Feb 7: S I S A K E T

TRANSFERRED!

Yes transferred from the most booming busy area possible in Thailand.. The magical Asoke.. To the most ba-nogg (boonies) TINY TINY town.... Sisaket! (See-suh-gate). It is SO peaceful! I can actually hear myself think a little. But all those thoughts lately have been in Thai as my new companion is Sister Hassaya! Yes. A khon Thai! She is from Chaing Mai and has been serving for 6 months. I am the first faraang companion she has had since her first companion (4 transfers ago). So lots of fun here. We have been having a lot of fun exchanging stories!! She is super sweet and sassy.

It was sad and a little hard to leave Asoke.. But I am so grateful to have served there and for all the amazing miracles I was able to witness. Right now I still feel a little shell shocked.. As Sisaket is the exact opposite of Asoke in every single way. I like it though!

Thailand... STILL SO COLD! I don't know what to do either! I only brought one suit case to sisaket filled with the necessities... since.. well there are only.. 5 weeks here. 

Monday: P day... Went out with a bang by going shopping one last time at Central world!! Can't beat Forever 21.. and Top shop.. haha. Glad that I went because there is nothing even remotely close to that here in Sisaket! hahaha That evening we went and had family home evening with sister Saa. In her tiny one room home. She was SO happy that we all came to visit her. Planning that evening.. The district leader called and gave us the transfers news. Where he told us where we would be going and who our new companions would be.. That was weird knowing before the actual transfer meeting!

Tuesday: Ran around making last visits to LA's and such. Last district meeting... It was sad.. I felt like I was being kicked out of the kingdom... Leaving all of my friends behind! I will for sure miss the Asoke crew. It was so awesome working with the APs and office elders. And That sister Rem... Oh!

Wednesday: Prepared the greenie lunch!!! We got 22 new missionaries! Only 4 sisters too! It was way fun though.. We were for real running every where. Got to visit Sister Gan and Noon one last time. It was a little hard! Oh we all cried. I love them all so much. They are so incredibly faithful. I am so thankful to have been a part of that miracle. We took the greenies out inviting... Which was way fun... And again opened my eyes to how real the Gift on Tongues is.... It is nothing short of a complete miracle that I can speak and understand Thai. And to end the day with a finale... We went to Robyn's. She taught us how to make pizza and cookies... To which we  both had no idea... It all felt so foreign. I haven't baked in aged. Haven't seen an oven.. in ages!!! But it was great seeing her. I am so glad to have met her.

Thursday: Went to the office at 5:45 am.. With one suit case and my bike. Stuffed in a taxi with another khon thai. We road in a bus for 8 hours to Roi Et... Theeee isssan. Where I met my new comp Sister Hassaya!!! We took another bus...3 hours... to Ubon..... And slept there..... Both so dead.

Friday: Woke up.... Stuffed my stuff in the back of a truck... And road to sisaket.... the closer we got... The more and more boonies it got.. hahaha. It kinda reminds me of Udon. It is in the Issan... But more south.. It touches the cambodian border.. So lots of Sister Saa's around here! Hahah everyone speaks issan.. and cambodian. Good thing i dont speak either of those languages ahahah. 

Saturday: Had our first coordination meeting.... It for real about knocked my socks off... It was SO organized. And the members were SO involved. And so excited.. And had split up the work.... I am excited to work here.

Sunday: Shared my testimony in sacrament meeting.. Again the gift of tongues is so real. It was interesting to reflect back to my first time bearing my testimony in saphan suung. So much has changed since then. This area is so awesome.. But needs a lot of help! So I was busy all day trying to figure out who was who! Haha it was fun. It was fun going to visit some LAs today... It is such a different pace from asoke.. I had to remind myself that I need to relax and sit down and talk with people for a moment. Let them know that I love them. For dinner we went to the bishop's house... where they fed us the biggest feast i have ever seen. I missed home made thai food more than i can even say!!!!! oh it was delicious. These members here are absolutely incredible. I am so excited to work with them

I am already learning so much from being in this area. In this district. With this new khuu! You'd would thing that after 17 months there wouldnt be much else to learn! But that is not true. Still learning and growing every single day. 

In honor of Valentines day next sunday (meeep!) here is a scripture I way love in Moroni 8:16:

Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear.

I know that when keep Heavenly Father's commandments we are showing our love for him. I know that he gave us the commandments because he loves us. He has said that greatest commandments are to love lord with all our hearts and to love our neighbor as ourselves. For Valentines this week I want to encourage everyone to go above and beyond following these commandments. Show someone else the true love of Christ.

I love you all. 

I love being a missionary.

Love,

Sister Coates 

Look who finished her mission and is in my new area!!! Sister Nittaya (served in the same area as her when in udon!!!)

The Sangviens are here tooo!!!! So nice to see a friendly familiar face!

My gorgeous companion!

 

Jan 31 2016:Wrath of Thailand

SHOUT OUT: LYNC ITS YOUR BIRTHDAY! GO LYNCOLN isssya birtday! we gonna party like issyabirthday :P I hope you have a fun day buddy i love you! I promise to hang out and get icecream when I am hope! And guess what? I love you!

I had to decided between a few subject titles... and concluded with that one. One other possible subject title that was considered was: Buffets and Bacteria Infections..

OH but... All is well now! Thank goodness for priesthood blessings and antibiotics!!!

Also.. This past week was like the coldest in the history of thailand.... fun fact. It was MISERABLE! It was like... 60 degrees and FREEZING. I layered my sweaters and skirts for real. Dont know what on earth I am going in Utah.

Monday: I was so sick after emailing last week that we had to run/walk as fast as we could back to the apartment where I died.  I was able to put my life together to go pick up a newly set apart Thai sister missionary who stayed with us for the remainder of the night. Until she would head out for the salt lake MTC - headed to the Sydney South Australia mish.

Tuesday: Woke up at 3 in the morning. Took the new sister to airport! #sisterasokeduties Finished checking her bags and sent her off by 5 am... Got in a taxi back home for an hour of sleep to no avail as the taxi broke down in the middle of the high way.. We had to get out and push it to the side of the road. Imagine this: two 20 year old falaang girls... pushing a taxi... in the middle of bangkok... at 5 am.... Yes. We were able to sleep for 30 more minutes and then it was Zone Conference time. It was a wonderful meeting. Also, my last one. I got to bear my testimony. It was wonderful to say it in English. I have learned so much. There is so much yet to learn and become. Afterwards.. I was able to get a priesthood blessing... As I was being Thailand tortured (if you know wattaaamsayin...)... And it was such a special experience. It was amazing to see Heavenly Father work through the faith of all those who were in the room and worthy priesthood holders.

Wednesday: Went to the hospital.... The doctor man was checking my tummy- like pressing on it.. And I just about punched him in the face.. It hurt so bad! Not becuase he was like... hurting but because I had such a horrid stomach ache! So he pronounced me with an inflamed stomach and a bacterial infection and perscribed me a variety of antibiotics..... There was a silver lining..... And because of that... I decided that I could somehow manage to go see Robyn... There was no way I could miss this.. Because we had already planned to bring sister grange... and go somewhere special... yada yada yada... IT WAS A MISTAKE!!!! It was way cool where we went.. The most hiso hotel buffet on the river.... Seriously so hi so. The inside of the hotel smelled like jasmine.. In the bathrooms they had little mini lotions.. that I had the thought to take as they were like the little complimentary ones... but no i decided i wasn't that ghetto.... walk away. But we ate the buffet. It was so good. Oh it was so good. But even after eating a few bites of bread... my stomach started to hurt... So by the end of the evening.... Lets just say when were finally home and I was finished... I came into our study room and cried. hahahahahaha 

Thursday: Stayed home all day long. So needed. So sick. So bored. i watch The Restoration for the 15 millionth time. And I still love it..... As well as the other church movies.. Only a Stone Cutter.... Testaments.. The goods. 

Friday: Took things oh so slow. 

Saturday: OH IT WAS SUCH A GOOD DAY! I felt fantastic. Good health is so taken for granted. A falaang called in.... and told us he wanted to learn. He sounded WAY nice on the phone. We weren't sure if he was really going to come meet us หรือเป่ลา.... But then... HE DID.  First white investigator taught on my mission! It was the craziest experience ever! His name is david and he is from seattle. To be honest... At first I was nervous... A little scared that I wouldn't be able to find scriptures for him... because he was really smart and had a lot of knowledge so it seemed about christianism, etc ,etc.. but what was amazing was that I learned that the gospel really is so simple and the same for a thai person who knows absolutely nothing about god and for a white person who has so many thoughts from so many different sources. We were able to share the same simple scriptures that I have studied in the book of mormon my whole mission.. all of his questions were answered and lead back to prayer. scripture study. etc. It was really cool. He was not what I was expecting either.. I kept expecting him to say.... Oh just kidding im a member... or.... start bible bashing. But no.. He actually got out a peace of paper and started taking notes and wrote down the scriptures we asked him to read. So that blew our minds a little. In short.. I know God was aware of the prayer in my heart and sent his spirit to guide what we needed to say.

Sunday: A miraculous sunday for real. SO many less active members that I have been trying to find and contact and met with everything! WERE AT CHURCH! At oh it was so heaven sent because Elder Kannakam (the area 70) came!!!! and there was a combined RS and priesthood meeting where finding heavenly father's lost sheep was the topic.. The spirit was so strong.. and it was just so not a coincidence. ...... Also another first timer... We taught a new investigator today. A lady monk. It was pretty cool. She is meeting with us again and took the commitment to pray daily.. saying she feels so peaceful when she prays to god. Not too sure how that all works out with being a buddhist monk and all.. but we'll take it! Overall... it was a really good sunday in Asoke... And possibly a wonderful finale in asoke as well? I would be sad if I had to go... There are so many people here that I have become so close with.. But whatever happens. I'll go where you want me to go.

I also have to give a little shout out to my companion Sister Remington because I know for sure we won't be companions for this next transfer. She was an answer to so many prayers and most definitely one that I was supposed to meet here. She helped me grow and become so much. I am so grateful for the two transfers I got to be her khuu. 

The work is so good in Thailand everyone. Heavenly Father is so real! It is so fun to be here at this time. I feel so blessed. I keep getting all these pictures from friends going to the new Provo temple... And I can't help but get butterflies knowing that so soon... Thailand will have that too. 

#templeinthailand

I love being a missionary.

Love,
Sister Coates

pics attached:

that is a pic of the food that cause the worse pain of my life..

sister rem, me and sister noon our awesome RC... and the lady monk! Yeah they wear white. Her name is Cat... or in thai is is Meow :) yes that is cat in thai.

Jan 24 2016: DENGUE

Walked out of our apartment today to find that it was WAY cold outside!!??? What the!? Walked to the computer shop so weirded out the whole way. Because we both haven't this way for a YEAR AND A HALF! It was really like a brisk fall cold. And all of the khon thais that passed by look like they were in intense pain!! Some were wearin big quotes and scarves!! seriously the weirdest thing ever. We even passed a guy that had made a small fire!!!! hahaha 

Monday: Way fun day. A cute RM member Sister Sunny took us out exploring! We took a boat (multiple boats) down the big bad dirty thai river to wat Aroon! Where we got in for free because we could speak Thai. Yes! And we had a little Thai dress up fun too...  See attached pics. Haha so many people asked to take their pics with us hahaha.

Tuesday: Went to ze immigration office to renew my visa! Fun to the sisters in my group and then the elders too.. except for the majority of the elders in my group.. the ones that I was good friends with are all in Laos and Myanmar. So didn't see them! But it was a fun time @ ต.ม.

Wednesday: Took a trip to dentist! Poor sister Rem's mouth had been suffering with a cavity. I stayed with her while they checked her teeth and did the work but when they took in x ray I couldn't go in.. haha they told me to go sit down and when they close the door this huge horrible red light turned on above the door way! We were pretty nervous about the whole getting teeth done in thailand.... because most people's teeth here are missing or rottin.... but it turned out to be WAY good.. The dentist was a girl! Who turned out to know some of the members in the international ward. #cavitymiracles

Thursday: We got to watch the World Wide Missionary Training! It was so cool. So inspired. The theme was- Teaching Repentance and Baptizing Converts. Loved it and learned so much. Actually it was cool hearing all of their words and definitely getting new personal revelation but also having a lot of things they said be something that I have already learned on my mission.. and know I will continually learn.. So many things they said.. That I just know to be true.  One thing that I loved that was said.. Was when we "treasure up" the words of the scriptures that we are storing in a big treasure chest that the holy ghost can draw from and then bring to the front of our minds when we need it.. or better yet when someone else needs it. So don't just read.. Treasure! (bruno mars treasure just came on in my brain and a ben dancing in the back round hahaha-- hahah also way funny sister rem and i were quizzing each other on each others families... I asked who is tiffany married to? she said "christmas morning in a broad day light" hahahaha)

Friday: Switch off with the cutest little khon thai you ever did see! Sister Laoli! It was so fun to be with her. Her laugh is so contagious and she is so good at teaching. I love when I here people teach the missionary discussions in their native language along with the spirit. That evening i spent an hour on the bathroom floor at the church. With a horrible migrain, pins and needles everyone and a fever. Ha my body is failing me! But it was all okay.

Saturday: Head ache still remained and felt not good.. Went to the hospital they did a test for dengue fever..... they had to do a blood test ouch! We she pulled the needle out.. I think she did it wron and I had blood literally gushing out of my arm and all over everything.. hahaha.........The results came back with a negative to dengue! Well he actually said the results are positive.. hahah but i knew I didn't think i had dengue haha they just tested me for it and prescribed me meds for my head ache! But yeah that was funny... The time I almost had dengue fever in thailand. 

Saturday evening was a stresser. We talked with Sister Saa for 30 minutes on the phone. She started telling us that she is giving up now.. She can't do it all anymore. Because her family is making her feel so horrible. She said that they told her if she doesn't stop going to the mormon church that they won't let her see her daughter anymore and that she has 2 months to decide... Obviously the made her really upset. She told us she is just so confused... And feels terrible. We talked with her for a long while. And prayed with her. She said she couldn't promise that she would be at church the next day... But that she would pray.

Sunday: Sister Saa came. Oh when I turned and saw her standing there wet from the rain with a sad look in her eyes the spirit confirmed to me that heavenly father was with her and her faith is great. Many members talked with her.. And gave her support. She felt so good to have come. Before she left we watched the joseph smith movie with her... When it was over she said.. Wow his story is just like mine. It is hard to watch people you love suffer! I wish she could see it how Heavenly Father sees it... But then of course it would be too easy. I know there will be miracles from this for sure. Saa is amazing. Please pray for her.

Oh everyone. Read the scriptures and pray every day. 

Don't be a Sunday Christian.

Go and serve somebody.

God is so real and he loves his children.

I love being a missionary.

Love,

Sister Coates

rem @ the dentist

us by that rivva

 

Jan 17 2016: hostility

Hey fam. Love you all.

Monday: Had an awesome FHE plan with RC's and Investigators! Get to Ubon's house.... And all the people we invited pid nat. couldnt come. It was okay though. Heavenly Father needed a little bit of strengthening for these wonderful members. Feeding lambs today was not His plan but feedin his sheep was. So we answered some of their questions about PRAYER. Oh which were.. How can I pray and avoid saying the same things over and over everyday? How can I get the desire to pray even when sometimes I don't feel like it?...... It was cool to talk about these things with them. I realized at how much knowledge and how big a testimony heavenly father has given be concerning this subject.... In short one thing that I felt to share was... Before praying. Remember who you are about to talk with. God the creator of the universe. Your Father. And remember who you are. The child of that being. I know heavenly Father loves it when we talk with him. 

Tuesday: Brother Jack called us at around 12 and said.. Hey sisters I scheduled a meeting with one of my friends to learn with you today.. So if you could be there around 2:30 that'd great. Miracle. Miracle. Miracle. This is how heavenly father intends missionary work to be. The missionaries are there to help the members with their missionary work. If you want to help the missionaries give them someone to teach. And make them brownies.. haha just kidding.

Wednesday: Had a splendid lesson with Sister Noon! Oh she continues to impress me with her scripture reading.. And starting to make others at the church want to read more too. Guess who we met with tonight!? ROBYN! Oh is was so good to see her. And so cool to see Heavenly Father working in her life. I know she doesn't always see it. But it is so clear he is there for her. 

Thursday: Had a cool meeting with Sister Johnson today. Oh. I love her! She is such a good friend and is filled with so much inspirational thoughts. Each time I talk with her I feel like I am talking with a mom and good good friend that really loves me..... This evening we had an appointment with Sister Saa.. We had planned to go over the Restoration with her..... And  were able to do just that after she told us all the opposition she had been facing. Recently her relatives from America came to visit her here.. They had been so happy that she decided to start going to church and get baptized.. But when they found out she was going to the Mormon church they were SO mad.. And telling her that she could go to any church besides the Mormon one.. Telling her that the mormons just want her money and have all these too strict rules and how they are crazy..... And wow.. for a moment while listenin to all of this.. I just couldn't understand why people would be getting so upset! But then of course it dawned on me.. That obviously it was satan fueling the fire. And that those they really just didn't understand. They have never been to a mormon church... they've never taken the time to learn for themselves! Also a cool moment that I have had many times on my mission.... Was having the absolute unwavering surety and knowledge that all the negative opposing comments are simply not the truth. Sister Saa was WAY upset... But mostly because she couldn't understand either why they were bashing on something she loves so much and knows to be true. I was SO proud of her. She stood up for her beliefs. She is the most faithful person I know. She responded to us that night with: "Its okay sister! I am a child of god now!"

Push along! Pray for Robyn and Saa. 

Friday: Another switttttch off. Ya! Both sistas came to our area again! Not going to lie. Setting up two full balanced schedules for one day is not an easy task.. But wow did Heavenly Father help sister rem and I. I had the opportunity to switch off with Sister Hoftman. It was a good day. The theme for the day was "Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have JOY".. We are here to have joy. Sports night: playing basketball with thai and pakistani people is the funniest thing on the planet. They go crazy. They have no concept of rules. Dribbling the ball? no no no. :) 

Saturday: The Ellsworth planned a big burrito part with a big family of investigators... It was such a huge that day. Burritos and families. God is good.

Sunday: Palm to face moment. Elder Grange asked me to say the prayer before we left their house that evening... I decided to pray in English.. bad idea. I was trying to say "we are thankful for the Grange's hospitality" instead i said "we are thankful for the Grange's hostility".... Oh goodness. I need to practise english prayers!

Oh I know that the church is true. God is real. 

I love being a missionary.

Love,

Sister Coates

 khon thais on the song taw

followed a monk

Jan 10 2016: transfers are no more

Oh so strange.

Monday 4th: We went shopping.. And that was a lovely thing. Got a text from the AP's... Saying that I will be joping (dying in thai) on March 15th.. Rather than.. 18th.. Only 3 days but what it felt strange. I used to always hear from friends on missions that they felt like they were never not a missionary. They were born one and will die one... And that is a true statement. unreal.

Tues: Way cool day. We sat down to teach one investigator at the church. And when we finished the lesson.. Another investo walked in... And than after that finished 2 more walked in... It just kept going. and going. And God is real. Also... Taught advanced english class.. which was a mistake I will never make again. Or i will just never teach grammar again. Even before learning thai i was just average at English..... But now... WOW. I had the class in uproar. NOT EVEN JOKING..... Everyone. A GERUND IS NOT A VERB IT IS A NOUN...... If you can remember this... Everything will be okay.

Wednesday: MLC! Oh today was TOOO good. Lots of fun big new things.... So in the middle of the meeting... President pulls down the projector... hits play on his laptop and then sits down... the video is of this very small meeting of seemingly important church leaders taking notes.. and one of the 70 explaining that it isn't necessary for missionaries to travel with companion when being transferred because they are in a public place..etc... And then he asks Elder Oaks to stand and validate/confirm what he said.. And then Elder Oaks stands up... And he might as well have been holding his judging hammer thing, wearing a powdery wig and addressed our mission by name! BUT he got up and said that transfer meetings are no longer part of missionary procedures... and down went his hammer and the thailand bangkok mission transfer meeting videos!! Hahaha So yes. you heard right. No more transfer meetings! Kinda sad.. But not really because I am beasically dead. And only have one of those anyways.. So I dont know how I will die.. Just peacefully step on to a plain! hahaha... The rest of the training was so good though. Working in unity with the members so important. And the other big change.... There is no longer any time restrain put on a person being baptized other than the standard of PMG... No more... have to go to church 2 weeks and quit smoking in 2 weeks.... I think this time frame was preventing a lot of missionaries from focusing on the actual needs of the investigators. So i am way excited to see the new change implemented. A lot more listening to the spirit and following preach my gospel.

Thurs: Had my "JOPing" meeting with all the sister in my group! And President and Sister Johnson.. Lots of good advice for having a plan before the badge comes off... We went around and trained the zone.. In Bang Khae and Thonburi! It was priceless when we told them about the no transfer meeting news..... We waiting till after we said the closing prayer... They were so shocked! Rem and I were so busy all day! We hadn't eaten anything since breakfast and only ha 15 minutes to be home before curfew... so we RAN to the mcdonalds for a chicken burger! Which turned out to be a giant chicken nugget slapped with mayo..... hahah fun fact about thailand... Mcdonalds is SO hi so here. But it tastes worse than america. khon thais literally flock to mcdonalds.... Sometimes I just laugh and think... hmm they should come check out the mcD's in taylorsville... or kearns! haha

Frid: Switch off with Sister Bee from Laos! It was so fun to be with her and catch on to her greenie fire! We had a big and busy day. A high light of asoke came at the end of the day.. when E rich (a lovely member in the asoke ward) came up to me and told me she really liked my watch and that she wanted me to give it to her for her birthday next year and to not shower in it... hahaha love her! I will send a pic. she is glorious and famous in the mish. I truly love her. 

Sataaaday: Another international day of teaching.. Taught our chinese investo Fu Hong. Oh that was funny. We got into this weird habit of saying the word cleanse sin in chinese and the rest in english... so it was like "fu hong we will be having a SHEE SHO on the 31st...... willl you prepare yourself to SHEE SHO on that day?? haha too good. And that evening..... We went Sunil and Huma's house... Lovely pakistani family. So nice............ I dont remember if you all remember what happened last time I went to a pakistani house............ I got so sick.... the worst food sick i had been on my mission........ So huma so sweet.. Goes into her kitchen... and comes out with the SAME DISH that i had had at the time before...... I for real said a prayer before every bite. Oh.... I felt horrible after...... but thank goodness they didnt force me to eat anymore. And i think it is now official. I am allerigic to pakistani food. 

Sunday: Happy Birthday Elder Paxton! He is 20... Wow weird. Found out im the oldest one in my district. hmm. It was a good sunday. Our awesome investigators Watermelon and chicken egg came..... Watermelon's hair made everyone jealous. :) Finished the evening eating cake at the granges! Asoke is good.

 58 For the names of the righteous shall be written in the book of life, and unto them will I grant an inheritance at my right hand. And now, my brethren, what have ye to say against this? I say unto you, if ye speak against it, it matters not, for the word of God must be fulfilled.

Found this gem this morning. I really like it too! The book of life! Ohhh... sounds cool. At the beginning of my mission I had a really cool missionary tell me that God doesn't count all the people we don't invite.. but all the people we do. Therefore inspiring me to invite that many more people. The same concept can be applied with our mistakes. Heavenly father doesn't count all the times we messed up.. but all the times we rose up and did better. All the times we did works of righteousness. And I really know that to be true. Heavenly Father forgets and forgives our sins as soon as soon as we humble our selves and repent. This verse makes me want to go fill my book of life with so much good. :)

Heavenly Father is good.

I love being a missionary. 

Love,

Sister Coates

Jan 3 2016: favored of the lord

What happened in the two days since I last emailed? 

Not too much.. But a ton at the same time. Summary:

Friday: Went Ice skating with the district! Was fun... Felt very strange to see that much ice in one place... To feel that kind of cold again! It felt amazing. Fun time too. And because my companion is a Canadian. She is also of course a figure skater... In the past! She impressed us all as she made fancy twirls, twist and fishies... haha She even managed to impress a fellow falaang from Russia who came and asked her to teach her how to increase her skating speed haha.. We invited her to church and got her number. hahah referral from iceskating.

Saturday: Weird wierd day because everyone is still out of bangkok for the holidays. BUT we still managed to have some great lessons with Sister Noon and others. She is so excited to get the Holy Ghost.

Sunday: Had the most epic sacrament meeting of all time. And no! It was not in the Thai branch this time. It was international.... Goodness gracious.. I will have to tell the long story one day.. But short story.. There was a Thai member... Got up to bear their testimony/rage against faraangs... And she pulled this sweet 14 year old boy up to translate..... He did an amazing job. I don't how he was able to soften all the words she said. I don't think the any of the non thai speakers would have known that what she was saying was so horrible had the spirit not completely left.. But this awesome kid did such a good job translating. Closing remark of her testimony: "if you love me you will ask me to marry you.. but if you dont have 1 million baht dont even talk to me. In the name of... Amen"... The rest of that story.. Use your imagination.. Haha So fun in Thailand I love it so much!!! 

That night we went to the Granges' for dinner. Oh how I love them. It was so nice to be in a place where the was a warm family spirit. We love love love Elder and Sister Grange! On the way out Elder Paxton shared something that really impressed me... He read us 1 Nephi 1:1

 1 I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days,nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days.

He explained that something he has learned on his mission was that being highly favored of the lord... does not mean that we will not have trials... But in reality it will mean quite the opposite. Heavenly father lets us have "afflictions" because those are the very things that let us become. Grow into something beautiful! With this view.. we can better face the challenges that come into our lives with the sure knowledge, hope and faith.. That we are favored of the lord. Just like Nephi. And we like Nephi can know of his goodness.

I so love the book of mormon. thailand. all of it. 

I hope you all have a wonderful week. Talk to you again on Mondays! From here on out.

I love being a missionary.

Love,

Sister Coates

oh... I couldnt not take a pic of this and send... It might not be a good thing that i did.. but I thought it was so funny that the members did it I had to.... do you recognize what they put out to eat for all the members on sunday?