Master the tempest is raging

Hello most amazing and wonderful friends and family!!!

I hope all is well out in the real world!! I can't believe how amazing these last couple weeks have been! I'm going to hurry and try to tell you everything! Me and Sister Robertson (the cute solo sister going to Cambodia) always say to each other, "Is this real life??" because we just can't believe how blessed we are to be here and to be surrounded by the spirit and all these amazing opportunities we have here!
So to tell you a little bit more about two weeks ago when we had Elder Holland here, it seriously was the most powerful talk ever. He had no notes and he just hammered us. I was either laughing or crying the whole time. I want to be like that someday. Just be so filled with the spirit and know exactly what to say. Then that Thursday me and my comps went to this make-up class that they teach for the sisters here. They said that about 6 years ago Elder Ballard came to the MTC and said that they want the sisters to look their best and know how to put on make-up. So the lady that they called to teach the class lives next to one of the head-honcho's that works for NU-Skin and she just went and asked if they would be willing to help. So each month since then they have donated $10,000 worth of free make-up to the MTC. Every month!! I can't even believe that! They give every sister $200 worth of free products! I love it! It makes my face feel so great! I actually love getting ready in the mornings now!
We have been working hard in the language. It is going well. I'm SO grateful for the Lords help. I need to be better at praying and pleading for His help. But I am just so grateful that He cares about me and loves me and is helping me do this. Ok so that is about all from two weeks ago.
This last week has been the best week ever!! I'm sure with all of you being out in the real world, you've heard alot more about all the problems that are going on in Thailand right now. I hadn't heard very much, but on Wednesday, our teacher Bro. Saakha, the one from Thailand, came to class really worried. And at first he wouldn't tell us what was wrong. We were all so scared that something really bad had happened and that we wouldn't be able to go to Thailand anymore. He gave us this most amazing lesson on how the 13 of us are on this ship headed to Thailand. And we sang my new favorite song, "Master the tempest is raging" and he talked about how we must have faith in Christ and that whatever happens He will guide us safely there. I don't know how to explain it, but it really was so comforting and just such a great lesson! Sister Noopama, the other Thai districts teacher, is from Thailand as well, and her family lives in Bangkok and had to be relocated because it was so bad. So it was very scary, but at the same time we all felt so much peace. Me and my comps had an amazing fast on Sunday and found out that things are getting better! So we are so happy! The TRC on Saturday went great! It is so funny to look back at our first couple of weeks here and how we stressed about having to teach it in English. Teaching in Thai is so much more fun and it is amazing at how much help we get! Saturday really was like the best day ever! I don't even know why but I was just so happy all day! Gym was so fun too! I played volleyball with some of the Korean elders and they make me laugh so hard. I love that about the MTC. I've made so many friends with all the different missionaries! Some going to Cambodia, some going to Korea, some going to Japan, some going State side, and just everywhere! It is so fun! Saturday night me and my comps and Sister Robertson decided we wanted to build a fort in our room. Hahahahahahahahaha words cannot describe how amazingly fun it was! Don't worry we didn't break any rules. Well we didn't go to bed until 10:40. So we broke that rule. But other than that we were perfectly obedient. We popped pop corn and told stories and ate SO much sugar. I took lots of pictures so I'm excited to send them home too! Sunday was really great too. We had Sister Ann Madsen come talk to us. And wow. It was one of the best talks ever! It hit me so hard! Sister Robertson spoke too. She talked about her conversion story and it made me cry. She has such a stronger testimony than me and she is such a great example to me. I truly am so blessed that Heavenly Father brought her into my life! What a blessing she has been to me! Sister Madsen is such an amazing woman too!! I want to be like her when I grow up!! We talked to her after and I just love her! I want to read some of her books when I get home. Yesterday I had to say goodbye to Sister Hansen and it was so sad! I don't know if I've said how I met her, it's Steve Reeve's sister-in-law, and she was one of my best friends here too! She is going to Romania and I just love her!! It was so sad saying goodbye. But she will do so great!! Well I'm just about out of time. But I love all of you so much!! Thanks SO much for all your love and prayers and support!! I love being a missionary!! I'm so happy!!! The church is SOO true!!! Loves!! Sister Chambers!

We thank thee oh God for a Prophet!!!

Well hello all!! How are things going in the outside world??

Its gonna be short today! Elder Holland came and spoke to us last Tuesday and it was AMAZING!!! I love being a missionary!! I'm so happy!!! The church is true!!!
I'm gonna mail home my notes! But thanks for all your love and support and prayers!!

Sister Chambers

Each Life That Touches Ours For Good

Sawad Dii Khrccbkhrua l3? phxan!!
Hello Family and Friends!!

Well would someone please stop letting the time go by so fast!! I can't believe that I only have 4 weeks left here! It is so exciting and so scary at the same time! Well this last week has been great, but it has also probably been the hardest so far. But Friday and Sunday we had such great lessons! So this week I am determined to work twice as hard. Instead of learning 25 new words a day I have been learning 50! So keep on praying for me! Friday my teacher Brother Duval gave the best lesson ever on how we need to put away childish things and grow up and really become a missionary. At first I was thinking hey I already am a missionary. I have callouses on my knees from praying so much. I feel weird being alone. I wake up every morning between 6 and 6:30. I am pro at getting ready in 20 minutes or less. I've been here so long I have my own bathroom and shower. I sing church songs all day and quote church movies. I always have my scriptures and PMG with me. Those are just some of the things that I thought "made" me a missionary. But the lesson changed everything I thought about. I realized just how important being here is and just how serious this work I am doing is. We listened to a talk by Elder Bednar about becoming missionaries. He is so amazing! I really hope that I get to meet him someday! But he talked about how anyone can serve a mission. But not every missionary will become a missionary. But I will. I am no longer just Stacie. I am a disciple of Christ. This decision for me to serve a mission was made in the pre-earth life and I know that there are people that I need to find to help them come unto Christ. I may come home in 18 months from Thailand. But I have made a goal to never leave the mission field! Everyone at home I challenge you to share your testimonies more and become a missionary too! There are so many people right next door to you that need to hear this amazing message! Don't be scared! I know you can do it! Haha ok I'll get off my soap box now. Well Saturday was the TRC and me and my companions didn't do as great as we had hoped. So this week we are really working hard to prepare for Saturday. We are teaching the Plan of Salvation (all in Thai of course) so its time to push the pedal to the medal. (I think that is how that saying goes...)

Sunday was SO amazing!!! Music and the Spoken word was so fun because it was on mothers! Then for Relief Society we had Sheri Dew come talk to us!!!! Oh!!!! It was so good! She talked about how Satan is doing everything he can to attack mothers. But she gave us four tips to help us fullfill our missions.
1- She talked about how as girls we are naturally more inclined to gossip and pick on others and notice all of their flaws. But we can't. We need to sustain and support one another. We need to stand together and put a double watch on our tongue.
2- She talked about how we really need to understand who we are. We must know with all of our heart that we are Daughters of God. It will change our lives if we know that.
3- We need to understand the Atonement and how Christ is always there for us and that He will never leave us alone. In Him there is power.
4- We need to immerse ourselves in the word of God. Purity is the key.If we aren't pure we can't recceive personal revelation. So find out what is keeping you from receiving relevation and get rid of that bad habit.

After she talked we all got to go give her a hug and meet her! It was so exciting! Sunday night for Devotional my comp Sister Jensen played a flute solo. It was so great!!
Well yesterday was a sad day. Sister Hooker left. :( I woke up at 5:30 to help her take her luggage to the bus and say goodbye to her. She is so cute and I'm going to miss her so much! But she is going to be such an amazing missionary! I'm so excited for her! Yesterday when we were playing volleyball outside, a bus drove by and on it said
"Learn. Do. Become." How amazing huh! That is my new motto. Well I hope everyone is doing well and that everyone had a great mothers day!! If I could I would send every mother a dozen roses!! Thanks for all your love and letters and prayers and support!! It means the world to me!! Sure love you all! I love being a missionary!! I'm so happy!! The church is SOOO true!!! Take care!!

Week 7!

Wow!!! I honestly can't believe how fast the time is going by! Week 7 already?! Crazy!! I still love the MTC!!! It has been a great week!! I don't have much time but I'll hurry and give you the report on this last week. Last Tuesday we had Elder L. Tom Perry come!!! WOW!!! It was SO amazing!!! I testify that he is an apostle of God! The spirit was so strong!! He talked about the Book of Mormon. It was so great! Wednesday we got a new sister in our room. Sister Robertson from South Ogden, and she is going to Cambodia. She is moving out of our room tomorrow actually because she is getting more sisters in her branch and they want her with them, but it has been so fun getting to know her! She is a convert to the church and I look up to her so much! It's amazing how the Lord is blessing me by sending me all these amazing sisters into my life. I ran 5 miles at gym wednesday too!! It was so fun! Oh and I saw Elder Lippert! He is such a cute missionary! I've seen him pretty much everyday since. He is doing well. The TRC on Saturday went GREAT!!! Wow. It was so much fun! I can't believe that I spoke in Thai for about 45 mins! I never thought I would have come this far so fast, but then again I didn't. The LORD helped me and will continue to bless me and help me, so long as I am doing what He asks. Just a little side note, I apologize for my spelling, grammer, and punctuation. In Thai they don't use punctuation so it is tricky trying to use it now. The weather his last week has been so stormy, but yesterday it was so nice outside, so me and Sister Hooker ran 3 miles outside! It was so nice to get out in the fresh air! Tomrrow we get a new group of missionaries going to Thailand! 5 sisters and 7 elders! I'm so excited!! On Sunday we have to give a talk on Charity and Love. So if you have any advice, examples, stories, or quotes, send them my way!! I love you all so much! I wish you could feel what I feel. I wish you could see what I see!! I wish you could hear what I hear!! Being a missionary is the best thing ever!! I love it so much!!! I'm so happy!! The church is so true!! Thank you so much for all your letters, love, support, and prayers!!

Sister Chambers

Called to Serve

Hello hello family and friends!!!!!!!

It has been thee most amazing week ever!!!! I feel like I have so much to tell you so I'll hurry so fast so I can get it all in!! Last Tuesday we had a devotional that talked about how we need to become disciples of Jesus Christ. We can't just act like we are, we have to become one. I got a letter from Lyndsie White, and she gave me so much great advice about how to not be stressed and just enjoy my time here at the MTC. Never again will I be surrounded by so many missionaries so I need to love every minute that I am here. Thanks Lyndsie!! Here is my new favorite quote:

"I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The dye has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need pre-eminece, positions, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be first, right, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk with patience, am uplifted by prayer, and labor with power. My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven. My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, divided or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, and paid up for the cause of Christ. I must go until He comes, give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He stops me. And when He returns for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My banner will be clear. My foundation will be firm."

Isn't that amazing!! I try and read that every morning to remind me why I am here. Last Thursday my teacher, Brother Saakha took us on a walk outside. He told us not to talk, but just to think and let Christ talk to us. It had been snowing that morning, I wasn't too happy about it because the day before had been beautiful, but right when I walked outside I noticed that the sun was shining again. And I thought oh maybe it will be a beautiful day after all. Then I got thinking, well what makes it "a beautiful day" and I thought well the sun. The Son. He is what makes everyday beautiful. If He isn't in our lives, we will be filled with darkness, coldness, and fear. But with Him in our lives, we can have the light of the gospel, the warmth and happiness that that brings. And I am so excited that I get to go to my brothers and sisters in Thailand and share The Son with them to bring them eternal happiness!! Isn't it amazing??

Last Saturday at the TRC was kind of frustrating for me. I have so much passion about the gospel and want to share it with everyone, but I am just not good at expressing how I feel. But in one of the large group meetings we had yesterday, we talked about faith. And how we need to astonish people like in Helaman 5:19!! And so I have faith, that Heavenly Father will help. I just need to trust Him. Brother Thorpe, one of the teachers who taught the lesson yesterday is my favorite!! He is so funny and makes learning about the gospel so exciting! I wish I could record everything here and send it home so everyone can learn what I'm learning! Yesterday the phii-thai's left. It was sad saying goodbye to them. So right now it is just my district in my zone. Elder Furr, got made Zone Leader with his comp Elder Lesuer, and Elder McDonald got made our new district Leader. I was talking to my teacher, Brother Duval last night, and he told me that when President Calder asked him who he thought the new zone leader should be, he said "Besides Sister Chambers?" haha it made me laugh.

Well that is pretty much all for now! This week is crazy busy because this Saturday for the TRC we have to teach the Restoration lesson all in Thai!!! So sorry that I can't write more letters, but thank you so much for all your love and support!! You all so great!! I love being a missionary!! I'm so happy!! The Church is SO true!!! Love you all!!

Sister Chambers!!

PICTURES!

On the way down to the MTC

Not quite sure what I'm getting myself into

Name tag

Sister Jensen, Sister Chambers and Sister Harris

Testimony in American-Thai. Next to come...writing in Script!

Spring!!

Dearest Friends and Family!!!!

It is Spring time at the MTC!!! I love all this sunshine!! It has been so beautiful with all the flowers and trees here! Last Tuesday we had the BEST devotional EVER!! Elder Glen L. Pace came and spoke about how we are all children of God. It was such a powerful talk. I have never felt the spirit so strong or for so long. It was amazing! I think that is one of my favorite parts of the MTC, is constantly having my testimony strengthened. He talked about how the Lord hasn't given us a "to-do list." He just said He has a mighty work for us to do and that our work here isn't finished. And that I don't ever want to slack off. On Wednesday we had our first gym day out on the field. It was such a beautiful day and so fun to finally get outside! I wasn't quite sure if I could run by myself, because my companions wanted to play sandvolleyball. But I found a new running buddy! Her name is Sister Lauren Hooker! She is from Logan, UT and is so cute! Definitely an angel that was sent into my life, and not just to be my running buddy. We run monday, wednesdays and fridays, about 3-3.5 miles. It's so fun! Then on thursdays and saturdays I play sand volleyball. It's so fun too! Me and my companions got all the elders hooked on playing it too so it's always fun! They give me a hard time about running and not playing with them, but it's fun. This is Saturday we taught at the TRC again. For our task we had to speak in Thai for about 15 minutes with our "investigator". We had to pretend to go pick him up from his house and see if he was ready to go to church, then walk to the bus, and ride the bus to church. It was so funny. It went pretty good...I just laughed most of the time. He would say something in Thai about 4 times, and then just laugh and say nevermind. Then we would try saying something to him in Thai and he would just give us a blank face and I would just laugh. But we are learning lots! We even sang from the script hymn book twice yesterday! It was interesting but fun! The language really is such a totally new experience. Everything in my life up until now I have tried learning all by myself. Whether it was in school, or learning the piano, or learning german, everything, I just have relied on my own knowledge and dedication to do it. But here, I can't do that. I can't rely on my own knowledge. I have to learn with my heart and the spirit has to teach me. It is a very humbling experience. And I love it! Sunday was so great! They are by far my favorite day! Not only because we get ice cream, but because I love Relief Society! The speaker was Sister Clayton, and she talked about 3 things that we can control to have the spirit with us.

1-Our thoughts and attitude. We have to look for the positive. Our missions will be hard. Things will go wrong. But I will make the best of every obsticle!

2-How we handle culture shock. She talked about how it's normal to be home wick and to miss things from our life at home. But she talked about how in 18 months it is going to be so hard to leave the people we are serving. So she advised us to just serve the people and love them and everything will be ok

3-How we work out the tensions between companions. I'm very grateful I have such great comps because seriously we haven't had any issues yet!

Then Sunday we had such a great fireside!! I forget his name...but it was so great!! Yesterday we had another great day and today, P-DAY!! It's so sad tho, because the Cambodian missionaries that we have gotten pretty tight with are leaving today. There is a solo sister and I'm gonna miss her! She is so cute! And all the elders are so cute and funny! It's funny because when I came to the MTC, I didn't think it would be hard to say goodbye. But it is really sad having to say goodbye to those missionaries! Plus that first group of English missionaries we got leave today too. I can't believe how fast 3 weeks went by! This morning I finally talked my companions into going to the early morning aerobic classes!! Today was yoga!! It was so much fun! I really feel like a million bucks! Well thank you so much for all your love and support! I wish I could write more, but just know that I LOVE being a missionary!! I'm so HAPPY!!!!! I love serving the Lord and growing closer to Him than I ever thought possible. The church is so true!!! Take care!! Loves!!!

Sidtee Cheebee!!