Familia (Had you fooled. I actually speak Thai not spanish)

What a week What a week.

I'll start with the biggest news first...... TRANSFERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But The best news from transfers is they OPENED MYANMAR. HUGE HUGE HUGE HUGE HUGE DEAL. We have 3 countries in our mission. Thailand, Loas, and Myanmar. 1 year ago President sent missionaries to Loas and last week the first ever missionaries were sent to Myanmar. Holy trash. So they went through the normal transfers. (Yes it affected me but I'll get to that in a seconed) And transfers are litterally a freaking PARTY. The new missionaries come in. We sing called to serve in THai as fast as we possibly can. Listen to President and Sister Senior speak with whoops and hollars. Clapping. It's a slight place for the spirit haha. But the coolest thing was they had EVERY missionary come to transfers so we new something huge was gunna happen. They use slides on a powerpoint to do transfers and where they go and then the "last" slide said The End. But there were people that didn't have places to go still. Then the power points go on. Opening Chang Rai and Nong Khai for SIsters. Which is such a HUGE deal. Opening new areas. ANd then a flash of the word Myanmar and the missionaries go CRAZY.... Then when president starts talking the sound of a pin can be dropped and heard. It was dead silent. Everyone had there cameras recording. People crying. It was so spiritual. Last november Elder Holland gave President Senior permission to send the first missionaries to MYANMAR. Soooo amazing..... Anyways. Long paragraph

Everyone I saw. EVERYONE. Told me I look so much skinnier and they wanted to know my secrets. Haha. I really felt booming. It felt good....

SOme other exciting news is I stayed and have a new companion Sister Ladle! I love her. I've been super blessed with companions lately. THe lord just knows. You know? I was actually in the MTC with her. SHe is only 6 weeks younger than me and had a native trainer so our THai is seriously on the same level.. Oh my gosh. YOu don't understand the stress that takes off. I don't have to train anymore! I don't have to sit in a lesson and tell them to talk about something because we are both experienced and just bounce off each other! Oh man. It's great. We both are so excited and Getting along so stinking well.... It's going to be a beautiful transfer:)

Sister Ellis opened an area with a sister who is half thai but grew up in the states. THe area they moved to all her family is from and there is like 10 membvers or something crazy like that. anyways. THey have seen a ton of success already and they baptize people in RIVERS. So crazy. Sister Her is right next to me in Ban Bua Tong. I love her to death. 

Crazy. They closed an area in my area so now we only have 4 missionaries instead of 6. We had a baptism yesterday....... exciting....

SOme other exciting news! The Elders from my group in the MTC are TRAINERS! WOOOO. I cried a little when I found that out. I just love my elders so much. Elder Winsor is training a native thai too. I'm so way too excited for them. Training is the best and the worst all at the same time..... They are going to be great. And more experienced than I was.... WOO HOO. Go MIssions

I had soo much fun at transfers. Seeing everyone. I miss them alllll

I have 4 transfers left... the fourth transfer meeting i'm a dead missionary..... makes me... sick thinking about it..... I haven't seen enough success to almost be dead! But we are going to kill it this transfer.... I just know it...... I'm really not a senior companion or a junior companion. We both are going to extend commitments and both talk on the phone the most! I'm sooooo excited! 

Wish me luck! I'll talk to you next week!!!!

Sister Phelps

Just for funsies

MTC COMPS...

You know you are obeidient when you have feet tan lines.... some others have it worse... but these are pretty good.

Talk about likening the scriptures unto yourself. 1ne. 19:23

JST: JesSikiah Translations

Excerpts from the missionary Jessikiah's translations of the Book of Emilieya. Short excerpts are provided after verses. Longer excerpts are not provided because there are better things to do with a missionaries time. 

Chapter 1

1. I Emilieya (Nickname sister) Having been born of goodly parents, therefore i was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the lord in all my days yea, having a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceeding in my 9 month, 2 week mark in the state of Thailand as senior companion with Jessikiah as my truested fruit of my loins(I am her second mother)

2. And it came to pass, In the 4th year of the reign of Obama I make a record of the course of my dealing in Thailand over the last week. As I was tarrying in the large freshly cut field of grass  in the park of Pak kret Prophesieying unto the people that they must repent or the great spirit they possess will be destroyed. I recieved a call from an aquantance.

3.Wherefore it came to pass that my acquaintances, the elders, went forth and prayed unto the Lord yea, even to know which direction of the changwattana street to go on, they came across a man, whose stature was average among the rest, whose asian eyes were no smaller than the next, and they cried unto him saying: "Behold, repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,"

4.And It came to pass that this man, thus overcame with the spirit did not understand the language thus spoken, He said unto the Elder, "Woah be unto you, you see that I am Asian amongst the THais but nevertheless I speak only the Language of my fathers, which is chinese and some english."

5.And after this manner, elder thus said unto the chinese gentile do not fear god is with my sister missionary i will callest upon them.

6And now, I Emilieya do not make a full account of the things which the elder spoken unto the chinese gentile for i hath written many things unto the multitudes of people in america concerning these things. And after many days of learning from the missionaries. Jay had come to know of these things for himself and he thus rejoiced and his whole heart was filled.

           JST: and it came to pass that they said unto him: behold, here are the waters of pakkret (for thus was the font called) and now, as ye are desirous to come unto the chaengwattana branch, and to be called a brother, and are willing to obey the word of wisdom, come to church every sunday, obey the law of chastity and pay your tithing...that ye may have eternal life? now we say unto you, if this be the desire of your heart, what have you against being baptized this sunday at 4:00? and now when jay heard these words, he clapped his hands for joy, and exclaimed "this is the desire of my heart!" 

mosiah 18:8-11

8 And the people did mock him because of the believings of him. Jay said unto a pharasee "Everyone believeth what they knoweth, i will praise my god forever, let us eat some lunch and be friends." but the trouble pharasee rejected him....

9. Meanwhile I emilieya suffereth from a pinched nerve, therefore, i make a record of my proceeding in my bed. The lord alloweth me to take the taxi and the song tows but I must not ride the bicycle until further tomorrow. But I will go and do the things which the lord hath commandeth me. For I know the Lord giveth no commandment unto the children of men save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

10. There fore jay suffereth for his country hath no freedom in religion and was concerned for his future, he debathath whether the promise with thy god is the right path. But I knoweth that the lord will not give a commandment that his children can not keep. therefore jay trusteth the lord with all his hear and leaned no to his own understanding in all his ways he shall acknowledge him and he knoweth that   god will direct his path.

11. ANd it came to pass that for the space of 12 hours jay cried unto the GOd and looketh upon lds.org for answers to his soul. 

12. And it came to pass that I sister did cause a lot of heartache for i did care so much about jay. And after 1 dinner and 1 breakfast we did call upon the chinese gentile and did talk with him for the space of many minutes and he shareth his concerns for his country of the problem. We understood him not for we were put in the promise land since birth but we did exclaim unto him the dsires of our hearts.

13. And it came to pass after the space of many minutes jay explained to I , Emilieya and my companion Jessikiah that he will not partake of the blessings from God this week. For he hath saith unto us "Verily Verily, I will think upon the desires of my heart because I know these things are true, I don't want to change myself just yet."

    JST-and we spoke unto jay, and now remember, rememeber our brother, behold, you are free; ye are permitted to act for yourself; for behold, god has given you this knowledge and he has made you free. He has given unto you that you might know good from evil...

helaman 14:30-31

14. The lord hath called us to labor for his work. He saith unto us, "The field is white already to harvest go out with you sickle and gather mine elect."

15. Therefore with this counsel we found the Elect with thy god. But didn't baptize many nations (Even CHina)

16. Now when our hearts were depressed and we were about to turn back behold the lord comforted us and said, "Go amongst thy bretheren, the asians, and bear with patience thine affliction, and I will give you sucess."

17.And Now behold, we have come, and been forth umongst them and we have been patient in our suffering which consists of pinched limbs, sore necks, and hurt bums, yea, we have travelevd from house to house, park to park, grocery store to grocery store, relying upon the mercies of the world alone but up one the mercies of God.

18. And we have entered into their houses and taught them, and we have taught them in their streets, yea, and we have taught them upon their hills, and we have also entered into their temples and the mosques and taught them (Just kidding about that one.) and we have been rejected, and mocked, and called beautiful by crazies, been chased, and we have been laguhed at, and were told by the many multitudes "Behold, i am buddah" (true story people can't say i'm buddist in english so they say i'm budda) But through the power and wisdom of God we have been delievered again.

19.And it came to pass that preperation day came near and we rejoiced and prepared for TRANSFERS that cometh on Thursday. Jessikiah and I await patiently....

    JST and now, because i am a farang (a white person), and have spoken unto you the words which the lord hath commanded me, and because it was in poor thai, and you like worshipping little gold statues... you thought that you could just walk by me and not listen to my message! but ye SHALL hear my words (for i will follow you) for this intent have i come upon your bridges, and your sidewalks, and your malls... and your 7-11s... that ye might hear and know of Jesus Christ and of baptism. (helaman 14:11-12)

yea, i say unto you, that the more part of the missionaries are doing this, and they are striving with unwearied diligence that they may bring the remainder of their asian brethren to the knowledge of the truth; therefore there are many who do add to their numbers weekly. yea, they did wax strong in their knowledge of their God, in their faith, and in their ability to speak thai. (helaman 15:6)

JST: JesSikiah Translations

Excerpts from the missionary Jessikiah's translations of the Book of Emilieya. Short excerpts are provided after verses. Longer excerpts are not provided because there are better things to do with a missionaries time. 

Cross References (1 Nephi 1, 1Ne. 3:7, D&C 29:7, D&C 4, Alma 26:27-29, Proverbs 3:5)

I also LOVE the rain<3 And my new comfortable dress<3

Selfies<3. Bazinga..... I love life.

Happy Birthday MEAGAN!

    I guess I'll get to my big email! Don't you get tired of hearing from a missionary? I get bored of hearing myself through emails! 

    The weird thing about having so many siblings is I almost forget birthdays. But HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEAGAN. You're my favorite...shh dont tell the others..... 

    Lots of progress this week:) our investigator pool is too exciting.... 5 investigators at church. The transfer is drawing to the end. We are going out with a boom! Ching chong. (Our chinese investigator) I finally just started calling him "Jay" and it's stuck with the members and everyone calls him Jay now. haha. I feel pretty cool for starting that. But this whole week sister Ellis and I can't say his chinese name so we just called him Ching Chong. We have some great names for our investigators names that we can't remember. Saturday night the district leader call us and is like okay. Tell me the names of your investigators going to church so I can pray for them. (It's just a cute district thing we do. praying for each others investigators.) And me and sister Ellis start off with, Emmanuel, Dow, Ploy... then the names we forget "Pray for ching chong, toothless man, lady on the bridge." haha. He replies "Sister You KNOW I'm going to pray for these people." TOo funny. I really like our district leader. Most humble kid EVER. He dies next week. It will be sad to see him leave. That's for sure.

    Good news! Sister Ellis' little sister is going on a mission.! Too cool. And I'm talking to my MTC Companions right now. I love them so much. I get to see them next week. After Transfers there is a huge Sisters meeting for valentines day. Definitely interesting but I get to see Sister Her again and my mtc buds! I miss them all so much... Sister Her emails me every week. When we were companions we loved each other and got along most of the time but now we just love each other so much more... So weird how companionships work. I love sister Ellis. I think she will be out of here though. She has been here for 18 weeks now. Time for her to chagne. I'll be WAY way sad if I have to leave. that is for sure.... I love this area and I love my international investigators. Ugh. If I leave. I will definitely shed some tears haha. I've been debating to email president and tell him i'm not moving. Haha. I just love it too much.... Anyways. There is a good chance I'm staying though... 

    Yesterday at church there is a little fat boy probably around a year old. in the international branch trying to reach a gummy bear under the pews but his poor little fat cheeks were stuck on the bench while he was reaching for those gummy bears hahaha. During the sacrament prayer sister Ellis and I could NOT stop laughing....we were sooo disruptive. We probably forfeited a few referrals from the members about how much we were laughing. But holy cow. I miss little chubby babies. Lyla does for now. :)

    Last week we taught ching chong, "Jay" and taught him with 4 languages flying across the table. English, mandrain, cantanese, and thai. It was honestly the coolest experience ever. You will never get that opportunity anywhere else....seriosuly. Definitely the coolest opportunity serving international. You work with such a wide variety of people..

    One awesome thing that happened was we ordered some food at this restaurant. Then we sit and wait for the food and this waiter goes up to the cook lady which is about 5 feet from me. and He was like what the heck are these white people doing here. And when someone throws out the word "farang" You know they are talking about you because you are the only forgiener in sight. haha And talks crap and the cook lady was like. You better watch yourself becasue they speak thai. and He turns around and I'm like. Yes I speak thai. ANd he gets SO emmbarressed and turns red. Sister Ellis was a little confused haha. But i got a little prideful calling out a khon thai on my abilities to speak thai. Definitely rewarding. 

    This week I wrote more of stories that happened throughout the week instead of the actual work..but. It was alot of fun. Had a good week. I'm so exhausted all the time but I really see the blessings of all this work. Never felt more at peace than in my entire life.....

We are hoping for a baptism this week. Keep us in your prayers:) I love you all.....

Sister Phelps

Hey Hey

    Okay okay. I'm sorry. No elephants. But I do have some SICK pictures of the area. Lot's of cool culture stuff you never would see in America. We rented a song tow (a truck with a hood over the bed of the truck and we sit in the bed) for about 10 ish missionaries. Super fun. Lots of ruins. Wats. Definitely cool....

    Good news. The mission had 164 baptisms in January. So proud. So awesome. We in fact had a baptism of our own yesterday. For Charisa. A phillipina. She is so cute. First baptism in the international branch since june last year. The branch was excited. Then the elders gave us a referral of a chinese man named asdfghjkl(Obviously you understand I can't pronounce his name) But he was just the best. He came to church and just loves the thought of God and Jesus. He speaks sooo little english but the cool thing about an international branch we have a family who speaks chinese with him. Tonight we are going there for FHE. We are really excited. He is the sweetest and the Chinese family is the sweetest... High faith for him. Keep ching chong in your prayers<3

    So this last week Thailand is in a state of emergency. So we had a lot of texts telling us to keep 72 hours worth of food storage especially since yesterday was the election. But we are like."3 days of food storage? Check. Mcdonalds delivers." haha just kidding we have food storage. We weren't having any problems in our area but I heard downtown it was getting pretty serious...But yesterday we could only go to church and then home. So we were home at 5 till the rest of the night. We zonked early haha. There is only so much to do at home before your missionary exhaustion catches up:) But good news. I'm safe... I just have the runs... oh thai food.....

    I decided I will be that awkward missionary when I get back.... you know. The one that can only talk about their mission. I'm seeing that as I communicate with other missionaries. The mission is all we are familiar with haha... It's so funny. Before we go to bed sister Ellis and I just chat about our investigators haha. It's just too funny. Can't get enough. I think I'll sign off here. Not too much happened. Just taught and found. I LOVE MY JOB...It's definitely better than working in customer service. That's for sure. Better blessings.....

i'll just send lots of pictures instead. Thanks for listening... Tune in next week.:)

Sister Phelps

This is a letter that Emilee recieved from one of her converts in her last area:

Hey Sister Phelps!How are you? I'm Nam in Udon Thani .I miss you so much. Tomorrow is the last time party at Sister and Elder Heart's house haha i might spelt their name wrong.I'm sorry that i didn't sent email to you since you left here.Do you get my latter? I thought I'll miss them so much and everyone loves them.I love to go to the church and sunday too.Now I'm a youth teacher in Udon Thani branch 1,I love it.Next monday is my birthday.There are 5 people were born in this month;Elder Wilko's 6,My is 10,Brother Jack's 12,Sister Mukmic's 14 and Sister Bee's 16.We'll have a big birthday party.I looked back on my days and my past just review what did i do last 1 year and I knew I got a lot experiences thanks God.I really want to see the temple and I plan to go to Hongkong Temple in next Chirstmast wish i can go there.Last friday night i had piano show,everybody who are Sister Heart's students,we had members from Nongkhai and Kumpawapei to show the piano at Udon Thani.Thank you so much to tough me to know how much father loves me and the last I wanted to said "I love you" Wish to see you again ;]♡

our LA gave us doctor masks to wear around. So asian. So classic.

My recent convert Nam<3 Love and miss her soo much:)

GIant buddahs and Ruins. Can't get much better than thailand.....

This is what you get when your room is a freezer and you need to pray. Pray under the blanket of course!

1This sign says Thai people 10 baht. Forienger 50 baht. I was trying to talk them down. I was like. Yo i can read this sign. I get in for 10 baht right? haha. It didn't work...... Bummed.

ayuttya is way cool.

Song tow with all the missionaries.... Me and sister ellis were standing on the back....

Just a bunch of monkey

White budda worship wat. Pretty sweet

This sweet place with ruins.....

my cool comp.

cool picture.

I'm pretty sassy missionary in this one.

our district. Love them to pieces <3 Yes mom i do love them btw. We just live years away from all of them...

This sweet Buddha lady laying down.

This hole I was sweating to death down there. I couldn't breath at all haha. Soo steep down this giant ruins building. The stairs were like a ladder... I'm glad elders were in front of me haha.

Charisa Got Baptized! :) I also got a sweet skirt. Asian.