Thailand/Asoke Week 67

Hey everyone! 

This week was a really good one. Lots of cool miracles, experiences, and we were so lead by the hand of the Lord this week. So Wednesday morning, President calls me and asks if we could come pick up Sister Soyson who is fresh out of the MTC in Provo. She's going to New Zealand for her mission and just at the last second, her visa didn't work out. So she came back to Thailand and now she is apart of mine and Sister Htway's companionship. Two things there that I have always wanted to happen my entire mission: I've always wanted a khon Thai companion and I've always thought it would be fun to be in a trio. And on my last transfer, both of those things happened! We love having her, it's been so fun. Not sure how long she'll be with us but in my own selfish way, I hope we get to keep her for a while haha. 

Me, Sister Soyson, and Sister Htway,

 Our fun companionship!

This week was a lot of hunting people down. I've become really good at doing that. Since we're in the international ward, the members live all across Bangkok. So we literally spent the past week running across this gigantic city. We literally run. Poor Sister Soyson.  

Planning :)

Seriously, so many miracles though. As we've been traveling along, we've met some pretty cool people. And some of them even came to church. We had 6 investigators at our international ward. That's been hard for me to get in a Thai ward, let alone in the international ward! I was in awe yesterday. I guess I need to stop underestimating the Lord. Like I've said before, I'm a full believer in miracles. I've learned that anything is possible if it's the will of the Lord. I know He has people prepared. It's all a matter of using your faith and opening your mouth. 

I'd like to share something that I experienced yesterday. I was asked to help teach this woman who was recently baptized and right now is struggling a lot with her testimony. As she was talking about how confused she was about this church (she was Catholic before) and that the Lord wasn't answering her prayers, I listened to the spirit on the things that I should say to her. Then a memory came into my head. I remembered those feelings that I had once had before. I've always felt in my heart that this church was true. But I always sometimes felt that the Lord wasn't answering my prayers. I felt alone and sometimes that I didn't know how to calm my fears or questions that I always had stirring inside of me. I turned to the scriptures. In Mark 4 it talks about a storm arose as Christ and His disciples were traveling on the sea. 

38. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, 

     and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

 39. And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. 

      And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

      And then the Savior turns to them and says to them: 

40. Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

I know that in life we are going to have questions. I know others will sometimes say things that question our faith and the things that we know. Sometimes we get so sucked into those questions and the things that we cannot understanding that we forget the things that we do know to be true. We forget our own testimony and let doubt and fear take over. I let her know and I want you all to know, that same person that calmed that storm, has the power to calm the storms in our lives. We have to let Him in. We have to have faith. We have to trust Him. He has taught me how to calm my storms and I know that He can do that for all of us. I've had questions. But it has been through trusting in Him and in His timing that I have received my answers. I can testify that the Lord loves us and He does answer our prayers. He has never given up on me, and I have promised I would never give up on Him. Trust in the Lord and trust in His timing. 

Just like Nephi said, I don't know the meaning of all things. But I know that God loves His children. And that's all I need to know! :) 

Excited for this week! It's going to be another miracle week!! 

Love always, 

Sister Carrillo

A house full of sisters. It's a party house!

The Asoke sisters! So fun having so many of us here!

We went and visited a member at their home and

 this thing was walking around! 

Just like our pet bird when I was younger, 

except this one is much bigger and doesn't bite me :)

Sister Martell took us to get rolled ice cream!

Sister Htway walks around with an umbrella everywhere. 

I've almost gotten to the point where I'm scared to get tan as well.

One of the members wanted to do my hair. 

So I let her haha! It actually turned out really cool.

Thailand/Asoke week 66.... Last Transfer

Hey Fam Bam! 

Well, another transfer. And my last one. I didn't get transferred out thankfully! But me and Sister Mags are not companions anymore. They put two new sisters in here with us! Sister Mags is with Sister Black, training her on how to be an STL and me and Sister Htway opened up a new area for missionaries! We are now the assigned missionaries to the international ward here. So excited, I love international wards! I'm really excited to be with Sister Htway as well. She's from Myanmar and has been out on her mission for about 10 months now. She's been a member for only about two years and is the only member in her family. Fun fact: her family got a reward for the most traditional Buddhist family. I admire these people that show such courage and bravery. It's one thing to change from being Catholic to Mormon. But Buddhist to Christian?? That's another story. Espcially when you are surrounded by Buddhism everywhere. She speaks English really well. Thank goodness, because I don't know Burmese, but she's teaching me some. She's Asian, so I feel like a giant next to her. She is so cute! Way excited to be with her and help the members here in the international ward. We want to strengthen the ward and the members. We started out with pretty much nothing, so we've been praying and working really hard to find some new investies. Life is good in the Thep!! 

Me and my new companion

It was a really long week and kind of hard. But I'm grateful for all my past experiences on my mission that were hard for me. I grew a lot and it helped me to trust in God. I guess that's why we have hard times. Not because God is punishing us or wanting to tear us down, but because He loves us and knows that when we look back those trials will be such a blessing to us. God has granted me a lot of opportunities to prove myself to Him. So this week when the road seemed hard and I had no idea what the heck I was doing, I just remembered all those times in the past. When I felt stuck and so inadequate for this calling. But somehow in the end, it always worked out. It's by going and doing something that we see miracles happen, that we grow. So this is a hard beginning, but I trust in Heavenly Father! 

Funny story for the week: We were standing in line to get tickets to get on the BTS (sky train) and there was this farang (white guy) standing in line ahead of us. So I said hello to him and asked him where he was from and he just looked at me for a second, told me he was from Italy and then wouldn't talk to me anymore. So I was just like ok whatevs! Then as soon as he gets his ticket, he turns to me and says, "you are very beautiful but I already have a girlfriend." My jaw just drops and he walks away. Yeah definitely was not hitting on him, just wanted the guy to go to church!! I was laughing though because I wonder if that's what all the guys think I'm doing when I try and talk to them. Nope. 

I'm excited for this next week, we already have a bunch of appointments made to go and visit members and investigators! I love visiting people at their homes. Then you understand more of who they are. The part I love about being a missionary: All the people that I get to meet and know! The thing I will miss most about Thailand are the people. I know everyone says that about their missions, but it's because they change your life so much. I've been reminiscing lately about the last 17 months and all the amazing people that I have met. And now parts of my heart are scattered across Thailand. I have a feel of what how Heavenly Father feels about us. How lucky am I that I have learned how to love. 

Have a great week! Love you all!! 

Sister Carriyo 

Finding Joy in the Journey - President Monson

This is a talk that I have been searching for my entire mission! And then I found it last week. One of my favorite talks. Let's live life to it's fullest! 

This is what it looks like to open up an area. 

Lots of records to go through!

The church in Asoke. It's a beautiful place!

Selfies in the elevator!

 Really convenient for us that there's a mirror in there!

This was mine and sister Mags loog we adopted 

for a day before she left for her mission. 

We get to take care of her after her set apart until they leave.  

Her name is Tata! 

Ice cream with Sister Martell!

President reading us some Doctor Seuss!

Good morning Bangkok!!

We have matching turtles that we carry on our bags!

 Don't know why it's a thing but it is.

Rainy Thailand!!

 

Thailand/Asoke week 65

Hey Fam Bam, 

This week was so fast. Well I spoke in sacrament meeting for the first time on my mission yesterday. But it was in the English Ward :) Thank the heavens! I was asked to speak about temples and the covenants we make. How grateful I am that I was raised in a home that was based on temple covenants that my parents had made. It's so special. 

Another refugee family showed up at the church yesterday. Ola and her three little children escaped from Iraq and have been living in Thailand for the past four years. Her family that lives in Canada encouraged them to go to church and so she had come a couple weeks ago but because of legal complexities with helping refugees here in Thailand, the church can't do anything to help them. So she didn't come the next week and then last Saturday she got a call from a man she didn't know. She said it he kept telling her to go back to the church on Sunday. "Why? They can't do anything to help me??" And the voice just kept on telling her to go back. So she showed up at the church on Sunday and one of the members grabbed and introduced them to us. They had just walked in and no one knew who they were. We talked with them and took them to class. She told me about her and her children's situation right now in her broken English. She told me that no one would help her so she prayed to Mary. "I know someone is listening, but I don't know who." Then I told her about God, and how He is our Father in Heaven, and she could pray to Him about anything. She had no idea really who Christ was. I just teared up as her eyes lit up, she was learning about her Father in Heaven for the first time. We have no idea who the person was that called her. We asked everyone but no one knew them. Me and Sister Mags were convinced that it was all by the Lord's hand. If anything can help Ola, it's the gospel and knowledge of her Savior. We're visiting them this Tuesday. I'm so excited! Nearer My God to Thee has also become one of my favorite songs. We sang it in church and Ola and her children just kept looking up at me and smiling. They loved that song! Ola and her kids were a miracle to me. 

We've seen many miracles. I'm a definite believer in miracles. Khawfang, Prince, Oy, and June all took dates to be baptized. Khawfang and June just showed up at the church with their friends that were members. Member missionary work!

This last week, I rode the khlong (really big disgusting canal) for the first time to go visit Khawfang. When there's a lot of people on there, it gets kind of claustrophobic. I had to keep myself from going into a panic attack as I watched more and more people get on! 

Khawfang had read all the way to 2 Nephi 31 in 4 days! I know she wasn't just skimming through it, she was asking all these questions about the things she had read and what it meant. She's one of those golden investigators that we dream about. She's awesome!! 

Me and Sister Mags went and got our visas renewed for the last time. 

I said hello to one of the members at the church and then he says, "hello, Maisie." Ew! Don't know how he figured out my name but I don't like being called that anymore. It's just weird. I tell everyone my first name is Sister. haha. 

I got sick for the first time in forever last week. But not too sick, I still got to work :) Just hope others weren't too grossed out by my coughing. 

This week is another transfer week. Don't know where this last one went. Tuesday night we get the call! Last time I'll ever have to take the suspense of transfer week. Kinda sad :/ 

I love being a missionary. I have been so blessed. 

Have a great week, love ya'll! Don't forget to pray and read your scriptures!! 

Sister Rio

“Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved.” President Monson

These are some of my Thai friends :)

 

Switch off with the Bangkhae sisters! 

Yep that's Sister Johnson, my MTC comp. 

I've finally been able to serve around her!

Taking a boat ride to visit our investigator! I got sick.

Sister Jaa was kind enough to take us out for pizza!

Switch off with Sister Hoeft! Fun fact: She's friends with

 Rylee (my byui roommate)!! 

We had a little too much fun with our face masks.....

This is Sister Hong! She likes hugs and she laughs all the time. 

I had the chance to visit her again last night. 

I just love this beautiful daughter of God!

Ate a cinnamon roll in the first time in...I don't know what.

Haven't sent a picture of one of these in a while. Here's a wat!

Got to meet my childhood idol! In wax form.

Thailand/Asoke Week 64...Happy Fourth of July!!

Hey everyone!!

Happy Fourth of July!!! 󾓦 Can't even explain how grateful I am to be an American. I feel so lucky to be born in a country with religious freedom and rights. Especially to have grown up in good old Idahome. No matter what anyone else says, I think it is one of the greatest places in the world. It's a hidden gem, that's why it's called the Treasure Valley. So we celebrated one of my favorite days of the year with another Zone Conference, which happened to be my last one. That was really bittersweet. It was so perfect though because we talked about obedience and the great importance of being obedient to the commandments of the Lord. You have no idea how many times I've been told that "I can't keep those commandments because they're just too hard and I like to have freedom." I've thought about that a lot. I remember one of my companions telling me out of the blue that there is no freedom in having no direction in life. Commandments are what keep us free from sin, which puts us in bondage. I always pictured Heavenly Father as the big man upstairs that just gave us commandments and told us what to do just for the heck of it. When we understand our God, our Heavenly Father, we understand that He literally is our father. When our parents give us rules, is it because they hate us and want to make our lives miserable? I used to think that, but no! It's because they love us and they want us to be happy. They know that with no direction in life, us kids would just run around doing whatever we want, making mistakes and doing things that will not ultimately make us happy. I understand God so much more. He's our Father. And He loves us. He wants more than anything for us to return to Him. So He gives us guidelines and direction. And these laws are just and trustworthy. So we're not sitting in the mist of darkness, not knowing what to do. We know our end goal and we know how to get there. It's all in the plan, and this plan was all thought out so well. And sometimes what we think will make us happy, in the end will not. That's why we trust in the Lord and know that He knows the bigger picture. I know that when I'm following Him, I will never be led astray. We can count on that! Remember that, there is no freedom in having no direction in life.

Zone Conference

Cool story: This last week a guy from Iran showed up looking for the church here in Thailand. He was baptized in Ukraine two years ago and then moved back to Iran and lived there for two years. And as you may know, there is no church there and religious freedom isn't really a thing. He missed the spirit that he felt so abundantly that he felt at church and from the members that he decided that he needed to do something. So he left his job, packed up all his stuff and moved to Thailand with literally no plan at all. Just the thought that he wanted to live somewhere where he could practice his beliefs. I was so amazed by this story. We taught him for a bit and afterwards Sister Martell turns to us with tears in her eyes and says, "we just have no idea. People back home just have no idea what they have." I took being a member in this church for granted so much. I was so lucky to live in a place where the church is so established and where there are many that practice the same beliefs as me. We just take it for granted. So many people in the church here are the only members in their families! And I am so amazed and touched by their faith. I was so grateful for Brother Johnny in helping me realize how lucky I am. And how grateful I am to God for something I took for granted for so long. I am so grateful to have what I do. 

Another thing I'm grateful for.... First time prayers. Those are my favorite. People feel awkward about them and sometimes think we're crazy for asking them to pray to this unseen God that they still don't understand. But they try it. And their prayers are so sweet and sincere. It's their first time talking to God. They didn't know how to before and now they do. It's a privilege to be there in those lessons. It's amazing. 

Well, next week is transfers. Don't know where the last five weeks went but they're gone. Time is such a weird thing. Love you all! Hope you all have a great week! Don't forget to count your many blessings. We are blessed with so much. 

ซิสเตอร์ ริโย

Down by the Bay!

Salad with these two sistas!  Sorry we had already 

eaten all of it by the time I thought to take a picture!

One of the english students made me a dream

 catcher necklace. Now we're all matchy!

Sister Jamie, My greeniehood sister from Korat!

Crepes in a cone

Sister Shee from Myanmar just got back from her

 mission in Hong Kong! She was in our zone 

in the MTC, it was so fun to see her again! 

Sister Stephanie from Peru made us some Peruvian food.

 It was so delish!

Switch offs with our Chiang Mai sisters!

Thailand!