Sister Hammon: Week 75 - Refuge from the Storm

This honestly has been the craziest past 10 days of my mission...

1. First of all...We were in a trio working 2 areas! Sister Pherson's companion left for home a little earlier than transfers so she joined with us and it was so fun but crazy with traveling back and forth for sure!

2. WE GOT PHONES. That's right. We are now a technology supported mission so at MLC they handed out the first smart phones and yeah. I have this way fancy Samsung that I don't know how to use so there's that. Super weird, our whole mission is going to change like crazy but for now it's just a few of the missionaries that have it until they get everyone up and running.

3. THANKSGIVING! So crazy miracles, we were invited to 2 separate Thanksgiving's!!! The first was a legit American Thanksgivng full of turkey (wow my mouth forgot what that tastes like) potatoes and pie. We died. I was so full I didn't eat until lunch the next day. America. It has glorious food. (but Thai food may definitely be better in some ways) The second was Pakistani style and I'll explain a little more about that in this email.

4. Since I have sent photos last a ton has happened! We went to : a sketchy Thai amusement park, a super crazy ancient city, and an ISLAND! (been on my mission bucket list and today I finally crossed it off! Sister Ham was happy all day let me tell ya)

5. Transfer calls! Sister McDonnell and I are STAYING in Don Muang and we are SO EXCITED! No one has to move and we can keep on moving forward for the magical month of December. Christmas is in full swing at our apartment let me tell you.

I love being a missionary. So much. The crazy hectic life is just the best and makes time fly. But I'll talk a little more about our Pakistani dinner we had.

THE ASHERS

A cool thing about serving in this area/this church is that there is an English ward! There are a lot of international families here for business so at 1 o'clock all the white people show up to church! Kinda crazy, being thrown back for Utah when all the massive families show up but it's way fun. Anyway there are also a large group of African, Chinese, Indian and Pakistani people that attend too, which is where the Asher's come in.

They are a family of 5 (their kids are teenagers) who fled to Thailand to escape persecution in Pakistan. To put it simply they are refugees. They have been investigating the church for almost a year, attending church every day for almost 8 months waiting for authorization to get baptized. Because of the legal complexities with refugees the church requires a lot of dedication from them before they are allowed to become members sometimes waiting up to a year and a half of church attendance before baptism is permitted. This family has unshaken faith. And the adore the missionaries. So they invited us all over for a Thanksgiving feast!

We walked into their humble home that day and the spirit overwhelmed me. There was such love and peace felt within the walls of that small apartment. And they fed us like kings. So much [delicious] food for all of us!! And as we ate I began to hear their story...

In Pakistan they were incredibly wealthy. The father explained that when he was younger his parents wouldn't let him walk more then a few hundred yards before telling him to take a motor bike to keep from tiring. We saw pictures of their house, which was a mansion, their wedding, extremely extravagant, and their clothes..basically everything screaming wealth. Then the persecution started due to their Christianity. Their grandfather was found, murdered on the streets, and their lives were being sought after. So they did all that they could. And fled. Here. (about 5 years ago)

They explained the awful transition of having nothing. No home. No food. Nothing. But slowly by surely they made their way up. Then they met the missionaries. They were introduced to the ward and that brings you to today. They told us of their constant trial of faith and the reliance they have on Heavenly Father to make it through this. They are currently here illegally, praying daily for God's hand to help them receive Visas so they can stay or they will have to be uprooted again. The ward is helping and doing their best. After they fed us a feast we asked how they could help, and the mother simply said, "pray for us."

I know that recently the leaders of the church have encouraged us to help these people. To get out and hear their story. That night my eyes were opened. My heart broke for this faithful little family as they experienced what Christ experienced. They did nothing wrong themselves and yet they find themselves in this situation. I finally was able to hear an experience firsthand. I cried when I hugged their dear mother as she asked that we pray for them and keep being incredible servants of God. And I feel like I was called to repentance at where my faith is...because as I heard them tell me their story, I realized I have work to do.

I know this may sound like just another story, but this night changed me...I will never forget that feeling in their house, the love I felt for them and the love they gave me. It changed me.

My challenge for you today is to get out and do what our leaders have told us to. Go find someone and hear their story. The Asher's are no longer strangers to me, but close close friends. I don't know what can be done in America, but I know there is something. All they need is a refuge, a friend, knowledge of their Savior.

"The Lord has instructed us that the stakes of Zion are to be “a defense” and “a refuge from the storm.” We have found refuge. Let us come out from our safe places and share with them, from our abundance, hope for a brighter future, faith in God and in our fellowman, and love that sees beyond cultural and ideological differences to the glorious truth that we are all children of our Heavenly Father." (Elder Kearon)

We have what they need. And it is our responsibility to share it.

I love you all, this experience changed me and I hope you can feel the spirit testifying to let you know it's all true. Please pray for the Ashers.

Much much love,

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