Missionary splits

We went back to teach that young mother we invited. We were talking to her and suddenly we had a swarm of neighborhood kids that came up and wanted to talk. They sang us songs and pretty much just hung on us. When we left, we told them we would come back and teach them about our church. They were all there again, and about 12 of them sat on a mat (along with this young mother) and we taught them about the Godhead and prayer. It was actually really cool. They all listened and liked it. The mother prayed at the end. We are going back this week. They are all really cute kids. We are hoping that we can get some of their parents interested. But most of all, we think everyone should have a chance to learn the gospel - and even if nothing happens now, maybe they will accept missionaries later because they will remember what they learned. We'll see what happens. We taught a new investigator that is a Christian. That was hard! She kept freaking out about the Bible. It was my first taste of what other missionaries deal with with people that can't accept additional scripture. She was like "But the BOM is so different". (Which it is not). She told us she is thinking of starting her own church. That will be interesting. We walked over an hour to get to a recent convert's house and she forgot our appointment so we walked over an hour back in the hottest part of the day. We also taught a new investigator and then this lady that is awesome. We would teach and she would ask the best questions - she is really interested. We were teaching the Plan of Salvation and we were talking about life on earth - about how we are here to learn how to be like God. She was like "well God is immortal and we aren't. so why would God send us here when there is no way we can accomplish that?" Obviously she was listening and thinking. We talked a little about the atonement but it was mostly a teaser - you don't want to try and shove the Atonement into a two minute answer. It is just refreshing to see someone who is actually thinking about what you are teaching and not just nodding politely. :-)

These are the cockroaches we swept up last P-Day

Well, this week was a bit of a ride, I must say. First, we had zone conference last Tuesday. That was good. President Smith is just one of those people who can motivate you - you know? We talked a lot about finding people to teach. Get this - as of March 1, we are changing our schedule. We are going to get up at 6:00, exercise, get ready, and leave the house for proselyting at 7:30 am. We will proselyte until 1:30 and then do our studying - from 1:30-4:00. Then we will go back out until 8:30, come back, plan, and go to bed at 10:00. It is because during the hot season, pretty much the whole country shuts down from 1-4. They all go inside, where we can't get to them. But from about 7-9, they are all on their way to work and outside doing things - so we are going to get to them then. We don't really know how it will work. We will have to see. It is our "summer schedule" - we will change back to the normal schedule in June, when the hot season ends. They are hoping it will help missionaries work more effectively and not get sick if they aren't outside during the hottest part of the day.
My birthday was good. Sister Mark gave the best present ever - a coupon for a free no phone day. I used it because my birthday would have been my phone day and that is not cool. So I got three blissful days without having to answer the phone. Of course the phone didn't even ring those three days. Naturally. Oh well. Yesterday was my phone day again. I didn't get through a single conversation with out having to give the phone to Sister Mark. Maybe my Thai didn't improve that much. Man, I hate the phone. When I get home from my mission, I am going to refuse to talk on the phone for three years. Just so you know.

Sister Mark and I are still having a blast. She is just a little too much fun. We are currently seeing how many cockroaches we can find dead in our bathroom at one time - we are currently up to 14. They just come out at night and then die. We hardly ever see them alive. It is the weirdest thing.

My Thai...well, I feel like the speaking is going pretty well. I feel like I can kind of say what I want to in lessons and such. Listening comprehension is still struggling a bit. I still have to kind of ask Sister Mark what just went on. I have been talking on the phone a lot and that is going better - I only have to frantically throw the phone at her about every third time. (That just happened actually - it is my phone day and the phone rang and the person had the wrong number and I had no idea what they were saying so I threw it at Sister Mark.) There are just some people I have a really hard time understanding - Phii Ruay talks rally fast so I usually miss what she says when she gets going. But there are some people I understand really well - like Sister Baew. So I guess it is going well.

We had a great week this week. We have seen some awesome miracles. We are pretty excited about our new family. With Phii Ruay's and Phii Nok (have I told you about her? She is the wife of a member with three kids that we have been teaching forever) that means we are teaching THREE families - that is unheard of. When we told our DL last night, he was flat out jealous. (Hee, hee!) We have TEN progressing investigators right now. That is also unheard of. We are just seeing lots of miracles and having lots of fun.

I love you all so much! You are all amazing and I look up to you all. Have a great week!

Heavenly Father speaks Thai!!

February 8, 2010
Phii Ruay is amazing. We are praying SO HARD!! I really think we are going to get a miracle. I really do. But I don't know when it will come. She told us a really cool story about why she wants to get baptized - she said that a couple of weeks before I came back she met with the Elders and her husband got angry. Afterwards, he asked her to stop learning and she actually considered it - she didn't really know if she was doing the right thing. She decided to pray and ask if she was doing the right thing. She said she prayed and then heard a soft voice say "You need to believe in Me." She said it scared her and she was like "Father, is that you?" And then she heard it again - "You need to believe in Me." She said she got up and told her husband that she couldn't stop learning. I love that Heavenly Father speaks Thai. I mean - I knew that, but it is still really cool to remember that He talks to her in her own language.
Our investigator pool is growing and Sister Mark and I continue to have a blast. I have started writing down her quotes because she is so funny! I love you all!
Sister Webb

"We are the sheep, aren't we?"

February 1, 2010
We had a good week but it wasn't necessarily super exciting. I didn't get attacked by any more monkeys or feed any more elephants. Except: I have officially eaten a bug! Phii At brought some to English last week. He had grasshoppers and crickets and little caterpillar worm things. I wasn't brave enough to eat the grasshoppers or crickets. I ate the the little caterpillar thing. It was pretty disgusting. But at least now I can say I did it. They eat bugs like candy here.
We have really been blessed in finding new investigators. We are getting the area up and running again pretty quick. We went inviting the other day - we had an hour in between appointments and decided to just ride around in neighborhoods and see if we could catch anybody outside. We spent like an average of 15 minutes with each person and three out of the four are letting us come back to teach and the other is coming to English! And, three of the four are families!! That was by far the most successful day of inviting I have ever witnessed.
Phii Ruay is having some pretty serious struggles. We are praying really hard for her. We met with her last Saturday and she said that she read about Jesus Christ being a shepherd and that He goes and looks for His lost sheep. She said "We are the sheep, aren't we?" Then she explained how it was an answer to prayer and she started crying - I think she realizes that Heavenly Father was looking for her and that is why we found her. I don't think she will ever let this go - it just might take a while to soften her husband's heart. I honestly believe there is a miracle coming on this one. She has so much faith.
Sister Webb

My second first week in Thailand. Hee Hee! That's funny!

(Since we don't have a photo yet -- I'm putting in one from November, 2008)

January 24, 2010
(10 of the top 26 things Sara is enjoying about being back in Thailand)

1) My companion (Sister Mark) is absolutely amazing! She is brave and courageous and likes to go to bed early!! Also, she hasn't made me answer the phone yet! But, she says that is coming. Darn.

2) My reunion with Sister Baew and her family was everything I hoped for. Fir cried and screamed and wouldn't let go of me and Sister Baew cried too! I love them so much!

3) I got attacked by a monkey again! You might not think this is a good thing, but since Lauren hangs out with me, she saw it and I can finally prove to her that they are evil - even though they could take over the world and she still wouldn't think they were evil!!

4) The mascara mom found for me is melt-proof! It survives sweat, tears and all sorts of craziness!! It's a great idea!!

5) I think my Thai actually improved!! I know it is a direct result of Divine intervention. I am understanding more and feel like I have been able to express myself better.

6) It hasn't actually been that hot. I really don't know why -- but that reprieve is likely ending here soon.

7) I haven't had a cold shower yet! Oh wait, just kidding. The second day the breaker flipped and all the lights went out so it went cold, but that was towards the end, so that's ok.

8) When people ask me about my sister and we have a good cry together, I share 1 Nephi 11:17 with them -- "I do not know the meaning of all things but I know that He loveth His children."

9) Ether 2:25 is an AWESOME scripture. Heavenly Father basically says 'there is no way you can do this without me, but you don't have to!!' I like that a lot!

10) Sister Mark told me that at Moves meeting last time, President Smith explained that I had left and he said that 'losing a sister is like losing five elders.' Take that boys!

Love you all!

Sister Webb

January 2, 2010
What a transfer -- from the heat of Lopburi, Thailand to the bitter cold of Salt Lake City, Utah. But, what a grand gift is ours to have had our sweet Sister Sara be with us while we struggled and savored Lauren's last days on earth with us. We have much gratitude for everyone who made her stay in Salt Lake City possible and will continue on with her 'adventures' when she returns to her field of labor. The e-mails have been 'missing' for a few weeks, but love for Thailand and the people there are still in full force. Now, she'll just always have a constant "third" companion . . .