So this week was pretty chill... we had some good lessons. We met with Brother Somchay.. the one we met at the post office? Remember? And we gave him a date.. 27th of February.. woohoo! This week was pretty much centered on him.. he talked with his protestant friend.. uh oh. His friend started going off on how the Mormons are evil and horrible and this other stuff.. saying we had plural wives and what not.. that night Brother SOmchay called us to get both sides of the story.. more than that, he was like, "i couldnt understand why he was speaking so bad about you guys.. he wasnt just telling me, he was like talking crap and using really strong words.. i was like, "wait, dont you all belive in the same god? Why do you have to speak about each other like this?" I asked him," Since the first day we met and starting learning together, can you recall even one time that we said something bad about another religion?" He quickly answered "no" and then realized how quickly he answered and was just like, "oh... thats a good point." We went on to explain that we believe what we believe and we dont need to defend ourselves with strong words. we state the facts and thats it. after that, if they want to continue arguing, well, we leave. We dont know what your friend is like, but he probably just doesnt understand.. he could have heard these things from a friend of a friend of another friend. We have nothing against them. In the end, just look at the works behind those speaking.. that speaks for itself." He had a sweet moment with Alma 32:21 as well.. when he read it he kinda jumped and was like "whoa." Hes way good.. progressing nicely. Oh yeah.. we taught the Law Of Chastity yesterday.. hahaha that was pretty funny. He was just like, "so... for example, if my friend was to... ok forget the 'example' part cause im talking about myself... so i am a dude... i have dude feelings and so i have followed those feelings before.. is that wrong?" We didnt have to ask what he was talking about but it was amusing the way he was talking very "kiddy" cause its a touchy subject... we shared 3 nephi 12 about "whoso looketh upon a woman to lust after he hath commiteth adultery already in his heart" and that made it very clear. The night before this we had given him a Chastity pamphlet and i had said, "this is probably the hardest commandment for everyone.. above all else." He didnt realize what i meant until we actually explained it with him. After we explained it we were all quiet for a while and then he said, "yeah... you were right.. definitely the hardest one." But he said he would try his best haha.
We finally met with Bunlays daughter and got her a baptismal date too.. she went to Church and is doing what we ask her too. We met her again yesterday, but outside the house.. her father locked her inside so she wouldnt go out while shes still recovering.. kinda funny. Oh and speaking of the Law of Chastity.. we gonna have a fun time with this law with his daughter (her names Apple).. she said, very bluntly i might add, "Ive had a girlfriend before." Sorry if this is in detail too much, but hey... its pretty normal out here. I think it was one of the "phases" but we will see haha.
We had a fun experience with a Leader at Jehovas witnesses... we planned to meet with the same woman we had met with a week before, and had confirmed it and everthing.. when we got there, it wasnt her, but her older sister. Her older sister was sitting at her desk, with 3 chairs in front, bible open, and a piece of paper that clearly had all of her scriptures she planned for us written down. She had that devilish "smile-through-your-teeth so that when she does finally open her mouth to speak she scares us" look goin on. It was pretty standard stuff, "revelation says there wont be any more words..." etc... you know the typical bible bashing stuff right? Yeah.. pretty standard. Every time she asked us a question she would argue it. At one point, Elder Tom stopped her and said, "in the last 30 minutes weve been here, weve been talking about our God.. yet you havent smiled one time since." After that she stopped for 2 seconds and then smiled like, "what does that have to do with anything." It was a complete interrogation on Mormon beliefs BY THE BOOKS! Everything was just so standard, yet so not standard.. standard cause its nothing special, but special because its not the standard in Thailand.. usually just buddhists. Anyway, we totally owned her.. she shared her scriptures and we shared modern day revelation. Then... when that wasnt doing anything, i put my own bible down, took HERS from her (for added POW affect) and shared a bunch of scriptures that completely shut her up and pointed to the need for a restoration.. she had nothing to say. However, in the end, it didnt do anything.. she closed her heart and her eyes. Even when we asked to pray with her, she wouldnt do it. Good experience.. i totally loved it! And i kept my cool the whole time! If i wasnt a missionary.. haha i would just totally yell at her and make her look stupid.. instead i used scriptures and made her look stupid.. hahaha. Im horrible. It really was a good experience.. helped strengthen my testimony of WHY we needed a restoration.. everything was just so MESSED UP. If only this woman would open her heart a little more and pray like we asked her too, she would experience so much joy.. sad. But we will stop by again.
Anyway, this week was fun... were trying to work with this one family that is good friends with another investigator and good friends with a new member.. if we can get all 4 of them.. WOOHOO! Glorious gratification. Anyway, its hot, and i want to go inside.. and eat.. im hungry. Hope you all are doing well! The weather is usually pretty nice.. today is kinda unusual. Also, im learning Easan! Its not too bad.. i can listen and understand most of it, but speaking is quite different. Anyway, love you all. The Restoration? Ah.. its fanTASTic.
Elder Gudmundsen
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