July 1, 2013

Dear Family and Friends, can you believe how fast this time has been flying? I blink and it's already Monday again. Last week was super busy, and a ton of really good things happened. Tuesday night, most of the members went to the funeral of Sis. Ew's dad up in Udon. They said it was a good service and that Sis. Ew is doing a lot better. She stayed up there this week and apparently took a bunch of her family (who aren't members) to church in Kumphawapi, so hopefully that turns out some good fruit. At English class that same night, we had about 20 people in attendance, and 15 were new students. Finally! Our class is growing. Pres. Senior and the AP's just created a new website for the English program here, www.freeenglishclass.org, and they think that it will really help get the word out there. It looks awesome. Bummer thing was, nobody was really interested in the Gospel, but they will be eventually. Wednesday, I had to go to Maha Sarakham again to interview Bro. Nuker (Kalasin Elders' investigator) again. He passed my interview and Elder Khanakham's easily, so he was baptized this last Saturday! On Friday, I had to go to Kalasin again to interview 3 more people, who all passed. Kalasin had four baptisms this weekend, so we were stoked. 

Last Monday, Pres. Senior sent out his president's letter, and in it challenged (more like commanded) all of the missionaries to spend two consecutive hours everyday for the next two weeks inviting and testifying of Christ. Honestly, before he sent the e-mail, it was easy to find time for an activity like that. But once the challenge was out there, we were all of a sudden so busy to the point where we had to cancel or move appointments in order to do it. It's going to turn out to be a blessing though. We've found some great potential investigators that we will follow up with today. 

So as for our investigators, they are doing fantastic. We weren't able to meet with Pinky this past week, but she said she has been praying everyday, so I'm happy. She'll probably be coming to English tomorrow. Bro. Ari is great as always. He has been completely off of smoking for quite some time now and is right on track for his date on the 20th. He's really applying the Atonement and putting a lot of trust in God to help him quit. Thank you for all of your prayers! Sis. Boo...well...she was baptized! We met with her on Wednesday with Elder and Sis. Khanakham. We finished teaching the missionary lessons and then focused on baptism. She said that she didn't want to do it on Saturday because she had a test that morning and thought her excitedness would mess up her ability to do well, so I tried to convince her to do it Sunday. She just kept doing the "nervous" laugh and saying she would feel better if it would be next week, so that's what we finally decided. We set an appointment for her to be interviewed on Thursday of this week, but as we were saying the closing prayer, I realized we would probably be in Bangkok for moves meeting. I brought it up, and Elder Khanakham totally roped her in and talked her into moving the baptism to Sunday (yesterday). So she was interviewed the next day, and baptized Sunday. It was a great service, and I know I've said this about other converts, but she seriously bore the best testimony I've heard from a convert. Even all of the members were impressed. One of the best parts about the baptism was that Gung was there! And even better than that, he apparently doesn't want to work in Rayong, and will be staying in Khon Kaen for good! We met with him after the service, taught tithing and fasting (the last lessons we needed to teach), and talked to him about baptism. He's ready to go, but wants to "study" more first, so we set the date of the 20th, but I'll be working on him. 

This is transfers week! This is easily the fastest transfer so far on my mission. I love this area, and really hope I don't leave. The ZL's said we are supposed to know who is moving today, but still no word. I personally think that I'm staying and Elder Angkham is moving, but we'll see. 

Sounds like the reunion is going to be a blast. Tell everyone hello for me, and say happy birthday to Grandma for me! Send pics. 

Well, gotta go. The Church is True!

Love, Elder Sharp