Tuesday, March 27, 2012

More pictures!! :) March 28th 2012!

Me,elder Benjamin(trainer in middle), and his trainer(Assistant to President: Elder Komgrit)

Kameron's sixteenth email!! :) March 25th, 2012 for US and March 26th, 2012 for Thailand!

 104 days in the mission field!

Dear Everyone:
SO! Last Monday was my birthday and it was fun. Had Family Home Evening at a members house and shared the cake I bought with money my mom put in my account. I got the Thai version of happy birthday song and got to blow out candles! We don't have too many investigators... About 6! But all 6 are awesome and 4 have baptisms dates next month! So that's awesome! I'm past halfway through my first transfer! SOOO FAST! Not much too crazy that happened this past week but everything is going well! I hope that you enjoy the pictures I attached. The one with the three missionaries is me, elder Benjamin(trainer in middle), and his trainer(Assistant to President: Elder Komgrit) So it's a three generation picture haha. Um, other than that not much happened this week. We had some good lessons with our investigators and I'm starting to contribute more and more in the lessons and I'm starting to be able to communicate much more with people. The mission here in Thailand is the best mission ever! I hope that everything is going well for everyone in the states. This past week I had several spiritual experiences again that just confirm that this work is soo important and I'm where I should be. Our investigators are progressing sooo well. Kwaan is doing fantastic! Sister Ae is doing great and will be future relief society pres or so I'm guessing haha. And the other 4 are progressing just not quite as well but still progressing super awesomely! Hope everything is going well I miss everyone but I'm doing fantastic and things are going soo well! The food here is also delicious! It is amazing how fast everything is going out here. Every day flies by when you work really hard. I cannot believe I've almost been in Thailand for almost 1 month already! I love you all and I pray for you all everyday. Love to hear stories about what is going on in America. I think we are going bowling today for pday so that'll be fun! I'm not sure but I think we will. Well I better get going I hope you all enjoy the pictures and I love you all. God loves us all as well!
Love
Elder Federico

Friday, March 23, 2012

Kameron's fifteenth email!! :) March 18th 2012 for US, March 19th for Thailand!

97 days in the mission field!!

Dear Mother and Everyone else:

Well! Thailand is truly a special place and I can tell it's been set
apart to have missionary work because we are having pretty good
success! Yesterday (Sunday) Sister Ying got baptized! It was super
spiritual and 3 investigators were able to make it to the baptism so
that was a great spiritual experience for them. Two of the three said
I wanna be baptized a.s.a.p. so that's good. We had 6 investigators at
church yesterday so that was good! Sister YIng was a golden
investigator and was truly previously prepared for us. Her testimony
afterward was sooo special and awesome. I forgot my camera cord today
so I'll try to put a few pictures in the next email.

Last week we had a companion exchange. My trainer went to Bang na with
the district leader and I stayed in Samut Prakaan and the DL's
companion came here. So I was kinda in charge with calling taxi's
planning appointments and talking on the phone all wednesday night. It
was interesting but it went really well. I felt like a grew a lot just
from that experience alone. I think it's important to have those
exchanges to help young missionaries grow lots.

We went shopping at a cool shopping area last week; I forget the name
but I got a nice belt for 100 baht or about 3 dollars and that was a
fun experience. I didn't buy anything else but next time I go I will
get a few ties maybe or something. Not sure but it was really fun. And
for today we had a zone sports day! It was really fun and good to get
to know more missionaries. It's hot and humid but nothing nobody can't
handle.

Our investigators are doing really well and are definitely
progressing. The Lord is blessing my companion and I; we are working
hard but can always improve in some areas. I'm starting to understand
more and talk more in lessons so that'll help me grow as well. It's
such a blessing to have a khonthai companion(native companion). Elder
Benjamin and I get along really well!

For those of you that wanted to know about food; they have KFC,
Coldstone, Dairy Queen, and a few other place that america has. The
food is interesting here but really yummy for the most part! But I
love the food sooo far and have tried to eat almost everything I've
given; some of it is interesting but tastes good and some isn't very
good but it's okay. I am not starving so I'm happy haha.

I saw a dead snake the other day so that was interesting. And our
house had a rat we found but it wasn't tooo big and we caught it and
threw it outside so that was an interesting experience. Haven't seen
cockroaches or such mostly it's been a pretty decent house and area
and stuff. I saw a komodo dragon today by the lake at the park we had
zone sports day at.

We were able to serve our investigators last week and that was a good
experience and I feel like our investigators as a whole are truly
coming unto Christ. I feel like we are being sooo blessed by the Lord
right now. We just need to keep working hard and try to work even
harder in the coming weeks and days and I know the Lord will help us.
I hope everything is going well in the United States. Sorry I was not
able to send pictures this email; maybe next email.

It's amazing to be able to be a missionary; especially in Thailand. Us
white people stick out a lot here and so that's a good indicator to
draw people to listen a little bit and that's always fun. They thai
people are always surprised when a farang speaks Thai so that's fun to
catch them off guard by speaking decent thai haha. All is going well
and thanks for all the birthday wishes. Today has been a great
birthday and I'm sure it will get even better as the day goes on.

Okay, I know that heavenly father loves all of his children and wants
them to pray to him everyday, read the book of mormon everyday and
follow his commandments. I know that as we do these things he truly
will bless our lives and help us overcome our trials and weaknesses.
As we pray to heavenly father; if we pray sincerely he will answer our
prayers in some way shape or form. I have seen it multiple times
already here in Thailand. One of our investigators (Sister A); was
having a concern where she was not going to be able to come to church
the next three weeks because of work because she needs to make money
for her family. We had a lesson yesterday and she promised to come to
church and truly has faith that the lord will provide her with the
money she needs if she goes to church and follow's his commandments.
The thai people have such strong faith, it's sooo amazing to see such
faith in someone that has only been to church twice. The lord will
help his missionaries and prepare the missionaries' investigators to
hear the gospel and to follow its principles.
I love you all.
Love
Elder Federico

Kameron's fourteenth email!! :) March 11th 2012 for US March 12th for Thailand!

90 days in the mission field!

Hello Everyone!
  Well for starters! Sister Ying passed her baptism interview and
will be baptized the 18th of March! Hurray! Oh and we have 3 others
daters and one of the daters (baptism daters) says her brother and
mother might be interested... He name is Sister A.. But yeah. Her
first sunday, yesterday (11th) she showed up and 9 and stayed at the
church till we and all members left, some members stay for meeting
with msisionaries. She was at the church about 9 hours enjoying
herself. She's a golden investigator that for sure should be baptized
haha. I rode an elephant at the Crocodile farm, don't worry I got
pictures. I'll try to upload some pictures next week. I taught an
english class last tuesday so that's always fun.. Every tuesday we
have them and the Thai people try sooo hard to pronouce the english.
Other then that things are going great. I'm contributing more in the
lessons and understand more thai every day! They did have people
holding crocodiles at the crocodile farm and they stuck their heads in
in and crazy things! I'm assuming they drug those crocodiles. But
riding the elephant was crazy! My companion is thai but speaks english
pretty well but tries to speak Thai as much as possible which is
helping me tons! Speaking Thai in Thailand is definitely challenging
but I'm learning so much more being engrossed in it. Lotsa people here
can say a few sentences but nothing too crazy. It's mostly Thai. I
have seen a couple buddhist temples but not too much. But every house
here has buddhist statues or house thingys or buddhist something to
worship... I live in an aparment house thing with just my companion..
It's huge and can support two companionships but it's just us two. We
eat out most of the time for like 50 baht a meal mostly so like a
dollar and a half haha. 500ml of water is like 10 baht so like 33
cents or so... It's great! On sunday's the members eat at church
afterward so we usually eat member food then.. Our investigators(8)
are all progressing and we are trying to find more people to teach. We
are getting more referrals from members so that's helping. The members
are really trying to help us out here, it's AWESOME. We ride taxi's
mostly here because of all the cars and such so that's always good. I
hope I answered all the questions that you asked but if I forgot one
I'll get it next time. I gotta write the mission president now. I love
everyone I hope that everything is going great! The lord is definitely
helping the missionaries out here in Thailand and has truly prepared
people. Just gotta find them! I love you all..
Love
Elder Federico

Kameron's thirteenth email!! :) March 4th 2012 for US March 5th 2012 for Thailand!

83 days on his mission!

Dear Mother and everyone else:

Well I made it to Thailand. I'm in an area called Samut Prakaan and I have a khon thai trainer(thai native). I'm one of three white missionaries to have a trainer in like 3 years I here.. But i am not sure. It is pretty hot here in Thailand but I'm adjusting. My companions name is Elder Benjamin. He's super fun and awesome and is working with me. I Appreciate all the support from everyone. It's crazy to be riding bikes right next to cars flying but Its safe enough and I'm adjusting well. I've picked up a lot of the native tongue and stuff so I'm understanding much more in the lessons and such. OUR FIRST BAPTISM IS SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 18! :) Her name is sister ying and we finished the lessons yesterday so she's ready and excited.. Talk about a sweet bday present huh? I didn't teach her much but I finished the lessons with her :P haha. We have 5 other investigators who are close to baptism just gotta iron out a few issues. The flight here was long but not too bad I slept a little while. Jet lag is rough but I'm adjusting fairly quickly. Today we are going to a crocodile farm for pday so I'm excited for that. My Area is awesome and the members here are pretty sweet. We had 64 people at church total yesterday so that was a good amount. I love the people here already they are all sooo nice and it's humbling to be here because you see how well we have it in America. Thailand is pretty hot but not bad at all. I'm adjusting well and language is coming fairly quickly. The members here have a hard time saying my name. i've been called elder mango and flamingo so yeah haha it's hard for them. I have trouble remembering names but I'm doing better now. I've been very busy and this week we set some good goals so we will see how that goes. I'm excited for today to go to the crocodile farm. I miss everyone out there and I hope everyone the best. I know the gospel is real and the this is the only church. I know God has prepared people here in thailand that are prepared to here and gospel I just gotta go find them. We had a good meeting with members yesterday to get more referrals so I hope that goes well... We plan to have a fireside on referrals here soon. I love it here and know this is the Lord's work and he's helping me and comforting me when I', discouraged. I saw an elephant walking down the street the other day! Crazy huh? Anyways I know that God is helping me and is helping those who support me as well. I feel the love of family and of God every single day. I love you all. I miss you all and I hope everything is going great in America.

Love

Elder Federico

Kamerons twelfth email!! :) February 27th 2012

76 days in the MTC!
Leaving for Thailand today!!

We got great news today. Sister Skalla(phiithay) that got sent to temple square. Is actually coming with us today! Crazy huh? Anyways not much to say. I think Pdays are monday there so write an email before then. I love you all very much and I'll call tonight anywhere from 8:30 PM to 9:30 pm your time or later at LA or both. I love you lots. Thank sooo much for trying to get the contacts and such. These contacts I have are troopers and I appreciate everything you've done for me. Thanks for the pants for my bday they are great. And thanks for the girl scout cookies and such. I loved it all. I love you lots and I know that I'll get the contacts when they are ready to come. I have glasses as backup and I can wear them just fine. I love you. Talk to you soon.
Love
Elder Federico