FAMILY!

I am so happy! We had a sweet zone training about how we do our contacting. We've been studying about baptism and it's so wonderful! I feel really purposeful and productive, the most I have on my mission and that makes me really happy. There's a lot I still need to work on (like asking for referrals) so we'll take it one step at a time and keep on keepin on.

The sticker says  Choose the Right!

Sister Maughan and I were riding our bikes to the church and this old white man on a motorcycle rode by and sang/spoke "beautiful girls all over the world". It was kinda creepy but I couldn't stop laughing. He's probably a nice guy. I don't really know what to think about all these white men here. There are a TON. We counted 49 in one day. Weird. 

The language is pretty good, every now and then I'll leave out an important word or two on accident and end up asking for someone's phone instead of their phone number. That was awkward. We just laughed and moved on. I'm so glad Thai people are as nice as they are. l I know that the gift of tongues is real, and whatever these people are understanding from me is all because of the spirit. 

I hope you don't mind the randomness of this email. I'm trying to make this fun for you. Also, I kissed a baby Elephant. It was so cute!!

We had so many miracles this week! First: Our investigator Yong does this Taro card reading stuff for her job and we didn't really know ho to address it. We asked the Relief Society President to help us teach. (Random side note: The RS Pres drives this adorable red wagon motorcycle thing I'll send a picture next week. It  just makes me happy.) So we start teaching the lesson, and Sister Gulap just asks her what she does for work, doesn't really react to the taro cards and just offers her a new job. I had no idea she was going to do that. Everyone was soooo happy. Yong is the cutest lady. She's about 36 but looks like she's 17. She has a 5 year old daughter named Lilly and is always so happy when she comes to the church. The last time we taught her she told us that she took off her fingernail polish because she thought it was bad and also that she wasn't going to wear make-up anymore. NO!!! I hope she didn't make these assumptions based on our sad appearance. We cleared up all the misunderstandings and I think maybe I should paint my nails or something. 

Sand and I

Next miracle. Sister Sand got baptized!!! She is wonderful. She was kind of nervous about her family not supporting her, but we met with her and helped her have confidence in her decision. She has a testimony of Jesus Christ because she has read and pondered the Book of Mormon. She has a desire to show her faith and that's exactly what she did on Saturday!! 5 people were baptized! It was the most beautiful warm happy day! Not like the heat of Thailand warm, but just real joy. We are having another baptism for 5 more people this weekend! The work is hastening! I'm so grateful to be a part of it!

Baptisms are the best!

Our mission has a goal for every companionship to have a baptism this month. It has really helped unify us and help us fulfill our purpose of inviting others to come unto Christ.

 Mosiah 18:21 

"And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another."

I'm so grateful for my leaders. President Senior is amazing! We are developing the faith to bring forth great miracles. I'm so grateful to be in Thailand right now. We are building the kindgom of God here and will soon be building a temple! Thanks for all your prayers and support! I really feel them and I love you! Have a wonderful week!

Love, 

Sister Sahagun

(no subject)

Family! I love you!!! 

This week FLEW by. And we had some wonderful miracles. Our investigator แซน (sand) has been learning with missionaries forever and ever since we got here we've been trying to figure out what her concerns are and why she is putting off baptism. She always will say yeah I'm getting baptized next year, laugh, and just wait for me to react. She thinks it's pretty funny to watch me get all serious but really it's kind of a serious thing. We call and or see her every day, and were fasting to help her have confidence is being baptized on the 17th. So yesterday during sacrament meeting the Branch President came us to us and asked if Sand would be getting baptized this coming weekend on the 9th with the Elder's investigators. We told him that we'd be so happy if that worked out, but that we didn't want to push Sand too much.Then two hours later when church was over, she walked up to us and said Sisters, I'm getting baptized on the 9th okay? YES!! I'm sooooo happy for her! She is so ready and I know that when she's confirmed she'll receive so many blessings from having the holy host with her always.

Sand has taught me so much. Last night we went and did some contacting at หนองประจักษ์ this gorgeous park that I will never stop talking about. We saw her selling ice cream and went over to talk to her. At first I was a little hesitant to ask why she was working on Sunday. I didn't know how to bring it up, but I just decided that I love her and want her to receive all the blessings that come from keeping the commandments. I simply asked her why she was selling ice cream on Sunday and we had such a good conversation about prayer and repentance. I know that when we go to the Lord in prayer and tell Him our desires and ask him to help us that He will. We can overcome our natural man and truly become new creatures in Christ. Especially when it is our desires that we want to change, it is because of the Atonement that we can be truly changed. There are a lot of things that I want to improve on as well. As I was talking to Sister Sand I thought about a lot of things that I want to change in myself. We both grew from that experience, I'm so grateful for the spirit and the atonement. Repentance is such a wonderful gift from our Heavenly Father.

Halloween in Thailand was funny...the two branches had a combined activity. The scariest thing that happened was when this little boy ripped a gigantic moth in half. It was so gross. I dressed up as Sister Maughan (we switched name tags for the activity) It wasn't funny, everyone just thought that was really my name ha no one can remember Sahagun. Everyone gets me and this Elder mixed up. Hunsaker and Sahagun. Not even close, but it's way funny when they try and say ha-sa-gun. The missionaries set up some fun games - the traditional fishing for candy, donuts on a string and bobbing for apples. The water for the bobbing for apples was so gross! They members loved all the games though, they really got into it.

Today we are going to a cake buffet for p-day. I'm really excited and really hungry. I love the people here so much! There are so many cool young single adults. Mostly women actually...we're trying to find some decent guys to marry these girls. It's good work.  The language is pretty good, every now and then I'll leave out an important word or two on accident and end up asking for someone's phone instead of their phone number. I know that the gift of tongues is real, and whatever these people are understanding from me is all because of the spirit.

Mom, I love hearing about your experiences on your mission!! Thank you so much! Please share more. I have been thinking a lot about gratitude the past month, and I love those prayers of gratitude. I'm so excited for the holidays! We have the most wonderful senior missionary couple serving here in Udon and they really just spoil us. Every Sunday night Sister Hart brings over a bowl of waffle batter and a bottle of syrup. Elder Hart has helped us know the area and find some less active member houses. Tonight we are having FHE with them and all the young single adults. Thanksgiving and Christmas are going to be wonderful!

As far as the plaque thing, can I tell you the scripture next week? I think I want Moroni 10:4-5 but there's just way too many good ones. If you absolutely need to turn it in this week just put that one. It's the Thailand Bangkok Mission. You can put my full name. What's the point of a middle name if you never use it, right? I have no idea when my release date is. It's probably getting changed. I think I'll be coming home in February 2015 with Nick. Just jokes I'll find out and let you know. As for a picture...most of the ones I have are of me and my helmet. I trust you to pick a good one. Or just find the one I sent in for my papers.

I love you so much! Have a wonderful week! Send pictures!

Love, 

Sister Sahagun 

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Carrying my bike over a bridge.

Dearest Family,

There has been this wonderful theme of goals and visions in my life as of late and I just really hope I'm learning all that I'm supposed to! I have a vision, goals, and plans for pretty much everything and it's really motivating. Life is good. 

This week has been amazing. I love Pak Kret. I love these people here. 

I love General Conference, I wish it was every day. I love my companion. I love being able to learn for myself what the Lord wants and needs me to become. I love that the messages we heard at general conference are so fitting to each of us unique to our personal needs. I love the simplicity of the Lord's way. I loved the messages from The Relief Society broadcast about keeping our covenants. I was really missing watching that with you mom. Those messages reminded me of your strong testimony and example of selfless service. I really liked the talk by Edward Dube too about looking forward. Dad, it reminded me of you when he was talking about not looking back. I just imagined you making this great gospel connection to The Lord of the Rings and not turning your back on that big fiery creature at that one bridge. I'm so imperfect, but I'm so grateful for repentance and the atonement that allows me to make changes and become better. Where I'm going is much more important that where I've been. There's so much good work to be done. All of my questions were answered in unexpected ways and I'm excited to apply what I've learned in my life. I just felt so much hope! Our loving Heavenly Father is completely aware of us, we must trust in Him and continually press forward with faith.

Island of Kho Kret

Helen, a Filipino sister had a stroke this week on Tuesday didn't tell anyone or do anything about it until Thursday! When we went to visit her, her face was really droopy and her blood pressure was way out of control. Saturday, a member from the branch helped her finally get to the doctor. We felt really helpless just being at the church watching conference having no car or way of helping her but it was good that the members were able to take care of her. We went over to her house after the Relief Society session with Sister Jackson and Sister McDermott to check on her. Sister Jackson brought her violin and we sang I Am A Child of God. The moment we started singing the spirit filled the room. It was so powerful, I felt so strongly the love that our Heavenly Father has for us, especially Helen. She is the one that hasn't been to church in over 25 years and has been really hard on herself about falling away. After we sang she expressed her gratitude and the love that she felt from her Heavenly Father, even when she didn't think she deserved it. That was another beautiful message from conference that God's love is always there for us no matter if we deserve it or not. I can't put to words how special this experience was, I'm so grateful for the beautiful spirit that Hymns bring.

Our investigators Boat and Libi and are doing so well!!! They have had to make some big changes. Besides giving up all the Buddhist and cultural things, they've given up tea and drinking and smoking. The transformation is incredible. I'm so impressed by their faith and strength. Friday we were trying to find members to help give them blessings. We kept asking for help with Bituphon (sorry I'm being way lazy I have no idea how to spell it) and everyone just kept saying they couldn't do that - that no one couldactually. We were very confused. I thought it sounded kinda fancy so I said it different and Brother North and Brother Num agreed to helping hay phon thanaa burohid (priesthood blessing). Come to find out Bituphon is a Patriarchal blessing...haha oops Brother North finally just had to pull his out and explained it all. The blessings were beautiful, the spirit was so strong. I'm grateful for Priesthood power.

I love you all so much! Thank you for your love and support! You're in my prayers. Have a wonderful week!

Sri Lankan Family

Love, 

Sister Sahagun

Through rain and all the work must go forward!

Dearest Family,

WE'RE STAKE WORTHY!!!! Great things are happening here in the Bangkok North District. We'll probably officially be a stake in February. I love ปากเกร็ด so much. This week Sister Tilley and I made a glorious map of our area complete with the most helpful key of all the important places houses just everything to know in our area. We also did a deep clean of the area book. I just love my area so much and I am hoping that everyone else is trying to keep their areas as organized as this. I love these people here it's too big to fit in my heart. Our lil branch still needs so much help. It's pretty rollercoastery, every week feels like a new branch. Also, we're serving in two branches and it's hard to find a balance between the two. We did a lot of Filipino LA work this week. The English branch is so strong, but they're still a ton of work to do. This week we're going to try to focus more on the Thai branch.

This week we had 4 visitors from Australia attend our Thai branch. One of the Sisters served her mission at Temple square, she was the sweetest thing and insisted that we take some pictures. It was an absolute blessing to meet them all. They were just so kind and happy. 

Donut was baptized  Saturday and confirmed on Sunday!!!! We lifted her up into the chair of cheers. I am so happy for her! She shared the sweetest testimony of Prayer. She's going to be a great example for her family. The morning of her baptism was a lil crazy, long story short Sister Tilley and I prepared some back up talks. I was so grateful though to have that opportunity to think back to my baptism and put into simple terms the importance of baptism and the sacredness of the covenants we make with our loving Heavenly Father. Yesterday in Sunday school we were talking about coming unto Christ. What does Christ mean when He says Come Follow Me? What are we doing each day to come closer to Christ? As we learn more of our Savior Jesus Christ his life and how he lived, we are able to study our own lives and make the changes necessary to become more like Him and follow in His way.

Filipino Family

Speaking of Sunday school yesterday...Dad, our Branch President was teaching the investigator class and mid lesson says that we'll be watching one of the bible videos from the church. He pulled out his phone and just projected it onto the whiteboard. FROM HIS PHONE! That's a thing? Was that a thing before I left the world or is technology really just making these leaps and bounds? Anyway that was just really cool and I thought you'd appreciate that.

I loved Jessica's talk last week!!! AND my favorite part was just hearing your voice. I miss you girlie. Did you figure anything out about Oakcrest? You would LOVE it. I really hope you and your friends can go. Tyler is growing like the weeds outside our apartment it's just unreal. Is cross county over? How was it? What's keeping you busy now? You're probably just writing me a really long letter.

Mom, how is your 2nd/3rd split? I've met so many teachers here and they all just keep reminding me how hard it is! I believe them. I am having some great experiences teaching English to rambunctious children. I love teaching the Plan of Salvation. It's my favorite when the people we teach just light up when we tell them that they can be with their families forever. I love teaching people about prayer, our direct line of communication with God. It's so sad how many people don't understand that God is our loving Heavenly Father. So many people are just confused. They think that Jesus is God like Buddha is God, that He was just a good person. The hardest thing is helping people believe and know that they really can change. 

You all got to watch conference already! We've been talking about conference it feels like forever. I always tell everyone about our tradition of Costco muffins and just the happiest part of being together. I'll get to watch it this weekend at the church with the members. I CAN'T WAIT!!

I am so grateful to be serving here at this time. This truly is the work of Salvation. I Know that My Redeemer Lives. That's why I'm here. The Atonement is so real, I know that as we are continually obedient we will immediately be blessed. One of those immediate blessings is the companionship of the spirit. I know that we are never alone. Continue being the wonderful family that you are, trust in the Lord, and I know He will bless you.

Have a wonderful week!

Love, 

Sis. Bin, Sis. Bing, and Rak Dee

Sister Sahagun

Sisters in my district

Dearest Family,

Sister Tilley's training is over. WHAT? Time is not a thing. We are just here in Thailand having the most wonderful experiences doing the work of Salvation. It's overwhelming and wonderful and it's all possible because of our Savior Jesus Christ. I'm so happy. I never want to leave but I know that change is in the wind and so I'm just treasuring these next three weeks. There was a baby transfer this week for the Thai and Laotian missionaries that came in this week so only a few people moved, but transfers will be happening again in three weeks. 

Crazy story. On Monday our plans for FHE fells through so we sat down kinda by this bus stop outside of the huge Lumpini apartments to make some phone calls and move to the back up plan when out of nowhere our old investigator John just walks up to us holding the most adorable baby ever. We literally haven't seen him in forever. He's the one from Ghana with incredible faith that's here to play soccer. He always tells us that he's sharing the gospel with all his brothers (aka the other guys on the team) and that they're all coming to church but it's never happened. Anyway we always joke about going and knocking all the doors at Lumpini to find him but now there's no need! He's back in Province and he has a baby! Not really. The baby is his brother's (his friend) whose name is Precious. So these two big black guys walk up to us with this cute baby and told us the sad tale of the mom leaving that morning and not telling anyone. She left her phone and the baby just in the apartment all by themselves and the poor dad was just really helpless. So we helped them talk to the mother-in-law who is Thai to try and figure out where she was and it was just really sad! Precious thought they were hiding her and he was like what do I do with this baby? I have to work. Is there an orphanage? AH! NO! We'll take the baby! That was the hardest thing, I felt like we couldn't really do much for them. We talked him out of finding an orphanage, prayed for them a ton and later in the week the mom came back! And then on Sunday they all came to church!! And we have an appointment with the family on Saturday!! I'm so excited to help them become closer together as a family and for them to have the gospel in their lives.

Grapes from an investigator!

Unsteady week on the bikes. Sister Tilley had a lil accident in some muddy rocks and lost her shoe. The next day we were at a stop light and this coca-cola truck drove by with this beautiful mosaic scene of Thailand on the side and the next thing I knew I was just on the ground pinned underneath my bike laughing so hard. I don't know what happened. 

Khrap Phom saves the day!

Thursday we got locked out. It was really embarrassing actually. We have this spare key and recently Sister Tilley has been locking the door with it and then sliding it under the door while the actual keys are secure in her bag on the key ring ya know. Anyway this time the keys were still on her desk and the spare was slid under the door. Locked out. We told the lady in the office and she was so confused how we managed to lock ourselves out. Anywho, tender mercy, our sliding door was unlocked so the lady just called over our favorite guard "Khrap Phom" who climbed a ladder and jumped onto our lil balcony and saved the day letting us in. 

We had dinner with the sweetest family this week, the Chao's. Mom she totally reminded me of you. She served a mission in California and she absolutely loves Sister Missionaries.Yes, and I just loved being in their home. As we were leaving she gave Sister Tilley and I each a red bag full of treats and snacks. American snacks! (goldfish, gushers, peanut butter oreos, and a pack of ramen) ha it was so sweet. We shared a message with them about conference. I'M SO EXCITED!!! It's really nor fair that I have to wait a week to hear it, but it's fine I'll treasure it that much more. Her boys are 12 and 10 and they were just sharing what they like and don't like..ha I was remembering conference when all us kids were younger...not as enjoyable. You poor parents I'm sorry we ruined such wonderful conference weekends. I hope you'll enjoy this one and learn many wonderful things!!

Have a marvelous week! 

Love, 

Just an elephant on a Sunday night.

Sister Sahagun

Dearest Family,

Side pony-tail, bike helmet fashion :)

I love being a missionary. This week we had lots of rain and Sister Tilley and I have mild colds, but we're fine. One morning while Sister Tilley was resting I hit the ward list and called the 20 something Cambodian families that are supposed to be attending the International branch. Not really sure where they all went, but I only got a hold of two families. Then I just called a bunch of numbers for lost sheep records. I've never made so many phone calls in my life. The first person I called wan't the person on the record. It was sad, but the worst part was that after we established he wasn't the person I wanted to talk to he just hung up. I just felt bad that I din't really share a message with him or even tell him who I was. So I decided that everyone I called I would just teach them regardless of who it was. That's just what we're supposed to do right? Right! Well I got a potential investigator out of this change and it just made all those phone calls so much better. I called a few wrong numbers and had several mis-dials but it was all good because everyone is invited to know this beautiful message! I was so happy and felt really productive. 

So temples. I think I talk about this all the time. It's just really important okay? So we had this awesome district training about what we can do to help

this district become a stake and then how that will help Thailand have a temple. The focus was tithing. You know the scripture in 3 Nehi 24:10 "...open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it." Where are the windows of heaven? The temple is the house of God, heaven on earth, and we will receive those blessings when we pay our tithing. It all just clicked. It seems really simple, but my testimony of tithing has grown so much. 

We taught this couple from Vietnam, they are incredible. They don't speak any Thai so we had Brother Philips from the International branch translate for us. He served his mission Vietnamese speaking. พอดี่ such a tender mercy that he's here and can help them. They have great faith and want to be baptized, but they can't until they have refugee status. It doesn't seem fair and I wish I could do something to help speed up the process of things but I know that Heavenly Father is aware of them and their situation and they will be baptized in the Lord's timing.

Hard moment of the week: We found out that our investigator Donut that is getting baptized this Saturday actually lives in the other branch boundaries. We found out on Sunday (always feels like the busiest day, especially when we're going to two branches that overlap and trying to fulfill our responsibilities everywhere) anywho I just felt like a bad missionary. I know it's not a huge deal, but there is an order to how things are done and I just want to do things the right way. So we'll be working that out this week, we'll just talk to the other branch president and it will be fine. Easy fix.

My favorite thing that happened this week was actually our district meeting. We talked about how the Book of Mormon should be our main source of teaching. I need to be better at that. We actually improved a lot after that meeting and started of all of our lessons with a story in the scriptures that our investigators could relate to and apply to the lesson. Then we talked about how as a representative of Jesus Christ, how much to we actually teach or talk about Him? How often do we teach the Word of Wisdom and not mention Christ? It shouldn't be that way, but somehow we forget! It just really made me want to leave behind a powerful "so what" statement about how each lesson relates back to Christ. He is the focus and the reason I am out serving a mission. So this week I'm focusing on bear testimony of him always!

I love you dearly! Have a wonderful week! 

Love, 

We saw two elephants go by while eating dinner. This is the second one!

Sister Sahagun

Dearest Family,

You have a billion questions this week! It's kind of exciting. President Senior served his mission in Japan. He's really inspiring and is doing great things to help Thailand have a temple here.

Plan to have a Stake in Thailand

He's just really incredible. This last weekend at District Conference he shared the first part of his talk in Thai, it was awesome. Sister Senior is a sweetheart and makes me feel loved. They're from Arizona and have 4 grown boys. The international branch consists of a lot of Americans that work for the government or big gas companies, Filipinos that are also here for work, and lots of refugees from all over. There are people from Africa, Sri Lanka, and other Asian countries. It's so fun to serve in both branches! They recently made a meal calendar and we've been getting fed almost every night! It's too much! We need more time to teach our Thai investigators! 

I love this area so much. Transfers are every 9 weeks now so the next one is October 17, and I'll most likely be moved. I'll have been here for 6 months! It sounds like forever but it's gone by so fast. I'm just really comfortable here I could stay forever. That's probably a good indication that some change is in order. No growth in the comfort zone. I'm going to have to go somewhere else and learn some new things. My Thai is good? I don't know how to answer that question. Thai people hear you say สวัสดีค่ะ (sawaadeekhaa) and they are just overly complimentary and tell you that you are speak so clearly and that you're just amazing. So I must be doing alright. Our investigators are progressing, so they're understanding something we say. Nope actually that's just the spirit. Anywho, I love Thai. I think I'm pretty good.

This week started out rough. Sister Tilley and I were just a lil heavy hearted about a lot of things that were out of our control. Then on Monday night we got a phone call from this sweet 18 year old recent convert we've been visiting. She was in the hospital and asked us to read her a scripture. She knew that at that moment that is exactly what she needed to feel peace and that reading the scriptures would help her be healed. It made me think of that quote you sent me mom, and it was a really powerful experience for all of us. Kate was so grateful and we were reminded of what source we needed to turn to to find comfort and peace. I've had the best personal studies this week. I love the Book of Mormon so much. There are so many distractions and stumbling blocks in our every day lives, but when we search, ponder, and pray as we read the scriptures we really can be healed. 2 Nephi 26:23 The Lord worketh not in darkness but if we feel like we're in a dark place or lost or confused we simply need to come unto Christ and be filled with his light (v.33) I know that as we walk by faith and seek the light of Christ we will be healed and find comfort in our trials.

We had dinner with this amazing family from the international branch, and the mom had served a mission in Tennessee. They have 3 incredible daughters ages 18, 14, and 8  and all throughout dinner they told us about all the missionary moments they had during the week. It was awesome. Then the mom shared with us some experiences she had contacting as a missionary. She and her companion would stop and pray at every turn and follow the spirit as to where they should go. Usually Sister Tilley and I are just in one spot and we'll pray to know who to talk to, but we decided to try this different approach. We just started walking and as we went we were led to this boy that's been coming to English class. We talked to him about prayer and found out that his family has 3 Book of Mormons at their house! They've met with missionaries before! Then we saw this family on bikes carrying a bunch of trash bags and we wanted to help them but we got distracted talking to this other woman. As we continued to walk, we were led to the house of the family on bikes and shared a great message with them about Christ! It was incredible to be led to these prepared people. We loved walking around and not feeling so rushed.(Being on a bike will do that to you.) I know that as we seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost we will be led to what we should do.

Sunday was the happiest day! We had this Fillipino sister, Helen, come back to church that hasn't been to church in over 25 years. She was a missionary in the Philippines! She has been in Thailand for 5 years and never knew how to find the church. She was so close all this time!! Literally 10 minutes from her house! She was really emotional after sacrament meeting and just trembling as we went to introduce her to the Branch President. It's so incredible to be a part of a rescue like that when someone is seeking to come back to church. A lot of LA's that we find are not really motivated to come back and it's much more exhausting. We love them still and hope that someday we can help them have the same desire that Helen had to come back to church.

I love being a missionary. I know this is the Lord's work. Our faith is stronger than rain. As much as I'd like to think we are waterproof, we're not. I finally broke down and got a poncho. It's green. It keeps my scriptures dry and that's what's important. You can tell it's going to rain if it gets really hot. Doesn't really make sense to me but that's what the members tell us. So this is the rainy hot season and I love it.

I love you most! Have a great week!

Sister Sahagun

Rain and shine....

we ride our bikes and...

Share the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ with the people of Thailand!