CHANGE IN INVITING
So in Bangkok there are MILLIONS of people, and in our mission it is our tradition/culture to TALK TO EVERYONE. We always have an inviting card in our hand (picture of Christ) and every single person we walk by we say something like, "do you know who Jesus Christ is?"/"Do you want to learn about Christ?"/"Do you want to come to church?" The first time I saw it I thought it was like a salesman, but the crazy thing is, people actually stop! Because the number of people we pass by is so high we actually find interested people. So anyway, most of my mission hasn't been like this (because I was in the Esan) but the last 3 weeks in Don Muang have been. Then Elder Evans suggested a better way.
He began by teaching the sacredness of the Savior and His name and by dropping this sentence on all of us, "if I were you I would be very careful when using His name casually" ...The whole room was dead silent because we all knew we had all been doing it wrong. He continued and taught us in Preach my Gospel about talking WITH people and not TO them and committed us all to change. It was a big shocker for sure, but it is something that we need to take in humility and fix. I feel lucky I haven't been doing this for too long but also sad I don't have a huge amount of time to apply it. So the Thailand Bangkok Mission is in for some major adjustments these next few weeks. He wants us to limit street contacting and said in the future the first presidency may even ban it among certain missions! Big shocker, because we spend so much of our time doing that, it's just life now. He wants us to focus on the members and referrals instead of making contacting our go-to.
He wants us to be 'bold, but not overbearing' (Alma 37:12) and ended by saying, "it takes courage to bounce from person to person on the street, but it takes faith to do it the Lord's way" For years the TBM has had the courage, but lacked in the faith. Now we're ready to change!
Anyway that probably doesn't mean much to any of you, but it turned our world upside down. We have tried our best to modify it and will continue, but I know this will bless Thailand, Myanmar and Laos...because this will help us get our temple!!
WORD OF WISDOM SHOCKER
One fast story, we have this new investigator who is adorable, but unfortunately works in Phuket dancing at a bar...sad.(honestly you would never guess from looking at her) So we went into investigator class on Sunday and surprise, the topic was the word of wisdom (which we knew she had a problem with) The teacher was fairly blunt and I was praying she would accept it (we've only taught her once) Anyway after the class I was talking to her and she said..."You know, I could get another job. There has to be a way out...and you said God would help right?" My heart swelled with gratitude. She is so prepared. I was just so thankful she took this with humility and eagerness to change and for the spirit for warming her heart to the idea.
So basically the summary of this letter is that we all make mistakes, and usually don't even realize it. But if we take things with all humility we will progress in this life instead of getting offended and turning our head away. I once heard someone say 'if someone says something about you and it's not true ignore it...but if it is true, change it" That one statement could prevent thousands of people from leaving the church, if we focus our attention upward rather than looking around we would accomplish miracles. Our investigator could have easily gotten offended/thought our commandments were too restricting and never entered into the church building again (I have seen it before) BUT SHE DIDN'T. And how much richer will her life be because of it?!
Take criticism as an opportunity to grow and life becomes a whole lot more enjoyable. :)
Thank you for everything, love you lots and pray for Thailand as we all go about this change! Bangkok Temple HERE WE COME.
Much much love,
ซีสเตอร์ แฮมมอน
Combined Zone Conference with Elder and Sister Evans
Playing flute at Zone Conference
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