Oct 24: Thonburi

Oh what were the happenings this week??

Sunday: I spoke! In church! In English! And it went really well. Heavenly Father is so good at answering prayers on the spot. Prayer. It's a cool thing. I recommend it. It was a good long day at church. Frank (our Thai investigator) came to the International ward hahaha so he got to hear our talks! Sister Alley and I made massaman for dinner. It was lovely.

Monday: What a lovely day. Taught Frank the first 5 of the 10 commandments. Finding that he learns better when we use visual aids. Go Frank go! He is doing well. Totally laughed when he found out about keeping the sabbath day holy... haha We asked him if he would change his work meeting schedules so he could keep the sabbath.. He laughed again... hahah And said "ได้ ได้" Yes. Yes I can. :) Sweet. Family Home Evenin' for Sister Alley and I was at Sister Hong and Lek's! They are seriously so sweet. We did a visual lesson using flour... and it ended with my face covered in it. Thank you Sister A. Love her!

Tuesday: Whoaaaa. Did I ever tell you how cool Sister Alley is? Oh man. We went with a sister in the branch to go visiting teaching... To this lady who is LA... and CRAYola crayon crazy. One part of the visit included my awesome companion saying : "You can laugh but this is not this is NOT something funny." This lady was knew she was oh so guilty.. :/ All she could do to reassure herself was nervously laugh... Oh it was such an experience. 

Wednesday: Switch off with SISTER PARIN! Oh she is fun fun fun. Sister Parin was in Udon with us for about 3 weeks until she was transferred outtie to Chaing Mai. She is a khon Thai from Utah! It was a fun teaching day with her. At the end of the lessons I had to remind myself that my Thai isn't as bad as I was feeling it was... That Sister Parin is just a BOSS at teaching and a khon thai that already speaks Thai. It was a fun experience to show her Asoke and invite the day away. The day concluded with Sister Alley and I reunited and visiting the coolest Sister ROBYN! Who I feel like has become another good friend like my Kirsty poo! #kirstinlongsonyou'regreatiateatyogurtlandthisweekyouwould'vapproved

Fun fact about Asoke: There is frozen yogurt... EVERYWHERE! <3 <3 I haven't really had time to get a ton... But.. You know it is just comforting that it is here :P

Thursday: We went to "DAW MAW" aka the visa place to renew Alley's visa for the next... 3 weeks!? ah. And we were there... From 7:30..to...3:30..... In short. A very long time. But it was fun to reminisce with Sister Brown! Who will be dying soon. Got to see Sister Blaylock too! Fun... Later that night we headed to Thonburi to do a training. Definitely felt the spirit lead a guide me in what to say. Was so thankful for that. Sister Alley.. Such a great leader. Elder Paxton.... Everyone mark my words he will be an apostle one day. Actually... When Jeffrey R. Holland was here he said "some of you here in this crowd will one day stand here where I am.".... he had to be talking about Elder Paxton! It has been fun to serve with him. And then of course sweet Elder Teerapong. He is an awesome mish.....Switched off again this time me staying in Thonburi..sleeping on a wooden plank!.....with THE SWEETEST SISTER MON!

Friday: Sister Mon is the sweetest best most wonderful person on the earth. I love her. She is from Burma. And is hitting her 3rd month in thailand soon. She didn't speak english or thai before her mission.... And she is AMAZING already in both. It was so inspiring to be with her all day. She is so sweet and kind. She taught me some Burmese. I wish I could describe to you her pure goodness. She is an amzing missionary with the purest desires. I am so excited to see the places she goes and the people she changes. I feel grateful to have made a wonderful new friend.

Saturday: Oh wow it's Saturday again. Still weird that today is P day. Family missionary work is the best work. Today I have been preparing for my talk... yes another talk in sacrament... this time in Thai.. On TRUE CONVERSION. It has been fun to study that topic. When you get some spare time go take a look at it!

Here in asoke we are feeling oh so "seh kuu deh" --->Fancy in Burmese :) 

I love serving. God is so so good. We are so busy all the days and it is the best! My eye lids often feel so heavy! I am surprized that I dont just drop dead asleep in the middle of the side walk sometimes!

God lives.

He loves us.

Something for this week: Apply the "What Lack I Yet?" talk by Larry Lawrence... Ask Heavenly Father what you need to do to improve. It might be to use a softer voice. Stop yelling. Try to invite the spirit by trying to be happy rather than be right. Try to be selfless one day. Make someone feel better by serving them. Tell someone you love them rather than all the things they are doing wrong. Uplift rather than come down. Straighten your shoulders. And change the world! :)

My ponderize scripture for the week: 3 Nephi 24:18 

24 Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do. Behold ye see that I have prayed unto the Father, and ye all have witnessed.

I love being a missionary.

Love,

Sister Coates

 Me and sister Briaw! From Udon heading out on her mission!! ha with elder webb and elder cooper in the background!

 Parin & me! that was the only picture I had..... ha

 And sister beautiful mon

Oct 17: wear it on your sleeve

Saturday: My best friend Jessica Christensen is now officially Jessica Mcmillan!!  We got to watch soem conference!! Oh how I loved conference. Per usual. I loved so many... What Lack I Yet? That was good. I know that specific prayers will receive specific answers. Loved Elder Hales.. President Monson's of course. So many more. After conference. I told Sister Alley that we needed to go to Red Mango.... (yes indeed family there is a red mango 10 minutes from the church @ terminal 21- another reason I know God is real :P)... That evening we went to go visit some members... Sister Lek and Hong... Was a way special experience because it turns out Sister Jackson had taught them! They still had the pictures and notes she had written over a year ago stuck to their walls and refrigerator. Love that.

Sunday: Another round of conference. Loved it again of course. We watched it in the overflow of the sacrament meeting room with all the falaangs. So fun. Sister Alley and I went to visit a less active after church.. Wow it was quite the experience.. That I will probably have to give in full detail in person.. It included but was not limited to my awesome companion telling the member to use a softer voice when using the Jesus Christ. Woooo! Adventures in Thailand!! The evening expired with a beautiful mexican food dinner at the Grange's apartment! Oh I love the Grange's.They are the office senior couple! Love them. They live in the same apartment that the Marvel's did when they were here! They even have some of the Marvel's dishes! It was good to spend time with them and with the District. The office elders are so fun... Elder Web and Elder Roberts.. Are too fun. They followed an investigator home the other day.. Because they wanted to see if he was homeless or something of that sort... but it resulted in Elder Roberts ripping is pants right in the back. The elder office elders are Elder jeng and takeuichi.... Both so Asian and in their natural habitat . We love them They are way fun to have around. And then Elder Lingard is training Elder Smith! They are good Elders. And then of course the AP's! Elder Cooper and Wright. They are too funny. Good district. Also got to talk to Sister Olsen today on the phone!! So fun... She gave us a referral named Frank.

Monday: Met and taught Frank. He has a date to be baptized. :) That's my girl sister O! Family Home Evening... We got a special invite to take some of the YSA to the Johnson's house... with Elder Funk from the 70! Yeah that happened. And it was so cool! All of the sweet khon Thais felt so special to have been able to go. And bore such amazing testimonies. Two things that I was most impressed with is that each of strong member's testimonies were centered on Jesus Christ. He was the reason they converted. That was so special to hear. And the spirit was so strong. The other thing I was so impressed with was.. Almost all of them were able to bear their testimonies in English. Elder and Sister Funk we very quiet and humble.. But they loved being there and brought a special spirit. At the end of the evening the Johnsons brought a game.. "cat and mouse" president Johnson was the cat and was trying to trap us all (a little piece of candy with a long string attached to the middle) under a big pan lid. hahaha... It was so so funny.I will forever remember that night! 

Tuesday: MLC (mission leadership council) Wow so fun to meet up with all the zone leaders and STLs! We had an all day long training with President and sister Johnson and Elder and sister funk! There was a lot of prayers answered and lots of inspiration that came. One things I loved that Elder Funk shared was, quoting Elder David A. Bednar talking about the 12 apostles.. "as good as these men are here... They are even better when they are in private." Stand as a witness of Christ at all times and all things and in all places. Not just when you think others are watching.

Wednesday: MISSION TOUR! Another all day meeting but this time at the Jengwattana building! The theme was on being an Epistle. Having Christ's word written on the "fleshy tables of our hearts".... Being converted so deeply in our hearts that we wear it on our sleeves. We had Sun Rise Tacos catered for lunch... (Linda I got tears in my eyes again too!!!)

Thursday: Today was an interesting day. Many appointments fell through... Which turned out to be totally okay.. Because we were able to learn how to follow the promptings of the holy ghost. 

Friday: Did switch offs with Sister Peck! It was a great day with her and with lots of spiritual experiences. She came to Asoke and where we went to visit a LA she had worked with in her time serving here. It was so wonderful to meet this sweet sister who expressed deep feelings of heartache for the love that she would feel at the church and from her Heavenly Father. To which both Sister Peck and I felt impressed to share personal testimonies and teaching visual aids. Sister Peck reminded this sister of her individual worth by taking out a crisp $20 American dollar bill asking what it was and if it had value. Answer was it's 20 bucks! And yes it has value. After which she crumpled up the bill in her hand and hit it around a little bit. She asked what is it and does it still have value? Answer: a $20 bill and yes of course. Sister Peck then testified of this sister's divine and individual worth as a daughter of her Heavenly Father. That no matter how many times we feel crumpled up and thrown around because of our own mistakes and those from those around us- we are still Heavenly Father's children. That God loves us eternally for who we are. And that love is not contingent on anything. At the end of our visit Sister Peck told the sister she loved her and stuck the $20 bill into her scriptures; marking the page for the verse that says "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God".

------->Sister Alley and I had the most intense pillow fight known to man Friday. It consisted of about 9 or 10 pillows flying. And blankets and laughing and weezing... And needing a drink of water after. So good. SO funny. Love Sister Alley!

I know that Heavenly Father truly does love us and sends that love in many ways. I was grateful to witness Heavenly Father sharing his love with one of his lost sheep through Sister Peck.

Saturday: Oh wow it is Saturday again! We are going to jump on trampolines with the Elders. And save the world afterwords. 

Tomorrow: I speak in the international ward. Thank you very much Sister Alley! :P

Oh the Asoke life is so good. God is around every bend and corner. Thailand is still the Hunger Games in every way. I have finally made it to the capitol. I'll have to explain to you what that entails later.  

I know that God lives. He is good. May we all strive to fuel our desire to serve him with all our heart, might, mind, and strength. Follow the prophet! Ponderize.

Here is my ponderize scripture from the past week: 

7 Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in theearth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?

I love being a missionary.

Love,

Sister Coates

was walking at lumphini park and saw this water monitor... And that fat dog pic i sent? yeah that is real. And is the story of my life sometimes... Except not so much here. We dont have much time to eat lots!

Oct 9: God is Good

Oh the craziness of THIS CHIWIT!

Alright. so last time I emailed.. It was Saturday. What happened since then.

Sunday: First day at church in Asoke. International branch came first at 9... WOW. That was one the strangest experiences of my life. Everything was in ENGLISH. So so so strange. For the Sunday school and Relief society portions of it we watched the women's conference! I love Linda S Reeves' talk. She has been special to me ever since the MTC... I know that I liked her talk.. But I can't remember off the top of my head what it was about because I had to translate half the meeting for an investigator. I am escited to go back and read the talks! The Thai branch was great. Lots of work to do! It'll be a great transfer that is for sure. In the evening the President and Sister Johnson invited our district to go to dinner at their house! It was so wonderful to be there. There was such a nice feeling inside their home. A feeling of family, love, worship, peace... Everything... We had the most beautiful dinner of my life..... Bread sticks... There were actual tears in my eyes as I ate them.It was so fun to get to know them more. They are wonderful people.

Monday:We taught and taught and taught. Ran to the office for meetings.. Ran to the church for more appointments. Had a great family home evening with some members... Including brother Ronny! Who I skyped while i was in the MTC. He is our branch mission leader. And the one who translates all the general conferences etc. He is way cool.

Thing ate today: Panang curry from the side of the road.. And I am STILL paying for it. The adventures are real.

Tuesday: Sister is Alley and I either lost our phone at an appointment we had in this big market... Or a little kid swyped it. We think it was the second one... So in an attempt to find it... We go to the office and borrow some bikes.. Because at that point it was around 5:30.. AKA the worst time to get a taxi because.... BANGKOK ASOKE TRAFFIC IS UNREAL!... And so we biked through the jungle. Sister Alley's dream came true.. While I pumped along... It was way fun being on a bike again... I was surprized at how out of breath I was!... We get to the market... To find that the phone... was not there.... So we bike back..... And wow.. Was I so out of breath... I honestly had thoughts going through my head...like wow I dont know if I am going to make it! Sister Alley was so far ahead of me... And I was literally pedalling my guts out! I could've sworn I was pedaling at her same pace if not even harder!........... So I am exhausted... We are weaving through traffic... I accidently hit someone's mirror in the process.. which I feel terrible about... We get to the office to find... That my back tire is completely flat.... And that was that... That was our day. We went and got Krispy Kreme donuts. The adventure is REAL.

Thing ate today: I finally ate blood. Yes.. It was awful. A big clump of mystery animal blood in my green curry. 

Wednesday: Every Wednesday we go and visit the coolest woman from the International ward.. (Teaching in English.... So. Hard...Heavenly Father has so helped me). Her name is Robyn. And she is Navajo indian from New Mexico. She has the most incredible story. She is a wonderful wonderful woman. Right now we are reteaching her the lessons and simply coming to be her friend. There was an amazing spirit in her home (aka palace not even kidding) as we taught the restoration. Coolest part was... Her husband stayed in the room this time... AND turned down the TV so he could hear what we were saying. Ti-la ni ti la noy Little by little. They are amazing and I am so excited to see miracles unfold with them. Get this.... After words they took us out to BENA HANAS....... What.. on.... earth???? It was the most high class thing... I think i have ever done. I felt way out of place.

Thing ate today: I ate a lamby for the first time... And it was amazing. As was everything else at Benahanas... wow we are seriously so spoiled here.

Thursday:Sister Alley and I traveled to go and visit an RCLA in the international ward who had been helped taught and baptized by Elder and Sister Marvel (my sister's in-laws) about a year ago! It was so fun to go and visit them and to talk about our mutual love for the Marvels. As we sat and visited with them, they explained that the reason they had not come to church in a couple of months was because of extra busy-ness with a new and flourishing side job. They were such sweet and wonderful people.. But as they continued to talk a scripture from my studies kept coming into my thoughts. 

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."

I kept pushing the thoughts away.. Because we had just met these people. I didn't want to offend them or make them think that we thought anything less of them (everything sounds so much more intense when teaching in English!). And I didn't want to tarnish their relationship with the Marvels.. So then I turned to Jacob 2: 18.. To see if that verse said it any nicer... Nope. It didn't. In the end I decided I would share a scripture on family prayer and that next time I would drop the bomb (such a chicken! But just wait I totally learned my lesson). So we begin to follow up with them on their scripture reading. They say that it has been going good and open their BOM in the Urdu language.. The member's wife says that she doesn't know how to pronounce in English where what chapter she is in so she reads out loud that she is reading in... "Yacob".... In my head I am thinking NO WAY.. NO way.. Then we check the chapter.... Sure enough. She was reading in CHAPTER 2. And verse 18 was at the very top of the page. We shared the verse. And there was a strong spirit in the room. They weren't offended and seemed to really understand and feel of our love for them. We have another appointment to come back at teach next week. To help Aamir (the RCLA) get back to church and help his wife, Samaya, prepare to be baptized! 

Happy Birthdays to Melly, Jessica, T dog! I love you all. 

And congratulations with all my heart to  Jessica and Mason! I am so so happy for you. I hope you both have the most wonderful magical day. I know that the temple is the house of God. And it is there we can be sealed with our families for time and all eternity. God is so good.

I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve. It has taught me more than I ever thought I would learn.

I love being a missionary. 

Love,

Sister Coates

pics: benehana and khon thais love to put corn in their icecream... Oh yeah. I ate that this week too.

Oct 3: L I F E I S B E A U T I F U L

Oh my goodness family.

This week. Our lives right now. 

All my wildest dreams have come true (i voted for Pedro). Seriously though.

Transferred? YES.

New Area: ASOKE.

New Companion: SISTER ALLEY. 

I am honestly waiting for someone to pinch me. It is all TOO good to be true. But is true. And it is SO good. It is so good. My face hurts from smiling so much.

1. I have wanted to serve in Asoke since first coming to Thailand.

2. I have wanted to serve with Sister Alley since I met her. 

We are living the dream. And are both excited. We can't stop telling each other we are so excited. We can't stop smiling. 

This is what happened:

Monday night Sister Blaylock and I were sitting in a taxi when Elder Baldwin calls and gives us the news.. Sister Blaylock...stays... Sister Coates....stays.... Alrighty. We can do this.

Tuesday we have our last district meeting with Elder Jeng, Chxxd, and Gettawong.

Wednesday night comes lots of members came to say farewell to the leaving missionaries. We go home, plan for the next day and prepare for bed. It is 10:00 pm and the phone rings. It's says: Elder Cooper AP (assistant president). In his way cool Australian accent Elder Cooper says.. "Sister Coates we have some news for you. Are you ready? We need you to pack your bags." Whaaaat. Transfer meeting was the following day. 2 1/2 hours later of laundry and packing. We get to sleep.

It's Thursday and transfers day. At least 4 people came and told me that they were guessing I was going to Roi Et with Sister Nethercott. Welcome all the new greenies.. So many! Say goodbye to the joping Elders... Elder Sukhan, Arne, Suphan, Gettawong and Gandun. There is a huge energy in the air. Lots of anxiety! Who's gonna be with who? Go where? And then the slide show comes up. Bangkok West Zone... Sister's Asoke picture comes up with Sister Alley... And her companion (at this point even though I wanted it so badly I was sure I was not going to be comps with Alley or would ever be assigned to Asoke)........ MY PICTURE COMES UP. And I died. I couldn't even believe it! I was so shocked and so happy OH I was SO happy! I could feel tears coming! Even though our hug isn't in the transfers video.. I am sure it is the best one. WE ARE SO EXCITED FOR THIS TRANSFER.

Ever since the call to Asoke. There has been magic in the air. We have only had one full day together. And it was honestly the best.

Because we are in Asoke with the Office Elders and the AP's our P day's are on Saturdays. 

A little about my fabulous companion, Sister Alley. She is 24 years old. And ART HISTORY MAJOR (what in the what!?). From Spokane, WASHINGTON. She is 2 groups ahead of me (in Sister Brown's group) and will be dying this transfer. Dying as in... This is her last transfer. And because I am her companion I will be the one who KILLS HER! It will be a fabulous death. We are both so excited to give our WHOLE self this transfer. And work harder than we ever have before. We are so excited to see the miracles unfold as it seems like there is nothing holding us back. Both of us can speak. Both of us have been around the block here in the ประเทศไทย. Both of us are on the same page of it all. She GETS IT. I have absolutely nothing but the best things to say about Sister Alley. We are already the best of friends. 

I have been on my knees for long periods of time these past couple of days as I have poured out my heart in gratitude for the endless blessings Heavenly Father has been sending. There is such a special spirit here. A spirit of missionary work. A spirit of building a temple. A spirit of building the kingdom of God. I feel so blessed to take part of that spirit as I serve. Life is so good. The good is always so much better after the storms clouds have dispersed. The storms help us recognize blessings and appreciate the good so much more. I testify that if you are passing through a storm right now or if you seem to just be floating by...The best is yet to come. It is because of our Savior Jesus Christ that we can become. That we can live with our families forever and ever. 

"There may be some among you who feel darkness encroaching upon you. You may feel burdened by worry, fear, or doubt. To you and to all of us, I repeat a wonderful and certain truth: God’s light is real. It is available to all! It gives life to all things.¹ It has the power to soften the sting of the deepest wound. It can be a healing balm for the loneliness and sickness of our souls. In the furrows of despair, it can plant the seeds of a brighter hope. It can enlighten the deepest valleys of sorrow. It can illuminate the path before us and lead us through the darkest night into the promise of a new dawn." 

-President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Light will always overcome darkness.

Something from Friday: Sister Alley and the previous sisters made friends with a Catholic Nun (is there any other kind of nun?) through helping an investigator. From which they had the opportunity to give service at a Catholic women's care center by teaching yoga every Thursday. We went to introduce myself and rearrange the yoga learning schedule with this sweet Nun sister. 1. She is so cool. Khon thai nun. I've always wanted a nun friend. 2. We were asking her if we could come bring her a treat some time and what her favorite flavor of ice cream was.... Without of moment of hesitation she replies: "rum raisin"... hahahaha Yes. Yes. Yes. I couldn't help but want to sing the "hillllls are aaalive!" while we were in the nunnery.. ---->Mom: It made me think of Call the Midwife!! Which Sister Alley watches too!!

Way special experience happened that evening. The Ellsworths (new senior couple from Pheonix, AZ) had set up a dinner appointment with two thai ladies that had shared a mutual friend. We went to the appointment... And helped translate the Ellsworth's desire to share the gospel. Which was immediately accepted. We taught them how to pray and about the Book of Mormon. Wow. There have only a few times on my mission when I have felt the spirit as strong as I did that night. That night everyone lives in that room changed forever! Sister Alley and I practically skipped back to the church as we agreed that we have never taught better and HOW EXCITED WE ARE FOR THIS TRANSFER. 

It is so cool being in the office around President Johnson and the APs and everyone! There are so many special unique experiences here. It feels strange being on the inside loop of everything. 

I so love being a missionary.

The work is so on fire here in Thailand. 

I love it. And can't wait to see the changes here that are on date. 

I know this church is true. God's hand is in it all.

I love being a missionary.

Love,

Sister Coates

Sep 27: GENOVIA

Subject of this week's email goes to Anny and anyone who can get this movie quote. Sister Blaylock and I were going up some really steep stairs the other day while a khon Thai holding an umbrella was going down the stairs... As her umbrella passed over my head i said "A little higher Olivia".... :) Genovia. 

Monday: Sista Blaylock and I traveled to Braduu Naam a HUGE market.. And bought some awesome สบาย dressess. And of course ran to Siam to spray ourselves with Chanel before running to sister B's interview.... hehehe Guilty. Gotta live that hi so life in Asoke. <3 That evening, as part of zone conference we had family home evening with all the missionaries in our zone at the asoke chapel! It was so fun. Minute to win it games.  So fun to be with everyone! And fun to have a slumber party with all the sisters back at the asoke apartment... Except for... I think I am officially not a teenager anymore.. I was out as soon as my head hit the pillow. #missionarylife

Tuesday: ZONE CONFERENCE It was a wonderful conference that included lots of revelation and answered prayers. The theme was DILIGENCE. Of which I was also asked to speak on. From my studies and from the conference I learned that diligence is consistent, energetic and earnestly DOING. Just reading the scriptures once in a while or praying once will get us a testimony and bring us closer to Heavenly Father, as exercising once will make us skinny and eating one box of donuts will make us fat..... It is diligently seeking for answers and guidance in our prayers, scripture study and keeping the commandments where we will find truth. It is diligently living the gospel... actually diligently living what we claim to believe that will lead us to become. That will build our testimonies, lives, and families. 

Wednesday: WE GOT NEW MATTRESSES! Oh...... Oh I was so happy. Oh so so happy. I slept like a baby that night! Read in the scriptures with Sister Bew today. She is still doing so good. She is so brave. Still hasn't gotten permission. But I think the plan is to just print out a permission form and have her take it to her parents now. DO.

Thursday: Ayayaye. Taught a guy to day.. who said he believes EVERYTHING we have taught him.. But refuses to keep the word of wisdom. Prayers & patience. Fun fact about Thailand... And probably all of Asia: Everyone here LOVES green tea. LOVE IT. They have green tea flavored EVERYTHING. There are 2 flavors of icecream in the DQ machines. Vanilla and green tea.. It is the color of a shamrocks on saint patricks day.

Friday: Reviewed the beginning part of the plan of salvation with King! He is for real the coolest cat ever. We were walking home from the church with an investigator that the elders had given us.. She started talking to us about prayer... And then about baptism... (was the only one talking really)... And then asked do you know why I feel like I can't be baptized? Let me tell you.... It was really cool to hear her answer a few of her own questions and realize that she really does believe in what the missionaries have taught her. She is waiting for a big answer to her prayers.. And to feel like she isn't "betraying" the religion she has believed all her life. 

Saturday: Elders were our tender mercy today in helping us teach our investigator Dane. Who has the purest desires to follow Jesus Christ and to become a new person that I have ever seen. 

Sunday: While we were waiting at the church for an appointment to come.. An LA that I had never met or heard of.. walks in bringing two of his little friends in with him to learn with us! Wow that was a miracle. Found an LA and new people to teach. Miracles around every corner here in the ประเทศไทย.

Transfer calls come today.

butterflies

I love being a missionary.

Love,

Sister Coates

Pics: 

-All the missionaries in the Bangkok West Zone

-Sticky rice with crushed dried shrimp wrapped in a banana leaf. Welcome to Thailand.

Sep 20: service

Monday: P day fun. We got foot massages. Thank you Thailand.

Tuesday: Great district meeting. Trying hard to make this place a stake.

Wednesday: Went and found sweet sister Keen who hasn't been to church for a month or two.. She was so touched that we came and found her at her house! There is something special that happens when we take a moment out of our busy schedules to give someone more than just a phone call. 

Thursday: Taught O for the last time today.. I have never had to actually tell an investigator that we would be formering them.. And it broke my heart a little to have to tell her. It hurt because I didn't realize how much I loved this sweet sister and how that because of her unwillingness to really know the truth for herself.. She would not be able to partake of the pure happiness that the gospel brings. I felt that way at first.. But it was immediately swallowed up in a quiet assurance and perfect hope that now is not her time but it was a necessary step for her to get to where she needs to be. And so we will trust in Heavenly Father.. And know that all things have been done in the wisdom of he who knoweth all things.

Friday: We went over to an LA's house that hasn't been to church for 20 years.. and has more or less forgotten everything! We had gotten there a little early and the member had yet to come home from work so his nonmember wife invited us in to sit down. It was obvious that she was really busy and stressed as she had three little kids running around, a messy house and food to prepare for the next day's market. Perfect serving opportunity! We sat down and chopped up vegetables with her until the stress lines on her forehead ceased. When it came time to share the lesson there was a spirit of trust and gratitude in the air. That service allowed the spirit to enter that home and into the hearts of all who lived there. The member's wife came and sat in on the lesson and accepted the commitment to pray, even though she was firmly Buddhist. I know that her heart was opened because we took a little time to serve her. 

Saturday: Our way cool RC had missed her first week of church last week since she been baptized.. Because she had just started a new job. We went over to visit.. And she told us that she wouldn't be working there anymore because Heavenly father doesn't want her to work on Sundays... Her answer came from her body breaking out in shingles upon arriving to work the previous Sunday. Ouch! But kind of a cool answer from our Heavenly father. She has been a member for about 4? months.. And just finished the Book of Mormon. SO COOL. 

Also, are shingles contagious? I hope not. 

Miracle from Sunday: We had FOUR LA's that we have been visiting and contacting now for months, that came to church yesterday!! One sister I had not seen since my first week in Bang Khae 3 months ago! She had told us she was in a different province for a while and that we could still call her on the phone. After a long time of not answering or returning or phone calls. We decided we needed to go and visit her house to see if she was really in a different province. To this sweet sister's embarrassment we found her there in the same place she had been working three months prior. She felt so bad for not returning out calls and for not coming to church.. She told us that she had been avoiding it because she thought that people would tell her she needed to be at church and judge her for not being there for so long. She was very surprised to hear that this was not the case at all. But that the members at church missed her and wanted her to come back. She was surprised to hear that we too missed her and had been calling to talk and encourage, not forcefully tell her she needed to repent and go to church. She felt an outpouring of love. And though she was unable to stay for all the meetings at church I believe the spirit testified to her that coming to church was the right decision. 

Crazy thing: Not sure if I have mentioned this before.. But there is a dog that roams the streets close to the church... And about... 4 weeks ago.. Sister Blaylock and I were walking to meet an investigator when we see this dog walking/staggering towards us WITH A BROKEN NECK and coughing up powder!? To this day we see the dog almost everyday and its neck is in a permanent crooked position.. You know when cute lab dogs will raise their ears and then tilt their head... kind of giving you a question look? That is the position this dog is stuck in. 

#dogsinthailand

I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Know that you are in my prayers and that Heavenly Father will be with you always. 

I love being a missionary.

Love,

Sister Coates

Last week I forgot to attach a picture of King with his hair cut! He is on the bottom right. SO COOL!

                         

                           

Sep 14: great calm

What's this news that Kanye West is running for president?

I guess KanyeCare has a nice ring to it.

 

M: Walked the golden halls of Siam. Again. We smell tested the Bath & Body Works scents for long time. Never did I think that the smells of America would be such a pleasure haha! They had a Chanel store at Siam Paragon.. Which we walked through just for funsies.. And because we are falaang and can. :) We see a loan coat hanging on the wall and look at the price tag.... 776,000 ฿.... Which is $21,000. It was a fun Hi So day :) I bought shoes with pineapples on them.

 

T: District meeting! I really like the district this transfer! There are some really great missionaries. My zone leaders are Elder Jeng and Elder Paxton.. The members go crazy over Elder Jeng because he is from Taiwan haha.. Very exotic :) We love to tease him about it! He is a great Elder. And Elder Paxton.. Will one day be a general authority. Weird to think though that he his still 19! And that.. Almost the Elders now.. Are still 18..19.. The lord qualifies whom he calls.

 

W:  We taught the Elder's new investigator Blue. I so admire the bravery of these young people who come by themselves and find faith in Jesus Christ by following the good inside them. They are great examples.. Our investigator Sister Bew still has not gotten permisison to be baptized.. Yet she has come to church and lots of activities, etc for over a month. She reads the scriptures, prays, and keeps the commandments with outh invitation or reminders. Keep praying for Bew.

 

Th: Made probably close to 150+ phone calls today. :)

 

F: Had mission training. Oh over the course of my mission teaching ways have changed! And it is going to continue to do so. If we keep doing the same things we have always done then we will keep getting the same results we've always got. And that is now how the work of the lord works. As for Bang Khae.. These last two weeks of the transfer we are going to be teaching RC's with OLD members... This will be a bit of a challenge as the older members are rarely free... BUT we have to get the RCs out of their little group... We refuse to let our little(big) band of RCs fall away. We will help their roots grow strong and deep in the gospel. See Mark 4.

 

Sa: Found some way awesome people inviting. We taught our investigator Dane and his two kids; Bangbon(10) and Ban ban(7). They have dates to be baptized on the 27th. He is a really cool guy.. He met with us.. And just said.. "there has to be a god.. I have prayed.. And have gotten answers.. I really think there is a god." And so we are helping him come to know his heavenly father. Helping him follow him and be able to live with him and his family again.. Quitting 4/5 word of wisdoms will be part of his process. Please keep him in your prayers.

 

S: Crazy stressful Sunday but all in the best ways! We were grateful for Elders who helped us teach all of our investigators that came to church. So many blessings! Church was great.. But I think my favorite part of the day was going over to Pon and Bell's house... Pon was at work.. :/ But Belle was there. She told us that she got a new job! I asked her if she works on Sunday.. She said No.. And that she told her boss she couldn't work on Sundays because she goes to church.... I was so proud of her. So so proud of her.

 

18 But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God.

 19 And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted.

Last night there was a huge storm..  There was lighting almost every 2 seconds. Made me think of what I recently read:

 

 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

 

I know that as Jesus Christ can calm the storming seas, he too can calm the temptests in our lives no matter how big or small. What ever the mistake and what ever the trial. He loves each and everyone of us.

 

I love being a

ตัวแทน

of Jesus Christ.

 

I love being a missionary.

Love,

Sister Coates