11-25-2013

Dear Family,

Happy Thanksgiving!! Sister Maughan and I have been working on our list of things we're grateful for. The goal is to have 500 by the end of the month. It's going great. I feel so very blessed. I'm so grateful for all of you! I'm grateful for the gospel, for Hymns, bike reflectors, English class, The Book of Mormon, seven eleven, Sister Maughan, waffles, mormon messages, tiger balm, dictionaries, the restoration, microphones, rubber bands, and sheet protectors. And also my planner. Which I regrettably forgot to bring with me last week so I forgot to tell you all the good stuff that happened, but it sounds like you heard from Sister Painter's Aunt. Small world. We had a companion exchange last week. Sister Maughan and I locked our bikes in front of seven and took a train to Kong Khan. From there Sister Maughan went to Roy Et with our keys to the bike lock. Sister Painter and I didn't figure it out until we were back at the Seven :(So many things went wrong and fell through that day, but it was so wonderful! We learned so much together. There's this awesome mormon ad with Elder Holland I think it's called By way of B and it just fit that day so perfectly. Sometimes the only way to get from point A to point C is by way of B. Everything was by way of B. We had to cut the bike lock. This jolly Thai guy came with his huge sheers and just chopped it off. It was such a good day. Not what I expected, but by way of B we were able to learn what we needed to.

On Monday we sang Nearer My God To Thee at a Buddhist funeral. That was really cool. We were at this really pretty Wat and it was just the saddest most empty feeling. As we sang I watched the people sitting there and felt hope. It felt so good to share a little bit of our faith with them through music. I know that we are Children of God. I am so grateful for the plan of Salvation. I know that Our Savior Jesus Christ died so that we might live again. We went to another funeral on Wednesday. Wish we could have sang or done something at that one too.

The work is hastening!! We had a bunch of first lessons this week with new investigators which means lots of first prayers! I love it! It's so sweet to hear people pray for the first time who before didn't know who God was or that He is even there to hear and answer our prayers. 

I was trying to explain to one of our new investigators how to get to the church and he was just really confused so I turned to the Elder's investigator ต้น who was just standing there in the hall and asked him to help me explain better. He gladly took the phone and the first thing he says is "Do you have faith in Jesus Christ? Come now!" and proceeded to teach him about God and Joseph Smith. He was speaking pasa isan and our poor investigator was just so confused. Turns out our investigator is Vietnamese, but he speaks great Thai. ต้น got baptized on Sunday. He just has so much excitement for the gospel it's wonderful. 

HEY! I'm really excited about all these new cousins okay! I can't believe I keep forgetting to say something about it! The picture I got from Quinn and Courtney is way cute and I just got an email from Chad and Barbara too their family is adorable! Katelyn and Cody sent me a super cute picture too!! Keep the pictures coming! Jessica sent me a cute picture of her with the Popes at Grandmas. Looks like fun! I think I might actually still have orange rolls this Thanksgiving. We're eating with the Harts, our wonderful senior missionary couple.

I request that you all eat some stuffing and lots of that spinach dip in remembrance of me this Thanksgiving season. But more importantly, count your blessings and I know that you will find joy in gratitude. I miss you! Have a wonderful week! 

Love, 

Sister Sahagun 

11-18-2013

สวัสดีค่ะ (<----That is a labor of love)

Hello! I love you all! Thanks for the videos!! That was so fun! I loved it! I loved hearing from Grandma and Grandpa too! You can send me videos anytime. Tyler sounds like a man. That is weird. Jessica has braces! So fun. How are your classes doing? Has it been snowing a ton? Winter is not a thing in Thailand. It's just hot. I like it. The times when I've been cold are every Sunday feels like we're in an igloo, the church is always freezing. And every morning during studies I wear socks and a cardigan. The air conditioning works great.

BBQ Frogs!

Sister Maughan and I passed these intense bikers (stretchy pants and all) they were going way slow. We were just humming/singing I love to see the temple cruising on our merry way. Then after about a minute after we passed them they zoomed ahead. Didn't want to get passed up by some white girls in skirts. 

At English class we hid some candy for everyone to find at the end and everyone was going crazy! If they asked the missionaries for hints we were allowed to help them. We made a comparison to prayer and searching for answers and how if you ask God He will help you find answers. If only these people knew how much better the gospel is than candy. Spiritual thoughts at English class are so great. We find a lot of investigators that way.

Mom. I found out that my release date is August 29. Also, that is the first day of school. Moroni 10:4-5 is the one. There are so many other good ones. Why do they make us pick just one? 

We've been doing a lot of contacting a 7 lately. I love 7Eleven so much. On Friday I stepped in front of this guy on a bicycle, he had headphones in and I just invited him to be baptized and we had a great lil lesson. Sister Maughan met this guy that speaks great English and we taught him on Saturday with his two friends that he brought! They are going to be great missionaries!

This weekend was district conference it was awesome! We had dinner with Sister Senior Saturday night. It was so fun. I love her so much. During the meetings this weekend they talked a lot about temples. I miss the temple so much. Thailand needs a temple!! It's probably going to be 2 or three years before this district become a stake. Everyone needs to take part in this work!! 

Last night was ลอยกระทง the Lantern festival!!!!!!!!!! Words can not express the joy and beauty. I've attached some pictures and potentially a video. Hope that works. If not, just go watch Tangled and turn on some Thai music in the background. It was lovely. We just talked to everyone that was there, it was the best time for contacting :)

I know that God answers prayers. I know that miracles happen when we believe! Have a wonderful week! 

Love, 

Sister Sahagun

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