New Investigators

Because it was Labor Day, I didn't get to email yesterday. Sometimes I question these holidays... It seems like missionaries never take a day off do they? I feel more and more tired each day. No wonder most of the seasoned missionaries whine about sleep. It's so hard to sleep at night. I keep waking up, I don't know what's going on.

So, remember how I mentioned that we have to start from the bottom up? Well right now we have 4 baptismal dates set and as for right now 3 are pretty solid. Frank and Katty have master degrees in Theology and they're working on their Dr. Well the cool thing is that we tracted into them by accident and I figure what else do I have to lose from sharing my testimony so we did that. Now they're so excited to meet with us and learn more about the Gospel. He made a connection himself about the Book of Mormon and the Bible... what a stud.
 

Also, we were contacted by Cody, a formal investigator that fell away. He took the discussions a couple of years back and went into the stupid teenage years and now he's ready to come back and take things serious. It's going to be a blast working with him. We hope that he is sincere about it. Well he seemed sincere since he contacted us. Those are the people we're working with. We also have Lisa, a mother of 13 children that we hope to get their entire family involve but I'm afraid my time in Kokomo will come to and end before I get to see them accept baptism... but that's alright as long as they do it right?
 

Well everything is going well, I miss you guys!

Love,
Elder Uthaichai

Photo Dump #9

Journey On

This week was pretty slow, we're just rebuilding back so right now we're not teaching that much. I will be here in Kokomo for another 6 weeks.. I will be here for 6 months.. That's insane! Anyway I'm happy with it. Well last friday I went to Purdue campus and worked with the people same age and it was way easy. I mean everyone was willing to talk to you and willing to hear what you have to say. Hopefully I'll get a chance to work there during my mission. Anyway Elder Garrett and I get alone just great! And he's a smart guy, he is a great missionary as well. We work really well together so I feel blessed to have another 6 weeks to work with him.

We did however get a new Ward Mission Leader though, and he was so awesome. He was like this is what I want done and this is how we'll do it. Awesome guy, I know this ward will blow up. Right now we're focusing on the members and attempting to turn this mission into a referrals mission.

He wants us to Baptized once a transfer so every 6 weeks. It's an insane goal but I'm sure with the help of the members it will be done. We're rebuilding the area right now and a lot of changes are being made so it's a little tough to write stuff back. Nothing too exciting except a lot of improving techniques and stuff.

I really miss home sometimes but every time I pray about going home he tells me that I don't need to worry about it and that my "job" and responsibilities are here in Indiana right now so I guess I'll continue on my journey :)

Ohhh, Mandy and AJ are so awesome they're actually becoming a part of the ward. They are so prepared for the gospel! It's insane the sad part is that every time we bring up transfer she gets so sad... I hope she'll be alright when I leave the area!!

The more I teach about the Gospel, the more I realize that everything revolves around that. We're nothing without Christ and we're nothing to God yet we're everything to God.

 

Love,

Elder Uthaichai

A "Good" Missionary

 

I'm not quite sure about me being a "good" missionary.. I just do what I should I guess. It's really not that difficult. However, Yes! we did have all those baptism and I'm super happy about but now I need to start from 0 again. Ha, typical huh?

Something super strange happened to Elder Garrett and I this week. A man wanted to "support" us. He asked if he could give us scholarship money and wanted us to buy a German car when we get home. I'm not sure I believe much of what he says but it's definitely a fun story to talk about.

1st Baptism

Last Saturday we have 2 baptism. Sis. Hornbuckle who has been investigating for 3-4 months is now baptized. She's so amazing. She quits smoking cold turkey after knowing that it is a commandment. Then we had a child-baptism a long with that. Now next Saturday we'll have 3 baptism. Mandy and AJ are finally getting baptized. They have been waiting for it for quite sometimes now. I'm so excited and feel so blessed to be part of their journey. The 3rd person is Sis. Sonja Rohn. Her son went on a mission in the Philippines and that made a big impact on her. It made her want to know more and so she took a step of faith and found out more. Now she's ready to make a covenant with Our Heavenly Father.

The Ward is blowing up quickly, We're trying to get members involved more in finding and fellow-shipping because we know that the work is hastening. We are not longer allowed to tract in the evening time. We are told to work with members and part-member etc. I really think that we're preparing for the new way of doing missionary work. I'm so excited! Anyway I miss you guys! Have a wonderful week! I'll send pictures next week.

Love,
Elder Uthaichai

Being Effective & Efficient

It's amazing to me how much FUN Elder Garrett and I have. We figured out a better way of doing our work. Our Motto is Effective and Efficient so for now things have been going really well. A couple days ago we were interviewed by Pres. Cleveland and the weird thing is that Elder Garrett and I was asked to be interviewed together... He said he felt inspired to do that and that our companionship is very special. He said that it was Literally selected by the Man upstairs. It was super neat experience. I'm so grateful to be here and I will serve the Lord with all my mind, might, strength and heart so please don't worry about whatever you hear... some people just don't speak English well I guess.

This week has been "easy". I feel like things are getting into a "routine" in a way. We go out and we do what we can, we run from one end to the next. Like I have mentioned earlier, our teaching pool is getting really deep so we're doing really well on finding. We are trying to get members to be excited to do missionary work and help them realized that it is their responsibility to help build the Lord's kingdom. Mandy and AJ are doing really well, they'll be interviewed by Pres. Ellis and hopefully are qualified for baptism. We did what we could now it's up to them to progress. Elder Garrett and I are truly working in unity. We have to go visit him in Walla Walla. Such an amazing boy he is. He's always up for challenges! (that scares me) but we work really well together. We discuss our problems right as it erupt. Thank you for all the support and prayers! please keep doing that

Love,
Elder Uthaichai

Spiritual and Temperal Experiences

It's amazing how fast time flies. I have never felt this way before. I feel like I don't have enough time in the day to do anything. This week has been really fun, Elder Garrett and I get along pretty well. We talk about our feelings and have "companion Inventory" all day long. We have funny conversations and when we need to be serious; we can be. When we teach, we teach as one. It's amazing how quick he learns. I'm amazed. He keep giving me compliments about being able to "command" the spirit. I think he's on drugs... But really, am I really "commanding" the spirit or am I just attentive? I think I just listen well.

Anyway, Mandy and AJ are still going strong on their baptism date. I'm so excited for her and her husband. They are amazing. I feel so bless to have the opportunity to share with them this Gospel. Oh I have to share something very personal to me. I did something that is pretty bad. I tricked Elder Garrett this week. I left him hanging at the door, because I thought it was funny. We went to Connie (Non-member friend that I met my first week here in Kokomo) and I acted like I don't know what was going on and I just let him choke there. I laughed my butt off and we smiled and laugh. However, when I got home I felt like I have done something really really wrong. I felt his feelings and thoughts... as weird as it sounds I was in tears... I failed as a trainer. I really couldn't explain it I felt so small that night so we ended up talking about it for the next 2 hours. I even called my district leader prior  to our talk. I just didn't feel at peace. I feel like I have a better understanding of the Atonement ya know?

Well that was one of many instances that I have encountered spiritual experience. Well the downside of this week is that I got my bike stolen... They didn't even take the Helmet. I mean if they're going to steal it, mind as well steal the whole deal.. I thought I had to buy a new one but Mandy and AJ had 2 new bikes that they don't really use so they just gave them to us. They said that we're such a blessing to them so they want to do what they can to help us. It's brand new so we both got new bikes. We are TWINS now!

Elder Garrett is super cool, He's from Walla Walla and from what I have heard from him, his family is really cool as well. I have learned a lot from him to be honest. I'm blessed to be here. Thanks for making it possible! Take care and have a great week.

love,
Elder Uthaichai