Life in Laos - 5/26/18

Elder Petterson, Elder Bunker, and I with lots of noodles (in Udon). 

Crossing the bridge into Laos. 

A large Lao flag with a communist flag.

Hey everybody!!

It's been a little while since I last wrote you guys. There's been a lot that’s gone down since transfers haha. I hope that you all have been doing well!

Okay, so on the day of transfers I wasn't really sure what was going to happen, because I wasn't told a whole lot. I kinda just showed up to the mission office with all of my stuff without knowing what would happen to me. I waited around at the office with Elder Phasay, an elder from my group who also is in Laos now, and we got to see a ton of people that we know. We stayed at the office until around 4 pm, and it was really nice to see all of my friends before I don't see them for who knows how long haha. At 4, Elder Phasay and I went to the bus station and got on a bus going to Udon, which is in northeastern Thailand. The bus ride took about 11ish hours haha.

When we got to Udon it was about 4 in the morning, and we took a tuk tuk to the elders' house there. We then went on switch offs with the elders there for about 3 days. I was able to be with Elder Bunker and Elder Petterson (Elder Petterson is in my group). They are both way awesome missionaries. We stayed in Udon until that Sunday because it was district conference, which is pretty much stake conference but for small areas, and the other Laos elders were coming down because Udon and Laos are in the same district. After district conference, Elder Phasay and I went with Elder Hansen, another elder here, to get on a bus to Laos. We crossed the border, did a bunch of visa stuff, and finally are here. I'm now the 32nd missionary to serve in Laos. 

The last week here has been really cool. I'm companions with Elder Higginson and Elder Fjelsted, and they're way awesome guys. A lot of the time here we will switch around companions because we have to fit all of our appointments around teaching English. We teach English twice a day on Monday-Friday, with various levels of classes. I still can't teach legally due to waiting for my work visa, so I've just kinda been observing the classes to learn how to. All the elders that have been serving here will finish their missions in the next two transfers, so I have to learn how to teach fast haha.

It's really cool to be here. The communism is definitely noticeable, and I've seen more communist flags the past week than my entire life so far. It seems normal to see them now. So, missionary work is interesting. We can only teach/talk about the gospel at the church. A lot of the work is working and visiting with members. We have visited a lot of people and they are all way cool. We also have a lot of really good investigators here and there are quite a few people with baptismal dates. 

In Laos, we go by our first names in public, and and we serve as volunteer English teachers. We do not proselyte.

Something also really cool that happened today is that Elder Xaiyavong, my former companion, just got back from his mission! I got to pick him up at the airport with Elder Higginson, who was also companions with him in the past. Elder Xaiyavong was such an awesome missionary and I'm glad to see him again.

The language is good! I can understand pretty much everything people say, but responding to people is strange because the tones are different and there's some new vocabulary involved as well. I also have to get out of the habit of saying khap after everything haha.

Well, that should be enough for one email! I love and miss you all!

Keep being amazing!

<3

Elder Ridd

The church in Laos.

             Elder Xaiyavong is home!!

Uh Oh! Elder Ridd Gets Deported! 5/16/18

An awesome member with Elder Ridd

Random Thailand's Got Talent set 

District picture with chairs representing how many transfers we have left. 

Haha, kidding, I'm just getting transferred to Laos. Elder Eckersley will be coming from Bangkhae to come replace me here in Bangkapi!

Hey everybody! I hope that you've all had a spicy week!

This week was really good! One of my favorite parts was when we met with Sister W, the nonmember mother of Sister T. She is amazing. Like really amazing. She has affirmed to me that there truly are people who have been prepared by God to receive his gospel. Sister W has already read the entire Book of Mormon, continues to reread it, and prays about all that she reads so that she understands it. She is truly awesome. She accepted a date to be baptized, and she already knows more than many members do. She just has to be taught the lessons by the missionaries first. She is really excited to learn and has a strong desire to be baptized. She also makes a LOT of really good food. I'm kind of sad to be leaving before her baptism, haha.

Something that was awesome this week was that I had the opportunity to Skype my family for Mother's Day!! It was way fun! I was so glad to be able to talk with all of them and catch up! Thank you Mom for being such an amazing person and example in my life! <3 I love you!!

The Sister missionaries here had a baptism this past Sunday! The baptismal font wouldn't drain afterwards though, so we had to manually haul buckets out of it to empty it, which was a good time.

I also ate a whole pepper this week. It was fun. Until it wasn't. :)

I hope that all of you guys will have a good week! I love and miss you all!

Elder Ridd <3

Shout-out to the love of my life, Brett Nelson, who goes into the MTC today! He's gonna do amazing things in Australia. 

Family Home Evening

Mother's Day Skype! 5/13/18

We had a fantastic Mother's Day evening Skype call with Elder Ridd. It was so great to see Hayden and to talk with him! There's a lot of fun that goes on when Skyping with 4 brothers...

Elder Hayden is doing great in Thailand, and seems healthy and happy. He loves teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. All is well. 

It's Very Early Right Now - 5/7/18

Wats around the King's Palace

Visiting the King's Palace

Lunch with Brother J

Hey Everybody!

I hope that all of you have had a good week! This week was pretty cool.

On Monday we had a chance to go to the King's Palace, which was pretty neat. There were a looooot of tourists there.

This week we were able to see some pretty cool stuff happen. Sister FN was able to get one of her friends in Phuket to be referred to the missionaries. She's way excited about the work right now, so I hope we'll be able to get her to help a lot!

We went rat hunting, but were unsuccessful, so the rats still reign supreme. We will keep trying 555.

I reread some scriptures that I really liked this past week! They are in Moses chapter 6, verses 31-34:

31 And when Enoch had heard these words, he bowed himself to the earth, before the Lord, and spake before the Lord, saying: Why is it that I have found favor in thy sight, and am but a lad, and all the people hate me; for I am slow of speech; wherefore am I thy servant?

   32 And the Lord said unto Enoch: Go forth and do as I have commanded thee, and no man shall pierce thee. Open thy mouth, and it shall be filled, and I will give thee utterance, for all flesh is in my hands, and I will do as seemeth me good.

   33 Say unto this people: Choose ye this day, to serve the Lord God who made you.

   34 Behold my Spirit is upon you, wherefore all thy words will I justify; and the mountains shall flee before you, and the rivers shall turn from their course; and thou shalt abide in me, and I in you; therefore walk with me.

I know that God will help us with all of our work in life, but especially if we are in the service of Him. He will lift us even if we feel that we are not cut out for it :).

I also had the opportunity to go on switch offs with Elder Pastores again, who is a greenie. He's way cool. 

I hope that you all have good weeks. Stay crunchy.

I love and miss you all <3.

Elder​ Ridd

Going to the King's Palace