Airport arrival October 18, 2013

Anthony's flight arrived on time but one of his bags decided to stay in Bangkok. We got it the next night intact. We are very happy to have him home and begin to plan for his future the man he now is.

 Friends

 Holding up the signs

 Here he comes

 Walking toward the family

 Coming in for the sister hug

 Checking out our welcome signs with Talitha

 Brother love

 Dad last. Mom was after Laura but since she is the photographer there are no pics

"Death" of Elder Susi

September 13, 2013

Companion: Elder Kohler

Hello People of the World,

The time has come and everyone has been telling me that this is my last email. Well, it is true, I guess. So what do I tell everyone?

This week was alright. Mostly I was waiting for General Conference. It was great! I really enjoyed it, especially the stories. Stories are usually what I like anyway.

I have been working hard to keep focused and doing the things that we were supposed to. We had a great experience at a Sports Park this week. We wanted to go inviting, but didn't really know where to go. We had two choices: a Sports Park in the evening time and a weekend market where lots of people would be. We decided to go to the Sports Park and go to talk to people. We weren't too sure which direction to go, but picked a path and walked. We tried talking to some of the people sitting around, but they weren't interested. While walking we met this man that was very nice and wanted to talk to us. He sat and talked to us and made an appointment with us. He may be related to a new investigator of the other Elders, and is very interested.

I don't want to say too much via email, but will have a video prepared when I get home. I hope to see everyone soon.

Elder Anthony Susi

Elder Susi's last requests:

I would really like a Chili's for dinner, that would be awesome, just something simpler. I still like Chex Mix or pretzels, or a Sunkist bottle would be great.

If there is anything else to get ready besides a bed, just the room and maybe a iPhone with apps, movies, music, anything. Anything else is up to you.

Death of Elder Anthony Susi

Twice winded

October 6, 2013

Companion: Elder Kohler

Hello People of the World,

So, we worked our butts off! Monday was a great relaxing day and Tuesday is usually filled with meetings and English Class, which it was. We did some amazing work and tried visiting lots of members and Less-Active members. Thursday, we went to far away places to visit members. One lived 30km away on bus, and then an extra 10km to their house. There was beautiful countryside and it was really nice and clear.

The members were very happy to see us and felt bad that we took the time to go to their house. Later that day, we went 21km to another area, and then went an extra 10km to their house or so. The LA member was from New Zealand and her husband was Thai, and spoke amazing English. We had a great time at their house. The rest of our week was spent doing the normal missionary work: teaching lessons, contacting, visiting members and trying to find Less-Active members. The other Elders in the District were doing the same, and both companionships had great success this week. I am so grateful to be out here, I don't think many people understand that this is the best thing ever, and most people come home from these pumped to help the work of the Lord progress. I hope to see you all soon, and will email you one more time before coming home. Boy it's weird.

Elder Anthony Susi

 Beautiful Country

 Peek a boo

No-bake cookies

September 29, 2013

Companion: Elder Kohler

 Hello People of the World,

As it appears that some of you know, my companion randomly moved away to another place while I stay here in Khonkaen. My new companion's name is Elder Kohler. He is from Washington. He is companion number 17! Crazy, right? We had a lot of fun this week, visiting our investigators, and getting to know each other. There are two other missionaries that joined us here in Khonkaen, Elder Pearson, and Elder Ngaosuvan. Elder Ngaosuvan actually came from Bangkapi, my last area, so he knows me pretty well.

I don't know what to tell everyone. We kept meeting with random people that were interested. Those that were very interested weren't even people that we had already talked to. Most of the time, they saw us talking to someone else and wanted to talk to us. I'm so glad that we are using our time wisely and doing as we are supposed to as missionaries. We have also had an awesome experience meeting the members and visiting. They are loving the extra set of Elders that came. They liked it even more when we brought them no-bake cookies that we had made ourselves.

That is it really. I hope that you have a good week and talk to you soon.

Elder Anthony Susi

Amazing drawing 

 Yummy

Elder Ngaosuvan

Typhoon Usagi

Hello People of the World,

So apparently there was a storm that was very big in China. Well, that storm has made its way to Thailand, or Khonkaen at least, and has been creating havoc. It rained all of this last week, sometimes a lot, or a little. The last couple days it just went on and off, making it difficult to get people to meet with and to come to church.

We have had a great time with our investigators, especially in acquiring new ones. We met a mother and son that have had Christian experiences in their life and wanted to know why they were on this Earth and if death was the end. We taught them about the Plan of Salvation and committed them to baptism, and they accepted. We also are teaching an investigator that had learned with Elders in the past and wanted to start learning again. We talked to him about the Gospel and he kept telling us how he wanted to be on the right path and he knows that this is the right path. He accepted a baptismal date, and we are happy to work with him.

I am having a great time and I hope that everyone keeps on having a good time.

Elder Anthony Susi

http://www.trust.org/item/20130923055308-11zh4/?source=hpbreaking

By Amy Sawitta Lefevre

BANGKOK, Sept 23 (Reuters) - More than 600,000 Thais have been affected by flooding since July and more than a quarter of Thailand's provinces have been inundated, prompting officials to issue landslide warnings and begin evacuation measures on Monday.

Devastating floods in 2011 killed more than 800 people and caused massive disruption to industry, cutting economic growth that year to just 0.1 percent.

Four people have been killed in this year's flooding. More rainfall is expected later this week.

"Due to a heavier-than-usual monsoon season, 21 provinces are now experiencing flooding. We have issued a warning about landslides and have told boats in the Gulf of Thailand to be vigilant," Chatchai Promlert, chief of Thailand's Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, told Reuters.

Parts of Ayutthaya province north of the capital, Bangkok, have been deluged by up to a metre of water, he said. Ayutthaya town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where several ancient temples were badly damaged in the 2011 floods.

Many huge industrial estates in Ayutthaya and other provinces on a plain north of Bangkok were inundated in 2011.

At least 10 provinces in Thailand's central plains, the main rice-growing region, have been affected by the floods but the extent of any damage is not yet known.

The flooding has hit in harvest season and output is likely to be affected, but there has been no official comment yet.

Plodprasop Suraswadi, a deputy prime minister, said he was confident there would not be a repeat of the 2011 floods, which at one stage threatened to engulf Bangkok.

"Water levels in our dams are low enough to handle any extra rainfall," Plodprasop said.

Municipal authorities have ordered sandbags stacked around shops and homes and extra water pumps have been installed in many areas.

In Prachin Buri province, 135 km (85 miles) east of Bangkok, more than 700 inmates from a prison were evacuated on Sunday and transferred to other facilities nearby after their cells were flooded.

The national disaster department said it was offering assistance to residents in flood-affected areas, including the provision of life-jackets and boats. Those living in low-lying areas have been advised to move to higher ground. (Additional reporting by Apornrath Phoonphongphiphat and Aukkarapon Niyomyat; Editing by Alan Raybould and Paul Tait)

Success

September 15, 2013

Companion: Elder Proctor

Hello People of the World,

So, I've been good. We are still progressing towards awesome success!! We have had lots of opportunity to feel the Spirit, and love the experiences that we are having. For instance, we had a missionary senior couple come visit us in Khonkaen. This couple is one of those people that get things done. It is because they are older, and Thailand will do anything that older people will say. They came and helped us discover all these potential people that are interested in the Gospel and what we teach. On Friday, it was one of those days that we just kind of floated through the day. We were just full of the Spirit, and we had some plans and goals, and none of the plans made out, but the goals did. We had an experience in which we passed a guy, right after buying some food, right next to our house. We dropped off our food, and packed a bag up for him and went to find him. We found him, and he was so surprised that we were trying to give him food, that he just kept saying no and walking away. We walked and talked and we think that we made him feel better about life, because he looked like he was in the dumps and needed some food and love. We haven't seen him since, but that is an example of what we have done this week.

We are going to try to visit our members and talk to them about their family and friends. We will see what happens.

I am glad to see that everyone is alive. I hope to see everyone soon.

Elder Anthony Susi

Happy 21!!!

September 8, 2013

Companion: Elder Proctor

Hello People of the World,

Well, this was a good week. Ish. We had a great opportunity to plan a ton on how to help our branch. We have decided that we, as missionaries, feel that it is our duty to become close with members. We have started to meet with all of the members that we know and those that we don't know, but members do. So far, we are having a good time and are having success. We have mostly dealt with the Less Active members and are being able to help them to come back and help some come back to full activity. I really like doing the Less Active work. Funny enough, in honor of the Comic Con that we forgot about, we called it Operation: Dinothunder.

We are so happy that everyone is having good health and that life seems to be normal. Don't let the news and media tell us otherwise. I thank everyone for the birthday wishes, we are having a Family Home Evening at the Branch President's house about 50 km away. That is it. Maybe on Tuesday, tomorrow, we will go eat ice cream. The national ice cream parlor, Swensen's, has a special for card holder, I have, called "Free Scoop Tuesday." You buy a scoop, and you get a scoop for free. It is good.

That is it this week.

Elder Anthony Susi

Daters!

September 1, 2013

Companion: Elder Proctor

Hello People of the World,

Well, this week was definitely better than last week. We had the opportunity to go to our District Conference in which Elder Gerrit W. Gong and Elder Wu came and visited. No announcements were made, but it does sound like things are happening soon. We had some good experiences with our investigators. Last Sunday we taught one of our investigators that is already Christian, and likes to talk a lot, a lesson in which we let him talk and we taught with him instead of teach around him like has happened to him in the past, not necessarily by us. He now is a dater getting ready for baptism and calls us regularly to invite us to go eat with him. Another is an investigator that has a problem with smoking. He has a goal to start not smoking yesterday and is a dater as well, for this month. He shared with us a profound testimony of what is happening in his life and is loving the example of his wife.

We have had opportunities to meet with new people and to talk to them about the Gospel. We had a special training meeting recently. We learned lots of things that my companion and I are happy to begin using.

Well, that's it. It looks like everyone is having a good time.

Elder Anthony Susi

Pray for us.

August 25, 2013

Companion: Elder Proctor

Hello People of the World,

This has definitely been a harder week. We were unable to meet with any of our investigators, we  have to go to a couple peoples work places to teach them. Lame. Some investigators have dropped us and others are just hard to meet.

Basically that is how my week is going. Please pray for us, we are needing to work way hard.

Elder Anthony Susi

7th and FINAL area! Khon Kaen

August 18, 2013

Companion: Elder Proctor

Hello People of the World,

Well, as everyone knows, I have moved to a new area. It is called Khon Kaen, I am back in the Isan! That means random pictures, right? I have the random pictures already. We had a slow final time together, Elder Sae-Dan and I, but we had fun. The last couple days, there was a couple of Elders that came from Nong Khai to go to some meetings that were going on in Bangkok, we were able to spend some time with them and do some work. Transfers was good, I was excited to move, but not at the same time. The was a lot of good going on right before we left, and so I had to make some really good notes about the area for the next companionship.

I moved into my new area with Elder Proctor, from Herriman, Utah. I get to finish his training and help follow up with him. We have already had good experiences. Just on Saturday, we decided to just go walking to maybe find somewhere to invite and do some work. Well, it ended up being a really good tour of the area! We also happened upon a member who invited us to sit and drink some water. While sitting there, we started talking to an older man about what we do and our religion, and the member had an opportunity to say that she was a member, and share testimony. We invited him to church and he sounded like he might go! (sadly, he didn't). He went inside when another man came outside and started talking to us. We were able to share the same things with him and talk about our English Class and found out that he is a police officer in charge of a different district close by. He sounded interested as well, and disappeared when ANOTHER guy came and talked to us. We were only able to talk to him about English Class, because he likes our program and wants to have foreigners teach English to police cadets, but he was the guy in charge of all of Khon Kaen. Wow, talk about celebrities!

We also were able to teach a lesson to a new investigator, the brother of a member from Chiangrai! He was sweet and seemed very interested. All of this happened because we went out doing what we were supposed to do daily. We are seeing good things already.

I feel like I am going crazy, sometimes, I just have moments of insanity. No reason why, but boy they are fun.

I hope that everyone had a good week. I will be sending later because I have a different schedule when I train.

Elder Anthony Susi

P.S. this makes area 7, and DINOSAURS!!!!

Baptism and Mothers Day

August 11, 2013

Companion: Elder Sae-Dan

Hello People of the World,

this was a good week. Monday was pretty quiet. Had a boring Pday, ate, slept and went to an FHE. All good. 

Tuesday was our day of meetings and teaching a ton of lessons. We got a new investigator. Her name is Phloy, but we are calling her Pink because she is one of five Phloys in the ward. Wednesday, I went on switch offs with Elder Passey, a new missionary. We had a good day of contacting and meeting new people. We then interviewed their investigator. He needed an additional interview, but he passed. Thursday night, I went on another switch off with Elder Marshall. Friday, was with Elder Marshall. We taught my dater Sister Ming. She is going to be interviewed on Wednesday next week, and then baptized next Sunday. Saturday, we taught some more and interviewed the Sister's investigator he passed. Sunday, we had a double baptism! The other Elders and the Sisters had a baptism! We also had the Mother's Day celebration. President Senior called, saying that I and Elder Sae-Dan was moving. I am also going to train, but it will be finishing someone's training. 

Basically, we have all these good things happening and I am going to move in three days. I don't know where I am going yet, but I am excited. It is going to be my last transfer. I hope to talk to everyone soon.

Elder Anthony Susi

Did Joseph Smith find those golden tablets???

August 4, 2013

Companion: Elder Sae-Dan

Hello People of the World,

I don't even know what happened this week. lol  OK, just kidding, I do, it just went by so fast. I feels like nothing happened. 

Thinking. . . Ok, so our Monday and Tuesday was pretty slow/filled with meetings. Monday is our P-Day, and Tuesday is when we have a meeting with the Bishop, District Meeting, and prepare for our English class which gives us 2 hours to work, which we filled with lessons. 

Wednesday, we had a surprise visit from the APs, (Assistants to the President), they wanted to come switch off with us. Ok, it wasn't that much of a surprise, we knew the night before. I was with Elder Federico, and we just talked about the future of the mission and my future. He asked me, "if you were to choose somewhere to finish your mission, where would you want to go?" I told him Chiangrai, my first area. I would want to try it again because I can speak Thai now, or at least better than I did almost 2 years ago. He asked because, I don't know, maybe President Senior wants to know where "dying" missionaries want to "die." We also talked about contacting ideas and tactics and went out and did it. Not too many people were out, but we had a nice conversation. 

Thursday was the day that a farang found us and started asking funny questions about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. I think, that sounds right. We had a lesson planned, and it got cancelled because the investigator was way tired from work, so we went to Fashion Island, a mall, and ran some errands. As we were going up an escalator, a white guy got on behind us and said "you boys must be Mormons." "yeah, we are," I said, "How did you know?" He said, " You look like it." "Where are you from," I asked. "Canada," he said, "What about you?" "Utah!" "Oh, from Provo, right?" That was weird, are a lot of Utahn missionaries from Provo? "No," I said, "from Farmington, further north." "Oh, ok. So tell me did Joseph Smith ever find those golden tablets?" Uh oh. "He did, actually" "Well, where are they?" "In heaven." "yeah yeah Ok." and with that he walked away. A few minutes later, we saw us again, and he walked right up to us and said, "no, really where are the golden tablets?" "They are in heaven" "How did they get there, inanimate objects don't just translate themselves." "Well yeah, an angel took them." "no, seriously" "really, an angel took them." " yeah ok." and we haven't seen him since. 

Friday was a good day for feeling and using the Spirit. We had a few lessons, two of them very important, and we were able the seek out their needs and concerns in order to help one of them make a goal for baptism. We are still waiting for her answer to her prayer on what day. The other lessons were good lessons on teaching Christians. You don't have to explain so much to them when they already believe in God and Jesus. Saturday was ruined by the rain. Basically that is it. 

Sunday was very slow. After church we came home and did some paper work stuff, preparing for this week. Soon we had to leave the house, I was going crazy. We went to this park far away and tried to talk to people, everyone was busy exercising and didn't want to talk to us. After being there 2 hours, we decided to go home and we proceeded to wait for a free bus. Meaning, we didn't have to pay money to ride it. We waited until 8:30 and then just jumped on a bus and paid the 13 baht fare. Easy. 

That was my week. I hope to see you all soon. 

Elder Anthony Susi 

Scriptures

July 28, 2013

Companion: Elder Sae-Dan

Hello People of the World,

After much consideration, I am come to tell you that my week with pretty quiet. Not much actually happened. 

I did learn a thing or two about the Spirit though. We had a member call us and asked if we could met him, we agreed. Why wouldn't we? He had questions about how the Holy Ghost was. We shared these scriptures: 

    8 But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.

 9 But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me.

      12 Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually.

He was intrigued and wanted to know why he could pray and pray and pray and not get an answer. We pointed at the first scripture, and added one more:

      Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me.

He thanked us for our time and then departed. 

I also was able to read from Acts 10-11 recently about how Peter followed the Spirit to know that it was time to speak to those of other nations. 

I am still enjoying my mission, and I can't wait to see everyone soon. 

Elder Anthony Susi

Less-Actives

July 21, 2013

Companion: Elder Sae-Dan

Hello People of the World,

I didn't know what to the name this email, maybe I'll figure it out by the end. 

Monday, as always, is our relax day. We didn't do anything, except for that "FHE" that we had. We had wanted to do a Family Home Evening on Monday and when we talked to the bishop about it, he said that the ones that had been held the weeks before were without his permission. He kindly asked for us to not have one at the church. When we told the usual people, they were sad.  We got there and they asked "Where are we eating? What are we doing?" They didn't know what they wanted so we had to choose. KFC. We ate and then went to the church to get some hand-outs. When we got there it started to rain and so they wanted to stay until it was done. We said no and left and closed the church. 

Tuesday, we did some stuff for Elder Sae-Dan. Didn't do too much on the proselyting side that day.

Wednesday, we had the opportunity to help give a blessing to the bishop's mother-in-law. She has cancer or something like that, and she has been dealing with that for about a month now. It was a good spiritual experience.

Thursday was an unexpected day. We had planned to see a couple of investigators, but both appointments canceled. We then had time to Weekly Plan. We used that time to plan what were are going to do to help our investigators, members, and Recent Converts/Less-Actives this week. We got a call from a different investigator before we finished, asking if we could teach her. Good thing we already had a priesthood holder coming. We taught her, which was good, we hadn't met with her for a couple weeks. She has gotten a new job, so she had to do some training. Went to Asoke for Elder Sae-Dan. Came back and met some members at a mall called "The Mall." Original, huh? Ate some ice cream and talked a bit. On our way out, we got a call from another investigator asking us to teach him, because he was free. We went and taught him and he is now gaining more confidence in this. 

Friday we had a great Sports Day. I was able to talk with Elder Marshall about some things. He and his trainee are started to get things together to create a new unit in his area in a different area away from me called; Latphraw. He is doing lots of work down there that is good. Saturday was good? I don't know what to say. We are starting to do lots of Less-Active work in which we go out and find those people that are not coming to church. It has been hard because many of these people have moved, or their addresses don't help us any. Sunday was a good day at church. We went looking for more Less-Actives and then came home and passed out.

That was my week, and it was long. 

Have a good one,

Elder Anthony Susi

Thai Companion!!

July 14, 2013

Companion: Elder Sae-Dan

So, Elder Cosper left last Monday night. I am now with an Elder Sae-Dan. He is from Chiangmai, and he is Thai. His dad is in the Branch Presidency in his home branch, and Elder Sae-Dan has been a member since birth. 

We have had a slower week, but we have been able to get to know each other. Elder Sae-Dan is my second Thai companion by the way, it is definitely easier to communicate this time. 

It has been nice and sunny lately, with some rain. Speaking of, on Tuesday is our English Class day, right? Well, there were some books for English Class that were at the house that we needed to bring to the church. We had to go to Asoke that day for Elder Sae-Dan and I figured that we would get the books on the way back. As we got closer to home, the clouds got bigger and darker. As we got to the house, it started to rain. We put the package of books on the back of my bike and strapped it with a bungee cord. We put all of our essentials into bags and mine into a newly-found water-proof bag, with some holes on the top. We hopped on our bikes and rode out into a down-pour of rain. We were soaked before we made it to the end of our street. When we made it to the church, I was so wet, I didn't know what to do except take off my shoes, wring out my tie and wipe off my face, and fix the hair. A half-hour later, I was teaching English Class with Elder Passey, and new missionary, still soaking wet. Elder Sae-Dan was the same, but he was in another class. 

Well that is me, see y'all soon.

Elder Anthony Susi

Candlelit dinners

July 7, 2013

Companion: Elder Cosper/Elder Saedan

Hello People of the World,

Alright, here is what happened. For anyone confused on what the big "LOST" was all about, I was making fun of the show Lost. Every episode, they get you to feel like all is well, or leave a gigantic cliffhanger and then the screen goes black and then show a big LOST in the middle of the screen. I did that so y'all would want to read this week to see what happened. 

Alright, so, I didn't move. Everyone else did though. Five out of six people in my district moved or went home. I was all alone. Tuesday and Wednesday were spent packing and getting ready to go. Thursday was a very different transfer meeting. We met there early to eat breakfast and to do some studies. I had to have a special interview with President Senior, because I am a District Leader, not because I was in trouble. He told me that my leadership position is the most important one in the mission besides trainer and mission president. Then he talked to me about being a trainer, because when I had my special interview last transfers that's what I wanted to know about. I straight-up said "I would really like to train someone." President Senior this last week said that this transfer was not the transfer, maybe the next one, but he was giving me an opportunity to help two missionaries in my district train. Swell, my next transfer is my last, and he said that me training is a big maybe. We eventually had our transfers meeting, and I am with an Elder Cosper from Alpine, UT. He is a ton of fun! Elder Marshall is back in my district, as a trainer. They are far away in an area that President Senior wants a church unit in in the future. 

We had a fun few days playing guitar together, contacting a little bit, our first dinner was a candle-lit one. The dinner was McDonalds. AWWWWWYEAAHHHHHHH!!!!! Sadly, our companionship was cut short after our fun weekend. President Senior wants me to take care of a missionary out from Srisaket. I don't know detail, just that Elder Cosper is replacing the Elder there. I have a picture of him attached below. 

I hope that everyone is having a good day and I hope to see y'all soon

Elder Anthony Susi

Elder Cosper

Kicked out of a mall

June 30, 2013

Companion: Elder Flanary

Hello People of the World,

Sorry that I am late today, we played some basketball with a member, and were late to studies, so we pushed our studies back a bit. We were making sure that we got them. Not too much happens our first few days, we have to wait until Thursday until anything seems to happen. Thursday, we went out to this place called Fashion Island, it is a mall. We had planned to invite there, sorta, with these big signs. Now, I had a feeling that they were not going to like us doing that inside, but no one seems to listen to me when I am being wise and/or helpful. So we went inside, and walked around, not really talking to anyone. We took a seat and I was about to try talking to someone when a security officer asked what my sign was. The sign was like a big poster board with two "wings" that you had to open and show, and my sign wasn't open. I opened it a little and said "about Jesus." The security officer got upset, "you can't do that in here, it is forbidden, only outside. Go get your friend and get out." So, I went and got Elder Flanary, and we went outside. We went and stood over by this bridge that crosses the freeway with our signs open. Soon, another security guy came over and told us to go up on the bridge, because we couldn't do that there. We really weren't close to the mall, but we did it anyway. And thus is the story about how Elder Susi got kicked out of a mall for talking about Jesus. There is no freedom of religion here, by the way. We talked to a few people, and it kinda worked except when people said, "That's okay, I'm Buddhist/Christian already/Muslim. 

Our awesome investigators are still doing awesome. They came to our sports day activity on Friday and church on Sunday. They are having such a good time, that they don't/maybe don't want to leave the church. We are having so many good experiences with them. For instance: Bay was telling us that he is praying everyday. To do that, he makes sure that there is absolutely nothing that is going to distract him. He then takes all thoughts out of his mind and calms down his body, if he was doing something exciting or exercise-like. He then prays and he says that he feels so much peace and warmth that he just wants to keep praying. Guy on Sunday helped to do everything after church was over. He brought out plates and food, he cleaned the dishes and was pretty upset when one of the sister members came back to church having been robbed. We helped him to know about the Holy Ghost and how it works, we even made a comparison to the feelings of anger at the beginning of the lesson to the feelings of peace and comfort at the end. 

About the robbing. A member was going home and was at the end of the street when a motorcycle rode up, took her purse, and maybe pushed her down hard on the ground. Her elbow was beat up and bleeding and her 18 year old was peeved. Members watched the video recording and reported it. No need to worry. 

I am still doing well. Transfers is about to close, and we still don't have word on who is moving. I will most likely be staying here, but I guess you will find out next week. 

LOST

Elder Anthony Susi

Rats!!!

June 23, 2013

Companion: Elder Flanary

Hello People of the World,

This week has felt different. I'll explain. President Senior last week asked us to change a few things in our work to make things better(?), so we did. It has gone smoother this week. We were asked, for one thing, to go and contact for 2 hours, if possible, every day. We went one day and had some successes. We decided that going to the bus stops would probably work. The first man that we talked to was very friendly and stopped to talk with us for a bit, we exchanged names and numbers and hopped on a bus. Side note: it was a free bus, no need to pay money. We went towards the grocery store, Big C and just tried talking to everyone, and it worked. We found a nice man named Egg, he wanted to know if Christianity really can cleanse us from our sins. I told him yes and we talked for a half hour about the Plan of Salvation and how Jesus is our Savior. 

A couple days later while inviting again, I tried to talk to these two ladies selling some food. They clearly weren't interested, as shown that they were making fun of my Thai and made fun of the fact that I was trying to talk about Christianity to them. In their eyes, they think it is useless, because they are Buddhist and need to be Buddhist to be Thai. Figure that out. Luckily a man and his wife called me over to talk about Jesus, because they were Christian. They wanted to know where a church was, so I told them ours, because ours is the one that will bring them salvation, and it is the true church. We talked forever, and I gave them a Book of Mormon. 

Sadly, later that same day and the next, I got discouraged and depressed. I didn't think that contacting every day for 2 hours was doing anything for us. I honestly, am not a big believer in contacting, I have never seen anything come from it. I talked to my companion about it, and we decided that we need to be diligent in our work, and to make sure and do more than just "talk" to people on the street, we needed to be messengers and representatives of Christ. 

We have a couple of investigators that are doing very well. Their names are: Guy and Bay, (remember, I have to think from Thai to English to write these names). Guy is an English student that was invited by a member to a baptismal service that ended up not happening, (she wasn't ready yet), but he came anyway. He is interested to learn more, and really likes our activities. Guy was also with us in the choir for Stake Conference, which if you saw my Facebook, there is a video of us singing. I don't remember where he stood. Another one is Bay, he was given a Book of Mormon by the same member that invited Guy. Bay is interested to learn more off of curiosity, he also likes our activities. Both were committed to be baptized and both said that they weren't ready/not interested in baptism. That is okay. 

We are going to start doing Less-Active member work this week. We have talked to a few older members that have been members for a while about a list that we have to help us find out more. They have been helpful, all we have to do is to take action, and to help these members "come again unto [Christ]" and return to Church. 

This week should be a good week, and I hope everyone has a good one.

Elder Anthony Susi

I forgot:

There is some other things that I forgot to talk about.

At Stake Conference yesterday, I got to see many members from the Bangnaa Ward that I served in. Many of them are doing well, and my recent converts from there are doing well. I, and Elder Simonsen, are apparently talked about a lot by them to the other Elders and Sisters there. It is nice to feel loved and remembered by them. There is a sister there that is getting ready to go on a mission! She leaves in August to the Temple Square Mission! Wow! I will have to go say hello.

We have pests in our house, mostly because it is messy. We found evidence of rats/mice in our house, so a trap was set up. This morning, we got up and I opened the door, and a rat was in the trap right outside my door! The other Elders put it there. Rascals. What do you do with a rat in a trap? You fill a bucket full of water and put the trap inside it and let the rat drown. Sad day. It needed to be taken care of though, it was making a mess. 

That is all.

Stake Conference Choir

Testify of Christ

June 16, 2013

Companion: Elder Flanary

Hello People of the World, 

This week was just kinda mashed together. The most exciting thing was that we got to go to a Zone Conference, in which all the missionaries in Bangkok and surrounding areas got together and learned about doing missionary work. It was good. I enjoyed it. 

We were required to have a day where we only went out and testified of Christ and what He did for us. We weren't supposed to have any lessons planned. It was really hot and we got way tired. There are many, many people out there that didn't want to hear what we had to say, and many others didn't like what we said. Not that we offended them, they just didn't like hearing about Jesus. I really don't know what else to say. 

Life is good, I am losing weight, and I. . . just feel different. 

Elder Anthony Susi

Nifty new suit

June 9, 2013

Companion: Elder Flanary

So, this week we did a good amount. We did get our new suits, and mine looks pretty nifty. Not quite like Doctor Who (10), but I still like it. It fits pretty well, and I am sending pictures with this email. We have had a good time teaching English class, Elder Flanary and I got some new investigators from it. We went to visit one of them yesterday and she gave us spaghetti and garlic bread. It was a really great dinner and hopefully something more will come out of them. We had a good District Meeting in which our district talked together about concerns that we have about each other and now our district is very close. Our time spent with members and investigators has been good for us, because it shows that we are doing something right and are being more obedient. We are glad that we are doing this work and want to continue doing it. 

Have a good week

Elder Anthony Susi

Power of Prayer

June 2, 2013

Companion: Elder Flanary

Hello People of the World,

This week seemed awfully long. I don't know why. It could be because we did more than I have done in the last three transfers (15 weeks). It wasn't even that we did a ton of work, but we were out there trying to talk with people. I am grateful for the gift of quick healing. This week, Saturday, I came down with something. I had absolutely no energy, I was sick to my stomach and I had some bad diarrhea. I ended up staying in bed all day, and didn't want to go anywhere or do anything. I know that every time I woke up, I prayed to be healed and I know for a fact that there were many prayers in Thailand for me to get better. I love that power of prayer. 

I had some good learning experiences this week. I learned that faith needs to be worked, or the blessings that you want to come to you won't come. I learned that, seeing a friendly face, even if they are strangers, can make you feel the best ever. I learned that if we are not paying attention, there are many opportunities that will be missed to share the gospel with someone that is ready. 

I want everyone to know that y'all in my prayers.

Elder Anthony Susi

Investigators

May 26, 2013

Companion: Elder Flanary

Hello People of the World,

Well, I don't know what to say. Our work was meeting with different members, and investigators. We have actually had difficulties with all of our investigators. We have tried our hardest, but it doesn't feel like it when you can't teach your investigators. We were able to meet with one lady that has been given up on by the Elders and even a few members. She is a very nice lady that works at a factory selling ramen-like noodles that is addicted to coffee. She will never admit to being addicted, saying that she only drinks it every day at the same time in the morning because she likes the taste. She also has a hard time reading and praying on the daily because she works nights and sleeps during the day. We are going to continue to work with her. 

Our branch has some fun members. I don't know if you noticed, but there have been more posts tagging "Elder Anthony Susi" on Facebook in the last week, then there has since I've been on my mission. They really love the Elders and Sisters here. We just had a double birthday happen with two of the Elders, and they both got some good presents, including 22 cct gold lined cuff links. Wow. Fancy. 

I hope everyone is being and staying safe. Don't worry, I pray for you.

Elder Anthony Susi

Neil L. Andersen

May 19, 2013

Companion: Elder Flanary

Well, Hello People of the World,

This week has been nuts! It started normal with a boring trip to no where in Yasothon on P-Day. Tuesday, I went to do an interview in Ubon for the sister missionaries. Wednesday was my last District Meeting in Ubon for that district. Thursday, we were preparing to go to Bangkok to have a special meeting to meet Elder Neil L. Andersen, an apostle to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We got a call saying that I, Elder Unsworth and Elder Lucas were moving and that Transfers Meeting was on Saturday instead of next Thursday. So, we packed very fast and prepared to leave. Friday, we sat on a bus all day, and finally made it to a house, Bangkapi, at about 8:30. I had to leave my stuff at the Bangkhen church building. I slept on the floor that night. 

Saturday, we took pictures with Elder Andersen and everyone that came with him. We then had a meeting. He talked about repentance and the grace and mercy of God. We are not saved by grace alone. We went back to the Bangkhen and we had a "Transfers Meeting," in which we received an envelope that told us our new companion and area. I am companions with an Elder Flanary, from Highland/Alpine, Utah, in the Bangkapi area. WHAT!!!! I had just spent the night there. Took my stuff to the house and went to the church and taught a couple lessons. 

Sunday was a big meeting for everyone in Bangkok, the stake and both districts. There was probably close to 2,000 people there. Elder Andersen strikes back. We heard about tithing, covenants and temples. He (Elder Andersen) said that a temple will come, but there needs to be more members, and more members that pay their tithing fully. 10% of their monthly income every month. Then there was a baptism at the Bangkapi church in the other Elder's area. 

Now, I am back in Bangkok. Elder Unsworth and Lucas are also in Bangkok somewhere. I am still District Leader. That is my week.

See you soon, 

Elder Anthony Susi

Not Elder Susi

Rocket Festival pictures

A bunch of crap

May 6, 2013

Companion: Elder Johnson

Dear People of the World,

This week seems to have a hard one for many, many people including myself, but not as bad as I am seeing. The world today is just giving us a bunch of crap isn't it? There is sadness, anger, backbiting, disaster, sickness, envy, jealousy and many other words that describe the world today. Why is it so? The Book of Mormon, in 2 Nephi 2:11-13 answers:

11 For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my firstborn in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.

 12 Wherefore, it must needs have been created for a thing of naught; wherefore there would have been no purpose in the end of its creation. Wherefore, this thing must needs destroy the wisdom of God and his eternal purposes, and also the power, and the mercy, and the justice of God.

 13 And if ye shall say there is no law ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to be acted upon; wherefore, all things must have vanished away.

This is why. This is why there is all those bad, sad things. We must learn, we are here to learn

32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors. (Alma 34:32)

This week, I had the opportunity to clean my house so very much. We made it pretty and we made it our own. The thing that stood out is that on Saturday, we had the opportunity to go to a funeral. There were no tears, only solemn people with solemn faces. We sang a couple hymns, and put the casket in the hole and covered it. 

This next Sunday is Mother's Day. The day that we remember our mommies. In rememberance of it, I ask everyone to go to this website:http://www.lds.org/topics/parenting?cid=HP000058&lang=eng and watch the video. If it doesn't work, go to lds.org and find the link that says "To Every Mother" and watch it. 

Thank you all, and sorry for not writing yesterday, we were doing a great work and couldn't come down to email. 

Elder Anthony Susi

Rocket Festival

Companion: Elder Johnson

Hello People of the World,

We did nothing super exciting this week. It has rained a lot though, it is getting to the rainy season again. Something coming up in Yasothon is the rocket festival. Every year in the Isaan section of Thailand, Thais shoot off huge rockets into the sky and try to "start" the rain. They do this in belief that the skies need to be awakened. It is also a big contest. People make crazy huge rockets and shoot them into the sky, rockets are scored on how long they are in the sky. I hear that 5 minutes is a good launch. The rockets are ginormous as well, I don't know how big, but I've seen comparisons with the person looking like a little ant next to his rocket. The rockets also don't explode, they just go until they hit the ground, or house, or car, or whatever. If a rocket does explode, the rocket team is thrown into mud.

There is your cultural news. For Yasothon, where we live, our days are May 10-12. Really soon. We, ourselves, are just trying to find new ways to find new investigators. It is really hard business, and we need SOOOOO much help from the members.

It is hot here,

Elder Anthony Susi

Songkran 2013

April 21, 2013

Companion: Elder Johnson

Hello People of the World,

This week was kind of a slower week. Our P-Day was playing the Songkran festival which was absolutely nuts. People everywhere, and they were not necessarily sober either. Other than that, nothing. We did get stuck in Ubon because we had a interview later than expected. So, Elder Johnson and I got to spend the night, unexpectedly, with the Zone Leaders in Ubon. We haven't had much else happen. Except for the baptism! Our dater was baptized on Saturday. It was so good, and he is so excited! That's it I think.

Birthday shout-out to Talitha Rae, turning a big 1 2 tomorrow. Wooooo!!!!

Talk to you again soon,

Elder Anthony Susi

(Brace yourself, Elder Susi missionary photos are coming)

 Country wide water fight Songkran

 The giant barrels are full of water to refill with

 This was a special message for someone but it could be for anyone

Latest Baptism

Hail Jesus Man!

April 14, 2013

Companion: Elder Johnson

Hello People of the World,

We had our Transfers Meeting this week. I did not move, but I got a new companion. His name is Elder Johnson, and he is from Cottonwood Heights. I am not with Elder Lucas any more, but he is in the same house, in the other proselyting area. Weird. We have had some good times already, such as things that are super funny. We had some white guy drive past us on Kilo 6 of 15 ride and scream "Hail Jesus man!" It was really funny, but we were kinda scared. It was very unexpected. We also got to see General Conference and enjoy all of it. I really liked all the things on the family. I am excited to have my own when I go home. It is currently Songkran in Thailand again. It is my last one on my mission. It is crazy, there are good reminders on why I wouldn't bring friends or family here for Songkran. On the other hand, it is freakin' fun, and we enjoy every moment of it. 

Just to add, I should be finishing my mission in mid-October now. 

Love, 

Elder Anthony Susi

General Conference

April 7, 2013

Companion: Elder Lucas

Hello People of the World,

This week was pretty boring. Still have not seen General Conference, but will this weekend. We will also be having Songkran this weekend. Making General Conference a doozy. Transfers is also this week, so I may be moving. Suck. Only two tickets have been bought to go to Bangkok, so hopefully four of us don't have to go. It was a slow week this week, with honestly not happening. We had a couple of days where we just went out to try and find Less-Active members, but no one was home. Bummer. I got to go to Ubon to give an interview yesterday, (Sunday), so we had to leave soon after church. 

Keep me posted people,

Elder Anthony Susi

Zone Conference

March 31, 2013

Companion: Elder Lucas

Hello People of the World,

We didn't actually do too much in our area for missionary work. We ended up traveling a lot. Monday is P-day and we spent that chilling. Tuesday, we tried to do some things in the middle of the day. It didn't really work, later after that we taught English. Wednesday, I was on switch-offs with Elder Unsworth. Then we had to go to Ubon. We spent the night there, because we had some awesome Zone Conference on Thursday. Was in Ubon all of Thursday. Friday was our only day home. We weren't even able to teach our investigators. Saturday, we had to go back to interview the zone leaders' investigators and didn't get home until the night. Sunday was church and the only day that we were able to teach our investigators. 

That is what we did. Exciting, no? Thank you for everyone reading and watching. 

Elder Anthony Susi

There is a green hill far away...

March 24, 2013

Companion: Elder Lucas

Hello People of the World,

How is everyone? We have had a very good week. Elder Lucas and I have biked a lot. Almost 150 miles we have biked together, which is about 30% of our time together. We have had kind of a different week. We have dropped, or stopped teaching, all of our investigators except for 2, which have a goal for baptism this next month. Our two investigators are very great people, and we love them so much. One of them has gone through a lot and is currently quitting his smoking and drinking habit. We spent a day in this area about 15 kilometers outside of the main city that we live in. It was very hot, and we went through lots of bottles of water. We met some very nice people. One of them is a chicken farmer, and he had at one time went to a Christian church. The other one owned a snack shop, and had a family. Very nice and he wanted to know who and what we were. 

Well, that is it. The pictures are of the beauty that I get to enjoy every one in a while. Beautiful green. 

Elder Anthony Susi

Elder Lucas