Thrusting in Your Sickle

For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul;

Well there were a lot of interesting things going on this week. To go in order:

On Tuesday we went out to our Branch President’s house to do some service. The Branch President lives about an hour and a half outside the city, by bus. The service ended up being really intense. He has this lake and he raises fish in it and once a year he takes some fish out. So he was getting ready for that but the problem is, all of this grassy viney stuff grows on top of the water, so he can’t throw in his net. So we went there and helped him clear all the vine stuff of the water. It is the closest to swimming I have ever gotten on my mission, just walking around this lake. To get all these vines out, you cut them with a sickle. This really puts a new spin on the scriptures when it talks about thrusting in your sickle with your might. So, that was a lot of fun and now the lake is cleared out and ready to catch fish. I just wore regular missionary clothes for this. My clothes got very dirty and wet and by the time we got back I didn't have time to change, because we had a lesson. So I taught that lesson, then we had to rush over to teach English. I was still way dirty and we had no time to prepare. Thankfully, I have a lot of experience teaching English so we still had a good class.

On Wednesday, we had a gigantic miracle; something that almost never happens in missionary work, the people called us to meet. To give the full story, we were sitting, eating lunch, and I got a call from a number I didn't recognize. I answer it and this woman says, ‘Hey I am at the church with about ten friends and we want to learn about your religion.’ So we pay for our food and rush over to the church. And sure enough there are eleven people just sitting in the chapel waiting to be taught. So I just start teaching the restoration discussion. They were all so interested, they were all taking notes and asking a bunch of questions. It was probably the most in depth restoration discussion that I have ever taught. They all just had so many questions. It was also cool, a member walked in about halfway through and just started helping teach. That was another miracle that doesn't really happen, ever. So at the end of the lesson we had given out 11 copies of the Book of Mormon, had committed 11 people to read and pray about the Book, and had 11 new investigators. It was really amazing. 

Friday we had a missionary broadcast. They made a new change to the rules so now we have a little bit different schedule and we have less key indicators to report.

Saturday we had another cool miracle where got a call from the Elders in Chonburi saying that they had members up in Khon Kaen that had a relative in the in the hospital. They wanted us to go over and visit and give a priesthood blessing. So we go over to the hospital and the member that was there was a member that I actually knew. Back when I was in Samutprakaan, he was a member there. So it worked out well that we already knew the family and we got to give a blessing with the member.

Also a cool thing that happened with our investigator Summer on Saturday. For background, she was previously Christian in a different church and she has been facing a lot of persecution from people at her old church since she has been coming here. Then on Saturday a member showed me one of her posts on Facebook. In the post it basically said that everyone should just leave her alone with regards to religion because she knows that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church and she feels like she is finally at home and where she needs to be while she is here. So that was really cool to see; the faith she has in that regard. 

All of our investigators are still doing good and are all progressing very well. 

Summer, Sky and Oom will be baptized this coming Sunday. They are all way awesome. They have learned everything already. Sister Mo is also doing really well and is still progressing toward her baptismal date. So right now all is going well with them and they will be baptized next week.

Well that is all for this week. It was a lot of fun. Today we are going to ride some dinosaurs, so pictures to come next week.

--Elder Cheney

ฉะนั้น, หากเจ้ามีความปรารถนาจะรับใช้พระผู้เป็นเจ้า เจ้าก็ได้รับเรียกมายังงาน
เอ็ลเดอร์ ชีนีย์

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