testifying in Thailand

testifying in Thailand

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Week 27 - MERRY SANTA-MAS---er wait

First of all, MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

It was such a wonderful day for us in Bang Na with many many Christmas miracles. I don't have a bunch of time today, but I just want to let you all know how grateful I am for a perfect baby boy that was born over 2000 years ago...He is my Savior and without Him there is no Christmas. Celebrating here was different than anything else I have experienced. The people here live a life without Christmas...and therefore a life without a Savior. (Which frankly breaks my heart) How grateful I am to have the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and I spent the entire month of December trying to help others understand the reason for the season....Jesus Christ was born!!! 

Most Thai people think Christmas is the following:
     - Santa's Birthday
     - The American New Year
     - America's "Pre" New Year 

Jesus Christ has done everything than I could not do myself, He makes my life worth living... and that is why I am here. I love my family more than anything, but right now I seem to love sharing the gospel more. I hope you all had a very merry Christmas taking time for the things that matter most!

Glory to God on high because a Savior was born!

ร้ก มาก มาก
Sister Hammon

Ward Christmas Party! (Christmas Eve)

Christmas Morning 2016. Thank you family!

Christmas dinner! SO DELICIOUS

Bearing's got talent (last Sunday of the transfer) 
Because nothing says Christmas like shoving your face in a pool!

Got to do switch-offs with Sister Black (from Bountiful!!!)  Also Sister Williamson has served in Bang Na before so it was SO FUN. Love them.

These are my little friends who entertain us while we wait for investigators to come...I love them with my whole heart. Yah they are adorable!

Trying to get a picture with them is quite the adventure

Monday, December 19, 2016

Week 26 - "...but this time God used me."

What a week of wonderful, wonderful miracles but we can start the letter with random tidbits:
     -Total Christmas Trees Seen: 1 (at an American bar)
     -Total Christmas Lights Seen: 1 (same American bar)
     -Total Christmas Songs Heard: 0 (but I have faith that this week that will change!)
But we did get a little 'cold front' this week! I think it probably dropped to about 60 degrees. The Thai people responded with coats and scarves, so it looks like I may be getting the 'cold' Christmas that I am used to! 
I have also decided that my theme song for Thailand right now is "Where are you Christmas" 

THE STORY OF RADRIE (ราตรี)
Part 1--the find
So once upon a time my companion and I were heading to a lesson around 6 in the evening (when lots of people are heading home) The taxi truck we were using had a bunch of people, so I was standing in the middle. I wanted to talk to people around me but no one else was standing and it is super awkward to talk to those sitting while you are above them, so I just waited. Luckily a seat opened up but we only had a few blocks to go before  our stop. I quickly spat out something to the woman next to me. People usually just brush you off, but she immediately started asking me questions about Christ!! I was literally getting her number as I was getting off the truck because we had already hit our stop. It all happened so fast that after I got off I realized what a miracle it was and said a little prayer of thanks that we were guided to find her. About 85% of the time getting someone's number does not mean that anything super amazing will happen--BUT when we called her she was willing to meet..the next day!!

Part 2--her story
We met with her (about 60-ish) and she began to tell us her story. She just moved to Bang Na 3 days ago and was hoping to find a Christian church to attend, when a falang girl sat down next to her and started talking about Jesus! "How did you know I was Christian and looking for a church?" After the lesson I was baffled. This was a MIRACLE. This was the type of 'missionary miracle' I grew up hearing...but this time God used me. 
When I contacted her I didn't feel a lightening bolt hit me telling me that this woman needed to hear the Gospel, I was just doing what missionaries should do. That is something I have learned on my mission, not to worry about every step of my day being guided by the spirit. If you are doing what you should, God will direct you, and afterwards you will realize the miracle that just took place. I am SO grateful to be God's servant in Thailand and I hope and pray that I will be humble enough to follow His promptings. I love this work and I love my Savior!

I am missing the Christmas season, but missionaries are here to work miracles, and those miracles get you through the hard days. My challenge for you this week is to take the time to be an instrument in God's hands. This time of year there are so many opportunities to serve, so use this opportunity to ask God where He wants you. I promise, if you are sincere, He will direct you (even if you don't know you're being directed--like me)  Have a very merry Christmas!!!

Much much love,
ซิสเตอร์ แฮมมอน

I FINALLY HAVE A BIKE! Haha  
It was so fun, praying that this was prep for my next area 
(where the sisters are allowed to bike)

Last p-day was AMAZING! We went to this super huge Ancient City and biked around the whole thing for about 4 hours. Thailand is gorgeous and I love it more and more every day.



Officially my favorite wat in Thailand (which is saying something)



And if you look to my left you see...another wat!

My companion is adorable.

No idea what this is..some story about the fish protecting a princess or something? It obviously didn't translate for me, but it looks super cool!



Look how gorgeous this is!



We decided we are calling President to see if we can get permission 
to make this our new apartment



Yay for bikes!



We did indeed ask a stranger to take this picture, and we did it in one try.  
That takes skill if you ask me.

Thailand

Took a creepy stalker picture of our investigator Brother Chai for all of you.

A member had us over for some fried chicken feet the other day...
not as gross as it sounds I promise

Who knew there was such a thing as yellow watermelon!



Monday, December 12, 2016

Week 25 - Desire to Love God

ZONE CONFERENCE--Christmas Devotional
I. Love. Zone. Conference. Also I love TBM (Thailand Bangkok Mission). SO MUCH. President Johnson is amazing! He knows how hard it is to not be around the Christmas season (he was a missionary here too) so he brought Christmas to us! We started the day with watching It's A Wonderful Life. Wow. First movie in who knows how long. It was weird, also didn't know that was 'legal' on the mission...also nothing defines ''awkward' more than sitting in a room full of missionaries watching a scene of a couple kissing. Anywayyyy after the movie we played a bunch of Christmas games and had so much fun, but the best part was the actual devotional. 

President Johnson has the power to inspire people, and that is exactly what he did. He talked about how desires motivate everyone in everything they do. He asked us to ponder our desires and began to explain how everyone's desire leads back to "loving God." One thing that really stood out to me was this, "what won't you give/sacrifice to accomplish your desires?" In the end there is nothing I won't give, nothing I won't sacrifice to show God that I love Him. I am willing to sacrifice everything I have..and that is when he taught us the power of goals, the path to reaching your desires. He is amazing! Despite the movie and cookies and games, the devotional from him was the best part of the entire day.

LIFE IN BANG NA
Overall life is great. We have been hitting some rough patches but still striving to move forward everyday! Sister Mai (our recent convert) is amazing! The ward has taken her under her wing, a bunch of sisters have given her skirts and nicer shirts to wear to church because she can't afford them. Honestly it makes my heart so happy to see her progressing forward without the missionaries needing to be there every step of the way:)

BROTHER CHAI
One of the hardest days on my mission so far happened last Saturday. Brother Chai told us he believes it is true, but he just hasn't gotten a witness of Joseph Smith yet and has decided he doesn't want to get baptized in the near future. It was in a phrase heart breaking. Brother Chai is someone that I was directed to find, we have studied hours and hours to answer his questions and when he accepted baptism it was such a spiritual and emotional high for everyone. Right before he decided to post pone I bore my testimony of the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. I don't really know what I said but the spirit was so strong and I felt such power in my voice as I spoke, afterwards Sister Bilavanh looked at me and gave me a small thumbs up haha. Unfortunately he decided he just wants to wait awhile. We cannot force anyone to do anything, but after we had that experience with him where I know he felt the spirit of God, seeing him deny it was devastating. We have done all that we can so now we just need to press forward with an eye of faith (and many many prayers)

I love you all and challenge you to recognize your desires this week--and please desire to LOVE GOD. Once you have determined your desires turn them into GOALS because that is when the miracles start happening. Enjoy this wonderful Christmas season!

ร้ก มาก มาก
Sister Hammon

Merry Christmas from the Thailand Bangkok East Zone! :)

Had to wake up at 5 for zone conference but the sunrise was SO WORTH IT!

THE FIRST REAL COOKIE I HAVE HAD IN 4 MONTHS! (no one has ovens in Thailand, so Sister Johnson spent an entire day just making us cookies for zone conference!)

CHRISTMAS!

Elder Santa distributing our gifts

I HAVE THE BEST FAMILY IN THE WORLD!  THANK YOU!

We coordinated so we wore red and green. Are we adorable or are we adorable.

Also I don't know if you can see it but I spilled my milk that I ate with my cookies at like 8 AM so I had a giant spill on my skirt all day...haha   I am very talented.


AP's and Elder Santa with their white elephant gifts
Christmas games for zone conference!

That is a face of pure concentration

If this is not the cutest missionary Christmas you have ever seen then you are mistaken.  THANK YOU FAMILY! (Just for the record there's an even number for me and Sister Bilavanh, haha they're not just for me!)  Also Sister Bilavanh doesn't understand the stockings and that is when I realized I don't either--so if you know why we use stockings for Christmas feel free to enlighten me!

Welcome to Bearing! (this is right off the train we take to church every week)

These are our best friends who wait with us while we are waiting for our investigators! So adorable.
LOVE THEM!

Bang Na

More service at this Sister's house.  
Sister Balavanh chopped down the entire top part of the tree!  เก่ง
This fruit is MASSIVE
It is super spiky and probably weighs about 8 pounds...in other words it could kill you if it fell on your head, but apparently it is delicious!

Sister Leg (the less active member who was a miracle a few weeks ago) decorated her house for Christmas.  How cute is this? You can also play 'spot the cats' (there are 2 in this picture but she owns about 7).

Elders had a baptism!  She is so amazing, Sister หนอ่ย. And we have even taught her some lessons.  Love her!


We had some fun at FHE this week

We are always waiting for this elevator so I entertained myself

Hahaha we had to wait for a motorcycle and Elder Bradner didn't see us so he go WAY ahead.  Elder Tun just said "yeah, I'm not running up there."