Elder Montague's Mission

May 20th, 2018 11 months, 27 days Thailand, Bangkok, Minburi Ward samuel.montague @myldsmail.net (I would love to hear from you) I was so sad to leave my last area, but now I am in Bangkok again! I've actually return to the same zone that I was first in Bangkok East. I am serving in Minburi with Elder Alex Keller from West Jordan, Utah. He is the second of two kids and is in his second transfer here in Thailand. His Thai level is helping me see how much I've grown and how natural the language has become for me. He loves computers and technology. I'm having so much fun follow up training him and getting to know this area. It's weird being in a ward again, because the structure is slightly different from a branch. The building is large and gorgeous and right next to our house.  Speaking of, we are actually looking for a new one.  So two transfers ago, the 2nd companionship that serves here decided to move in with the other set of Elders, because they were so cl...

May 15th, 2018 11 months, 22 days Thailand, Bangkok, Surin Branch samuel.montague @myldsmail.net (I would love to hear from you) 555  so sorry everyone, I don't really remember most of what happened this week. I can tell you that we had a massive storm at the end of last week that was almost tornado like. It wrecked a lot of homes and businesses, ripping off some roofs and knocking a lot of big things over.  So we ended up spending that evening going around and helping out where we could. I pushed up or moved a lot of full trees. It was quite the experience. I also stopped to save a lot of frogs that were hopping into the road. I just threw them back into the grass.  This guy helped me out and then he and his wife ended up giving us drinks and some durian. English class had the biggest attendance of my two transfers here. We had wto investigators come back, a recent convert that brought four people from his school, a recent convert that has been going in and out...

April 7th, 2018 10 months, 1st week Thailand, Bangkok, Surin Branch samuel.montague @myldsmail.net (I would love to hear from you) Oops. Only sent this to my brother last week. Enjoy all. #delayedemailtoo555 "To paraphrase Ralph Waldo Emerson, the most memorable moments in life are those in which we feel the rush of revelation. President Nelson, I don’t know how many more “rushes” we can handle this weekend. Some of us have weak hearts. But as I think about it, you can take care of that too. What a prophet! (He was a heart surgeon)" The most savage lines from General Conference April 2018, from ya boy Elder (Holla)nd. So we finally got to watch General Conference this past weekend. Honestly, it was so great.  I had questions written out beforehand, and I got at least partial answers to most of them. There were a lot of big changes announced, as many already know,  but we in Thailand we're finally able to formally learn about them.  It is my sincere hop...

April 12th, 2018 10 months, 3rd week Thailand, Bangkok, Surin Branch samuel.montague @myldsmail.net (I would love to hear from you) I would like to start this email with a PLOT TWIST. Family, you may not've realized this (but are probably now checking), but I have added a few addresses to this email. Friends, you are now realizing this because you are getting my weekly email for the first time in forever. You've all asked to be out on it before, and I responded that I put it up on my blog (still do it please family), but I've also been told that none of you can receive it many times. So after the latest query, I have changed my ways.  What an interesting few days it's been. Only 4(?) days since my last pday. My first district meeting I conducted. A day full of what I see as miracles. So much pondering.   So tragically, there's not really much to do in Surin. There's the elephant, which we've already done and is way far out of the way.  I feel li...

May 1st, 2018 11 months, 1st week Thailand, Bangkok, Surin Branch samuel.montague @myldsmail.net (I would love to hear from you) Oops. I totally forgot to send this out last week. I'm sorry, I hope everybody is able to find it within the depths of their heart to forgive me. I'm rolling my eyes at myself, because this isn't even a big email. Endure to the end. Not too much happened this week! Way sad: our super awesome branch mission leader has left for BYU Hawaii. We had a little farewell for him, but I am looking to the future with a little bit of anticipation. I'm not sure how I feel about this all. I'm really happy for him, going and getting his education, moving on with his life. At the same time, he was one of the most active, strong , and awesome people here in Surin.   It's all good though! We've been seeing some amazing things this week. I don't really have the effort to go into all of them, but I will talk about Friday. Friday, we ...

May 6th, 2018 11 months, 13 days Thailand, Bangkok, Surin Branch samuel.montague @myldsmail.net (I would love to hear from you) Some amazing quotes Sister Johnson gave us at this week's zone conference: "So much depends on our attitude. The way we choose to see things and respond to others makes all the difference." President Thomas S. Monson "The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache." Sister Hinckley "Happiness does not depend on what happens outside of you. It is measured by the spirit with which you meet the problems of life." President Harold B. Lee "The happiest people I know are not those who find their golden ticket;  they are those who, while in pursuit of worthy goals, discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of the everyday moment. They are those who, thread by thread, weave a tapestry of gratitude and wonde...