Fighting His Fight

Dear Family and Friends,

As maybe you know or don't know, the Thailand Bangkok Mission has gone Facebook friendly. AKA, we can take care of all of our recent converts, members, etc etc via facebook while still a missionary. Thailand's kind of a place where people move, change phone numbers, go visit other cities at the blink of an eye, so being able to keep up with them without fear of immediate disconnect is a relief. It's teaching me how I'll take care of those I love from afar once I'm no longer present here. Technology can be a grand weapon for good.

I feel like my emails are always sit down "coming to terms" with everything I've observed in the week, summarizing it up, and streaming it to anyone willing to hear me.

You're probably wondering to yourself... why is Sister Painter always talking about Baptism?

So to answer that question, I want to talk about the magnificence of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It can be layered down into 5 steps and these steps cycle upon each other.

Oddly enough, the "purpose" of a missionary reads as followed: "Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end."

The Gospel of Jesus Christ... is exactly that. Those 5 steps. All we do as missionaries is help people develop their faith, help them see how to build it themselves, help them to change-- quit those habits that damage the ability to hear, see and feel through spiritual perspective. We help them see why they'd want to throw those actions away and leave them underwater.

Baptism is a symbol, my friends. It's a cleansing and leaving behind of what once caught us by the heel.

But the thing I want to focus on today is the last step. The Epilogue. The Afterwards. The what comes next.

You've done all this: you've developed faith, you've repented of your sins daily, and now you've been baptized and have the companionship of the Holy Ghost. You are now a disciple of Jesus Christ-- the world is your oyster.

.......The crickets chirp, life ensues, challenges and temptations come at you to try you and the bubble of thought billows over your head: "What... do I do now?"

My dear friends, I send this message with love and tenderness.

I echo Elder Holland's words: "I wish to speak directly to the young people of the Church—young in years of age or young in years of membership or young in years of faith. One way or another, that should include just about all of us."

Discipleship isn't over when church is over. Discipleship isn't not a sprint or a marathon so much as it is, as the apostles would say, a "migration". I got to meet Bishop Gary E. Stevenson just months ago, and just a few weeks after that meeting he gave these inspiring words at the pulpit for Conference: "Before you were born, you existed as a spirit. In the presence of a loving Heavenly Father, you trained and prepared to come to earth for a brief moment and, well, perform."

This is your endurance race! The Holy Ghost is your mortal-life coach. If you listen to him, and you will perform to your best ability every time. There are promotions everywhere campaigning for your attention-- trying to lead you this way or that. "Enduring to the End" is "Fighting your Fight": standing firm to what you believe, and glorying in it.

"After ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done?" (2 Nephi 31)

The words that follow in this scripture could not say it any better:

"NAY. For ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in Him."

Ye have not come thus far to meet a little road bump, and jump ship.

Ye have not come thus far only to turn around-- back to the same old road you came on-- back to where you came from with moping arms hanging.

If any of these things have happened to you, I urge you with all my love to dust yourself off, and fight for what you do know, "even if that ground is limited" (Holland).

Our endurance race is a fight.

"In any fight, it's the guy, who's willing to die, who's willing to take the hits, that's going to win that inch."

I want to bear my firm testimony of a fight you can't lose. I have had the indescribable opportunity to fight the Lord's fight as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

"And all the nations that fight against Zion, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision; yea, it shall be unto them, even as unto a hungry man which dreameth, and behold he eateth but he awaketh and his soul is empty; or like unto a thirsty man which dreameth, and behold he drinketh but he awaketh and behold he is faint, and his soul hath appetite; yea, even so shall the multitude of all the nations be that fight against Mount Zion."

They have nothing on us.

"The laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion"-- we are winning because we reside on the Lord's side, and we fight for his cause. I have seen His hand change hearts, open doors, and entirely guide my mission.

"Wherefore, I am in your midst, and I am the good shepherd, and the stone of Israel. He that buildeth upon this rock shall never fall." - Doctrine and Covenants 50:44

The Sword of Laban from the scriptures is unsheathed here in Thailand. Christ is at the Helm. His fight has become my fight.

Now, it's personal.

 Love,

Sister Painter

 

Uproar: a การเอะอะ.

Dear Family and Friends,

The sirens are going, the message is urgent-- Ubon has officially been set on an Uproar: a การเอะอะ.

We sat the youth of the Ubon branch in a semi-circle and we showed them how to be successful. We practiced with a couple examples and then we pulled out a big bag of cards.

"Can you do it?"

The response was a two-hour rush of one of Ubon's most heavily populated weekend markets. Ten youth on motorcycles, four missionaries on bikes, burst in the front entrance with an immediate cry to be heard. Brother Ice, someone who just barely finished his mission who I've served with before in Roi Et, raised a banner with BAPTISM and the effects that follow someone who chooses to take it.

Each youth was responsible for their own investigators-- they were told to bring something to record numbers and at the end we would collect them all.

I want you to picture in your mind Dan Jones on his crate.

Then imagine it with a pair of tiny little 16 year old girls.

Imagine a young man, more shy than any before, turning his head toward you in absolute awe with the flood of people coming to him that were listening to his message.

Imagine an American, tall and skinny, with a name badge on yelling through the crowds of what their life could be in their native language.

Now picture all of that in slow motion in a congested street market filled with thousands of people... in slow motion.

That's how I saw it.

The baptism banner could not be avoided. In fact, cars were stopping on the road and coming back after they would hear me shouting to them from the side over the noise raising the banner up to their windows. One woman waved me off with confusion... then a brief period of seconds later, turned around, opened her car door, and with the motor still running, made that brave walk to tell Sister Jackson, "I want that."

Ubon has been set on an uproar that will not be quieted. The youth, in exhaustion, came into a group from their few places they had stationed themselves. No water, no food, it's Sunday evening-- no buying. Sweat, no voices left, handed in their results with significant confidence-- "This person is... and this person has been to...." They were invested in those they found.

The tally? 49 people in two hours.

I heard this morning that Poland has just begun using the method that originated here in Thailand that has changed Asia. Poland.

When I sat in front of the television about two years ago, President Monson made the significant change in age for missionaries. No person will ever know what impact that moment had on my entire life.

I know the Hastening was real the moment that announcement came from his mouth. Since then that testimony has only been verified time and time again. When I entered my mission, the average baptism count a month was 40 people. And the retention was just as low.

But then we believed.

And just last month, 217 people were baptized in 4 weekends.

In four months we outdid last year's END total. In the month of June we will hit 1000 baptisms in just 6 months.

It is unprecedented. It is what the world would call "unreal". ...but is it?

Or have we finally discovered reality?

The reality of God is doing "Impossible". The reality of God is "exceeding all expectation". The reality of God is a call heard to a nation of Buddhist people. The reality of God is thousands of years of "traditions held by fathers" dropped at the hat for what sounds familiar in His children's ears.

The lullaby sung in heaven is ringing throughout the land: "We've heard this before." And it sounds like a trump. It waves like a banner. It shouts like a battle cry but enters the heart as a gentle invitation.

The impact across the Ubon zone is causing us to be kicked out of public places. People are recognizing us. 

"...The Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him, [cried out]: "This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the [traditions of the] people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also [into their church]...  And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut. And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar." -Acts 21

 As Joseph Smith once prophesied so emphatically: 

The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done. [HC 4:540]

We're not done here.

I'm considering purchasing a mega-phone.

Love,

Sister Painter

 Skyping home on Mother's Day!

Envision Optimism

Dear Family & Friends,

This week in our 'Greece' (see last week's email), miracles happened. Oddly enough, the zone leaders are even teaching a woman who was an investigator 10 years ago and got dropped. Her name is Caesar.

So it's official that I've gotten way sensitive. We watched these Thai life insurance commercials on the bus ride home from Surin and me and Sister Jackson were COMPROMISED in tears. We crack up at how irrational we're being, bawling over these little tragedy stories, and then the bus attendant from the back comes up, has been watching us the whole time, and hands us a roll of toilet paper to cry amongst ourselves.

Well friends. The storm came. We burst into Ubon here and with our zone's spirits on the battle front with full faith, Ubon basically exploded. Insomuch that there was literally a DOWNPOUR of rain, lightning, thunder, the works. It was a major explosion, and we were caught inside the church right when it happened, so I got some insane photos. I'll attach some of Elder Cooper's too.

What are some other good funnies of the week.... oh yeah. I thought a ceremonial zebra statue was a big dog in the dark-- terrifying in black and white.

We tango'd across a park ballroom in the midst of pro's to try to get their attention. One couple was completely unmoved, the other couldn't even keep dancing they were laughing so hard.

We sang at a wheelchair charity give-away for the church and the Thai man that was the announcer called for us to come up, but then when we did, he had us introduce ourselves and then he's like: "You'll be singing. ..... But not now. So go." Hahahah. So we were like shunned to the other room until he called us again. It was just funny because he said it in English and it was so abrupt.

Honestly all I have on my mind all the time is that these people need to be baptized in order to be truly happy and receive what Christ has already done for them. People are coming from the dust, from the cracks, out into the sun. The message of the gospel, shared simply, is bringing a fold of people to the church-- teaching the commandment, the blessings, finish with testimony. That's all it requires. We were making it too complicated before. I've been teaching commandments, full lessons, everything in 15 minute sit-downs. The gospel is simple-- we were just making it too hard!

After being taught simply and committed boldly, how wonderfully bright a person looks. They are filled with this hope. They have hope for themselves. I tell them, "It's a new start. A clean slate."

The gospel expands minds. Especially when the concept is so simple.

I want to talk about Breem. This sweet girl had been going to church for a while but "wouldn't commit to anything" as it said on her records. We gave her a big hug on that 3rd day I was here in Ubon, and said, "Wow, you look like a member already. You are definitely ready to be baptized! Will you get baptized next week?" 

Some just need someone else have a little faith in them.

She was baptized yesterday.

The concept of Optimism and Vision-- let's talk about it. I would like to define optimism as: "Seeing not how things are, but could be. A spiritual construction of the mind, that, combined with faith, brings to pass the gifts of the spirit."

Our optimism in the future-- the construction of faith in our hearts and minds, draws us in the direction the Savior would have us go. When we align our binoculars, our side with His, we truly see things as they really are.

We see angels minister. We are guided to where we must be in that moment. We see life in God's light. When I think of optimism I think of a bright light. People that are optimistic radiate, and magnetize other people towards them.

Is it any wonder that we'd be optimistic and bright if our light showed even a particle % like the Savior's?

So, Vision. We are most optimistic when we see the way the Christ does. We see people as they could be. That is how I've spent my days in Ubon-- when I stop to talk to them, I see them as they would become. I want it for them. When we teach them, we give them their first tastes of faith-- a tiny tiny little seed, and give them something hard to do. Quit smoking today. Get married tomorrow to your boyfriend you're living with. Big commitments.

Why would they do that? Logically, does it make sense?

But what if a set of girls walked into your bike shop and asked for you to fill up their tires.

I want to talk about a man named Off. In the process of doing just that, filling my back tire, I expressed the message of the gospel and invited him. He capped my tire, stood up and just looked back at me. He was so friendly and I couldn't figure out why he was accepting everything I was saying with such a big smile.

The next day Off called us. He said he had had a tiring day at the shop, and as he was sitting in his home he had thought to himself: "How did those young girls have so much power?" He told me that when we walked into his shop it was as if an authority had followed us in and it invited him to believe everything we said. He said what he felt, he couldn't describe.

All I remember from that day in the bike shop was that we hadn't planned on going there. But we passed it, and turned back around immediately. I believed that he would believe me, and that he would be baptized. When I saw him, I knew it.

Off is getting baptized on the 18th this month because two optimistic girls had a vision of what he could be. The light that confirmed it to him was simply consequence of faith. "Any thing that has ever had any value, was first spiritually created in the mind, and because of his exceeding faith, he brought it about temporally. He literally caused it to happen." - Gene R. Cook

The Bumble Bee's body is logically and mechanically too big and too heavy and too disproportional to be able to fly.

And in such manner, do we fly in Ubon.

Love,

Sister Painter

 

Greece: This is the Place!

Dear Family, Friends, and anyone who will hear,

As I write this, I'm 50 miles from the border of Laos. Last week I was told I wasn't moving, so I didn't even make mention of transfers. ... All that changed mighty fast.

This week I packed up all my things, knowing my time on my mission was short. The tension was high. I was nervous. I have two moves left, and one of them is only a 6 week one now with the changes in transfers back to 6 again.

I went to transfers, knowing not where I'd be by the end of the day. I got the assignment, I took my sweet companion Sister Jackson, and we took a night bus back to the Eesan.

My dear friends. I know that you know, that this is called the Thailand BANGKOK Mission. But my personal ministry (if you want to call it that) may as well have been called the Thailand EESAN Mission. If I finish in this area, I will have spent 9 weeks total from the entire duration of my mission, actually IN Bangkok.

I've moved. Now I reside in the rice fields of Ubon. Here, people speak 99% Eesan, with the exception of that 1% being members using "normal" Thai with us. Look up Ubon on a map. Thereee ya go.

I stepped foot, this last Friday, into what I believe to be my "Greece".

I say that, because Peter was called out to go find a certain man who beckoned to him from a land far away, and this man was a Greek. His name was Cornelius, a centurion at Caesarea. The baptism of Cornelius marked the way for the gospel to be preached to the Gentiles. Peter had a dream, and was immediately there-after called upon by this man Cornelius. He straight-way went out to find him, and Cornelius was baptized that very day.

My whole mission, I have had several of these shining finds. But during my time in Bangkok, I was burning inside, feeling I was not yet done. Somewhere afar, I felt a call.

I have walked into the land of my Cornelius.

And there are many more of them here.

Sister Jackson and I were immediately overcome by the feeling we had at each other's photo on the screen, and even more so when we walked into the city. I almost cried on the spot when we arrived and I road my bike on the city streets that day.

I don't know what awaits me here, but I have found my Greece. This mission is changing the world of Christianity in Asia. I know Ubon will be no exception.

And so I come unto my Gentiles and offer what Peter of old once offered for the first time. What then turned the world on its opposite ends has begun again in Asia, and I have been a part of it.

"These that have turned the world upside down are come hither." -Acts 17:6

The lost will be found.

The dark will be brought to light.

The lighthouse will shine forth.

Men will arise from the dust.

Cornelius will be found.

The crowning event of the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece was the marathon. It was the final mile that the race was won.

I learned struggle in Udon.

I learned how to rise in Roi-et.

I learned to shine in Don Mueang Bangkok.

And I've come to fly in Ubon.

My mission began as a letter from the Prophet Thomas S. Monson: "You are called."

To any and all, who will ever come across this little line of communication between missionary and the world back at home--If we never meet face to face, I have one thing to say.

All you ever need to know about Sister Monica Painter was that she answered the call.

Love,

Sister Painter

 Saying good-bye to Bangkok and all those going home to the states.

"I Can't Read"

Dear Beloved Family & Friends,

First of all, Happy Easter. Let's talk about this last week. Please prepare yourself comfortably in your Americanized swivel chair.

So Songkran. An excuse to be inconsiderate of people's dry state. It's hot outside... hmm. Splash! Buses, motorcycles, businessmen, ANYONE is fair game. If you think about it, the splashers (me) are really doing everyone else a favor. You look warm. Splash. You look like you're sending a pizza to that house over there. Oh you are? Splash.




 

(The city streets of Bangkok on Songkran. This is another one of our Districts by Siam Square.)



So our branch threw one heck of a party. It was soooo fun. Clean, happy, and fun. The members are adorable. I've sent home some grand proof. For instance, sweet little Sister Ging dancing like she just doesn't care.

I even had a water-bending fight. It was probably the strangest thing ever, as we were in the cultural hall and there was obviously no elements being thrown around. But I definitely felt like I was in a Japanese movie. So what it turned into was a crowd around with a sort of Avatar dance-off. Elder Trabing threw it right back at me, so we were sending an invisible "water" stream like that cartoon. Turned out to be way legit and in the member's imaginations they were actually seeing us throwing back and forth a big ball through the air. So at random moments in this 1 minute fight, the crowd surrounding was like "OOO!!" and "Ahhh! WHOA!!" Like. .... I don't know if they know this... but there was no actual ball. But it did look legit.

Anyway. That's how I spent my water festival.

Other than that. Let's talk about crazy.

 

Brother Bawm got baptized!!! He is literally amazing. He came to the church on Saturday and said his job interview didn't go well. I asked why? He said he couldn't get Sunday off, so he .

rejected the offer. THAT'S a man

 

 

Sis Croft and Sis Hughes were on a switch-off, and they found a man on the street that was seemingly normal. But then he gets to the church the next day for an appointment, and I will describe this man via hashtags. I'm assuming those are still popular in America.

#4yearsinjail

#putdownyourshirt??

#stoptryingtoproSoI will now explain to you what a man is NOT. .... Oh dear. The crazies.

#killedaman you'renotcrazybysaying"I'mnotcrazy!!" 

#whydidyoubringthatbigbranchofwoodfromthatnearbytree (apparently, as we were told, he carries it around because he's afraid of dogs?) 

#partofamob? 

#"IwasaMuayThaiboxeronce!!"

That may look like a lot of rubbish. Try to translate it by reading slowly. Then take it in. That's pretty whack.

Anyway. Needless to say, we aren't teaching him. And when he called 12 times the next day Sister Croft proposed the following brilliant idea: "What does the Pizza Company say when they pick up? We could do that!"

Me: "......"

Her: "...Hey! It's an idea!!"

But here's the miracle story for the week.

The other day Sister Croft and I did find a man on the side of the street that was interested, clean-cut and normal. His name is Chaad. We decided to try out what Elder Campbell used to do and take people straight off the street into the church. A member was there, so we gave him a tour. He was so humble and really taking it all in.

Next day, we meet with him. But before that: "Oh no. Not again! No Book of Mormon??? We're all out??" A terrible problem, seeing as this man clearly needs it for his conversion! So we search the library of the church. Nothing. Classrooms. Nothing.

I pray and say: "Heavenly Father, this man is sincere! But I have no scriptures here. We're out. What do we do?" I get the feeling there's a book in the building. It's a small impression. I think, "Go to the stage."

The stage?? I was just using the stage for the branch activity. It's barren.

We keep looking in the church building. I just know there's a book in here, I feel it. I feel like Heavenly Father has placed it for us, and I'm being dumb and can't find it.

I open the door to the dark stairs up to the stage. In the tiniest and smallest room of the whole church building, lies on that staircase, one lone Book of Mormon.

I pick it up, entirely in disbelief. How did this get here? I look it over. No name, no markings.

One lone Book of Mormon on the steps.

We meet with Chaad. We teach him about the restoration and how he can know for himself through this book. I know he'll take it. He does, so graciously. But then with a look of shame and almost a tear in his eye, he says:

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. But... I can't read."

I look at him and I hear myself promise him that if he wants to read, God will teach him how to read through the study of this book. I promised he would learn how to read. The look on his face told me he yearned for it. And as soon as the promise was out of my mouth, I knew it wasn't my promise to him.

A follow-up call to Chaad almost put me in tears. He said, "Sister, I'm trying so hard to read the Book of Mormon. I'm really trying, I'm doing it."

God literally prepared a Book of Mormon for us to find, for a man who can't even read. 

That's how far God is willing to go for his children.

I love you all,

Sister Painter



 This is our newly called Area Seventy.  I Love him.  He is the first ever Thai Seventy.
 

David and Goliath

Dear Family & Friends,

This week I am lacking a notebook of all the events from the week because it's water festival outside and that's treacherous business! So all I have with me today is a hawaiian shirt, giant crazy yellow glasses, my camera, and some clear baggies. Pictures to come next week, as this internet place is kinda ghetto.

This week we got to watch conference and that was beyond what I expecting. I want to challenge everyone to review those talks as closely as possible. There are major themes running through them, did you notice?

One that has been most impactful was the idea of "Who do you trust?"

Let's talk about it a little. There were a number of apostles that brought up this idea of "heed not to what people say!" How concerned are we about what people think about us? How often do we hide in the crowd when really someone should be standing up for what's right?

The influence of the world is increasingly negative towards the simple truths of having good morals. With technology and complexity of lifestyles, people are trying to make "doing the right thing" more complicated. It's all about "rights" and "tolerance" and "accepting everyone for who they are."

My dear sweet friends. If we really knew who we were, had there never been a veil between here and our original heavenly home, would we really allow ourselves these excuses? "Well, that's just the way I am. It can't be helped."

I testify to you that all habits, all behavior, all hearts, can change. Society's change does not define what's right. God's laws are God's laws. And coming from someone who truly loves God's laws, I urge you with all my heart to be brave and be "true to the truth that our parents have cherished."

What Elder Holland said after visiting our area here in Asia. President Senior got to go and meet him! -- https://www.lds.org/church/news/the-church-is-wonderfully-well-in-asia-elder-holland-reports?lang=eng

Anyway, I want to share an experience from this week that will explain the message I want to send today. Do you remember the story of David and Goliath?

This last week I was walking along a bridge to get across the road. On this bridge, however, a very scary, big, insane man resides much of the time, but it is the only way. He has chased us madly before twice, grabbed us both twice, and honestly, given us a good scare plenty of times because he's crazy. Sister Croft and I have felt that he has a little 'something dark' about him that makes him so scary.

But this particular day as I walked up the flight of stairs to cross this bridge, I had a thought. "If you see this man, put your hand up and raise your authority."

I thought to myself, "Wait, what? I'm gonna do WHAT? David and GOLIATH this??"

So I reach the peak and realized the bridge troll was there. Uh oh. But the spirit was strong and made me feel confident. This man was huge! He could literally throw me over the bridge if he wanted!

I made that walk towards him. He noticed us. He rose to his feet and barked like a dog, to which I raised my hand to the square with an unexpected confidence, thinking, "I am a representative of Jesus Christ."

I cannot explain to you accurately what happened.

He shriveled away in fear. He literally crouched to the ground with a whimper, protecting his collection of trash in his grocery cart.

Goliath came down.

I felt as if I had a light radiating off of me that would allow him to come nowhere near me. He then stood up, knowing he could not pass my drawn line, and spit at me.

I walked on across the bridge, wiping the spit from my face and clothes. Victorious. Darkness cannot overtake light. Goliath will never take down a confident David.

Go ahead and try to convince me where the world's authority comes from. There's one authority to which all must heed-- despite popular vote.

I know with a surety that God's power is infinite and abounding. He is not quiet. He does not work in secret. And He administers upon the earth today through the warning voice of the prophet-- whose authority, I trust.

God makes David's out of all of his children if they are willing to be. You can overcome your Goliath's. You are so much more than what society's rules would claim you to be. Your "rights" include invoking the power of heaven.

"Let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord; for behold he is mightier than all the earth, then why not mightier than Laban and his fifty, yea, or even than his tens of thousands?" (1 Nephi 4:1)

I love you all,

Sister Painter

If you are thinkiong about a mission!

Dear Family & Friends,

I have gotten a bunch of questions about my mission, and one of them was about how my mission leaders have affected my life.

If there was a name you didn't recognize that sounded like a lot of funny sounds during conference as a new Asia Area 70, I would like to announce that one of my mission role models, Elder Khanakham, was just called as the VERY FIRST THAI GENERAL AUTHORITY.

He is one of the most inspiring, wise, and consecrated individuals I have ever met. He is literally the most profound, concise, loving and purposeful servant of God and the perfect representative for Thailand's well-being. Thailand is literally going places. We have a general authority. I've watched his example my whole mission. I know that Thailand is in the hands of a real disciple.

But above and beyond all the people to whom I have looked to for guidance on my mission, the one with the most impact and most lasting influence, has been my hero. President Senior.

To any and all that are thinking about being a missionary, whoever you may be, where-ever you may be, I want to promise you one thing. You will never respect a person more, than the man holding the keys to your mission and your life as a missionary. Your mission president will change your life. He will inspire you, lift you, and know you more personally than you would ever expect. He knows what your mission was meant to do for you.

I had no idea that my mission was meant to change the entire life that will follow it.

To any and all that are thinking about mission service, I want to be a witness that you will never regret that decision. Make sure it is right for God's plan for you first. And then, if you get that confirming yes, rejoice. God has more in store for you than you will ever imagine. You will see the impossible. You will view the world with eyes that really see.

To all of your in Young Women's. Just know that "the Theme" will literally be the theme of your life. Your life is a journey of becoming. And as one Sister once said over the conference pulpit: "All I needed to know, I learned in Young Women's."

If you are a Young Man-- your white shirt and tie are a symbol to the world. We need all of you out here.

If I could use any more boldness I would. To be a missionary is to lose your life in order to find it.

Let's talk about light. As you stroll through your daily life you feel you are entirely like everyone else. I testify to you, that you shine brightly because of what you know. You radiate.

"Once Brigham Young was asked why we are sometimes left alone and often sad, his response was that man has to learn 'to act as an independent being to see what he will do- and try his independency- to be righteous in the dark. That becomes easier to do when we see the 'gospel glow radiating from illuminated individuals'." - Elder Faust.

On my mission, I have experienced darkness. Missions are not easy, but they are worth it. At times you have to take steps in the dark, but right as you make that step the light goes on. And it is the light I have seen in my mission leaders, my life heroes, those 'illuminated individuals' that has made all the difference.

You will need your Mission President.

You will need your trainer.

You will need your companions.

Your mission will need you.

Take it from a girl who never thought she'd wear a name-tag. To any and all who are considering, or have never considered, or are considering to consider: let me be this witness.

It is, and will ever be, the driving experience that leads the rest of your life. Of this I know: God calls you where you must go, and tells you what you must do, and the moment that you lose your life in the service of God, you find it radiating beyond that last dark step.

I want to thank my mission heroes. My supportive example of my Dad. My inspired and loving Mission President. My profoundly influential Zone Leaders. My prized District Leaders. My Thai trainer Sister Pannida. My sweet precious "Greenies", all three. My companions and friends. I am compilation of everything I have ever seen and heard from you. Thank you, endlessly.

My time is not yet done. But the gratitude spills over. As I move forward towards Conference and the future of Thailand, I know with a surely: "There must needs be more than this." - 2 Nephi 10:21

Love,

Sister Painter