"This has been a great week. I was in Lopburi on a switch off with Elder Brockwell and Elder Tilaporn. They are funny Elders and we had a good day and made many new friends there. I have a couple things that I learned about to how to become an even better missionary. First, I am so happy to see the pictures from Calli's baptism. That is so cool and she is so freakin' old now! Holy Cow, I can't believe it!"
"Thanksgiving was really fun because we were able to go to a Korean member's home. We were served all American food and it was really good. We had potatoes, turkey and ham and it was just so delicious that I about died from over eating! haha I'll tell you what though, I am really scared to go back home. I'm really awkward now around white people. I was talking to Elder Cutler about how he feels really awkward around "falangs" (white people) and I am the same way too. While we were talking, a falang walked right up and started talking to us. We both were a little awkward but I don't think that he noticed. It was really funny."
"I've learned recently that I need to become more organized than I have been with my duties as a ZL. I told this to Elder Cutler as well. One day he comes up and says, "Dude, we can get 10 baptisms if we really want to." Then I responded with, "If we are going to have 10 baptisms, then we need to be more organized. We need to keep better records and be on the ball at all times." I feel that I have received revelation about making the ordinance of baptism more important. We are missionaries who are all about baptism and getting people baptized, but we are hypocrites when we say this and don't make sure that the baptism runs smoothly. I realize that we need to make sure that we are prepared and that the baptism is sacred and peaceful for the one who is being baptized. It should be a fantastic experience and not just craziness. We are always all over the place and started to treat the experience as not important. We sometimes would complain that the members stopped treating the baptism as something special, but then realized that we did too and that needed to change. Elder Cutler agreed. We are going to start making the baptisms a little more special from now on. This week we were able to have two baptisms. They are really nice older ladies. One was a walk in and the other was a referrral. They both have great testimonies and made a promise to everyone at the baptism that they were going to be faithful and endure to the end. It was awesome! One of the ladies lives really far away and will still come every week. It is a miracle."
"I do get to talk to President Senior a little more than I use to. I guess apparently that he told a sister that he wants me to keep my personality, so I don't quite know what that means but ok haha. I am getting better at this ZL stuff for sure. Elder Cutler and I get along great. He is a lot like Dallon. He is really cool and coming close to the end of his mission. He works really hard and loves to go contacting. I've been out in the heat a lot lately. haha He is training me really well and I'll try to get a picture of us together to send."
"We also had a great Christmas activity at the church. It was a month early but I have no idea why. haha Anyways it was really fun. I was able to see all my RCs from Rangsit and it was amazing to know that they are still going strong. It makes me so happy. We also had to sing in the program. We sang "Shepherds Watch Their Flocks." It was funny because no one knew the song. haha We did ok singing though. This week was just fantastic!"
Elder Jacob Smith
