Hi Everyone!
So wow. I definitely don't have a ton to write about this time. All I can say is that we have been busy. We have quite a few investigators, and still have time to find people. And our finding has been going a lot better this past week than before. We feel it is so because of all the protesting that has been going on has left a lot of people asking questions. The Thai people are becoming more open to the Gospel. Thailand is still way awesome. I still can't believe that a whole month has already gone by. I am loving being here. This last Friday, we had switch offs with the Zone Leaders again. What can I say, they are awesome! I went with Elder Hunt and we stayed here in my area. We had on amazing experience. We had about 10 minutes before our last appointment for the day and we had one more Book of Mormon that we wanted to give away. So we said a prayer together asking the Lord to help us with these 10 minutes to find someone who is prepared to receive the Gospel. 2 Minutes later, we found a couple that invited us into their apartment and for about 7 minutes we talked about eternal families and about the Book of Mormon. The wife got way excited about the eternal families. We are going to see them tonight. It was such an awesome experience! My faith in pray and my testimony have grown because of that. I can't wait to have more experiences like that.
It is unfortunate sometimes though. A lot of Thai people are of the opinion that every religion teaches people to be good. While that is true, not every church has the truth. It is very hard to teach someone who agrees with all religions. Most the time we end up not teaching those people at all. They are just to hard-hearted and closed to the Gospel. Hopefully in a future day, they will be open to the gospel.
This last Sunday, we had a baptism!! Although it was one of the Sister's investigators. But it was still way cool. Although, we only had one investigator attend church and that same guy stayed for the baptism. It was a way cool experience. The branch here loves it when some one gets baptized. We just need to baptize a bunch more to turn this branch into a ward. That's what we are hoping for!
Well that's all I have to talk about for this week. Sorry that don't have anymore. I am having a great time here! I miss and love you all!
Elder Ackerman
Monday, May 31, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
It's a long one!
Hi everyone!
Wow, this week in Thailand has been pretty crazy! Well, let me go throught the days of the week first I guess. Last Monday, Elder Wilson and I went to this huge market in Bang Kapi. There was so much stuff!! And a ton of people too! It was way fun to walk around and look at everything. For lunch I tried this Japanese place where you get to cook your own food right in front of you. They have a coal heated grill and you cook your meat and then eat it right off of the grill. It was way good! Next time I will have to grab a quick picture and send that home.
Then Tuesday was another good day. We only taught 3 out of our four lessons. We had a District meeting as well and on Tuesdays we teach English at the church. We actually get a few investigators in English. One guy, Sid, that we are teaching, came from England, and he is doing pretty well and progressing as an investigator. In our district, there are four of us. Me, Elder Wilson, Sister Crepses (who is going home this next moves), and Sister Urisa (she's a native). The sisters are doing way awesome. Lots of investigators and quite a few almost ready for baptism.
Wow, Wednesday was the craziest day! After we got home to do studies at 1pm, we were told to stay inside the rest of the day. The red-shirts were going to split off into groups and go all around the city and riot. So President Smith told everyone in Bangkok to stay indoors. Then until last night, there was a curfew at 8pm. They also burned down one of the biggest malls in Bangkok, and according to Elder Wilson, it is Huge! ((Bigger that Mall of America)) Plus there had been a lot of people getting shot and no one taking the blame for it.
Then Thursday we had our Zone Conference, which was way awesome! I learned a lot from President Smith, Sister Smith, and our Zone Leaders. President Smith talked a lot about "vision". He also said that all this conflict in Thailand has been creating a spiritual vacuum and we are here to fill it. Which is way awesome! Then Sister Smith spoke on family history work. And about how family history work, temple work, and missionary work is all the same redemptive work. I thought that was way cool. Then I had my first interview with President Smith. He is such a great man and very visionary. He has a lot of hope for Thailand and the church here. So at the beginning of Zone Conference, I was assigned to recite Doctrine and Covenants 4, from memory, and in Thai. It went great! I didn't miss a single word, and I had 3 days to memorize as well. A lot of people were way impressed.
Then Friday was a "normal" day. As if we ever have a normal day. We taught all the lessons we planned for and most of them went great. We have this one investigator, Dawng (I can't type in Thai, so this is close to what it sounds like, the sound of a heavy church bell.) He is pretty new, but reads the scriptures everyday and prays! It is way awesome. We got him from some other Elders to start teaching.
Well, on Saturday, Elder Wilson started to get sick a little bit. We did a ton of inviting that morning (I got a little burnt), and then went and interiewed one of the Sister's investigators for baptism. We only taught 2 lessons out of the 6 that we wanted to do. We went home a little early to plan first and so that Elder Wilson could go to sleep. Before bed, he had a 101.5 degree fever.
Then Sunday morning it was up to 102.4. So we stayed home all Sunday. He slept and I did a lot of studying. It was a very long day, for me at least. We both missed going to a Stake Conference that Elder Hallstrom, of the Presidency of the Seventy and Bishop Burton, of the Presiding Bishopric both attended. Appearantly, it was way good. We also got a ton of rain on Saturday ad Sunday. It was crazy. Elder Oaks only came to Bangkok for the leadership broadcast and then left Sunday morning and is now in Cambodia. So, President Smith, said that at the leadership broadcast, Elder Oaks left a blessing on the city and the country. This is the first time that 4 General Authorities have been in Thailand at once. Elder Pratt was also here, accompaning Elder Oaks.
And finally, today. We had a mission conference with Elder Hallstrom. I was able to shake his hand and talk to him for a little bit. He gave any amazing talk. I would write about it, but I left my notes at the apartment. Next week, if I remember, I will write about it. So, I am not sure what we are going to do the rest of the day. Probably relax and finish up laundry. Well, being here in Thailand has been way awesome. I love it here. The people are so amazing. I miss you all!
Love,
Elder Ackerman
Wow, this week in Thailand has been pretty crazy! Well, let me go throught the days of the week first I guess. Last Monday, Elder Wilson and I went to this huge market in Bang Kapi. There was so much stuff!! And a ton of people too! It was way fun to walk around and look at everything. For lunch I tried this Japanese place where you get to cook your own food right in front of you. They have a coal heated grill and you cook your meat and then eat it right off of the grill. It was way good! Next time I will have to grab a quick picture and send that home.
Then Tuesday was another good day. We only taught 3 out of our four lessons. We had a District meeting as well and on Tuesdays we teach English at the church. We actually get a few investigators in English. One guy, Sid, that we are teaching, came from England, and he is doing pretty well and progressing as an investigator. In our district, there are four of us. Me, Elder Wilson, Sister Crepses (who is going home this next moves), and Sister Urisa (she's a native). The sisters are doing way awesome. Lots of investigators and quite a few almost ready for baptism.
Wow, Wednesday was the craziest day! After we got home to do studies at 1pm, we were told to stay inside the rest of the day. The red-shirts were going to split off into groups and go all around the city and riot. So President Smith told everyone in Bangkok to stay indoors. Then until last night, there was a curfew at 8pm. They also burned down one of the biggest malls in Bangkok, and according to Elder Wilson, it is Huge! ((Bigger that Mall of America)) Plus there had been a lot of people getting shot and no one taking the blame for it.
Then Thursday we had our Zone Conference, which was way awesome! I learned a lot from President Smith, Sister Smith, and our Zone Leaders. President Smith talked a lot about "vision". He also said that all this conflict in Thailand has been creating a spiritual vacuum and we are here to fill it. Which is way awesome! Then Sister Smith spoke on family history work. And about how family history work, temple work, and missionary work is all the same redemptive work. I thought that was way cool. Then I had my first interview with President Smith. He is such a great man and very visionary. He has a lot of hope for Thailand and the church here. So at the beginning of Zone Conference, I was assigned to recite Doctrine and Covenants 4, from memory, and in Thai. It went great! I didn't miss a single word, and I had 3 days to memorize as well. A lot of people were way impressed.
Then Friday was a "normal" day. As if we ever have a normal day. We taught all the lessons we planned for and most of them went great. We have this one investigator, Dawng (I can't type in Thai, so this is close to what it sounds like, the sound of a heavy church bell.) He is pretty new, but reads the scriptures everyday and prays! It is way awesome. We got him from some other Elders to start teaching.
Well, on Saturday, Elder Wilson started to get sick a little bit. We did a ton of inviting that morning (I got a little burnt), and then went and interiewed one of the Sister's investigators for baptism. We only taught 2 lessons out of the 6 that we wanted to do. We went home a little early to plan first and so that Elder Wilson could go to sleep. Before bed, he had a 101.5 degree fever.
Then Sunday morning it was up to 102.4. So we stayed home all Sunday. He slept and I did a lot of studying. It was a very long day, for me at least. We both missed going to a Stake Conference that Elder Hallstrom, of the Presidency of the Seventy and Bishop Burton, of the Presiding Bishopric both attended. Appearantly, it was way good. We also got a ton of rain on Saturday ad Sunday. It was crazy. Elder Oaks only came to Bangkok for the leadership broadcast and then left Sunday morning and is now in Cambodia. So, President Smith, said that at the leadership broadcast, Elder Oaks left a blessing on the city and the country. This is the first time that 4 General Authorities have been in Thailand at once. Elder Pratt was also here, accompaning Elder Oaks.
And finally, today. We had a mission conference with Elder Hallstrom. I was able to shake his hand and talk to him for a little bit. He gave any amazing talk. I would write about it, but I left my notes at the apartment. Next week, if I remember, I will write about it. So, I am not sure what we are going to do the rest of the day. Probably relax and finish up laundry. Well, being here in Thailand has been way awesome. I love it here. The people are so amazing. I miss you all!
Love,
Elder Ackerman
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Thailand!!
Hey everyone!
So it has been pretty crazy here. I don't even know where to start!! Well, this last Friday, Elder Wilson and I did switch offs with the Zone Leaders. I was with Elder Day in his area, and Elder Hunt came to Saphaan Soong. It was way fun and hard work. I still can't say much in the lessons, but it is better than when I first got here.
Although we have had a couple days were we don't end up teaching anyone. Sunday was like that. It was way hard. It is frustrating when people don't realize the importance of our message. So we have a great example that we use to teach the investigators about the importance of keeping commitments. We compare it to the "taang duawn" or the freeway. Keeping the commitments, keeps you on the freeway, and the freeway leads to happiness. It's way awesome! It seems to work pretty well.
We have a lot of investigators we are teaching and it gets hard to keep track of them all. Thank goodness for the area book!
So, the political situation here in Thailand is pretty crazy. It is been pretty contained in the center of the city. We don't feel any of it out here. But it is talked about a little. The Sky train and the subway have been shut down, and ton's of stores as well. It is just crazy. There are grenades that go off and lots of burning cars. It just keeps getting worse. So we are even wondering if Elder Oaks is still going to come to Thailand next week or not. I hope he still does. It would be great to have an apostle here and be able to listen to him speak. But, this next Sunday, there is a special stake conference that Elder Hallstrom of the Seventy is speaking at. That should turn out to be way good.
OH! And I also saw a 1973 Mustang for sale here for 687,000 Baht ($22,500). It looked way sweet :) It was even left hand drive and a 5 speed! Elder Wilson and I thought we would buy it and turn it into a mission car :) So here in Thailand, you eat with a spoon in your right hand and a fork in the left. Use the fork to shovel the food onto the spoon. It is way effective. Makes eating rice an easy task. Sorry, I am kinda going all over the place.
Well, the work goes on and there is nothing that can stop it from progressing. The members here are way awesome. That's about all that I have to report on this week. It is so hard to remember all that I want to say! I love you all!!! I have a feeling these 2 years are going to just speed right by! Talk to you all next week!!
Elder Ackerman
So it has been pretty crazy here. I don't even know where to start!! Well, this last Friday, Elder Wilson and I did switch offs with the Zone Leaders. I was with Elder Day in his area, and Elder Hunt came to Saphaan Soong. It was way fun and hard work. I still can't say much in the lessons, but it is better than when I first got here.
Although we have had a couple days were we don't end up teaching anyone. Sunday was like that. It was way hard. It is frustrating when people don't realize the importance of our message. So we have a great example that we use to teach the investigators about the importance of keeping commitments. We compare it to the "taang duawn" or the freeway. Keeping the commitments, keeps you on the freeway, and the freeway leads to happiness. It's way awesome! It seems to work pretty well.
We have a lot of investigators we are teaching and it gets hard to keep track of them all. Thank goodness for the area book!
So, the political situation here in Thailand is pretty crazy. It is been pretty contained in the center of the city. We don't feel any of it out here. But it is talked about a little. The Sky train and the subway have been shut down, and ton's of stores as well. It is just crazy. There are grenades that go off and lots of burning cars. It just keeps getting worse. So we are even wondering if Elder Oaks is still going to come to Thailand next week or not. I hope he still does. It would be great to have an apostle here and be able to listen to him speak. But, this next Sunday, there is a special stake conference that Elder Hallstrom of the Seventy is speaking at. That should turn out to be way good.
OH! And I also saw a 1973 Mustang for sale here for 687,000 Baht ($22,500). It looked way sweet :) It was even left hand drive and a 5 speed! Elder Wilson and I thought we would buy it and turn it into a mission car :) So here in Thailand, you eat with a spoon in your right hand and a fork in the left. Use the fork to shovel the food onto the spoon. It is way effective. Makes eating rice an easy task. Sorry, I am kinda going all over the place.
Well, the work goes on and there is nothing that can stop it from progressing. The members here are way awesome. That's about all that I have to report on this week. It is so hard to remember all that I want to say! I love you all!!! I have a feeling these 2 years are going to just speed right by! Talk to you all next week!!
Elder Ackerman
Monday, May 3, 2010
First Prep Day in Thailand
Hey Everyone!!!
Wow, I still can't believe I am in Thailand on the other side of the world! It is so crazy! All I can say is that 14 plus hour flight was a real drain! It was so long and we followed the night the whole way to Taipei. We didn't see the sun once the whole way there. Needless to say, the first night at the Mission home, I hit the pillow and was out! And that first night seemed to just fly by! It was so crazy walking outside the airport. You just hit a wall of heat and start sweating immediately. Crazy hot. Today has been fine though. It has been raining a lot though this morning. It has been the rainy season for a few weeks now and will last until October I think...oh well. I will need to buy an umbrella :)
This first Sunday was cool. I got to meet all the members of the branch and since it was fast and testimony meeting, I bore my testimony. In the branch, all new missionaries to the branch bear their testimony. It was way fun and a little scary. The members are all so nice and it is a great comfort to know the church is the same no matter where you travel.
We have done a ton of biking and I am surprised that my legs are not at all sore. My shoulders on the other hand are. Carrying a bag every where with scriptures and pass along cards gets really heavy after a long time. But I really shouldn't be complaining. I am going about doing the Lord's work among the Thai people. My trainer is cool. His name is Elder Wilson and he is from Alberta, Canada. He does a great job keeping us motivated even thought the day may be hard and when we can't find anyone to invite. And we have had a couple of those days. It is okay though, our work is not in vain :) And everyone here talks way fast! I am having a really hard time trying to understand them, but with time I know that I will be able to.
Oh, and next P-day I won't be emailing because of Mother's Day. Wow, I don't know what else to talk about. All I can say is that I love Thailand even though it is super hot and humid. It is a very cool place to be :) And I would not choose to be anywhere else. The food is so amazing and the fruit is to die for!!! I tried Mangosteen for the first time as well. Very good! Unfortunately, I just missed mango season. Oh and just use the address on the blog for me in Thailand. They send out the mail from the mission office to all the missionaries. I love and miss you all!!!
Elder Ackerman
Wow, I still can't believe I am in Thailand on the other side of the world! It is so crazy! All I can say is that 14 plus hour flight was a real drain! It was so long and we followed the night the whole way to Taipei. We didn't see the sun once the whole way there. Needless to say, the first night at the Mission home, I hit the pillow and was out! And that first night seemed to just fly by! It was so crazy walking outside the airport. You just hit a wall of heat and start sweating immediately. Crazy hot. Today has been fine though. It has been raining a lot though this morning. It has been the rainy season for a few weeks now and will last until October I think...oh well. I will need to buy an umbrella :)
This first Sunday was cool. I got to meet all the members of the branch and since it was fast and testimony meeting, I bore my testimony. In the branch, all new missionaries to the branch bear their testimony. It was way fun and a little scary. The members are all so nice and it is a great comfort to know the church is the same no matter where you travel.
We have done a ton of biking and I am surprised that my legs are not at all sore. My shoulders on the other hand are. Carrying a bag every where with scriptures and pass along cards gets really heavy after a long time. But I really shouldn't be complaining. I am going about doing the Lord's work among the Thai people. My trainer is cool. His name is Elder Wilson and he is from Alberta, Canada. He does a great job keeping us motivated even thought the day may be hard and when we can't find anyone to invite. And we have had a couple of those days. It is okay though, our work is not in vain :) And everyone here talks way fast! I am having a really hard time trying to understand them, but with time I know that I will be able to.
Oh, and next P-day I won't be emailing because of Mother's Day. Wow, I don't know what else to talk about. All I can say is that I love Thailand even though it is super hot and humid. It is a very cool place to be :) And I would not choose to be anywhere else. The food is so amazing and the fruit is to die for!!! I tried Mangosteen for the first time as well. Very good! Unfortunately, I just missed mango season. Oh and just use the address on the blog for me in Thailand. They send out the mail from the mission office to all the missionaries. I love and miss you all!!!
Elder Ackerman
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
