Let Us All Press On

So, this last week was amazing. It was also my last one. So I will be flying down to Bangkok tomorrow after church and then leaving for home Monday Morning. 

My week was great. It was full. Last Sunday and Monday we were in Udon for District and then Zone Conference. We had great training. Then, since getting back to Laos, my week has been full of visiting members and eating meals with seemingly everyone. We ate probably five times a day. Sometimes we would eat at restaurants. We even had one day where we ate at the same restaurant twice. It was a great week. 

Today was busy. We went out to visit the longest Lao member. She is the one who brought the church into Lao. She is getting old and is very sick. We also volunteered at an event that a member was running. So it turned out to be a busy day.

To summarize my mission into one email is impossible, but it really was the best two years. I have grown my personal testimony of this work immensely. I have gained a lot of friends from other missionaries, members and investigators. I am especially grateful for the recent converts that I had the opportunity to teach. Being a missionary has brought me so much happiness.      

I want to share my testimony of this Gospel. I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the world. I know that his church is restored on the earth again. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know these things for myself though prayer and studying the scriptures. I love this work. I know it is the work of God and it will continue to move forward. 

--Elder Cheney

ฉะนั้น, หากเจ้ามีความปรารถนาจะรับใช้พร ะผู้เป็นเจ้า เจ้าก็ได้รับเรียกมายังงาน
เอ็ลเดอร์ ชีนีย์

ແລະ ຈົ່ງເບິ່ງ, ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າບອກພວກທ່ານເຖິງເລື່ອງ ເຫລົ່ານີ້ເພື່ອພວກທ່ານຈະຮຽນຮູ້ ກ່ຽວກັບປັນຍາ ເພື່ອພວກທ່ານຈະຮຽນຮູ້ວ່າ ເມື່ອພວກທ່ານຮັບໃຊ້ເພື່ອນມະນຸ ດດ້ວຍກັນ ພວກທ່ານກໍຮັບໃຊ້ພຣະເຈົ້ າຂອງພວກທ່ານນັ້ນເອງ
ແອວເດີ ຈີນີ

Eating Food and Going to Bangkok

This week was super amazing! We were pretty busy the whole week. The first half of the week we had a lot of visiting the members. The fun part about visit members at their house is they almost always cook you food, even if you don't show up at a meal time. So we had several days this week where we ate 4-5 meals per day and the only meal we made for ourselves was breakfast. 

Our investigators are doing great. Next Sunday we will should be having 4 baptisms. Two of them are children I have been teaching and the other two are a mother/daughter that Elder Saunders has been teaching. We have lots of other investigators that are doing great. 

We had a fun Halloween party on Monday. Halloween in Laos was great. We made a haunted house at Sister Stevenson's house and had a party with a lot of members. We turned her house into a hospital sort of deal and I was a doctor in a lab coat that led all the members though the haunted house/hospital. Really, only those who know American people celebrate Halloween. The members are always excited to participate.

The two new Elders are doing great. They still really only speak Thai, but they are learning. Elder Hansen and Higginson are doing well and I think they will do a great job taking over once Elder Saunders and I leave.

On Thursday Elder Hansen and I went to Bangkok, Elder Hansen had to renew his Thai Visa. So we got into Bangkok at like 11:00 at night then got to the Elders house at 12:00. We slept there for a few hours then got to the visa place at 5:00am. It turned out good though. After that we went over to my second area Samutprakaan. We had a good time there. I had the opportunity to visit some of the people I taught. We went around to all of these different places and then slept at the Samutprakaan Elders house until like 3:00 am then we had to go to the airport and fly back to Udorn. So right now we are in Udorn and will be here till Monday. We have District Conference here this weekend then Zone Conference on Monday. So this trip into Thailand is a pretty long one. Being in Thailand is fun because we can preach the gospel. One of my favorite parts of the week was Elder Hansen and I just street contacting in Bangkok. We were being rejected by almost everyone, but it just felt so good to talk about Jesus with Strangers. 

So this week has been great!

For this week I wanted to share scripture that I ran across in my personal studies. Alma 26:22 

“Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance.”

I loved this scripture because of the vast promise that is laid out for us if we are willing to repent, exercise faith and pray without ceasing.

-- Elder Cheney

ฉะนั้น, หากเจ้ามีความปรารถนาจะรับใช้พระผู้เป็นเจ้า เจ้าก็ได้รับเรียกมายังงาน
เอ็ลเดอร์ ชีนีย์

ແລະ ຈົ່ງເບິ່ງ, ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າບອກພວກທ່ານເຖິງເລື່ອງເຫລົ່ານີ້ເພື່ອພວກທ່ານຈະຮຽນຮູ້ກ່ຽວກັບປັນຍາ ເພື່ອພວກທ່ານຈະຮຽນຮູ້ວ່າ ເມື່ອພວກທ່ານຮັບໃຊ້ເພື່ອນມະນຸດດ້ວຍກັນ ພວກທ່ານກໍຮັບໃຊ້ພຣະເຈົ້າຂອງພວກທ່ານນັ້ນເອງ
ແອວເດີ ຈີນີ

Going up North Again, Teaching Children the Gospel

Another great week. Last Saturday, for P-day, we went out with some English students and were at this waterfall all day. So, it was a good day. 

Last Sunday was good. It was the first Sunday for Elder Johnson and Elder Fjeldsted. They are doing great. Last Sunday we got a lot of teaching done. My favorite part of last Sunday was going around to Primary class. During the time when there was no church building, a lot of children turned eight and were not able to be baptized. So last Sunday I went on a mission to find all the children that needed to be baptized. So, by the end of the day I had a list of four kids that still need to be baptized. Two of them wanted to be baptized the next week! So, we are working right now to get them baptized in the near future.

Our investigators are doing great. We are getting a lot of teaching in now, with six Elders. It is really weird here, because we are almost always split off when we teach. Each Elder has their own set of investigators. So, a lot of my investigators are doing good right now but aren’t free to meet during the week. Their names are Jinda, Sun, Tunkham, and Nok.

On Tuesday, we got to go up North and visit some people. We went a little more than an hour north of the city and we were able to visit my investigator Sun. She is doing good but is trying to quit smoking right now. The other big visit we had was at Brother Janphengs house. He is the Elder’s Quorum President for Branch Two.

Other good parts of the week were having lunch with the Branch President for Branch One. And District Meeting was good; we took a lot of time to talk about all the different investigators and how we can help them progress. Last night we had a good lesson with our RC Brother Bunma. That was also a really good part of the week. We just took the time to read with him from the Book of Mormon together.

Here is another quote I enjoyed from General Conference. It is about our personal testimonies. It reminded me that we need to continue in Faith with constant effort to keep it strong.

 "It is not enough just to gain a testimony; you have to maintain it and strengthen it. As every missionary knows, if you stop pedaling a bicycle, it will fall, and if you stop feeding your testimony, it will weaken. This same principle applies to repentance- it is a lifelong pursuit, not a once-in-a-lifetime experience." ~Stephen W. Owen

The longer we go without strengthening our testimony, the more it will weaken and if we are not careful, we will eventually fall. As we keep the commandments, seek personal guidance and repent daily we can stay strong. 

That’s all for this week.

-- Elder Cheney

ฉะนั้น, หากเจ้ามีความปรารถนาจะรับใช้พระผู้เป็นเจ้า เจ้าก็ได้รับเรียกมายังงาน
เอ็ลเดอร์ ชีนีย์

ແລະ ຈົ່ງເບິ່ງ, ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າບອກພວກທ່ານເຖິງເລື່ອງເຫລົ່ານີ້ເພື່ອພວກທ່ານຈະຮຽນຮູ້ກ່ຽວກັບປັນຍາ ເພື່ອພວກທ່ານຈະຮຽນຮູ້ວ່າ ເມື່ອພວກທ່ານຮັບໃຊ້ເພື່ອນມະນຸດດ້ວຍກັນ ພວກທ່ານກໍຮັບໃຊ້ພຣະເຈົ້າຂອງພວກທ່ານນັ້ນເອງ
ແອວເດີ ຈີນີ

New Elders, Emergency trip to Thailand, and a Government Meeting

So, this last week was really busy. Last Sunday was great. We got to teach and help our investigators progress. Tomorrow, Tom, an investigator mainly taught by Elder Saunders and Elder Higginson, will be baptized. 

Monday was a fun day. We had a FHE at night, and two of the people I served with in Chiang Mai had come up to Laos for a few days, so it was a lot of fun to see them again and catch up. On our way back from FHE, Elder Saunders crashed his bike. We are still not sure what happened exactly but he took a bad spill and couldn't remember anything that happened that day. He kept asking the same questions over and over again. On top of that, he had a lot of wounds on his arms and face so I had to take him to Thailand and go to the hospital there. So, we crossed the border right at 10:00pm when it closed and left the hospital at like 2:30 in the morning in Udorn. He ended up not have any lasting amnesia. It all went away. He did have to get 5 stitches on his chin though. It was an exciting night. We had to leave the other two Elders to teach English. They didn't have their Visa's to go back to Thailand. 

Also, this week I got to take part in a government meeting between DIC and the Lao Government. I was just translating for the senior missionaries but it was a lot of fun. 

Yesterday Elder Fjeldsted and Elder Johnson came into Laos. Elder Higginson and I switched off and went and picked them up. It is way good to have six Elders again.

Today we are going to a lake with some English students so it should be fun.

So this week has been mostly great!  (Injuries excluded.)

-- Elder Cheney

ฉะนั้น, หากเจ้ามีความปรารถนาจะรับใช้พระผู้เป็นเจ้า เจ้าก็ได้รับเรียกมายังงาน
เอ็ลเดอร์ ชีนีย์

ແລະ ຈົ່ງເບິ່ງ, ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າບອກພວກທ່ານເຖິງເລື່ອງເຫລົ່ານີ້ເພື່ອພວກທ່ານຈະຮຽນຮູ້ກ່ຽວກັບປັນຍາ ເພື່ອພວກທ່ານຈະຮຽນຮູ້ວ່າ ເມື່ອພວກທ່ານຮັບໃຊ້ເພື່ອນມະນຸດດ້ວຍກັນ ພວກທ່ານກໍຮັບໃຊ້ພຣະເຈົ້າຂອງພວກທ່ານນັ້ນເອງ
ແອວເດີ ຈີນີ

Trip up North

Another great week. Last Sunday was a little bit slower, with people at church and everything, because of General Conference a lot of people watched from their home's. So we didn't have as many people bringing friends to church. It still ended up being a good day as we had Sister Lisa and Gwan get baptized. They are doing great and will receive the Holy Ghost tomorrow. 

All the RC's are doing great. Brother See is the greatest security guard in the world. He watches over the church sooo well. He is just really proactive; so unlike all other security in Laos. He goes around and just does little things to help out the Church. My favorite one, this week, was when he found a bunch of gospel art paintings, he went around the church and put them all up. So, when we went there to teach, we were surprised by all the paintings up on the wall. It is starting to feel more and more like a church everyday.  

Ton and Sony are doing great and are setting their sights on getting their family to the temple when they pass a year of membership

Bunma is still very strong he is planning on going on a mission once he has been a member for a year. 

Coco is awesome. He is one of my favorite young men in Laos. Our new house is next to Coco's school, so we bump into him almost every day. He also always runs up behind us on his motorcycle when we are biking and talks to us for a little bit as we bike.

Basa is strong and coming to church every week. She is really busy at school so we don't see her during the week but she has Sunday off and is still doing great. 

Da is doing good too. She is always bringing friends to church on Sunday. All of her friends are nice but none of them have stuck as solid investigators.

We also have District Conference coming up soon. Brother See Ton and Bunma are getting ready to get the Melchizedek Priesthood. 

On Tuesday, Elder Saunders and I went up North to some of the members. We were up there specifically to help out one of the sisters that is going on a mission in two months and helping her do her Visa work.

English classes are still going great. Teachers appreciation day was last week so our students have been giving us a lot of things lately. So that has been really nice.

Today has been a calm P-day. Our last several P-days have been a little more crazy so today we took it easy and went to a few places in the city. 

General Conference was really great, like always. My favorite talk was from Elder Nelson. He talked about the Book of Mormon and gave several great promises regarding it.  

"My dear brothers and sisters, I testify that the Book of Mormon is truly the word of 

God. It contains the answers to life’s most compelling questions. It teaches the doctrine of 

Christ. It expands and clarifies many of the “plain and precious”  truths that were lost through centuries of time and numerous translations of the Bible.

When I think of the Book of Mormon, I think of the word power. The truths of the Book of 

Mormon have the power to heal, comfort, restore, succor, strengthen, console, and cheer our souls.

My dear brothers and sisters, I promise that as you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon 

every day, you will make better decisions—every day. I promise that as you ponder what you study, the windows of heaven will open

, and you will receive answers to your own questions and direction for your own

life. I promise that as you daily immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon, you can be 

immunized against the evils of the day"

Have a good week!!

-- Elder Cheney

ฉะนั้น, หากเจ้ามีความปรารถนาจะรับใช้พระผู้เป็นเจ้า เจ้าก็ได้รับเรียกมายังงาน
เอ็ลเดอร์ ชีนีย์

ແລະ ຈົ່ງເບິ່ງ, ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າບອກພວກທ່ານເຖິງເລື່ອງເຫລົ່ານີ້ເພື່ອພວກທ່ານຈະຮຽນຮູ້ກ່ຽວກັບປັນຍາ ເພື່ອພວກທ່ານຈະຮຽນຮູ້ວ່າ ເມື່ອພວກທ່ານຮັບໃຊ້ເພື່ອນມະນຸດດ້ວຍກັນ ພວກທ່ານກໍຮັບໃຊ້ພຣະເຈົ້າຂອງພວກທ່ານນັ້ນເອງ
ແອວເດີ ຈີນີ