8/3/15... Legendary happenings from the week and Thailand gems...

FHE at จินตนา's

fammmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!

Look at you guys cruising down to Lake Powell as we speak...... so stoked about that and I kind of can't believe it has been a whole year since we were down there. ummm, WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE?! 

Speaking of time passing, Happy 25th to the cutest parents in the world! I probably haven't told you guys this.. but I made this picture book that I teach with like everyday and I have this BEST pic of you two that I I use almost every time when I teach about the Plan of Salvation or temples or actually the Law of Chastity too. It puts it in the perfect real light that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God, it is central to His plan and our exaltation, and it can bring us so much happiness as we have it in His way. so THANK YOU GUYS for your super example... my investigators probably thank you too cause it def takes some of the possible awkwardness that is the law of chastity and makes it so apparent and simple that they want what you have...... you can just see it on your faces! <3<3

the pic that gets those investigators thinking about eternity.................. how cute are you guys?

Anyways, enough with this mushy stuff and on to this week.. it was another good one! We are seeing crazy miracles and still having a crazy good time. Udorn really is the Promised Land in every aspect of the work, I'm not just saying that!!

 this is Udorn.  my people!!!!!  hahahaha

So yesterday at the baptism after the second branch the lady that got baptized bore her testimony after and said something to the affect of "before there was hell and darkness and now it is only heaven and light. I am going to keep the commandments with all of my heart and bring my family to church every Sunday because now we have found the light." (it sounds kind of awkward in English, but in Thai it was so tender and made sense and was so beautiful..) I sat there and was just pondering what she said. She is this CUTEST mom with two little girls and they are always so put together and just seem so with it. One of the little girls was learning English and piano with Sis แก้ว (Gaew) a returned missionary here, and so she introduced them to the Elders. From what I knew of them, their life just seemed like, even without the gospel, it was happyish. But hearing her say this with such overwhelming emotion, it really made me realize that in this life, we all need the same thing... The gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness. Anything less, no matter how "put together" and "with it" your life is or seems, you are still ever thirsting after something more. Still feeling that "darkness" and "hell" that surround when the hope of a Savior and a loving Heavenly Father with a plan are far from your knowledge. I have been overwhelmed as I continue to ponder this thought at how apparent it has been in our work this past week with investigators, less actives and members alike.  

I think of แม่พัด (Mah Pad) our miracle baptism this week!! She is the mom of a pretty recent convert here, been Christian her whole life, but not super open to the church after her daughter got baptized. The Browns (a senior couple that just left Udorn a few months before I got here) visited her a couple times, but nothing really came of it, and Sister ดรุฌี (Darooni) her daughter, just trusted that it wasn't the right time. Well she brings her to church the Sunday before last and says that she wants us to teach her mom because she is finally "ready". We made the hour and a half drive out there with one of our dearest member friends and as I invited her to baptism, I KNEW it was supposed to be this Sunday. She understood and accepted the Restoration and the laws and ordinances of the gospel so readily. She was baptized yesterday, that first step in the covenant path and bringing the overwhelming light and clarity to ideas she has always been familiar with, that only the Restored gospel brings. Dispelling the darkness...

she is the best missionary... almost her whole family is now baptized!

teaching แม่พัด with her daughter!

we love BAPTISM! and แม่พัด(Mah Pad) ...So cute how much they look alike huh?!

I think of Sister บิว (Biw) one of our new investigators, the niece of a member who is from Udorn but now lives in Bangkok. Well Sister ออ (Aah, the aunt) came home to visit this last week, and came to the church and said "Sisters! I want you to teach my niece and I will bring her here tomorrow!" We were so excited and of course accepted (there is nothing more golden than a member referral especially when it is a family member. OMG) and come to find out, her niece is 17 and an only child, and both of her parents have cancer. Sister ออ(Aah)  knows that only the perspective of the restored gospel will comfort a child with the possibility of losing her parents any day just staring her in the face. It was so so special teaching the Plan of Salvation and I can't wait to keep working with her. Pray that her parents will open their hearts as well!

I think of รุธ (Root), a less active that Heavenly Father just totally led us to this week. I don't know what happened to me, but this week I just got soo stoked on LA work..it is a big part of President Johnson's new vision and I am gaining such a testimony of it! So I just started going through our phone and calling ones that said "LA" next to their name to share a scripture, or to try to set something up with them or if nothing else to just give them a little love. So I call รุธ(Root) get to know her, share a scripture, and she just starts bawling. She agrees to meet with us that night, and it was just so evident that Heavenly Father knew one of His daughters was struggling and needed to know He was there. Long story short her fam are all members, her dad was even in the branch presidency before, and they have just all fallen away. Hearing her speak of those same things.. the "hell", the "darkness" that have come into their life since then, just left Sister Forte and I a little speechless. I cannot deny that the Spirit literally filled our mouths with what to say to help her see what she needs to do to bring the "heaven" and the "light" that her family once knew, back into her life. Pray for her and her family, who have tasted of the goodness but just forgotten. 

the cute FHE board I made to take to some LAs...
artwork courtesy of Sis Coates, idea courtesy of Sis Stoker (two of my favorite Sisters EVER!!)

Last but not least (sorry is this getting too long??) I think of การ์ตู้น (Cartoon!) our newest member of the Udorn Branch 1 as of yesterday! We went and visited her this week, and I can't even tell you the turn around that has taken place in this girl and the LIGHT that she just exudes. She comes running out of her bedroom as we rode up, greets us, pours us some water, grabs her stack of gospel books she had just been studying, and invites us to start the lesson with a song. HAHA we are like 'umm yes any song you'd like girlfriend!!!!' She told us of her plans to enroll in early morning seminary asap, finish school then go on a mission-- which she has already started saving for. speechless. A girl entangled in the bonds of darkness, and sin to be quite frank about it, who realized that the only thing that would fill her completely was the gospel. And how full she is now and will be forever more......its the best thing ever!!

So yeah, this week was a good one and we are SO so happy. We are trying to prepare for HOLLAND to come... August 15 and we are definitely counting down the days. And trying to figure out what to wear... hahaha you know me. But more than that, trying to prepare spiritually of course! I have been trying to read some talks by him and the one that I read today just felt like an anthem to my life as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and reminded me why I am so excited to have an apostle of the Lord in our midst so soon. He closes his talk: 

"Friends, especially my young friends, take heart. Pure Christlike love flowing from true righteousness can change the world. I testify that the true and living gospel of Jesus Christ is on the earth and you are members of His true and living Church, trying to share it. I bear witness of that gospel and that Church, with a particular witness of restored priesthood keys which unlock the power and efficacy of saving ordinances. I am more certain that those keys have been restored and that those ordinances are once again available through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints than I am certain I stand before you at this pulpit and you sit before me in this conference."

 ahhhh my favorite part of conference every single time is the testimony of the apostles and prophet at the end of their talks. It is sometimes short and if you aren't paying attention you will maybe even miss it, but without fail it is there, and it will pierce you to the very soul when you realize that these are men that truly know, and dare I say, converse with the Lord himself. I am super excited and humbled to have my soul pierced in the flesh here coming up soon.... its going to be legendary.

FHE at จินตนา's, we love Suki!

Other legendary happenings from the week and Thailand gems:

I rekindled my love for pulling weeds doing some yard work at Sister จินตนา's (Jinthna's) house. Nothing more satisfying than pulling out a nice big weed.  Finding a huge dead rat in her weeds though was a first for me........ SO GROSS  

realizing that sometimes as a missionary you totally feel like the guy on the RM that is trying to be way good on his home teaching and is like shoving the cookies through her mail slot and is like "Um, Sister I know you are in there... I can see your arm... Is there anything we can do for you?.. Ok I'm just going to leave now... But don't hesitate to call if you need anything" hahahaha its seriously so funny when you just kill with kindness and it is recieved like not at all........... omg  

I can ride my bike with no handlebars

eggs in Thailand are brown, never white, and sometimes they are pink. still a mystery to me why they are pink sometimes. the implications seem very unnatural to me. Flamingo eggs? probably not......................

waking up to the sound of rain everyday..... "Make you banana pancakes, pretend like it's the weekend... Can't you see that it's just raaaaaaaaainin' there ain't no need to go outside...."

Actually its more like no time for banana pancakes around here, the weekends are the same as the weekdays, and we definitely still go outside in the pouring rain, but it is the BEST BEST BEST. Wouldn't trade it for a lazy Jack Johnson day ever.

hahaha yep thats where I'm at. And that's all I've got. I love you guys.

Have the best week in Powell, be safe, eat all the "Sarah Morgan" popcorn you can, cause next year I will be there and I'm not sharing with anyone........... (so honored to have my name associated with such a heavenly food. hahaha love the Olsens!) 

xoxo 

Sister Morgan 

แม่หนู (Mah Noo) in the middle there had us over to teach us how to make food and to have a little lesson... and I am not going to lie, for some reason she is obsessed with me. Love her!!

the lunch group!

a little action shot of two of my Udorn besties... Elder and Sister แสงเวียน <3

Mother's day in Thailand is coming up in August... does that mean we get to skype again?! haha I think not... but this totally sums up my feelings LOVE YOU MOMMMMMSY

7/26/15... I think its safe to say that the miracles were not in short supply and neither were the laughs

best friends or Sisters??

hello!!!!!!!!!

Kkkk what a killer week with the reunion, the DAT, and the BYU baseball.. so happy about it all! might have even cried some way happy/excited/proud tears. geeeeesh I love you guys 

So anyways, such a good week here! We are working hard and having a GOOOOD time doing it..... I think its safe to say that the miracles were not in short supply and neither were the laughs

Probably my fave miracle of the week... to start you off with the big stuff, การ์ตู้น (Cartoon!) got baptized! Her date has been for this last Sunday from the beginning, but at the start of the week, she was just kind of like "Sisters I am not ready... I need to wait... next week or something..." Seriously though, we KNEW this girl was ready. Of any investigator I have ever taught, การ์ตู้น (Cartoon!) is one who understands the Atonement so beautifully and humbly and had/continues to apply it in her life. Like truly felt to "sing the song of redeeming love" and felt of the love of the Savior and Heavenly Father, just needed to have the courage to make the covenant. We taught her on Wednesday night, and she just knew too... she was ready. After her interview, Elder Visser told us he had never had someone answer the baptismal questions the way she did before... I'm telling you, she is awesome! Her baptism was so perfect, all of her family was there, her aunt spoke, and her uncle did the baptism! And the hymn that she requested be sung was Count Your Many Blessings, how cute is that?! I think it was like one of the only ones she knew... but nothing better than seeing a FAMILY grow in the gospel and seeing how Heavenly Father just totally prepared a way for it to happen. YESSSSSS

BAPTISM TIME... family love

Some snippets of other good stuff from this week:

Sent เค้ก's (Cake's) mission papers finally! We had so many little bumps in the road, but we finished them together, we road our bikes straight over to the post office and those babies are sent! He is going to be the BEST missionary. Kinda funny, I see a lot of Bradley in him, he is great.

mission papers... CHECK

We sent Sister โม (Moe) off to PROVO, MTC bound! 

one last goodbye outing with โม(Moe!) before she becomes Sister โม(Moe!)!!!

We had our first official day of rainy season where it rained ALL DAY LONG... and I bought my super cool poncho. Kind of regretting not trying it on before the purchase because it's a thicker plasticky one and definitely has a breathability of zero... so you can imagine how that feels in the humid hot rain. its like my own personal hot pink sauna on my body..... HAAA how could I not love it and there will for sure be pictures to come

We had literally the CUTEST family at church (young little mom dad and baby) on Sunday. They were a referral from some other missionaries, and they literally called like three or four times confirming that they were coming, just way excited. At first I am like talking to the dad on the phone and he was way unclear and says something to me like, "we have a baby...way interested...want to go" And I am kind of like oh no not again.... we have totally had people say that to us before in P-Log like, "my 3 and a half year old is super interested in religion and Jesus Christ, can I drop him off at the church?" and you are just like "Um really, your three year old who just learned how to speak and walk has been showing interest in Christianity, huh?" hahaha we are missionaries not daycare workers. But after a little clarification he was just making sure that they could bring their baby.... and of COURSE, bring your baby, the gospel is for FAMILIES!!! Pray for them to have more time to meet with us this week! Their names are Thaw! and Ewwie!

Definitely celebrated some Pioneer Day with a little Come Come Ye Saints companionship study singing. We love the pioneers.

Teaching our favorite พ่อสอ (Pah Sah) about family history and temples and getting him thinking about having his wife's work done! He told us he has been having dreams about her (Thai people are so into dreams and visions and stuff and will like way embellish them.. sometimes it is SO FUNNY) so we just capitalized on the opportunity to talk about how happy his wife is that he can bring her these ordinances that she can't do herself! He has requested a temple picture for his house... done and done. Kkkk other funniest thing ever... he didn't wear his dentures to church on Sunday for some reason and we died a little. I asked him why he didn't wear his teeth and he just laughed and laughed and laughed... LOVE HIM!! 

Then this week I have been thinking a lot about sacrifice. I have been pondering the scripture in D&C chapter 97 verse 8 that says:

Verily I say unto you, all among them who know their hearts are honest, and are broken, and their spirits contrite, and are willing to observe their covenants by sacrifice--yea, every sacrifice which I, the Lord, shall command-- they are accepted of me.

I feel like every time I read that I get a little more light on what the Lord is trying to say, but I love that it talks about our hearts and our covenants. We observe or hold to our part of the covenants we have made with Heavenly Father through sacrifice. But even more than that, the Lord wants us to have our hearts in the right place as we do so, and then we can know without any shadow of doubt that He is pleased and, I think I might add, know that He will send blessings. I love this concept and thinking about how I can more fully observe my covenants in this way, especially as a missionary. I see this in the Thais all the time and am so grateful for their example. Like แม่ ตี๋ว (Mah Thiw) the other day, coming to the church after we had taught our investigators, these two 16 year old girls named เบนฃ์ (Benz, yes best friends with the same name)... and they have no way to come to church on Sundays and live pretty far out. Without even thinking twice, she quickly makes a plan of how she will come to the church early Sunday morning for her meetings and to drop stuff off (she is the Relief Society Pres), then leave to get them and bring them to church. WOW. We are standing there kind of helpless in this situation, because we don't want to inconvenience her, but we really want our investigators to have a way to church... in the end the realization that แม่ ตี๋ว (Mah Thiw) doesn't see it as an inconvenience at all- she sees it as a way to observe her covenants, fills me such overwhelming peace and happiness and love and gratitude for someone who just gets it. I love her and all the Thai members, who just remind me everyday through their sacrifices, that they cherish their covenants and know that the gospel is the most important thing. 

some FHE action

Last story of sacrifice and miracle that I will take you home with. So แม่หวาน (Mah Waan) the sister of our fave guy ever พ่อศรีไทย (Pah Seetay) who just got baptized at the end of last transfer...remember? So cutest lady, but she seriously had the hardest time understanding tithing and gaining a testimony of it. We spent the entire lesson on it one day and challenged her to pay it and she accepted, but was still a little bit uneasy.  Sister Olsen and Sister McKnight are now taking care of her, and they came home the other day from teaching her with the best story... last Sunday แม่หวาน (Mah Waan) paid 200 baht in tithing leaving her with close to no money... she knew that was the amount she needed to pay and just did it. So the next day, she goes outside and it is sunny, and she decides she wants to put on a sweater (Thais are way afraid of the sun haha). She goes inside and gets an old sweater out of her cupboard that she hasn't worn in a while.. She puts it on, and reaches into the pocket, and there she finds 300 baht. She was willing to observe her covenants by sacrifice, to the point of not knowing how she would have anything left, and just as the Lord promises, "it was accepted of [Him]" and she was blessed. Nothing more special than seeing a new RC or investigator realizes that the promises of the Lord are sure. SO AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!

So yeah, that is all I have for you cool cats......... life is SO good and I know the Lord is taking care of you guys too. 

All of my love.......

big hug little kiss

Sister Morgan

hahaha this is what the elders consider "conversation" in english class.. toooo funny

totally suckered into buying these bamboo fish things.... dang it HAHAHA
(think dad walking around Cabo or anywhere for that matter with one hundred trinkets... classic)

giant duck on the water... you always duck face selfie... always

looky looky my old wheels found me in Udorn

this is Udorn by the park........ bliss

some p-day foot massages... we work hard ok?!

that companionship selfie you have been requesting.................

7/19/15... The people here in Udorn have become my family... I can't even tell you how special they are to me.....

Some post rainstorm selfie for you...... OMG people rainy season is in full affect...... เปียกตลอด translation: ALWAYS WET

FAM! 

hanging out with the best cousins around in the mansion cabin, what could be better?! Thanks for the pics and everything, it is so fun to see your cute faces. I hope it is a way fun week and all I ask is that someone keeps Grandma Nancy humble in Banana Grams without me there to do it! HAHA :)

Such a good week here in Udorn with the new companion. We are having such a blast together, I can't even tell you what a dream it has been working with her. We are laughing all the time and just happy as can be. But yeah, she definitely does know some of the BYU Hawaii crew so that has been fun with all of our random connections. We had such a great week............ a little run down as always:

So we had the funeral for แม่ตี๋ว's (Mah Thiw's) husband early this week and it was just a really special day. It was done in the perfect light of the gospel and the Spirit was so strong. I feel like my testimony and gratitude for the Plan of Salvation are constantly growing, especially as I see it so completely comfort and strengthen people around me (members, other missionaries, investigators) in real life situations.  The people here in Udorn have become my family, and I just sat there in the cultural hall with all of the members and just felt so overwhelmed with love for these people who were so banded together in this time of need. They are so amazing you guys, and they definitely understand the concept of truly being one "family" as children of Heavenly Father. I can't even tell you how special they are to me.....

love my แม่! (it was her husband that passed away)

at the funeral with the Sisters

A little update on พ่อสอ (Pah Sah), he is doing so good! We went out and taught him, and he is just cute as ever. He kind of speaks this giberish อีสาน (Esan) and so there is definitely some lost in translation, but he got the Holy Ghost this week and is just happy happy happy. It is way nice to have the แสงเวียนs (Sangwiens) go with us to teach because they are close in age and are คนอีสาน (people from the Esan) too, so they totally get him and just make him feel so loved. We are excited to keep working with him and his family, apparently his son in law has learned with the missionaries before so we are hoping to meet with him! And the newest/most favorite news we received from this last visit was that he has two women that he is kind of going on "dates" with......... hahaha! Who would have thought?? In Thai the word is หลายใจ which literally means "many hearts"...  พ่อสอ the LADY SLAYER!

Then this week we have been teaching การ์ตุน (Cartoon!) a new investigator who is the niece of one of the members here. She is the CUTEST girl ever, and it is seriously the best when you are working with member referrals because immediately there is a total support system. I can't even really tell you just how grateful I am that we are teaching this girl.... I don't know that she has always had the easiest life and definitely got caught in some situations and things that really just make your heart wrench to think any 16 year old girl has been through this or felt this way. It has been the most beautiful thing to watch the Atonement take affect in her life... to be with her as she realized that only through the Savior and making real changes to follow Him can she feel relief. It was definitely an Alma the Younger experience:

"And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world. Now as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the chains of death. And now behold when I thought of this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more. And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain! Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy. 

She came into the church yesterday just BEAMING... so happy and filled with light. Pray that she will continue to make the changes necessary for baptism next Sunday!

This weekend we had a little goodbye party at the church for 2 of the girls in the branch that are leaving on their missions at the end of the month (sidenote, SO many people on missions/ about to leave on one from Udorn, they are KILLING it here!!) We get upstairs to the cultural hall right before it is going to start, and แม่พร (Mah Pawn) totally asks me if I will be the speaker to just give them advice and encouragement... I was like uhhhhh ok! So way quick I just kind of had to gather my thoughts... but it was a way fun chance to really think about and actualize how dear my mission thus far has been to me. I think when it comes down to it, the best advice is what we learn directly from the Savior in word and deed and actually.... my fav Jack Johnson put into words in one of his classics when he says: 

"Love is the answer, at least for most of the questions in my heart" 

with Sister โม (Moe) before she leaves on her mish to AUSTRALIA...
she is going to be soooo good. love this girl <3

yeahhhh its true people, more than the baptisms, the companions, the areas, the transfer videos,the bike riding, the inviting at markets........... its all really just about LOVE. The realization that a life spent in the pursuit of loving like the Savior more fully will be a life well spent fills me with hope and happiness unlike anything ever has. So grateful for a mission, a country, a people, and a gospel that have written that on my heart forever. 

The church is true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Love you guys SO much.... hugs all around to the Van Slooten crew this week, have a blast!

xoxo,

Sister Morgan

Sister จอย (Joy) had the baby! Best part....... she named him "Olsen".....
Sister Olsen was like you should name him Olsen, and she TOTALLY DID!!! we all died

some post church badminton....... a must

and sometimes you just need to wear a batman suit to church and keep it on for all three hours...
They are absolutely perfect <3 OMG

7/13/15... I have a new companion... and I love speaking Thai!!!

my cute Sister Forte

fam!!!!!!! 

This week has been sooooooo crazy but so good... so many fun updates coming your way!

 haha sounds like maybe it was a little more run of the mill for you guys considering that you titled it "Groundhog Day in the 509" I'm not going to lie, my heart skipped a beat when I read that in my inbox and announced mournfully to everyone that we missed Groundhog Day....... haha  We celebrate holidays hard here in Udon Thani so you can imagine the relief that was felt when we realized it was a false alarm!! But lets be honest, I know you guys and I'm sure the week was still so so good........ nothing beats a good Tri-Cities summertime

So first things first, I am still in Udorn, and I have a new companion! Her name is Sister Forte, she went to BYU Hawaii and is from Draper and is seriously THE COOLEST. She was trained by Sister Herrmann and I hope we stay here together for 100 more transfers, because she is happy, hardworking, and just so so great! We are going to see MIRACLES together.

Sis Forte hard at work...

our cute matching bikes

Which we totally already have! We got back from transfer meeting as usual, bright and early Friday morning and we had so much work before us to get balanced for the week. We didn't really have any set plans for the day yet, and before our eyes unfolded seriously so many opportunities to find and teach! We were able to go visit พ่อสอ (Pah Sah) who got baptized last week, and TEACH HIS DAUGHTER who lives with him. It was such a special lesson, and I guess since his eyes are so bad she has already been reading the Book of Mormon to him out loud for the past few weeks. YES! Nothing better than some family scripture study right?! Pray that she will have the time and the desire to keep learning and be baptized as well! Then the rest of the day, and Saturday too, we had so many miracle encounters happen where we were riding our bikes and saw an LA or RC on the side of the road and were able to teach them right there! We ended up with 17 RCLA lessons for the week and we had like 2 up until Friday. Total delightful exhaustion on Sunday night, but could not have happened without the help of the Lord!

พ่อสอ and his cutest daughter! 

Sorry, I just got a little ahead of myself there though, we will rewind a few days to Wednesday our last day of the transfer and our last day with Sister Coates! It was the coolest thing.. We totally had a baptism! แม่หวาน (Mah Waan), the one who I talked about last week who we  went to get the marriage certificate for but it totally didn't work, entered the waters of baptism! Seriously it was the most wonderful thing! She has been SO scared of just every little thing (worried about keeping the commandments perfectly, worried about fitting into the baptismal outfit, worried worried worried) and as soon as she found out that Sister Coates was going to be leaving, we mentioned to her that she could get baptized on Wednesday, but it was up to her and to not feel pressure, she just put on her (white) big girl pants -I say that in the most respectful way, like her courage just increased like 100 fold is what I am trying to say- and made it all happen! She went that morning and signed her marriage certificate with her husband, and unbeknownst to us, had had her daughter make her this beautiful white lace jacket thing for her to wear and BOOM! She knew she wanted it, and it was so tender how much she wanted Sister Coates to be a part of her special day. It was another one of those moments where I just wanted to burst I was so happy, right after her brother, พ่อศรีไทย (Pah Seethai, who sidenote, likes us to call him Joseph Seethai.. he is a HOOT and we LOVE him) baptized her, I was out in the hall right after he changed and was coming back into the room, and I give him a high five and he just kinda holds my hand up there in the air with the most tender overwhelmed look in his eye and just goes "ผมมีความสุขมากวันนี้" translation: 'I am just so happy on this day.' For sure we all were!! What a perfect ending to such a great transfer. Especially since right after, we had แม่ตี๋ว (Mah Thiw) make พะแนง (Paneang Curry) Sister Coates favorite and we celebrated with the members!

GNO at แม่หวาน's babtism! It is so fun to see her cause she totally already had friends in the branch!

Joseph Seethai... this is his usual attire. How could we not just LOVE this guy?!

Then transfer meeting, it was a DREAM!! I know you guys already got to see the video, so you already know it was so good. But the more I spend time with the Johnsons, the more I love them! It was seriously such a good time, and they put their own spin on it... kind of the perfect balance of spiritual and so much fun. I think we all left rejuvenated like "We love what we do! Lets get to work!" Especially since we came back to Udorn with a DREAM TEAM. I am so excited to work with this district, everyone is just so positive and fun. Sister Olsen is companions with Sister McKnight now one of the Sisters from my group in the MTC and she is the best best best.

PRES JOHNSON!

Udorn Sistas...the DREAM TEAM

 The first transfer meeting with the Johnsons...the perfect balance of spiritual and so much fun

Also, HUGE BOMB THAT THEY DROPPED ON US AT TRANSFER MEETING:

Jeffrey R Holland is coming to THAILAND next month!!!!!!!!!!! Tears. I am sooo stoked. 

other fun highlights that I can't let you go without:

-เล็ก (Lek), the radio DJ CAME TO CHURCH!! Do you remember him? He has learned everything and has a way solid testimony/ prays and reads everyday, he just has the most crazy work schedule. So I call him all the time to remind him about church/ follow up with him. (haha sidenote about my missionary self: I have had companions question the excessive amount of follow up calls I make... but I seriously think it is so important! hahaha like 'Sister Morgan, settle down there') But anyways, I call him on Saturday night to confirm that he will be at church, after weeks of him saying he will and then not coming, he just kind of says something to the effect of "You have called me for weeks, and every time that I don't come, you still call and you don't even get mad. If this is that important that you keep it up like this, then I have to go tomorrow for sure." I was SO happy. haha he then goes on to say how lucky he is to have met me to learn the gospel and totally way pridefully alludes to how lucky I am to know him because lots of people want to know him (I guess he really is a WAY popular DJ here.) It was one of those funny moments where someone just like knows they're awesome and makes a point to say "Hey, you know I am awesome right?" bless his heart. haha But he totally stayed true to his word and came to church! He was wearing these sunglasses and walked in like a cool guy and just listened so intently (and sang the hymns too!) At the end... it was the most beautiful thing, HE ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. And the word he used to describe sacrament meeting was "เรียบง่าย" which means "simple". I love that that is what he got, someone who's life has been so centered on status and eccentricity was touched by the simplicity of the gospel. He is going to be baptized either this week or next! Pray that he remembers these feelings and makes church a priority every Sunday. 

-ออง (Ong) our house guard got the Priesthood yesterday!

-there is totally a USTA Junior Tourney going on at these courts here and every time I bike by I catch a little action. My own little Wimbledon...... hehe (really though, I am mourning Fed's loss too mom :/)

-แม่ตี๋ว's (Mah Thiw's) husband passed away suddenly this past week. Definitely not a "fun highlight" but please pray for her and her daughter right now. They are the most amazing members and I know even though they aren't showing it (it is way bizarre, Thai people are not very outwardly emotional about tragedies.. they almost make light of it by making jokes etc. :/) I know they are having a hard time right now and could use some prayers from all!

- Shopping in a market with total ease to get stuff to make for Sunday dinner realizing that I totally speak this language. what?!  I love speaking Thai you guys, and the gift of tongues is so real!  I love joking with the people, or it is especially fun when they totally think you don't know what they are saying and they are talking about you... and then you tell them you got all of that... HAHA! But I am perfecting my Thai cooking too... last night our curry was way good... prepare yourselves)! Plus... the girl who sold us some of the vegetables totally came to church on Sunday!

these are the faces of Udorn/ why I can never leave this place!

- I finished the Pearl of Great Price this week and it is SO cool!!. I don't think I have ever read it all the way through like that, and it is just cool to read it thinking 'all of this is info that the Lord wanted revealed or recorded in the last days... why?' I think one of my favorite things that has just been on my mind ever since I read it was in Abraham ch 3 verse 25, where they are talking about the creation of man, and the Lord says:

"And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them"

It is so simple, but I have just been thinking about the peace and overwhelming happiness that comes from obedience. As I have tried to be obedient to whatever the Lord asks me to do, I have been way happy, especially when I do it out of my love for the Lord. The tried and true Jeff Morgan favorite, 'If ye keep my commandments, ye shall prosper in the land', has never failed our fam, and it for sure has never failed out here on my mish. 

Here is to even better, more exact obedience and in turn even better, more full joy. 

The church is true people, and life is good in the Promised Land (aka UDORN THANI!)

all of my love, Sister Morgan

ps You better all represent at the VS-15 Talent Show without me there to hold it all together... HAHAHA jk

xoxo

A little outing to the CUTEST cafe here called 'Under the Tree' 
think The Chocolate in Provo but on Anthropologie eclectic steroids like 100x cuter

see what I mean?!

the washroom sign...... so perfect

Before our new companions were announced...

walking from Que Pasa to get a taxi (where everyone goes to eat after Transfers) 
and these people totally stop us and pick us up... 
They were the couple that Elder Anderson talked about in his General Conference talk! 
He is one of the Stake Presidents in Bangkok and they are SO nice!

my new district...