taryn 6.7.10

Hey!
Well we have transfers this week, everyone keeps telling me im outta here (udon) i hope not. things are going incredible! i have an awesome companion that works hard and also knows how to have tons of fun. We have 9 investigators with baptismal dates and we will hopefully get another 2-3 this week!! hah on thursday we were racing everywhere, didnt have enough time to even get all our studies in! we taught 8 lessons that day! its really rocking here. its amazing to look back in my old journals and see how you if you endure through the hard times you are truly blessed. that is definitely the theme of my mission. looking for the rainbows through the storm and then experiencing the peaceful cool beauty once it lets up. Its the storms that humbles us and keeps us remembering our Heavenly Father, and helps us appreciate the beautiful moments. I wish i could be better and learn to be humble at all times, depend on the Lord at all times. But, were human. the natural man starts to seep through and we need another reminder from Him.
elder booth, and elder that 'dies' or finishes his mission with me was telling a member that he only has three 'moves' or transfers left. that hit me, i didnt realize how little time i have left. crazy. i cant believe that. exciting and sad at the same time. thats as much time as i have been in udon!
thank you for the birthday package! the zone leaders went to bangkok for a meeting and brough it back. thank you thank you! delicious and so cute. it was perfect! the bad so cute, im wearing the headband right now, for the 4th day already. the candy and cake, american! the letters, the best. thank you so much! coops, thanks for the chinese lantern:) ive been gone for 3 of the past 4 birthdays, last year there 4 days before the mtc! hah i wonder where ill be next year?
last tuesday morning we were inviting and got into a house teaching them when the assistants called us twice in a row, we left quicky because we thought that it must be really important and called them back. They called because the zone leaders were telling them about how good my peanut butter cookies were on Sunday and were reserving a batch for thurs night when they would be coming on switchoffs. Elders!!!!! Luckily before we left we got their number and went back on Thursday. Hah 3 of them werent too interested, they would stop talking and then left to buy illegal lottery tickets, but noi stayed and learned with us. she is awesome! im really excited about her.
We dont have much time:( I wrote the above a few hours ago, but as we were writing the power went out, so we went and served/visited an investigator and now we're back, though now dont have much time!
We found and taught a man named Win and his family in a catholic school the other day! It felt wierd teaching about our as ours. I havent taught many christians. Its so hard! im used to teaching who God and Jesus Christ are and about prayer for the first few lessons. His wife isnt interested, she is way catholic so well have to turn him over to the Elders:( It was neat though, we asked him why he wants to learn with us and he said "yong my im phrakamphi" or im not full/satisfied with the scriptures. he feels like there has to be more. It is such a blessing to be able to tell him that there is!!!!
ok im running out of time, but want to quicky throw in a few "only in Thailand" things:
we were visiting our recent convert guy's mom's house (her mom and family thinks that she is wierd for always reading scriptures and going to church so we went to be friends with her) haha she is scared of us! she would hardly even talk with us! she is scared that we will convince her to change too... :) anyway, we were there and an old lady with like 2 teeth came by on her rickety bike selling dead bats that she had caught for people to eat.
Also, one of our recent converts always wears a necklace that looks like a little case with seashells in it. i commented on how i liked it to be nice. she told me that they were a few of her mom and dad's teeth! hah sorry mom and dad, im not doing that...
Before i forget, can you send me a lasagna and a taco recipe, a member asked me for one and i said id ask my fam to email me one:)
ok g2g the church is so so true. it is the way to true happiness if we will just follow its teachings!!
i love you so much!
love, t