Fun story from the middle of this week- there was a man walking by the church that i spotted right as we walked out of a lesson, and looked like someone just tryna get baptized. He was a very humble looking man with no shirt or shoes on. We felt like we had to help this man, so we rushed over to him and invited him into the church, and told him we had some clothes for him. Turns out he's been to church before. Long story short- we left the church looking fresh with a nice new white shirt and tie on, tucked into his jeans, and then we noticed he had no shoes on, so i slipped mine off and asked them if they fit- a perfect fit! So he took off on his wayto work a new man. We then had to ride our bikes over to the market to get me some new shoes. 100 baht for new shoes! quite the steal. The rest of our day was packed before we had to take off to Bangkok for MLC. Lots of great stuff- we have Zone Conference this thursday. Because of my crunch for time right now can't go too much into details but my favorite part- the question: What is our mission culture? Fill in the blank... In the TBM, we___________. Lots of good positive answers, some answers that showed we could maybe change our culture to be a bit better, but then president asked us, what do we want the culture to be? when we get home and people ask us what was serving in thailand like?... how was the TBM? What do we want to be able to say? Again lots of great things shared but one of my favorites was the summarizing of all that we wanted to be and do = we do His will. It made me think of the scripture in matthew 16:24-25
"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." Because of time i encourage you to open that up and study what it means to deny yourself and take up your cross :) A great lesson is waiting within.
Another favorite couple of scriptures that i tripped upon in studies. John 17:3. "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." What does it mean to know God??? Hmm lets peruze on over to 1 John 4. maybe verses 7-9? "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." Interesting. Lets look on to verses 20-21... "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also." So what does it mean in John 17:3 when it says that "this is life eternal, to know God...."?
Our April Fools day here was straight crazy- literally at the end of the night i thought the whole day could've just been a dream haha- but there was a lot of good from it too. Some very real lessons with many of our investigators, and some real talk with some of our RCs. I love the lesson that God taught through me that night to an investigator. The need for each of us to overcome the desires of the natural man in order to achieve a greater, and deeper happiness. No matter what our challenge, or what our obstacles are that lay in our path, ultimately its up to us to decide the way of the world or God's way. Whether it's concerns with drugs and alcohol, sabbath day observance, tithing, pornography, same-sex attraction, depression, etc. it all funnels down to our decision to trust in and follow in God's plan of Happiness that he has so lovingly layed out for us. There is no need to worry and no need to wonder what our final state will be like in the end, if we follow Him.
This week has been great- sorry for the lack ofdetails. As for other random news about me i've been popping pills for my foot right, and when we flew down to bangkok i thought i for sure could take a pill without water, and it was the worst decision i made this week haha. I waited 2 hours with the pill stuck in my esophagus to get some water and float it down, and then by that time the plasticy taste was in my mouth all night.
PMG class, or as Bunker would call it, FMW (Future Missionaries of the World) was a hit this week. We had a lot of the youth and the bishop and hiswife and a few other adults were there too. PMG is where its at! It's not just for missionaries... if your tryna deepen your understanding of the gospel, trying to increase your level of conversion, want to strengthen your family in principles of righteousness, want to be a better teacher at church on sunday, or a better missionary with your friends, study PMG and do the activities in it! you've got no time to waste. God has big things he wants to do through you- lets go!
Baptisms this week. Great sunday. Missiion life is great. I love God and i love his Son whom he sent to save us all.
Love,
Elder Chamberlin
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