Hayden's Missionary Blog: ສະບາຍດີ, it's been a while. 4/23/18

Songkran (Thai New Year water festival)

Hey everybody!!! It's me! And I am alive! Yay!

I hope you all have had a pleasant two weeks without hearing from me. I like to give you these long pauses to keep you on your toes.

Over the past weeks some things have happened! Such as: Insane Thai New Year water festival (Songkran), zone conference, THE PROPHET AND ELDER HOLLAND COMING TO THAILAND, and a lot of good referrals!

So yeah, let's see what I remember...

Friday two weeks ago, we got to go out and celebrate Songkran! It's an annual about 4ish day water festival. We went out to this place called Siam Square. It was insane. There were thousands of people with buckets, water guns, and just an insane amount of water. We were thoroughly soaked. I would highly recommend this festival. It was extremely fun.

Zone conference was also a really good experience! We talked a lot about extending commitments and how the process of developing faith is different for everybody.

We also had the amazing experience of having our living prophet, Russell M. Nelson, and an apostle, Jeffrey R. Holland, come and visit Thailand! We got to see members and missionaries from all over Thailand and Laos there! It was an amazing event. Elder Holland spoke a lot about how we never really realize history or miracles when we are in the middle of either. He talked about how the church's growth in Thailand is both historical and miraculous. He also talked about the wonderful day that Jesus showed himself to his people in the Americas. President Nelson talked a lot about Thailand's progress in the gospel as well as the preparation for a temple. It got everybody here really excited for it! I know that he is a prophet of God and is divinely inspired to lead the church.

I hope that all of you have amazing weeks! I love and miss you all! Keep being amazing people!

Elder Ridd