29 May 2013

Sister Rachel Mullen I would post something from Sister Rachel Mullen, but she chose not to e-mail this week. I am sure she is busy - although she wasn't too busy to email her friend Kaitlyn. Oh well, I'm not bitter.

Sister Jasmine Mullen First MTC Letter Hello everyone! I can't believe it's been a week here! I feel like I've been here for 6 months! But at the same time it's gone by sooo fast. I LOVE MY DISTRICT. They're the greatest people I've ever met. We get along so well! Sometimes a little too well haha. By the end of the day, our study time is pretty much us getting distracted and laughing for two hours. My companion Sister Bailey is amazing. We get along so well. Always on the same page. Mommy would love her. She wakes me up early, likes being early/on time to things and makes me eat healthy and exercise. She is also one of the greatest people I've ever met. Such a spiritual giant and she always strives to be the best she can everyday. If we weren't here together we'd probably never be friends. I'm so grateful we are though. She looks like Ashley Tisdale so since I'm Asian my district has a joke that I'm Brenda song. Haha so dumb. Anyway the first couple days were hard and challenging. But I MADE IT TO SUNDAY! I really only broke down a couple times. Okay shocker! I have only cried like 3 times here. its so weird. My district doesn't believe me that I cry at everything but its a good thing because I want to be able to talk haha. THERE'S SO MUCH TO LEARN! We would read/study for like 12 hours, making us super delirious. We had our first "lesson" with our "investigator" "Jordan" who was played by one of my favorite teachers Bro Gill. We went in there and it was AWFUL. Worse than awful, just down right embarrassing. I was just saying everything I knew and he laughed at me ! Just the rudest person ever. When we were done role-playing I couldn't even look at Bro Gill. I think he could tell I was crying because he was being nice to me hahah which never happens because of his sarcasm (speaking of which my 'nickname' in our district is sister sarcasm, I think we all say that coming_ Anyway, as I've learned in the past few days, I've learned that I DON'T HAVE TO BE GOOD AT TEACHING. I just need to be prepared enough in my testimony and be able to create an environment where the spirit can dwell. everyday me and sister bailey learn that , that is the most important thing. WE DIDN'T EVEN USE THE SCRIPTURES THE FIRST FEW TIMES! Crazy. We thought "we didn't need them"Funny though bc after we did the spirit was definitely there and Jordan started CARING! He's still the rudest person I've ever met, but he cares about happiness and the gospel. and he knows its more than what he originally thought it was. And for that I love him and I want him to know its true. We have another investigator K-min. She says she'll listen to us. Super nice. but knows she doesn't want to be a part of our church. I'm excited to begin with her. Okay a couple more things. Yesterday I had a great experience with Sister Allen. We were role playing and the activity was to read a chapter of the scriptures to liken it to any question the investigator had. Her question was , "what is my purpose" GREAT. Deep hard question. I wish i was a scriptorian so I would know exactly what to say. So I just flipped to Mosiah chapter 5. UM WHAT. it was more than PERFECT. We both felt the spirit so strong and afterwards she said, i was legit about to start crying, that was so real and so spiritual. She told me I was a good teacher, haha biggest joke. It was just that I allowed the spirit in and i was real about it. I wasn't trying to be a sister missionary. But yeah it was a super cool experience. The point of it was to realize that yeah, I happened to flip to a really good chapter about it but we can liken any scripture to any point in our life, it will help us no matter what. But i do encourage everyone to read that chapter in Mosiah. It's AMAZING. I will never read it the same again. Last night we had a devotional and afterwards we talked about what we learned. As if our district couldn't be more unified. It was the best experience of my life. We all felt the spirit and it was just amazing. One sister (wulfenstein) said that we're so close because we developed our friendships with Christ in the center which is so true. and our bonds are stronger and mean more to me than any one I've ever met. The elders in our district are just amazing and we all love each other so much. they offered to give us blessings. I didn't get one but every other sister did. It was amazing and you could feel the love radiating in the room. Elder Salmon is our district leader, he's amazing. Elder Nicholson is so fun to joke around with. Its funny because they all remind me of someone i know at home, but I think its just because I feel like I've known them my whole life. We have an inside joke "thank you for your testimony" we say that whenever someone says something that like no one responds to or is just awkward haha. its the best! Oh okay literally I've seen SO many people here. Sister Udall(Jenny Gordon's roommate) Sister Newman, Alex (Sara's friend) Holli my roommate from spring, Evan, Aries, sister browning, and soooo many others. its crazy. my zone leader was a guy from my mission prep class. so that was awesome. I think that's it. I'm loving it here! Every hard second. I leave for Brisbane Sunday! So crazy. Ahhh! But I'm excited. I love you and thank you for the support. I am striving everyday to be like Ammon. And to become a scriptorian and just be the best missionary I can be. I can't believe I'm doing this and that I can do this. The only reason I know I can do this is because my Heavenly Father knows I can. I'll send pictures later today! LOVE YOU! Sister Mullen #2/

19 May 2013

Sister Jasmine Mullen

MTC Mailbox #219

AST-BRI 0604

2005 North 900 East

Provo, Utah 84604-1793

Write soon!  She's only there 2 short weeks. 

12 May 2013

Dear People,

Just talked to family! SO WONDERFUL! Missed you ALL! And everyone is just as weird. 

So we had a miracle day. Pretty much we were at the mall. I sat next to this man. I pull out a Thai Book of Mormon. Ask him to help me read the word "prophet" in Thai and then Joseph Smith. Then I'm like, hey do you know him? 

BOOM! Lesson. Book of Mormon placed. Got his phone number... I can only do this for so long. The whole --- I just got here to Thailand, help me read this word bit, and then slip in the Gospel Lesson. haha

ok. I know I don't send enough pictures. But lets ask ourselves, do we want a good quality blog? Or a few pictures...

English class is going well, if anyone has any ideas for simple games for learning vocabulary, or grammar, send them my way!!! I am definitely the hit of English though. Seriously. People want to come to my class. INTERMEDIATE, What What!!

Neil L. Anderson is the apostle coming this weekend! Have to go to renew my work permit tomorrow morning, what?! President Senior and his wife surprised us in our ward yesterday. Sister Senior sat in on a lesson after church. I said the First Vision and asked our investigator to be baptized. I don't know if the air wasn't working or what, but I was SO HOT! or maybe it was just because Sister Senior was there. Anyways, I have worn my bangs down the last couple days. That's a miracle I know it. Still sweating, but it's not taking a toll on my hair as bad as it was. I planned on sock buns my whole mission, but the helmet just squashes them when it's time to ride my bike.

Oh my goodness, I'm here in the internet cafe and there is probably the cutest little 7 year old girl playing a bloody war game. Hahaha

The work for a temple is getting real. It's going to happen. Seriously when you just hear President Senior talk about our plans, what we need to focus on, there is no doubt that it is happening. I feel so blessed to be a part of this. I can't see myself being anywhere else. Only been here in Bangkapi one month yesterday, and I don't ever want to stop talking to people. Seriously, literally actually wearing the missionary tag, it gives me so much strength. I am Always thinking of Christ, and trying to act as He would. It's the best feeling in the world right now.

Ok, that's all for now. Remember, every member a missionary.

Love, Sister Mullen

 

**Family, did you get my letter yet? I have only sent one. The post office is a little far.

**Don't forget to send a cupcake recipes jas :)

5 May 2013

Seriously, it gives me a stomach ache but... a Big Gulp at 7-11 of Ovaltine. YUM! We had switch offs. It was pretty cool. Learned a lot from the other Sister. Oh! We have an investigator guy who lives about 40 minutes away so we usually just teach with the lady that lives nearby and we would teach there at her own house. And she is CRAZY! haha no, she is so funny. But she talks a lot! And answers the questions we ask him and so we planned it where we would take a couple other members to teach in HIS house. But when we got there, we seriously were just standing outside for maybe 3 minutes and then I hear her...

"SISTERRRRRRS!" We had to tell her we were there to teach him and she was like, come. come to my house. So plan, ruined. haha I told the story that night at our coorelation meeting and the Ward Mission Leader was like. I will talk to her. I'll tell her she's forbidden to speak and stuff like that, it was just SO funny haha.

This last Sunday was a boy in the ward's last Sunday. He is going to Provo to be a missionary in KOREA! Ah, it is SO amazing!!! The members here are So amazing.

There was a cool promise from President Senior that I didn't hear about until I went to another Zone's Zone Training... He said, If you focus on RCLAs (Recent Converts and Less Actives) every other key indicator will go up. I thought that was so interesting. We talked about the apostle that is coming on the 18th/19th and how he is probably going to get us pumped for a temple. But there is SO much work that needs to be done. Supposedly there are about 30,000 members in Thailand (i don't REALLY remember) and only 4,000 or so are active. Again, don't remember the numbers, but it was something crazy. I also learned the importance of family history work and work We need to do to get them started more on it! I wish I had our geneaology binders! It is so cool to tell people about.

sorry. so off task. Anyways, went jagging for the first time EVER in my mission. We just hadn't had time for her to take me. I LOVE JAGGING!!! (by the way, jagging is passing out pamphlets to people on the street)

We had a really good District Meeting this week about the Spirit and recognizing it. We each shared something we learned.

I DEFINITELY learned that NOW is the time to learn to recognize it. No time to waste. I'm never going to be closer to God than on my mission. We are set apart as missionaries to set aside all worldly comforts to force our selves to rely and come unto the Comforter. I know that that is SO true and there is nothing that should distract me from fulfilling my purpose and doing it in a Christ-like manner.

Love you all!!!

Love, sister mullen

29 April 2013

So what happened this week...

We had sports day today and I got to see Sister Sahagun and some other familiar faces! It was so fun. President came. I was sitting on the side not playing dodgeball with a bunch of others, and President Senior was like, Sister Mullen, why aren't you playing. I said, I have glasses. He was like, well so do I. Then I said, and pneomonia. Haha.

PS It was not a regular game of dodgeball. They were playing with hard volleyballs, NOT the light soft red bouncy balls. And they were throwing them at a million mph. Don't Ever.

So Sister Yeo is doing so good with her diet goals. I had one of her crackers...

OH MY GOODNESS! It smells like rabbit food... looks like cardboard/ hamster shavings stuck together, and tastes nothing like the graham cracker I was trying to imagine it becoming. 

I meant to ask you for some fun games or activities for teaching English class? I love it, but I can't look up any activities and ideas on the internet. So if you have any??? Haha, I taught Emotions, lesson 8 this last Tuesday, and it was SO fun because I got to act out the emotions and everyone would laugh. 

We had my first baptism!!! She is 15, we got her dad to sign her permission slip. It was a crazy experience. I am so so so happy for her, but I felt so bad for the dad, he looked so sad. But it is so amazing. I am going to make it a goal to go to so many more baptisms in the future. I just never thought about it. When people are choosing to follow Christ and be baptized, they are also changing the loves of their children, and generations to follow. It's SO much more than the salvation of one, but everyone after them as well.

Her baptism... Felt so bad. The brother that was baptizing her was two hours late!!! But it was ok. It all ended well.

Sickness is getting there. I am still working and doing everything, but I am getting really tired and drowsy from the medicine. So I use my dinner hour to sleep sometimes. haha

Anyways, I am SO excited because Mother's Day is coming up!!! I don't know our plans yet, but maybe try to be online next week, and we can figure out a good time! We have four daters!!! We have a goal of 3 baptisms for May... and FIVE for June! But it's crazy, ever since we made that big goal, people have just been popping up. These two sisters that have come to English classes for maybe a month or two just came up after class and said they want to learn about the other stuff we teach! And the lady that I talked to on the Songtow, she came to English!!! And she is interested in the Gospel!!! We are thrilled.

Anyways, the biggest thing right now I feel I am doing right is loving. Loving everyone. Just making EVERYONE feel good, even investigators that may not seem to have a desire. Looking at everyone as my brother and sister just helps so much more. And it makes me happier than if I were to just go up to someone randomly, it doesn't mean anything. Everyone is special. Everyone is chosen. I feel less stress when I have absolutely NOTHING against someone.

I don't know how to say it. I know it sounds SOOOOO cheesy. But seriously, they say to pray for Christ-like charity everyday, and it is SO important to have. Really. You won't go anywhere unless you have that compassion and sympathy for others.

Speaking of sympathy. Jasmine... remember when we would want to open up a Dog place for all of the sad sick dogs here in Thailand??? Or maybe it was just me. I can't remember. But I have had SUCH a hard time, just passing up a sad sick dog here in Thailand! :( Seriously though. It's hard to stay focused on the work. I just have to keep saying to myself, All Dogs Go To Heaven.

May 18th. An Apostle of the Lord is coming.

That's right. We will get to shake his hand.

Preparing. Anxious. AHHHHH! I AM TOTALLY GOING TO BE BAWLING!

Seriously. Feeling the Spirit in lessons all the time, has not stopped or controlled the tears. I never want to talk, because I will just get choked up, or cry so they can't understand me. Seriously, I'm embarassed for myself. Ok, and I know I am saying seriously a lot.

But seriously. So Blessed.

Love, Sister Mullen

This is where she stayed while first arriving at the mission home in Bangkok.

All the mess she is taking for pneumonia.

Her first Thai meal was khaaw man Kai. (Chicken and rice )

23 April 2013

These are pictures posted by Arthorn Kodchaprom. Thai New Year was April 13th.  The funnest holiday of the year!

22 April 2013

So we went to the doctor and found out I have pnemonia! and sinusitus or something like that... have like 7 pills to take and a nasal spray thing. felt so bad it cost like 4000 baht! Asked our District Elders for a blessing, so all is well. Got my bike! It's alright, we biked for 50 minutes out to one of our daters' house!!! It was crazy hard, still sweating like crazy, but its fun.

Sister Yeo is trying to lose weight for her brother's wedding this summer and for when she goes home. I'm killing her so since I am her last companion, I have the honor of waking up at 6 every morning and go exercise with her. I told her too, that the only reason the ward members don't talk to me about my weight is because they don't love me as much as her, and that they know I'm delicate, so they only say it behind my back. haha

So our first official sunday, because it wasn't general conference... Amazing. SIX investigators came! One of our newer investigators, he just found out he has cancer and his wife is a member and he now wants to hear the message! We taught him after church yesterday and asked him to be baptized! So now we have 4 daters! and one this Saturday! Yesterday in one of our lessons too, I said the First Vision. It was rough because I started crying at the end when I tried to say Hear Ye Him. haha But it was great.

So on our way to an investigator's house yesterday, 2 dogs definitely started chasing me!!! AH! Was scared out of my mind! Out biked them though, like a boss.

This week we had a quick little chat/lesson with one of the members. Some problems at home but I shared, from JSH The part where Joseph was tempted and overcome by Satan when he was praying for the truth. And he says something like "I was destined to prove a disturber and annoyer of his kingdom; else why should the powers of darkness combine against me?" I just love it so much. When we have problems or challenges in life, it is God testing us, but it also means that we are strong. We are the strong ones that are building up the kingdom of God and Satan doesn't want that. When we are having challenges in our lives, it just means that we are doing something right. It means that we are just going to be made stronger if we hold out and keep trusting the Lord.

It's been hard for me to go up to people and talk. It's going to take a while I know. I made myself little motivation cards with quotes that I can just quickly read and then just have the courage to just do.

But I got my first phone number from a lady while we were traveling! It was a great feeling!

The Thai food is delicious, but I haven't really had an appetite for it. It's SO weird. I'm not tired of it, I just don't feel like it. It's so weird. But it keeps me focused on the work though, so it's good I guess.

I am wearing my Thai ctr ring everyday and hoping to have a permanent tan by the time I come back.

But yes. This almost 2 weeks being here, I can DEFINITELY see myself loving it. It's SO Hard, but so worth it.

-Sister Mullen

SO SORRY! Forgot my camera cord again! :(