My Pictures 11.30.13

 We needed a creative way to tell President Senior about breaking 100.  So we took a picture of this and emailed it to him...then left it for the office elders to find...and clean up.

 celebratory slam. Adrian!

The Wilson's with our Book of Mormon Arch.  They are amazing people.  I learned a lot from them in the 5 days of Mission Tour.

 I saw Greg Madsen!  He is doing great.  Such a champ.

E. Cosper and I decked out in our thuggery.

Mission Tour Day 5: what we looked like at the translation table.

Asoke 11.30.13

Hey champs

This past week was mission tour.  Elder Larry W. Wilson of the Seventy came.  It was awesome.  It was fun.  It was exhausting.  And now it is over.  Relief.

E. Davies and I were the schleppers for the week.  We hauled the microphone equipment, projector and Book of Mormon arch all over Thailand.  We also translated all the meetings for the Thai missionaries.  It was hard work and stressful too.  But we had a blast.  Translation nightmares from the week: movie trailer, chiasmus, law of undulation, radioactive core.  After the first conference we figured out movie trailer but for the other words we were done for.  Sunday night we flew up to Chiangmai for the Monday conference.  Monday night we flew back to BKK.  Tuesday morning we drove to Northern BKK for the West and North zones' conference.  Wednesday morning we flew to Udorn (we woke up at 4 AM...yep, it hurt the team).  The bonus there was the lunch: Thanksgiving turkey, homemade cookies, yeah buddy.  That night we flew back to BKK.  Thursday morning we flew to Ubon (another 4 AM day).  There we also had a Thanksgiving  lunch complete with pies.  Then we flew to BKK again that night.  Friday we drove to East BKK for their zone conference then took Elder Wilson and his wife to the airport.  It was the most flying I've ever done in my life!  Each time we checked 2 bags, one had the microphone equipment and one was the BOM arch pieces.  The keystone piece wouldn't fit in the bag so we carried it on and forced it into the overhead compartments.  People gave us some pretty strange looks as we trudged through the airport with a giant cardboard sign that read "The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ".  Classy business.

The conference focused on using the Book of Mormon with our investigators.  Sister Wilson talked about reading 1 Nephi 1 with investigators and reteaching the Restoration while you do it.  Elder Wilson had us make movie trailers for 1 Nephi 2-4 to help investigators want to continue reading (they were hilarious).  I learned that I need to do more to help investigators and new members read the Book of Mormon.  It truly is the iron rod.  If they don't grab hold of it they will be lost in the mists of darkness.  We and they cannot make it through this life with all its pits, obstacles, and temptations without the Book of Mormon.  It is our anchor to righteousness.  Elder Wilson shared an experience that he had before he moved to Hong Kong where he read the Book of Mormon from start to finish with a recent convert in his ward.  He said the change that took place in the recent convert was remarkable and that he, himself gained a lot from reading with this man.  Now the recent convert is returning the favor by being a reading mentor for another recent convert.  It helped me see that the Book of Mormon changes people for the better.  When we study the Book of Mormon, likening it to our lives, we grow.  We understand who we are, who God is, and what He wants us to do.  And we will want to do it.  The Book of Mormon is the word of God, it is spiritual bread that we must eat or we'll spiritually starve to death.

Other than mission tour not much else happened...Psych!  Our mission had over 100 baptisms this month!  (Last year the highest month was 72)  And 70 out of 86 companionships have seen a baptism.  It is amazing.  The Lord has performed miracles all over the country!  The mission is more unified, we are now all on the same team.  I'll tell you how we found out.  Sunday morning.  E. Davies and I were counting up all the companionships that were expecting a baptism that weekend.  We thought we'd be at around 95 by that night.  Well when everyone started reporting the companionships that had a baptism we saw that it was 98!  I was freaking out!  We called to tell president the news and he told us that the tiny branch in Myanmar had someone get baptized so it was 99.  I was losing my mind I was so excited.  Two days later, after Tuesday's zone conference we were in the office working on some reports.  That's when we found out the Laos elders had a baptism that past Sunday.  We had broken 100 baptisms and didn't even know it.  Our goal was 86.  Not 86 baptisms but 86 companionships who felt successful by baptizing 1 person.  In the end we got 70 companionships with more than 100 baptisms.  E. Davies and I were speechless as we drove home that night.  We were reflecting on what a great accomplishment it really was.  This month has been an inflection point.  Now the missionaries know that we can do it, we can follow the Spirit, we can teach with convincing power and we can see miracles.  I love this work.  And I know it is God's work.  And He is helping us do it.

To celebrate that night we slammed some TimTams with the others in our house.

Well I love you all!

Elder M. Riley Creer

The only

Pictures 11.23.13

 Whoa.

Perfectly framed? Awwwwh Yeaaah.

E. Davies on the poor man's rameumptom.

Who's turn is it anyway? Standard traffic light in Thailand.  

Aka chaos.

Me showing E. Cosper who the alpha male is.  In reality, I think he is a wrestler and could probably toast me over the fire and eat me but I caught him off guard (they call that a "Surprise attack from above!").

Asoke 11.23.13

Hello Family.

You guys rock.  Except for all your trunky comments.  You're killing me smalls.  But I still love you!

Last Sunday was Looy Gratong (the floating lantern business).  Before you get all excited and expect an epic photo of lanterns shooting up into the sky you should know they don't allow lanterns to be sent up in Bangkok.  Bummer times 10 I know.  I guess it just means I'll have to come back someday and take that epic photo.  Despite the lack of lanterns, we went to a park in our area where they were letting off some candle boats.  It wasn't as sweet as I thought it was going to be, maybe because the park's pond didn't have a current so the boats just floated there until the candle went out.  I got some pro status photos though (Get on my level, Sam and Katie).  The festival turned out to be a stellar inviting opportunity.  We had a giant sign with a picture of baptism, some hymnals, loads of baptism pass-along cards, and 12 missionaries.  I got rejected by almost everyone.  Gotta love it.  At the end of the night though, we found some excellent potentials (one of which we met the other day...keep reading for that story).  It was a blast.  I love declaring repentance.

Thursday.  We headed out to meet that potential family from the park.  We met them at the market where they sell plants and stuff.  We asked if we could sit down with them and share more about Christ.  They accept and the dad starts laying newspaper out on the ground for us to sit on.  Score.  So after talking for a few minutes we realize they need to hear about eternal families.  We told them they could be together forever as a family, never to be separated, and that baptism was the first step.  Then E. Davies turns to me and whispers, "There's rats."  I looked up and saw this foot-long rodent trudging behind the family.  Oh boy.  Trying my best to not look at the rodent invasion, we kept teaching.  Well I kept teaching.  E. Davies was a goner.  He was a little to my left and said he could see tons of em.  Apparently he had a bad experience as a child so he couldn't really focus, something about rats and Cheetos bag (I may or may not have just made that up).  Needless to say we kept the lesson short.  The dad, named Neung (1), will come to church with us on Sunday.  Yeah Buddy.

Most of this week was spent preparing for Mission Tour next week.  Elder Wilson in the Asia Area Presidency is coming to visit.  Next week will be full of early morning flights, long meetings, free lunches and heaps of spiritual enlightenment.  You could say I'm pretty excited.

Much Love

Elder M. Riley Creer

the only elder with a suit that says "the only" on the inside

Pictures 11.16.13

Baptism!  Woohoo!

This is elder Sukhan.  He just came into country.  His parents are Thai but live in Utah.  We picked him up from the airport on Saturday night and he spent Sunday and Monday with us.  He will be a great missionary.  And he has great ties.

Asoke 11.16.13

Hello Family

Life is splendid.  Way splendid.

We had a baptism on Sunday!  Her name is Lue (I have no idea how to spell it in English, you say it like queue but with an L).  She bore an awesome testimony about prayer.  It was marvelous.  I love hearing recent converts testimonies.  Hearing them share life-altering experiences with prayer is priceless.  Just last night we asked her to help us teach some investigators from English class.  She nailed it.  She bore a sweet testimony of prayer and giving up Buddhism for something better.  Nutshell: Listening recent converts' testimonies are my paychecks.  Worth far more than money.

The mission is exploding with miracles right now.  This month is really an inflection point.  Things are changing.  The Lord truly is hastening His work...so are we.  Up and up from here.  It is exciting to be here in Asoke working with President.  We get to hear all the miracles and stellar stories.

Our November goal of each companionship with a baptism (aka Bovember) is unifying the mission.  Districts and zones are pulling together to help out the companionships that haven't had a baptism yet.  We are becoming one.  We are realizing that this is God's work not our own.  And we want everyone to be successful laboring in His vineyard.

aka: The mission is killing it right now.  Oh baby.

That hurts the team moment: I was riding the MRT (subway) with E. Davies.  We were coming back from a teaching appointment near Chinatown.  The train was packed.  I had talked to everyone in my immediate vicinity.  No success.  I saw a small gap in the masses with a teenage girl on the other side.  I felt like I needed to talk to her.  So I slipped through the gap and started a conversation about being cleansed from sin.  After explaining, I asked her if she would like to wash her sins away.  Before she could answer this woman behind me taps me on the shoulder and asks, "Are you bothering her?"  Taken back I answered that I wasn't.  Not satisfied she asks the girl with whom I was speaking.  The girl responds similarly.  Still not satisfied she asked me, "Have you asked her yet if you are bothering her?"  So I asked the girl.  She said I wasn't.  So the interrupter turned around and went back to her iphone.  It was bizarre.  I wish I would have sang that song "Bad Day" by Daniel Powter or turned and started asking if she wanted a better life through baptism.  Perhaps it is better that I didn't.  Anyway, the whole exchange was awkward and left me baffled that she would get so upset that I was talking to a girl about remission of sins.

Miracle Moment:  We went to Bangbuathong (west BKK) to help them find someone who wanted to be baptized.  I went with E. Pyne to declare repentance by a market.  We were there for a couple hours.  They were a rough couple hours.  We got rejected the entire time.  Either they didn't want to be cleansed from sin, didn't have sin, or thought they were cleansing sin by praying to their statues.  Feeling a little disappointed we boarded a bus to head back to the church to meet the others.  On the bus I sat there praying, asking for help, asking for miracles, when opened my eyes and looked up.  The first thing I saw was a man sitting in the front of the bus with space next to him.  I got up and moved to talk to him.  I pulled out a baptism picture as I went.  Amazingly the girl sitting next to him whispered, "baptism by water."  I was stunned.  99% of Thai people think the guy with his arm raised is going to whack the other one, or he is checking his pulse.  They never know what it is.  So after I talked with the man I originally saw, I turned and chatted with the girl.  They were both willing to meet again and talk about baptism.  The Lord answers prayers.  Pray without ceasing and you will see miracles without ceasing.  Holler.

Don't forget.  The Book of Mormon is the word of God.  It testifies of Christ.  So do I.  He lives.

Lotsa Love

Elder M. Riley Creer

the only

Pictures 11.9.13

We went to lunch last P-day with the whole crew.  The thai man in the grey shirt is Ronnie, he works for the translation department and is our ward mission letter.  He is hilarious.  Anyway, when the waitress split our receipts she wrote on the top in thai so she would know who to give it to (for ex: tall guy, wearing glasses, fat guy, mine was "white fat."  I guess she thought I was the fattest chap in a white shirt.  Awesome).  She was super embarrassed when she realized we could read thai.  So we made her take a photo with us holding up our receipts.  

"If this happened in America...I would sue her!"  --Brother Ronnie.

 MLC preparation McDonald's party!  E. Bartling and Fronberg are the media elders, they helped make the videos.  Champs.  We ordered double big macs.  I regretted it.

Cramming in a Tuktuk to go fabric shopping at Chinatown.  #ILoveThailand

Asoke 11.9,13

Hey Family.

This week rocked my world!  It started with a stress attack.  Wednesday morning we had MLC (missionary leadership council).  It is the monthly meeting with President Senior, Sister Senior, the assistants, the zone leaders, and the sister training leaders.  The last month's goals are reported and then President and the assistants give training.  Well the days leading up to MLC were busy business.  We had loads to do!  We had the Social Media elders make an inspirational video (it's hecka dayz inspirational (aka I'll be inspired for hecka dayz)) and a training video where we dissected this new finding approach.  Then we had to burn the videos onto 30 DVDs for all the district leaders.  Nutshell: Monday and Tuesday were long days in the office.

The Meeting:  I now know that I am Michael Emory Creer's true son and that I wasn't adopted.  Why?  Because I started getting emotional!  I don't know if anyone noticed really, but I was pretty amazed at how easily my rock-like stoicism was crumbling.  The topic of the day:  Baptism.  Repentance and baptism.  We talked about the importance of baptism.  Throughout the meeting there were moments where I felt illuminated by the Spirit.  I felt wonderful.  I knew that the direction we were about to go was the direction God wanted.  And it made me get all choked up!  Turns out I do have feelings...weird.  We split into groups and gave each group a question that they were to answer with a verse of scripture.  The questions: 1 What was the first thing Christ taught when He appeared to the Nephites?  2 What was the first thing Christ taught after being baptized?  3 What was Christ's last instruction to His Apostles before ascending to Heaven?  4 What did Christ tell Saul to do when he appeared to him on the road to Damascus?  What did Saul do when he got there and was healed by Ananias?  5 When does the Father speak to us? What are the circumstances and what does it teach us about what the Father thinks is important?  6 What question lead to the restoration of the priesthood?  7 What are the first fruits of repentance?  All these scriptures helped me see that baptism is crucial.  It is beautiful.  And God thinks it is incredibly important.  So why don't we?  The new plan:  Invite everyone to be baptized.  We watched a video of E. Campbell and E. Engle (same group as me) inviting everyone they meet to be baptized.  Within 20 seconds of conversation they invite them to be baptized on a specific date.  And it works.  Most people say no.  So when they do, they move on.  But by asking everyone to be baptized they know who is ready and willing (aka elect) and who is not.  It is a new way to sift through the masses of people to the truly prepared of God.  It is super effective.  Then President Senior introduced the inspirational video.  We watched it.  Everyone was speechless.  The Spirit was so warm I felt like He was setting up camp in the middle of the room roasting mallows over the fire.  It was brilliant.

The training in action:  To help every companionship see a baptism this month we sent a battalion into one district to help them find solid investigators.  There were about 20 missionaries in this one area of Bangkok.  We rampaged.  By the end of the day 34 people had agreed to be baptized on the 30th of this month.  34.  One day, 34 people.  Oh baby.  I met this cat that was money.  As soon as he said yes he wanted to be baptized I asked him if he worked on Sunday.  Nope.  Do you smoke? no.  Do you drink?  no.  How 'bout coffee?  yes.  Alright well here is a pamphlet that will help you quit and we'll meet you tomorrow to explain more.  He said he'd meet again.  This new technique of finding is genius.  It is all about inviting them to repent immediately.  Find where they can repent and then invite them to do it.  This morning while studying with E. Davies we compared it to a seed.  When we share the gospel we are planting a seed in someone's heart.  Each heart will have weeds that grow up trying to choke the seed we plant.  When you see the weeds do you wait a week before you pull them out?  No.  That's dumb.  You pull them out immediately so the seed can be nourished and grow better, faster, stronger (sly allusion to Daft Punk).  I wish I was working like this my entire mission.  Oh how effective I could have been.

Well, turns out I get really passionate about repentance and baptism.  Who knew?

Other news:  I bought a new suit today.  I searched everywhere for some zebra fabric that would work for the lining.  Couldn't find it.  Bummed out of my mind!  Maybe next time I go suit shopping I'll have more luck.  Did I get shorts cut too?  Well, I'll just leave you in suspense.  And yes Mom, I forgot my password for BYU.  Yikes.

Much Love

Elder M. Riley Creer

The Only assistant that has a cackle laugh

Pictures 11.2.13

The Flex of Gold: How's this for a Christmas card pic?  We saw this little beauty out front of a wedding photography place.  

I'm still trying to figure out how it is related to weddings... 

The suit pursuit: where can I get the best suit?  

The real question: which place has zebra fabric?  

This cat has been making suits for elders for so long he named his shop after us.

Asoke 11.2.13

Hey Family!

Mom...I got some news that you just aren't going to like.  Because our mission switched to 9 week transfers all of our missions were either shortened...or extended.  Well my mission has been extended a few weeks.  My last day is now February 21, 2014.  Yep.

This week I have felt a little like I'm on tour.  We went to Khonkaen for some exchanges (that's my first area in case you have forgotten) and then right after that we went to Korat for another exchange.  It was all sweet business except for the sleeping arrangements (I slept on 2 chair cushions and used my backpack as a pillow).

The first day of exchanges I was with E. Pearson.  He is a very funny elder.  We had a great time.  Miracle of the Day: We went to a park to invite people to be baptized.  We started with a prayer asking God to guide us to a family that was prepared to be baptized.  Well as soon as we said "Amen." we saw a family sitting nearby.  We talked to them and showed them a baptism card.  The mom says, "You are missionaries?  I want to change religions!"  So we gave her and her family a baptismal date for the 24th of November.  It was the first person we talked to!  And basically the first thing she said was that she wanted to change religions.  Oh Baby.

The next day I was with E. Weaver in Korat.   He is a champ.  He is just finishing up the 12 week training program (aka he is a greenie).  We had a ton of fun and spent most of the day walking the streets and cruising this exercise park inviting people to be baptized.  We found loads of people who were interested.  Small world part: He is from Salt Lake (Sugar House area) and went to Tufts University before the mission.  Bizarre business.

Thinking back on the week, all I can remember is the exchanges...well I guess that's all folks.

The other day I restarted the Book of Mormon.  I read the first few chapters looking for humility in the life of Nephi.  It was some really interesting stuff, I believe Nephi was incredibly humble.  He possessed humble faith that helped him overcome his challenges with his brothers and retrieving the plates.  I think Laman and Lemuel were prideful and that's why they didn't spiritually progress like Nephi did.  What did I learn?  Pride is some bad news bears stuff.  When we have pride we are in danger.  Aka resist pride.

Yes, I'll be getting some more suits here in a bit.  Zebra stripes?  In the words of Gus,"You know that's right!"  Hopefully I can find some good threads at china town.  Pray for me...my future swag depends on it.  I'll keep you updated on how much I need.  I think I've got some cash hidden in some books at home so I'll check that mess first.

We live with the office elders and the social media elders on the 4th floor of an apartment building that is right next to the church and a 5 minute walk to the office.  President lives in a different apartment building a 5 minute walk in the other direction.  Our house is pretty swanky.  I love it.

Well I love you all lots.

elder m. riley creer

the only