Week 16 - Surprise! New Companion from LAOS!

This has officially been the fastest week on the mission! I have only been in Thailand for 6 weeks (1 transfer) and you are trained for 12 weeks. Usually you have the same trainer for those 12 weeks, so when we got a transfer call (Tuesday night) it was unexpected! Wednesday we said goodbye to all of Sister Fuai's converts and favorite members and Thursday morning I had a new companion!

SISTER BILAVANH

She is from Laos (a small country to the East of Thailand that is in my mission) and she speaks Lao and Thai (almost perfectly) but almost no English! She was baptized about 3 years ago with her mom and would go to church (2 hours away) every single week! Her testimony is ROCK SOLID and she is a super hard worker! She has been on her mission about a year but has only served in 2 areas! She was in both of them for 6 months (which is FOREVER in mission standard time). I am so excited to work with her this transfer! She is absolutely amazing, and I know she will work miracles in Bang Na! With Sister Fuai we had a system where we spoke about 90% Thai throughout the day and about 50% Thai in the apartment, so switching to 100% Thai all day has been an adjustment! Luckily we have gotten around and I know this transfer will be so good for me!

AREA LEADER

So when Sister Fuai left, that left me as the area leader! That means that I am the only one who knows our investigators and knows the area so I have to plan the entire day's schedule and know how to get everywhere. I must admit when I found out Sister Fuai was leaving I was terrified! It meant that I would have to be area leader for about 2 weeks until my new companion learned the ropes of Bang Na--then I found out my new companion didn't know English and the terror increased! Haha I know that God is pushing me so hard but I also know that it will be SO worth it! Sister Bilavanh has been so incredibly patient! It is hard in Bang Na because we don't have bikes, so when we go places we don't just have to know where it is but also the right song tao(s) to take to get there! The first day we ended up taking a few extra rides, but Sister Bilavanh was so nice! Haha it will take some getting used to but I have been so blessed!

THAI

So it is a big joke that missionaries can read from the scriptures (ancient writing that is VERY academic and uses only words that you would use when speaking to a king), but the same missionaries don't know what the word for "table" is. Haha  Let's just say that describes me perfectly. BUT this week I decided that I had a pretty decent doctrinal foundation, so I would start learning objects! That means literally everything in our apartment has a sticky note label with the name in Thai. Haha it is so fun.  Also, objects are so much easier to learn than other words because it is something you can connect with an image in your mind! Love it. Also I drew an extremely detailed picture of the anatomy of the human body with labels as well. (AKA- I drew a stick figure and labeled the main parts of the body). I now feel like a 3 year old asking what everything is, but it is super fun!

BOI - MY VERY OWN 'DATER'

I don't know if you remember Boi from last week, but she is amazing. We have had about 5 lessons with her and she is Bang Na's miracle. Everything about Christianity is new to her, but she is so willing to learn. She prays every day (said she prayed too many times to count in a day!). She repents and she reads. She has an adorable 5 year old daughter and every time we come she shows us her very own picture of Jesus on a pass along card. Also her daughter says her very own prayers at night! I can't help but picture her on a mission in 15 years and it melts my heart! Anyway, after teaching about baptism, we got Boi 'on date' to get baptized the first week of November! She is my very first 'dater' that I helped find. It has been such a blessing for me to watch her change as she has chosen to follow Christ! Keep her in your prayers!

GENERAL CONFERENCE MIRACLE

The night before General Conference we had extra time so we went inviting. Inviting is not my favorite thing because it really pushes me out of my comfort zone. Also usually when we invite at night, people are going home and don't want to be bothered. So we were going about trying our best (Sister Bilavanh trying a little harder than me) to talk to everyone. I said a silent prayer that I could have help in being more bold and it was a miracle! I said hello to a woman and she said "do you remember me?" Turns out she was a member who hasn't been to church in a long time! (She thought I was the missionary who taught her because I am falang like the missionary. We all look alike to them. haha) Anyway we started talking to her and told her about General Conference the next day and she came with us! She traveled the entire hour to the church and stayed for all 4 hours!! Somehow she has just been lost among other members, so missionaries haven't been in contact with her, but I know that we were sent there that night to find her and it was so incredible to see that unfold before our eyes!

General Conference for the falangs! Everyone had to bring food so we ate and listened to conference in English.  It was the greatest.  [General Conference note.  Members and missionaries in Thailand watch it a week after it is broadcast here for two reasons.  The first is that Thailand is thirteen hours ahead so most of conference would be broadcast in the middle of the night.  The second is that this gives translators time to create the Thai version.  Fortunately, the English-speaking missionaries are able to watch conference in English which Sister Hammon was very happy about.]

Thank you all for your love and support. One of my favorite quotes from conference went something like this, "a moment of prayer is a moment with Him" and I know that to be true! This week has been a 'stretching' week for me, but my prayers have been so sincere and I have felt so close to my Father in Heaven. So I challenge you all to spend a little more time 'with Him' in prayer this week. I promise you won't regret it! Love you all and have a wonderful week!!!

Much much love,

ซิสเตอร์ แฮมมอน

When Sister Fuai goes to bed she is dressed as if she is in the arctic...

Thailand is so hot but Thai people get cold so easily.

Last picture with Sister Fuai!  She gave me her Thai skirt so I wanted a picture.

 Also our last supper was KFC so hence the weird background.

Last district Swensen's trip!  Also with transfers they split our district 

so now we only have 4 people!

 Mini Team Thai reunion!!! :')

Elder Brown has a new companion too--Elder Brander

For my mom.  This is the McDonalds we always teach in!

China Town for p-day last week!

 This is right before it started POURING rain!

Downpour!

 Super weird candy.  Basically they just beat peanuts into a thin sheet...

yeah don't really know, but it was pretty good!

So to prevent flooding on our street they came in with huge piles of rocks mixed with cement and dirt. As cars drive over it it flattens out.  The sketchiest road work I have ever seen, but he, we haven't had super bad floods since.  

[So to me--her mom--the most interesting thing about the photo above is the scooter with all kinds of bags of produce hanging from it.  She didn't even mention that.  I guess it has become commonplace to her.]

I think it is so funny!  When Sister Bilavanh found out she was going to Bang Na everyone said, "oh, it floods a lot" and low and behold, her second day in Bang Na it flooded!  Haha...love love love.

  First tuk tuk ride!  Let's just say I was SO EXCITED!

Describes the ride perfectly...

[Tuk Tuk is a mechanized three-wheeled taxi]

So this little boy is the CUTEST.  Every time he sees me walking down the street (he lives on the same street as our mini meeting house) he comes running and hugs me.  the other day he said I was his "fan" or "girlfriend" in Thai...haha  No one tell President Johnson but apparently I have a boyfriend.

Week 15 - Another One Bites the Dust

SUBJECT - Another One Bites the Dust

Haha so at the beginning of this week our entire district was alive and well...then the week began. Slowly, one by one, almost everyone became sick. 

Tuesday: Elder Parrish got the flu

Wednesday: Elder Polu was bitten by a dog and had to start the rabies shots (haha he goes home this week so he has to finish them in America)

Thursday: Sister Hammon caught a bad cold

Saturday: Sister Fuai woke up sick to her stomach

I guess it is only 4 people, but in a district of 6 it was the majority. It isn't super funny but it's the best title I've got so just pretend to laugh. (Also I thought it was hilarious) Will keep you updated on the other two elders if our district survives another week.

THAI

So I don't know what was in the water this week but everyone and their dog told me that my Thai was super clear! I am convinced that it is because my nose was very stuffy because of my cold. So I think I have decided that in order to be the absolutely best Thai speaker, I need to be sick for 18 months...worth it. But there is a funny story with this! 

We were at a market and Sister Fuai was ordering food. When she finished the man asked me if I would like anything and I basically said "I'm good, thanks!" The man stopped, looked at Sister Fuai, looked at me, then looked back at Sister Fuai and asked, "Wait. Is she Thai? Why does her face look falang?" IT WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY MISSION LADIES AND GENTLEMAN. It's the stuffy nose, I'm telling you. But really, I have been so blessed with this language. I know there is absolutely no way I could be doing this without the help of my Heavenly Father and it is a miracle how fast I am learning.

BOI

The other day we had a lot of lessons that fell through so Sister Fuai suggested we visit a less active member. We have visited this member about 5 times in 6 weeks and every time we go we aren't let in or she isn't home, so when Sister Fuai suggested this I wasn't super excited. Thankfully she was listening to the spirit which I missed! 

We went and it was a MIRACLE. She wasn't home, but her neighbor (who we have tried to teach before) had her door open and had a friend over! The friend (Boi) started asking why a falang was in the building, so I turned around and started talking with her while Sister Fuai wrote the member a note. Then we sat down and taught her a first lesson through the doorway! She was so interested and told us we could come back the next day and teach her! Huge tender mercy, a strong member lives in her same building and they know each other! 

The next day we had an amazing lesson with her and the strong member. Boi doesn't really know anything about Christianity. The only thing she recognized was Jesus and she had barely heard of the Bible so we are really starting from scratch. We were telling her the story of Joseph Smith when she stopped us and said, well I want to pray too! She is amazing. Yesterday she called us late at night and we were so confused. Turned out that she was very sick and couldn't do anything without feeling dizzy. Then she decided to say a prayer and she immediately felt better! She told us she knows that what we are teaching must be true because it has already helped her so much!  MIRACLES. 

Boi was such a blessing to us because we lost 2 investigators the other week (sadly including Geraldo) and Bo who was supposed to get baptized yesterday has kind of disappeared. We have been praying for new investigators and luckily Sister Fuai listened to the prompting and we found Boi! God is a God of miracles and I know that for a fact!

BEARING'S GOT TALENT

Every Sunday we eat dinner with the elders and about 5 members from the Bang Na ward on the roof of our building! Yesterday was the last Sunday before transfers this week and so apparently it is tradition to do Bearing's Got Talent. (Bang Na is a larger city so Bearing is the smaller city that we are located in.) Bearing's Got Talent consisted of a holding your breath contest. Yeah I know, kind of anticlimactic, but it looks super funny so here are pictures! Also for the record, I came in 3rd.  Be proud. 

Thank you all so much for your love and support! My challenge to you this week has to do with General Conference! I haven't watched it yet (because Asia is a week later), but I want all of you to pick something from conference to change! It is so nice to listen to all of the messages, but if you don't change then there wasn't really a point. So find something that stood out to you and go for it! God will help you and I have no doubt about that! :)

Have a wonderful week and if you're bored you can try to beat Elder Parrish's record of 2 minutes and 35 seconds of sticking your head underwater. I'm told it's quite the thrill.

Much much love,

Sister Hammon

 More flooding photos...yeah you're probably sick of these haha

 So for Sister Fuai's birthday we went to the NICEST buffet I have ever seen.  You sat down and the food moved past you so you didn't have to stand up and get it!  America needs to get ahold of this idea!

 The cutest little boy who I want to take home with me.

 Trying (and failing) to teach him the 'hang loose' sign.

 Looks like a normal building, right?

 Look how majestic this dog is.  Hahaha I could not stop laughing!

 Living the gospel joyfully!

 Haha  We were helping a member's daughter with her English homework.  Look at that American!  I don't think there is a more stereotypical picture!  haha

 This member makes THE BEST food in the world, and she had us over to her restaurant to start our fast.  Best. Idea. Ever.

 Love love love

The ward is practicing for the 50th Anniversary of the church in Thailand!  

They do this cultural dance that is so beautiful.  

Can't wait to see the whole thing in November!

Week 14 - Just Keep Swimming...literally

Hello hello! This week was full of WATER. Aka--Bana Na. We had continuous rain from Monday to Saturday! And what happens with rain? Floods! Haha and I mean floods. As in treading through water to my knees. BUT! There were many lessons learned and it was such a good week!

JUST KEEP SWIMMING

So it was about day 3 of flooding and every street we went down that day was flooded. It takes a lot longer to get places and is just a hassle. Anyway, earlier in the day for my personal study I read a talk from the Liahona. A dad had a theme with his daughter. Every time something hard happened he would tell her "just keep swimming" from Finding Nemo. This phrase became very significant when she was a missionary! So as I was treading through the water around 3:15. I was exhausted and really felt discouraged. That's when I heard a little voice in my head say, "hey, just keep swimming"--or "just keep treading through water." I laughed a little to myself and kept on going. Sometimes days are long and life is tough--but I promise that if we just keep swimming, things always work out. So that is my challenge for you all! You may not have a flooded city-but if you keep going, the water will eventually drain:)

FUNNY

This week we had a ton of super funny moments, so here we go:

1. We were waiting for a song thaew (taxi truck) and I saw this old man struggling to get off of a motorcycle. Sister Fuai and I ran over to help. It took 4 people but we successfully got the man off of the motorcycle without dying. We kept talking to him afterwards and we introduced ourselves. After I said my name he replied, "Ahh yes, I met your husband earlier today." Hahaha either there is another person with the last name of "Hammon" or this man was completely crazy. Either way I had a good laugh.

2. We were contacting/waiting for a bus when a woman came up to us trying to give us some Buddhist paper. We started telling her who we were when she stopped us and started saying something. I was completely lost so I just nodded and smiled until she left. Turns out she was telling us how sorry she was that we have been overtaken with poison in our blood. Haha no wonder I didn't understand, somehow "poison" doesn't seem like a crucial vocab word to study.

3. SONG THAEW TRAGEDY (this is a good one)

So we ride song thaews every day. They are basically a covered truck with two rows of seats. You flag one down when you want a ride and press a button when you're ready to get down. They are super cheap and super efficient so we LOVE them. So it was Sunday and we were going to church with a less active member. We were about to pass the church so Sister Fuai went to press the button and it didn't work. I quickly went to push the button on my side because I didn't want us to pass the church. I was in mid squat/standing position when the driver slammed on the brakes. Lets just say I flew! To my horror I landed on a Thai grandma's lap as well as about 2 other people. Everyone on the song thaewtao burst into laughter. I was mortified. My first reflex was to start apologizing in English, then I changed to Thai and just kept repeating "sorrry sorry sorry!" Haha she was laughing so hard. For the rest of the day whenever the less active member saw me she just started laughing. Oh my goodness. I still turn red just thinking about it--but it was honestly hilarious.

A GREENIE'S MIRACLE

So every greenie in Thailand has a period of time where they are still adjusting to the food...I'm still in that period of time. We had just eaten dinner and were about to teach Mali in McDonalds, when I started feeling so sick. I told Sister Fuai so we went a little early so I could sit for a little bit. I was having a hard time focusing and really just needed to lay down. It was about 8:15 PM so we would be finished after this lesson. I really didn't think I could make it through the lesson because I felt so sick. She said a prayer that I would feel better and I said one myself. Mali started walking up and I still felt awful, and I was so worried for the lesson. Then she came and sat down. Immediately, IMMEDIATELY I felt completely fine. It was one of the strangest experiences of my life. I couldn't believe it. We then taught our lesson and it was SO GOOD. I was able to talk a lot and understood almost everything! The spirit was so strong and we really felt like we connected with her. The lesson ended and the moment she left I started feeling sick again. This was a MIRACLE. There is absolutely no logical explanation for what happened, but I know that God wanted me to teach that lesson so He made it possible. I just want to testify that we belong to a God of miracles. "God has not ceased to be a God of miracles," we just need to see them. (Mormon 9:15) I am so grateful that I get to be a part of this work and see miracles every single day. This is His work and He does it His way! 

Life is so good. There are always challenges but challenges always end with joy and peace..I know it:) Have an incredible week!

รัก มาก มาก,

Sister Hammon

BANGKOK FLOODING

 Flooding Day 2...spot the Elder...

 We don't have bikes so we are secretly very jealous of them.

 This is not a river.  This is Bang Na's highway.

 Flooding Day 1

 This just made me smile as I thought of my dad trying to bike through this.

 This is our beautiful beach front property.

 Notice the water level showing how high the water reached.

 When it floods all the fish come out from the sewers (yeah it's kind of disgusting) 

and all the kids try to catch the fish.  (Notice the children down the ally)

IT'S HER BIRTHDAY TODAY!  

We had this banner that said "Merry Christmas" 

so I taped "Happy Birthday over it!

 It was SO SWEET and so funny! So we were finishing our studying and we heard this banging on our door. It was actually kind of freaky. We asked who it was and there was no response but the banging started again. Sister Fuai slowly opened the door and it was the elders! Haha they made microwave cake for her birthday! (My thumb is in there so we are being 100% obedient don't worry;)

 Yay for birthdays and hallway parties!

How cute is she?

Just THE GREATEST member in Bang Na.  We matched so a picture was necessary.

 Haha the sketchiest buffet in the world.  

They have raw meat on plates and you cook it right there!

 Yes, these are the people that I am surrounded by daily. Ask us how mature we are.

 So grateful I have a Thai trainer to teach me the language.  

Who knew there were so many forms of "I"...

 This dog may seem adorable..but he is secretly the devil (a terrifying creature)

 Having much success.

Preaching he gospel to every creature part 2.

LOOK WHAT PET THESE PEOPLE HAVE!

 Super cute kids at one of our less active's house.

If you ride a bike you have to wear this vest at night that screams "I AM A MORMON" 

and I think it is super funny.

Bangkok traffic.