2nd Area- Ubon!

Family, friends, participants of this amazing work, สวัสดีครับ!!

DAAAAAAANG... it's been quite a while since my last blog entry... I feel pretty terrible because I told Tiffany (She's awesome. She runs my blog and Facebook) that I would try to write a blog entry at least once a month.

So as the title says, I am finally in my second area in Thailand!! Here's the rundown of how my mission went so far

Feb. 17, 2014 - Entered Provo MTC

Apr. 23 - Arrived in Bangkok, Thailand. Assigned to serve in Chiang-Rai, the northernmost area in Thailand with my trainer, Elder Calderon (Florida).

Aug. 8 - After spending three months finding/teaching/and baptizing people like crazy together, Elder Calderon was transferred, and became Zone Leader in a different area.

Elder Sugihara (Washington) became my second companion.

Sep. 19 - After spending almost five months in Chiang-Rai, I was transferred to UBON!! with Elder Tamang (Utah), and it's a whitewash transfer!!

*Whitewash transfer = When missionaries are transferred, one usually goes, and the other usually stays to introduce the new missionary to the area. However, sometimes both missionaries of that area are transferred, and two new missionaries enter an area without knowing who the members are, what the area is like, anything... We go in knowing nothing of the area... that is called "whitewashing in".

So before I start talking about how awesome my second area - Ubon is, I just want to take some time to talk about Chiang-Rai.

With all of the faculties that I possess, I can honestly say that I love Chiang-Rai!!

- That's my greenie area!!

- That's where I learned how to speak this crazy Thai language!! (and some Northern too, but that story is for another day)

- That's the place where I learned step by step to become a missionary

- That's where I truly came to know the meaning of "Relying on the Lord"

- I came to believe in miracles in Chiang-Rai

- The members... the recent converts that I had the privilege to teach... I love them beyond explanation..

- They are still in my prayers. I am so excited for those saints who are currently preparing themselves to be missionaries as well. 

I'm grateful for the two awesome companions I had the opportunity to serve with in Chiang-Rai

Elder Calderon (Florida) - 15 weeks!! 12 Baptisms! My trainer, the one that taught me by example what missionary work is all about!! Out of all of the amazing missionaries our mission has, I'm so thankful that Elder Calderon was the one that trained me. His Thai is impeccable... Still one of the best Thai speakers I've heard among missionaries. He showed me the meaning of consecrating ourselves to the Lord. We witnessed some mad miracles together, and had so much fun touring up the north! I will never forget it. 

Elder Sugihara (Washington) 6 weeks!! 1 Baptism! In the mission, there are about 180 missionaries, of whom 4 speaks Japanese. Which are the Mission President himself, Elder Sugi, Elder Jeng, and I. When we have the opportunity, we chat in Japanese with each other. President Senior must have had a pretty good laugh when he received inspiration to place Elder Sugi and I together as companions. Elder Sugi is way awesome. He whipped up gourmet dishes everyday, and we went ham on strengthening the members in Chiang-Rai.

My last day in Chiang-Rai was difficult to bear. I had come to love the area so much! The members, the people on the streets, people at the local market.. no matter if they were members or not, I knew them by name.. and they knew me by name. It was especially painful to exchange farewells to our recent converts whom we have taught and baptized... They are still in my prayers, and I am so excited for the day that I'll see them again after my mission! Our Father in Heaven game me the wonderful opportunity to witness the Gospel of Jesus Christ change their lives for the better, forever. They will be a source of energy to uplift me for the rest of my life. 

SO, UBON!! Man... where do I even start... Ubon!! one of the biggest cities in the east side of Thailand. Everybody speaks Thai, but their first language is the "eastern dialect", which is close to Laotian. So... I'm currently learning that as well. On top of Thai... now it's time for me to learn the eastern dialect... Starting this transfer, I became companions with Elder Tamang, who only became a missionary two months before I entered the field! Usually... both of us would be paired with a companion that is much older in the mission... so there must have been a really special reason why the two of us (Reminder.. we're still young in the mission. We don't speak amazing Thai.) became companions, and whitewashed into Ubon. 

Actually, I want to take this time to talk about my new comp and District a bit. Elder Tamang - from Alpine, Utah. He's not the typican Utahn though... He's half Nepalese, half Caucasian. His height is 6'3, so very easy to spot among Thai people. Overall, he loves the work, he knows his purpose, and likes work hard! He's awesome!! Oh, and in Ubon, we have so many missionaries! There are 4 companionship, or 8 missionaries serving in one branch, one city! In the Ubon branch, we have the Zone Leaders, Ubon Elders 1(District Leader), Ubon Elders 2(Elder Tamang and I), and the Sister Missionaries! These four companionship make the Ubon District! 

It's been almost three weeks since we came here, and we've already been blessed so much. Heavenly Father led us to those people who were ready... Ready to hear the Gospel, and be baptized. Yesterday, 10 people were baptized from our district... of them, 4 were from our companionship!! Elder Tamang and I were surprised ourselves that we are witnessing miracles after miracles. 

I love it here. I honestly love being a missionary! In our weekly emails to the Mission President, I wrote something like... "President, my first week here was a little bit hard because I just missed Chiang-Rai so much. But, I already love the people here in Ubon. All I want to do now is to stay here, and continue the work of Salvation!! I absolutely love it."

I love you all. Much Mahalos!!

Elder Takeuchi

I will now bombard you will two months worth of photos. 

Ubon is beautiful

what happens when it rains

Lion Statue

Baptism, Monkeys and The Tree of Life

Whaaaaaasssuppp!! Family, friends, people in Russia (I found out there are people in Russia viewing my blog), and fellow missionaries!!

First of all, I have to give a shout-out to Sister SYDNEY EVANS who just got her mission call to Lima, Peru!!! It's not Thailand, but Peru has to be just as awesome. I am thankful for her example in heeding to the voice of our Master, for he is calling laborers to work in His vineyard. I'm honestly so excited for the new, exhilarating chapter of life that is ahead of her. Peru is truly blessed to have her as a witness and representative of Jesus Christ.

I'd write an essay or two, but I'll just have the photos explain what's been going on in Chiang-Rai!! Let's start with baptisms!!!!! :D

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Baptisms for this week were full of miracles including a father (baptized 2 weeks ago) baptizing his daughter, Brother Thoo, (one of our recent-converts) baptizing for the first time, and Brother Adison (recently came back to the church) baptizing Brother Seitaki!

     

Monkeys maaan. 

       

Much Love

 

     

One of my absolute favorite Recent-Converts (Yes, he uses a magnifying glass to read the scriptures!!) He is sooooooo awesome. 

Dspite his age, he bikes to church every Sunday, fulfills his calling by blessing the sacrament, and is always... always reading the scriptures. 

Brother Nid is a humble man who used to be a close adviser to the current King. He is now retired and lives peacefully in a wooden cabin.

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caaaaves maaaan..

     

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​Matthew 7:14 - Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Found a lost civilization at the end of the cave.

     

AMy adopted parents Sister Daa (above) and Brother Pong (below) in Chiang-Rai. We eat at their house every Saturday

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​Branch President and his awesome family

     

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So 3 weeks ago, we took this bus that looks like it is about to fall apart, to visit a recent-convert that lives about an hour away. He fed us raw buffalo meat soaked in blood, and pig intestine soup... Which I did eat (sorry Mom)

It was one of those situations where I am aware of the risks (such as parasites), and my companion refused to eat it, but I couldn't refuse his generous offer. I prayed really hard so that I'll be alright. Which I am!! :) 

This is that recent-convert (Brother Nung) who is flipping awesome, and loves to eat raw buffalo meat.

     

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​​So with the help of auxiliary leaders, we had this amazing fireside about Lehi's vision of the Tree of Life. Using our 4-story church building (rental space), we set up a course filled with temptations. 

Such as media, food of all sorts, discouragement, misleading voices) We even used a smoke machine to fill up the course with a mist of darkness. (smoke machine was legit. Couldn't see two steps in front of me)  

     

Testimony meeting after the Tree of Life activity

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​Soooo A LOT of things happened in the past few weeks! Elder Calderon and I are working super hard... We recognize that the adversary is working so hard as well... It's honestly a trying time right now in my mission, but we're holding through! Heavenly Father doesn't cease to let me know that He truly does love me. This work is what He want me to do, and what I want to do. No one can withhold me from testifying that Jesus is the Christ. He is the Great High Priest, and founder of this Church. It is a privilege to act as an instrument in His Hands. I love Chiang-Rai with all of my heart, and am just so grateful that I can take part in building Zion here. Transfers are coming up next week, and I'm trying not to think about it, but I hope I can stay in Chiang-Rai for another transfer. There's still a lot of work to do.

Mahalo Nui Loa,

Elder Lindsey Takeuchi