"Hey Family, thank you for the pictures. We have really been focusing on family history and families in general. We have been asked to fill out a personal family booklet to use in our teaching of families, but I need pictures and cool stories of what our ancestors have done for our family. It really helps a lot in teaching and it shows a great example of the importance of families."
"I can't wait to see Uncle Jeff and Aunt Wan. I'll try to get a hold of her sister to tell them that they are coming. I hope that they will feel the power of love and family so that they will come to the gospel as well."
"It has been really nice weather here. I love it! The trip to the village was fun. We were able to see some cool things but it is mostly a touristy place. They just wanted us to buy things. I did get some cool looking Thai pants and a shirt. We went way up to the top of a mountain and the view was spectacular. The people loved the fact that we could speak Thai and would try to give us their daughters who would flirt a lot. haha"
"This week we had the opportunity to go to Kampaengphet. It is a really small area that has been open for about a year. They have maybe 30 people to church and are growing pretty well. There are 4 Elders serving there and they are doing really well. I told them that they needed to testify more and be quicker to let people know why they are there and I think it will really help them to grow the branch. They hold their meetings in a little town house place with no air conditioning and it is right across the street from a construction site. They have to leave the door open for air and it is so loud from all the noise. I suggested that they talk to someone to move the meeting house so that the spirit can be felt. They are going to do that."
"We also had a wedding in Chiang Mai. It was a cool experience. Last Sunday the bride came to me to ask if I had a suit that her fiance could borrow for the wedding. I said sure and let him use my new suit. She was so happy. She is a member who lives way up in the mountain and will come down every once in awhile when she can. The wedding was like a baptismal service. haha They had speakers and talked about the gospel of Christ. Then they kissed on the cheek. The groom was wearing my suit and everyone was complementing him about how handsome he looked all day. The next day was Sunday and the groom got up to bare his testimony. He said that he had been nervous about the future and had many questions about the gospel and tithing. When he came to church on his wedding day and saw all the saints helping with everything, free of charge, he said that it was a testimony to him of the truth of the gospel and tithing. He was then ready at that moment to be married. He then looked at me and said thank you to the handsome Elder with supplying me with some of his good looks. haha It was funny because I was translating for him. Afterwards, he came to me and told me he was going to give me one of his traditional native shirt/vest, so I am really happy. I am also happy that I feel I may have somehow helped with his conversion. The wedding was way cool!"
"We also had a baptism. It was a mom and her son. They are so awesome. We met them on the street and they came in and loved the families in the ward and were baptized. The kid is 12 and getting ready to receive the priesthood. The mom has made some really good friends, so I think they will stay and grow in the gospel for sure. It was a great week!"
Elder Jacob Smith
