When ye ask, ye shall receive!

A visit from an old friend and convert,  Brother Oat!

"This week was a hard week. It was tough because we really didn't have much time to go contacting, so we didn't get any new investigators. However, we did get three baptisms as a district yesterday! It was a good Sunday, but I am really tired and my eye hurts a little. It is swollen and everyone is saying that I need to sleep more because I looked dead. haha  I'm fine though. We planned on having one investigator ready, but she had to leave so we will baptize her on Wednesday. The challenge will be getting people to attend the service."

"We taught a lot this week. We have about 3 people going to be baptized next week. We are excited because this may be my last full week here and it would be great to leave with a bang. haha  We have seen lots of miracles too. We had a great opportunity to talk to this LA member. His name is Black. At first we had no idea he was a LA member and we were feeling a little down because our appointment didn't show up. Then the members that were there asked us to explain the pre-mortal life. We were a little confused as to why but started to teach it. The man didn't understand any of it. Then it hit me and I asked him how long had it been since he had been to church? He replied over 15 years. We then understood what the members were trying to tell us. This man had been inactive for a long time and had forgotten everything. We began by teaching him about the Plan of Salvation. After he asked us why we had chosen to teach that lesson? We answered just because we were talking about it. He then told us that he had been asking God to help him to understand again and he was getting impressions to come back to church. He was too scared to attend English class and talk to us. He wanted to know certain things and we had answered the questions he had. He was surprised that we taught him the Plan of Salvation because that was the first lesson he remembered and learned. We are going to work with this man for sure!"

"We got a visit from Elder Allen who is the President over missionary work around the world. He came and reprimanded us for not being better than we are. He said great things about our baptisms, but then told us that we needed to work better with the members. He also wanted us to start working on other areas too, such as member and RC referrals. He reamed us really hard, but I was totally ok with it because Elder Bassett and I were already discussing the same things. I feel like we have been doing great getting referrals from members and RCs. It was really good and I enjoyed receiving direction from him. He also gave a promise to the mission that if we do all the things that he told us by increasing the other areas of the mission; then when we ask, we will receive. I really want that so I will be sure to do it all! I love you so much!"

Elder Jacob Smith

A New Generation of Members

"This is the week we have been waiting for. We had two baptisms! They are the family of Brother Lek. It was such a busy day and I am still so tired. I now understand the energy that God gives his servants to perform his work. The baptism was last Sunday at 4:00pm. We didn't want a lot of people to attend because they are a really shy family. It was also Ward Conference and we had 150 people at church! That is a crazy number! It was so amazing that even the Zone Leaders asked how it happened? I just told them that it was another Rangsit miracle. haha  We had 7 investigators to take care of and all the new members, so that was fun. After church we had to teach a lot of people and also help a member move his house all before 3:30 so we could set up for the baptism. Well, while we were doing all this, the members took the two being baptized to go change. They were dressed for three hours awkwardly waiting and were so embarrassed. Then the computer was down and we couldn't make any baptism programs. We had correlation meeting at 3:00 that went to 3:40 and when we came out, the family was sitting on the stage and everyone was sitting ready for the baptism to start. That is great except for the fact that the family was that way for a long time and all everyone had been doing was singing. I was nervous because the wife is so shy and she was given a dress that was way too big for her. She had to be dunked three times because it wouldn't go under the water. AHHH! Afterwards she said that she didn't want to go back into the room because everyone would look at her, so we had to help calm her down. It is a miracle that she was baptized and I am praying that she will get the spiritual confirmation that she is cleansed from sin and that she had done the right thing. Eventually she came back in and said that she would come to get the Holy Ghost next week, so everything went good. She no longer has to do anything that will embarrass her and she can begin making friendships to make it easier for her. The Lord will help her as well. Brother Lek was so happy that his family was baptized. I even saw that he got tears in his eyes. It was a great Sabbath and I am so very tired. I know that if I wasn't a missionary, I would be sleeping right now and nothing would get done. The family will be forever blessed and I am very grateful that God allowed me to be a part of that great blessing."

"We didn't do much on Monday and Tuesday except teach English. We have lots of investigators getting prepared to be baptized and two with baptism dates for this week, so we are excited. We met with so many people that we were able to get 10 lessons with a member, 11 with RC/LAs and 13 other lessons. It is crazy but completely possible! We  have a lot of great investigators and I'm going to be sad when I leave. I feel that we are baptizing a new generation of members that are really good at helping the Lord's work progress and I want to make sure that it happens all over Thailand. I love you all so much and I am doing a great work!"

Elder Jacob Smith

Too Much Rice!

"It was another week of contacting and trying to find more people to teach. We had two who showed up to church this past Sunday. One was a lady who I had met. She is about 40 years old and has accepted to be baptized on the 7th of next month. She has to work out things with work, so she can keep the Sabbath day. The other girl Elder Bassett found. She is 17 years old and is Buddist, but her dad is Christian and she wants to change to Christian. We gave her a baptism date that is two weeks out because she is so young. She is sad that she has to wait, so we will teach her as much as we can and then ask for special permission to baptize her sooner. We also have a family of one of our RCs who will be ready to be baptized this coming Sunday. However, they are really shy and I have to work really hard to take special care of them. They know me and feel comfortable around me, but I have to make sure that they are really getting answers because they don't speak too much. I know that they are really golden and Brother Lek is very happy. He is so much stronger in the church and it is awesome!"

"It is nice to know that the RCs trust me. I have been here for most of their baptisms and have taught them after baptism lessons. Elder Bassett pointed out to me one day how all the RCs seem to listen to me when I tell them something and come to me for advice. He said that they feel comforted around me. It will be really sad to have to leave all of them. I really love the RCs here. They are so fun to talk to and I like teaching them. We joke a lot too. One day for some reason, the topic of marriage and kids came up. I think we were teaching about sealings. The RCs told me that they think that I can't get a girlfriend! I said WHAT?? I totally can!! They said nope! haha  Looks like I'll just have to live with Mom and Dad the rest of my life and wait for the next life. haha"

"We didn't have a baptism this week. Brother Smith disappeared. We don't know where he went and this is the second time that this has happened with our investigators. Hopefully we'll be able to find him again this week. Not much else happened to tell you about. I'm kind of getting bored of food a little. I want steak and burgers! I'm super tired of rice. We eat way too much rice. I love you all!"

Elder Jacob Smith

Ayuttaya

"I don't have much time today because we are going to Ayuttaya. We are going to the temple where they filmed Mortal Kombat movies. Elder Boonmee is going as well and we are going to fight for sure! haha  It will be great!"

"We didn't have a baptism again, but the next two Sundays will be pool parties. We are not worried and it will be great. We learned from President Senior that having a baptism every week is just not what the focus should be on. That doesn't mean that we stop getting baptisms. It means that we need to make sure that we are sensitive to the people who we are teaching and to make sure that they understand and not teaching them too fast. We have been doing that, but we can still improve. This will be a successful transfer for sure."

"We had a special district training meeting with President Senior. It was like a zone conference. We didn't get to talk to him much. However, he came up to me and asked how I was and how Elder Bassett was doing. He said that we were doing a great job. Elder Boonmee was also there and we got to talk a lot. It is really fun having him in the same zone. It is like having a family reunion every time we see eachother."

"We have gotten two new really great investigators. Their names are Oh and Ink. They are the family of one of our RCs. He has been praying for a long time for his family. For the last three months, his wife has been cussing him for being gone every Sunday and she didn't even know where he was going. He told her finally that he was Christian now and she asked him to tell her more about it. He told her everything from baptism, the Word of Wisdom, Law of Chasity, etc. He calls us up one day and sets up an appointment with them. We taught his wife and daughter. He was so happy when we showed up and I could just tell that this was an answer to his prayers. That puts a lot of pressure on me and Elder Bassett to do a good job. We can't mess this up, I told him. haha  We are praying for guidance and the power of the Holy Ghost to help us. They are doing great and I know they will be baptized. When we gave them the date, his wife said that she would for sure be baptized. I was just amazing! It's all on the Lord now, right?"

"We also have another investigator whose name is Oak. He is 11 years old. He is a referral from a member who is his Aunt. His father finally gave him permission to be baptized. We started to teach him and will ask President Senior for special permission to baptize him earlier than three months. He is an awesome kid and so well behaved. You don't find that much here in Thailand. haha"

"We are living it up for sure!"

Elder Jacob Smith

Perfect Place for Me

"My testimony has grown a lot! Mostly in the will of the Lord and following what he wants for me. I learned to rely on the Lord for pretty much everything. I can tell that he is slowly changing me into the man that he wants me to become. I don't know yet what that is but I can tell he is doing it. The mission is so much better than I could ever have imagined and it is the perfect place for me. My testimony is being built every day."

"This week was not too eventful. I'm still in Rangsit with the same companion, Elder Bassett. It is still way fun. We have a new DL. His name is Elder Jensen. He is a cool guy. He served in Korat before here and Elder Bannakorn went to Korat. It is nice because I can ask him about all the members and my RCs and how they are doing."

"This was the week in Rangsit that we knew would happen some day. There was no baptism. It was sad at first, but then all of us missionaries knew there wasn't going to be a baptism. All of our investigators were just not going to make date. It is ok as long as we keep helping them become ready. However, we were nervous about what the members would think. We went to church that Sunday expecting something negative. Actually, the members were a little relieved because they were glad to have a break for once. It was funny."

"Elder Bassett and I were able to go to transfers this week.  It was fun to go and not worry about what was going to happen. We were able to see a lot of people and where they were going. I think I'll be ok in Rangsit for another transfer. However, I've been here forever it seems. Everyone asked me if I was leaving and where I was at? They were surprised to know that I was still in the same area. President Senior was very impressed by my and Elder Bassett's work in Rangsit and that's probably why he's keeping me here another transfer. I'll just have to get all my people baptized. We have an investigator whose name is Smith and he came to church and has a baptism date in two weeks. He is really golden and I really want to baptize him. He follows up with me more than I do with him, so that is way cool."

"We may go to Burger King today and then to Ayuttuya next Monday with Elder Boonmee. I love you all!"

Elder Jacob Smith

Excited about Contacting

"Today or tomorrow we find out who is leaving or staying for transfers. Frankly, I have no idea what is going to happen this time."

"We have a Cambodian investigator who is an asylum seeker. He is so faithful. Nothing is harder than teaching the Plan of Salvation to a guy that doesn't speak English or only knows as much Thai as a new missionary out of the MTC.  He told us that he loves this plan of salvation thing. He said that in this life we are not beautiful, but after the resurrection we are beautiful! We called President Senior to ask if we could baptize this investigator. He told us that he needs to wait because we don't have permission to baptize an asylum seeker. It was sad to tell him that. I was the one who had to tell him. However, he is still faithful and comes to church and still pays his tithing. He is amazing! President Senior sent a request to the Area Presidency. He can maybe be baptized next year when the ASEAN thing goes through where there are no borders in Southeast Asia. We need to keep him coming to church and be baptized."

"We had Zone training this week. They did a training on studying. Elder Bassett and I thought that our companionship studies weren't very effective. However, we find out that they are exactly what they need to be. We were told to talk to our companion and get to know them. There are only three things that we need to do and then the rest is up to us. We need to pray and sing, read from the white handbook and talk about our studies. After that, whatever is fine. President Senior even said we could have snack time if we wanted. haha  I really thing the Zone leaders like to come to Rangsit because we are so fun and are always just 100 percent for whatever they say. We are suppose to get baptisms this month as a district and no longer as companionships, so it will require a lot of team work."

"I was also able to see Elder Boonmee. He is doing really well I think. He can speak the language like a boss! He came down to do a switch off with the Zone leaders and did a training in our area. We were able to talk for a long time. I didn't get a picture with him because my camera is being weird and I fear it will break soon. He says that I have gotten real skinny and that my big belly is gone. haha"

"We were able to get a baptism. We got a referral from the Elders in Don Muang. They said that this person learned everything and had already passed her interview. It was easier for her to come to Rangsit to be baptized because they just found out that she is closer to us. It counts as a baptism for Rangsit and she is a new member. She is great and a really prepared person. We will try to help her make some friends here. She also has some family members that are willing to learn, so that will be great!"

"We found a new place to contact at an airport. We found a lot of people there that were interested. I found one guy whose name is Smith. He is a Khon Thai and very interested. We found him in front of a buddist temple. haha   He didn't come to church this week but he called us. Hopefully he will be baptized. We also had three of our RCs go contacting with us. Sister Boo, Pakkad and Jane. They asked us where we were going and we said contacting. They got super excite and invited themselves to go. They were able to get one number for us. It is really awesome. It made me happy to see RCs excited about contacting. It think they had a great time."

Elder Jacob Smith

Following Moses

"We are doing what we basically do every week. We just contact and teach the gospel. We have some investigators that we were able to baptize last week. That was a miracle in itself. Two new investigators are Noja and Jancome. They are not Thai. Noja is from Burma and Jancome is from Cambodia. That makes the lessons interesting for sure. I think that my mission call should have said something like, "You have been called to teach in the Thai language, or any other language necessary to baptize." haha  These two are golden though, so I think we will be good. Jancome has a brother that lives in Washington."

"We had a guy who passed his interview to be baptized this week. He id older and way awesome. He says he is ready to have a better life. He said that if a kid like me, who is young, good looking, could get the ladies, and is on a mission and happy to keep the commandments, then so could he. haha  However he didn't show up to church on Sunday. He had a fight with his girlfriend, turned off his phone and didn't have a car to bring him to church. It made me frustrated because we could of got a taxi to pick him up. We had to move his baptism another week. This is the second time in a row that he has done this. Oh well, we'll just have to see how it goes. Everything I had planned for the baptism fell through. The Ward was not happy with me. I did everything I was suppose to do. I called early to let them know we were having a baptism, I called and confirmed the speakers, and I picked the baptizers. Sunday came around and one of the speakers had spoken last week so we had to find another person to do it, the other speaker never showed up so we needed another last minute speaker again and then our investigator never showed up. Everyone acted like it was my fault and were all stressed out. I'll have to gain their trust back a little. Sometimes I feel like the prophet after Moses. The members loved the last Elders and I just follow them in second place. It's sad but alright. Lucky my RCs like me so haha.  Next week we are expecting two baptisms and will reach our transfer goal. We are rocking it here. Still a baptism every week in Rangsit, so that is awesome!"

"Happy Birthday Grandma! I love you so much! Thank you for always being so loving. I miss you a lot for sure. I want to eat all of your Thanksgiving food because it sounds so good right now."

Elder Jacob Smith