Another week to remember. Full of lots of smiles and lots of tears. It started pretty amazing with another Apostle coming to talk to us. Elder Soares came and talked about how to have a successful and happy mission. It was really powerful. Another sick missionary and I almost didn't go to the devotional because we were trying to rest. But some elders in our zone emailed us telling us it was an Apostle. So we ran over and made it just in time. Elder Soares is a new Apostle. In my mind the twelve Apostles are the ones I have grown up with. I accepted Elder Soares as an apostle but still didn't value him and his teachings like the other Apostles. But, as I sat at the devotional we started by singing some prelude hymns. I wasn't singing because my head was hurting, but the last song was Nearer My God to Thee. I love this song so I decided to sing along, then at the climax of the song Elder Soares walked in and we all stood. I cried as I sang the rest of that song. I know the Spirit testified to me that Elder Soares is an Apostle of God and has all of the same power and authority as all the other Apostles. So that was a really cool experience. The next day I went to my concussion place and the Doctor told me I needed to stay for a week or two. My follow up is tomorrow, so hopefully they will give me the thumbs up to go to Thailand. I am feeling a lot better and I am SO GRATEFUL for all of your prayers!!
The next day was pretty rough. We had one of the new Hmong elders go home. It was so confusing to all of us. He is a new convert and has this amazing testimony. And it was all so sudden. I had been resting in my room and my companion walked in and told me he was leaving. I got out and our whole zone walked with him to the building where he got picked up. He hugged all of us like 5 times. Lots of tears from everyone. But that Friday was even worse. One of the Vietnamese elders went home too. He had literally made it the 9 weeks. He was everyone's favorite and had a great testimony. He had done competition shooting and we would have a duel every night with these little nerf guns. He had to go home because of anxiety. It was so sad. Our whole zone went with him as well to see him off. That was really sad. Then everyone else started packing to go to there respective countries and I just kind of watched. It was a mix of excitement and "Oh dang it I still have two weeks here". They all left Monday morning at 3:30am. We all went to the building where the bus would pick them up and we all said our goodbyes.
So, they left and I am now in a trio with the only two other Thai elders. Then there are like 10 Khmer elders and the Hmong district. They are good missionaries. I love my two Companions. There names are Elder Burgess and Elder Lemone. Going to class is kind of weird but is actually pretty fun. I love all the teachers and everyone in my district. I got to be with them for a TRC and listen as they struggled their way through the lesson with someone me and my companion taught 7 weeks ago. It was so fun because this time I could understand a lot more of what he said back to us. And I could explain it to my two companions after. His name is Brother Brown. He has come to TRCs every Monday for the past 3 years to listen to missionaries struggle to say anything in Thai. When me and my comp taught him 7 weeks ago we struggled a bit and he told us to have confidence. At the end of the lesson yesterday I was able to bare my testimony about following the prophet and the blessings that come to us and our families as we do so. It was really fun for Brother Brown and me because of the obvious growth that had taken place in my Thai and ability to invite the Spirit in Thai.
ผมรักพวกคุณ! The Gospel is true! God loves His Children! I love you all!
Elder Shill
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