Sister Maisie Carrillo

Sister Maisie Carrillo

Monday, February 29, 2016

Thailand/Chaengwattana week 46

Hey Family!
It was such a great week. I think me and Sister Forte said that about a million times before we'd go to bed every night. We've had some fun, and adventurous filled days! Yesterday, Sophia got baptized! Her testimony was so cute and she was all bright and sparkly! The International ward just loved her. A couple days before her baptism, she literally got mugged. This motorcycle dude just zoomed past her and grabbed her bag from right off of her shoulders. She lost a lot of stuff in their and she was suppose to meet with the police Sunday but she told them that she had to do it early in the morning because she had a very important thing to do at two o'clock that day. She is so amazing! I'm so glad that I've had the opportunity to teach her these past couple of weeks. I feel very spoiled and lucky to be where I'm at and to know the people that I do. Serving in an international ward has been so  special! We still do get to teach Thai people though! A lot of our investigators are Thai and we have one Nigerian we're teaching and then Sophia's cousin Lillian. It's so much fun! 
It really was a great week. I am surrounded by amazing people. Watching the members here just makes me want to be the best member I can when I get home. Really though, there are so many things that I want to do better. I'm so grateful to be here, I thank the Lord everyday for the blessing He has given me in hastening the work here in Thailand. Not only do I have the pleasure of teaching others but they are teaching me as well. It's fun looking back on the week and seeing the Lord's hand in everything. The places that we were led, the things that happened that were so unplanned. God truly is in everything. And that's my challenge to you guys is to look for His hand in your life everyday. And I promise you that you will see it and you will know that He truly is always there.I know that we are His children and He loves us more than we could possibly know. If we could all see ourselves through God's eyes, I think we would live our lives a bit differently. Don't forget who you are and your divine potential and I will strive to not forget as well :) Love you all, take care and don't forget to read in your scriptures! :)

ด้วยความรัก
ซ. คาร์ริโย

Psalms 40: 1-3
Sophia's Baptism!
And Arthur (a Chinese RC) got to baptize her!
Went inviting at the market in Pak Kret!
The Market


So many fish! People were throwing them bread so
 they were all right up next to the dock. Yuck!
We thought we were pretty funny playing 
with our orange peels haha!
Luff you!!

Monday, February 22, 2016

Thailand/Chaengwattana week 45

Hey Mom,
It was another good week, just as always. I don't really know what to write about though! Some crazy things happened, taught investigators, invited, had some frustrating moments but also some really good moments. We have two investigators getting baptized this next week. Sister Bee and Sophia (who's from China!). I'm really excited for the both of them, it's amazing how much you grow to love your investigators and just want them to have the best. That's when teaching gets easy and the words just come. We had one funny moment when one of our investigators just got up and left while we were teaching. I understood why because first of all we were teaching outside (we had no girl to help us teach) and second it was blazing hot outside. It was just funny! 
 I've literally just seen the craziest things. Especially since I've been in Chaengwattana! My very favorite part of this area here is the Islam road, where the mosque is. I have no idea why, I just think it's super cool. Everyone's walking around in their headdresses and sometimes the signal goes off for them to pray to Allah for the fifth time that day. It's way cool. The signal is all in Arabic but it sounds like a song. Me and Sister Forte were walking down this street the other day and we saw this guy beating up a cute little girl. We rushed over there and tried to get her to go with us. She actually wasn't a little girl, she was 22 letting her 22 year old boyfriend beat her up while his little 15 year old brother sat in the background and watched. She didn't want to go with us but she gave us her number so we could contact her again. We didn't leave until her boyfriend left. It made me so sad, I just didn't want him to hurt her anymore and we knew he wouldn't while we were standing there. It's so crazy to me that people live their life like this! They were both living in a shack right next to the sewer river. I know I say this all the time, but you guys, we all, have so much at home. We are so lucky. I'm grateful to be here though. I feel as we walk down these broken streets and broken homes that we are some sort of a light in their darkness. Like my Savior, I'm here to preach to the poor and the broken hearted. I feel like I'm suppose to be here. Not only for others but for myself. Don't ever forget what you have and how lucky you are. Because I've met people that have nothing but a mat to sleep on. 
We got to see Elder Stephenson yesterday! It was short and sweet, everything is being centered on preparing people for the temple. We're trying to create stakes! The goal is 8 stakes total in Thailand by the end of the year. Which is crazy, but I believe that with God we can do it. I'm excited that I get to be at the beginning of these great changes that are being made within the mission and within the church here in Thailand. I can't wait until I come back someday and see the fruits of our labors. 
I feel that the Lord has a lot in store for the people here. 
Hope you guys have a good week! Love ya! 

-Sis. Carrillo 

John 8: 28-29
They were having a party at the mosque. 
So we decided to go and check it out!



I was comps with a khon Thai for the day,
 Sister Donlaya! It was so much fun!
On the way to Elder Stephenson!
Visiting Sister Him at her work!
Reunited! Miss this girl!
Mango sticky rice from President Wisan, it's so delish!
This is one of our investigators, Sister Tip. 
She's so awesome, we just love her!
My first hamburger in a long time. It was so good!
 

Monday, February 15, 2016

Thailand/Chaengwattana week 44

Hey Fam!!

Since being in the city, my life has gotten so much faster. It's like someone hit the fast forward button on my life. I love it here though! Brother Greet, who Sister Forte has been working with the past two transfers, got baptized!! He's this cute old man that always wears a bedazzled NBA hat. He's so awesome! I got to teach him the past two weeks that I've been here, so that's been fun! We have a couple investigators that have a date for the 27th of this month. One of them is Sister Bee, she just walked into the church one day saying that she wanted to learn about Christ. That's the great thing about having a church building is people think it's pretty and want to go inside. So we have a lot of walk-in investigators. So many miracles happening in Chaengwattana! I love being here! 
So being in an international ward, I have been able to translate. Which I hate doing when it's from Thai to English. But I get to translate from English to Thai for the Cambodian's in the ward. I don't know why that's so much easier, but it is! I think it's just the way my brain works now. So if any of you guys need a translation from English into Thai, I'm here! :) It's still weird to me I'm going to church in English. We went to their ward council yesterday and I was blown away by how organized and efficient it was! Anyways, we also get fed in this ward. All the white members live in Nichada, one of the most fanciest neighborhoods I've ever been to! I walk into their home and I just stare at everything because it's all so nice. And the food is so good! I forget I'm in Thailand until we walk out the gate and then I remember. It's just crazy to see how different our worlds are. Sometimes it makes me sad. There's bridges everywhere here that we cross over and at the bottom of the stairs there's always a blind person sitting there singing, waiting for someone to give them money. And then people just laying on the ground holding a cup, waiting for someone to give them money as well. It makes me sick every time I see it. Which is a lot! I feel like I'm living in Slumdog Millionaire sometimes. 
So this last week we had MLC (Missionary Leadership Council), my first one! It was so weird to be there for it considering that I used to go with Sister Mamea and just wait outside. It was such a good meeting though. Such a great reflection of why I'm here. We've had a ton of training on what and how to do missionary work but this time it was about the why. I know I'm here really because I love Heavenly Father. And that's why I do what I do. Get up at 6:30, invite in the burning heat, teach even when I feel sick. President is really focusing on helping us become consecrated missionaries but doing it with the right intent. Doing these things out of love not out of duty. It's a lesson that I've learned all throughout my mission. I don't just do it because I'm told but because I love Heavenly Father and I want to live my life to please Him rather than myself. And because I love Him, I love His children as well and share these things because I know it will bring them lasting happiness. This is the missionary, member and person that I want to be. 
Since it was Valentines Day, all the lessons were focused on love. The Bishop's wife gave an awesome lesson about the Plan of Salvation and how it all started with the love that God has for us. The Lord created this world for us to live and grow, to have families. I miss nature a lot, but I love to look around me, even the sky, at the beautiful things God has created. All of it is a symbolism of His love for us. 
I love my Heavenly Father and I love being a missionary! I have so much to be grateful for!

Love you all! Have a great week! 

ด้วยความรัก
ซ. คาร์ริโย

Heard this quote yesterday. Loved it! 
"How cool is it that the same God that created mountains and oceans and galaxies looked at you and thought the world needed one of you too." 

Dinner at President's house! This is my new cute companion! 
So excited to be serving with Sister Forte!
House visit with Sister Ploy and Nee!
I love this church! Aren't we just so cute?

Brother Greet got baptized!!

These are my Pakkret sisters! Sister Vichattawong 
(from Laos), Morgan, me and Forte!
Beautiful and busy Bangkok!


Monday, February 8, 2016

Thailand/Chaengwattana week 43 One year as a Missionary!!

Hey Fam! 
This last week has just been the craziest ever. I knew I was leaving Lampang, my limit was 4 transfers. I was so sad! Let's just say that I was an emotional mess but didn't cry until I was at the bus station and everyone was saying goodbye to me. Then I bawled my eyes out. But it's ok, it was time for me to move on.
My favorite family!
At the bus stop getting ready to leave!

I will miss the people in Lampang!
I got moved to Chaengwattana in Bangkok. For the first time in 10 months, I'm finally in Bangkok! It's crazy! I'm with Sister Forte, who happens to be my phii Thai from the MTC. I was way excited to be companions with her, I've been super lucky with companions my entire mission. We are the STL's here (we just watch over the sisters in this zone and the other zone since they don't have STL's). The coolest thing is that I'm experiencing so many different types of cultures. Me and Sister Forte are over the International ward here, so I go to church in English. It's the weirdest thing ever! I have also discovered that I cannot pray out loud in English anymore. All that wants to come out is Thai. It's kind of embarrassing haha. Guess it's a good thing I'm here, so I can practice my English again! Anyways, a lot of the members here are from States, Africa, China, Australia, the Philippines, all those cool places. It's been so fun! It's what I imagine it would be like to be a missionary in America. But I'm in Thailand so it's better! I still get to teach in Thai though. There's two Thai wards here that we go to. Me and Sister Forte just specifically take care of the Internationals.  So I'm at church from 9 am to 4 pm. My life has gotten a little crazier since I moved to the city! But it's good, being busy is what I want to be! It's been quite the culture shock here though. First off, I go from tiny little town to L.A., and from zero people who know English to about 70% who can speak it. I can't imagine what my culture shock will be like when I actually move back to America again. I love it here though! It's another adventure and I'm excited to experience it. 


Lunch at Central Plaza



This week, I studied a lot about the Atonement. Just because I feel like no matter how much I study it, I learn something new each time. It amazes me more and more every time. I've been studying Jesus the Christ lately and got to the part where it talks about how Christ literally descended below all things. During that time, He felt all the pains and sorrows, met all the horrors of Satan. Only He, who was God, could take upon Himself these horrors and sins. None of us would be able to carry it, for it would have killed any man. I don't think I can ever understand how He did it, understand the things that He experienced. But I do understand that He did it because of each of us. Because He loved us and that love for us was stronger than His fear and pain. He did it so that He could carry me because I'm not strong enough to overcome these things by myself. I can't be happy without Him, I can't be whole, I can't see. I have seen Him in so many aspects of my life. The things He overcame for me, I will never be able to pay back. The only thing that I can give is myself and if that's what He asks then that is what I will give. I will choose God first. I'm grateful to know where to look. And I guess that's why I'm here. So that others can know where to look when they are lost. So many people don't know what Christ did for them. That their pains and sorrows can be lifted by Him if they will turn to Him. How lucky I am to have a calling to bring others closer to Him, to feel the joy and peace that I have received from knowing Him. My joy  feels so complete in this work. I love being a disciple of Christ. I know who I am, I know God's plan and I'll follow Him in faith! :) 

Well, it's going to be an exciting week! I hit my year mark since I entered the MTC this Thursday (weird).  One year as a missionary! It's been so fun. Time just flies. 

It's going to be a great transfer, I can just feel it! 

Love you all! Have a good week! 

ด้วยความรัก
ซ. คาร์ริโย

2 Nephi 10: 24-25
 ลำปาง District! I'm going to miss these people!

My Shawarma people! Every Tuesday and
 Wednesday nights, I'm going to miss them!
Bangkok
It's Chinese New Year! So there was a huge dragon 
thing walking around the mall (it was like Mulan!)

Letter from her Mission President

 Dear Brother and Sister Carrillo,
It is a pleasure to advise you that the Lord has called your daughter, Sister Maisie Lyn Carrillo to serve as a Sister Training Leader in the Thailand Bangkok Mission. As a Sister Training Leader, she will be responsible to conduct companion exchanges with other sisters and participate in the Mission Leadership Council. Sister Training Leaders are responsible to maintain their regular proselyting areas also assist the Mission President, Assistants, Zone Leaders and District Leaders in training meetings and zone conferences.


Sister Carrillo has shown a desire to be dedicated and obedient. Her strength of character is a great example to the missionaries with whom she serves and is a reflection of those who raised her. Thank you for all you have done to prepare your daughter for the great trust the Lord has now placed upon her.


Sister Johnson and I thank you for your continued faith and prayers in your daughter's behalf.


Sincerely,




President Kelly R. JohnsonThailand Bangkok Mission 

Monday, February 1, 2016

Thailand/Lampang week 42 Living what I preach

Hey Fam!! 
So we had a cold front that came through Thailand this last week. And it was wonderful! We woke up Tuesday morning and we were freezing! It got down to 45* F which is the coldest it's been apparently in 8 years. It was pouring! Our house and our clothing was certainly not suited for that kind of weather. We were just throwing on all the layers we could find. That lasted for about two days. And then the Thailand that I knew came back on Friday! I had a big realization that my body is no longer adjusted to the cold and I am going to die when I go back to Rexburg. Scary! 
Winter wear!!
We were not freezing again. So we literally put on all the layers! 
We looked hilarious.
We are freezing!!!
Me trying to study. It was pretty successful.
It was a hard week for missionary work since it was so cold and it made everyone sick. But we finally got to meet with Brother Santi's family, they've been sick the past two weeks! Still kinda sick :/ Their kids are ready and set to get baptized this next Sunday. I'm sad that I won't be there for it, but that's ok. I'm grateful that I was able to be apart of the journey. I sure do love that family! I know that they are in the Lord's hands. 


Fun Lampang District story! So there's this guy in Lampang that just walks the streets. Literally just walks the streets all day. He's got some nice long hair and he wears the same short, shorts everyday (BUT, he did change his shorts the other day). The elders call him Crazy, Shorts Man. We call him our bud, even though he doesn't really like to talk to us. We're not really sure if he speaks Thai though. We don't really understand him when we talk to him. Anyways, so the elders think every time you say homeless or Crazy, Shorts Man, he'll show up. Apparently it's happened to them multiple times. And then they try and take a selfie with him. Yep, that's our elders! Sad thing is though that we haven't seen him since the cold front came through last week. But we know that the cold doesn't bothered him anyway. Because he's Crazy, Shorts Man. That's my Lampang story for you guys. จบ. 
Well this last week, I definitely got to test myself on living what I preach. It was a pretty hard week! Helmet got stolen, debit card disappeared and then I was trying to not be stressed about the future and transfers this week. I think I understand the thought process of asking why life seems so hard, especially when you feel like you're doing everything right. I don't know why things like that happen. But I do know that all the hard things I have experienced throughout my mission have benefited me so much in the end. Elder Darby said something this last week that I liked again! If life is easy, there's no benefit for us in that, because where is the chance to grow? In those times, all we can do is as Elder Holland said, "Remember the Savior's own anguished example: if the bitter cup does not pass, drink it and be strong, trusting in happier days ahead." I know life is hard but I trust in the Lord. I know that He's leading me along and that's all I need to know! We never walk alone! This week, my love for the Savior grew even more! How grateful I am to Him! 
So this week is transfers right? Scary? No, because I know I'm going to go wherever the Lord wants me to go. And I'm willing to go wherever He needs me! 
Love you family, have a great week!! 

ด้วยความรัก
ซ. คาร์ริโย

2 Nephi 31: 20 
Went back to the Mountain Wat. 
Because no one besides me had been there. 
First and last เที่ยว in Lampang!
District Lampang!





Brother Beck took us to this wat on the way home!
 It's a Burmese wat if I was reading the sign right! 

Got to switch off with Sister Hayes in Chiang Mai. 
It was fun to be with one of my MTC sisters again!