Im over the hill!

Happy 1 year mark! Dang, that was fast. Seems like just yesterday that I was entering the MTC not knowing a thing about being a missionary. Funny, things dont change THAT much :) haha... Lol

Another week goes by and it was a rough one, again. We just cant get people to Church! We had about 7 people planned and comitted to going, and then Sunday morning rolls around and people just disappear! Phones turn off too. So thats always a bummer when you got no one at Church.. especially when members bear (is this how you spell it? ive never spelled it right) sweet testimony. We also had an interesting week with Sister Rain... i still dont know whats going on. So on monday we call just to check up and ask how her praying and reading was and she wasnt there.. her older kid picked up and said she wasnt home, but that she be home around 8 at night.. we said wed call back. That night, we call and the same kid picks up and says she went to Bangkok. Wow.. out of no where lets just peace it 7 hours south! Make a long story short, up until thursday we called and got the same story, of which we didnt believe, and her house is a LITTLE far.. but we needed to get out there and find out what was up. We get there and she says immediately that she just got back from Bangkok.. oh.. dang, we should probably repent for thinking evil. We tried to figure out what her real concerns were, or what happened, and she gave us the "tip of the iceberg". We dont know for sure whats up, but we think it has to do with family. They are too happy with her going places on sunday, other than work to get money. Rain wants to go to Church, but i think its pressure. We'll get her through it.

We have a new kid thats progressing really well. He is very humble and he is starting to believe. He of course started out by saying, "i have no reason not to believe, but im still not sure." He was willing to act on our promise that he would receive an answer and hes getting it. He keeps saying that its hard to believe that its actually happening, but he says that he feels like his life is changing. He cant really explain it, nor can any of us really, but he says that things are changing... its in the air! He says that hes never really been able to wake up, let alone read after waking up, but when he gets up and prays, he feels the desire to read. Hes been reading out of the Book of Mormon and feels a connection to Nephi and his example is obedience. Oh by the way, this kid is Times. He sees from the example of Nephi that when we obey, we will be blessed in our lives. So, hes decided to go for it. This week we comitted him to be baptized, and he said he would, just he wants to make sure that he can endure to the end. Also, hes keeping the word of wisdom. We told him that as he lived it, he would see the blessings in his life and therefore know that it is from God. Hes a sweet kid.. very humble and submissive.

The members encountered some, "difficulties" haha.. some of their friends took the book, but havent read it yet, and some straight laughed at the members.. sad no? One of the members gave the book to his friend and the friend just laughed in his face! The member was like, "no big deal. i felt good in sharing the gospel.". How right he is. Most of the people took the book, just have yet to start reading it. They didnt make it to Church either. No wurrs.. another week and the members should be getting it. We contacted a couple that is super cute.. they are way young, but super in love. They are "one" (kinda like God told Adam and Eve to be) and man are they diligent! They live way far from work and if they dont catch the train every day in the morning and/or at night, they walk. And thats usually what happens- they walk. They are Christians already at a Protestant church and last night he told us that the Paster told him to get baptized tomorrow (today). He asked us, "should i do it?" We tried to explain how it really doesnt matter because they dont have the authority or power to do it, but the member we were with got a little distracted. The lesson was all over the place, but they felt the spirit and honestly, Elder Gambanat and i think they called us over (yeah, they called us yesterday to meet us for the first time) to analyze our conduct. I think we passed :) and they trust us. They are even willing to go all the way up to ubon this coming sunday for District conference! Thats far. They are a referral from a member who was baptized by Brother Tawid.. yes, that Brother Tawid from Don Muang when he was a missionary. She absolutely loves him, and since he aboslutley loves Elder Gambanat and myself, she loves us hahah. Good stuff..

So this week i dont have much. Im tired.. เป็นพิเศษ and hungry. Love you all so much. Congratulations to you John! I would say i wish i could be there, but i dont hahah! That would mean i wouldnt be a full time missionary is thailand with a year left! ไม่เอา. This is going to be a quick year. Bummer. Congratulations to you too, Chase. You're a stud!

Today, i leave you with one thing.. it makes a huge difference: Smile! :) We got a new investigator last monday because although it was dark and raining, he saw us from the door of his house and saw that we were happy and smiling.. and he was confused. He let us in and although he is super Buddhist, he loved our message and is starting to realize this is truth. Remember to smile! We are members of Christs church and why SHOULDNT we be happy!

Love ya,

Elder Gudmundsen