Sep 6: อย่าลืมสวดอ้อนวอน

Monday: FHE was a hit. Khon Thais LOVE visual aids. Thank you to the Sunday school teacher who took a moment to prepare by bring thread to teach us the lesson of the flaxen cords that satan uses to bind us down little by little. I think that was Brother Lydall. Will someone tell him thank you for me?

22 And there are also secret combinations, even as in times of old, according to the combinations of the devil, for he is the founder of all these things; yea, the founder of murder, and works of darkness; yea, and he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever.

If you are tied up with cords, cut them away with applying the gospel. Have faith that you can become. And that you can because of Jesus Christ. Repent from who you WERE what you DID.. Twas I.. But Tis not I. Go to church and partake of the sacrament with a true pure heart. Follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost to avoid sin and to do good. Be anxiously engaged in good always. Be happy. And keep on following the Savior. Endure to the end. 

Tuesday: It rained and it POURED. Sister Blaylock and I walked from our apartment to the church in mid shin deep water.... Yes on the streets where we see rotting and dead things.... Oh the cleanliness of this wonderful place.

Wednesday: SWITCH OFF WITH SISTER ALLEY. Sister Alley came to Bang khee for the day while Sister Blaylock went back to Asoke. It was a good good day.. I love Sister Alley. She is so fun to talk with and teach with. We taught 3 lessons in a row in which included a lot of questions for us. Even though they were spiritually uplifiting and awesome lessons... By the end we were mentally drained.. So we went and got Frozen Yogurt... WHICH THEY HAVE IN BANGKHEE AND IT IS SO AMAZING! It is probably the 2nd best yogurt i've ever had... Red Mango obviously still in first place.

Thursday: Taught O again.. She still is not sure on baptism even though she has gotten her answer 3 times now.. We taught her about fasting and invited her to fast this Sunday with us. I know her answer will come. #prayforO

Friday: Fun and ORGANIZED sports night took place.. We are trying to help Thailand learn that the church isn't a hang out place.. :/ It is way cool that they associate good and safe feelings while being at the church.. But because a lot of people come almost every day whether there is an activity or not.. The sacred feeling that the church should have for them is starting to become more casual. So we had a successful activity at the church that started and ended with a prayer and included a spiritual thought! All within a reasonable time. :) 

Saturday: Taught a way cool investigator today who called and set up his OWN appointment. That was splendid. He wanted to hear about our experiences we've had with prayers being answered because he has had some pretty neat experiences to... He is pretty certain there is a God who answers prayers.. :) We didn't have a ton of time with him... But I told Sister Blaylock after "Just wait till he hears about Joseph Smith's experience with prayer! It's going to knock his socks off!" Excited. :) Being a missionary is pretty cool.

Sunday: Our sweet sweet sister Biw came to church today all dressed up again. She is so cute and clean cut. She is 16 years old and comes all by herself. This will have been her 3rd Sunday in a row coming. I can tell that she is a special one. Heavenly Father wants and needs her on his team for sure. After church, we followed up on our commitment for her to pray to know if she should get baptized.. To which she told that she did receive an answer! She told us that she knelt down and prayed and asked if she should be baptized. Immediately after she had a warm feeling spread over her and she knew that the answer was yes. She has a date to be baptized on the 13th.. But she when she asked her parents for permission they gave her a solid NO. We taught her about fasting on other days other than Sundays and committed her to fast and pray again this week for guidance on asking her parents again to be baptized. I felt impressed to tell her that she should pray for guidance and for her parents hearts to be softened and then share her experience of receiving an answer to her prayer.

I know that when we sincerely offer the desires of our hearts in prayer.. Heavenly Father will give. He will give to all liberally and upbraideth not. :) Being a missionary has taught me so much. I am so glad to have received and answered the call to serve. One thing Jeffrey R. Holland said (in his wonderfully terrifying voice): There is NOTHING more important than the work you are doing right now. There are things that are of equal importance. Right now you are in the process of saving a human soul. He said that after this work we will still continue as we raise our families. All part of Heavenly Father's plan of salvation..... Another thing he said: "THIS IS REAL LIFE... We and twelve didn't come together and say lets play a practical joke on the missionaries.. I didn't leave my family and come here if this wasn't REAL. If this wasn't the truth... Not on your life... I've been your age. You've never been my age. Give me more credit.." This is real life. There is a God in Heaven who lives and loves us. There is a Savior who has made it possible for us to live with our families forever.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week! Don't forget to read your scriptures and pray.. It is so important. If you are feeling sad.. Go and do something nice for somebody else. That is what I say.

I love being a missionary.

Love,

Sister Coates

Aug 31: K I N G

shout out to my little Noahie! I can't believe you are already TEN YEARS OLD! Noahie did you know that I was ten when you were born? So crazy how time flies. I am so glad you all got to go to Pineview! You all looked fabulous. 

monday: happy birthday in Thailand! It was a good day.. We went to a murder mystery room.. Where we were locked in this hotel room and had to find clues and keys to get out.. It was pretty scary.. trap doors.. fake blood... masks.... Good fun. :) Later that night we had FHE where we taught HOW to do FHE... It didn't quite work how we planned because half the members didn't show up.... At least that's what I thought when in reality they went and bought me a Swenson's icecream cake! I was so surprized! Seriously so nice.

tuesday: moleff's took the district out to Swenson's.... Again.. Haha Oh Swenson's! We taught English. We saved the world.

wednesday: KING WAS BAPTIZED KING WAS BAPTIZED KING WAS BAPTIZED!! It was so awesome to see him be baptized and then after words just look SO happy! He was so so happy. He couldn't explain how he felt. But he was beaming and everyone could see it and feel it. I know that he was one of the people I was supposed to meet in Thailand.

thursday: ONE YEAR A MISSIONARY. Yes I did burn something.... My finger. I don't want to talk about it. hahaha. That and we ate a krispy kreme doughnut! It was.... kinda gross. Fun fact about Thailand... Don't trust any of the "baked" goods. They are all LIES! :) But can't get enough oreos and rod-di's <3 Today we had 3 back to back appointments, a coordination meeting and a meeting at an LA's house who hadn't been to church in 20 years-- all within a 4 hour time period!!! IT WAS INSANE. Very busy. And very good. We barely made it home by 9:30. Work hard. #thisisforyoubabe Just kidding it's not at all. It's for you Thailand. It's for Heavenly Father who has given me everything and sent me out here on a mission to help bring his children unto him.

friday: we took a walk, took a walk today for about 4 1/2 hours inviting the world. After words I thought my knees were going to sia chiwit. The longer I have been out... The more my body seems to.... sia chiwit. เสียชีวิต. But the lord strengthens us everyday. It was a good walk today. We found the ones today. That is for sure!

saturday: Sister Blaylock got to skype her family because her sister is getting married! So that was fun. Afterwords..We were at the church making phone calls when one of the more quiet members comes in the room and asks when everyone would be meeting to go to the **talent show in Asoke**. We told her that everyone had met at 11 and had already left.. She had mistakenly thought that the meeting was at 12.. She sat with us a while longer and after a few moments asked us if we had ever not received an answer to a prayer.. We sat and talked with her about prayer and then about her life and the different challenges she was facing.. It turned out that she was really struggling with her testimony and was seriously considering not coming back to church. It was so amazing to be able to testify of God's love for her. It was clear that he loved her that day as he had us stay at the church and her come to the church at the wrong time. It was the wrong time for activity but the right time for her. Heavenly Father is in the details of everything. He truly does love all his children.

****oh gawl..... For the talent show.... Our some sweet members did a way cute rendition of I am a Child of God.. With King at the guitar... But then.... They added other members in doing NAPOLEON DYNAMITE HAND MOVES (being completely serious) in the back ground and starting with a yelling roll call.. "LDS BANG KHAE READY???" followed by banging the drums..... oh.... their sweet souls!... sweet souls.. other members did a hula dance together in thai skirts... other people sang...... etc... I love khon thais. <3

sunday: Our cutest ever new investigator "soh" came to church today! He is half japanese/thai. HE IS SO STINKIN CUTE. Pray for him to be able to quit smoking. He has a date for the 13th!

monday------> Woke up at 4 am... We went to the beach beach! YES. mission almost complete. :) It was beautiful. Made me think of our Washington summers.. I actually felt that this summer i kinda did get my washington beach trip! :) It was something else to put our feet in the sand. The water was wonderfully warm.

Sorry I forgot to bring my Elder Holland notes again... And I don't want to just summarize! Because it was tooooo good. Stay tuned.. again.. :)

Oh how the church is true. Always pray.

I love being a missionary.

Love,

              Sister Coates

 

 

 

Aug 23: B A N G

Thank you so much everyone for the birthday wishes <3 It has made my heart so happy to hear from everyone. Right now I can't imagine a better way to turn 20. #twentyinthailand

The new transfer has quite literally and figuratively started with a BANG! Woooo! Haha sorry too soon? :P

About the bombings.. All missionaries are safe! :) No worries. From what I know there were a few bombs.. A rumor of one in Bang Khae.. But also is rumored to be a electrical fire? idk. That and then the big one was in Sukomwit in the little wat (buddhist temple) outside of Central World. Which is where we would go almost every week for P day! Kinda scary ha! But really all is well. There are angels all around keeping us safe. 

The other BANG! 

(we'll start backwards this time and out of order!)

Sunday: BIRD WAS BAPTIZED..... Finally! His testimony was so awesome. Sometimes because our investigators are new and don't really know what a testimony consists of so they won't really share their actually testimonies... haha... But Bird did.. And there was surety behind his words. He said I know God is our Heavenly Father. I know Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I know that the Plan of Salvation is true. His words really touched my heart. I know he knows those things are true.

Thursday: COMPANIONS WITH SISTER BLAYLOCK! And still hangin' around in Bangkok! Bang Khae.. Our Elders are (ZL's): E. Paxton and Jeng; (DL) E. Baldwin & Gettawong; E. Tew and Choedchayopuum... This transfer is going to be SO good.

Friday: Some of our RC's said that they were reading in Jacob 5 and didn't quite understand what it was talking about.. It was fun to read with them and teach them what I could remember learning in seminary. I definitely couldn't remember everything... So if anyone has any cool insights on the the Allegory of the Olive Tree please send them over! :)

Wednesday: Beckstrand said her last goodbyes... Our investigator Yut.. Told me my eyes were like the sun.. And that they burn people when I look at them... hahaha compliment? I think he is probably talking about how when I teach him I stare at him the face and don't look away haha... He has been interesting to teach because he is slow at understanding.. So I have to use all my efforts to concentrate on helping him understand and feel the spirit... And now I will have to concentrate even harder on not burning him with my eyes haha... #sistercyclopsfromxmen

-------->King is getting baptized this Wednesday! (can't have a baptismal ceremony of Family Night... oops!) He is SO excited. And still the coolest person I know. We came to the church Thursday night.. He was playing I am a Child of God on his guitar!!!! And the RC's were singing a long in ENGLISH! It was the cutest thing I have ever seen. 

-------> I am so excited for this transfer. Sister Blaylock and I are determined to work hard. To baptize Bank Khae and to bring back those who have gone astray. With Heavenly Father's help..                                We are going to change the stars of Bang Khae. 

-----> Jeffrey R. Holland on Sunday was so amazing. It was cool to see the members all absolutely entranced. They couldn't understand his English but they definitely understood the spirit. I am sad that I left my note book at home... But I will bring it next week and tell you more of the things he said. I know he is one of God's apostles here on earth.

I know with all my heart the church is true. I know God loves his children. I know he has a plan for us. Everyone can know it too... On your knees. In the Book of Mormon.

Oh. I love being a missionary.

Love.

Sister Coates

Aug 15: H O L L A N D

Feels like just like yesterday I emailed everybody... I kinda did huh! :)

But a world has happened already.

I'll start with last monday... even though I still feel star struck.. more like SPIRIT struck from meeting Jeffrey R. Holland....... See Saturday.

Okay.

Monday: We had family home evening @ sister Jiab's house. And sister O came with us (O that had got the answer that the church was true). So in as we are getting ready to get in the taxi... I overhear Sister O telling Elder Lodwick that yes she received an answer.. But still doesn't want to be baptized just yet.....(ผิดหวัง!!).... And then in the taxi she tells that at her work she no longer is free on sundays.. Ever... Oh boy. Punch.. after.... punch.. haha.. Nevertheless.. We knew that it was in Heavenly Father's hands and we were going to have a great family home evening!! :) Together we read an article in the Liahona about repentance.. Upon seeing the Liahona.. O became really interested and before leaving asked if she could have a copy which Jiab happily gave her! And then......

.

Thursday: comes around and we give her a call in the morning to see when she is free next. She says that she is free that day... And then she said.. Hey sister I have a question.. Is there a way that I can order the Liahona? I LOVED it. I finished the whole thing already. Also do have anymore I could read? and Oh also I want to be baptized........AH. She wants to be baptized as soon as possible. Which is also possible again now that her work schedule was just mysteriously changed again...... Trust in Heavenly Father. Pray Always.

In between those days...

Tuesday... District Meeting: Did a role play on how to teach prideful people.. Two hours later.. Taught a lovely lovely individual.. Who we will most likely not be teaching again.. When things like that happen... I think of what Sister Alley's little brother also on a mission said in a recent email to sis A. He said something along the lines of "the Elders i'm serving with say that the more difficult times you have on your mission.. the hotter your future spouse will be..." he was explaining how one day had been particularly difficult.. and at the end of experience he wrote"#thisisforyoubabe" ......hahahahahahahahahahaha.... As for teaching that lovely individual....                               #thatwasforyourbabe

Wednesday: Taught King..... He is the coolest. Seriously is the coolest. :) One because has AMAZING faith. He loves learning about his Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Two because he is so incredibly well mannered and kind. Three because he wears the same black outfit everyday, has a sleeve tattoo and a flame tattoo one the hand that strums his guitar.... Oh and Four because he AMAZING at the guitar. He is so excited to be baptized. It can't be on a Sunday because he has to be to work by 12... So he wants the soonest available day.... Which happens to be: August 24th....... :} hmmm That's an interesting day... :) hehe #20 Please pray for his family who is extremely Buddhist and not supportive of his decision to be baptized at all.

Friday: Taught this way rad guy named Pone that we met at a bus stop a few days back... Says he learned 2 years ago with the missionaries but couldn't be baptized because he was moving... He said that he knows that God lives and wants nothing more to be baptized. Okay sir.

Other:

-Yud is not quite ready to be baptized... Need to help him increase his faith. Please pray for him to be able to understand.

-Bird... Really sick and not able to interview today :/ Said yes to baptism NEXT week! Pray that he finishes his work program and recovers.

SATURDAY AUGUST 15th with JEFFREY R HOLLAND:

We were in position to take a picture with him right when he arrived and promptly afterword he said he would like to shake each of our hands. He asked us all to come shake his hand and tell him our name and where we are from........ When it came time for my turn- He gave me a firm handshake and looked me right in the eye... Even though it was only a brief moment, it really felt like his his big blue eyes were looking into my soul.

And that is exactly what he said.. After telling us that we all looked "just absolutely terrific" he said... "I just interviewed you all.. As I looked into your eyes- because I wanted to look into your soul." He said that he saw a lot of good things but that he needed to check because he just "can't live with missionaries who don't get the picture".

He went on in saying how his "mission meant EVERYTHING to him" and that is what he wants for us.. And that this was our chance our only chance right now to make it mean something.. In his Jeffrey R. Holland voice that makes your soul shake and the room dead silent he said "Don't you dare MISS IT." He said "a hard thing for me is to meet a less active return missionary.... It makes me go CRAZY... I go absolutely ballistic" He said "we'll lose a few sheep along the way but we should never lose a solitary shepherd... This is real life.. You can't go back to who you were.... What you were wasn't good enough.. Wasn't strong enough.. Don't you ever walk away. And if you do.. I'm devasted and heartbroken.. You are not finished. You are still an investigator. You are God's investigator. Just as you want your investigators to listen. HE WANTS YOU TO LISTEN. Just as you want your investigators to pray.. He wants YOU to learn how to really PRAY. If its disappointing to you when you lose an investigator.. Imagine how your Heavenly Father feels."

There was so much more to what he said and the spirit was so strong in that room and still with me. I am out of time to write more... But there will be more to come.. In our preparation for Elder Holland we were asked to prepare lots of questions to ask him and also to have in our hearts... We were not able to ask him any questions.. But every single one of my questions was answered.

I am so grateful for my time to be a missionary. 

It has completely changed the person I was before.. And I am not even done yet.

I know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live and love us.

The last thing Elder Holland said to us:

"Change what you need to. Stiffen your spine and square your shoulders. You will change the world."

I love being a missionary.

Love,

Sister Coates

Aug 10: BAP

Shout out: Steffo :) Happy birthday this week <3

Monday: Went to the Paradise Art Museum. Oh that made my chiwit so happy! I attached some pictures in last weeks emails... And I will attach more this week. It was hard to take pictures with a camera that has a broken display ha! But I think I got some good ones. :) So President Johnson has asked all the missionaries to go and visit the member presidencies.. as in the branch president... Rf pres etc.. And to explain our new focus on missionary work in working with less actives... He asked us to tell them about this and then teach them the restoration and ask for a referral.That night for family home evening we went over to the primary president's house, sister dang.. And taught her the restoration! At first I was had been wondering how we would transition working with LA's into the restoration... But then in the lesson Sister Beck felt inspired to include the influence of Satan as Joseph was praying... Saying that Satan knew the important and amazing things Joseph would do.. And so he tried to prevent those things from happening.. It is just that same thing with the less active members and with all members and people around the world. Satan knows of these great spirits and he will do all he can to stop us from going to church, praying and all things that bring us closer to our heavenly father. It is our duty to be a tool in heavenly father's hands to go and find these people and help them. To help them recognize heavenly father's love and plan for them.. We are excited to go and find these people. 

Tuesday-Thursday: Met with OOOOO! We have been teaching our investigator named O for about a month now. She is one who one who believes in ALL things good. So a little of this and that in many religions. Her belief in ALL of these good things has brought her on the search for absolute truth because though many religions teach good all but the restored gospel of Jesus Christ are not complete. She struggled for a long time feeling that the church would force her to be baptized if she prayed to get work off on Sundays.. She struggled thinking that if she was baptized she would have to give up the other things that she felt and knew were good. Through many personal studies and pondering about her concerns.. I was reminded of David A. Bednar's talk from last October's conference, "Come and See." I read through it again and was impressed at how perfect this was for Sister O! On meeting with her again we gave her a copy of the talk and read out loud with her:

"When we invite you to attend church with us or to learn with the full-time missionaries, we are not trying to sell you a product. As members of the Church, we do not receive prizes or bonus points in a heavenly contest. We are not seeking simply to increase the numerical size of the Church. And most importantly, we are not attempting to coerce you to believe as we do. We are inviting you to hear the restored truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ so you can study, ponder, pray, and come to know for yourself if the things we are sharing with you are true.

Some of you may respond, “But I already believe in Jesus and follow His teachings,” or “I am not sure if God really exists.” Our invitations to you are not an attempt to diminish your religious tradition or life experience. Bring all that you know is true, good, and praiseworthy—and test our message. Just as Jesus beckoned two of His disciples to “come and see” (John 1:39), so we urge you to come and see if the restored gospel of Jesus Christ enlarges and enriches that which you already believe to be true."

After hearing our words she accepted our commitment to really pray to know if the things we'd taught were true (as before she would tell that she would "สวด" but would not "อ้อนวอน"- as in she would pray.. but wouldn't humble herself to ask for anything.. She wasn't really praying.) and to bring all that she knows is good and test our message. There was a good feeling as all of us left the lesson. I knew that we had followed the spirit in sharing the talk with her.

Two days later we called her to follow up. We asked her if she read the talk and prayed about it. She then told us that she did and had "พบความจริง" (found the truth)!!!!! And that she also did "สวด" and "อ้อนวอน" as well. I am so thankful to Heavenly Father that he really does hear and answer our prayers. I have learned so much from teaching this investigator. My testimony of prayer has increased and my testimony of the truthfulness and complete fullness of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. There is so much good to be found all around the world but all good and all truth can only be found here. I know that, that is true!
Friday: Have been meeting with our investigator King.. The guy dressed in black. To say the least.. He is so cool. SO LEGIT! :) He loves coming and learning with us. He LOVES hymns.. And has loved praying and doing our homework assignments. On Sunday he came to church and told me that his schedule at work changed so that he was now able to come to church on sundays!! It was so cool to see him recognize that this was an answer to his prayers... And then cool to see how touched he was when I told him that sister beck and I had been praying for him too. Heavenly Father answers prayers everyone. PRAY!
Saturday: The Elder's investigator Buey was baptized FINALLY yesterday.. She had been an investigator for 4 months.. And was so ready! It was so sweet to hear her testimony. She definitely knows that the church is true..... Also.. This is something that I definitely take for granted and should probably fill everyone in on.. Because it is nothing short of a miracle.. Even if it is the normal around here. Here is Bangkhae we have baptisms every single sunday... only 1 out of the 5 sundays I have been here has there been only a single person baptism... Meaning.. This past week there was 2 people... The week before that there was 5.. The week before that.. there was 4? and so on..... THAILAND IS ON FIRE..... We have 3 people lined up for this next Sunday..... And more for the coming weeks. We are praying and doing everything in our power to see these people baptized... Please keep Bird, Gon and Yuud in your prayers... All have crazy work schedules... And 2 of which are half way through 2 weeks of quitting smoking and drinking coffee.
Sunday: 8 of our investigators were able to come to church today... miracle. Miracle. miracle.
We are preparing for Jeffrey R. Holland who will be coming THIS SATURDAY! Which will also be our P day.. and last p day until transfers the following Thursday. Crazy how time is flying.
We are working praying and working นักมาก!!!!!
And..I love being a missionary.

Love,
Sister Coates

                 

 

everyone meet elder lodwick 

hahahahaha :) he's great and feelin great in his new tailored suit and "tony stark" shades..... #elders

Aug 3: Running

AH! \

get ready for the most typos in one email you've ever seeeen!

Monday: Happy eleven months? When did that happen. Traveled the magical Asoke. Ate lunch with Sister Alley and Taw, And sister Gaew and Mee Pon from UDON! <3 Lovely day.

Tuesday: Taught Brother BOSS! He is nothing less than a boss. He brought us Swenson's :) He has a date to be baptized but... Hasn't signed his marraige certificate yet...... Please pray for him!

Wednesday: Went and visited pon and belle. Read the account of alma the youn ger and taught repentance. They both are soi briught and understanding!  Before going we made copies of my Paul Cardall CD and then we gave in to Belle.. WHO LOVED IT.. And then ovr investigatyor O who loved listening to teh monk music.. We gave her a CD as well-- She loves it as well. It  has been amazing Everone who we have given the cd has completely loved it and come cback to tell us so.. and to thank us. Ah,... Today we taught O.. Who I made laugh SO hard that she cried.. When I told her that I didn;t realize the word "Prayer" in thai is actually 3 separate words put together... For a solid 5 minutes she laughed....... Thai everyone. Is so fun. :)

Thursday: This eveing at the church twe tauight a new investigator named HAM. THen about 10 minutes after teaching we start walking home when we stop to invite somone.. This someone was the happyiest little khon thai ived ever met! He wanted to go to the church right away.. So e took him right over.. Mean while he is asking question about what we were doingin in thailand.. soSo over thrilled ! We gave him a quick tour of the church and he said.. Okay great I will be back on sunday.. Wiht my wife11 Miracle!! Got his nam e and number and set up a meeting.. He name is Egg. :):) Had and egg and ham today. :) #thailandnames

Friday: Had a way cool lesson with our RC brother chiin today on the gospel. It was cool to explain the steps of faith and repentance and then really se it click iin his mind how we need to apply these things... Over tthe course of my mission that has been somethin ive learned.. something that has become clearer and clearer each time I study an dteach.. the gospel i come to understand it more and apply it more and more it is no wonder to me why it is a commandment to studaytthe scriptures  and pray every day. sometimes it takes hearing or learning something a few several times before it sticks that you need to adjust some things apply a little or a lot mroe.. And thats when we are converted as we apply and thats how we become.\\

Saturday: While inviting today we were crossing the street behind these two younger khon thai's  wearing all black when all of a sudden this old Thai grandma walking at our side starts laughing and points to the raccoon tail that the girl in front of us was wearing.. Hehe. She thought it was way funny! We invited these two fun kids in black to find out they are Christians too! We will be meeting with them this up coming Tuesday. :) I love when people let their own individual personalities and style show. Different people make the world go round! Heavenly Father created each one of us differently yet loves us all the same.

Sunday: translated all sacrament meeting for 2 pakistani investigators. they were so very sweet. I wa amazed that the first thing they noticed about our church was we didnt have a cross. i was happy to tell them why. :) Afterwords. in the investigator class I tranlated but this time it was the lesson written on paper in thai for the elder's deaf investigator... AH... And then in relief society i got to translate for sister Johnson!!!! Needless to say I had a BIG time head ache after words.. But the gift of tongues is a real thing. So awesome. It was so good to sit and talk with sister johnson... It still amazes me how much she looks like MOM. She is so so lovely . WE were all abel tos it and have an invetview with pres johnson. Which was SO nice. He is so kind and friendly. And so normal. HE reminded eem of my stake presdient.. in the interview.. I could really feel that he loved me and reallyc ared about me. I love the JOhnsons! They both already speak really good thai.. :) Pres Johnson served here 33 years ago.. but has lost some of his thai.. but sister J is brand new to the language but doing so good! She is so determined.

Over investo's: lots of on date people... Things to pray for.. Getting off work.. SIgning wedding certificates and quitting smoking.

Rainy season has begun and it sooo wonderfully cool. I love it.

Did I tell yout he church here looks like the Kirkland temple? It does.

I love being a missionary. 

Love,

Sister COates

I love being a missionary.

Love,
Sister Coates

Jul 27: Magic

Hello!

Here we are again. 

Monday: Went to the *magical* Asoke!.. So funto be with Sister Alley + Taw. We all treated ourselves to a REAL cupcake. It was... so... good. and then to Mexican food <3 SO spoiled!

Tuesday: MONTHLY MISSION TRAINING! Emphasis on teaching towards FAITH & REPENTANCE. Later today we got to do just that as we taught Bird the Restoration. The Sunday before I had asked him to read the intro of the BOM before we met again. SO in the lesson when it came time to intro the BOM I asked him what he remember/ learned about the BOM... OMG... He gave us a PERFECT summary of history of the BOM.. Right down to Moroni and the people in the book. And then when he was finished.. he said "My only question is where are the plates now!?" He is so LEGIT! His baptismal date is now for the 16th because he can only learn on Sunday and wants a little time.. But it'll probably be moved up to the 9th because.. On the 15th and the 16th-> JEFFREY R. HOLLAND is coming!!!

Wednesday:Went to go teach a family of investigators and brought two members along with us.. Turns our they thought that all the missionaries were coming so they made a HUGE feast... I had my first fish in Thailand.. It's teeth.. yes TEETH.. were whiter than mine.. I'll attach a pic.

Thursday: Tuaght this way cute girl/lady named O. She loves Christianity & Jesus CHrist. And she says that really.. She just loves all things good. Which to her includes.. Being a vegetarian and monk music. sweet.. She is so full of faith though! She told us that she would look for a NEW JOB so she wouldn't have to work on Sundays.---------->Also today was long planning... Consisted of us trying to make Chewbacca noises at one point.. <3

Friday:Sister Beckstrand and I went to visit two of our RC's Belle and Pon (daughter and mother). It is so awesome to be with and share the gospel with them. Neither of them have a lot of education due to some poor choices made.. But both of them are SO determined to choose the right. We reviewed the 10 commandments with them and after reviewing #2 "thou shalt not worship engraven images (wear Buddhist spirit necklaces, etc.) Belle excused herself to go to the bathroom. When she came back she was no longer wearing her Buddhist monk necklace. For some reason I thought this really touched me! She is a great example to her mom and her friends who come to church with her.

*Fun Fact: Here in Thailand almost everyone where gold necklaces with a big.. glass locket type of thing on the chain.. And inside the locket is a little idol.. Each idol means different things.. Like good luck, wealth, good health... Or will be different gods and such.  Na soncay.

Saturday: SPORTS! Road on a giant song taew.. (truck with seats in the back).. With about 30 of our members... Mostly consisting of RCs! Went to Asoke and had a big sports day! Fun. :) Still sore.. from playing tug o' war!

Sunday: FAMILY FROM UDON CAME!!! Sister Gaew and her momma came to Bang Khae because they were bringing Sister Mo to go to the airport.. As she is about to leave for the MTC and serve in Australia!  I cried when I saw Gaew! Oh I was SO happy to see her! It was an awesome day at church.. And fun to be in Relief Society with Gaew's mom (Pon) again. hahah She spoke the majority of the time. :) Some of the time in Issan. So. Fun! Made my heart happy! Sister Beck and I later returned home and made THE BEST MASSAMAN EVER... I ate so much I felt sick after words.. Worth it? Yes...

Monday again: We switched up our emailing time to come to Asoke again... It is soooo Magical!!!! I cannot wait to bring you here family. You'll love it. I'll explain all about our adventures in next week's email.. But you can bet that I definitely went to Red Mango today :):):):)

My word.. I love love love being a missionary. President Johnson just made a new rule that on P days we can call our RC's from our past areas!! OH.. It has been SO fun calling them today. Especially the ones from Saphansuung. So good to here from the ones that are able to say that they go to church every week.. And then kinda sad to hear from the ones that don't.. In their voices I could hear that they felt embarrassed. Maybe us calling will be just what they need to get back in the game. President Johnson's game plan is to get our LA's back into action. :)

I am so excited. Heavenly Father has so much in store.. We have a lot of investigators.. Lot's who are progressing.. And some that are so ready to be baptized. The church is so true.

I believe rainy season might have begun. :) 

I love being a missionary!
Love,
Sister Coates