Monday, August 10, 2015
CHRISTMAS 2014
Wow wow wow.
Just finished Skyping with my AMAZING
wonderful family. I love you all so much. Wow That was literally the
best Christmas present EVER. It was kinda weird seeing you right there
and not being able to reach out and hug you! It was really really
wonderful. And I was a little bit worried that I would be kinda
homesick... But really right now I feel just.. On cloud nine. That was
such a huge blessing. Thank you so much Heavenly Father. I can't thank
Him enough. Please be sure to thank Him for me in your prayers.
Family.
It was so good to hear from all of you. I am glad that all of you are
doing well. And are hanging in there. I hope you know how special you
all are to me!
To Zurie, Lyncoln, Noah,
Savannah, & Reagan: You all are SO big!! And grown up!! It was fun
to see how much your smiles have changed. And how much your sweet
personalities have grown. I love you all.
It was so fun to meet Charlie. She is perfect. <3 Eleven fingers and all. :)
To
Anny: What in the heck girl!! YOU ARE SO BEAUTIFUL! That smile!!
Seriously. Ah. I seriously couldn't imagine what you looked like with
out braces and can't still without looking at pictures!! You are so
beautiful. Ah I love you. I am so glad and thankful for all the memories
and laughs we have made. It seriously so fun to be able to try an
explain all of our weirdness to my companions. And they all LOVE you.
Not as much as I do though. :) But yes. I am so grateful that we have so
many memories and laughs.. It's really been such a comfort and a
blessing to be able to talk and remember! I am excited to make more
memories. I love you.
Mell & Nick: Whoa! SO
fun to see you! I thought you were going to Iowa!? Or maybe that was
supposed to be for Thanksgiving? I have a terrible memory :P Email me
and I'll tell you better stories :P I love you both! I am so glad you
are both doing well. You looked so happy :) Love you!
Britt
& Ry: Well first I kinda didn't really get to talk to Ry. BUT I saw
ya a bunch :) Thanks for making faces at me! I love love you both.
Britt you are beautiful as always. I am so thankful for your support in
all things! I am thankful for both of your examples. It was SO fun to
see you! And so fun to see Savannah in underwear!? I guess that was
bound to happen one of these days. I think of you both everyday and am
praying for you too. I know you would LOVE Thailand.
Steff:
Oh my steffy. I love and miss you. It is fun telling my companions
about how my sister is a body builder and drop dead GORGEOUS. And way
fun showing them how we talk in weird voice to each other hahaha. :) I
love ya. I know that life at the moment feels a little bleck... But I
want you to know that I love you so much and am praying for you
everyday. I don't ever have to feel alone because HF is always with us..
Waiting for us to talk with him and ask for help. As soon as we do- he
will! Sister Jackson sent me this poem in a letter last week and it
helped me so much....
Good timber does not grow with ease,
The stronger wind, the stronger trees.
The further sky, the greater length.
The more the storm, the more the strength.
By sun and cold, by rain and snow,
In trees and men good timbers grow.8
May
we ever strive to be close to our Heavenly Father. To do so, we must
pray to Him and listen to Him every day. We truly need Him every hour,
whether they be hours of sunshine or of rain. May His promise ever be
our watchword: “I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”10
With
all the strength of my soul, I testify that God lives and loves us,
that His Only Begotten Son lived and died for us, and that the gospel of
Jesus Christ is that penetrating light which shines through the
darkness of our lives. May it ever be so, I pray in the sacred name of
Jesus Christ, amen.
-President Thomas S. Monson
You
are some good timber Steff. Heavenly Father wants you to be the best. I
love you. I miss you. But I will be seeing you real soon. :)
Teed
& Ben: Oh I love you both. I am glad your Christmas in a broad day
light is going good. I was so comforted and just seriously overjoyed to
see your smiles and beautiful faces and to see you still have your
wonderful sense of humor. Zurie and Charlie are seriously beautiful. You
two made some beautiful children! :) I love you both. Thank you for
your support. And thank you for taking the time to write me a little
gratitude card a while back from thanksgiving! That was way fun to read.
:) Love you.
Kirstin and Chels: Wow! I was so
surprised and happy to see you two! I felt so special that both came and
took the time out of your Christmas Eve to be with me! Ah. I love you
both. Thank you for your love and support. I love love love receiving
your weekly updates and all the pictures you send. I love you both and
consider you family! Thank you. Love and miss you. <3
To
my Parents: I already told you in our Skype messaging... But I feel
like I can never tell you enough. I love you both so much and am so
thankful for everything you have done for me. You continually give me
Christmas gifts throughout the year and have done so all my life through
your examples.. Through your patience... Through the memories we have
created together. Through the many special traditions and legacies you
have passed on. I love you I love you I love you. I am so grateful for
you both. You are both so special to me. There is no way to describe it.
This
upcoming Pday I will give you the low down on the past two weeks and
the miracles and fun things. Just because I can't remember everything
that happened! So I will write a list down and share everything then.
BUT some of the big miracles of this past week... Were truly truly
miracles and wonderful. I will explain more in detail on Monday.. But...
Here some are:
-Our investigator Taste. Is
getting baptized FOR SURE this SUNDAY! Ah.. She is so special... SO so
special. We were nervous that we would lose her because a little run in
she had with a weird homeless guy that came to the church that kept
asking everyone for money.. But.. We taught her about fast offerings and
tithing.. And she is excited and ready. Every time we teach her about
Jesus Christ.. And his atonement. She cries. She knows what we teach is
the truth. She is so special.
-Our investigator
Shark. Is going to be baptized in 3 weeks because his son will be
coming back from vacation at that time... He said that if he could he
would be baptized that day (christmas eve) but he wants his son to see
him baptized... I cannot even tell you how awesome this man is.. He is
so special. For so many reasons. One because I got to teach him with
Sister JAckson. Two because I literally got to see him change into an
entirely new person. He went from someone who was so stressed and so
unhappy EVERYSINGLEDAY to someone.. Who doesnt feel the need to be
stressed.. And feels that he is loved. And knows that there is a God. He
listens to everything we say and is so patient. He accepts each part of
the gospel. He promised us that he would quit smoking. And he said that
he was serious about keeping that promise. Ah.,.. I could go on and on.
He is so cool. And so funny. I feel so blessed to have played a small
part in helping him change his life. God is real.
-Inviting
this past week has been fun.. Fun to ask people what they are doing for
CHristmas and if they know the meaning behind Christmas... Few do.. So
being able to tell them that Jesus CHrist was born on that day.. And
then inviting them to learn more about him.. And more about what we
believe... Really was and still is such a special experience. We met a
lot of people by contacting this way.. And are so excited to teach them
this weekend! Christmas miracles are so real.
It
has been wonderful to share Christmas with Sister Brown and the Thai
people. I have never felt closer to my Savior.. Never been able to feel
the spirit of Christmas quite like this. I hope that all of you are able
to feel that spirit.. Please remember to keep Christ in your hearts
always but especially at this time. Without Christ there would be no
Christmas. He is the way. The reason for the season. He knows us and
loves more than we can comprehend. He is the reason that families are
forever. The reason that second, third and fourth chances are possible.
And so so so much more.
I love you all. I love you.
I love being a missionary.
I love Christmas.
I love Christ.
I love Thailand.
I love my family.
God is real.
Merry Christmas!
DEC 15, 2014: AND WE TRY
hahaha So right now I feel like I am in the middle of a war zone/hunger
games... because the owner of the internet shop is playing his game on
like full blast surround sound!! So if this email is a little
intense.... You'll know why! Haha.. Actually I sit here and listen to
the "Because of Him" and "Share the gift" videos over and over again so I
can block out the noise. The power of music is incredible. And those
two videos are WONDERFUL!
This email is going to be a
little short this week and probably lame... But just know.. That God is
real. And that He is helping me. The emails I receive every week are so
inspired and cherished.. Thank you. The next time I email will be on
Christmas (Christmas Eve for you)... So not next Monday but the
following Thursday (Not Sunday night.. But Wednesday... Hahaha I can't
be too careful it is SO important to me to see all of you!!)
Monday-Wednesday:
Were my last days with the wonderful Sister Jackson! Boy oh boy do I
miss her! This is some of what we did with the final days:
-Went
to the B2S which is way similar to Barnes & Noble... They have TONS
of pens and cute notebooks... People here are obsessed with pens. It's
pretty great. Sister Jackson bought Harry Potter in Thai!! And I bought
notebooks.. Can't get enough of those!
-(this
part is confidential :) as in don't let any other missionaries know :P)
Sister Jackson and I were invited to HANDEL'S MESSIAH with PRESIDENT
& SISTER SENIOR!! Yeah. That happened. And it was way special. They
only invited 3 companionship. Sister J and I both freeeeaked out when we
heard the news. It was such a special treat. President Senior took us
all out to dinner and spoiled us rotten there. All the sisters including
sister Senior started off our meal with smoothies. So cute. <3 It
was really cool to see Handel's Messiah live... We stayed for the
majority of it too! It was cool to see such big group of people of all
different beliefs come together to listen to music about Jesus Christ...
Right in the middle of a Buddhist nation.
-We
packed together! Haha it was way fun! We always have so much fun no
matter what we do! It was weird to see all of her things inside of
suitcases.
-Thursday came and it was time
to say goodbye! It was not fun! ha... But I was so excited for her to
go home to her loved ones and was so grateful to have met her and
learned so much from her! There is no doubt I will be friends with that
girl for the rest of my life. Bah! I can't even write this email without
getting emotional! I wish I could just show you in a movie all the fun
times we had and all the things I learned from her. Ah... So many things
I learned from her! I learned how to be a missionary. I learned how
teach simply. I learned how to love others sincerely and simply.. Ahh..
So many things. You all will be hearing about her for a very long time!
:)
Also Thursday. :) I got a new companion!
Her name is Sister Brown! She is way way cool. She is from Troutsdale,
Oregon! She came to Thailand 2 groups ahead of me! She is way good. We
are going to learn a lot together this transfer. :)
Friday....
Weird weird day. We taught at some English camp that the bishop in our
ward set up for us? Yea... The school instructors had the missionaries
"teach" English... By standing in front of the whole school "singing"
and "dancing" along to a youtube video "i said a boooom chicka a boom"
OH MY WORD WHAT THE HECK?? It was so weird. What was cool though is we
were able to share a spiritual thought and invite everyone to the big
Christmas activity!
Saturday: The Christmas
Activity. Whoa. I kne the members here had been working really hard for
months... But I didn't realize just how hard. It was seriously SO
amazing what they did... The inside of the church was turned into a full
on walk through museum... With scaffolding and black fabric... So that
had you not seen that you had walked into a church you would have never
been able to guess where you were. There were 100's of people there.
Hundreds. And so many investigators... Wow. It was insane. Way
overwhelming. But good! Lots of new investigators. Some that just came
up to us and said... I want to be baptized... Hmm. What? okay.
Sunday:
I was seriously so stressed today! haha... It wasn't until after
teaching a sweet lady named Taste that I was able to feel calm. I have
learn and am continuing learn... That it doesn't really matter if we
aren't able to have random conversations yet in Thai... What matters is
being able to teach the gospel.. To share what we know.. And of the
utmost importance... To have the spirit. The spirit was there in that
lesson... And I was so grateful... We were able to understand just what
we needed to. And we taught her.. And she is going to be baptized in 2
Sundays. And I just can't thank God enough for helping me and sending
the spirit. All He he asks us to do is try... And he'll make up the
difference.
This scripture... Is kinda how I
feel... Except I am not way powerful at speaking either... But I tried. I
tried to speak from my heart... And the spirit did the rest.
1 And now I, Nephi, cannot write all the things which were taught among my people; neither am I mighty in writing, like unto speaking; for when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men.
I
am also very thankful for the ward members here... They take such good
care of the missionaries... They make us feel so loved and important.
Sister Wan.. The nicest person alive made us dinner last night and we
all sat at the church and sang songs together... And it was just nice to
be calm for just a minute. That calm spirit to me was confirmation to
me from Heavenly Father... Saying thank you for trying.
Mom I got all 3 of your packages and cried. :) Thank you. You are wonderful I love you.
I am so excited to see all of you!! I hope you are all able to feel the Christmas spirit!! Soak up everything okay? <3
Love you,
Sister Coates
ITS BEGINNING TO LOOK ALOT LIKE CHRISTMAS - DEC 7, 2014
1st of December. When did that happen?
MONDAY:
Pday.. Again Pday's... Sister J aand I like to take things easy.. :)
Today we got pedicures.. for 100฿ which is like.... $3.50..... This
country.
TUESDAY: Zone Christmas Conference. Wow we were spoiled today. All the missionaries in Bangkok came together and...
-Sang Christmas carols in front of a mall... So many people stopped to listen and to video :) It was fun :)
-Went
to the most high class restaurant EVER.. Huge buffet.... I cried a
little.. The pictures of all the missionaries on the stairs! That's the
buffet place.. I ate had SO much sushi.. SO much sticky rice &
mangos... SO much homemade icecream... And Bread... oh bread i love
you...
-Went back to the church where we had an awesome devo with the Seniors.
-I sang a solo in front of 100+ people... ? Yeah that happened.
-We
were completely spoiled. They gave a a Christmas CD (WITH JOSH GROBAN
ON IT OMG), so many good talks (including Character of Christ by David
A. Bednar... > That's the talk that I raved and raved about in the
MTC). Etc.
-They shared with us their family Christmas tradition from Matthew 25:35-40-
35For I was an hungred , and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger , and ye took me in:
36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison , and ye came unto me.
37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39Or when saw we thee sick , or in prison, and came unto thee?
40And
the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you,
Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren ,
ye have done it unto me.
They
challenged us this Christmas year to find someone hungry.. And feed
them... Someone thirsty, sick, or in prison... And go unto them. And I
want to pass along the invite. Give back to the Savior this year by
giving to someone else..... So far....
I have given water to... A homeless man who was begging for water.
I have took in a stranger by saying hello.. inviting them to church... Being nice.
What have you done!? :)
WEDNESDAY:
Investigator didn't show up that morning even after we had changed ALL
of our plans for her.... It was supposed to happen though. Miracle: On
the way home.. We bumped into a LA (less active) who Sis J and I have
been literally been searching for our ENTIRE transfer. God is good.
thursday:
OH MAN ARE YOU READY??? Okay... Today two really crazy cool miracles
happened..... It was a a switch offs day. So I went to Bangkapi and was
companions with Sister Mamea (oh i love her!). Okay so get this.. It was
the end of the day.. We had just eaten dinner and were grabbing an
icecream cone from McD's when I see that as a topping for the icecream-
they have Boba (those weird popping jellies they have at Red Mango..) So
i go.. "Sis. M have you ever had Boba?"; Sis M- "Yeah"; Me- "They have
them at the place i used to work Red Mango."; Sis M-"Oh no way you
worked there? They have one of those in this mall." me-
"OHHASDHFAJSDKFHASJDFHASDM,MMMMMMMMMMMMYYYYYYYYYYAREEEEEEYOUUUUUUSERRRRIOUSSSSS???"
YOU GUYS. THEY HAD. A RED MANGO. IN THAT MALL.
YOU GUYS. THAY HAVE RED MANGO IN THAILAND.
Needless
to say. i FREAKED OUT.... Wow I was so happy... Wow... This sounds
SOOOO silly but..... That was a tender mercy from Heavenly Father. That
Red Mango was built for me. I'll attach some pics.... You will see pure
joy... on my face..
Okay the other miracle :D--->
Sister
Mamea and I were making our way back to the apartment... We were
talking and laughing... still inviting.... Not too many people out
because I was dark out. I look forward for a second... And see a guy and
the thought that pops into my mind is... I am going to get that guy's
number... So we keep walking and talking... And when he comes closer....
I say "phii kha! Sonjay khaw bood may kha?" >Excuse me sir... Are
you interested in coming to church?..... He was interested. And I did
get his number... I walked away thinking. Hmm.. He was special.......
And then after that... I didn't think to much of it.. other than oh that
was really cool.. I had that thought pop in my head... And I really
believed I would get his number.. So it happened. Okay so now skip
forward to Sunday. I am back in Saphan Suung. We had our usual sunday
night conference call with the sisters in our zone... Sister Alley and
Mamea say... Sister Coates.. We had one investigator in church today. It
was Nam Leab. <---- The one. Had the thought about... The special
one. Gold. Way cool miracle there. :) He's going to be baptized.
FRIDAY:
Happy Thai Father's Day! (the king's birthday) I love you Dad! Today we
taught a TON of investigators... So that was really awesome. There is
this one... named Noot. I absolutely love her. We met her on the
street... about a week ago? She is the one that said that she could feel
something when she prayed.. and kept rubbing her arms. She is going to
be baptized this Sunday. :) I cannot wait. You guys.. Thailand is ready.
To
celebrate WanPaa! Everyone here wears yellow and there are big
gatherings to pay tribute to the king.. So sister J and I went over to a
member's house and watched it on TV! It was really interesting... They
had 100's and 100's of people. That would come up and bow to a a huge
picture of the king and give him a golden bush thing... Cool culture
experience.
SATURDAY:
Spoiler alert. Challenge revealed..... Thai is really really hard. It
comes little by little which is more than I could ask for. I overheard
some members talking about my language ability.. And at first, it made
me feel really bad. They don't see how hard I try and how often I
pray for help! But then I realized it was a miracle that I was able to
understand what they were talking about in the first place! It was a
humbling experience for me. My gratitude for the encouragement from my
family, my companion, the members and everyone has increased so much.
You have to prune a rose bush down to just sticks if you want a
beautiful rose bush. I am okay with just being a stick for now. :)
SUNDAY:
One of the Elder's investigators was baptized today... A 90 year
Buddhist man. God is real. Thailand is ready..... The man was so sweet.
He was so afraid to be baptized backwards... So he did like a forward
cannonball dive. So precious! <3 When he bore his testimony he said
"I feel so good.. I am glad to be a member of.... What's the name...
What do we even call ourselves anyways?? How do I even end what i'm
saying!?" <-- hehehe so cute. His daughter had to come tell him what
to say and help him back to his seat. :)
This
is my last week with Sister Jackson. I am so sad. But so happy for her!
And so grateful for her. We will be friends forever. Of that I am sure!
Being a missionary is so good.
Thailand is such a special place.
Thank
you for your prayers family. Thank you little Noah, Reags, &
Savannah for praying for me every night to speak Thai. Your prayers are
working! :)
Hey
guess what family? I'll see you in... About 2 weeks. :) Christmas
morning @ 9:00 for me.. And Christmas Eve @ 7:00 for you. :)
I love being a missionary.
Love you all.
Sister Coates
NOV 30, 2014 THIS WEEK
ARGH! I wrote everything I wanted to say on a piece of paper and then LEFT IT AT THE HOUSE! I will do my best to remember...
monday:
PDAY. Our big adventure today was going to the Big C (aka Walmart minus
a few ghetto points and the fact that everyone here LOVES Big C... And
it has a food court... It is no where near as good as the street
food...) But yes. our BIG adventure was buying glorious peanut butter at
the BIG C. So fun! :) No FHE tonight because..... Hurricane Thailand
hit... ohhhh boy. :P
tuesday: Today was so
grateful for my district and for Brother Ronny! For our district meeting
we went to lunch at this WAY classy French Cafe... Reminded me of Blue
Lemon @ Home... It was so nice though.. I felt so sweaty and dirty...
Because.. Well I was sweaty and dirty haha.. I am always sweaty and
dirty. <3 Fun fact: My feet.. Are seriously always.. Just coated in
gross street dirt. All the time. And it's not just me either.. Sis
Jackson's feet are gross... Everyone's feet are just gross. <3 I love
it! Brother Ronny is a RC (Recent Convert- hopefully everyone is
getting used to this lingo haha)... He is SO nice. Sister Jackson and I
had, had a way long day... He called us and said that when we got to the
church to teach English - that he had something for us! He had bought
us pasta and Lasagna!! (They are OBSESSED with Lasagna here... It's
everyone's favorite hahaha)... So nice of him. He did it just out of the
random kindness of his heart! Oh he is so nice.
wednesday:
ORGANIZED our RC board... We have a huge wall in our study room that
has hundreds of pictures of the members in our ward... If anyone were to
come in our house and see this... They would probably call the police.
The RC wall is so fun though.. And so helpful! I love seeing all of
their faces smiling at me!
thursday: HAPPY
THANKSGIVING! Oh today was so happy... I was so grateful to the
wonderful Bruso family for inviting us over for dinner. Apparently there
is a restarunt somewhere in Bangkok that makes Turkey dinner all year
round... So they had everything ordered up! Turkey (was probably the
best turkey i've had in my life), sweet potatoes (*tearing up right
now*), mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing..... soo good.. I was
so thankful for them. It was fun eating with their family. It mad eme
think of my family and how grateful I am for them! I am so thankful for
eternal families... At the end of the night we all went around and said
something we were grateful for... Brother Bruso said something that made
think.. And made me want to remember.. He said: "I think sometimes we
ask for more things than we remember to be grateful for." I think about
life before mission and think of all I had been given.. And how I would
still want more and more.. Not really taking into consideration
everything i have! Here on my mission.... My prayers are taken up in
remembering ALL that I have been blessed in that day and in everyday and
every second! I could not do this without God's help and I am receiving
that and more everyday. Be thankful.
friday:
Had the sweetest investigator today. We stopped and invited her on the
street last week.. She told us today that she saw us smiling and thought
we were very kind so she wanted to meet with us.. Haha what whoa!!!
REMEMBER TO SMILE! While we were teaching her... We prayed.. And she
kept rubbing her arms.. And told us that she could feel something.. Cool
to explain that... That feeling she felt... Was the holy ghost... She
said she wants to learn more about the church before she decides to be
baptized.. Since she is a devout Buddhist.. but wow.. She was so
prepared and... She will be baptized. No doubt.
saturday: Okay today was awesome for like 50 million reasons... I am probably going to have to go into bullet points.... Okay:
-heard like 4 Taylor Swift songs! *almost cried it was so wonderful! :P
-Taught
an investigator that I had stopped and invited... Named Thaa.. He
accepted the date to be baptized in 2 weeks. HE IS SO NICE. And he works
out at the same gym that our RC Kwaan does- he knows her!!!!
Coincidence? I think NOT! mwahaha God is so good it makes me so excited.
I feel some fellow shipping coming on.
-We had stake
conference in Asoke!!! It was way fun seeing all these members come
together from the 3 wards. I love love love my ward. And it was way fun
to see Pres. & Sis. Senior! I love them both so much. They are so
awesome! President Senior can speak Thai- it's so fun to hear him speak
because since he had served his mission in Japan- He speaks Thai like a
Japanese hahah so cute! I can understand everything he says.. English
speakers phrase and use such different phrases and vocab than Thais! I
am thankful for the members who help me with my Thai.
sunday:
BIG stake conference at a hotel in Lumphini (the place where Thailand
was dedicated by President Hinckley!).. Wow.. Okay let me just put this
into perspective. There were 435 members who can to this meeting.
Majority of which were from Saphan Suung (my area). SO awesome. They
then announced the members who would be recieving the Melchizedek
priesthood that day... About 13 stood. EIGHT of which were from Saphan
Suung. THAT IS SUCH A BIG DEAL. Ah I love these people so much. And THEN
last but most definitley not least.. They called a new Stake Presidency
(today was a historical day in Thailand)... They call Brother Suuchan.
WHO IS THE SWEETEST MOST WONDERFUL MEMBER FROM SAPHAN SUUNG. Oh my word.
He is such a good man. And the conference was so good.....
Pres.
Suuchan didn't know that he would be called as a Stake Pres. until the
morning before.... And the week before.. Him and his sweet wife invited
the missionaries to dinner at their house! (not just any dinner
either... TACOS)... So we were able to spend his first night with him as
a new Stake President! Wow.. That was such a special experience. So
special. He is such a good good good man. He just gets it. He told us
his conversion story... He told us about how he never imagined that he
would have been married in the temple, an institute teacher... And now a
stake president... He said None of these things would have come to be
if he had not done his part. If he had not kept the commandments. He
told us that the first thing he wants to do as a stake president is work
on on retention. He says that next stake conference he wants to make a
goal to double the amount of people in attendance. He said this is SO
possible. The members just have to believe.. It is so true.. So.. True.
And we don't realize that as members. We won't bring people in all at
once... We need to follow the Savior's example by bring them in... One
by One... In a talk we had listened to during stake conference.. David
A. Bednar shared an experience of when he was the president of BYUI.. He
said that there were 12000 students (or members.. can't remmeber) on
campus.. And at the meeting he was in... there was only 250... He spoke
to those 250.... He said that in 2 days.. Henry B. Eyring would be
coming to speak to them.. And that he needed to be there on that day..
Men dressed in a white shirt, Tie, and suit coat. And the women needed
to be in a dress. He told them to write down five names down... Of who
they were going to go and invite to this fireside... he said to invite
them in such a way... They those 5 will... go and get 4... That those 4
will go and get the 3.. and that those 3 will get 2 and the 2 will get
1.. to come. And they did. He said that the day of the fireside everyone
on campus was wearing a dress and a white shirt and tie.. He said there
were multiple people who showed up to the campus and then went back
home to change because they didn't know what was going on... In the
meeting... There were more than the 12000... And it's because the 250
invited them to come... one by one... The group of well dress students
and people was such a sight that President Eyring leaned over to Elder
Bednar and said... What is this? And Elder Bednar said This is all for
you!
Ahh... Such a miracle story... A miracle
that can happen everywhere. I know that we will reach this goal of
having 950 people at the next conference. And we will and it will be
because of the members.. President Suuchan kept telling us... It is all
about the members. And it is true. As missionaries.. We are just here to
teach. To just be tools... The members just need to invite the people
they know... With a sincere heart... believing that we can and will
bring people back one by one... And it will happen! I believe it and I
want to challenge you all to believe it also-- ACT! Go do it. :)
Before
leaving the Suuchan's... He and his wife leaned over to me and told me
that I was serving an a amazing area.. He said that I was serving in a
wonderful area to begin my mission.. And that all the missionaries that
are born here.. Leave Thailand speaking fluent.. Ah... Him and his
family have all become very near and dear to my heart! And I don't even
think they know it.
Sorry this email is very
sporadic.. There is so much I wish I could tell you... There is so much I
wish I could show you! This place is magic.
More?:
-I
never thought I would ever say this... Those tacos we ate last night?
Were probably the most delicious thing I have ever had in my entire
life.. I almost cried while I was eating them... But then didn't want to
have to explain that I am a fat american at heart.... (the suuchan's
lived in Utah for a while so they are fluent in english and fluent in
making THE BEST FOOD EVER).
-this week sister
Jackson and I ate at this place with thought was Plooy's (a restaraunt
that the Elders have been raging about)... Turns out it was a bar... We
ordered cashew chicken... hahaha Instead be got cashews and bones deep
fried... We ate the rice, paid, and went a got somtam.. <3
-it's
way fun to see the shock on people's faces when you ask them if they
are interested in going to church... 1st they stare because a falaang
can speak their language and then it registers that what we are actually
asking them.. :) So fun!
I love being a missionary. I really really do.
It
is SO fun. I love my companion.. November was her last full month in
country and it was my first full month! So crazy. Today is her 2nd to
last p day...
This upcoming week is our Christmas party/meeting with the Seniors and all of Bangkok!!! <3 SO EXCITED!!! Stay tuned <3
Charlie is Beautiful <3
Don't forget:
One by One
Smile
CTR
Love all of you!
Sister Coates
GO AND WATCH THIS! AND THEN SHARE IT! #heisthegift