We can hardly wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, December 17, 2012
To all my wonderful family and friends...
Dear loved ones,
The weather is getting me prepared to hit America winter: this morning it was 60 degrees! Yesterday at church the district president wore a fleece zip up turtle neck UNDER his suit jacket. Claaaasssy. :) I loved it. Everyone is in coats and scarves and beanies. It reminds my of Jamie's mission in Scotland...how everyone would wear shorts when it was in the 50s. It's the opposite here! But equally hilarious.
Well it's getting real. But that's okay. The field is still so white:) And this week is going to rock. So many new people to teach and so many beloved members I can't wait to visit and strengthen this week. We threw a Christmas party last week and had people write their testimonies in Books of Mormon, wrap them, and then plan to give them to their friends as a Christmas present.
Yesterday the Branch President did something really nice and surprising. He asked me to come and bear my testimony. So I took a break from translating and went up. Tears in eyes!:) Got a little emotional since that's the last time I'll do that. But it felt so good and I felt the Spirit so strong.
Thank you so much for your support and love and prayers and letters and packages and thoughts the last year and a half of my life. You have been wonderful and taught me so many things. Thank you for remembering me and sending your love and advice and including me in your lives. I hope the last year and a half has been as fabulous for you as it was for me:).
I am so grateful for the chance to have served a mission. Before my mission, I thought missionaries were celebrities and perfect and so wise and spiritual. Then coming on a mission I've learned that they're still the same people with the same weaknesses and personalities. But they have a wonderful opportunity to grow and overcome the natural man and strengthen their testimonies...just like anyone else. I'm so grateful that a mission was part of Heavenly Father's plan for me. I want to and will apply what I've learned for the rest of my life.
I learned this week (after an about-to-end-a mission crisis...probably the first of many...) that my purpose in life is the same as my purpose as a missionary: to invite others to come unto Christ and help them to do so. I can't wait for my life. Every day of it.
In Jordan's last email he said, "I left a boy and am coming home a man." Well I didn't leave a boy, nor am I coming back a man...but I can say thatIi feel like an improved and expanded and better person. And I'm grateful for the Atonement that has taught me and allowed me to do that.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. The Book of Mormon is true, so true! We have a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson. He is the Savior's representative on the earth. These things bring so much stability, meaning, and happiness into life. And Heavenly Father only wants us to be happy. I love Him. And I love the Savior.
And as always, I love all of you so very much. Never stop serving and being a missionary!!!!
Love,
Sister Roper
Dear loved ones,
The weather is getting me prepared to hit America winter: this morning it was 60 degrees! Yesterday at church the district president wore a fleece zip up turtle neck UNDER his suit jacket. Claaaasssy. :) I loved it. Everyone is in coats and scarves and beanies. It reminds my of Jamie's mission in Scotland...how everyone would wear shorts when it was in the 50s. It's the opposite here! But equally hilarious.
Well it's getting real. But that's okay. The field is still so white:) And this week is going to rock. So many new people to teach and so many beloved members I can't wait to visit and strengthen this week. We threw a Christmas party last week and had people write their testimonies in Books of Mormon, wrap them, and then plan to give them to their friends as a Christmas present.
Yesterday the Branch President did something really nice and surprising. He asked me to come and bear my testimony. So I took a break from translating and went up. Tears in eyes!:) Got a little emotional since that's the last time I'll do that. But it felt so good and I felt the Spirit so strong.
Thank you so much for your support and love and prayers and letters and packages and thoughts the last year and a half of my life. You have been wonderful and taught me so many things. Thank you for remembering me and sending your love and advice and including me in your lives. I hope the last year and a half has been as fabulous for you as it was for me:).
I am so grateful for the chance to have served a mission. Before my mission, I thought missionaries were celebrities and perfect and so wise and spiritual. Then coming on a mission I've learned that they're still the same people with the same weaknesses and personalities. But they have a wonderful opportunity to grow and overcome the natural man and strengthen their testimonies...just like anyone else. I'm so grateful that a mission was part of Heavenly Father's plan for me. I want to and will apply what I've learned for the rest of my life.
I learned this week (after an about-to-end-a mission crisis...probably the first of many...) that my purpose in life is the same as my purpose as a missionary: to invite others to come unto Christ and help them to do so. I can't wait for my life. Every day of it.
In Jordan's last email he said, "I left a boy and am coming home a man." Well I didn't leave a boy, nor am I coming back a man...but I can say thatIi feel like an improved and expanded and better person. And I'm grateful for the Atonement that has taught me and allowed me to do that.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. The Book of Mormon is true, so true! We have a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson. He is the Savior's representative on the earth. These things bring so much stability, meaning, and happiness into life. And Heavenly Father only wants us to be happy. I love Him. And I love the Savior.
And as always, I love all of you so very much. Never stop serving and being a missionary!!!!
Love,
Sister Roper
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
That's a Wrap!
To all my wonderful family and friends...
Dear loved ones,
The weather is getting me prepared to hit America winter: this morning it was 60 degrees! Yesterday at church the district president wore a fleece zip up turtle neck UNDER his suit jacket. Claaaasssy. :) I loved it. Everyone is in coats and scarves and beanies. It reminds my of Jamie's mission in Scotland...how everyone would wear shorts when it was in the 50s. It's the opposite here! But equally hilarious.
Well it's getting real. But that's okay. The field is still so white:) And this week is going to rock. So many new people to teach and so many beloved members I can't wait to visit and strengthen this week. We threw a Christmas party last week and had people write their testimonies in Books of Mormon, wrap them, and then plan to give them to their friends as a Christmas present.
Yesterday the Branch President did something really nice and surprising. He asked me to come and bear my testimony. So I took a break from translating and went up. Tears in eyes!:) Got a little emotional since that's the last time I'll do that. But it felt so good and I felt the Spirit so strong.
Thank you so much for your support and love and prayers and letters and packages and thoughts the last year and a half of my life. You have been wonderful and taught me so many things. Thank you for remembering me and sending your love and advice and including me in your lives. I hope the last year and a half has been as fabulous for you as it was for me:).
I am so grateful for the chance to have served a mission. Before my mission, I thought missionaries were celebrities and perfect and so wise and spiritual. Then coming on a mission I've learned that they're still the same people with the same weaknesses and personalities. But they have a wonderful opportunity to grow and overcome the natural man and strengthen their testimonies...just like anyone else. I'm so grateful that a mission was part of Heavenly Father's plan for me. I want to and will apply what I've learned for the rest of my life.
I learned this week (after an about-to-end-a mission crisis...probably the first of many...) that my purpose in life is the same as my purpose as a missionary: to invite others to come unto Christ and help them to do so. I can't wait for my life. Every day of it.
In Jordan's last email he said, "I left a boy and am coming home a man." Well I didn't leave a boy, nor am I coming back a man...but I can say thatIi feel like an improved and expanded and better person. And I'm grateful for the Atonement that has taught me and allowed me to do that.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. The Book of Mormon is true, so true! We have a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson. He is the Savior's representative on the earth. These things bring so much stability, meaning, and happiness into life. And Heavenly Father only wants us to be happy. I love Him. And I love the Savior.
And as always, I love all of you so very much. Never stop serving and being a missionary!!!!
Love,
Sister Roper
Dear loved ones,
The weather is getting me prepared to hit America winter: this morning it was 60 degrees! Yesterday at church the district president wore a fleece zip up turtle neck UNDER his suit jacket. Claaaasssy. :) I loved it. Everyone is in coats and scarves and beanies. It reminds my of Jamie's mission in Scotland...how everyone would wear shorts when it was in the 50s. It's the opposite here! But equally hilarious.
Well it's getting real. But that's okay. The field is still so white:) And this week is going to rock. So many new people to teach and so many beloved members I can't wait to visit and strengthen this week. We threw a Christmas party last week and had people write their testimonies in Books of Mormon, wrap them, and then plan to give them to their friends as a Christmas present.
Yesterday the Branch President did something really nice and surprising. He asked me to come and bear my testimony. So I took a break from translating and went up. Tears in eyes!:) Got a little emotional since that's the last time I'll do that. But it felt so good and I felt the Spirit so strong.
Thank you so much for your support and love and prayers and letters and packages and thoughts the last year and a half of my life. You have been wonderful and taught me so many things. Thank you for remembering me and sending your love and advice and including me in your lives. I hope the last year and a half has been as fabulous for you as it was for me:).
I am so grateful for the chance to have served a mission. Before my mission, I thought missionaries were celebrities and perfect and so wise and spiritual. Then coming on a mission I've learned that they're still the same people with the same weaknesses and personalities. But they have a wonderful opportunity to grow and overcome the natural man and strengthen their testimonies...just like anyone else. I'm so grateful that a mission was part of Heavenly Father's plan for me. I want to and will apply what I've learned for the rest of my life.
I learned this week (after an about-to-end-a mission crisis...probably the first of many...) that my purpose in life is the same as my purpose as a missionary: to invite others to come unto Christ and help them to do so. I can't wait for my life. Every day of it.
In Jordan's last email he said, "I left a boy and am coming home a man." Well I didn't leave a boy, nor am I coming back a man...but I can say thatIi feel like an improved and expanded and better person. And I'm grateful for the Atonement that has taught me and allowed me to do that.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. The Book of Mormon is true, so true! We have a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson. He is the Savior's representative on the earth. These things bring so much stability, meaning, and happiness into life. And Heavenly Father only wants us to be happy. I love Him. And I love the Savior.
And as always, I love all of you so very much. Never stop serving and being a missionary!!!!
Love,
Sister Roper
Monday, December 3, 2012
Mission Tour
Look up Looy Gratong on google. It's real!!!
Great news in life every day:):
Thanksgiving was wonderful for all of you I hope. It was fun for us! We ate with some Americans and it was DELICIOUS. Oh my and the head of the household, Sister Karony, announced for everyone to hear that I have some kind of funny dance I do (to not be named) that Jamie and Chris told her about over facebook or the phone or something....oh my. So embarrassing. In front of 8 missinoaries and 10 other members. So funnny:). I loooovvvve my family:). My cheeks blushed...which is pretty rare.
I followed President Monson's charge to take a blessing inventory of my life. I divided it up into the last week, month, and year. Oh my. Soo many. Tooo many!:) Most of them are spiritual...like 90 percent are just thigs I've learned and precious revelation I've received. This week we taught this lady Dang about praying and asking questions. She's believed in Heavenly Father for a long time, but she didn't know she could get answers to her prayers and actually communicate with Him. Oh my the Spirit was so strong when we taught her how to pray, to talk to Heavenly Father naturally and intently and ask questions such as, Is this message true? We promised her he would answer through feelings of peace and confidence in her heart. "Really? I thought I had to wait until the last judgment day to know which church was really the true one," she said:). Nope!!!! Isn't it such a blessing that the heavens are OPEN and that we can communicate with Heavenly Father?! Yes it is. I"m so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who wants us to KNOW and not be lost in the darkness of our own minds or thoughts or misunderstandings. We are so blessed.
We are teaching a very old, hilarious women named Runjit and I love her soooo much. She's old but so FILLED with faith and excited to get baptized and I can't wait for her to feel so clean and fresh and pure and free from all her sins. She loves the prophet. I think she actually has a crush on some of them, after showing her the line of Joseph Smith to Thomas S Monson. She prayed about them and asked that she have dreams about them, too:). So cute. She made everyone in the branch laugh yesterday. They invited her to attend the baptism of another investigator and she said, as she was nonchalantly walking out of the church after 4 great but long hours, "No need. I'll see my own on Friday!" Haha so funny.
No Christmas here:). As far as commerciality goes...Christian churches each have activities and stuff like that. Weather - on the daily it's still sunny hot and tropical:). But that's okay. Mormon Tabernacle sings me Christmas Chorals when I put on my mascara every day:).
Okay i love you all so dearly!
Sister Roper
Being a missionary is like being a punch bowl. Or a mom.
Being a missionary is like being a punch bowl. Or a mom.
I think being a missionary is kind of being like a mom: you are only one person, but still tons of people depend on you, need you, rely on you. You carry lots of people's burdens with them, even if they don't mean for it to be that way. Sometimes I feel like my subconscious is telling the world, "I dare you to try to have a trial without me carrying it right along with you." It's great. It also makes you realize how merciful and powerful and wonderful the Savior is, that He was able to carry so many peoples' trials, everyone's actually. You get to see the Atonement working in so many peoples' lives and in so many different ways. It's such a blessing and such a pleasure.
Yesterday I got to see the Atonement working from two different directions: a mother who was sorrowing because of her 15-year-old daughter and some serious mistakes she's made recently, and then the daughter. I saw Blum during church and she was about to cry so i went and asked her what was wrong and she said she felt guilty for something. I told her to not tell me what it was but that we could talk about how to make it better...because the solution is the same for anything that's wrong:). We went outside and sat on the curb so no one would see her tears and we talked about the five steps of repentance: accepting the sin, feeling guilty, confessing with God/priesthood leaders if necessary, resolving the sin and results of it, and forsaking it. She listened so close and felt so relieved that feeling guilty was a good thing....that it was a necessary part of repenting and getting better. Interesting...but sooo true. I love guilt...:) at least what can happen afterwards. Anyway,
I hugged her and promised her the Atonement was real and repentance would wash it all away. I am so grateful that is the truth!
Fast forward to after church. The mom was heartbroken. She was standing by herself and seemed like she needed a hug or something. So i went and put my arms around her and she just started sobbing. And I loved her and told her she was a wonderful mom and that the Savior was REAL and would forgive and take away the sins and pains of all of us. And she kept crying and hugged me so tight. It was so sweet. And I felt so happy and grateful for the Atonement that I know is true because I have experienced it.
It was great. I loved it and being like a middleman for people and the Savior. I want my whole life to be like that. I want to do at least one thing every day to help at least one person strengthen their faith in the Savior.
More good news. Remember when we got lost on our bikes for three hours but found Tuy, that man who was so ready for the gospel? Well he and his girlfriend got married a few weeks ago (big deal here because she hasn’t yet graduated from college) so they could keep the Law of Chastity. And they kept reading and keeping the commandments and changing their lives and then....they got baptized on Friday! It was so awesome. I've never seen that before, a husband and wife getting baptized together. It's AMAZING how powerful it is. They help each other and strengthen each other. It's a built in support system. NO wonder Heavenly Father sent us to earth in families. Last night we had dinner with them at a member's house and they already have a goal to go to the temple and Tuy has a goal to get the priesthood in March. So happy. And I was talking to Nan, Tuy's wife, about how at first she wanted nothing to do with the church...like not even two months ago....but that how she changed so quickly.
And I said why do you think that is? why the sudden change? and she said because you missionaries told me to read the Book of Mormon:).
Couldn’t have said it better myself:). The Book of Mormon and the Spirit ARE the best tools in missionary work. And in life in general.
Jordy said there'd be lots of miracles at the end of my mission...like blessings coming that had been stored up...and I think he's right. I feel so blessed. I have front row tickets to the best show in the world: seeing people come unto Christ and change their lives and find REAL and LASTING happiness.
It's the best. Okay I love you all!!!
I think being a missionary is kind of being like a mom: you are only one person, but still tons of people depend on you, need you, rely on you. You carry lots of people's burdens with them, even if they don't mean for it to be that way. Sometimes I feel like my subconscious is telling the world, "I dare you to try to have a trial without me carrying it right along with you." It's great. It also makes you realize how merciful and powerful and wonderful the Savior is, that He was able to carry so many peoples' trials, everyone's actually. You get to see the Atonement working in so many peoples' lives and in so many different ways. It's such a blessing and such a pleasure.
Yesterday I got to see the Atonement working from two different directions: a mother who was sorrowing because of her 15-year-old daughter and some serious mistakes she's made recently, and then the daughter. I saw Blum during church and she was about to cry so i went and asked her what was wrong and she said she felt guilty for something. I told her to not tell me what it was but that we could talk about how to make it better...because the solution is the same for anything that's wrong:). We went outside and sat on the curb so no one would see her tears and we talked about the five steps of repentance: accepting the sin, feeling guilty, confessing with God/priesthood leaders if necessary, resolving the sin and results of it, and forsaking it. She listened so close and felt so relieved that feeling guilty was a good thing....that it was a necessary part of repenting and getting better. Interesting...but sooo true. I love guilt...:) at least what can happen afterwards. Anyway,
I hugged her and promised her the Atonement was real and repentance would wash it all away. I am so grateful that is the truth!
Fast forward to after church. The mom was heartbroken. She was standing by herself and seemed like she needed a hug or something. So i went and put my arms around her and she just started sobbing. And I loved her and told her she was a wonderful mom and that the Savior was REAL and would forgive and take away the sins and pains of all of us. And she kept crying and hugged me so tight. It was so sweet. And I felt so happy and grateful for the Atonement that I know is true because I have experienced it.
It was great. I loved it and being like a middleman for people and the Savior. I want my whole life to be like that. I want to do at least one thing every day to help at least one person strengthen their faith in the Savior.
More good news. Remember when we got lost on our bikes for three hours but found Tuy, that man who was so ready for the gospel? Well he and his girlfriend got married a few weeks ago (big deal here because she hasn’t yet graduated from college) so they could keep the Law of Chastity. And they kept reading and keeping the commandments and changing their lives and then....they got baptized on Friday! It was so awesome. I've never seen that before, a husband and wife getting baptized together. It's AMAZING how powerful it is. They help each other and strengthen each other. It's a built in support system. NO wonder Heavenly Father sent us to earth in families. Last night we had dinner with them at a member's house and they already have a goal to go to the temple and Tuy has a goal to get the priesthood in March. So happy. And I was talking to Nan, Tuy's wife, about how at first she wanted nothing to do with the church...like not even two months ago....but that how she changed so quickly.
And I said why do you think that is? why the sudden change? and she said because you missionaries told me to read the Book of Mormon:).
Couldn’t have said it better myself:). The Book of Mormon and the Spirit ARE the best tools in missionary work. And in life in general.
Jordy said there'd be lots of miracles at the end of my mission...like blessings coming that had been stored up...and I think he's right. I feel so blessed. I have front row tickets to the best show in the world: seeing people come unto Christ and change their lives and find REAL and LASTING happiness.
It's the best. Okay I love you all!!!
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
This week Tangled is coming to Thailand:)
 | ||||
Look up Looy Gratong on google. It's real!!!
Great news in life every day:):
Thanksgiving was wonderful for all of you I hope. It was fun for us! We ate with some Americans and it was DELICIOUS. Oh my and the head of the household, Sister Karony, announced for everyone to hear that I have some kind of funny dance I do (to not be named) that Jamie and Chris told her about over facebook or the phone or something....oh my. So embarrassing. In front of 8 missinoaries and 10 other members. So funnny:). I loooovvvve my family:). My cheeks blushed...which is pretty rare.
I followed President Monson's charge to take a blessing inventory of my life. I divided it up into the last week, month, and year. Oh my. Soo many. Tooo many!:) Most of them are spiritual...like 90 percent are just thigs I've learned and precious revelation I've received. This week we taught this lady Dang about praying and asking questions. She's believed in Heavenly Father for a long time, but she didn't know she could get answers to her prayers and actually communicate with Him. Oh my the Spirit was so strong when we taught her how to pray, to talk to Heavenly Father naturally and intently and ask questions such as, Is this message true? We promised her he would answer through feelings of peace and confidence in her heart. "Really? I thought I had to wait until the last judgment day to know which church was really the true one," she said:). Nope!!!! Isn't it such a blessing that the heavens are OPEN and that we can communicate with Heavenly Father?! Yes it is. I"m so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who wants us to KNOW and not be lost in the darkness of our own minds or thoughts or misunderstandings. We are so blessed.
We are teaching a very old, hilarious women named Runjit and I love her soooo much. She's old but so FILLED with faith and excited to get baptized and I can't wait for her to feel so clean and fresh and pure and free from all her sins. She loves the prophet. I think she actually has a crush on some of them, after showing her the line of Joseph Smith to Thomas S Monson. She prayed about them and asked that she have dreams about them, too:). So cute. She made everyone in the branch laugh yesterday. They invited her to attend the baptism of another investigator and she said, as she was nonchalantly walking out of the church after 4 great but long hours, "No need. I'll see my own on Friday!" Haha so funny.
No Christmas here:). As far as commerciality goes...Christian churches each have activities and stuff like that. Weather - on the daily it's still sunny hot and tropical:). But that's okay. Mormon Tabernacle sings me Christmas Chorals when I put on my mascara every day:).
Okay i love you all so dearly!
Sister Roper
Monday, November 19, 2012
I am thankful for my family.
Happy Thanksgiving! Don't forget to make a list of all the wonderful beautiful blessings of love we get every day. Make the choice to be grateful and give all the credit to Heavenly Father.
I am thankful for this scripture: "Blessed be the name of our God; let us sing to his praise, yea, let us give thanks to his holy name, for he doth work righteousness forever." (Alma 26:8)
I am thankful for MISSION TOUR last week. President and Sister Senior and Elder Watson of the 70 came. Amazing. And it was on my favorite subject on the planet.....universe, really....can you guess?....ready????...... The Book of Mormon:):):):) So of course I was obsessed.
I am thankful for the Book of Mormon and the tool that it is to change lives. And to change hearts. And to give courage. And to give understanding for the purpose of this life. And to give strength to keep commandments and be obedient and good people and Christlike. And to use the Atonement. And to prove that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that this Church is restored and is the only true church on the earth. All in 570 something pages. Every single page of which I love.
And am thankful for:
I am thankful that this investigator old man Ubajid has had so many deep doctrinal questions for the last two months and we would answer them and he wouldn't seem satisfied and so he'd read about the gospel principles on good Church resources but still be confused. Why? Because he wasn't reading the Book of Mormon, which we finally realized must be the reason he wasn't progressing. So we committed him to put down all the little pamphlets about the Restoration, Plan of Salvation, Gospel, various commandments, etc, and start WITH THE FOUNDATION!!! So simple. And so clear. And he did:). And now he is happy. And progressing. And his testimony is clearly growing and his pryers are sincere and he learns with his heart now instead of his smart old brain.
I am grateful for candy corn. Can you please save me two bags? Please please please for real.
I am thankful that there are two American families in Chiang Mai that are feeding us on Thursday:).
I am grateful for temple marriage and that all my siblings have done that....or are just about to.
I am thankful that Jamie and Shan and Beth and Mom can all sing and read music. Will you please sing "Olive Tree" at my homecoming? :) I can't wait to sit and listen to you four and your beautiful voices.
I am thankful that we got to take one hour and talk to people at a public park. We were so nervous before to "street contact." We felt bare and nervous before! Haha imagine that! I've been here for a year now and was still nervous!!! But the adversary was trying to dissuade us from going. It was a good fight, but he lost. Poor guy. We jumped right in there and stopped people on their runs or on their dates lol or whatever. Sooooo OOOOO FUN so fresh so real so refreshing. such PURE missionary work. Just me and the tag and the Book of Mormon. We found four people who wanted a Book of Mormon and to learn more about the restored gospel. And we felt the Spirit so strong all 60 minutes.
I'm thankful I get to wear this little black tag.
I'm thankful I came on a mission. I'm thankful I’m still on a mission.
I"m thankful that Brother Bank, a recent convert, sang "Called to Serve" in his falsetto....because he was trying to match the voices of us, three women. It was hilarious. I couldn't take it.. It reminded me of my second transfer when Sister Itow and I would make it through like two lines of a hymn (before teaching a lesson to an investigator) and just bust up laughing for no known reason.
I am thankful for the chance to email today. And that I have such an incredible support system. I love you all so very very much.
Love,
Sister Roper
Happy Thanksgiving! Don't forget to make a list of all the wonderful beautiful blessings of love we get every day. Make the choice to be grateful and give all the credit to Heavenly Father.
I am thankful for this scripture: "Blessed be the name of our God; let us sing to his praise, yea, let us give thanks to his holy name, for he doth work righteousness forever." (Alma 26:8)
I am thankful for MISSION TOUR last week. President and Sister Senior and Elder Watson of the 70 came. Amazing. And it was on my favorite subject on the planet.....universe, really....can you guess?....ready????...... The Book of Mormon:):):):) So of course I was obsessed.
I am thankful for the Book of Mormon and the tool that it is to change lives. And to change hearts. And to give courage. And to give understanding for the purpose of this life. And to give strength to keep commandments and be obedient and good people and Christlike. And to use the Atonement. And to prove that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that this Church is restored and is the only true church on the earth. All in 570 something pages. Every single page of which I love.
And am thankful for:
I am thankful that this investigator old man Ubajid has had so many deep doctrinal questions for the last two months and we would answer them and he wouldn't seem satisfied and so he'd read about the gospel principles on good Church resources but still be confused. Why? Because he wasn't reading the Book of Mormon, which we finally realized must be the reason he wasn't progressing. So we committed him to put down all the little pamphlets about the Restoration, Plan of Salvation, Gospel, various commandments, etc, and start WITH THE FOUNDATION!!! So simple. And so clear. And he did:). And now he is happy. And progressing. And his testimony is clearly growing and his pryers are sincere and he learns with his heart now instead of his smart old brain.
I am grateful for candy corn. Can you please save me two bags? Please please please for real.
I am thankful that there are two American families in Chiang Mai that are feeding us on Thursday:).
I am grateful for temple marriage and that all my siblings have done that....or are just about to.
I am thankful that Jamie and Shan and Beth and Mom can all sing and read music. Will you please sing "Olive Tree" at my homecoming? :) I can't wait to sit and listen to you four and your beautiful voices.
I am thankful that we got to take one hour and talk to people at a public park. We were so nervous before to "street contact." We felt bare and nervous before! Haha imagine that! I've been here for a year now and was still nervous!!! But the adversary was trying to dissuade us from going. It was a good fight, but he lost. Poor guy. We jumped right in there and stopped people on their runs or on their dates lol or whatever. Sooooo OOOOO FUN so fresh so real so refreshing. such PURE missionary work. Just me and the tag and the Book of Mormon. We found four people who wanted a Book of Mormon and to learn more about the restored gospel. And we felt the Spirit so strong all 60 minutes.
I'm thankful I get to wear this little black tag.
I'm thankful I came on a mission. I'm thankful I’m still on a mission.
I"m thankful that Brother Bank, a recent convert, sang "Called to Serve" in his falsetto....because he was trying to match the voices of us, three women. It was hilarious. I couldn't take it.. It reminded me of my second transfer when Sister Itow and I would make it through like two lines of a hymn (before teaching a lesson to an investigator) and just bust up laughing for no known reason.
I am thankful for the chance to email today. And that I have such an incredible support system. I love you all so very very much.
Love,
Sister Roper
Children of life and love.
Good news. Woke up the first day of my last transfer....dreading it the night before....but guess what? Heavenly Father totally helped me and YOUR PRAYERS ARE WORKING!! Because guess what my reaction was to the thought of going home in six weeks? I smiled! I didn't even mean to.
This has been an interesting week. I've been racing racing racing going going going my whole mission. Some people say to sprint to the finish; I feel like I've always been sprinting, and I plan to continue to do so. But I'm realizing that there is a different way to sprint right now...
I'm sprinting to draw closer to Heavenly Father and the Savior. That's the biggest intent that is in my heart. And guess how that's going to happen?
I realized through prayer and revelation and a little friction in our companionship (though Sis Stolworthy and I love each other a lot), that I have been pushing too hard. And slowing down her development. And her language and teaching skills. And not meaning to. I'm just real real red. And she is real real white/blue. And so naturally I was just stumping her out a little....So my goal for this transfer is to be a greenie again! Crazy huh! I have a rule to not touch the phone! Ha ha so she can have that opportunity (she agrees with it, even though it is challenging for her). I feel so great...I have a hole in my tongue for how often I have to bite it. But she is in the lead! Each lesson, each idea. I make a few suggestions here and there but very little. Oh my! In just a few days she has blossomed! and been way mores stressed also ha ha but in a good, need-to-experience kind of way.
It's crazy that sprinting for me is forcing myself to walk behind someone else. It's a great lesson for me to learn.
Also, I love you all so very much and am looking forward to seeing and hugging and loving and talking with each of you. Thank you for your endless support and prayers.
The Book of Mormon is true! Open it today if you haven't already.
Sister Roper
Good news. Woke up the first day of my last transfer....dreading it the night before....but guess what? Heavenly Father totally helped me and YOUR PRAYERS ARE WORKING!! Because guess what my reaction was to the thought of going home in six weeks? I smiled! I didn't even mean to.
This has been an interesting week. I've been racing racing racing going going going my whole mission. Some people say to sprint to the finish; I feel like I've always been sprinting, and I plan to continue to do so. But I'm realizing that there is a different way to sprint right now...
I'm sprinting to draw closer to Heavenly Father and the Savior. That's the biggest intent that is in my heart. And guess how that's going to happen?
I realized through prayer and revelation and a little friction in our companionship (though Sis Stolworthy and I love each other a lot), that I have been pushing too hard. And slowing down her development. And her language and teaching skills. And not meaning to. I'm just real real red. And she is real real white/blue. And so naturally I was just stumping her out a little....So my goal for this transfer is to be a greenie again! Crazy huh! I have a rule to not touch the phone! Ha ha so she can have that opportunity (she agrees with it, even though it is challenging for her). I feel so great...I have a hole in my tongue for how often I have to bite it. But she is in the lead! Each lesson, each idea. I make a few suggestions here and there but very little. Oh my! In just a few days she has blossomed! and been way mores stressed also ha ha but in a good, need-to-experience kind of way.
It's crazy that sprinting for me is forcing myself to walk behind someone else. It's a great lesson for me to learn.
Also, I love you all so very much and am looking forward to seeing and hugging and loving and talking with each of you. Thank you for your endless support and prayers.
The Book of Mormon is true! Open it today if you haven't already.
Sister Roper
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Today I rode an elephant bare back.
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another toe. But mercifully, we survived the trek through the jungle
in safety:).
This week I saw some of the most beautiful things I've ever seen in my life:
1. A waterfall called Nam Tog Mee Waang. It was so pretty. I climbed
up it...well the side of it. And it was so pretty and I knew that God
was real:).
2. A little girl named Leah started reading her scriptures every
day:). She's from America and she's 11 and her dad works for the
American government at the embassy in Chiang Mai so we get a chance to
spend some time with them and try to positilvely influence the 5 kids.
We helped them unpack from moving last week...I've never seen so many
stuffed animals...probably 300 for reals. Anyway after two hours, it
looked great! And we had a few extra minutes so I thought, Yes! Let's
read the Book of Mormon together. So we did and it was so fun! And
she is so smart and understood Alma 24 so well and about burying swords. And she committed to reading the scriptures every day for 10
minutes before she gets to her other books. Then we met up on
Sunday...and she was already to Alma 29 in 3 days:). I loooved it. It
was real beauty.
3. We got lost for 3 hours on our bikes the first week I was here. We
were trying to find an investigator. But got lost instead. And when we
found her, she wasn't interested anyway....But on the way back we
randomly ran into the relief soceity president, SIster Wan. And she
took us to her favorite food cart...which was owned by a man who
needed the gospel and who is ready for it. And now Tui (the food stand
owner/new prepared investigator) cannot wait to take his girlfriend,
soon to be wife, to the temple next year. Totally worth getting lost
for three hours:). Heavenly Father works in mysterious ways.
4. Best for last. There are two wonderful women named Shuy Thi and Bo
whom I love with my whole heart. Shuy Thi is from Burma so she is
learning Thai and is so diligent and supports her mother and two
siblings by selling fake flowers at a market. Bo is 20 and left home
to come to Chiang Mai and "find herself"...and they both met the
gospel. Shuy Thi had been learning for a few weeks when I got moved
here and Bo got here shortly after I did.
Seeing the gospel change their lives was the most beautiful thing
ever. Shuy Thi has so many fears and anxieties about how to take care
of her family. Bo was lost and felt like her life had no purpose and
like she didn't belong anywhere. But once they learned about the
Atonement and repentance, that they could actually change and be
cleansed and forgiven, and that they have a strong, stable Person to
rely on (the Savior) their entire countenances changed. Bo went from
looking so sad and depressed, to laughing and smiling all the time,
playing with kids and spending lots of time in the Book of Mormon.
Shuy Thi came from lots and lots of tears and stress and questions, to
telling me that all we really have to do to get answers is pray and
read the BOok of Mormon.
The Atonement is so real! Bo and SHuy THi are entirely different
people than they were before they learned how to actually apply the
Atonement, or at least started learning. THey looked beautiful at
their baptism on Saturday...bright white holding red roses:). I'll try
to send a picture.
Heavenly Father gives us so many blessings and so many things to make
us happy. But I can't think of anything happier than knowing the
Savior and seeing the remarkable and lasting influence He has on
others. It is true true beauty.
I love you all.
Sister Roper
Short and Sweet
FAMILY AND FRIENDS,
Can I count it as my first broken bone? Hahahaha. It hurt. But I'm fine now. Can still ride a bike.
Chaing Mai is still amazing. I'm in love with being a missionary. I'm so grateful I have such a wonderful cause to devote all my time and energy and thought to. General Conference was wonderful. I'm so grateful that we have a living prophet who guides this earth. So grateful. I mostly got out of it to rid myself of bad habits and weaknesses and stay closer to the Spirit, not get distracted by unimportant or trivial details, and allow myself to be happy.
I love you all. Thank you for your support!!!
Love,
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More Catch up
-Family: Sister Stolworth discovered my "di" voice. She thinks it's hysterical. I'm still so embarrassed and insecure about it...but she requests it on the daily haha. Getting warmed up so I can still do it when I get home! Haha
Uhmmm......this week was great...so many miracles every day i like don't even know what to write about anymore....so maybe I"ll just send pictures....
Simple missionary story tht could happen to any one of us:
We were passing out fliers for English Class at this big sweet outdoor market. ANd I was really smiley and nice and friendly and people always stare at me anyway because i'm white and blonde and then once they figure out i can speak thai it's like i jumped from mars to earth or something....anyway...i started talking to a nice stranger and come to find out he was ready for the gospel! So great. i got so excited and filled with happiness and gratitude that i was right there at that second. ANd had just finished a waffle because if i hadn't finished it yet i woulda been to caught up in the waffle and not in the soul of the man....anyway we talked for a few minutes and i told him about my favorite thing...the BOok of Mormon...and he said he wanted one (whcih of course is like the best gift anyone coudl give...the desire to get a Book of Mormon). So we totally and inconveniently walked through the herd of hundreds of people across the busy street through more herds and crowds and noodle stands and fried rice stands and fruit stands and homemade scarves stands to get to ....our bikes so i could get him a Book of Mormon i'd randomly decided to store in my basket since that morning. He said he was so grateful and I was too! He's not from chiang mai so i will never see him again probably. But i'm so glad that i could have been there when he got the most precious tangible gift he will ever receive.
Great!
I love you all!
Sister Roper
Catch Up
Nottt kidding. Totally expected to spend the next three months in Bangkok. But this last week I was pleasantly surprised to called to serve in Chiang Mai!!!!! (pronounced kinda like shang my).Lauren I hope you're freaking out:). Heaven is smiling on me. In huge amounts, seriously. I hfeel so incredibly blessed for many reasons:
-New beautiful neice! Welcome to the world Avery Jane!!!
-HAPPY BIRTHDAY JED!!!
-Got word the Ney's baptism went smoothly and that the Spirit was strong;)
-I get to leave busy stinky wonderful but stinky Bangkok and serve in the most beautiful place I've ever seen. SEriously. ANd there's a mountain! It's so green and beautiful and dreamy. ANd this little city is soooo charming and cute and colorful and fillllllled with brick streets and cool touristy places and fruit and delicious food and fun and heavenly weather....sooo cool and just not as humid and oh my. It's a pleasure even to get lost around here. For real.
-I'm living in a house with four sisters! It's sooooo fun. There are four missionary companionships here (two elders and two sisters) because there is o much work to do.
-I'm in a really well-functioning branch of the Church. THe members are loving and strong and willing to help and the leaders understand their roles and responsibilities. It's just such a pleasure.
-My FIRST area with an investigator pool. Usually I get the broken ones or zero ones that gotta get built up. BUt it's sooooo great to work with people who are already progressing. And reading their scriptures and praying and having spiritual experiences and loving coming to church:). Bahhhh!!!! MIssionary work is sooooooo fun.
-I LOVE my companion. Sister Stolworthy.
-My mission has gotten to be so fun because Heavenly Father is really teaching me how to gve it all to Him. Work my hardest for sure, but then give it to him. LIke President Monson said, "Do your duty at it's best; leave to the Lord all the rest." Wonderful news:)
-FAMILY AND FRIENDS! I AM SO HAPPY! And oh so very blessed. We are so blessed to have the gospel. It's true! live it and love it!
SIster ROper
Monday, October 15, 2012
Bre has a twin
Heaven on Earth
We took a vehicle up the mountains of Chiang Mai, called Doi Sutep. Oh my heavens it was heaven. Literally. We dressed up in outfits customary for mountain dwellers, called chaaw khaw, and took tons of pictures with beauiful trees ad flowers and heavenly wonder. I LOVE CHiang Mai! And I LOVE the three sisters I'm serving with. I seriously have never been so happy on my mission, which i think means in my life, too:). Crazy. Every morning I wake up and am a little scared to oen my eyes....and then once I do, i just get this wave of relief and gratitude that I"m still here, a missionary, in my beloved Thailand.
Wonderful news, family and friends. Your beloved SIster ROper.....ready?......ready?......CRIED yesterday!!! I'm so happy! FOr some reason my tear ducts have dried up on my mission, which makes me so sad because sometimes I feel like crying but I can't so i feel insensitive and emotionless. Two companions now have asked me, "Do you even have emotions?" Oh my. Yes. So i started praying for the ability to cry. And it came! (Well....tears didn't fall...I think they're like paranoid of making contact with my face skin or somthing.....but my eyes got all up and filled with 'em and my voice got a little chokey:)). THis is why:
We had an American visitor come to church yesterday, and she wanted to bear her testimony during church so i translated it for her. And her words were beautiful in and of themselves....and then translating into Thai to help these people that I love so dearly to know the sweet meaning of this sweet sister....anyway she was talkinga bout how her ancestors were pioneers and the different hardships they faced. Her great grandmother took herself and seven children by herself across the plains after her husband was killed in Nauvoo....and things like that. And then she went on to express how all the members here are like the pioneers for Thailand...first and a few second generation members. Setting the stage for hundreds of thousands of their descendants to grow in the gospel and build the Lord's kingdom. Oh my it was so touching. Anyway i was so grateful to be there and to feel like a played a little part in it.
And now babies can go on mission!!!! Woot! Yay for revelation. I hope the rest of General COnference was just as exciting:).
AlsoI love the investigators we are working with. Suni (an older woman whom I"ve never personally taught before) came up to me on Tuesday and said that her husband had told her how to pray and given her a Book of Mormon that we'd given to him (to share). SHe said since she learned, she tried it (prayer) and loved it. She said she's searched and studied lots of things in her life but she still has so many questions and even confusion. But this was the first, compelling, and influential thing that she's come across...it has results she said:). Yep. It does! I couldn't wait to teach her and invite her to be baptized and continue learning and feeling the influence of the Savior in her life. She totally made my day. And I didn't even do anything for her!!!! I love that. I love seeing Heavnely Father's hand in HIs children's life, even when we have very little to do with it.
He is so involved, in every little detail. He is, I know it.
Okay I love you all dearly. THank you for your support and love and prayers. Have a wonderful week!!!
Sister Roper
Monday, October 8, 2012
Always room for seconds....even on bike crashes
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But it's okay....i only have one cut and five bruises. And I still think strate and can spel werds rite.
Sooooooooo for the real experience of the week:::
So we try to meet with Ney for two weeks. Can you believe it? Two weeks and sooo much stuff came up. Like her schooling, or testing, or her mom wasnt' home, or we got out of another appt late, or someone was sick ...or there was a tornado in Thailand randomly (....just kidding that didn't happen. Just monsoons like you've never seen). And I KNEW with my whole soul that it was totally Satan thinking he was the stuff. Trying to get in the way. But whatever , I told him to get out of the way and give up....eventually he did:). The night we finally got to get over to Ney's house...oh my, like as soon as we parked our bikes and walked in...the Spirit was so strong I felt like my heart was gonna pop out of my chest. Like it was hard to swallow. It was sooo cool. I just knew tonight was the night. Anyway. Ney's mom is ironing. And I've been looking for opportunities to serve so I asked to iron a shirt for her and she laughed and was surprised I knew how (I didn't tell her I stunk at it.....I guess she found out about that eventually anyway)...so that was cool. THen we sat down, sang and prayed. And then we just started talking about baptism and testimony in the Savior and the important of getting baptized by God's true authority that is on the earth again for the first time since Christ was here and how that is the only way we can return to Heavenly Father and Ney will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and get baptized on September 30? And she said yes....but points over to her mom...who's fixing the shirt I just ironed (lol)...and she looks up and smiles at us and looks down again...and I'm like, "Ning, we've prayed and feel strongly that Ney is ready. Will you allow her to be baptized?"
She puts the iron down, picks up and examines the shirts to make sure if there were nor more wrinkles..And i'm like over there sweatin...everyone's waiting for the answer.....
Puts the shirt down so she can see our faces.
Throws her arms in the air and says, "OKAY!!"
Hahaha. awesome huh.
Ney's like, "Whaaatttt? really?" And shrieks with joy. It was so awesome.
Basically Heavenly Father is just so much in control. We have no idea of HIs timing or HIs plans sometimes, but we CAN be sure the He knows all things and all things will always work out according to His timing. I love being here for Him:). Oh my EVERY minute is so precious these days. Seriously I can't describe it any other way.
Love,
Sister Roper who loves alll of you.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
I can't think of a subject line
Wonderful week as usual. I LOVE my companion. She's so sassy and sarcastic and sweet and funny. And so nice to me. She
tells me all the time that she has learned so much while we've been together, for which I am soooo grateful. Sometimes I think
part of the purpose of being a missionary is to help our companions and to learn from them as well.
Well so we've been working and sweating and working to reach our goals and give every day to the Lord. It's interesting (and the
best feeling ever) that sometimes when we don't reach our goals or when we fall short, we can still give our day to the Lord and
feel satisfied and like He accepts our offering as long as we did sincerely serve Him with all our hearts.
This week I learned again in my life how fun service is. Service outside of teaching the gospel, too. We've been praying for more opportunities to serve others this week, instead of just opportunities to teach. It's been so great. This week I felt sooo blessed every time there was a chance to help someone. I ironed a shirt at an investigator's house, swept a member's house (which was just one big room), and went through lots of hand-me-down clothes so we could give some away to a family in the ward. IT FELT LIKE EATING CANDY!!! Like so simple and so great and like immediate joy:).
Also, we've received commission to contact, visit and thank all the leaders in the ward (young mens, young womens, bishop....and everyone else). The mission president wants to help us establish the church in Thailand, not just find new members. It's been SUCH a pleasure. For example (Mom and Dad you will appreciate this, your daughter is totally taken care of), we met with Brother Eed and Sister Naa yesterday after church for literally 6 minutes. They've been serving in various callings for a long time. We just shared Mosiah 27:36-37:
"And thus they were instruments in the hands of God in bringing many to the knowledge of the truth, yea, to the knowledge of their Redeemer. And how blessed are they! For they did publish peace; they did publish good tidings of good; and they did declare unto the people that the Lord reigneth."
And we thanked them for their service and for being instruments in the Lord's hands. You know how sometimes we look at leaders and they just seem so strong, like they're already good, they don't need help. Or they probably already know how great they are and receive so many blessings...so we just kinda let them do their thing. Well yesterday I learned that a simple thank you from lowly..us...means something! They were so grateful and I felt the SPirit so strong and so much love for them. And after we closed with prayer and stood up to go, they hugged us ...which isn't very common in Thailand....and even hawmed our foreheads.
Hawming! หอมing is something i LOVE about Thai culture. Mothers and fathers don't kiss their children, they หอม them, which means they put their face up to their face and then breathe in....hmmmm it's hard to explain. When i first got hawmed the first time, i was like...whoa why is this old lady smelling my cheek. And Sister Itow was like, "You just got หอมed. that's a huge compliment." haha But now I love it:) it's so Thai and SO special. Such a compliment.
Moral of the story/commitment for the week:
Think of your leaders in your life, ward, home, wherever....and sincerely, meaningfully thank them for their service. I promise it will mean something to them:).
I love you all.
Sister Roper
Sister Roper
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