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)