Ether 5:5

HAPPY KEASTER!!!
How was everyone's Easter Sunday? Did you do anything fun like hunting Easter eggs? Did the Easter bunny visit you? Kelsie, your letter was SO cute, and thank you so much for thinking of me! You are right, my favorite color is Yellow! Thanks for remembering! : ) The pictures, sorry, I always forget to explain them! The yellow one is of these beautiful trees they have EVERYWHERE here. They look like just normal trees with leaves most of the year, but during the hot season they bloom into these beautiful yellow flowers. One of the ward members told us that when you see those starting to bloom you know it is about time for Songkran. Songkran is the huge water festival they have every year to celebrate the Thai New Year. It is coming up this weekend, and I am SO excited! Yes, that one is out front of the church, which is REALLY small. And the other one is outside at a ward party we had with everyone last week that was SO fun! And yeah I am a little sunburned! Always! The members here always laugh at me cuz I tell them that I want to be dark like them, and they are like, "But you aren't getting dark, you are just getting red". My response in English is always, "I'm Irish, ok?" And they all just laugh, cuz they have no idea what I am saying, but they know I am pretending to be put out about it! By the way, thank you so much for all of your answers to my question. I loved hearing why church is so important for all of you. And Mom, you are SO right. It is important to everyone for different reasons at different ages and different understanding of the gospel, and of what the sacrament, and the Atonement means to us all individually.
Our week was awesome! We had an FHE at a members restaurant and Sis. Tano made Japanese food, and I made American food (spaghetti) and everyone came and ate. It was way fun! It is really hard to cook in Thailand though. Then, this weekend we finally got to watch conference. We didn't really have an Easter Sunday, cuz no one in Thailand knows what that is. I don't even think half the members knew what it was. But we got to celebrate by watching conference in English, which was awesome! I feel like conference is like Christmas but better! Every talk had something that was meant for me, and all of the questions I had were answered so perfectly! I am just amazed at how blessed we are to have modern day prophets who talk to God! So amazing! So I really loved all of the talks, but here are a few (a lot) of my favorite things that were said, that really made me think.
What we do now will determine the service we will be able to give in the future. -Elder Hales
No pain will last forever.-President Packer
The way to rise through and above challenges is to remember that God has said, "I will never forsake thee".-President Eyring
It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do, but I knew I had to do it, so I did.-President Eyring
We are not in a race with others as to who is the most beautiful, talented, blessed; we are in a race against sin.-Elder Holland
Coveting does not elevate your standing, so be kind, and be grateful God is kind.-Elder Holland
No matter how talent-less you think you are, you are not out of the reach of God's love.-Elder Holland
Step Up! Do it for your sake, do it for the sake of those who are praying for you, do it for the sake of your Savior. It is NEVER too late.-Elder Holland
Jesus will be on your right side, and on your left side, to buoy you up. -Elder Anderson
Be not afraid, only believe. -Elder Anderson
In his darkest hour, he began to pray. -Elder Anderson
He will do for you what you cannot do for yourself. -Elder Anderson
Our souls will be riveted on the question, "What thinks Christ of me?" -Elder Anderson
All of conference was SO amazing and I feel like I have so much to work on. I was definitely shown my own weaknesses, but I also felt how much God loves me and I know without any doubt that he loves all of you more that you know. He is always there with His arms open, waiting for us to come unto Him. Mom, could you do me a huge favor and send me a copy of the Conference Ensign when it comes out next month, please? I can't wait to read all those talks again! The priesthood session was amazing too!
Anyway, I love you all SO much. Someone asked me today what my birthday wish for next week is, and here is what I said, "My wish for my birthday is that all of my family and friends will be truly happy and understand how deeply they are loved by our Heavenly Father and by me, too!" So I hope you all know that!
One last quote from conference, cuz it explains my feelings so well.
"I desire with all my heart to do God's will, and to serve Him, and to serve you." -President Monson, so what can I do to serve you, my family, this week?
Love you, and can't wait to hear from you next week!
Jess

And the world will know-3 Nephi 20:12-13, 30-35;21:2​6-29

Hello wonderful, awesome, crazy, come with a warning label family!
I am so glad to hear that you all are doing well! I am sorry Spring Break is over, but just think, that means not very long until SUMMER!!!!! Which is funny cuz the schools here are already in bidterm (summer). They will pick back up again in May or June. Yay, soccer! It sounds like you guys are all having way too much fun with soccer! I love it! No one gets to quit playing, though, cuz I expect Saturdays when I come home to be full of watching everyone's soccer games!
This week was crazy! It went by SO fast, and it was SO fun! Sister Tano and I have some really incredible investigators that we are so excited to watch come unto Christ. That is seriously the greatest miracle ever. Watching these Buddhist people who have no knowledge of God or Christ, have no idea that they are children of God, and that He has a plan for them, do a complete 180. Watching them come to know God and their Savior, and seeing the change that makes in them and in their lives is the most beautiful, incredible thing I have ever seen. And I am so grateful to get to be a small part of that, of God's work. This week one of the Elders investigators was baptized, and it was SO cool! Not gonna lie, I cried. He bore his testimony and talked about how he thought Christianity was nuts, but his friend was meeting with the missionaries, so he came to. The Elders told him to just try praying and see what happened, try reading the BOM and see what happened, try comiogn to church, etc. And he has this incredible testimony that as he did those things, his life began to change. He came to know God and Jesus Christ, and see the blessings that come from living the gospel, and came to know that this is more than just religion. This is the truth. So great!
Sadly, Sister Tano and I have not yet been able to watch conference. We have to wait until next week when it gets translated and sent to Thailand. But I think we might get to download it and watch it in English with some phillipino members, while the other members watch in Thai. Hopefully! I really would like to be able to understand Conference! Was it amazing? What was your favorite talk?
So, really quick funny story. In thai Jesus Christ is Phrayeesuu Khrid. So we have this one investigator, he is SO funny. I think he might be gay, but we haven't asked him yet. Anyway, we were reviewing the Godhead with him, and asked, "Who is the second member of the Godhead?" and he was like, "Phrayeesuu Khrid amen". HAHAHAHA!!! He thought that amen was a part of Christ's name. I was laughing so hard I thought I was gonna pee my pants! So great!
This week I have been studying and reading a lot about the gathering of Israel, and the more I study and understand about God's plan and about how He is working adn has been working since the beginning to bring all His sons and daughters to salvation, the more I am amazed and in awe of it. God's plan is so beautiful, and so perfect. And I am so grateful to have this opportunity to have my testimony of that strengthened every day, and to be a small little part of God's work in gathering all of His children who have no knowledge of Him. It is such an incredible priviledge.
Ok, anyway, that is all I have for today. I love you all tons! Have an absolutely wonderful week! Make school great, cuz it is!! Can't wait to hear from you next week!
Love you, Jess
P.S.-I have a question. My investigators don't seem to understand the concept of NEEDING to go to church every week, so it got me to thinking, adn I would like to know what you all think. Why is it essential to go to church every single week?