soon. It was way cool to see her really eager to change. We also went contacting and I was able to get 16 numbers! That is a record for me and a lot of them were good numbers. I feel that I was able to show the APs that I am qualified for the calling that was given me. We now have 7 daters and about 14 investigators. 4 of the daters are really good and I'm sure will be baptized. We also had a baptism this past week. We actually got her number from someone else that we contacted on the street. Elder Cutler was just calling people and decided to call this contact who told us that she was not interested but that she had someone with her who was and gave the phone to her. She then came to church and we taught her over the phone everyday for a week and then we baptized her. She is so prepared by the Lord and it is amazing to see her testimony grow as well."

"That was pretty much our week and all that happened. It was a good week. I love you all so much!"

Elder Jacob Smith

Zone Leader!

"I was just called to be a Zone Leader in Pakkret! Can you believe that? I was only a District Leader for one transfer and now I'm a Zone Leader. It was crazy how it happened. We got a call last Tuesday from the Zone Leaders telling us that no one in our District was leaving. We told all the members that we were staying and they were pretty happy about that. I still had to go to Bangkok to renew my Visa and had the other Elders go with us because we had to pick up some supplies and it would be fun. I called the Elders in Rangsit to arrange a place for us to stay overnight and then headed there around 2:00 in the afternoon. We got there around 7:00 in the evening and met up with Elder Bassett. It was fun being back in my old area again, but I wasn't able to see any of my RCs. That night was a hard night for me. I had a hard time sleeping and woke up at 3:00am. I could not go back to sleep and something was keeping me up, but I didn't know what. In the morning, we headed down to the transfer meeting. Along the way, I got a call from the Zone Leaders telling me that I was moving and that Elder Sayavong was getting a new companion. CRAZY! I was so surprised and instantly nervous about what was going to happen. When we arrived at the building, President Senior came up to me and told me to go to a room and wait for him there. Later, he walked in with two other Elders. He told us that last night he woke up around 3:00am with a feeling that something was wrong. Then he received revelation and wanted to call us to be the new Zone Leaders. I was soooooo surprised and even more nervous now! I didn't tell anyone. When my picture came up as the new Zone Leader over Don Mueang, everyone was cheering and said, "NO WAY!" and "HOLY COW!" haha  They were all surprised too and came up to me and congratulated me saying that I was a fantastic missionary and was ready for this. I am over the areas of Don Mueang, Rangsit, Bangken, Lopburi, and Ayuthaya. Everyone that I will follow-up with is older than me in the mission. They are the senior missionaries from the MTC and some that will finish their missions in a couple transfers. I will get to follow-up with everyone everyday and see how the mission and Zone is doing. It will be nice to know what is going on everywhere. Talking to all the Districts is super fun and I want to encourage and inspire them. This will be a fun adventure for sure! It was a little frustrating too because I had to go all the way back to Phitsanulok to pack my stuff and then return here. I did a lot of traveling this week. I feel bad that I had to leave my boy, Elder Parker, but he will do great finishing his training with Elder Sayavong. They also put Sisters back there and that should be great. P-lok will do just fine."

"I am now over three wards that use the same building. They are Don Mueang, Pakkret, and Chengwattana. Chengwattana is a foreigner ward. It is super busy on Sundays trying to get every ward some investigators. I went to Sacrament meeting 3 times and was here and there and everywhere, and I still have no idea what member is in what ward. haha  Hopefully, it will come to me. I really hope Heavenly Father knows what he is doing by calling me to this. My new companion is Elder Cutler. He was my Zone Leader when I was serving in Rangsit. He is really cool and such a hard worker. He told me straight up that we are going to do work this transfer, so I looked at him and said, "Alright, as long as we stop to eat!" haha  He is from Layton, Utah and his family owns Cutler's Cookies, if you've heard of that. I'm really excited to be serving with him. He is a great speaker and an even better teacher. He also has a twin serving in the Philippines. The place I live in is huge and in the middle of Bangkok. I have everything I could ever want here. I'll just buy it. haha  I really like it and the church here is huge and very close. We already had a baptism and are constantly getting numbers from people on the streets. Everyone is so nice and the Bishop is a returned missionary who is gung-ho about getting things going better. I am excited to be an example in the mission and helping to make miracles happen."

"That is really all that happened this week. I was able to follow-up with the new Greenies and it was fun to get to talk to them and see how they are all doing. I read a verse in the scriptures about, "many are called, but few are chosen."  I will do all I can to be the one who was chosen. This was a great week with more to come for sure!"

Elder Jacob Smith

"P.S. - My camera broke. It won't turn on any more. Also, I've changed how I spell my name in Thai. I met a man whose name is Smith and he spells it a little differently. I like it better and apparently it translates to mean, success and righteousness. I thought that was way awesome as well. haha  I love you all!"