Are You Keeding Me?

Sawadeeka family & friends!

I hope and pray all of you are doing great! What a wonderful week in Greenwich. Sister Ruengurai and I are fantastic! 

Everyday we are so grateful to be missionaries! I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ so much. I'm in awe that I know about it, understand some part of it, and have the opportunity to live it. To feel the Atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, cleansing, enabling, and healing me each day. 

I was very, very, mildly sick this week. As a result, I felt a little light headed and not as enthusiastic about the work. As Sister Ruengurai went out to go visit less actives, I really didn't feel I had the strength to open my mouth along the way. But Heavenly Father put people in our path, and I found that I couldn't keep my mouth closed. As I looked at people, it's like I could feel their need for the Gospel. And I couldn't deny them. I know that this was not from me, but a fruit of the Spirit. How wonderful is our Father in Heaven to look upon our hearts and not just our imperfect actions. He strengthens me so much. I know we all need this power and can have this power in our lives if we will but come unto Him.

"Come unto Him" is something we hear a lot. But what does it mean? For those who feel far from the Saviour, for those who feel they are not doing enough, for those who feel a Christ centered life is out of reach, it can feel difficult to come. It doesn't need to be complicated. Singing a hymn, saying a prayer from your heart, reading a scriptures, or simply continuing when they journey is hard. These things invite our Saviour to walk with us. He is eagerly waiting for us to come.

"Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me." -3 Nephi 9:14

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS!!!!!!!

-We had our first YSA FHE in Greenwich and it was so fun! Our investigator Andrew came and loved it! We felt the spirit, played games, and fellow shipped with one another. I also dominated at Ellen's game Head's Up. 

-SR & I gave a training during District Meeting. She loved it! We made a decision to only share experiences from our transfer together, and it was amazing to see how many miracles we had to share! We love the Greeno district! #whereyagoing? 

My District

-We also had a district service this week and we met the most adorable part member family! The wife is an Aussie and is 89. And the husband is from Estonia and is 90. His name is Peep. They are so cute and were adorably overwhelmed with gratitude for our service. We went hard because we love them so much and weeded like crazy people in the rain. (hence the cold). But it was so worth it for them. 

-A cute moment with Peep:

He was so funny and got some juice from the fridge and starts shaking it up and asking if we want any. He didn't realize that the cap was off though lol so cute. So he made a mess and my companion ran to grab paper towels. And Peep takes them from her and starts cleaning it up. I say "No, no! I'll get it!", grab the towels from him, and start cleaning up. Then he just looked at us lovingly and said "I wish I had more daughters." It was so cute. Grandpa Peep is my favourite. 

-Taiwanese night market with my bestfriend/daughter/companion. 

-Sister Chao tries to lock me out of our flat all the time, so I have to try to catch her as we run up 6 flights of stairs several times a week. She is killing me but it's so cute and funny. 

-Chinese BBQ activity with like ridiculously expensive high quality meat, investigators, and recent converts! So fun! #NotARedneckBBQ #LemonThymeInsteadOfKetchup

A Little Cold

-I'm obsessed with the Sisters we live with. We have a weird little family dynamic.

-We are loving the work! Every day is a new adventure! Greenwich is just so fantastic! 

I hope you all have a great week! 

Rak na,

SF

Mandarin + Miralces + Bday = WOW

Sawadeeka family & friends!

I hope you all are having a great week! 

It's been another FANTASTIC one here in Greenwich. Sister Ruengurai and I are enjoying every moment here. We have adventures and meet wonderful new people everyday! It's amazing to see how Heavenly Father is preparing people and putting us in each other's paths.

My heart feels so full being a part of this great work. The world would love to dim our feelings of love and gratitude and thwart our promise of the Spirit as our constant companion. But if we can remember who we really are, if we can trust God, if we can have faith in Jesus Christ, we can give our hearts to God and experience real happiness. That is what I know. Happiness, sacrifice, and service are eternally intertwined. The happiest moments of my life have been spent in the service of God and fellowmen. I have begun to cherish every opportunity I have to speak Christ's holy name and to testify of His reality and divinity. 

I invite you all to be a part of this in anyway you can. Please just look for someone to love and serve today. I know that God wants you to be His hands. For their gain and for yours. 

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS!

-Sister Ruengurai's birthday was this week! It was super fun to surprise her with little things but the best part was the work! We set some really fun goals and just went for it! We talked to heaps of people and saw some awesome miracles: finding an investigator that the elders hadn't been able to contact in weeks and inviting her to come back to church, having TWO people ask US for OUR number. One even asked "Would it be okay for me to invite you to my house for dinner to teach me and my wife?" 

-Sister Ruengurai and I literally meet the world's best people everyday. We have too many funny, amazing, miraculous stories for emails. 

-I learned like two sentences in Mandarin and now when we meet Chinese people who speak no English, we teach them with Chinese pamphlets and these two sentences and they literally begin to glow and be the happiest people in the world. It is so fun! 

-Casually seeing the Harbour Bridge while visiting less actives. #impromtuphotoshoot 

-I SAW SISTER SPAINHOWER AND IT WAS THE BEST! Crazy miracle:

One year ago, in Emu Plains, I left my quad (scriptures) engraved with my name on the bus. I spent another 4 months in that area after losing them and never found them. When Sister Spainhower arrived to our flat for trade off, she whipped open her suitcase and pulled out what else but my QUAD FROM ONE YEAR AGO. I immediately fell to the ground in shock and starting laughing/crying. "HOW DID YOU GET THIS!!?!?!" 

She said that while she was on a trade off in Penrith, as she was getting off the bus, a bus driver pulled out my scriptures and said "These have been on my bus for one year, do you know who's they are?" It was the funniest, craziest miracle. Of all people, this bus driver gave it to Sister Spainhower....Heavenly Father has a sense of humour for sure. 

-We finally had a lesson with Daisy! She is an investigator who comes to church. She is so wonderful. Sister Ruengurai and I could feel so much love for her. Not quite a miracle but also worth mentioning, Daisy took us to get drinks and I accidentally ordered black tea. Good thing my comp is a convert and stopped me from drinking it after she tried it. But only after I also gave a sip to our investigator who is trying to keep the word of wisdom. Oh, Sister Froemming. #RepentanceisReal

I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week!

Rak na,

SF

Moon Cake 4Ever!

Sawadeeka family & friends!

I hope you had an amazing week wherever you are! It's been great here in Greenwich!

Sister Ruengurai & I are absolutely loving the work and seeing miracles! 

I am learning about the importance of keeping ourselves sanctified. As the Lord's servants and representatives (this applies to all of us who have made baptismal covenants, not just missionaries) we must be prepared at any time to be His hands. To call upon the powers of Heaven. To be divine instruments!  

I do not understand everything about sanctification. But what I do understand has deeply impacted me. I believe that sanctification is something like being continually completed by and cleansed through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. A constant change of heart. A concerted effort to live according to the spiritual knowledge that we have, regardless of the circumstances. 

It may sound out of reach, but I know in my heart it is not far from us. I know our Saviour has provided every resource for us to be able to be in His constant care! He has taught us the Gospel, given us covenants that unite us with Him, given us the words of ancient and living Prophets, given us the bounteous gift of the Holy Ghost, and given us the sacred, renewing ordinance of the Sacrament. 

I know that if we simply give our all in living the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we can become sanctified through our Saviour's Atonement. He's not asking for immediate perfection. Mistakes, trials, doubts, and fears are not what hinders our sanctification, but what makes it possible. 

I love the Gospel and how it changes us. I love our Saviour. And I know that He needs us to sanctify ourselves for His work. 

"We do not need to be perfect, but we need to be good and getting better." -Elder Kim B. Clark.

https://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages-for-youth/sanctify-yourselves-2

weekly highlighs! 

-We gave talks yesterday at church. I had such a powerful experience during the Sacrament because I was so desperate for the Spirit! A good reminder that I should always be that dependent on the Sacrament. But the Spirit helped me so much! And my companion did a great job.

-David Li! We had another lesson with him this week. His real intent is so amazing! He definitely doesn't believe everything yet, but the faith he has is rock solid and growing fast! He kept his commitment to pray all last week and it was amazing to hear him pray with us after our lesson. He happily accepted to come with us to church next week. He is exercising his faith in big ways! 

-We went to Milson's Point on PDAY which is basically the side of the Harbour Bridge opposite the city, which luckily is in our area! YAY! It was soooo beautiful. I love Sydney with my whole heart. 

-We had our first dinner appointment here! Sister Brooks is this amazing french lady with beautiful kids and a wonderful testimony! It felt so good to be back in members homes! 

-My adorable companion who is constantly a ray of sunshine. #thaifood #toneslol

-Andrew Houseman is doing well! We had an awesome lessons with him this week about the First Vision and Book of Mormon. We had a little testimony meeting with his member friend, and the Spirit was so strong. Andrew said he's not ready for a specific date, but when he gets his answer, he will be baptized. Please keep him in your prayers! He is very busy/stressed with studies right now and it's difficult for him to read the Book of Mormon every day. 

-Sister Ruengurai is amazed because I can eat Durian. It is a Thai fruit that all the white people hate because it has a strong smell and taste. But I ate it and was like "yeah, pretty good." All day she tells me I'm an Asian born American LOL.

-The sisters had a beautiful baptism this weekend. Also after the baptism they had an activity and I was involved in teaching the members from the Chinese ward the Boot Scoot Boogie. It was a proud moment for Bay County. 

-Sister Money and Sister Chao scared the absolute tar out of me last night. They told us they were visiting someone far and would be home late. Then after Sister Ruengurai had been home for a few minutes, Sister Money came out from around the corner and scared me and I screamed for like a full 60 second without stopping. It was so funny, we were just looking at each other while I was screaming and she was like um when are you gonna stop. What lovely flat mates I have!

Hope you all have a great week!

Rak na,

SF

Miracles as Plentiful as the Rice I Eat!!

Sawadeeka family & friends!

It has been wonderful here in Greenwich! (Which I feel the need to tell you is pronounced gren-ich not green witch). 

Sister Ruengurai have had some transformation moments this week! Each day we are trying to break through the barriers and become more effective. We are getting a lot bolder in our approaches to talking with people. We are learning how to contact in a way that allows the person we are meeting to feel comfortable, to teach doctrine that is relevant to them personally, and to extend invitations that are tailored to their needs/interests. 

For the past two weeks, a simple scripture has been running through my mind: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." -Philippians 4:13.

 I believe wholeheartedly that this is true. There is no commandment, task, or situation that cannot be kept, completed, or overcome with Jesus Christ. My love for Him deepens continually. I know He loves us for who we are, but sees us for who we can become. He's always urging me to try a little harder, to be a little better. Not because He needs me to do His work, but because He wants me to experience the joy of His work. Because He wants me to see miracles, because He knows that the things He asks me to do will help me to become like Him. 

I bear my witness of His reality and of the perfect love He has for you. 

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS!

-Sister Ruengurai found a few really fantastic, really prepared people this week! We are in the follow up process, but we are so excited to see people progress! 

-We had an awesome lesson with our investigator Andrew Houseman! Before our lesson, he met a member at school who was so excited to fellowship Andrew and come to our lesson. Turns our this member was also a RM who's mom is an investigator who I taught in Winston Hills!!! 

-Sister Money's constant baking/life saving advice/amazing stories/laughter.

-David Li! His number was in the phone but missionaries hadn't been able to contact him for a while. We gave him a ring last week and he set an appointment with us! We were able to teach himon Friday and he recognised that our meeting was from God. We found out he lives in the City sisters area, but we are so grateful for the lesson we had with him. 

-One of the other companionships in the ward (there are 6 companionships total. SR & I are the only sisters) had a baptism! One of our favourite people, William, got baptized as well as the adorable Stephanie! Such a wonderful day. 

-My lovely companion. Honestly I am so blessed with this sister! She helps me more than I can say.

-This one #neverbored

-Life is great! The work is moving. People are prepared. We are always tired lol. & the food here is always good. 

I hope you all have a great week!

Rak na,

SF