Last Letter from the Happiest Missionary in Thailand

We celebrated the 50th year of the church in Thailand yesterday. It was special meeting old mission presidents and missionaries that served decades ago. It was a pretty big gig. For my short note today-

This week has been bitter-sweet but in reality, when people (which almost everyone does) ask about what day i fly home, what time, etc. it all still seems not real. 

It has been special getting to serve my last month with Elder Joyem. The other night we were pillow talking, and he expressed his gratitude for the gospel. He said, "I'm not afraid of the future because 5 years ago i was just a normal Buddhist kid. I never thought my life would be like this 5 years later. Now I think about the next 5 years ahead. My life will be something I can't imagine, but it will be the best, better then i could ever imagine." God is great- It is amazing what he can do with a life in just two years. 

I was blessed to baptize Brother Bird, Sister Mint's boyfriend, on my last Sunday. I baptized Sister Mint last year in Asoke. They are so cute. The thing i will miss the most from being here in Thailand, from this whole mission experience, is seeing God change someones life literally in the space of days and weeks. Sunday my mind was directed towards Brother Bird and how much his life has changed, all the things he has overcome, and how blessed his family will be in the days to come. And then my mind moved to Brother Boom, a kid I consider my little brother. In his words, "you would think we would've met earlier than this..." in terms of me having to go home this next week. Elder Joyem and I met him a couple weeks ago and in this short time his life has turned away from gang fights and drug-filled nights. His story is amazing- one day i will tell you in detail. When i teach him, i think of the people of King Benjamin that God has "wrought a mighty change in [him], or in [his] heart, that [he] has no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually."

Miracles abound and the work in Thailand will continue to move forward. I am grateful to have had played a part. God lives. I look forward to the day when i can return back to his presence and into his warm embrace. I do love my God, for he is my joy and my salvation. Christ is our Savior. He gave everything for us, and I hope to tell him that i gave everything for Him. His gospel is true- it brings eternal peace and happiness- it seals families together forever. 

It has been a great journey. 

From the Beginning to the End-

Father & Son AP

The beautiful Kingdom of Thailand is full of life and love.

Cool things that have been happening:

1) The floods are rising. Missionary work gets more fun as we just have to embrace being soaked. When you go down into the subway stations, the hallways are full of people sitting along the walls, just packed, waiting for the rain to stop. It was a vibe like there was a zombie apocalypse going on outside. 

2) I was trying on President Johnson's cool new nametag in the office and forgot to take it off before we went out inviting. I was introducing myself and a guy was staring intently at my nametag so i lifted it up a little to read it out for him and as i started saying "chamberlin" i stopped myself and just laughed haha. So i just rolled as "President Johnson" until we made it back to the office. Many were impressed that i was a president at such a young age haha. 

3) Sister Green (her nickname) is the missionary that just came home from Temple Square the same time as bekah- she balled out on her talk/testimony in sacrament. Way powerful and real. She praised bekah and how she was an amazing leader, full of love. She also sent some love from home (esp. from mama C <3)

4) PLOT TWIST- Elder Bunker moved to Ubon (way on the far-south-east side of thailand) to be a Zone Leader over there. He is with an old comp of his, and the two of them together are training a new missionary that just came into the mission late too haha way sick. Two of the greatest missionaries as trainers together. That missionary scored. And my new companion is Elder Joyem- familiar? It should be haha because he is my son- i trained in Korat. We are just making history here, father and son as the Assistants haha. The last Thai to serve here in the office was the AP when i came into the mission. His name is brother Kris, and he was the one that baptized Elder Joyem. Pretty cool...

5) It's amazing to me how much I love the King of Thailand. People from other countries will probably never understand his important role in the Thai peoples' lives. He is like their father figure. Just an amazing man. There is 30 days of mourning happening where everyone wears black and if you work for the government you wear black for a year.

6) President sent Elder Bunker and I down last week to Phuket to visit the group of 15 or so members there. The flight was literally magical- so beautiful. We spent all day saturday visiting the saints and it was amazing see their faith. We asked the group leader if he would like us to share anything in sacrament meeting and he said "sure, we'll have you and Elder Bunker share your testimony", so we're thinking sweet. He had me bless the sacrament and Elder Bunker pass it. And then after the sacrament, with 45 minutes left in the meeting, he got up and said "we will have two speakers today, Elder Chamberlin and Elder Bunker." We slayed it. Or really God slayed it because the spirit just guided from one scripture to a quote from a gen conf. talk, to an experience when i was young, to a testimony for the 20+ minutes i spoke haha. At church we had 3 LAs at church that we had visited on Saturday and came back to church for the first time in a year, and 4 investigators. 2 that we have been teaching, and 2 others were friends with one of the investigators whom we also taught on saturday. 1 of them has a date to be baptized this sunday. miracles- the fire for missionary work is alive even in deep in the south where there are no missionaries. 

I often think how blessed i am, and feel a little like Alma:

"Let us glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full. Behold, the Lord… said, bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success. Yea, we have traveled… relying upon the mercies of God. We have entered into their houses and taught them, and we have taught them in their streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills; and we have also entered into their temples and their synagogues and taught them... that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some. Now behold, we can look forth and see the fruits of our labors; and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are many; yea, and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love towards their brethren and also towards us. And now behold I say unto you, has there been so great love in all the land? Behold, I say unto you, Nay, there has not. Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name. This is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo. Yea, blessed is the name of my God, who has been mindful of this people, [lost] in a strange land; yea, I say, blessed be the name of my God, who has been mindful of us, wanderers in a strange land. God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever."

the happiest missionary in Thailand,

Elder Chamberlin

September 1, 2016

Hey family that i love<3 Lots of big and great things happened this week- it was sad to send elder stone off at the airport, but as you can imagine that sadness was quickly swallowed up in the joy and excitement of getting Elder Bunker here in Asoke to serve with me as the new assistant- we served together as new ZLs in Roi-Et. I love this guy. I will try to write more later- we don't have a p-day this week and have to rush off to a lesson right now to bring an LA back and baptize her friend :) 

Even though it is a short letter... i just want you to know that i am so full of love for you guys. I feel so incredibly blessed and loved. Often times it really just doesn't seem fair to me. I think of you often and pray for you by night. I testify of the love and unity and strength that the gospel can bring to families- i know it has done so for mine. I am so happy to know that i will be with you for now and forever. Another 2 months and some change i guess? This next month will fly by for us as we will be WILD busy with Zone Conferences around Thailand. It will be lots of fun though and there is nowhere else i would rather be, nothing else i would rather be doing. I will try to take lots of videos- this week was pretty week but ill see if theres any good stuff to put on the google drive :) 

i love you with all my heart<3 'Til we meet again (which may be way soon we might sneak in a little more time to email tomorrow if possible)

the happiest missionary in thailand,

elder chamberlin

Repent! and Begin to Prosper - Saphaan Sung‏ - July 1, 2016

This last week was GNARLY! We woke up before the crack of dawn monday morning to go down to the eastern corner of Bangkok to the Ancient City. It is basically what it sounds like- an ancient city filled with buddhist temples and nature and good food and exciting things. The pictures should paint a nice picture for you<3

That night we went out inviting and right as the winds started picking up, rain started falling, and a storm started rolling in, we found a guy interested enough to listen to our message so we were able to get inside and teach him for a little and take refuge inside his little store/home. #tendermercies

We went to Asoke to interview with the one and only President Johnson and i just love Bangkok- going into the city we hop on the sky-train, and it is literally ridiculous how many people can get packed into this train. It's mostly uncomfortable because your literally like stomach-to-back with everyone and no one likes to talk... typically we will strike up some nice conversation, and the quiet atmosphere is nice- the stage is set just to testify for all to hear haha.

The other day it hit me, and i really have these thoughts often- how DOPE thailand is. And how cool it is to just be walking the streets of some little town here in thailand and "to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light.. and mourn with those that mourn... and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things,and in all places..." preaching repentance and faith on the Lord along the way. Can it get any better? So even though we have a new rat problem (really old) and they like to poop on my pans that i cook my food with, and even though our air machines smell like someone snuck diapers into them, and my right foot is starting to get something sketchy on it again... life is good and i am so happy.

Wednesday was a way hard day though- for some reason by the end of the day it just felt like nothing was going for us and our lessons all blew, and stuff was just discouraging- but just as the beautiful dawn will always break the darkness of the night, God came through and Thursday was SWEET. We read about "listening" in Preach My Gospel and it was right on queue what we needed. We pulled through with some way good lessons on thursday. One of the coolest lessons was with a new investigator of ours- who brought her friend too, and their are just super intelligent people who truly know their beliefs (buddhism) and so teaching the gospel just becomes so much cooler because it really does complete the teachings of buddha and as you teach there is just this feeling of enlightenment- its pretty cool.

Another cool story- so last week when we went inviting on Sunday- that day we were exhausted and I thought for sure my strength couldn't carry me through the 3 hour inviting sesh- well we met with someone the other day that i had met that night, and turn out she is just straight pure gold. Ever since she went to church as a youngster back in the day she has wanted to be christian- she said "when i learned about jesus i knew jesus loved me and i loved him ever since... i had just never had the chance to go to church again until i ran into you." Thanks God<3

We have Zone Conference this week on the 4th of July ayye- God bless america! and thailand :) This morning i had a nice study in Helaman. For your Elder Chamberlin Spiritual Thought of the week: "And it came to pass that they did repent, and inasmuch as they did repent they did begin to prosper." a cool promise from God: "Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more." and thus: "O remember, remember, my [friends]... that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who [has] come; yea, remember that he [came] to redeem the world... The Lord surely [came] to redeem his people, but... he [came not] to redeem [us] in [our] sins, but to redeem [us] from [our] sins. And he hath power given unto him from the Father to redeem [us] from [our] sins because of repentance; therefore he hath sent his angels to declare the tidings of the conditions of repentance, which bringeth unto the power of the Redeemer, unto the salvation of [our] souls." So my beloved brethren... repent! <3 and follow your Savior, and [we] shall receive [our] reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come.

love you!

your truly,

Elder Chamberlin


 

June 12, 2016

All Religions Teach us to Be Good - Saphaan Sung

The suspense of transfers has come and gone you YOU KNOW WHAT IT ISS!! I be kickin it with Elder Walker for another 6 boi! But really we are way stoked. I tell him ill be working him to his death bed and he feels sorry for me that he's gonna go so hard til he cant work any more but then he gets to just rest after the 6 weeks- i get to keep going ;) So thats exciting news for the week-

I apologize in advance- my journal writing has not been up to par this last week and i feel guilty and will repent but thus as a result, a lot of the exciting details of our adventures get lost into the busy fabrics of my mind. 

One way cool experience that happened earlier on this week was at an LA's house. She is a hair salon lady, and is the lady we had found inviting who hasn't been to church in over 10 years. She was baptized in Korat with her oldest son, and her younger son is still not a member. We had a way simple lesson on the blessings of the temple with her, and the spirit in the lesson was amazing- the only way i could describe my feelings was that it felt like my soul was smiling :) Good things to come...

We also found another LA this week with some crazy health problems, and he has to change the fluid in his kidney every 8 hours for the rest of his life. So his house is just full of these boxes from the hospital and he cant really travel anywhere because of his disease. I couldn't help but feel like there had to be some better more permanent solution- and it drove those feelings deep within me to want to be a doctor again and save Thailand from all things that im sure could be healed, but there is just no access to modern technology and tool and skill. We had a nice lesson with him and brought him the sacrament on sunday which was also a nice experience. He is just the cutest old man who just needs a little booster of his faith- and he will be a huge example for his buddhist family. When showing him his laminated teaching picture of the temple, this brother asked Elder Walker for it so he could keep it in his house- of course we gave it to him- and it was powerful to see how meaningful it was to him to have the vision of the temple in his home- he excitingly asked us, "there is going to be a temple in thailand right?! i heard its gonna be right here in bangkok too!" Im sure God will prepare the way for him to prepare himself and his family and ancestors names for the blessings of the temple that will soon just be a few blocks away from him- a big difference from the thousands of miles to Hong Kong

Our chinese investigator (who speaks thai fluently) is doing way good idk if i have talked alot about her yet or not, but her name is Fern and she is so good! I love seeing investigators marking up their scriptures real good... we had a lesson with her and her dad this last week (her dad is normally busy doing chinese tours) and we had another great lesson with him and he was determined to quite smoking this time. We taught about the gospel of christ and then had him write down why he wanted to repent and quit smoking. He wrote his reasons on a paper in chinese and it looked SWEET! even though we couldnt understand it, we took a picture of it. And fortunately elder purser in our house, he speaks chinese, so he translated it for us and one of his reasons he wrote down was, "I want to be a better dad.", and idk why but it touched me way hard. It made me super grateful for the blessings of living the gospel. His gospel really does make bad men good, and good men better as big papa always says. However its more than just that too- I re-read the powerhouse of a talk by sister bonnie oscarson from last conference. I read it this morning... the whole talk (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/04/do-i-believe?lang=eng&_r=1) but here's a sneak peak of it:

"We believe that this Church is more than just a good place to go on Sundays and learn how to be a good person. It is more than just a lovely Christian social club where we can associate with people of good moral standing. It is not just a great set of ideas that parents can teach their children at home so they will be responsible, nice people. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is infinitely more than all of these things.

Think for just a minute about the profound claims we make as a religion. We believe that the same Church Jesus Christ established while on the earth has been restored once again by a prophet called of God in our time and that our leaders hold the same power and authority to act in God’s name that ancient Apostles held. It is called the priesthood of God. We claim that through this restored authority, we can receive saving ordinances, such as baptism, and enjoy the purifying and refining gift of the Holy Ghost to be with us at all times. We have apostles and prophets leading and directing this Church through priesthood keys, and we believe that God speaks to His children through these prophets.

We also believe that this priesthood power makes it possible to make covenants and receive ordinances in holy temples that will someday enable us to return to the presence of God and live with Him forever. We also claim that, through this power, families can be bound together for eternity when couples enter the new and everlasting covenant of marriage in sacred buildings that we believe are literally the houses of God. We believe that we can receive these saving ordinances not only for ourselves but also for our ancestors who lived on the earth without having the chance to participate in these essential saving ordinances. We believe we can perform ordinances for our ancestors by proxy in these same holy temples.

We believe that, through a prophet and the power of God, we have received additional scriptures, adding to the testimony of that in the Bible declaring that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world.

We claim that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the kingdom of God and the only true Church on the earth. It is called the Church of Jesus Christ because He stands at the head; it is His Church, and all these things are possible because of His atoning sacrifice.

We believe that these distinguishing features can be found in no other place or organization on this earth. As good and sincere as other religions and churches are, none of them have the authority to provide the ordinances of salvation that are available in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

Here in thailand you get this line from just about everyone, "All religions teach us to be good" and that is the typical excuse they give for not being interested. But being good just isn't good enough! I am grateful that our Heavenly Father loved so much as to send His son, and our savior into the world to carry our burdens and take upon him our sins. He loved us so he gave us temples, where inside we can perform sacred ordinance to tie and seal us together with our families for all time and eternity. I'm grateful for his loving guidance he gives us through modern day prophets. He revealed eternal truths to them in times of old and does so now, he really doesn't change and I love Him for that too. 

As for something funny from the week- one of our LAs that we are working with is a good dude but just straight lazy and sleeps at 6am and doesnt wake up til 6pm at night oft times, and then just makes clay statues to sell and then watches movies all night. He claims he just cant sleep so after weeks of trying to help him by the word and trying to take him out to teach with us to pump him up to change his life around, Elder Walker and I were finally inspired to just take him to go workout. We went to the nearby park and I invited while elder walker practically trained him like a coach hahaha. It was funny to look over and see them doing up-downs on these stairs and push-ups and all these other excercises while i was working out on these machines inviting the people next to me. I talked to this one girl for about 15 minutes and for a second i was thinking "did i waste a ton of time small-talking to this girl?" because typically the invites are shorter and quicker trying to find the elect in the crowds of people, but for some reason it felt right. after talking to her we had to head out so i asked for her number and she told me she couldnt remember it and her phone wasnt on her (the typical response for someone who just doesn't want to give you their number) so i happily gave her my number on a pic of jesus, and she said she would call the next day. She did, and we taught her, and she wants to be baptized. Miracles<3 So that was a sweet experience. And our LA said he went to bed alot earlier that night from being exhausted haha so that was good too. 

Walker and I have been picking up our workout pace as well after meeting an herbal life lady this week at the park who somehow convinced us to come into her little shop right near by and get a free test on how healthy our bodies were. So we stood on a scale haha and it scanned or body fat percentage, muscle percantage etc. and at first it said my muscle % was 27% which i thought was pretty decent until Walker did it and he came in at 56%... i didnt believe it so i did a fast set of pushups and made her scan me again haha, turns out she read the number wrong and i was 57% woohoo! but either way we both decided we need better bodies so the alarm clock has been set for 6am and we have been way sore- hopefully we have the motivation to carry it throughout the transfer. 

Well all is well, Thailand is the coolest place ever, and God is awesome. Being a missionary is the coolest job in the world- i would recommend you do it! Love you guys<3 

the happiest missionary in thailand, elder chamberlin

"It was squishy" - Saphaan Sung, May 30, 2016

Monday, May 30 2016, it's 10am in the morning and the world is a beautiful place to live. 

Great moments of the week: The spirit is willing but the body is weak- so monday we took a rest from our labors and ping ponged it up with olympic champ brother gary isaac. Whatsup blake what you got boyyy- Gary is my idol- he's a 25 year old man stuck in a 70 year old body. This week he climbed a tree for us to prove it haha. When he cruises around on his scooter he reps this sweet doo-rag too hahaa i love this man. I was also proposed to this week too haha. 

We did switch-offs with our missionaries in Bangnaa, so i was out preaching with Elder Young on Wednesday, and then we got back that night and as Bangnaa went home we switched off with our Bangkapi elders, and I went out with Elder Gardner, and then we all met back at the house that night and I went down to Samut Prakaan to switch off with Elder Bowmeester. The week was FIRED UP and way fun, but by saturday we were just wasted. 

One really cool experience on thursday- we went to teach a 50 year old guy named Bay, and when we showed up to his place he was saying how his buddy was about to come over in a bit and then he would have to run errands and that he didn't really have time to meet. Determined we kept talking to him until i felt "just sit down with him and start teaching..." hahah. So feeling a little too bold, I sit down. We talk to him if he had been praying or read at all in the pamphlet we gave him from last time, and he hadn't. We start the lesson and begin teaching him about the Gospel, sharing this message of hope and peace, and we begin from Jesus Christ and faith in him. Inspired, we share 3 nephi 27:19-20 with him, and after he reads it he pauses and just says, "wow. what is that? that feeling, i feel like, so light and free and open... why do i feel so good and light?" We got to bear testimony of how God testifies of truth through his spirit, and we finished the lesson. He accepted to be baptized- and we left with smiles on our faces. Lesson learned- that there is no such thing as "too bold" as long as it is done with love. 

Another time as we were leaving an FHE with an investigator from a members house... our investigator, golf, was just like "thank you elders, i'm so happy." A genuine remark of a truly happy dude- and it hit me as he said that, that this gospel is so great :) we are way blessed to have a loving heavenly father who leads us, guides us, and sent his perfect son to walk beside us. 

A history making moment- one of my missionaries i switched off with is a stud! He is a super happy, loving, smart good dude, and way shy- and so his whole time while he has been here in thailand he has struggled talking to everyone. On our switch-off i never would have guessed this but he told me he had never gotten a single number from someone before... Our switch-off together was a day full of miracles. As we would travel place to place we would be talking to everyone on the street, on the buses, on the vans, on their motorcycles, in the 7/11 stores, etc. and sometimes i would be like "hey go knock on that persons car window and invite them" and though hesitant, he did haha. And so our first success of the day came as i challenged him to go invite this one dude smoking on the sidewalk and bear testimony that he can quit smoking through Christ. Hahaha it was such a great moment- he finally went and all i could see from where i was at was that the guy handed him his cigarette, and they kept talking... and then i walked up to support the words of my comp, and the guy ends up handing us all his cigarettes he had just bought, and then we handed them back to throw them away himself. Then my companion got his number- WOO! making history- hahaha afterwards he said, "Elder Chamberlin.... that was the first time i have ever touched a cigarette... in my life" I asked him how it felt, meaning how it felt to throw away the cigarette and he answered "it was squishy" haha... And then the miracles continued. We were inviting in this little indoor clothes market and as it was getting late i told him, alright elder, you have to get one more number before we leave this market. Scared that he might have to sleep in the market he mustered the courage to talk to a few people. We were there for a while until he successfully found someone whom God had prepared. He was way stoked, and i was way stoked for him. In all the switch-offs i was just so impressed by how awesome our missionaries are here. It also hyped me up for wanting to go out and train again- training is where its AT! 

Some Elder Walker wisdom: "Satan's purpose is to try and prove that man is unworthy of the gift of agency" - let that soak in for a second. So he is gonna do everything in his power to get us to use our agency poorly. He is a bitter man that wants to prove to God that he was right- that we can't handle the agency to choose for ourselves, and make it back to his presence. Just a cool little thought for you. 

We also hit up our neighborhood this last week, inviting and getting to know all our neighbors. It was different than the typical "hit the market and invite everyone to repent approach", and i don't know how effective it was but it felt good. Most of our neighbors have seen the elders a bunch of times and still don't who we are or what we share. It was nice having families, many of which are of chinese lineage, invite us into their homes and get to know their family. Some were more interested than others, but it was good and we will see this week as we go to dinner with some of them what results of our new approach ;) 

I am healthy, happy, and having a blast out here in Ladgrabang with Elder Walker- it's crazy the transfer is already over this week. We're crossing the fingers for another transfer together-

It is true my friends that God knows us individually. He knows us and loves us, and is paving the way before us. I thank him for the opportunity to serve him for my short time here in Thailand- what an adventure. I love you guys<3

your boy in thailand, elder chamberlin

My comp and I fear no man. We stop vespas, cars, trucks and vehicles of all kind on the road to invite them. And yes, we have even gotten some investigators from doing so.  The only vehicle we have yet to stop is a semi truck and a tour bus

See, if it was mango season, i could scurry right up and pick all of your mangos!" 

We jumped in on a dance work out, and invited the participants

May 9, 2016

I skyped you all today- and it was a blast<3 Love you guys to america and back! Time is short- Life is good. God is great<3

Elder Chamberlin<3

April 17, 2016 Water Festival

Well its been a quick couple days since we last talked haha- but its been good. 

The Water Festival of Roi-et Thailand 2016 was REAL. It was a good time and got some pretty cool footie of it- checkout the driveee

the next morning after all the festivities we had a solid clean the church service project. We surprised pa Jan that morning who normally does a lot of the cleaning by himself. He walked into the sacrament room while we were wiping and polishing the chairs and walls and he said "ชีวิตนี้ยังมีความหวัง" ... "This life still has hope!" Not as funny in english haha but it was way cute and he was super grateful. Service and sacrifice is the key to love. 

That was one thing i have really prominently felt as i've been thinking about my time here in roi-et... do i truly love the people im serving? I'm scared outta my pants that i'm gonna have to leave roi-et this week, and so its taken me to some serious pondering.  i came to the conclusion, YES. my greatest fear right now is that i will leave and i won't know if my beloved Investigators, and RCs, and members that i care so much about, i dont know if they will be taken care of and nurtured while i have to go on to some new area. It's a pretty somber thought. We talked about this christ-like love for our zone conf call... i love the scriptures we shared. John 15:12-13

"This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." 

How can we "lay down our life" for others? and then in verse 11: "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." 

So that is my message for you today. Ponder how you can "lay down your life" in a sense, for those around you. It reminds me of Matthew 16:24-26, and also of Elder Uchtdorf's talk for some reason (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/04/in-praise-of-those-who-save?lang=eng) and a quote that stuck out to me from it "divorce rarely happens when the husband and wife are happy... So be happy! And brethren, astonish your wife by doing things that make her happy." I know that as we "lay down our lives" by leaving our selfish desires behind, and give our time, attention, and love to those around us, our joy will be full, and we will be happy. 

Amidst the craziness of the week we taught a ton, and it felt great. I can still remember waking up sunday morning feeling like my mind is so fresh and rejuvinated and ready to go, and yet my body is so tired ahah. The mind is willing but the body is weak. However, the Lord increases our strength and carries us forward, a sweet blessing to those who serve Him.

One of the members from Udon was here in roi-et and surprised me here so that was fun... brother Daft, he's a stud and an inspiration. His parents won't allow him to be baptized so he has been an investigator for atleast a year now, but knows the gospel better than many. He is a good dude. An investigator randomly promised me that she and her son would be faithful to God and go to church every week even after i leave roi-et, no matter the circumstance. That was way powerful. 

Last thing i want to share- Elder Webb and I taught the young men this last week in 3rd hour. It was epic! We weren't informed in advance, we found out last second there was no teacher as we walked into the class. So i told Webb to go with Elder Gundry to go download Elder Hollands "Stay within the Lines" mormon message. I started teaching the boys, and we began by discussing what it means to be brothers with someone. Then we learned the word "brotherhood". A group of brothers that would do anything for eachother, that will be there to back eachother up in a fight, they will love eachother, they'll protect eachother, they will keep eachother out of trouble and look after one another. I explained that they are a brotherhood- they started getting way excited and chanted "brotherhood! brotherhood! brotherhood!" hahha, and then we discussed the priesthood. And what it is, and what kind of trust God has put in us young men. We talked about what God requires of us... worthiness? Then the stage was set for the video, and fortunately video was ready. If you've seen that mormon message you know how epic it is- anyways to wrap it all together... by the end of the class we were all PUMPED to go strengthen our brotherhood, so we went out in the van of brother Awht, and visited some of our boys that didn't come to church/ didnt come to 3rd hour. It was way good and way fun, as they would randomly chant "BROTHERHOOD! BROTHERHOOD!" hahaha. I love these boys. I would always give them random situations and be like- say brother so and so who normally comes to sports night doesnt come this friday....? What do you do? "We are gonna call him and then go find him and bring him!" and then i asked and why?? "because we are brotherhood!!!" hahahah. And what if someone in your brotherhood has girl problems? or what if someone is tempted to go to a party that isn't appropriate... what do you do? One kid answered he would tie his brother up so he cant go hahaha, but the overwhelming answer was they would go save him. and why? "because WE ARE BROTHERHOOD!" love those dudes<3

alright well it was a great week. i love you all. 4 nephi 1:15. I pray that is you<3 dont worry, be happy!

Elder Chamberlin

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April 13, 2016