Less-Dramatic

Today after church I was playing the piano and a missionary came up to me and said very seriously "Art, can you play the piano less dramatic in the sacrament?" I was like... urrrr. In fact I have been thinking a lot myself of what people would think when I play like I usually do. Well, when I play hymns, any hymns everywhere I do not play exactly how they are written, usually not because I don't like the way they are but my brain would just start to improvise the hymn I play and now I actually have a hard time trying to play hymns they way they are written. some people like it and some don't. I still remember when I was a missionary in the US a lot of members would come up to may and told me that they really like the way I play the hymn but some of my companions just hated it! And I understand both sides. This missionary who told me to play the piano less-dramatically probably thought that in the sacrament I should play the piano simply and according to how the hymns were written so the spirit would remain in the meeting. But in the other hand I don't think improvising music will shake off the spirit either. When I play the piano I just let my spirit go and play with my soul. And I guess because of that it's so hard to me, I almost have to work on it, playing the hymns without improvising them. You know what I mean? It is very complicated to explain. And I think I will continue to play hymns the way I normally do, may be a little less-dramatically. Ha ha, seriously, I guess I need to change a little or otherwise I might differ someone from feeling the spirit and that's not good especially in the sacrament meetings. What do you think? I would appreciate every comment.

I passed the Michigan Test

Guys! Guess what I passed the Michigan Test with the score of 86! I still can't believe myself. Well.... yesterday President Suchat, Thailand CES Director called me up and told me that I passed the test. I am so happy. Well... more surprised I guess because I thought I couldn't do it, really! I didn't even want to bother to see the score just because I believed that I failed. I was having some ice-cream with Elder Lebaron and his fellow SYS missionaries, it was his birthday. We made a surprise for him at Swensens. It was so cool. We has such a great time.

So, I think I am going to BYU Hawaii in August, Fall semester. That's good because I will be able to save up some money for the school. The Lord has blessed my so greatly that I have no room to receive them anymore. Man! miracles occur all the time, sometimes in the way we may not expect.

Last Thursday, I went to the moves to teach the returning missionaries the career workshop. The more I teach about it , the more I realize that it's just like the missionary work. I think all that we have learn and will learn is true and we can use those principles in our everyday lives. The truth is something that benefitual wherever and whenever you are. That's why we first need to seek after the truth, the eternal truth because it will lead us to be successful in this life and the life to come.

Busy but Happy

Man I have been really bad at up-dating this blog. I need to do better, I know. I hope you all don't get too bored about my blog though. I was looking up the definition of the blog and then tons of definition came up but most of them came up as “online –journal” so I was like ummmm then I am going to write my journal here but obviously not like real real journal but … my thoughts. Anyhow, like I have said earlier I have been really busy. Here is my schedule:

Monday & Wednesday : Serve at the mission office

Tuesday & Thursday : Teach piano & English

Friday : Serve at the ERS

Saturday : Teach English all day

Sunday : Go to church

See! I am really busy and I am not saying this just to show off but if you want to make an appointment with me just check my schedule! J I don’t know if you heard about my educational goal. I think I am going to BYU Hawaii in Fall Semester. I am not 100% though. I will add some more pictures for you to enjoy.

So long

I know it has been a while since my last post but boy the word "busy" does exist. I thought I would be very busy only on my mission, ha ha. That's not true at all, obviously. But many things has come and gone. Oh, I took the Michigan Test. Man, it was soooo hard. I am not excited for the result. I better know about it not. But it was fun though. I was laughing during the test, not because it's easy of course. The other examinees must have thought that I thought the test was too easy.

By the way, I saw the Chronicles of Narnia and I thought it was really good. Do you guys agree with me? I can't help but compare the movie to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I don't know which one is the better one. I like of like Narnia especailly the religous aspect of it though. But Harry Potter has that too but may be not as much. So, yea, it was really enjoyable to me. I was thinking about buy the soundtrack but then it doesnt' have the instrumental score that I'd like to listen. You know what I mean? So, I didn't buy it. Plus, it's kind of expensive and I need to save up some money for school. I think I am going to BYU Hawaii in spring but that's not final though. At least, for the test part I have nothing to worry about. Why? Umm.... You could ask me via email. But I don't think I should write it here.

The Lord has blessed me so much that sometimes I feel too much. :) Can you believe that? Neither can I! Now, I know what it means in the scriptures when it says that the Lord will pour out his blessings that there will be no room for us to receive them if we are faithful. One thing I really believe in is Tithing. The Lord truly takes care of you when you put your trust in him and show him your faith through tithing.

Fun English

I know I am fat.
During Break
Gift & Book
Cute!!!
Fellows,

I just thought that I would post some of the pictures of the class I teach at Fun Enlish. These are my students, not all of them are in the pictures ofcourse. I love teaching! Kids are like little angels from above.

By Small and Simple Things

I went to an English class a couple of days ago in Bangbuathong. The English Class sponsored by the Thailand Bangkok Mission is a lot different from the past. Missionaries teach free English every Wednesday. However, the regular English class starts from 6.30pm.-7.30pm. and from 7.30pm until 8.00pm. they teach gospel in English. Well... that sounds pretty cool isn't it? But guess what, that's not the point though. The point that I want to bring up is the experience I had at the class.

The class started regularly with the opening prayer. I was invited to do so. We learned about the body parts. The class went really well. At the end of the English class the missionaries said very clearly that the next 30 minutes will be the gospel lesson and it's optional. Students were free to leave or stay as they wished. I was surprised that all students stayed for the the gospel lesson.

It was Elder Loudon's turn to teach the class. And as he was teaching about the life of Jesus Christ, I felt so strongly of the divine power that the things he was teaching were true. He taught so simply, yet so strongly. I have to admit that since I came back from my mission I had never felt that way before. It brought up a lot of memories of my mission.

I served in an area called "Novato" which is a small town in California, north of San Francisco. People were so chilled and I loved the area. One day I received a media referral requesting the "Lamb of God" video. My companion and I went to deliver him the material. Eu Gene opened the door and he told us he could talked with at the moment. We told him that we were missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints. He said he knew who we were and he set up another appointment with us. I didn't go to the next appointment with Gene because I had to go on team ups (exchange, switch-off, or whatever you call it). When my companion and his temporary companion came back, I knew that they must have come from the war. I was quite right. They told me that Gene is a seventh-day Adventist, and as they walked into the house, they saw a video camera in the middle of the room. And when they started the lesson, he recorded all the things which they were discussing about. I found out it was rather an argument to discussion.

I got really scared as my companion and were planning for the next day activity. I would have to "bash" with him, well I didn't think so. I was from Thailand. My English was so excellent to argue with an elder from the other faith. I didn't show my emotion because I wanted to be cool. But I think my companion knew how I felt though. Anyway, our plan was to answer his questions and to teach about the prophet. Oh my goodness, we were trying to answer his questions for nearly an hour and his questions were like "How did you know that Jesus moved the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday" or, " Why did Joseph Smith said God was his right hand man?" and you know " Black and the Priesthood". I reckoned we were not going anywhere arguing. The scripture says that the spirit of contention's not from God. I didn't know what to do. All the sudden I felt that I must bear a simple, humble and heartfelt testimony. I did. The silence filled up the room. Obviously, it wasn't that simple for him... he went on after he shook the spirit off. My companion again bore his sweet testimony of Joseph Smith. This time he didn't shake off the spirit. We invited him to watch the Restoration with us. After the film ended he said that he was touched.

We can be a missionary by bearing our sincere testimony. President Monson has said "The testimony is found by the bearing of it." I love it when I see a missionary bear his testimony simply but powerfully. Elder Loudon brought the spirit into that English class. His testimony was record up in Heaven. The church is so true. I know it with all my heart.

Missionaries shot in VA

Two Mormon missionaries shot in VirginiaMonday, January 2, 2006CHESAPEAKE, Va. -- A Mormon missionary going door-to-door was fatally shot Monday night and a fellow missionary was wounded by an assailant who fled, police said.The attacks happened just after 6 p.m. when a man approached the 21- and 19-year-olds, shot them and ran away, police said.Both victims were taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, where the older victim died and the other was listed in serious condition Monday night.The identities of the victims were not released.Police shut down part of the neighborhood while searching for the man. It was not immediately known what prompted the shootings.link

FRIENDS

FRIENDS

I have been very lucky to have so many great friends in my life. I can't imagine my life without friends. I always say that my life is rich because I have so many wonderful friends from every part of the world. Therefore I am going to be a better friend to everyone that I know. One thing I believe is that God put us here on earth to bless others and to fufil each other's role by our own and unique personalities. The influence of friends is so great. The Savior, before he was crucified, referred to his apostles as his "friends".

Friends last forver.

"And that same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there, only it will be coupled with eternal glory, which glory we do not enjoy." - D&C 130:2

I love you all my friends. Thank you for being a part of my life.

New Year ;)

Happy New Year 2006

Lately I have been feeling that time flies. It's already a new year! I feel very old and fat ( ha ha). I spent my New Year's eve at Doha, a friend of mine, since he was going to go to BYU Hawaii. I really am happy for him. We counted down in the car. It was cool watching fireworks on the express way ready to send him to the airport and go to church on New Year. When I got to the church I got so tired that I fell on the ground and didn't' bother to stand up. I made it through though.

When I came back home all I could think about was the MICHIGAN TEST! Boy, it's nest week. I am not ready. To tell you the truth, I want to pass and now I am scared that I am not going to make it. Surprisingly all people that I talked with said that I would pass it and I feel the pressure because of that. Don't get me wrong I feel really thankful and grateful for their confidence toward me but what if I don't pass the test?

Sometimes I wonder if the Michigan Test really test the effectiveness of ones English skill. I mean I have seen so many people passed the test but when it comes to communication they didn't even know how to speak English. Not that I am good at English, far from it but I guess I try to find a reason to something that is hard for me to do. Ha ha. But in the other hand some of the part of the Michigan Test does approve one's knowledge of English. Those who speak English well can be sure they will pass at least 90% of the grammar section. But the vocabulary part is just ridiculous. Some of the vocab is just silly to be the part of the test like ambrosia. OK, I need to stop complaining before you permanently stop reading my blog. Well... at least you have discovered the other side of me. Ha ha. Drop me a line if you can. Thanks for taking time reading.