Transfer Season: Cold Season!!!

Before I start my email... I just want to give you all my new mission address!!! 
They are preparing the mission office for the groundbreaking of the temple early next year. Here it is:

72 Asoke Montri Road (Sukhumvit 21 Khwaeng Khlong Toei Nuea Khet Watthana Bangkok 10110 Thailand)   

So for your letters/packages, just send them there if you want to make a sister missionary smile! #birthdaytransfer #Christmas hahahaha because "donations are appreciated but REFERRALS are better"

anywho...

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Hello, Everyone!

Transfer season again and guess what? I'm staying in Sisaket! We are both staying so that's great coz I get to stay with the awesome Sister Shipp :)

The week was full of joy and service opportunities.

On our last pday, my companion and I didn't go with some missionaries to ride elephants because we were too tired to go so we just decided to stay home and relax. We needed it and I think that helped me a lot! hahaha! we just went to a member's house and she taught us how to cook sweet and sour vegetables. it was so good. It has cucumbers and pineapples and tomatoes so I can do it even back home. I'm so excited for that. 

We had Switch Offs with the Sister Training Leaders last Wednesday so it was all fun and also productive as we got to visit a lot of people too. That day, it was sad to drop one of our investigators. (dropping is when you stop teaching someone because they are not progressing) She used to go to church but never kept commitments. Last Sunday, we had to drop 2 of our daters too. Their date is really close but we had to drop them because they cant go to church anymore. They are two old women who tries to keep commitments but some of their neighbors are trying to threaten them if they keep coming to church. Their neighborhood is sort of a black Magic neighborhood and some people said they are going to kill them if they continue to meet with us. One of them cried because she wants to be baptized and come to church but so afraid that her family will be harmed. The members also asked us not to visit the neighborhood for it's kind of dangerous. So all of that was so sudden and weird. The members kept on saying that once investigators progress, the adversary will always work hard to keep them from walking on the right path. true though. 

But then again, miracles do happen as long as we seek for them. Last night was our Halloween party and we got to see some new people at church. I was so excited for the party because we invited a lot of people. Also, it was the end of the transfer so last chance to hit our goals! The people last night were awesome and we took the chance to talk with more people. At times, it can be tricky and scary but we found two prepared people and extended baptismal dates. They accepted! We knew for sure that there is Heavenly help right there. Miracles!

Yesterday, we also got to visit an old member. she's 102 years OLD!!! WOW. She is so skinny and small. We sang for her and she liked it. (I think she liked it lol) She reminds me of my grandmother who is now 93 years old. It made me miss her! tomorrow, we're going to her house again to help wash her and her room.

This week, we also did some gardening. Here in Thailand, it was my first time to use the heavy grasscutter and hoe and I think im pretty good at it. hello pa!!! We worked under the heat so double fun!

Cold Season is almost here! Christmas is almost here! AAAAAAAAAAAAH I love you all. Keep serving other people because if we serve them, we are also serving Him. I love my Heavenly Father and my Savior. This is what I've got for this week. message you all on Monday!

p.s. I can reply until 6pm

Love, 

Sister Gagarin

PHOTOS!

Grace of Christ

Indeed a crazy fast week and it's almost the end of the transfer! AAAAH so fast! 

This week was one of my best weeks so far! So many service opportunities, visited and shared with a ton of people, and learned a looooooooot! I feel like I hit this milestone in my 10 months of service as a full-time missionary (I just realized that!!!! Woah). This week, I learned a lot from all the experiences I've gained and from all the people I've met. I loved yesterday's Sacrament Meeting. Because I have felt how much Heavenly Father loves me so much. I was humbled by all my weaknesses and I felt grateful for my Father in Heaven. I'm grateful for His plan for me and for giving me someone who can help me feel loved and feel strengthened -Someone who understands me. I know that Christ is my Savior and that He loves me enough - to remind me that in life, there'll be failures, mistakes, times when I will not reach my weekly goals, and things will sometimes not go according to what we've planned. That it's okay, and that I am enough. Efforts were great. But also, I have learned and I know that He loves me enough. He loves me enough to not let me stay the same but to learn and improve: to prayerfully set goals, to make plans with faith. He loves me enough to help me be better than who I was yesterday because He believes in my divine potential. OUR divine potential. He's helping us reach the best version of ourselves and that's through the Grace of Christ. And that's a wonderful plan right there. As what Sister Kearon has said, He loves us in our beautiful messiness. All of these are possible as we follow the examples of our Savior and as we exert prayerful efforts each day. I know that if we willingly and faithfully take every step towards the Savior, He gladly and lovingly meets us more than halfway. I love Him so much! 

Ended the week and we reached our goal! Miracles. My companion is so awesome and I look forward to the weeks to come! 
So, for this email, I want to share about some things that help me in this journey!!! Like what we do every day to help us in our every day work. (That my help my friends too who are preparing for a mission)

1. STUDY!!!!!
Well, because my companion is in her 1st transfer, we have 3 hours of study!!!!!! Yay. I love studies. We have Personal, Language, and Companionship studies.
PERSONAL: 
I make sure to 
• Study About Christlike attributes for 5-10 minutes
• at least 1 general conference talk
• Book of Mormon/PMG
• Study for investigators
• And if I have extra time, I'll read from The new testament and more talks :)
LANGUAGE
• Read Thai Book of Mormon (almost done! Helps me a lot with my language!!!)
• Read church magazines in Thai ( because the language here is more conversational, it's usually where I get my 5 words a day)
• Listen to talks in Thai 
• Read the Thai Book of Mormon with my comp

COMPANION
• Sing in Thai 
• Read Missionary Handbook and Safeguards
• Recite stuff in Thai
• ROLEPLAYS
• And share what we've learned from our personal study
• Training

2. PRAY
• My prayers have changed and I try to really communicate with Heavenly Father. THis is what helped me tha most! 
• Pray as a companionship! Pray for the goalzzz
3. OPEN YOUR MOUTH
• The golden rule that's จำเป็น. Because nothing happens in missionary work unless you have someone to teach. Find someone to teach by opening your mouth. (That's me telling myself 555)
4. LOVE THE PEOPLE
• Serve your companions and the members and basically everyone. 
5. JOURNALSSSSS
• "We all have had experiences that promote and build faith. They should be remembered and passed down to future generation" Elder Maxwell so... #JournalsAreImportant I strive to write everyday! Right now, I'm on to my 4th Journal through the mission. Sometimes I study them and just laugh at myself. Just kidding.
6. WORK HARDER and SMARTER and be Exactly Obedient: I'm grateful for my companions because I've seen their example of obedience. They inspire me! 

I might have more but this is all for now. Maybe next time I'll email about... WHAT'S IN MY BAG? hahahaha I'm just kidding I love you all!

By the way, Our challenge for this week and for the rest of the year is Presdient Nelson's challenge which is to study and finish the Book of Mormon by the end of this year! I'm si excited for that. If you're not a member of the church, you can get yours for free here: mormon.org

Also, sad to say but we haven't found the ONE or หนึ่ง. He was just gone. And we cant find him. I pray for him and I know he'll come back in time and learn with missionaries again and eventually accept and live the gospel. 

I รัก you all

Sister Gagarin
ซิสเตอร์กาการิน

I dont have photos these week (yes kuya, wala hahaha) but here's noriii

WHAT'S UP

Have I told everyone how much I love Sisaket yet?

I LOVE SISAKET!!!!!

I have learned so much from this area: from my companions, the members, and from all the people that I meet each day. 

This เขต is สุดยอดมากๆๆๆ 🧡 something that I learned from the past week too is Working with Members. It helps the work move forward and helps people to #stay. :)

I know I haven't been emailing so much but here are some new stuff:

• LONG SKIRTS SEASON IS OVER!!! Aaaah! we've been wearing ankle-length skirts for almost 6 months so let's rejoice it's finally over.
• WE BOUGHT A FRYING PAN! WE CAN FINALLY COOK! Made Filipino food for my companion and she said it's good. I miss Adobo so I made it! Waaaah!
• GENERAL CONFERENCE. I am so thrilled for all the new revelations and changes. I feel so grateful for being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Learning from the Prophet and from the leaders of the church inspires me. So, I've prepared some "great questions of the soul" before the conference and all of it were answered! As I study more on the General Conference talks, I'll try to include it on my emails. :) I love how the themes emphasized ministering, shepherding :) and striving to be Ambassadors of Christ. All the talks are available at Lds.org <----

I haven't been so good at emailing lately. But starting next week, I'll be back at it! We'll probably go to a computer shop because writing my long emails just with my phone is kind of hard hehehehehe!

Before I end this, I just want to bear you my testimony ว่า I know that we are all children of God and that God has a plan for us. If we will open our hearts, we will be able to feel His love for us. The past week was amazing and testifies of how God loves His children so much and wants us to know what to do to go back and live with Him again. I testify that President Nelson is a true prophet of God. I invite you all to read General Conference talks, ponder about it and ask the Lord yourself if it is true. I KNOW that as we apply these things in our lives, we will be able to feel God's love and be more like Him each day.

I love you all and Have a great week ahead!


รักนะ
Sister Gagarin



Photos:

Went to Cambodia-Thailand Border this morning
Puppies 

Brownies from my Old area!

ISAN, THE CITY, AND SOME INSECTS

Such a busy week! 

Last Monday's pday was fun. We bought and painted some small sculptures and they all sit on my desk right now. That was relaxing! We mostly just stayed at home for pday. Cleaned the house and talked with each other. Hahahaha perfect pday for me. Also a #MiracleMonday because we found an investigator named Charita who asked where the church is. Sometimes, we meet these investigators who randomly come up to us and ask amazing questions. It is so true that we'll either find them or they'll find us! 

Like a lady who sells drinks in front of the school last week who asked about the Book of Mormon? We met with her last Wednesday! And guess what? She's read up to 4 Nephi!!! She is so awesome we had an appointment with her at her stand and she really loved reading the Book of Mormon said that she knows it's true. Awesome! 

On Wednesday night we had to go down to Bangkok so we took an 8hour bus ride! Just me and Sister Shipp. Differeny city. Different country! It amazes me how I understand people now. I can still remember earlier this year when my trainer and I went to Bangkok for my work permit! After about three signatures, we're on the way back to Siskaet via sleeping train. But before that, Sister Shipp and I tried to eat at this Hongkong Place. I attempted the Spring Rolls hoping it would taste like LUMPIA but it didn't! Hahaha nevertheless the Pork Bun tasted like SIOPAO so that was good. It was an 8hr sleeping train ride back to Sisaket. Went home then took a nap and then went back to work. Such a busy day still.

So I've been in the ISAN for about 7 months now. I cant speak much Isan but I think I understand more now. Last Friday, we visited an investigator who sells smoothies and taught the Plan of Salvation with her. She just really have problems personally also about prayer and the scriptures(commitments) but she's always been very kind to us and has been going to church this past month. One of her customers asked her about us. I kinda overheard it in Isan. The guy asked her if she is changing religions and she was defensive about it and said she isn't and that we're just visiting. Well, that made me really sad because after that conversation, she didn't want to speak with us anymore and ค่อยๆ made us leave in a nice way. I love her and I've always been praying for her. I know it's like nothing personal when people reject the gospel but it's still sad at times. She's amazing and I hope and pray that everything goes well for her. We were walking home and my companion asked me what just happened and so I told her. But the work continues, the search for the elect is still on and the faith to find shall not falter ;)

This week was about service too! We went to another town to help weed a member's yard and also fill a hole with logs for charcoal, I guess. I've seen it twice back home because my father made charcoal once in our farm(before). I was so tired because I used a hoe while working and I think I did a pretty great job weeding hahahahaha after that we spent time to pack everything in our and move to our new house which is way closer to the church. Also has kitchen so I'm so happy I'll be able to cook again!!!!!

Alsoooo Me and my companion chose to fast for this transfer and for Miracles yesterday and พอดีว่า when we went to Sacrament meeting this member asked us to sit with a referral! Miracles. Miracles. We met a not so old lady and went to her house yesterday too. 

I want to bear my testimony that there are miracles every single day - that God is a God of miracles and if we will open our hearts, we'll surely open the door where miracles are. Also, we can help others open the doors of miracles too! And that begins with Love. 

In Moroni Chapter 7 it says

48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

I know that Love in our hearts can do so many miracles! Let us pray for love every single day. 
I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ loves us so much. Heavenly Father sent His son because of His love for us. Jesus Christ sacrificed because of His love for us too. 

So my challenge for everyone this week is to think of someone you love- be it a family or a friend. Why do you love him/her? And we'll continue the challenge next week!


Love you all! 

Photos:

This week I Actually tried to eat an insect and some worms. Not so bad

BKK photos

Drinking BUKO without a straw 555

HALFWAY?!?!?!

Jasmine Sagun Gagarin <jasmine.gagarin@myldsmail.net>	Mon, Sep 24, 2018, 5:29 PM
to Julius, frence, Bee, Jes, ALEX, allynandherpassions, Genesis, Pau, Mary, Clifford, grace, ritzel, Catherine, Seatiel, Jean, Catherine, Jane, Diana, Justin, John, Abe, Edita, Abigaile, Joel, Rexie, Rexie, Melody, Renzel, Felix, kristine, rgf_136, เมธาวี, venus, Sofi, grant.omer27, Malia, Sabrina, Benjamin, Catherine, rizavicedo93, Anna, victoriasagun30, Rossini, Genesis, Andrea, Candy, josh.acne1, crisanto, Sarah, Ryan, Angelica

Hello, everyone!

I just cant believe September is almost over! Where did time go? Well, speaking of time, I'm already halfway through my mission. SO FAST!
The past 4 days were great too! I like training. It's challenging but so fun. I love my ลูก! She is so fire and I'm so excited for this transfer.

Honestly, I do feel that 24 hours is not enough for 1 day. We're back to 3 hours of studies and I make sure we have some time for finding people! And I love how we have been seeing miracles! Especially when finding.
The other day we were out walking to lunch, carrying our Book of Mormons, and someone asked what book it was and that she WANTS to read it. In my head, I'm like "well of course you can read it + internal crying hahaha" she's awesome and we're so excited to share more! :)
Sister Shipp is so awesome and is so willing to learn more! I also learned a lot from her these past few days!
At first, I felt like it was going to be stressful when I train. But honestly... yes it is. Hahahaha Just kidding! Training is fun and full of miracles. We are so blessed to be here in Sisaket.

Well, something that I learned these past few weeks is PATIENCE. Dealing with situations with HOPE and FAITH. I think that's really important whatever situation where in. I know that it is important to believe in Him and His timing because He knows what's best for us. I learned how to work with a positive attitude and it helped me overcome everyday challenges. So... my challenge for us is to be patient with ourselves and have more faith!

I love you all. Maybe we'll try emailing from the computer next week so I can write moreeeeee

Be In tuned

Hello, everyone! 

Time has been super fast and I can't believe that I'm now on to my 6th transfer! Yesterday was the first time that I felt a little sick ไม่สบาย - like all throughout the day I felt like throwing up and a little nauseous... and then at night I felt better. At around 9pm, President Hammond called and told me I'm gonna train a new missionary! And I felt sick again... Hahaha just kidding!

So that's really exciting! Also a little nervewracking so let's see... I'm gonna be a mom in the mission แล้ว yaaaaay #responsibilities 

One thing that I have learned from the past weeks is that we have to follow the safeguards in using our devices. We are a facebook-using mission and we have to be more careful on what we do online. As a servant and representative of the Lord, we should always strive to be in tuned with the spiritual promptings of the spirit :) 

SO my challenge for us is to always strive to be in tuned with the spirit! There are so many things online that may give us unclean thoughts... let us be more aware of our thoughts. 

My next Pday is in Monday นะ.
Also, my brother leaves for a mission too... this week!!!!!!!! I'm so ดีใจ and I'm gonna miss him so much!!!!

Love 
ซิสเตอร์กาการิน
Sister Gagarin

-BER months

สวัสดีค่ะ 🇹🇭

The past week has been soooo great! Unfortunately, we weren't able to find the one/หนึ่ง.... YET. So the search still continues. We were able to find out which town he's from plus his university though!

We had switchoffs Wednesday afternoon to Thursday morning. It was weird because I got to switch off with both Sister Training Leaders so that was awesome. ;) learned a ton on talking with everyone and finding people. I love finding! 
On Thursday, we went to a funeral of a member in Roi at. His name is พ่อ เขียว. At first I thought it's gonna be more of a Thai funeral but it's actually a Christian funeral... We sang hymns for him that day. 

Saturday: แพน's Baptism! She is so awesome! She is just 19 but she thinks and acts more mature than her age. She is a little shy(like me...) but she is so prepared! I am so happy that she finally entered the waters of baptism. In her testimony, she thanked everyone and shared about how baptism is the door and first step. And that she would do everything to keep the commandments. I like that. She has the mindset to do the Lord's will. 

But before the Baptism, we had to work so hard to fill the baptismal font  turns out that the elders didn't drain the font after their last baptism so it's kind of moldy and smells! Also, we didn't know how to drain it so we called the bishop. He kinda didn't know it too so we got some buckets to drain and get the water off the font. TURNS out that the bishop actually opened the water thing so we were working with the buckets while there's actually more water coming out from the faucet. Hahahaha after that the bishop found out how to work the drain and it drained in less than 10 minutes. That was a good core exercise Lol! 

This week was full of emotions too! You know when you want to help someone but they don't want to help themselves? It's hard and it's sad. But Also, I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for us - better than our plans. Every night, I pray for faith, love and strength... and then I came across this talk from Elder Uchtdorf and it says: 

"But no matter how much faith we have, there are two things faith cannot do. For one, it cannot violate another person’s agency.The second thing faith cannot do is force our will upon God. We cannot force God to comply with our desires—no matter how right we think we are or how sincerely we pray."

That's says a lot! Sometimes, faith has limits but we can always always always pray for faith and courage to act on that faith. Courage to help others to have more faith too! So my challenge for us this week is to pray for faith and courage/strength to act on that faith. I know that Heavenly Father will bless us as we do that. It has helped me so much.


I just hit my 6th month mark in country a few weeks ago btw. I almost forgot! When I talk with people here, I always say I only have a year left. Little did I know I only have 10 months! Way fasssssst


Alright. Bye everyone love y'all! Email me and I'll reply today. PASKO NA SA PINASSSSSSS

Love,
Sister Gagarin
ซิสเตอร์กาการิน

Photos:

Efforts to clean the font + puppies 

FIND THE ONE

สวัสดีค่ะ everyone!

This week was literally Finding the ONE!!! We had this amazing investigator/referral. His name is หนึ่ง which means 1/one. We met him last Tuesday. He has been looking for the church for 8 years now. He said he's always believed in Christ. And he is just amazing! We taught him about prayer and his first prayer was one of the best first prayers I have ever heard.
We made an appointment for the next day but he wasn't able to come. He went to the member's house but the member didn't call us Right away. So, there was no way to contact him right now because he has no phone. No contact number and apparently, he has no facebook. But he told us he'll find a way to call us.
We spent half of our Friday finding him at this university before he heads home to another town. But we didn't find him. BUT WE FOUND HIS BIKE. We just left a note on his bike and hopefully, he'll see it! He'll be back in the city on Tuesday so we'll go and find him again. Literally Finding the ONE! I know we'll find him or he'll find us again!!!!!! 

I believe in miracles. And I know that through faith, we'll be able to see miracles!!! So I'll update you next week. If I don't send an email, that means we didn't find him hahahaha just kidding!

This week, I've been posting about the Book of Mormon Everyday on facebook. (We've been told to post everyday) and I just chose to post about the Book of Mormon hehe.

So let me just share a scripture verse from the Book of Mormon about Miracles...

Mosiah 8:18 Thus God has provided a means that man, through faith, might work mighty miracles; therefore he becometh a great benefit to his fellow beings

What I love the most about the Book of Mormon is that it teaches us to have more faith. If we don't have faith, it teaches us to have faith. It teaches us to use our faith. I know that miracles never cease And I am so excited so see more miracles this week.

What's your miracle this week?


Love you all!

Sister Gagarin
ซิสเตอร์กาการิน

Photo: His bike

The Book is Blue 💙

สวัสดีค่ะ 
Hello, everyone! 

This week, I'm starting to familiarize myself more with the area. I love it here! We started the transfer with fasting and it really helped us see miracles especially this week. We met a lot of people to teach too. 

It has been very gloomy and rainy this week. So sometimes we had to go back home and change clothes because we're all drenched. It was fun though 555 There was this one night it rained so hard while we're biking home and it was so cold  I wonder what other people think we're doing hahahaha but all is well now, it's starting to get sunny again. 

Leave them better than you've found them - our mission has a goal of talking with 10 people a day. It has helped us know who the Lord has prepared and helped me love inviting and finding even more. I love talking with people more now. I love getting to know them. Talking with people honestly takes so much effort sometimes because you really have to listen to them. But then again, we want to leave them better than we've found them. I like carrying a พระคัมภีร์มอรมอน Book of Mormonbecause it teaches way better than me.  

I remember last Thursday we took a train to another village because it's kind of far. Going back to town, we need to take a van instead because the train comes late. So we thought the van's gonna be full but it's only me and Sister Munro! 555 and then a guy in crutches comes in too and sat next to us. I talked with him and found out he was in an accident last week and need about 3 months to recover. We got to know more about him too (coz it's like a 45 minute ride lol) he had questions such as the purpose of our lives so the Book of Mormon was very handy in answering his questions. We're happy to meet with him soon! 

I am eternally grateful for the Book of Mormon. It has changed my life and has helped me know more about the purpose of our lives. It has given me direction and has blessed my family so much.
So, the challenge for this week is for us to read the Book of Mormon everyday . It doesn't matter if it's just a Page a day or a verse a day. What matters most is the desire we have to seek God's words every single day.
I promise you it will help. I promise you it will make a difference.  

So, if you don't know what the Book of Mormon is... It's okay! You can ลองดูอ่าน and get a copy for FREE! just go to 

Mormon.org

Find happiness and get a free Book of Mormon.

Love y'all 

Sister Gagarin
ซิสเตอร์กาการิน

1.At church with my favorite kid ฟ้า and แพน who's getting baptized soon

2. My first train ride in TH

3. Drenched everyday

4. Biking in Sisaket.