Ubon Conference Pictures

Ubon Conference September 20, 2015

Hey everyone, im sending much love on this wonderful sunday evening for you guys. Its been a way fun week so ill hit you up with the deets-

On tuesday it was literally raining every moment of the day. Normally rain is pretty chill- just to mix things up a little bit- but thai people are like pretty suspicious about using their phones in the rain because they dont want to get shocked- so they all just turn off their phones and stay inside. So that made getting ahold of people a little tricky on tuesday, so we had a good day of inviting instead haha. On wednesday morning our district began our adventure to Ubon which is way out on the border of Laos and Cambodia. We met up there for Zone conference for some training by Pres. Johnson and the APs. It was way solid- i wish i could share everything about it- but alot of it was just about understanding the small things that go into achieving our vision. A theme was used throughout the conference of our vision being like a triangle and then in that triangle are smaller triangles to help us achieve the vision. and within each of the smaller triangles are smaller triangles, etc. probably sounds lame but it was cool at the time haha. Anyways we had an activity the first night wich was straight up a minute to win it kind of game night. It came to no surprise when our team came thru with the win. Our original team name was Ratchasee which is a royal lion in thai- but getting lost thru translation our team name was just Ratchet C. 

Anyways- after that first night we are walking over to our hotel that everyone was staying at, and Joyem and I get there last and find out that there were no rooms left haha. i call up elder Arne who was staying with pres. johnson in another hotel- and we got invited over to stay with them hahaha so that was sick. while we were waiting for Arne to call us back to tell us the name of the hotel- we were walking on the street and asked this street stand lady if we could wash her dishes- we started going in on her dishes haha and she was super super excited about it she started taking pictures of us haha. we asked her if anyone had come by to wash her dishes before and she said no- and to make it even more of a strange experience- there was a white kid washing her dishes for her. So super grateful she actually ended up giving us a free dinner and having her husband drive us over to the hotel. It was pretty cool to see the Lord prepare the way for us. It made me think of that scripture that says "dont give thought to what you will eat or wear" or something like that, but that "God will prepare all things for us". We get to the hotel and Elder Joyem was like way stoked as we walked into this super nice hotel hahaha. we slept like kings that night and had a nice breakfast in the morning. there were a lot of soldiers there eating that morning, and somehow one thing led to another, and all of the sudden i was playing piano on this stage for everyone and singing. It was arne's birthday too- and possibly the last day i will see him until the day we reunite in america. And he very well could be married by that point- so that was bittersweet. It was good reuniting with Pres. Johnson and Sister Johnson this week too. seeing them was like seeing my mom and dad haha it was wierd. They said they missed having a stud like me in the office- and over for dinner and what not- which isnt surprising. 

After the conference we made our way back home for the what was suppose to be 4-5 hour bus ride but somehow took 8+ hours. We made it back home at like 2ish in the morning. and then friday and saturday we just went way hard. Inviting at The Mall, we found this way new golden investigator with a baptismal date for next week- and it makes me feel like a fisherman- we just go out fishing for a couple hours and its like we always find someone whos way genuinely interested. she came to church this last sunday and is just a boss! 

My favorite part of the week was with sister faa, and her two kids Oiy, and Eve who are twins a boy and a girl and 10 yrs old. there way cute. But we went with some members on saturday and spent a big part of the day just serving at her new little house, helping get everything ready to open up and start making food. There is no better feeling than just spending time serving people- and that saying is so true, that you grow to love those that you serve. This cute little family is all getting baptized together next sunday and its gonna be such a happy day. They are all so awesome. This is the family that the son, Oiy, would tell his mom all the time that he didnt want to go to the buddhist temple because he is christian. and he is just this cute little 10 yr old kid. yeah but they are awesome. 

Our other dude, brother sun, the guy we met at mcdonalds a couple of weeks ago, is getting baptized this sunday too- so thats some great news. I love seeing people turn their lives around through the gospel- such a great thing. 

I feel like there is a lot of stuff that happened in the last couple days but its pretty hot up in this computer place.

we had a lot of success especially with our Less Active visits this week with people coming back to church this week. So that was way exciting. 

in other news- i taught this dude that has a sewing shop next to the church, i taught him how to make ties, or really just gave him stuff and he learned on his own- but now hes making ties out of alll the siiiiiick fabrics ive been collecting- so im gonna be hooking it up with some way cool ties for thanksgiving or christmas this year. 

I love you guys! Being a missionary is the best calling in the world- and whats even cooler is it doesnt have to stop after you serve for 2 years. You just get this fire as a missionary though to go and find Christ's sheep and it is just so fun! After having moved areas now- its such a cool feeling to talk with people from Asoke and Phitsanulok that i came so close with, through teaching and serving them. Those friendships are pretty dang sweet. 

The church is true! 

Scriptures for the week: 1 nephi 18:16 and D&C 121:7-8 and D&C 122:7-9 ... good stuff

Elder Chamberlin <3

Brother Biw, reminded me of cruising with Henry ayyyye

Sam at the Zoo in Korat

My favorite picture is the Ostrich hanging out with the Giraffes, not with the other Ostriches

Week 4 in Korat

Hey Fam! I love you guys!

Being with Elder Joyem is such a blast he is such a great kid. This transfer has been flying by and honestly so much fun. On tuesday night i lost my daily planner while we were biking back to the church for english class. And you would think its whatever, but i was stressin because i had just gotten the number of this WAY golden dude i had found- and on top of that it just has everything in it from our goals to appointments, to numbers, everything- so we decided to go out on adventure the next morning for our workout to find it. It was a miracle that it was just laying there open sitting in a water drainage like halfpipe area between the two roads- like 15 minutes away from our house. so that was a nice little blessing to start of the week. English class is way fun and our class is growing in numbers ahhh yeah. I dont know if its because im good looking or a good teacher but either way it gets a lot of people in the church, and gets us a lot of new people to teach as well- so that has been a blessing for this week. Last sunday we actually just had an english student get baptized and her testimony was so awesome. She talked about how she has been addicted to coffee for 15 plus years and has tried to quit multiple times. it got to the point where she would consistently drink 5-6 cups of coffee a day. if she was going to a friends or a family members house she would call ahead of time and have them make coffee it was so bad haha. She said there was nothing that could free her. I love the scripture in mosiah 7:33 
"But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage."

she testified that Christ freed her. and its a testimony to see those kinds of stories occur over and over and over. God is so good. 

On monday, we were on the way back from the zoo (which was a good time- we were able to rent a golf cart b/c i have my thai license haha which made it even better) but anyways we were on the way back and decided to celebrate and get some mcdonalds which is consider a way nice, like fancy meal here. anyways we are standing in line and i start talking with the guy in front of me to invite him to learn about jesus, and he pulls out his necklace of the cross and says hey im christian already! we end up sitting down and eating with him- talking with him, one thing leads to another, we were meeting him at the church the next day, and now he is gettin baptized next sunday. He said its been 2 years now where he has been christian "in his heart" but he had never gone to church or been baptized. After our lesson on the atonement of jesus christ and the healing power of repentance- he gave a powerful prayer. The whole experience is just such a sweet testimony of inviting everyone and talking to everyone. There is the super good example in our ward of this- shes honestly probably a better missionary then some of the full-time missionaries haha. she literally invites EVERYONE she talks too. a lot of our investigators are referalls from her. and yesterday, i dont know how she met the guy, but she gave me the number of a dude from holland (doesnt speak thai and she doesnt speak english) but he is here playing soccer professionally haha. i called him last night and he is interested and down to meet. i thought it was way funny- but way sweet nonethelless. 

this week was full of lessons and service- i loved it. on saturday night i was a little bummed because a couple of our way good investigators said they wouldn t be able to come to church the next day- and thus pushing their baptismal day back- but through some crazy miracles, sister faa, and her two kids that wanna be baptized so bad all made it (even though she said there was no way she could make it in time the night before). another one of our investigators that we have only been teaching thru the phone because she lives super far away, she even made it to church this sunday and so we got to meet her for the first time face to face. it was a way good day. oh and then on other guy- we had taught him earlier in the week. he was a referall from this one member family- and he works with the dad who is a member. anyways he is actually only 16 and when we sat down with him and his buddy he was super awkward and didnt seem to interested. he came to church in a white shirt and tie though. we met with him again and he is progressing nicely. all is well in the Korat part of the Lord's vineyard :) the work is so much fun. as you focus more on the work- it becomes less like work and just becomes fun. it so great. 

I met the Thai version of Brother Greiner this week too. he has been a member for 8 years but is just a straight boss. it was fun shooting back and forth at him scriptures. hahaha he is a stud and a way good example. he has learned english completely on his own purely from study and memorizing scriptures. he's practically fluent- its way cool. but one of my favorite scriptures from the week that i shared with his family and ill share with you guys is in alma 37:36-46 which talks about prayer and the scriptures. two of the foundations of a strong testimony. I think i remember elder bednar saying while i was in the mtc, that if we are praying and reading our scriptures everyday- we will NOT fall away and wander into forbidden paths (in reference to lehis dream) just meaning that we will stay strong in the faith and on the path back to our heavenly father. anyways heres those verses for those of you who dont have your book of mormon on you.

" 36 Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.

 37 Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

 38 And now, my son, I have somewhat to say concerning the thing which our fathers call a ball, or director—or our fathers called it Liahona, which is, being interpreted, a compass; and the Lord prepared it.

 39 And behold, there cannot any man work after the manner of so curious a workmanship. And behold, it was prepared to show unto our fathers the course which they should travel in the wilderness.

 40 And it did work for them according to their faith in God; therefore, if they had faith to believe that God could cause that those spindles should point the way they should go, behold, it was done; therefore they had this miracle, and also many other miracles wrought by the power of God, day by day.

 41 Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked bysmall means it did show unto them marvelous works. They were slothful, and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence and then those marvelous works ceased, and they did not progress in their journey;

 42 Therefore, they tarried in the wilderness, or did not travel a direct course, and were afflicted with hunger and thirst, because of their transgressions.

 43 And now, my son, I would that ye should understand that these things are not without a shadow; for as our fathers were slothful to give heed to this compass (now these things were temporal) they did not prosper; even so it is with things which are spiritual.

 44 For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.

 45 And now I say, is there not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise.

 46 O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever."

The way is prepared my friends. Christ is our light leading the way. I love being a missionary and teach his gospel. The video of luke memorizing scriptures is so cute i actually shared it with an RC and her family of investigators. Such a little stud- he is an example even here in thailand and bringing souls back unto Christ ;) i love you guys, and i love my Savior, Jesus Christ :) this work is his work and its so much fun that he lets us have a part in it. Don't miss out-

Elder Chamberlin

Picture in Korat

Week 3 in Korat

this week was so great- i love korat.

probably the coolest thing that went down this week was the baptisms of 5 of our districts investigators this last saturday, and having 6 people (1 one got baptized last week) all get confirmed in sacrament this sunday. Such an awesome day- with tons of little miracles within it- from our investigator nikki who got baptized, her mom who originally was just happy to see her daughter happy as she prepared to be baptized but wasnt really interested at all. she showed up to the baptism and then to church the next day too- and brought her other little daughter and told me that she wants her younger daughter (who is just 6) to be a missionary- haha, and nikki actually told me that night that she wants to be a missionary- shes 26 and i wasnt sure if there was an age limit for sister missionaries, but it turns out theres not! so she is way excited to prepare to do that. she speaks english and french and obviously thai straight up fluently so she is gonna be a boss missionary. elder wolfley had a way cool experience of seeing one of the people he baptized early on in his mission leave on a mission right as he was going home from his- and i was thinking to myself how sweeeeet thatd be, and so im pretty stoked for nikki too, itll be way cool to help her prepare and see her grow, she is one of those golden people that nana told me to come find. 

last pday was a good time we traveled out to the boonies in a members truck and went to a place that we thought was a "floating market" but it turned out to be a really really random zoo / garden place haha- but i ended up surfing an elephant, and riding a waterbuffalo is it was worth it. 

i cant believe its september already!?! where did the months go.... little recap for the week- english class was way good- i love teaching- so much fun. we went out visiting a lot of LA's this week as well with bishop and other members which is such a great thing- a lot of times all people need is some encouragement and love to come back to church. That has been a focus of ours this transfer is for every baptism its gotta come with an LA rescue and our little disctrict has a goal for 16 of each- and this last week was a sweet step towards our goal. but i think my favorite part of the week actually mightve been on friday. we went out to visit this lady who had been an investigator some 5 or so months ago, that we had found in our area book and called up. turns out she wants to go to church way bad, but its super hard because she feels she needs to work becauase of this massive debt her family has. she is so awesome though- she has twins- a daughter and son that are 9, and they wanna get baptized way bad and be christian. she told us that her son used to love coming to the church to learn english- so much so that when she would take him to the buddhist temples/ schools her son would be like "no mom, i want to go to jesus' church- im christian not buddhist" and it was the cutest thing seeing this little kid feel such a close relationship with jesus christ, in a country where it is the "normal and right thing" to be buddhist. anyways the best part of our visit with them though was that we went just expecting to teach them, but after a series of miracles of running into people that led us to her house, we got there and learned that they had justbought this new house/plot for their store, and it was just a straight mess- so we got to serve them for the next couple hours and get there place livable, and it was just a great reminder to me of how much i love serving people. theres no better way to find joy than in giving yourself, your time, and talents, in improving the lives of others. and then afterwards we sat down and shared a thought and left. it felt so good- i love being a missionary and im excited to see them as they grow and become more like christ. i think elder joyem put it best on saturday when he said- "theres nothing more fun than being a missionary... baptizing people is the best feeling in the world!" 

one ongoing miracle throughout the week has been that we have been running into members everywhere that end up leading us to the place we need to go. whether it is to the hospital this week, or to find someones house, there was like 4 or 5 instances this week where it seemed like God just dropped this member in our path to guide us. so that was way cool.

we had some cool miracles of members who brought tons of their school friends to church throughout the week as well to come learn with us- unfortunately they didnt come on sunday haha- but the first time we met with all these school kids around 17-18 years old, we threw down a way spiritual lesson about jesus christ and how he has changed our lives and how he will change theirs. so i was pretty bummed they didnt show- but it was a solid teaching experience for me and the homie joyem. 

as for my thai, it feels like it has just improved soooo much its crazy. its so nice being with a thai companion. he loves teaching me thai and i love teaching him english so it works well. my son is just a straight boss! its been fun training- even though a lot of times in lessons i feel like he is training me as im just soaking in new words and phrases he uses. 

Well it has been a joyful week in korat, i hope its been the same back at home. i love you guys so much! 

a lot of my studies this week have been focused in memorizing scriptures from the book of mormon- so ive been going thru finding all the scriptures that i like or think are powerful and putting them in that memory. my goal is to beat ben in any scripture game when i get back- and probably luke too im sure he is gonna have scripture mastery down by the time i get back. 

but here is one that i really like- 1 nephi 17:13 "And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led."

He truly is our light in our lives- in the good times and in the bad. He lives and the happiness and joy that comes from following Him is so real. The church is true

elder chamberlin