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."
"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.
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
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