We are back in Thailand! April 2024

 We are back in Thailand! We hope to stay for 5 1/2 months and serve in the Bangkok temple. Only crazy people do adventures like this--leave home not really knowing how their plans will turn out, no mission call, only on a whim and a hope, and a few encouraging words. We will stay at this hotel for about five nights, an Airbnb for ten, and after that, who-knows-where.

Our layover in Taipei, Taiwan, included this
unique forest gate entrance.

After a very long trip, about 24 hours, we arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. We left Phoenix on Monday and lost Tuesday when we crossed the international dateline. After a big mixup with our Grab driver (equal to Uber in the states) that took an hour to resolve, it took us another hour to get to the hotel because--well, because Bangkok is one big traffic jam. I'm sure our driver was sorry he took our call. He spent so much of his afternoon taking us to the hotel.

We are staying at the FX hotel right by the temple, literally next door. We don't have the temple right out our window and 20 feet away, as we did for the open house, because we are on the east side of the building. The rooms on the east have a great view of the Asoke/Petchaburi intersection and high-rises, and are a foot or two feet larger than the ones on the north, which I appreciate. Right below us, our room's view is a junk heap, so we try not to look down. The room has no place to put anything, so we'll live out of our suitcases for five days.

Besides the temple, the Church built an "annex" next door. It has two stake centers, two mission offices, the Church administration offices, patron housing, MTC,
and a welcome center. It's an amazing building.

When we got to our rooms, I crashed for about two hours. Then we went downstairs for dinner. I had Tom Kaa with shrimp (coconut soup), and Dennis had Thai fried rice. I slept again until 7 AM. Today I've had no jet lag, but Anan claims it will catch up with us.

Here are the Temple front doors at night, a welcoming sight.

Below: Every car has a Buddha on the dash for blessing and safety. It's usually a little statue sitting on the dash, but I've not ever seen one like this. Considering how Thais drive, it's a wonder we don't see more accidents! They are taught very young how to maneuver tight traffic.

Below is a typical sight in this part of the crowded city. A beautiful tree's overgrown roots have destroyed the sidewalk, and
motorcycle taxi drivers in orange vests, waiting for customers. A makeshift porch cover is made from discarded banners.

It feels good to be back in Thailand. I will get used to living in the city again. Always noisy, always crowded. The smells are unavoidable. I love the Thai people, especially the Saints. That is why we are here.

We've talked with several family members via FaceTime. The littlest grandson stared at us on the screen straight-faced for a while and finally broke out in a smile. 

He must have recognized us. My heart warmed. I miss them all.

With FaceTime, I think this is doable.