Four Baptisms!

"I don't have much time today. We went to play basketball and it took longer than I wanted it to. I also have a lesson soon, so I'll send a better letter next week."

"We got 4 people baptized last Sunday! It was way awesome. I finally got to get in the water with my investigator! It was a way busy week too. We had lots of lessons and had many concerns to get over. There were a lot of little things to deal with where we had to just rely on the spirit. The people that were baptized was Sister Jane (who I baptized),  Sister Tip, Sister Pakkad, and Brother Oh. It was also the birthday of the little girl standing in front of me, so that was cool too. All their testimonies were boss! I actually invited Jane and it was awesome that I was able to baptize her."

"We went to see the monkeys in Lopburi and Elder Bassett had his badge stolen. haha  It was so funny! We played basketball today and I sweat so much now. I look nasty. We played at a University and I am nervous to come home. I don't want to go to school. Just let me be a missionary for the rest of my life. I love being a missionary and I love you all so much! I am happy about Derek going to the temple too!

 

Elder Jacob Smith

Too Good Looking!

"I am emailing from Lopburi. Elder Bassett and Elder Nelson wanted to see the monkeys."

"I would have to say that it was a good week. We have about 11 investigators right now. That is way too many and we need to start baptizing them for sure. It seems like the people that we can get to church are the ones that progress the best as well. They have to wait three weeks to get baptized and waiting is so hard because it seems like so long. We will have about 4 or 5 baptisms this week, so that will be an awesome picture! I will also be baptizing this Sunday, finally after a year on my mission, so that will be really cool too. We were able to get 4 RCs to church this past week. That is a good accomplishment. We had 110 people at church. We are growing a lot more and we had about 15 investigators there too. That is really good and more than we've had in awhile. I'm really excited for next week!"

"Not really much has happened. We were told by the ward council that we need to have a new activity for the RCs and members to get to know eachother. We decided to all chip in and buy a ping pong table. Ok, so I admit that it was kind of for us missionaries, but we gave it to the church, so we'd have some kind of sport there. We also bought a bunch of random games to play on Fridays at the activities. This Friday was a big hit. We had a ping pong tournament and Bannakorn killed everyone! haha"

"Oh yeah, so on Sunday at ward council the topic of flirting came up out of nowhere and everyone just looks at me! I spoke out and said, "Don't you dare look at me. I do not flirt!"  The members just gave me a look like, yepp sure. So I defended myself and said, "I don't!" Then they said that they knew I didn't but that I needed to be really careful because they have had many people ask about who the guy with the hair like mine and really good looking was. I just said that I was really sorry about that but I couldn't help it. Then they all started talking about how I was the best looking missionary they have had in a long time. haha  That's right I am! haha  It was a little embarrassing though. Well that's basically it for this week. I'll have great pictures for you next week!"

Elder Jacob Smith

Consecrated Missionaries

"This week we are kind of sad because we were not able to get a baptism from our companionship. Everyone canceled at the last minute and said that they were going out of town. They will get baptized for sure because they are golden investigators and have family and friends that want to hear as well. However, we did still have two baptisms this week. Rangsit has had a baptism every week since I've been here. That is so awesome!"

"We received training on working with the RCs and keeping them active. The ward goal is to have 37 baptisms in Rangsit. We have already gotten 38, so we passed it. We talked to the ward mission leader and changed the goal to 37 active strong members. We have about 20 so far that come to church every week. We are still expected to get 4 baptisms a companionship. We have been doing a lot of RC work. Rangsit is the example of the mission. When the Zone Leaders came and trained us, they were sharing suggestions from the mission president, but then would say that we were already doing them. haha  So we have some pressure on us to live up to, but nothing we can't handle. We really need to thank the members because without them there would be no success for sure. We have so many people that befriend our investigators and help them with everything. For example, we had a guy that wanted to come to church but said that he was sick and couldn't come. I talked to him and told him to come for just one hour. He didn't have a car or money, so I told him to take a taxi and that I would pay for it. Well, he came right when sacrament meeting ended, so he can't be baptized until the 20th at the earliest. We asked one of the members to help us teach and he was so awesome. He befriended our investigator to the point where he stayed longer than we could and then the member took him home. Thanks to this member, the man is going to be baptized!"

"The mission has also asked us to become consecrated missionaries. That is what I am trying to do. I am keeping my mind on the work at all times. Even on my birthday! I didn't even think about it, except President Senior called to wish me a happy one. I wanted to work hard for my birthday. If we keep our mind always on the work, the Lord will bless us ten fold!"

"We also had a wedding this week. The member is way close to the missionaries and even asked us to get some investigators to attend the wedding. haha  We handed out the Family: A Proclamation to the World to try to get some investigators, but no one was really interested. The wedding was great though. We had to wear orange and sing at the wedding. We were terrible, but everyone was impressed anyways. haha  The picture I'm sending is funny because it looks like the bride is really in love with me! haha  She is a great member and the guy she married gave me an impression. When I first met him, I saw something between the two and the other Elders said that she didn't even like him. Now they got married, so I was right!"

"We didn't get to go to Ayutaya this week, but we'll go another time. We were going to go play basketball with a member, but he had a car accident, so we had to go find and help him. Oh well, but it's alright.  Elder Bassett is a funny guy and we get along great. Contacting is fun with him because we just go walking and talk the entire time and then will stop and invite someone and then come back right to where we left off. haha  It's good because we don't think about how long we're contacting. Yesterday was hard because it was fast Sunday and Elder Bassett was about to die of thirst. haha  We just ran out of energy to talk. haha  Love you all!"

Elder Jacob Smith

Happy Birthday Elder Smith!

Senior Companion

"I have a new companion! His name is Elder Bassett from Layton, Utah. He came with Matt's group. He is really good at the language and is super tall! He is a basketball player and a cool kid. I am the Senior companion and it is real fun. I kind of get the last say in all the decisions, muahahaha! No, but he is a good missionary and very funny too."

"We got a call on Monday night that Elder Kohler, Elder Lodwick and the Sisters were all leaving. That meant only Elder Bannakorn and I were staying in Rangsit. I was ok with this because I could learn so much more from Elder Bannakorn. Then the next day we got a call that said Elder Bannakorn was going to be DL and training. He was nervous. That meant that I was getting a new companion, but we were all staying together in the same house. They also closed down the Sister's area, so we have so many RC's and investigators to take care of right now. It is intense! We had to go early to the office in Asoke and I was able to see Matt. We had a switch off together because both of our companions were training. (Matt was transferred to Bangkhen, Bangkok) We had Elder Bassett hanging with us too. Little did I know that he was going to be my new companion. He is a good companion and we get along great. I am super stoked to be Senior companion, but with that comes some stress too. Nothing I can't handle though. Planning for the first time was a little tough because I had to fill the time, but I felt the Lord using my decisions and making them into glowing rocks! haha"

"At transfers, I was actually able to see Elder Johnson again. He came down from Laos because his companion was finishing his mission. His Thai is way bad, but his Laos is real good. He is huge! I forgot just how big he was. haha  He is way funny and I miss the guy."

"I had an investigator get baptized yesterday. She was the one that said she would get baptized in Chang Rai next year. Well, she received a dream about her dead son after asking God for it. She is super funny. She made me and Elder Bannakorn a t-shirt that says, Love Smith and Love Gon. Mine is way too small for me to wear. haha"

"Elder Bannakorn's new companion is a greenie from Canada. He is real cool and smart, but is a little freaked out still, like when I first came to the country. It's funny to see. He says that everything that he learned in the MTC is very different in the field. He thought we could only wash clothes on Mondays. haha"

Just so you know, we might be going to Ayutaya next Monday, in case I don't get a chance to email. I love you all so much!

Elder Jacob Smith

Faith in Miracles

"The last two weeks have been really hard for our companionship. We went contacting every day and worked really hard for the past two weeks. I mean every day and I am so tired. I actually lost my voice the last three days and so my Thai is really bad. haha  I have no tones and even the other Elders can't understand me."

"We have lots of eternal investigators. There is this Burmese family who we have to teach really simple to and one of the family members, that speak Thai, has to translate for us, so it takes a long time. We had one investigator who told us that she is going to Singapore for two weeks and that she will get baptized April of next year. AHHHHHH! She wants Bannakorn to baptize her, but he will no longer be a missionary then. She says that she will just go to Chang Rai to have him do it. I guess we'll see what happens. Then we have another who is so ready to be baptized, but he is not legally married. His wife is 50/50 about it. We are going to meet with them tomorrow to ask why she doesn't want to get married. They live in a house about the size of Tori's room. Then we have one that we taught everything to, but she went to Chang Rai and says she is not ready to be baptized. It is so frustrating."

"Rangsit was able to get another baptism. It was the Sister's investigator. We have had a baptism every week this transfer. This is a complete miracle for sure! There were two people that the Sisters had prepared for baptism this week. One was taught everything, but had a problem with tithing. He tells us on Saturday that he wasn't ready and couldn't be baptized. The other person was golden but could only meet on Sunday for his interview and baptism. He called the night before and said that he got home late and didn't think that he could wake up, so next week would work better. This made us all really sad because it was our last chance of meeting our goal for a baptism a week. I was upset because I prayed for a miracle and I knew one was coming. Even after contacting and calling everyday for two weeks, not one person came to church and I was so downhearted. I fell to my knees and told Heavenly Father that I knew he will send us a miracle because we had done everything that we possibly could. I didn't know what the miracle would be, but I knew that we would have one. We had over 30 people, including investigators, at church, so we stared our insane teaching of trying to teach everyone that was there. The Sister's investigator that had a problem with tithing showed up and Sister Naray talked to him and said that he was still feeling the same way. I decided to go up to him and asked why he wouldn't get baptized. He told me that he was not pure and had sinned. I just responded by saying that of course, he wasn't pure and that he had sin all over him. haha  That's why he needed to get baptized! I testified of baptism and told him to go ahead and get the interview. He said that the interview would not be pure if he did. I then said of course it isn't pure! But God is and he could have the interview and then decide if he is ready or not. God will tell him through his servant if he is ready to be baptized. He then agreed to be interviewed and I said good. We got Elder Kohler to give the interview and the guy passed with flying colors! He came out of the interview and said that he would be baptized and he chose to do it today! YES!! We got everything prepared and he was baptized. What a miracle! I know that God used us to help this person. I learned that sometimes and most of the time, in order to see a miracle, we have to first take the first step and then the miracle can be brought to pass. Way cool that we were able to see that happen. I also learned that God has a reason for every thing and we may not always see it. Maybe I wasn't suppose to have any investigators come to church, so that I would have the time to talk to this guy and help him to get baptized. I don't know. Maybe working hard and not complaining made the miracle happen. All in all, it was faith that brought about the miracles. I love you all so much!

Elder Jacob Smith

Lessons Learned

"Sorry for being a day late. I went site seeing and didn't have time yesterday to write, so we got special permission to email today. I really don't have much time, so I'll keep it short."

"We had Zone Conference this Friday. It was really good and we talked about repentance and the Godhead. We learned that repentance is a change of heart or life style. It is not a list of things that we need to ask for forgiveness from, although it is a part of it. It has really helped to make the investigators understand the importance of repentance. We also learned from the Area 70, new ways to work with the members and leaders in the ward. It was cool to see him. Then I had an interview with President Senior. I talked to him about how much my mission has changed for the better in Rangsit. We had a great talk about how God prepares us and how we need to use Faith. I think he has seen a change in me as well. He said when he first saw me, "Elder Smith, something is different about you, but I don't know what it is." He then asked me and I said, "I don't know!" haha  The interview was probably the best one I've had so far.  I feel like I am finally the missionary that God wants me to be. I feel more experienced and know more of what I need to do. My desires have changed too. I love contacting and everything gospel."

"Monday we went to Lopburi. It was so fun! I played with the monkeys and climbed a huge mountain. It was a crazy experience. The monkeys were climbing all over me and one even peed on my leg. haha  The mountain had 3752 or something steps to reach the top. It was so high and steep. We also forgot to take water with us which caused a lot of problems. At first I was like, yeah I got this and was speeding up the mountain. Later, I realized that wasn't the best idea because I didn't stop at the rest areas long enough. We got half way up and were all dying of heat! We were sweating bullets. Elder Lodwick was the worst. We started talking about how dangerous it was to do this without water. We almost turned back, but then Sister Pawadee said that there was water at the top, so we kept going. We got like 3/4 way to the top and now the situation became dangerous. Two of the Elders had to stop because they were going to pass out from dehydration. I yelled to Elder Kohler and said that we needed to get to the top fast and bring down water for the others. It was insane! We sent Sister Naray up the mountain first because she is a long distance runner and had good endurance. We all knew she would make it. I was dying for sure. I was just about to give up when I finally could see the end. I kept thinking about the other Elders and knew that I had to get water to them. We made it to the top and grabbed some water and started running back down the mountain. Luckily the other Elders were alright and we gave them water and helped them get to the top of the mountain. We all made it and the view was great. The water was terrible, but life saving. There were a lot of temporal and spiritual things that we learned from that experience. I will have to tell you about it next time. Don't let me forget. It was something that I think God wanted us to learn. I love you all and I'm out of time."

Elder Jacob Smith