Tessa in Thailand

July 22, 2015

7/20/15 - Glimpse of Heaven

This week I spent LOTS of my time traveling!! We spent 4 days traveling to Bangkok and then around the Esan doing MLC and trainings! I learned SO much but boy am I exhausted! (I guess that is what happens when you get 1 hour of sleep on the night trains and buses!) BUT the things that I learned and was able to share from MLC were definitely worth it! We also spent a lot of time traveling around Ubon on our bikes- trying to find members’ and investigators’ homes. It resulted in us getting lost and inviting in a lot of weird places!! (See pictures below!) Through all the sweat and getting stuck in the down pour of rain storms, I love missionary work!

This week I had many special experiences but there were 2 in particular that honestly felt like a glimpse of heaven!

#1. Monday night for FHE we were heading to Brother Banhaas house. We were riding our bikes down the dirt path with chickens running all around us. Everyone in the little village was trying to save their homes from the rain/flood that just happened. When we finally made it to their house, we saw the adults helping each other and the children singing primary hymns. I sat there on my bike with tears streaming down my face in amazement at what was happening before my eyes. The scripture in 3rd Nephi 12:15 kept coming into my heart, "Behold, do men light a candle and put it under a bushel? Nay, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light to all that are in the house." This family was literally a light set on a hill. Their house was half on a hill and half hanging over a river. In the hardest of times they were trying to help others and lift others and through it all they couldn't have been happier!! It was truly a glimpse of heaven!

#2. We had a baptism this week! Here's a little background on this baptism--Elder Bunme from America who is currently serving in Bangkok had a bunch of relatives that live here in Thailand. About 5 months ago his Aunt, Sister Nok, got baptized. This past week his grandpa, the one we have been teaching and Sister Nok's dad, got baptized! Elder Bunme got to come up to Ubon to baptize him! At this little baptism service we had Elder Bunme, Sister Nok, grandpa, grandma and their son (who we are currently teaching) all together on the front row . THEN they starting singing "Families Can Be Together Forever" and my heart was about to burst! My joy was FULL!! To see this family come together in the gospel will always be a sacred and unforgettable memory to me.

I have been blessed to be able to have so many glimpses of heaven here on my mission. These are the moments that keep me going through the hard times. What a glorious day it will be when I get to see heaven as a whole and be able to embrace my Savior. This is how I picture it, "We saw the Lord standing upon the breastwork of the pulpit, before us; and under his feet was a paved work of pure gold, in color like amber. His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying: I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father." D&C 110:2-4

LOVE you all!!! Have a great week!!!

Love, Sister Herrmann

PS Have fun at the Bennett Family Reunion! I will really miss all of you!!!

I’m getting eaten alive by mosquitos again!

I’m learning to not get offended. I think the times when I do get offended is when I don't like a quality in myself (like impatience or lack of charity) and I want to change and then others see it too. It kills me!! And some of the things that I want to change about myself are happening sooo slowly--but that is what life is all about right??

Recently I have had a lot of conversations about creepy ghost stories--Thai people have so many freaky weird ghost stories they want to share. So I have been waking up in the middle of the night. I am learning how to face that fear with faith, trying to control my thoughts.

Brother Ganhaas family!

SO I was about to walk accross the bridge to get the house and invite a lady there. I started going and heard them yell out to me " STOPPPPPP"! They said over and over the path is broken and you will die if you go. It took me 3 times to understand so I was awkwardly inviting accross this big gap of space just yelling to her "WANT TO LEARN ABOUT JESUS!?" hahah so awkward!

Inviting down a street while lost

Overnight train!

The Bunmi baptism

July 14, 2015

7/13/15 - Getting "Lost"

This past week has been amazing! So much has happened, I love the business of missionary work! On Monday we got "the call" that all 4 sisters were white washing out of Asoke! So we all spent the next 3 days packing, cleaning, updating area books, friendship books and saying goodbye to everyone! We got to help welcome the new greenies and I got the opportunity to talk to my Grandpa Herrmann over the phone which was great!

Thursday came quickly and I found out that I was going to UBON with my companion Sister Hassaya! I was ECSTATIC to be going to the ESAN! Ubon is about 1 hour from Sisaket, my first area, the area where I was born!! I have only been here 3 days and I already LOVE the ward and the area so much!!!! We are white washing the area again so it is fun to start fresh! In these past 4 days so many miracles have happened!

On the way to Ubon we were waiting at the train station when a monk walked up to us and started asking us about what we do and who we were. We explained about the gospel and then we gave him a Book of Mormon. At that moment I felt like I was doing my job, declaring repentance to EVERYONE!

We have this investigator who is the cutest 76 year old man I have ever seen! He is always cracking jokes and is just so happy!! He told us that when he heard about the strength he could receive from Jesus Christ and actually tried to use the atonement, he was able to stop smoking right away! His daughter is a member and his grandson is a missionary who is going to come and baptize him on Saturday!!!

One day we were riding our bikes to a member’s home who lived about an hour away. And of course, not knowing the area, we got lost. (I have learned that getting lost is not a real thing as a missionary because every time we "get lost" we see a miracle so it is more of tender mercy.) As we stopped outside this Wat (Buddhist temple) there were a bunch of little kids running around so I marched on over and pulled out the bubbles that my mom sent me and started playing with them! As I was playing with them my companion started talking to their mom. Come to find out, she has seen the missionaries a lot but never had the time to go talk to them or make it to the church!! We taught her a little and she told us she wants us to come back!! SO COOL!

On Saturday morning we were heading to a member’s house and we were planning on meeting her at the store. When we got to the store we were all sweaty and gross from the 30 minute bike ride in the BLAZING sun. We realized that neither of us had her number saved in our phone! We tried getting it but no one in the ward had it! Finally I decide to go through my phone and find her number from the time I called 2 days before. The only problem was that I had called over a 100 unsaved numbers that day! So I picked one, started calling and said a silent pray that it would be her. Right when I said Amen, I heard, "Sister!! Where are you?” IT WAS HER!! Honestly such a miracle! We also learned that in her 38 years of being a member she had never had someone visit her. She was so happy to have us over to the point that she was in tears. God is GOOD!!!

Last night I was talking to Sister Hayes in the house we share, and we were just crying happy tears because of our love for the gospel! I don't know what got into us but we were just rejoicing!! I love my God. I love my Savior. There is nothing I want more than to glorify his name!! "Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Every time I walk up and down the streets of Thailand and see Gods children, my brothers and sisters, I know what they need and I can give it to them!!! It is these moments when I want nothing more than their salvation!!! The other day I was walking down the street and saw this really old grandma. I looked at her and this amazing love came over me. I decided to go and sit down by her. I started to explain the gospel and her face just lit up! I could see the hope in her eyes! When I left I looked back and saw her staring at the pictures of HER savior. THAT is why I love being a missionary! There is nothing better than giving others the opportunity to know Jesus Christ, their Savior.

Next week I am leaving for MLC in Asoke due to STL duties from Tuesday to Thursday and then on Friday I get to go visit all our areas. I love serving!!! Talking about sacrifice this morning with my companion I realized once again, that being a missionary is not a sacrifice because I am changing and growing more than I am sacrificing.

Fun facts about this week: I am burnt to a crisp.

When I get back to the church everyone asks if I just took a shower because I am so sweaty my hair is wet!

It is rainy season so we have spent lots of time in the pouring rain! The only negative to rainy season is that the Thai people are scared of the rain and won't come to church if it is raining!

I LOVE walking out of my house and being surrounded by GREEN!

Love, Sister Herrmann

At transfer meeting

Two of my mission children. Sister Forte and Sister Morgan

Some MTC group friends

I love all the sister in the mission! BFFs for life!

Talking to my almost 90 year old grandpa and grandma Herrmann

The Monk and the Book of Mormon!

Me and my mission child matching

I felt like Harry Potter at the train station and the overnight train

I love how green it is here!

Playing bubbles with the children

The cute Grandma looking at Jesus Christ!

Riding to church in the rain! Thanks to my Maa in Bangkapi for the raincoat!

Thanks Mom for the brownies!

July 8, 2015

7/6/15 - Is this a dream?

I LIVE IN THAILAND! Even though I have lived here for almost a year I still wake up every morning and say to myself, "I get to live in Thailand…I speak Thai…I am preaching the Gospel…Is this a dream???" I love being a missionary in Thailand!

This week we invited at a lot of different parks and markets. As I walked down the streets inviting everyone to come unto Christ I was just in awe at how good God is. We went from the most beautiful parks in the world to the coolest ghetto markets ever and no matter where we were God had people prepared to hear the gospel!

This week we had a couple of setbacks with investigators who were not progressing. BUT when one door closes another door opens. After anxiously working our tails off and praying with faith we have 4 new investigators. All of these new investigators seem so so so sincere especially Brother Man. I invited Brother Man about 4 weeks ago but he wasn't really free to meet. He called us this week and told us that he has been thinking about changing religions for a while now. We met with him a couple times this week and in every lesson the spirit was just so strong!!! It is a miracle that we invited him!! Recently I have had a hard time NOT inviting. Hahah, as I walk past people I think, "This person could be the next relief society president" or "This person's life can be changed if she is invited!!" So now if I ever miss one person I feel so guilty!! I don't know if that is a bad thing or a good thing!

This week I have had so many great experiences that have lead me to a deeper understanding of the love of God! I want to testify that I KNOW God’s love is real!! I have felt it myself, but more than that I have felt his love for others! I feel it when I talk to the homeless mother sitting on the side of the road grasping her daughter to block out the noise. I feel it for the little fragile grandma who lives in a little dirt shack who smiles from ear to ear because we came to share a thought with he. I feel it for the boy who is mentally disabled and just starts to glow when we walk in the room. I feel it for my investigator who just lost his whole family and is coping with hope. I even feel it for the people who reject me time and time again. I know that God loves every single one of his children. I don't just know but I have felt it too!! I am so grateful that God has let me feel a little of his love for his children.

"No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us."

This past week President and Sister Senior left the mission. I was present when both the “Presidents” were together for a couple hours. It was amazing, you could feel the keys being handed over. It strengthened my testimony of the priesthood power. So cool! It was sad saying goodbye to the Seniors but I know that God has chosen President and Sister Johnson for this mission at this time! I already feel so close to them! They are the sweetest, kindest couple ever! I am so excited to work with them!!!

LOVE you all, have a great week!!
- Sister Herrmann