New Area

I am back in Indianapolis, working with Burmese people. Spend most of my time teaching English and helping member teach citizenship classes. Funny how The Lord worlds. The bishop is immigration attorney so maybe down the road I can ask him what I can do about my situation. My new companion barely speak English; he's from the Philippines. He has been here for approximately 14 months. He is struggling a bit but it's okay. I can handle it. President asked that I help him become a missionary so it's an opportunity to redeem myself in the city. I'm no longer a zone leader; thank goodness. But, sadly I am a district leader for now. We have an Asian district except 1. I will have the sisters email me the picture later today. It's a good place to learn new skills. Teaching English is a lot more difficult than you think! 

So, I was bumped about leaving Terre haute and campus but I know that I was meant to be here. I mean I got to speak Thai while testifying so! Hah impressive right? So there were 2 baptisms prior to me leaving the Haute but this Saturday there's another. Mike Steven; a retired marine. He is so funny. He's about 27 years old and he requested that I give a talk on the Holy Ghost which is a great privilege to me. I miss that place. He also asked if I would share my testimony in person with him and share my reason for being here. I pray and hope that president will allow me to drive down there for the day. 

 

We're carving pumpkins at the Nickolsons' for Halloween. I have known them for quite sometime now but finally get to serve in their ward. Their daughter, Hillary, is a good friend of mine. I'll take pictures and send it to you next Monday. I will send pictures from my last area to you in another email. Ohh I almost forgot, my new address is 8515 red oak ct, Indianapolis Indiana. In case you wonder. I don't need anything though. I'm trying to get rid of stuff actually... Most of the stuff I have will be useless after my mission. 

Anyway, I'm doing good and I'm excited to be here once again. I'm not sure if I will be finishing my mission here or not. I prefer not but that's ok if I do. If I had the choice, I would like to finish my mission at IU(Indiana university) but that's a wish. 

 

Love,

Elder Uthaichai

Photo Dump

Transfers

This week has been fun. We had a lot of success as far as teaching people here in Terre Haute for the last week. I have known it for quite sometime now that I will be leaving and it has been tough trying to stay focus and "care" since we'll be leaving. I was living in denial for the last 2 weeks I guess hah. But now that I am certain it'll be okay. I really like this area n the people. We had 2 baptism last Saturday. Robert Deverick and Abbi Deverick were baptized along with an 8 year-old boy;Jacob Swetlands. It went really well. 

This transfer meeting will be tough since no one wants to leave this area and the 4 of us are leaving. Double double transfer. There seems to be a lot of movement here in the mission since the next 4 transfers the mission will lose a lot of missionaries so they're getting adjusted back to the 'norm'. I'm excited to see what the next 4 transfers have in store for me. It will be a new adventure.

 

Love,

Elder Uthaichai

 

 

Short & Sweet

Work is work. I know you'll be upset with me for telling so little about it but I just don't have much to say this week. Funny huh? Sam has nothing to say.. That's the first. This week has been a humbling experience. I learned a lot by the spirit and a lot from others around me.

The talks last Sunday were all about marriage.. It made me scared.. Especially when members come up to you and remind you about it hahaha. A sister even texted me during sacrament and said "PAY ATTENTION". I thought that was funny. So that's my highlight of the week.

Thank you for all your prayers and thoughts. I need it.

Love,
Elder Uthaichai

Learning by Serving Others

I have learn a lot more about the Priesthood and what the Lord expects of me these past few months. I think that the reason I came out here was to grow spiritually and personally. I have done that and continue to do so by helping others. It's an odd concept really; help others and you'll learn. 

This is my life now and I love every second of it. I miss you guys but it doesn't bother me at all. It's a bitter sweet you could say. There's so much to learn here and I don't ever think I have enough space or time to do so. However, the 6 months to sexy. I'm doing that. It's a tradition maybe the culture of the mission so I have to live up to it. I mean looking back on my mission I have no regrets. I did everything I could at the time. I mean obviously if I could go back in time there'll be a few things I know I could have done better but at the end of the day. I know I did my best. I made lemonade out of lemons!

I, now, understand and have a firm testimony of the Gospel because of the fruit.. I'm not perfect but I know I am better than I was yesterday. That's what progression is right? General Conference was lovely. I love the talk on the Atonement and the focus on future. I will have to re-read them once they come out. 

This week has been rough because we taught soo many other lessons (lesson taught without member present). Campus work is the same everyday. You meet so many people in a day that you're not really sure who is who. I love it here though. Being Elder Rider companion is probably the funnest thing ever. I pray and hope that I get to stay with him for another transfer. Right now we're teaching Brittany(her boyfriend left on his mission a week ago), Helena(I think she's just meeting b'c she thinks we're nice), and Angel (Law student that is devoted in her home church). They're learning and keeping our commitments but we'll see where it goes. 

Last MLC(mission leadership council) President Cleveland taught us the game plan of the mission and the focus that he feels the missionaries need. I am so grateful to be a part of this. He wants us to focus on the Atonement. The understanding and the application it has in our lives. We will be holding our Zone Meeting this Friday so we'll see what the spirit prompts us to say and train on. 

So Meet the Mormons. Hah I saw that in MLC too. It was very good film. I enjoyed it quite a bit. As Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders we were given the opportunity to watch it before anyone else so I'll get to see it twice :) Lucky huh? 

I love you and miss you,

Elder Sam Uthaichai

Priesthood Roles

You will laugh and be surprised by what I am about to say: I actually read a book. Don't ask me why I read it but I did it over the course of 2 days. I read "Priesthood and Woman" it opened my eyes. I mean I respect girls and women but I never knew it was an issue for women not being "ordained" to the priesthood. It was a great book. It taught me more about the Priesthood. I think that people just need to understand that we (male and female) have distinct roles in the Plan of Happiness. According to the book, my role as a priesthood holder is to provide and protect. Which in my opinion, I am perfectly fine with.

 

Anyhow, this week has been way fun. I taught way too many Other Lessons. It is disgusting! I either need to plan better or people just need to be more accountable, ha. We're excited about the "Meet the Mormons" movie. I hope we get to watch it but if we don't, oh well. Our district is doing really good in terms of the Standard of Excellent. However, it seems like everyone is struggling with their own "personal" challenges but what I admire about all of us is that we're able to set that aside and focus on the work when the time comes. I think I am able to do that because of Dad (Chuck). I look back and I always remember that when he's working he's working. When he's spending time with us, his focus is on us. Which is a trait that I hope to obtain one day. I only have 4 transfers left! It's so scary to think about that.

Oh sad news, one of the missionaries that went home in November passed away from a motorcycle accident. It was sad but I guess it was his time. Perhaps he shouldn't have bought a bike... just saying. 

I love you guys and I hope that everything is going well! 

love,

Elder Sam Uthaichai

Planting the Seed

Mosiah 27:29
My soul hath been redeemed from the gall of bitterness and bonds of iniquity. I was in the darkest abyss; but now I behold the marvelous light of God. My soul was racked with eternal torment; but I am snatched, and my soul is pained no more.

I went down to Linton this last Friday and man I don't want to gossip so I will not mention the name(s). The DL there gave a training on the "law of consecration" yeah... I passed a note to Elder Rider and said "What is going on?!" So we asked him through a piece of paper if we could have 15 minutes so that the missionaries can get something out of it. Sometimes I wonder if these missionaries even know what on earth they're here for. But then I realized that everyone has their own trials and walking their own journey. It is frustrating but I know that the Lord is teaching me about patience, which I have developed some.
Lately, we have been struggling with finding people that are "solid". Right now we have a shallow pool of investigators. It is hard to commit these college students to meet when their schedule consumes their lives. I am simply planting seeds here at ISU. I don't mind though, because at the end of the day I know did my best. Most of our time is spent teaching the first lesson and then setting up a return appointment but 95% of the time is a no-show which really gets to me but I don't let it bother me too much because I know people have agency which sucks! Oh well what can you do right? Just do my best that's all the Lord ask of me correct?

One interesting thing that happen to us this week is that we are encourage to talk to everybody and if you remember college campuses.. it's impossible so we pick and choose who we talk to but when we talk to as many as we can without "rushing", I have realized that when we carry a meaningful conversation with a purpose of sharing that Light of Christ through bearing testimony. People are more receptive and are more willing to give us their time even if we might not see them again, I know that a seed was planted.

Could you pray for Tiffany Grimes? That would be lovely, we lost contact with her and not sure how to get in contact with her again. She was progressing really well and out of the blue, she was gone.
We had a stake conference this past Sunday, they were sustaining a new Stake President which was really interesting because the person that was called has only been in Indiana for 13 months. I didn't fall asleep! Hah.
For the past couple of days I have been preparing a talk on "How do commitments relate to conversion by the Power of the Holy Ghost?". So as I ponder on that I had a question that came to me even though it has nothing to do with the topic. My question was "Why does the Lord do certain things? or why is something happening now and not later?" I guess I'm just curious about the Lord's timing. It's not too serious but it just made me think about how loving He is and how patient He is with all of us.

Love,
Elder Uthaichai