It's getting really hot...:(

Well I guess the cool weather I was surprised to find in Thailand is no more. I am officially in the hot, humid, sticky Thailand I remember, and it's not the most pleasant, but I'm dealing with it. This week has just like every week thus far had it's ups and downs. It all kinda just hit me that Sister Orchard will be leaving me in 10 short days, and I will have to lead the area for me and my new companion here in Ubon. 

Last P-day Sister Orchard wanted to buy some authentic Thai clothing before she heads home...so she played dress up for about 2 hours. Productive, I know ha

 Sister Kate! She actually served her mission in Thailand and is back here working! I love her so much, and she is always willing to help us teach investigators! Yay for member missionaries!

I had a minor freak out about it because I just feel like my Thai isn't very good, I don't know the members as well as I should, blah blah blah, and I realize that I just have a tendency to stress myself out, especially since being on a mission. Some of this stress could be due to the fact that our investigator Nii has some things in her life that have not been completely settled, so now we have to postpone her baptism, and I don't think Sister Orchard will be here to see it :( But it's ok, I know that Nii will get baptized eventually, and I (or maybe other missionaries) will be there to help her!

Me and Sister Dune!

Good news is though, another one of our investigators, Dune, is sooo ready to get baptized!!! Because she is under 18 though, we need to make sure we get approval from the Mission Presidency because she has been investigating for less than 3 months. (as a minor they are supposed to be going to church and learning for at least 3 months before they can get baptized) But I think President will make a special exception because how readily she reads the scriptures, how attentive she is when we teach, and how great she has been at keeping commitments!!! So the Lord is still blessing us in other ways :)

These little girls are the cute "sisters" of our investigator Dune! They come with her everywhere!

So because I first saw Sister Nii's trials a setback for us, I felt a little torn up this week. It's never easy when someone you loves has something you can't really help them with. But I read this random quote in the Liahona by Carol Dweck...I don't think she has any relation to the church, but I really liked what she said. "Never let failure progress from an action to an identity." Not only have I decided to apply that to myself, but I've been trying to help Nii and our other investigators apply this principle to themselves, especially when a lot of them feel so helpless and like they can't repent. But everyone, even when their trials and problems seem so helpless can be helped through the power of the Atonement!

This is the cutest half-asian I've ever seen!!! (besides my niece and nephew of course). I just wanted to take her with me everywhere!

And though I was frustrated at first that Nii would not be able to get baptized this week, I know that everything is done according to the Lord's timetable, and not my own. And there is a scripture that just threw that in my face when I happened upon it this week: "Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him; for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will." (D&C 88: 68)

Me with Sister Fa and Sister Fern (they're sisters). They are some of the young women in our branch and they are always willing to help us teach. They have actually been the ones fellow-shipping our investigator Dune :)

Well that's it for this week! I hope all of you are doing well and have the best Valentine's Day! I love you all!!!

love,

Sister Lam