Week 71: #LIGHTtheWorld

Hey everyone! This past week started the month of December and with December now here, that means Christmas is coming! I love this time of the year. We can focus on the Savior and the things he's done for us. The other day I was inviting outside of a busy mall and I saw a huge Christmas tree outside of it. It was nice to see. Even in a country full of people who worship Buddhism, the Christmas tree was still up. In Thailand, it doesn't feel like winter and a lot of people here don't really care about the meaning of Christmas, but it's not about what's going around you or what other people think that makes Christmas truly Christmas. Jesus Christ was sent on earth to die for our sins. He's our Savior. We celebrate his birth and know that He lives. If we understand this, remember Him, and follow his example to light the world, we'll have joy.

This week, Elder Miyagi and I and a lot of other missionaries in the TBM had the opportunity to work with the Red Cross organization. We helped get bags of materials shipped off. For a majority of the time, I would put blankets in these bags and there would be an assembly line to put other tings inside as well. The bags were put into a huge vehicle to be sent off. It was such a great experience! As for investigators, Brother G's baptism is coming up! He went to see his mom in a different province this past weekend to tell her he was going to get baptized. He's about 35 years old and he still made that I priority. He really respects her.  Respect and courtesy is very important in Thailand. If you're disrespectful to someone, it's harder to gain that person's trust. If you don't have trust, well good look getting anything done on your own. Brother Gaw came to church yesterday and his baptismal date is for the 18th. Yay!

Brother Art told someone at his school about our church and he came! His name is Brother Bless. We were able to have a lesson after church and showed the baptismal font as well. I asked him if he wanted to get baptized and he agreed. His baptism date is for the 15th! He's already Christian (goes to a different church) and we're meeting with him tomorrow. It was such a miracle!

Speaking of miracles, DECEMBER IS GOING TO BE FULL OF THEM! I don't know how many people read these anymore but if you are, remember to #LIGHTtheWorld. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." He is the gift! Share what you know with others, serve someone, be KIND, do something for someone else this time of the year. Have a great week everyone!

Elder Rawlinson

 From last P-day went to a busy area of BKK

We had FHE at a family's place last Monday and they had this fun whipped cream game haha