Pictures 7.29.13

 E. Campbell sniped this blurry bad boy while I played with the chimps at the croc farm last week.  Good lookin' out.

 one stanky U.S. potato

The Ooyster!  Yeah buddy.

Saphaan Sung 7.29.13

Hey family!

This week was pretty sweet.  Our branch had 3 baptisms this weekend: 2 on a Saturday and 1 yesterday after church.  Sweet Business.

Tender Mercies: Our investigator, Ooy, was baptized yesterday.  Her gospel journey started 5 months ago in Bangna.  E. Terry and I started teaching her there.  But she was living with her boyfriend.  No bueno.  So we taught the Law of Chastity and told her they would have to get married or move out.  So she moved back home with her mom...in Minburi.  We thought she was just going to be there temporarily until she found a new house in Bangna.  So we kept seeing her every so often.  Then the Lord transferred me here.  When I got here I realized Minburi was in my area.  So the Bangna elders sent us her new address and we started teaching her.  Yesterday I baptized her.  The tender mercies of the Lord.

The burger master family went to church again (well the burger master himself, Andreas, didn't go).  Su, the mom of the family, is awesome.  She gave us 7 referrals this week.  She invites everyone she talks with to come to church.  She has encountered some serious oppostition though.  More than I've ever encountered in my life.  One day we ate at their place and she asked us if we ever meet people that hate the church.  We rarely meet anyone that knows there is more than just Catholic and Protestant (aka we almost never meet people that hate mormons).  She told us how she was at work and one of her longtime friends saw her reading the Book of Mormon and rampaged.  Su said the lady ripped it out of her hands and threw it in the trash.  (I'm thinking "Oh no she didn't")  The lady then told her we were of the Devil, that the Book of Mormon was a copy of the Bible distorted by the thoughts of man (Uhh...irony?) and to never go back to our church.  Luckily Su is resilient as a rock and retrieved her Book of Mormon when the lady wasn't looking.  Most Christians we teach talk to one friend or one preacher about the church and are done.  They never meet with us again.  Su had a friend throw her Book of Mormon in the trash but is still meeting with us.  Yesterday she had a rough time at church though, she didn't feel like this church has as much love as her last one...oh no.  She also is struggling with how different it is.  We visited her yesterday and she said she just needs to know for herself whether this church or her old church is more true.  We helped her see that by reading and praying about the Book of Mormon she can know for herself.  At first we thought it was bad news bears, but then we realized it is great that she is experiencing this.  She will receive an answer from God and then she will know.  She said once she receives her answer she will follow it 100%.  She is sponsored, realtalk.  Pray for her though.

Pop's questions: No, the old man that Su took us to when we first met her is not her father.  Why the burger master is in Thailand is unknown.  Out of the nine last week, five came again (Su and her 3 kids and Ooy).  Yes, most people are surprised when they see how many people are coming to church.  Sorry about the ski scare.  As far as I know, I was cool as blue steel flying through the air because I can't even remember it (that probably isn't any more comforting...).

Thanks for the green light on another suit mom!  I'll ponder not getting shorts...they just look so fresh though.

Much Love

Elder M. Riley Creer
The Only

Pictures 7.22.13

This is Pa Kiam.  He is old.  Real old.  He is also sassy.  Real sassy.  But he still reads his Book of Mormon.  He is practically blind.  

So he uses an jeweler's appraising glass to read.  

Yeah...he is one of my favorites.

 Some 7-11 lunch.  Healthy business.

 We spent Pday in Samut Prakarn with the elders there.  We hit up the croc farm.  Round two.  Yeah buddy.  But this time we fed em!  They give you a stick with meat dangling off it and let you fish for crocs.  Way fun.

Look at that mess!

 There was a YSA activity at our building.  The theme was Hawaiin.  If you had a grass skirt it meant you were single.  Don't worry, my companion and I didn't grab one.

 That man is from the Marquesas (questionable spelling).  He is in our branch and super funny.  

He taught the men his islands form the Hokka.

 It was the most hilarious thing ever watching them do the Hula

 Some of them were getting way into it.  We were dying.

 Brother Brian (the island man) did a fire knife dance...SO SICK! color me impressed.

Saphaan Sung 7.22.13

Hey family!

This week was legit business.  We met some money people.  Way money.  We had 9 people at church...5 of them were walk-ins that we taught after church was over.  5 walk-ins!  We were freaking out!  The eternal marriage family we met at the park couldn't come but this other family we recently met came (Their story is below).  One of the walk-ins now has a baptismal date and the others are all pretty stellar.  Even though many people we were expecting at church weren't there the Lord blessed us by guiding others to us.

We had so many people call us or approach us that are the elect of the Lord.  One man called us about church, we set an appointment to meet him Saturday.  When we met him the first thing he asked was what kind of ceremonies he had to do to be a member.  Yeah...we were stoked.  So we gave him a baptismal date for next month.  We had another lady call us Saturday night asking about church.  Unfortunately she couldn't come because she had to run to the hospital but she dropped by after for a frew moments.  Within 5 minutes, she had asked about baptism, E. Campbell had explained it and given her a date for August and made a new appointment.  It happened so fast I didn't even introduce myself before she had a baptismal date.  Nutshell of the week: Prepared people be poppin' up like daisies!  It's nuts.

The Burger Master:  E. Campbell and I were doing some Dan Jonesing (aka we talk to everyone we can and testifty of Christ for 2 hours) at a market right by our church.  I was chatting with a woman selling something when E. Campbell walks by and tells me we are following this lady.  Way confused, I finished chatting with the seller and followed him.  He told me this random lady was taking us to her sick friend so we could pray for him.  Still confused I followed.  We got to the house and had a nice chat with this old man, prayed for him and invited him to church.  Then the leading lady led us to her house.  We met her husband who is from Germany.  He runs a restaraunt from his house.  It's called the Burger Master.  He is hysterical.  We've been there twice now and each time we laugh until our stomachs hurt.  He is quite the character.  He bags on Thailand about everything.  He'll rant about something for a good 5 minutes and disappear inside the house for a few moments before bursting back outside and starting in on a new rant.  He is hilarious.  His kids are adorable too.  Anyway, long story short(er): we invited them to church and they came.  They really loved it.  The Burger Master (Andreas) loved talking to some other white people and the wife loved all of it.  Their kids were pretty funny too, one was dressed like lady gaga (cowboy boots, pink shorts, white fur vest).  Let's just say this family's presence made church twice as interesting.

Well life in Thailand is good.  Really good.  The only way it would be better is if the Capn' Crunch was cheaper and sold at 7-11.

I know through the Book of Mormon we find answers.  Through the Book of Mormon we come closer to God.  True story.  Don't forget to read it.

Much Love

elder m. riley creer

the only

Pictures 7.15.13

 E. Sae-dan. Atop a sketchy apartment building. At night.  Spooky.

 My real companion...you don't even know the fun we have.

E. Federico and I on our way to visit an investigator.  

Feel like I'm back in the MTC 

(he is one group ahead of me so we met in the MTC).

Sights of the Week:

I discovered the Sepia feature...

More pics...

Saphaan Sung 7.15.13

Sup family!

This week was pretty nuts.  We exchanged with the assistants and with E. Susi/E. Sae-dan.  Busy stuff.  We switched with the assistants Monday night until Tuesday, then went to Bangkabi Wednesday morning to exchange with those elders.  Friday was E. Campbell's first full day in the area all week!

Force Fed: Monday night we went to visit a less active member and his family.  We had hoped we were going to eat with his family.  Only he and his wife were there.  They fed us some bizarre stuff too.  It tasted ok though...for the most part.  After eating there we went to the branch president's house where we were fed again.  They had tons of food.  It was a struggle to get it all down.  After finishing the plate of rice I moved to sit next to my companion by the fruit selection.  This sister took it upon herself to peel fruit for me.  Lots of it.  I would still be chewing one piece when she would hand me another one.  It was a fruit frenzy!  I wasn't sure if I should eat faster to keep up with her or slow down so she would stop.  Oh the stresses of being a missionary.  In the end I told her I couldn't possibly eat anymore and she stopped.

Picnic in the park: I was on exchanges with E. Sae-dan.  We went to this park to find some new investigators.  We found a playground and talked to the parents watching their kids play.  It was perfect business.  We saw this couple sitting on a nearby hill playing with their newborn.  We started to approach them.  When the man spotted us he called us over.  Yeah buddy.  Then he asks the money question.  "Are you the Christians that believe in eternal marriage?"  Yes, yes we are.  So we sat down and chatted with him and his wife about families and eternal marriage.  Then we invited them to church.  The Lord truly prepares people.  The field really is white, ready to harvest.

Well I love you all lots!  Keep on keepin' them covenants!  You got nothing to lose and eternity to gain.

Elder M. Riley Creer

The Only

Pictures 7.8.13

 FHE with a professional soccer star.  Yeah I was pretty stoked.  I had him autograph my belly button...psych but I should have.

 The Chiangmai Crew reunited again!  E. Campbell, E. Champ (fomerly B. Champ, our branch mission leader) and me.  

B. Champ is still waiting for his visa to go to Paris.

 MTC group!  Our sisters are finished.  They are going home. 

 I feel old.  Way old.

This is brother Bhat.  He reminds me of Daniel from the Karate Kid.  He works at Wall's ice cream.  He makes Magnum bars.  Yeah.  He's a big deal.  We plan on visiting him at work very soon.

Saaphaan Sung 7.8.13

Hey family!

Good news.  I have a new companion...sort of.  I'm now companions with E. Campbell...again.  Round 2 baby!  I was companions with him in Chiangmai for 1 move.  Now we are zone leaders together!  Super hilarious.  We joked about how we'd return to Chiangmai as zone leaders...I guess the Lord had another area in mind.

This week was pretty nuts.  Transfers always is.  Wednesday: E. Thomas had his dying interview in the morning, so we had to be in Asoke at 8.30am.  We were late (traffic was killer).  Then we had to rush back to our area so he could finish packing.  Then we had to head BACK to asoke for a zone leader training.  I was zagged out from all the taxi rides.  Thursday: Transfer meeting.  craziness.  We had to make sure our whole zone was taken care of, especially the new sisters in Saphaan sung (a sister who just finished training is now a trainer for a greenie).  We were helping them load their business in a taxi when they realized they lost the keys.  Yikes.  We searched and searched.  Then we searched some more.  I was getting tired of searching so I pulled E. Campbell into a room and we prayed.  Then she found them.  God is in the details.  Friday: Missionary Leadership Council meeting...in asoke.  We had to be there at 8.00am.  Luckily a pancake, egg and sausage breakfast was provided.  Now we're talking.  Basically this week was full of taxi rides and meetings. 

I have learned that taxi rides are the most draining part of missionary work.  As soon as you get in that bad boy, the drowsiness seeps in like a contagious disease.  When you finally bust out, you are more exhausted than before.

Today: While coming back from lunch, I asked the taxi driver what he thought happens when we die.  He blew up.  Before I asked, he was a calm human being, silent and relaxed.  The question leaves my lips and he transforms into a cyclone of atheism.  He tirades about how there is no hell or heaven because planes have flown over the clouds and never seen heaven or God.  He didn't give us a chance to speak.  So we listened to him rant from how religion was created by man to how the government was suppressing Thai people with awful oil prices.  It was like a bomb blew up behind the steering wheel.  We got out of his cab and lost it.  We laughed hysterically.  I love Thailand and the people I meet.

I know Jesus Christ lives.  He died for our sins.  For our weaknesses.  For our pains.  For our sorrows.  He rose from the dead.  I know it.  I love him for it.

Much Love family.  What's our house look like again?  Do we have a home phone number?

Peace and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

Elder M. Riley Creer

The Only

Pictures 7.1.13

 another awkward district pic.

 The river!  It's gross business.

 Samutprakarn has a triple bunkbed...wicked sweet.

The baptism!!  Woohoo!

Saphaan Sung 7.1.13

Hello family!

This week was hectic.  Real hectic.  We did back to back exchanges with the assistants and the samutprakarn elders, conducted 3 baptismal interviews, had a baptism and went to Asoke for a meeting with the stake presidency.  I'm pooped.  And this week will be even crazier.  Transfer week...always mayhem.

So before I forget...E. Thomas (my companion) is dying.  Aka he is going home.  And he lives in South Weber.  I can't remember if I told you or not.  But he lives real close (a block or 2).  So you'll probably see him next week.  I told him that he can raid our pantry and eat our cereal supply (do we still have a cereal supply?).

The highlight of the week was definitely the baptism and Saturday.  A members daughter that we taught was baptized, her name is Ingfah.  She is adorable and understands the gospel better than some of the adults.  The sisters had an investigator get baptized too (B. Jet).  They both wanted E. Thomas to baptize them.  I was glad he did it and not me, Ingfah's real name is a tongue twister.

This week I interviewed 2 people for baptism.  Interviewing people for baptism is marvelous.  I love hearing the investigators' testimonies.  I'm starting to better understand how the Spirit works and what we need to do to enjoy the Spirit even more.  As we educate our desires to make them in line with God's will then we qualify for the Spirit.  Then we ask, and God promises we will receive.  I have noticed in the scriptures that when God grants blessings it is according to something.  He granted the sons of Mosiah success according to their prayers.  Our desires take shape in our actions.  God grants us blessings when we desire those blessings enough to act in order to receive them.  Our desires are the one thing that we alone control.

I hope you all had a great week.

I love you all.  Lots.

elder m. riley creer

Pictures 6.24.13

The Sisters wanted to get some awkward photos of our district.

The knee clutch with the grimace smile.  Perfectly executed.

Creepy prom hands.  Yes

 Our new service opportunity.  

Teaching English at the district court office.  Oh baby.

Yeah...they gave us free water.  This gig has serious perks.

They gave us free lunch too!  Now we're talking.

 Umbrella swag.

That hurts the team.