MAY 29, 2012 Helaman 5:9-11 Hello from...BANGKOK!!!! I still cannot believe I am here!! SO crazy! This city is so freaking huge and cool! I am in a part of Bangkok called Bang Naa. I am not really sure where exactly it is. Being here is so cool, but I really miss Khorat. I love all the members and investigators there SO much. But I know I will come to love everyone here too. So, I was totally planning on sending pictures, but my bag that has the USB cord in it...along with my scriptures, preach my gospel, dictionaries, pens (ya know, all the unimportant stuff, hahaha), got left on the bus...so it is now with the zone leaders in Khon Kaen about 6 hours from here. Luckily they are bringing it down for me in about three weeks. So I promise I will send tons of pictures then to make up for these couple of weeks. Sorry! My companion is Sister Skalla, who was in the MTC with me! She came in 6 weeks after me. She is such a sweetheart and I am so excited to be companions with her. Oh yay, I bet the kids are all way exited to be out of school and to go swimming! I can't wait to go swimming! : ) Yay, I'm glad you were able to see Josh. Are he and Alyssa together again, or are they just friends? And is he still planning on a mission? Yay! I am so exited for a new neice!!! I can't wait to see pictures when she gets here. There is tons of sushi here, but not usually at Thai restaurants, there are just TONS of Japanese restaurants here, and they all have it. I tried to eat sushi with Sister Tano, but I couldn't. I almost threw up when I tried!! But I am finding a lot of other Japanese foods that I really like. You will love all the sushi and Thai food here when I bring you back though! and thank you SO SO much for putting money in for me. I really really appreciate it. I so wish I could help you unpack, and clean house, and help with kids and cook dinner and all that. I am sorry I can't, but I am so grateful for your support in my being here. I definitely am supposed to be here right now, and I just pray that God blesses you all while I am out here. K, well I love you all tons, and miss you like crazy!! Have an absolutely amazing week, and enjoy the last week of school/first week of summer! Have fun at roaring springs and the pool! Love ya! Jess

MAY 21, 2012 D&C 68:6 and D&C 14:7 Hello family! Yay! Thanks for e-mailing! Talking to you all last week was SO great! Miss you all like crazy though! Oh my goodness I cannot believe you are all almost out of school! That is crazy! School here in Thailand is just starting again. Jared and Austin...GET YOUR DIPLOMAS!!!! I say that out of love! Congratulations Jared Alan Wallace on graduating from Seminary! HAhaha, that is super funny. I guess it is better than Jaredina, no? : ) Jennah, there is no way you are going to be in high school already!!!! That is stinkin nuts!!!! Stop growing up so fast! I am so glad I got to talk to you last week! I was really worried that I would not get to! It wasn't near long enough, but I got to see your beautiful face! Kayla and Kelsie, congratulations on soccer! yay that is so awesome! was it fun? I bet unpacking is really difficult when you are working crazy hours like that. But hey, the deer heads are on the wall, and that is the important part, right? I am so glad you don't have to be a part of the execution. That would be really awful if you had to do that. What a yucky feeling, like you said, whether he deserves it or not, it would be awful to be a part of that. Daddy, I am sorry your hips are hurting so much, I am really glad you will be able to get them fixed. Yay I am so excited to get pictures! And, mama thank you SO much for putting money in my account. I am so sorry to ask!!! This week has been an awesome last week in Khorat.Friday night, I got to hang out with the members at Khorat's largest outdoor market, passing out flyers for English and pass along cards. I took a video, but it isn't working. I will try again next week. Then that night, we were walking home, and saw an elephant! THe guy wouldn't let us ride it, but we got to feed it and pet it and take pictures! Saturday the Elders had a baptism, which was supposed to start at 6pm, but when we got there at 5 the Elders had forgotten to turn the water in the font on...so we spent a good 30 minutes using every bucket and sink in the church trying to help fill it faster. Eventually the branch president just called a firetruck to come fill it for us. It filled really fast, but that water was NASTY!!! Also, we have been teaching Sister Wanna english. She is so cute. We taught her ants, but every time she says it it comes out ass, and Sister Tano and I laugh hysterically. She also says flick as frick. Too funny! Both my companions loved talking to you all and said that you are all way cute! Ok, well for today that is all the time I have, but I love you all and can't wait to hear from you next week! Love, Jess

APRIL 22, 2012 D&C 6:33-36 Hey family! How are you all? How was your week? Have you been able to find a new house yet? I hope you have and the everything is good! How is the weather at home? Here it is stinkin HOT!!!! It is over 100 every day, but the humidity helps it feel not quite that hot. Surprisingly, I am not a fan! I guess I am just super picky with my weather! Hahaha! Not too hot not too cold, all you need is a light jacket! : ) Last week was awesome! We went and ate ice cream for my birthday, had a really fun FHE, taught some good lessons. Pretty much a normal week. Well, at least as normal as it can get in Thailand! I am really loving having two companions! They are both so great! Sister Wanna, the one from Laos, is so cute! Watching her is like watching a little cartoon! She is so dramatic and funny! I love it, she keeps me entertained every day! Being with her is really helping my Thai too, cuz I have to speak Thai with her every day. I am still not good at it, but she is really helping. The pictures I am sending are mostly from Songkran, some from FHE, and Sis Wanna putting yogurt on my sunburned face (apparently it helps). Way fun! K, well love you all! Can't wait to hear from you! Hope you are all safe and happy! Love, Jess

APRIL 16, 2012 D&C 1:23, 37-38 Yay thanks for singing me Happy Birthday! I loved it! Today has been fun! We played soccer this morning, and I got to get an email from my family! : ) Best part of my day! After this we are going to go eat ice cream, then later we have FHE at a members house! My birthday in Thailand! Definately will be an unforgettable one! I haven't heard of any Thai birthday traditions, but I will have to ask around. I didn't get your package yet, dang it. I guess it didn't make it here before transfer meeting, but hopefully it will get here soon and someone will go down to Bangkok so they can get it to me! Thanks for sending it though! The thought behind it is the best part! Cooking is way hard here, because almost no one has an oven, and everything is just so low, and there are no counters. Yeah, it is crazy. But we don't cook very often anyway, so its ok. Wow, why do you have to move out before the end of April? That is crazy! Have you found a new place yet? I will pray really hard for you to find one. I know that God will take care of you all. Daddy, I am so proud of you! I know that this won't be easy, but I am SO proud of you for helping yourself, and in turn, helping your family. You are such an awesome father, and we are all so blessed to have you. I am so grateful for you and I hope you know that I wouldn't be where I am if it weren't for you and the way you raised me. So thank you, and I love you and I am way proud of you! How are Cory and Tammy? Is Tammy ready to pop yet? I can't wait to see pictures of this baby! Have you heard from Nate and Cari? I sent her an email for her birthday, but she hasn't responded, yet. Hopefully she will get an opportunity to write me soon! This last week has been way crazy and so much fun! On wednesday night we went to Bangkok for transfer meeting and stayed with Sister Farnsworth (my MTC companion) adn Sister Monterrosa. It was so fun, but we stayed up all night talking and helping Sister Farnsworth pack, cuz she got transfered. Thursday we went to the meeting, WAY FUN, and found out that Sister Tano and I get to be in a threesome with the cutest little girl ever. She is from Laos and her name is Sister Wanna. SHe is stinkin adorable! The three of us are having way to much fun together. The Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were the days of Songkran which is the Thai new year, and they have this MASSIVE country wide water festival. It is SO fun. Friday and Sunday we had to still work, but we were pretty much soaked the whole day. Saturday we got to play, and it was crazy! We played some water sports at the church, and then went with the members into the city where EVERYONE was playing. There was lots of water and music and drunk people. It is actually crazy being a white girl in Thailand during songkran, but luckily one of the members played bodyguard for me all day. It was super funny. He barely left my side all day. Way sweet. Anyway Saturday was too much fun, and I came home a lobster! As usual! Hahaha! I am still very very red today, and Elder Doria, one of the Elders in my district keeps calling me Strawberry Shortcake. Yeah...sounds like something my Dad or my brother would say...DON"T GET ANY IDEAS!!!!! So, I was going to send pictures of Songkran, but I forgot my USB cord, but I will send them next week I promise! K, well I love you all! Miss you like crazy! SU SU NAA KHAA! Not really sure how well this translates, but it is like, keep fighting. Love you, Jess

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?

3 Nephi 14:13-14

Hello again dearest family!
I love hearing about your week and all of your adventures! Kelsie where did you get to be so creative and cute? I hope you are all just super awesome! My week has been good and really interesting! Time is flying by way fast! So, my crazy story for this week! We had this one guy, Aam, who was a former investigator show up at the church one day, wanting to learn with us again, so we sat down and taught him. He was a little quiet, and weird and kept saying he wanted to learn with the Elders, but he is in our area. Anyway, a little wierd, but he wanted to learn so...great. So the next week we invited Aam to family home evening at a members house and he came and brought two of his friends, who were interested in learning with us too! Awesome! SO we went out to teach these two guys, and it comes out that they don't really know Aam, they had just met him that day and invited them to come with him, because He told them that he was dating Elder Doria, one of the elders in Khorat, and wanted them to meet him. So Aam is going around telling people that He and Elder Doria are married and living together. He also has been telling people that Sister Tano is married and really rich, and that I am married and used to be a famous club singer...yeah, we aren't teaching this kid anymore! Hahaha! But I am so glad that we met him, because his two friends are WAY awesome investigators!
Also, Satan is working really hard against us right now, through other crazy "Christian" religions. Actually just one. It is called Yole. I don't know if you've heard of it or not, but it is really huge in Thailand right now. Apparently, it is like a combination of all religions and this Chinese guy with a bunch of "missionaries" goes around giving people power and "the light of Christ". But they have to pay for it. Yeah...it is NUTS! Anyway this guy and his missionaries have been coming around here, so when we go inviting, people don't want to listen to us, because they think that we are part of that group. They keep telling us, "You already came here". Some of them have already joined that religion so they don't need to join again. It is really really crazy. But the ones who are prepared will recognize us as God's true servants.
So I read something I really loved this week in True To The Faith. It says, "You are a recipient of divine mercy when HEavenly Father hears and answers your prayers". That was a really humbling moment for me, to realize that I am not even worthy for God to hear and answer my prayers, because I am a "natural man". But what a huge testament of God's love, that He listens and answers anyway. I love that. And it has helped me to take my prayers more seriously; to thank more and ask for less.
Anyway, I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week! Can't wait to hear from you next Monday!
Love, Jess