Lantern Festival

Jake says that he loves being in Thailand. He is hot, sweatty, and struggling with the language, but he is having the time of his life. He shares that missionary work is hard and he is often stressed, but he wouldn't want to be doing anything else right now.

 "It has been a really stressful week for me and I really don't know why, but I was on my knees a lot. The language is tough and for some reason I felt like I couldn't do anything this week. I felt like I had no communication with anyone and the members were making no sense to me. It was tough and so I turned myself over to the Lord. I now know that I can do anything. Some blessings come soon and some come late. Everything is fine and I'm doing good again because I finally found out how to be the best missionary ever. My will, my desires, my wants, and my needs, need to be the Savior's. We give tithing and fast, which is the Lord's. We give him our time, which is also his. The only thing that he wants, that is not his, is ourselves. Give yourself and he will pave your path. That is what I did this week. I surrendered myself to the Lord and he can do what he wants with me because I am his and not my own."

"In November, every single companionship in Thailand has to get a baptism and we are struggling. We have one dater who was suppose to get baptized last Sunday, but he has not answered us and didn't show up to church. We had another golden investigator, but he went to the hospital for some health problems and could not go to church. He can't be baptized because we only have one Sunday left and he needs to go to church twice. We have one more man that we met contacting. Our miracle! He is having family problems and wants to change his life around. We met him last Saturday. He came to church and we taught him and he said that he would meet with us today. He is our last hope. He has a date this Sunday, so please keep him in your prayers and help him to understand the things we are teaching him are true."

"Pretty much we have been super busy contacting everywhere all week. Tuesday, we got a video from the APs that is super cool. It's like a mormon message where Elder Holland is speaking some powerful words while the song, "You can see the Miracles when you Believe", from the Prince of Egypt, is playing in the background. At the end, it shows all the baptisms and WOW! it is the greatest feeling to watch that. It was way cool! For English we watched Johnny Lingo and it was funny explaining the story to the Thai people. haha"

"Wednesday, we rode our bikes contacting and found this really high outdoor mall. It was cool and we talked to some people. I tried some bamboo ice cream. We also said "hi" to some pretty actresses, but from a distance. haha  I wonder what they were thinking? A bunch of foreigners waving at them like crazies. haha"

"Thursday, we taught a guy who has been in English class for 3 years and has finally started learning from us. We really emphasized the church and I think we scared him into going because he is scared that he will be damned. haha  Then we saw another miracle where we had to teach a girl but had no men to help. We called maybe everyone on our phone. On our way to teach her, we saw in front of us, Brother Jom who was baptized that very Sunday. He was a member and was able to help us teach and it was awesome!"

"Friday was crazy! We contacted all day and then headed down to sports day. We had an investigator there that is about 15 years old. We were teaching Sister Wasana and when we came out, he was sitting on the couch with everyone around him. I guess apparently, that a 19 year old member freaked out at him and full on decked him in the face! Then while he was on the ground, kicked him! Everyone freaked out and started to chase the guy out. The guy is a member and I don't know why he did it? I am worried about both of them. This will be hard on the member too. We will have to wait and see what happens."

"Saturday we went contacting and found Woot, our miracle. Then we went to a Karaoke party at Bangkapi. I think it was apostate, but it was approved by the Bishop. haha  We didn't sing but it was still fun watching. haha"

"Sunday was fun. We had 4 investigators show up and one person accepted a date for this month, Brother Woot! We taught 4 lessons and then were late to church at Lat Phrao. It was ok though. Afterwards, we taught a girl who was the Sister's investigator, but she moved to Lat Phrao and now we teach her. She goes to college on the weekends, so she can't go to church. She was able to go to church today because it was a holiday. It's Lantern Day! The sky looked just like the Tangled movie. We were given permission to go celebrate and I have lots of cool pictures. It was so beautiful outside and we even let some lanterns go and it was awesome! It was a blast! I love you all!"

Elder Jacob Smith

P.S. - I was so happy about Chiara's baptism that I started to cry!

No Longer a Trainee!

Jake sent some fun pictures this week. It's nice to know that he is working so hard and also having time to enjoy his surroundings. He wanted us to know that he is officially no longer a trainee.

"Monday was super fun because we went to the Alligator Farm! We watched the alligator show and took a picture with a tiger and a monkey. It was super cool. Afterwards, we went to the ocean and hung out there awhile. It was fun but we got caught in traffic on our way back which ruined our family night. Only 3 people showed up. The ride home took 2 hours and we just talked the entire time. It was good bonding time for our district."

"Tuesday, we went to meet with the Bishop, but he cancelled on us, so we ended up doing our studies and then had district meeting. Last week, Elder Yuen, gave us each a topic on Christlike attributes that he thought we have been blessed with or that he had seen in us since he has known us. He gave me Faith. I had to give a talk on Faith to the district and it went really well. After the meeting, we went contacting and then went to teach our investigator who has a goal to be baptized on the 17th of this month. We haven't been able to get a hold of him, so we don't know what's up with him. We taught English and then went home."

"Wednesday, we went to Bangkapi to meet with the Bishop and went to lunch with the other Elders. We ended up contacting for 4 hours because our correlation meeting was cancelled. We also taught Brother Oat. He came up with a plan where we would call him at 9, 12 and 6 to check on him, and then after work every day he would come with us to all our teaching appointments. It is cool because I prayed that he would have a change of heart and I really think that the Lord answered my prayer."

 

"On Thursday, we taught a new investigator who is about 60 years old. He wants to get baptized. I have never met someone who understood the Restoration so well. He even asked the perfect question when we were talking about all the new churches that had developed and caused a lot of confusion. He looked at us and asked, "So who is going to be the one to fix this?" We were like, "What?! That's the best question ever!" After the lesson, we went contacting again over the bridge to the other side of the Klong. We went to the top floor of this tall 33 floor building and could see pretty much the whole city. I was so mad that I didn't have my camera with me. On our way back, we ran into some white people and helped them get a taxi. Then we taught Brother Oat again and went home."

"Friday morning we went to go teach Sittichai and he actually showed up. Then we went to teach Sister Meelek. It is fun to teach her because she is so nice and loves to help me with the language. I lead the lesson on the Wise Man and the Foolish Man and did a cool object lesson that everyone liked. Then we went to sports day and I had splits with Elder Yuen. We taught Jupjep again! I lead the discussion and committed him to be baptized and he said no. It was super sad, but it had to be asked because we needed to know who to focus on. We are still going to teach him and hopefully when Brother Oat is baptized, he will follow the example of his friend."

"Saturday after our studies, we all went to eat at Sukishi! It is a sushi buffet and cost me about 15 dollars. It was sooooo goooood! We will go there every time there is a baptism in the area. The other Elders had a baptism that day. We also went and taught Brother Oat again and Jupjep was there, so it was awesome."

"Sunday was a good day. I love Sundays. After church in Bangkapi, we took a 6 year anniversary picture. Then we went to church at Lat Phrao. I got up and spoke on Faith and it went good. Last Sunday, Brother Graph gave me the teaching job for today, so I taught Sunday school. I had to teach about the creation. Everyone laughed at my struggling Thai, but they also helped me to speak, so it went well and I liked it a lot. We went contacting again and met a skater who had learned from the missionaries years ago and he has a Book of Mormon and prays every night. We are hoping to start teaching him. When we finally got home, we watched the Mormon Messages dvd that you sent me. It's fun to watch those even when we watch them over and over. haha"

"It's been a good week. I love you all so much! Don't worry because things are going alright. I have the Lord on my side and I just need to keep showing my faith."

Elder Jacob Smith

Happy Halloween!

It's fun to hear about how the missionaries get creative in their proselyting and activities. They are building some great memories with the members and investigators. Even in Thailand, Halloween was celebrated with donuts and watermelon carving!

"This has been a good week. We had a couple fun things and activities that I'd love to share with you."

"Monday, instead of going shopping, we went to the post office and mailed some letters and then went to eat with the Zone leaders at Sizzlers. It's nice to go there to get a cheap steak or something close to it anyways. haha  Later in the evening, we went to family night.  Family night is one of my favorite things to do. We played a game called Zip Bong, where you look to the person on your right and say Zip or person on the left and say Bong. You have to do this without showing your teeth and it is super funny."

"Tuesday, we went to Bangkapi to meet with the Bishop and see the other Elders, which is always fun. After our meetings, we went to eat at Tesco where we found some Flamin' Hot Cheetos! It was so awesome!! We ate that and then went to finish our studies and go to some appointments. Nothing was too promising. One guy that we see nearly every day, said that he would love to learn of other religions, but he cannot change because his family would be upset if he did. He is like 50 years old. We had English class again and I was in charge of the conversation part of the lesson. I did awesome and they loved it. I love to teach English because it is so fun and I make many friends there. It's nice too because I can speak English! haha"

"Wednesday, we had our studies and then went to a district meeting. Elder Yuen is such a great district leader. He talked about finding "the one" when you are out contacting. It's where you are specifically looking for that one person who will accept the gosple. I did it this day and it worked out great. We found that one person. We were contacting and were not getting anything too great when we received a call from Brother Graph. He asked where we were and we told him we were at the Mall. He asked us to come to the third floor and that he had someone there for us. It was a girl about 20 years old and she is from the Phillipines. She doesn't speak Thai, but she wanted to learn more of the Mormon church. She said that she had met with the missionaries when she was very young and didn't understand much, but now she wanted to learn more. It was so cool! This is all because some missionaries planted a seed. She is super golden and we can not lose her. She doesn't have a phone, so it will be hard to get a hold of her."

"Thursday was Halloween! After our studies and weekly planning, we went shopping for the Halloween party that I had planned. It was so fun! We carved watermelons and had a donut on a string eating contest. We played a bunch of fun games and it was such a blast! We also had so much food leftover. I even dressed up, but no one else did. They all laughed at me, but I just owned it of course! haha  Cleaning up afterwards wasn't too fun though. haha"

"Friday, the Zone leaders came to do a finding activity where we just go and invite people to be baptized. I'm not sure how much I liked it, but it seems to work because I got a lot more contacts and people's numbers. Then we went to eat and go to sports day. We were able to teach Brother Oat again. It was nice because he has been gone on a trip for so long. I want him to have a good member friend or father figure and to read the scriptures every day. I want him to be baptized before I leave."

"Saturday we made some phone calls to the people we contacted on Friday. We went to teach this one guy that walked up to us and said that he was already learning with missionaries from Asoke. He is a cool guy and lives in Lat Phrao. We decided that we would teach him because the other missionaries would probably give him to us anyways. Well, no because they called us and got super mad that we were trying to take their investigator. He should be ours, so that was weird and we are still going to teach him. He will have to choose who he wants to keep teaching him. We will have to see."

"Sunday was super cool because we had investigators show up for church. One kid came and got along with everyone. He is 15 years old and was hitting up on all the young women. haha  We had 5 lessons to teach and then we went to church in Lat Phrao. We had a testimony meeting and I shared mine. The Elders said that they thought my testimony was amazing and that my testimony was the reason Sister Wasana chose to be baptized. I read in my Patriarchal blessing that by my testimony, I would bring people to the church, so that is way cool. After church we taught Brother Oat again and gave him a blessing."

"That was my awesome week and it was fun. Hopefully, I'll get better and better at this language!"

Elder Jacob Smith

1st Baptism!

This week Jake was excited to share about his first convert baptism. He and Elder Calderon are working hard and have been punching the pavement all week. The time is paying off and their teaching pool is growing. Jake is happy and starting to experience the fruits of his labor.

"I finally got my first convert baptism this week on Sunday! It was so awesome!! Her name is Sister Wasana and she is so cool. I was able to see and teach her from the very beginning and then watch her be baptized. I was not able to baptize her because the Bishop here says that he has to choose who baptizes. I could feel the spirit so strong and it was awesome to see her go into the water and come out clean and smiling. It was an amazing experience. I can't wait to bring more people unto Christ and into the fold again."

Sister Wasana's baptism day

"We walked a ton this week just contacting. My feet hurt from all the walking. haha  We walked from 5 to 8 in one direction just contacting who we could. Once we went down this sketchy alley and Elder Calderon was saying that it looked just like the Esan. Well I said that this is the city and so we left pretty quick. haha  We got a couple contacts, but nothing too promising."

"We also got lost this week due to my awesome Greenie direction skills. haha  We were going to the office and stopped by a Mall to call Elder Jones for directions from there. He told me to get on the MRT and go one stop over. Well, I didn't know what the MRT was, but I knew it was a train. We get on the skytrain and went so far away! We were so lost and I asked some Thai people where the MRT was. They said it was an underground train. I basically did a face palm and we headed back to the Mall where we started, so that we could finally get on the MRT and get to the office. The cool thing though is when we were heading back, a Thai lady came up to us and asked if we were from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We said yes and she told us that she went on vacation to Chang Rai and met the missionaries there. She is really interested in the church, but doesn't know where to find it in Asoke. We took her name and number and will give it to the Asoke Elders. Sometimes the Lord works in mysterious ways. Maybe the whole getting lost was actually a go and find. We eventually got to the office and didn't even get a new phone. I guess the one they were going to give us was worse than the one we had already."

"We've had some really cool investigators. There was a family that went to family night who we just met contacting about three days before. They traveled about 50 kilos to get there from where they were on vacation. They came to family night before they went home. They are pretty awesome, but it's hard to get them to come to anything else. They work all day everyday like everyone else in Thailand. We will keep working with them. We also have another family where we know the kids and Aunt. We are trying to find where their mom works, so that we can teach them. We also have many referrals that are pretty solid, but everyone is new and we have not taught them yet."

"We met some skater kids. We go and see them every once in awhile to see if they will go to church, English class or family night. They always say that they work or would rather skate. They are cool though and love the fact that we are "falungs" and can speak Thai. I don't know if they like me that much because I'm not a skater, but Elder Calderon is, so luckily we have that in common."

"The language is going really well. I still struggle and there are a lot of things that the Thai people say that I don't know, but I am starting to get the jist of what they are saying. The language is so hard and I love that I can even speak the little bit that I do. Hopefully by the time I skype you, I'll be able to have a lot more words and be able to talk to Grandma. haha  I'm looking forward to that!"

"The other missionaries are cool. Elder Yuen is a great guy and reminds me of Dallon. Elder Hartman is cool too and it's fun talking to him because he knows everything from back home. We do language study together so that we can help eachother out. Elder Calderon and I teach well together. I am eating good here. I think that I've been more hungry because Elder Calderon is smaller than Elder Johnson, so I'm not eating as much as I use to. haha"

"Well, that's about it this week. We aren't doing anything fun today, but maybe next week. I love you so much and miss you all to death!

Elder Jacob Smith 

A New Companion

Jake had a last minute unexpected transfer this week. Elder Johnson was called to Loas and his new companion is Elder Calderon from Florida. Jake is leading the area after just eight weeks! He was not prepared for this change and is feeling overwhelmed. There is a lot of adjusting to be made, but he is doing his best. They were also disappointed to find out that the church was broken into and robbed.

"This has been a long and super hard stressful week. Monday, I went to get my suit (I look super good in it btw! haha)  Then we returned back home and went to a family night. Elder Johnson and I and the other Elders, played a weird game where we line up and you have to act something out, kind of like telephone. The person on the end had to guess what it was. It was super funny and I was so good at it. I guessed right every time like a champ! haha  We were all trying to guess who was going to leave the area and who was staying. My guess was that Elder Passey and Elder Marshall were going to leave."

"Tuesday, we went to eat with Brother Israel and then I had to go renew my visa. It took forever, but I was able to see some people that I knew. After that, we finally got the call to what was happening. I was right! Elder Marshall and Elder Passey were leaving and me and Elder Johnson were staying. Or so we thought.., at 9:30pm on Wednesday, we get a call from the Zone leaders saying that there was a last minute revelation and that Elder Johnson was going to leave as well. Transfers were tomorrow! ahhhhh! We were up all night packing for him. I was not prepared for this to happen."

  

"We get to the transfers meeting and everyone was confused. There were APs and Zone leaders becoming trainers and then it gets to me and they say that my new companion is Elder Calderon. Elder Passey was called to Bangkapi and Elder Marshall went Zone leader to Pakkret. Elder Johnson was called to go to Loas! Then it hit me.., I have to lead the area now! This is so crazy! It is a brand new area and we still didn't even know our way around that well. I am basically in charge and there is so much that I have to do. I am super stressed! I was able to see all the other Elders from my MTC district, so that was fun. We also got two new Elders in our area. They are Elder Yuen and Elder Hartman. Elder Yuen was a zone leader in Roi et and Elder Hartman is a new missionary from Draper."

"Elder Calderon is cool. He is very calm and a "sabay" guy. He is hispanic and from Florida. He speaks fluent Spanish and English. He is really good at the Thai language too and he has only been here for 5 months. He is a skater and loves talking to the skater kids, which normally I wouldn't do, so that is a plus. He also really wants to ride bikes, but it is too dangerous here."

"Friday, we did some weekly planning and then went over to teach Sister Mahlek, who is way cool. Then we went to go to sports day. When we got there, we found out that the church had been broken into and robbed. They took the computers and other techno stuff. It was insane! They broke through a window and climbed through the ceiling panels to get into the rooms. There was no one at sports day and all the members were distracted by the robbery."

"Saturday, we taught Sister Noot and then went contacting. We said a prayer and then headed to a market place and found a couple cool people. We walked so much and I was so hungry because Elder Calderon just likes to snack all day. Lately, I just say that it's time to eat and we'll stop. Afterwards, we went to teach Sister Wasana at Sister Oh's house. It was a good lesson and Elder Calderon teaches a lot differently than Elder Johnson. I tried hard to help teach, but I was super stressed and it was giving me a headache. However, I bore my testimony and I could feel the spirit so strongly and Elder Calderon said that he could feel it strongly too."

"Sunday, there was a big meeting in Asoke, but we just watched it from Bangkapi. It lasted two hours and was in Thai. We taught Sister Wasana the last lesson, so she could be interviewed this Wednesday for baptism and I think that she is ready. We will meet with her again on Tuesday to review. I'm super excited! We contacted again for 5 hours straight and we found many people that seemed promising. Oh the many blessings from the Lord when you are being diligent. It has been super long and super stressful, but I know that everything is going to be alright. Thanks for the packages and I love you all so much!"

Elder Jacob Smith

Forbidden to be Scared

The missionaries were able to watch conference this week. Even though Jake felt that he didn't have much happen, the things he did experience were amazing and he shares such a strong testimony. He is excited about his investigators. Transfers are next week!

"I really don't have that much time today because we got stuck in traffic. It has been a really slow week."

"Monday, we just stayed home and rested, which I really needed. We had family night and showed up late because we we had to finish a Preach My Gospel questionaire and we had to go to an internet place to do it. At family night, I showed everyone a magic trick and all the Thai people freaked out and asked me how I did it. I told them that I did it with the Priesthood and the other Elders called me Apostate! It was really funny and I never showed them how I did it because a true magician never reveals his tricks! haha"

"Tuesday, we had to go meet with the Bishop in Bangkapi and stayed afterwards to eat with the other missionaries there. When we went home, we handed out flyers for our English class and taught. That was about it that day."

"Wednesday, our correlation meeting was canceled, so we were able to go meet with one of our daters, Sister Wasana. She is the Boss! Sister Oh has really helped prepare her to learn from the missionaries. Sister Wasana talks of her baptism date all the time and I can't wait for it it happen."

"Thursday, we spent the entire day packing because transfers are this Wednesday! I still don't know where I am going and I may even stay, I'm not too sure? We taught an English class, but no one showed up except for Brother Oat and Brother Jupjep. We are working with Brother Jupjep a lot. I can tell he is already changing and Brother Oat helps a lot too. He is an awesome investigator!"

"Friday, we had a normal day. We met with Sister Mahlek and had a quick lesson because we had things to get ready for sports day. We were in charge this time and we played a game called, the fruit game. Everyone has a fruit name and when someone calls your fruit name, you have to yell another fruit name before a person throws a ball at you. It is really funny because I can't pronounce some of the fruit. haha  Afterwards, we gave Brother Oat a blessing and Brother Jupjep was there also. We shared our testimony with him and the spirit was so strong! I really feel that they both felt it too. Brother Jupjep said that that he felt so good. It was amazing!"

"Saturday, we spent the entire day watching the Priesthood and first and second session of conference. It was just the four of us. It was a good conference and you girls need to watch yourselves! haha"

Sunday was totally amazing! We went to Bangkapi to watch the rest of Conference. In between sessions we were resting and the Bangkapi Elders said that we were going to give a blessing, so I just said ok and started to clear a place to do it. Elder Houghton looked at me and asked me to give the blessing! My first thought was... ahhhh, I don't speak Thai! But with Faith, I got up and said I would. The lady getting the blessing told me that I was forbidden to be scared! I gave the blessing and I felt the spirit so strongly that I started to get emotional. It was like nothing I had ever felt. I don't know what I really said, but she said that she could feel it in her heart. It was the most amazing experience of my mission so far. Then we taught an amazing lesson to Brother Oat. I told him that if he stops smoking right now, I promised that he would stop. He is leaving for 2 weeks and I said that if he stops, then when he comes back, he will be baptized. I am praying that he stops."

"The last thing I want to say to you all is... I forbid you to be scared! You are forbidden to be scared to share the gospel! You are forbidden to be scared to befriend someone or scared to ask for a blessing. I love you and miss you all so much. I want you to know that I know that God lives and he will always help us."

Elder Jacob Smith

I Am Happy!

It was a short letter this week. Jake shares that his days are full with teaching and he is happy to be busy sharing the gospel. His language is improving and he is confident and optimistic about their progress in Lat Phrao. He is going to visit a big market for p-day, so his email time was short.

Baptism day of the Sister's investigators

"This has been a really successful week because, once again with the love and blessing of our Heavenly Father, we have gotten balanced! It's awesome!"

"Monday, we spent the entire p-day going to make suits. The member who took us had a problem with his store's power and had to fix it, so we waited around for over 3 hours for him. Then we went and got the suits made. It used up our whole day. My suit is black and I think that I'm going to look so good in it! haha"

"We finally started our English class in Lat Phrao and me and Elder Johnson are in charge of it, so we are the teachers. I have to teach in English, so it is not too bad. We don't have many people, since we just started, but it will get better. We actually have two students who are potential investigators. They will need to come and want to learn from us. We teach our class on Tuesdays and Thursdays."

"On Wednesdays, we really just try to teach as many people as we can on the streets. We have been super busy with our lessons and our days have been full of people to teach. That night we skipped our correlation meeting with the ward mission leader to go study the scriptures with our dater Brother Oat. We have not had a free week and he needed a day to just read with us. We all went to the church and read. It is hard for him to do this on his own because everyone around him bugs him constantly about the religion. He is so ready to learn and already loves to share the gospel. He goes contacting with us a lot."

"Thursday we did a lot of studying, teaching and contacting, and then English class again."

"Friday, we went to teach Sister Malek. She always gives us weird stuff to try. This time she gave us a pill that is suppose to help when you are sick and told us to eat it. We did and I don't think I have had anything so bitter tasting in my entire life! It was soooooo bitttter! haha  Sister Malek just laughed and laughed and then gave us a couple to take with us. We then went to sports day where we got to teach a friend of Brother Oat's named Jupjep. He accepted a baptism date, but we are not sure if he really has a desire to learn. He usually is never around on Saturdays or Sundays. It just makes us wonder what he is doing? We are praying that he will come unto Christ and change his life."

"Saturday was just a lot of contacting and teaching. We went to the Book of Mormon class and I actually understood a lot about what we were talking about. I can actually read and understand what is being said or at least get the main idea from the verse. Then Sunday, we went to church and taught probably about 5 lessons. It was so much, but so nice. I understand a lot more and I love to teach because I know how it can help them. It is also helping me with the language. We went contacting with Brother Oat again and he is so eager to share the gospel. I can't wait until he gets baptized. We even got to teach Brother Israel's wife. I sure hope she starts to come to church."

"That is so cool that you are doing the FHE thing at our house! They are so fun here. Make sure to befriend the investigators because that is super important from the members. The other day a man came up to us and told us that he use to investigate our church, but he stopped because he felt the members were very cliquey and didn't befriend him. The members must help or none of the work can be as effective as it can be. Members are super important!"

"We have to wait about 2 weeks until conference can be translated and shown to us. I am happy and that is probably because I am finally starting to see improvement to my speaking. I still make mistakes and can't speak too well, but my confidence is way up and I need to try to keep it there. The gospel makes me so happy and some of these people don't even know who Jesus Christ is! They need to know and I am here to tell them. Love you all!"

Elder Jacob Smith