"Not all those who wander are lost are lost" - J.R.R. Tolkein

December 11th, 2017
6 months, 3rd week
Thailand, Bangkok, Chaing Mai District

samuel.montague@myldsmail.net (I would love to hear from you)



We started the week with a switch, and I was with my น้อง (the MTC group below me), Elder Thornock. It was SO much fun, and I was actually the senior missionary (I've had a few similar experiences when I led the area, but this was created more responsibility for me and I enjoyed the experience taking me out of my comfort zone). We had a blast together!

So the email title. Even though I have been in Chiang Mai for 3 transfers, and this is my second time leading the area, I managed to get us terribly lost 6 times this past week. I don't know how, and I don't know where I went wrong, but I just kept taking the wrong turn and putting us way out of the way.  This caused us to do a lot more biking than we would've needed to. You know how much I love biking in a tie and pants - so I frustrated myself. BUT, we must've been doing something right, because we managed to get commitments for lessons by four new investigators.
The highlight of the week was when แม่ สุวิมล ([mom] suwimon) got baptized. We've been teaching her since the very beginning of November and we knew since lesson 2 that she was going to get baptized because she told us she knew someone was listening to her prayers and you could feel the Spirit bearing the truth of her testimony.  I had the privilege of baptizing her and one of the Sister's investigators yesterday. It was such an awesome experience!
  

Today we went back to the slippery waterfalls. We did it twice again, then went to the little pond/trail thing we did last time, except we kept going. There was supposed to be a buddha in a cave, but I guess we took a few wrong turns. We ended up going a long distance on this jank of a little trail, but we weren't worried as we passed a little hut and there were tire tracks the whole way, so we weren't bushwhacking. We ended up coming to a dead end where we wouldn't be able to loop around like we thought we could in time; so we turned around and headed back. We were with the Sisters, but then we weren't - they found their  way back before us. We ended up coming out onto the road, which was on the opposite side from where we were supposed to come out. Luckily I recognized where we were and it was a short walk back to the parking lot. 


Christmas is coming up! We have started practicing musical numbers for our various branch parties and for zone conference, which is scheduled for 4 days before Christmas. We will be receiving our phones then- right in time for Christmas skyping! Love for this season! I've been going strong with the #LightTheWorld campaign makes the season even more enjoyable. Have you?

Love! Merry Christmas! Jesus loves you too!


เอ็ลเดอร์ มอนทากิว
Elder Montague

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Time makes me uncomfortable

Image
May 20th, 2019 11 days remaining Thailand, Isan, Udornthani Ward  samuel.montague@myldsmail.net This week has been spectacular! I don't know why or for what reason, but the Lord has decided to bless us with a few miraculous days. We have been given more than plenty of food in times of need, people have stopped  us  and asked us about religion and English class (which is growing so fast!).  Some of the people we teach that we have been working with have opened up their hearts and are committed to change and life is just amazing! It still hasn't gone through my soul that I will be leaving Thailand next week. It causes anxiety in the moments I think about it, but I have found myself so much- discovered who I am and what makes me happy- that it is hard to think of myself not being here. Maybe I said this all last week, but it is also scary to leave a role I am now comfortable in. This upcoming week is going to be uber crazy. It is my last full week, so I a...
Read more

Poo talk (*SFW*)

Image
May 6th, 2019 26 days remaining Thailand, Isan, Udornthani Ward  samuel.montague@myldsmail.net what a week this has been First off, we had zone conference. President came up  a little bit early and he  loves  going and teaching with us. He was a little more specific in who he wanted to visit this time, but it can sometimes be a little difficult to plan With Pres Hammond when President Hammond comes, because the schedule always gets wonky. There are always surprise meetings and phone calls and he takes a hot second when meeting with people. But he truly is a great example in teaching and it is a privilege to learn so close to him. Zone conference was pretty good. Last transfer's was a downpour of doctrine, this time was a more typical instructional set of trainings. Included is a list of gathered quotes. I was entertained. I gave my testimony, it being my final zone conference. :( sad as realizing my time here is coming to an end. We had a ...
Read more

อาจารย์ คิ้ว

Image
November 19th, 2018 1 year, 5 months, 4th week Thailand, Bangkok, Thonburi Ward samuel.montague @myldsmail.net (I would love to hear from you) During District Council this past week, one of the sisters made a profound statement. In discussing zone conference from the previous Saturday, Sister Christensen said that we can't truthfully love missionary work without loving all of the aspects of missionary work. One of the least desirable parts of being a missionary is going out and inviting or tracking for large periods of time. To us, it is highly ineffective, it is physically draining, emotionally trying, we face much rejection and we often do hours of it at a single time. How fortunate that we were able to try out loving the part for a 5 hour block on Wednesday 555. With a   determination to love it, I went out to make that chuck of time a fun and positive chunk of time. We made up a list of almost 50 different goals of things to say or do to start a conversation. We made i...
Read more