Monday, April 27, 2015

Monday #2 in Surin Pic

Monday #2 in Surin

Dear Mom,

It's actually not too bad in Surin. It is quite hot, some say it's going to be hotter next month, but it has already rained quite a lot so I'm sure it'll be a fun rainy season. I'm excited. I don't have a lot to say. I read Sister Sun's email and that actually made my day and brightened my hopes. I'm never very poetic in my writing, but I know that the Lord gives us weakness so that we may know that it is through His grace and power that we can do all things. No matter what temptations, struggles, challenges, or trials we face, the Lord suffered for it all and has felt all of our pains before. We can rely on Him and be able to overcome all of these things. We must have faith in the Lord for it is all up to Him, and we must work hard as if it is all up to us.

Bangna is my home in Thailand. Boise will always be my Earthly home, and our home in heaven will always be the goal.

Elder Sun


Here is a link to a video from Songkran that I forgot to attach last week. I'm in it once or twice, but most of the people in it are from Bangna.

Also, I attached the english question that I referenced to last week but forgot to attach. Also a rainy day and the church's dog :). Oh, and I think I also forgot to mention that this region has like five different languages and the members are also trying to teach me Mandarin because I'm half Taiwanese. Any pointers/tips/vocab appreciated.

Monday, April 20, 2015

4-20-15 Pic 5

4-20-15 Pic 4

4-20-15 Pic 3

I hung the hammock I got from บางนา in the new house. A little slice of home at home =).

4-20-15 Pic 2

4-20-15 Pic 1

4-20-15 Part 1

Dear Mom,

Thanks for all the words you send every week. It really makes for a great highlight of the week! I have lots and lots that I want to say, but never have enough time! I don't know how long it'll take the Thailand temple, hopefully not long at all. There are so many people who would benefit so much from this temple! Everyone all over southeast Asia will be blessed so much from a temple in Bangkok. I hope it's dedicated before I leave Thailand, or I definitely won't leave at all!

May 30th, I'll remember that. I will definitely try to make sure I celebrate over here. Purple is considered a gay color for guys who where it, but I also have a very gold tie.

My new area is สุรนทร์ (Surin). It's supposed to be a land of elephants and what not so that's exciting. When I found out I was moving, I was super devastated. I already miss my old area and all of the great people there so, so much. Not that I don't like this new area or there aren't super amazing people here, but I just miss my home so much. That's probably the biggest thing on my mind, but I'm trying to push any distracting thoughts away and focus on the work more. Just like what you said Patriarch Montgomery spoke about. We have to quiet down, focus, and listen. My new area is on the east side of Thailand, by Cambodia. It's in the region known as อีสาน (Isaan). It's a more rural zone so we ride bikes everywhere. I was graciously gifted a bike for free from a missionary. She was leaving and I happened to need a bike. Elder Christensen (my past district leader) also didn't need his bike and could have given me his, but he left it in บางา (Bangna). It's a nice white and pink bike...but it was free! I've never had much experience riding a bike and just yesterday I flew off into a ditch on the side of the road. I ended up upside down in the long grass. A nice couple pulled over and asked if I was alright. Aside from grass stains on my clothes and losing my pen in the grass, I was fine. I also learned that same lesson of not being distracted/focusing because I was trying to ride a bike that I knew I didn't have much experience with while trying to answer the phone at the same time. If we try to do too much or have too much on our minds at once, we'll likely not be successful and may end up in a ditch.

My branch is สุรินทร์ (Surin). It's a pretty small branch, but there are some great members here for sure. My companion is from Laos. His name is Kettavong. He's super awesome! He's จบ-ing (stopping being a missionary) this transfer and he works really hard. Our district has four elders. Daybell and Butler also. I miss my family (บางา) so much, every day, but I know that wherever we are, the Lord has need for us and has work for us to do. The transition has been rough to say the least, but I'm still excited, happy, and everything else good. We bike a lot (everywhere) every day. It's way hot and approaching hot season. Wish me luck! 

The Tolleys are moving, that's exciting. Tell them hello from me and I'll try to take better pictures with me smiling in them for sure. This may also be a question for Diana, but can someone explain English to me? I told some people in บางนา I'd find out for them.

Oh, and the big Thailand new years celebration was last week on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. It was a huge water festival. A nation wide water fight. It was a ton of fun on Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday we had to stay at the church all day indoors. I basically spent those two days saying good bye and writing in friendship books (basically just yearbook type things that you write in when you leave). Had lots to say but had a hard time writing in Thai, haha.


ขอโชกดีสำหรับตอนนี้ (good bye for now)
เอ็ลเดอร์ซัน (Elder Sun)


(I have to cut it short because there's a lot of emails to be sent)

4-20-15 Part 2

I forgot to mention two things. 1) out here in the Isaan there are five languages...Lao, Cambodian, Isaan, Thai, and something called Suay. Wish me luck with working with all of that. Haha. 2) Also, I'm especially worried and anxiously about Bangna because we white washed out (both companions in the companionship left) and new people white washed in. I'm worried for all of the RC's, investigators, and people there. I just want to say that at the moment right now, the transition has been decently rough for me with leaving my old area. It's not that I don't like my new area or that there aren't great people here too, but I just miss Bangna so much. Just thought I'd let you know. I know that no matter where we are, there is work to do and it is the Lord's work. I'm exciting to have a new experience and see the branch here grow. There's not much to say. We whitewashed in and don't know the area so that's rough too, but it's just something to really help me focus on the work when there's lots to be done/to know.

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Bangkok Temple!

=D I know! I am so excited I want to die, to yell it from the roof tops, hug and kiss everyone, invite everyone I see to hear the news, and pray that it will be completely finished being built very very soon!

4-4-15 Easter! Received 4-12-15

Mom,

Sorry I haven't emailed in a while, the email service has been weird lately. So much awesome stuff has happened! Easter, Conference, Songkhran (New years). The posts on Facebook were from members. You probably wouldn't be able to find the Facebook page unless you search for วอร์ด บางนา. The "river". We pull up our pant legs and wear sandals. We've had to cross it a few times now. Luckily, just as we were leaving one day, a taxi pulled right up. I loved General Conference so much! When the temple in Thailand was first announced, a member called us at like 11pm and we were so excited. We called everyone, sent out texts and I couldn't sleep at all! It's so exciting!! I'm also so excited for Diana! That's by far one of the highlights of my life so far! The highlights of recent events here in Thailand have been the two people we've seen baptized this transfer. Brother Pong and Brother Chai! They are both so nice and awesome!

Today is Songkran. We will go out and play with water and get very wet. Because it's such a big holiday, we have to stay confined at the church on Tuesday and Wednesday. Also, I am moving from Bangna on Thursday. I am so so so sad to be moving, but I'm also excited to be going somewhere new to have some new great experiences. I'm excited for what the future has in store and I know that all of the experiences I've had so far have prepared me for whatever the Lord has need of me. All of the things we go through in this stage of life will prepare us for the future in the service of the Lord and for our families in the future. All things will work out for our benefit. In the end, all of the experiences we have in this life will ultimately help prepare us for the life to come. I know that God's plan for all of His children is divine and I can add my testimony to everything that we've heard at conference (for us it was just yesterday)

Elder Sun

This email is short because I'm pretty sure if I don't send it now, emailing might stop working before I can send it and I won't be able to send another.