GUESS WHAT!

Less than a hundred days until Jess gets back...

In case you were wondering.

-Manda

A recent picture of Jess!

Chiang Mai

February 8, 2010

Well, the Lord sure does answers prayers. I prayed that all week that I would be able to get an emial from my family cause last week I was a little mad. But I got over it quickly.:) It is a lot different here in Chaing Mai. And I mean different, but I love it so much. I feel like I am home here. This time of my mission I feel like I am on top of the world. My confidence in myself has sored through the roof and I just am so grateful that I have the Gospel in my life.
Now to tell you about the email crap and why it has been like two weeks for me to not "chat" with you guys is because I want this time to GO and explore Thailand. I am in the most beautiful spots there is and so instead of staying home and just waiting to talk to you guys I have decided to go and see what Chaing Mai is really like. And I love it. I mean there will always be a p day that I may stay home but I need to get up and wake up. I don't have much time left here. I really don't ( I am not counting but I have like 16 p days left) and that is nothing in mission time. So I am doing the best that I can to savor in every minute. And try to concentrate, because I love these people and I don't have much time with the culture or with them.
Well, I said that we were going to have a baptism but it didn't happen. And that is all good. IT was crazy but she still will get baptized. Then we have another investigator who is getting baptized adn we set a date for another investigator as well. And we also got 7 new investigators and five of them came to church. This week was amazing. My comp and I are doing our best to work hard and to help everyone in need. I love her and I pray for her. I want to be in unicine with her and so I am praying and trying to serve the Lord better. I feel a real change though. It may sound weird but I tell you I feel so much more happier and I see that me not being hard on myself and just trying to do this and working through my weaknesses has made me so much happier. I truly feel blessed to be where I am right now.
Our district did I wide fast to help this area and I can see the growth. I pray for a more desire to share the gospel with these people, cause sometimes I get a little laxed and well I am human. But I know that my heart has ALWAYS been in the right spot my whole mission and that is all that the Lord asks. How wonderful is the Grace and the Mercy of God. For He truly is the healer of our souls. And when we use the Atonement in our life and listen to the prophets and follow His council, we need not fear. You know I am excited to start my life again and see the challenges that the Lord presents me with. Because I served a mission. NOw I am not saying I am better than anyone, not at all. Heck I needed this to help me have more faith. For I did not have much. BUt I truly testify to you that the Savior lives and that He loves us. No matter what. I know that any trial I seriously can feel His love more.
And I have seen that in the Example that mom and dad has showed us all. What great parents we have. Yes we have had problems in the past and sometimes we still do. But we must follow the Saviors example and come unto Him. Let us all come together and be one in voice and heart. For the Lord did give us the greatest family in the world. I mean serously we can be together forever. What a blessing that is to look forward to.
I hope you all know that I love you all so much. I am not preaching or saying I am better than you cause I am not. I am the most selfich spoiled sister daughter anyone could have, but this I do want to tell you all. I love the Lord so much adn I know He died for us. I know that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and HIs Son. Thomas S. MOnson leads this church and what a great source of power the Priesthood is. Let us use it in our life and let us stand a little taller and be a little better. Heaven knows I need to do this more than all of you. I love you all so much. I seriously have the best family. THank you for all that you have done.
My p days are on monday for the rest of my mission. I am in the most northeren part of thailand so I really don't know what is going on with mail or anythign. but I am sending you a package mom. So get ready. Its what you asked for. DOn't stop writing. And if it could be possible, mom could you send me some calcium tablets soon. I am lacking and I feel like me bones are breakin.....ah ha ha ha ha ha ha
Hey pray for the investigators to open their hearts. I pray for you and ask the Lord to bless you each day. THank you for praying for me.
Oh and tell megan Larson that I am writing her a letter. Thank you Linda for telling me what is going on as well. I love you all.
Love the daughter from HELL
Jessie

...

Hey Fam- Manda here. This is another letter from Jess that we got on Monday December 28.
The select few of us that were there were all super super excited to talk to Jess on Christmas. She sounds a lot different but I'm just hoping she comes back to us with her sense of humor. Which she will.
Countdown: 161 days til she gets back.


Hey Family, well it was so great to talk to yoiu and to hear your voices. I know that when I got off the phone I was crying. Well I miss you guys but after I was done. I prayed and I prayed adn I prayed. To be a little stronger, better, to use my time more effectively and to be happy with myself. I need to see my worth of my self like the Savior does. If I don't do it here,how can I do it after my mission.?
I know that this last half is going to go by so fast. But I am excited to see more miracles take place. I want you all to know that I have changed since talking to you. ANd boy howdy I sure do love my family adn the Lord and I love myself. I am so grateful to be a missionary and to know my plan. I cannot tell you how happy I am to be here. It may sometimes feel that I am not. But I always feel bad that I sinned and that I am going to hell. BUt I souldn't do that. The Lord doesn't want me to feel that way. If I did than how can I be happy adn do HIs work.
I want to thank you all for all that you have done. YOu trly are the best family ever. I had to speak in sacrament and man it was really good. I was able to feel the spirit and members came up and thanked me. But there was one thing that really hit me. ONe member who speaks english came to me and said. Sister I want to tell you that you are an amazing missioanry. It made me cry. I needed that. I needed to hear that. I have alwayse felt like I am bad, but she realyl helped me ouyt. ONe thign I loved hearing from all of you is telling me that no misisonary is perfect and we all of our trials and that you just need to do your best. Thank you all.
I am sending you a package mom that has some purses for the sisters and some skirts for me. And so just put that stuff in my room. But give them their purses. But I will be emailing on sat cause it is p day agian. We get two this week we didn't get one last week. Altough the whole week last week felt like p day. but Ugh....I didn't like it but I am going to woke hard this week. I love you all so much. I lvoe this gospel . Thank you all for all that you have done. for me. I will talk to you on Friday night (for you) Hey good luck and I will talk to you later. Dig "TWO CHICKENS" ah ha ha ha ha ha I love my family and I love the Lord bye bye kha