Perfect Time to Serve A Mission

It is such a great time for me to serve my mission right now. I don't want to spoil too much but perhaps I might have found one of the many reasons I needed to be here. I love my mission and I love the missionaries around me; sisters included although, they give me a great challenge sometime. I just don't know how much I'm able to help. Anyhow, I definitely recall you turning on the TV and encouraging us to watch conference. I use that in my teaching every time I speak on prophet.

Actually, we're teaching Andrea right now and there are a lot of good news about her. One being the fact that she's getting baptized on the 19th and I will still be in this area. I was so nervous about missing that because for some odd reason her and I really connect. Ugh I want you guys to meet her so bad. She's such a wonderful soul. It amazes me that she's willing to put God before anything else in her life. Her stories are unbelievable and it's such a testimony builder. I firmly believe that everything that I had gone through was meant to prepare me for my mission. I was able to pull from my past experiences and teach from the heart.

Right now I'm pretty focused on the work. I want to share more but I just don't want this to be a drag on email. Oh we had a basketball tournament and I was able to participate. Full court basketball hahah. We won the whole thing. Notre Dame for the championship!

I miss you guys and I hope that everything is going well. Please keep praying for Andrea and Elijah. Thanks guys.

Love,

Elder Uthaichai

Picture Over Load!

And these are only like half of what he e-mailed home:

Our Investigator Andrea

Andrea is wonderful, she's progressing slowly and still striving to find her own testimony. We don't want to push her too fast but as for right now we're just building up our friendships with her. She's really fun to be around and she has shared a lot about herself. Her stories are unbelievable. Perhaps better than mine. It amazes me how far she come. Please pray for her as we continue to work with her.

She mentioned that after my mission if we choose to go to Disney World we can get pretty good discount from her hahaha. So Disney trip anyone? 

Love,
Elder Uthaichai

Learning About Myself

This life is to have joy and we can only control so much of our lives. I know I'm young but I have come to an understanding that the Gospel is simple. It's very personal as well. As long as we keep the covenant we made at baptism. Everything will be alright in the end. I know that with all my heart. So use the Sabbath to separate yourself from the world. Sabbath is the day where you can feel spiritually refueled. We need it as car needs gas.

One of the sisters in my district had a emotional melt down because she had so many things she wanted and needed to accomplished but she felt like she didn't have enough time and that everything was just over flowing. Anyhow, she's such a sweetheart and perfectionist really. Her name is Rachel Saunders.. Go figure. She made me think of you quite a lot anyhow, she had an emotional melt down and asked me for a blessing... Now every single time anyone asked me for a blessing I do my best to avoid it because I just don't feel like I'm "qualified" to do it. However, I have given about a handful blessings since I left MTC. I guess I'm very selective about who I give the blessing to. Anyhow, I can't recall what was mentioned but she Thanked me and took the council that the Lord gave her and she felt a lot better. So I want to let you know that whenever you feel like there's just too much to handle. Please get a blessing. It really can give you guidance and comfort. I know that for a fact. 

 I'm so thankful for the opportunity that I have to serve here. The people here are lovely and indeed there are hard days and lazy days but I know that I'm making a difference just by being here. I have learned so much about myself as well as others. I love my companion and the silent things he is teaching me.

I totally understand what a successful missionary must feel. I'd like to consider myself successful. I mean I love everyone whom I  teach. I love those whom I have said "Hi" to or just shook hands with. I mean our investigators might not understand what is going one right away but I know that they felt the Holy Ghost and that's all it matters to me. Andrea might not be baptized during my time up here but I know that she knows that God loves her. This might sound extremely awkward but I adore her and want what's best for her. I have expressed that to her and shared with her that the Gospel is something that will help her achieve her personal goals and protect her from the evil in this world.

Andrea is still pondering about baptism. She has very difficult concern because of her personal up bringing and how she feels about certain topic. For instance, homosexual. She's not gay.. but she wants others to feel okay to express their thoughts and whatever. She thought that when she becomes a member that she has to judge others and she has to conform. For the lack of a better phrase, she just had a bad experiences with members. Members being judgmental etc. Please keep praying for her and I know that she'll come around.

There's a family here -- the Hickmans and they have 3 children and the oldest boy is 4 or 5 I'm not sure. Anyhow, we had Andrea with us over there for dinner and afterward a message. I looked over and this boy was literally pulling a move on Andrea... It was the cutest thing ever. Their youngest boy is 1 and he was just snuggled up with her. Anyway I thought I should share that brief humorous story with you. 

Love,
Elder Uthaichai