Bangkok Belly--the last week of June.

"Bangkok Belly" is real and no fun. I've had it for over a week now. I'd think I was over it, but then it would start again. My neighbors brought Thai remedies for the ailment but with little results. Everyone said to go to the doctor, but here, you go to the hospital because that is where the doctor is. If the "belly" comes back again, I will need to find a doctor. Fun, huh?

A group of Armenians and Russians have spent the week here in the temple. In this group, two sisters received their endowments, a family was sealed, a woman was sealed to her deceased husband, and many hours were spent in service. We enjoyed a testimony meeting with them on Friday evening that included the temple president, (pictured on the far right.) I will add their names here to always remember: Anik, Silva, Greta, Svetlana, Eva, Lillian, Gohar, Ara.

Sauan Sukhan is a long-time member of the church in Thailand--even back when Dennis spent his mission here in 1970. He and his wife are visiting Thailand for a few weeks from Utah where they serve in the Jordan River Temple.

A few weeks ago I trimmed Dennis' hair with the kitchen scissors. This month I talked him into going to a real barber. He paid under $5 for it.  It looks pretty good for a five dollar hair cut. :-) Actually, it looks really good compared to the chop I gave him!

L-R Tim Eldredge, Joan and Dennis Sowards
Rozella and Anan Eldredge, Sister and Brother Sukhan,
and Pres. and Sister Rich.

We are witnessing history!
The Thailand Bangkok mission is dividing into two missions --east and west. President Jeffrey and Sister Christine Rich of the west mission are standing at the far right in this photo. He was a former missionary under President Anan Eldredge (also pictured.) 

The church is growing in Thailand!

Odds and Ends Week

On Dennis' morning walk, he saw this group of school children walking along the street wearing these pointed hats. We never did figure out what it was about--a celebration or initiation?

Happy birthday to our granddaughter, Lizzy, who turned 15 this week. Here is the gorgeous cake her Aunt Jordan made for her. We ordered a phone cover and a CTR ring for Lizzy, and when the ring came it was a size 9.5! She probably wore it as a belt to church the next day. We had the privilege of talking to her by FaceTime. Thank you, technology.

Monday evening, a home evening was held for temple workers who live in the housing. Dennis and I arrived a half hour late due to my bad memory of the starting time. We took a box of Oreos--which none were taken.  This is Thailand.

Tuesday, President Khanakom came to us, sounding very urgent. "Come to my office. I have important business." So we hurried downstairs, not knowing what was in store. He smiled big and opened a huge box of chocolates. "Take one. They are from the Russians to show their appreciation for all our help." 

Yum! I'll never turn down chocolate from friends.

We had a busy week at the temple as usual. A large group came for the week from Indonesia. They are kind and gentle people. One of the men was Brother de Jagger, the son of Elder de Jagger (now deceased) known for the Parable of the Popcorn. He came to learn in preparation for the opening of the Indonesian temple. 

A group from Cambodia also came. The baptistry kept busy during the first of the week in preparation for initiatories and endowments. You could feel the high energy of members doing the work for deceased parents and grandparents and other family members.

 Dennis and I spoke in sacrament meeting today. We sent our family the Zoom link, but when the meeting started, the substitute tech guy couldn't get the camera to work, so we spoke to a full chapel and hall only. Sorry to anyone who tried to tune in.

I first spoke. I usually shake like a leaf in the wind when I'm nervous, but today I was blessed that only

The chapel before it filled up clear back to the stage.

my voice shook. My talk was based on Elder Alexander Dushku's talk "Rays and Pillars", and Elder Neal Maxwell's talk "Spiritually Defining Memories." 

Two sisters from the Philippines sang a duet. Sorry, I don't remember the title of the song, but it was about coming unto Christ, and was beautiful.

Dennis spoke on Elder David A Bednar's talk from 2014-, "Bear Up Their Burdens with Ease." He did great, but had to cut his talk a little short due to the meeting starting late. (When the sacrament hymn started there was no bread at the table! But before the first verse ended, the bread appeared.)

Then I taught Relief Society. The discussion was based on Dallin H Oaks' address from April 2024, "Covenants and Responsibilities." What an experience! The room was packed. There were sisters from many countries and everything said was being translated in whispers into other languages. The discussion went well until the last five minutes when I realized I hadn't planned how to wrap up the conversation. I tried to speak by the Spirit, and I hope what I said made sense to those who listened. 😌

Mary brought this bouquet of real flowers to Relief Society.
It made a lovely centerpiece for my lesson.

I had made a Texas sheet cake for Potluck Sunday. We'd found no sour cream under $10 (just a few ounces in a pouch), and found no powdered sugar for the frosting, so I made some with granulated sugar and cornstarch (for which Dennis made a late night subway run to the supermarket). The frosting was a little grainy but it worked. We haven't found pecans either. The cake turned out delicious and we brought home an empty pan. Sorry no photo of the cake. We also took our box of Oreos and they were snatched up quickly.

The potluck draws a large crowd.

We found a grocery store that sells American products, and bought actual cheddar cheese, ham, hotdogs, cereal, mixed nuts, and salsa. Ah, comfort foods! We missed picking up powdered sugar for the cake frosting, if they even had it!

Busy, busy

I never imagined I'd ever say we had friends in Russia, but we do! They are such lovely people, humble and stalwart members of the Church. We said goodbye to our third group since arriving here. Next week, more come from Eurasia, if they can finalize visas. This is their temple now that Finland and the Ukraine are closed to them. The sisters have beautiful names like Svetlana, Maria, Irena, Natal'ja...

Groups visiting this week are from Indonesia, Cambodia, China, and Vietnam. Speaking English comes in handy when working with so many different countries.

A Taco Bell has moved in about 1/2 mile from our apartment. Bangkok has many American companies--McDonald's Burger King...  7/11's are everywhere--even across the street from each other. Their prices are comparable to the supermarkets, perhaps to serve the locals since people generally don't own cars.

It amazes us that every Sunday at church we meet someone from Mesa, AZ. It is such a small world in the Church! This week, Emma Millet from Mesa came up to me, "Are you Ted and Rex's mom?"

 You bet! I know her mom, her grandmother, and even her great-grandmother was my boss at my first job when I was 16 years old. Crazy small world!

Emma is here on an internship until July.

We came into the Relief Society room to this lovely message on the whiteboard. It says, "Jesus Christ loves me."

And He loves you too!

Our Anniversary, Celebrating 44 Years

We welcomed a group from Russia this week. This is not the entire group in the photo. What a pleasure it is to have them here. Three girls (not in the photo) and the man second from left received their endowments. The women third from right performed the initiatory and endowment for her sister who was killed three years ago. It was an emotional day.

We celebrated our 44th wedding anniversary by going to dinner at the only CheeseCake Factory in Thailand and had real steaks (which is hard to get in Thailand). The cheesecake was real American too.  Of course we paid  prices we'd pay at home, but it was worth it for our anniversary. 

When we arrived home we found Krispy Kreme Doughnuts on our door with this photo collage of our time in Ayutthaya. We think someone from the Ayutthaya Branch left it.  Thank you, very much!

Ayutthaya

Another busy week in the temple. Members from India, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Singapore came, and many Thais. This sweet girl is Sister (pronounced, but not spelled) Twee. She chose Grace as her English name, which fits her well. She came with in a group of five from Vietnam.

2 inch bananas

Weeks ago, we had scheduled to go to Ayutthaya to attend church with the members there--friends still from 10 years ago. Things kept coming up, trying to get us not to go--our speaking in church date (June 16) turned out to be high council Sunday, and would we please move the date up? Could Joan teach Relief Society this Sunday?--just little things like that, and we kept saying no, we are going to Ayutthaya. You know how guilt twinges when you say no, but we felt we should go as planned.

Cooking in the Ayutthaya night market.

When we started our shift on Friday morning, knowing our tie to Ayutthaya, one of the shift leaders told us Sister Ganjanee had just passed away. She was a stalwart member of the Ayutthaya branch, a great missionary, and a good friend. We were only months apart in age and we'd kid each other about being sisters. After he told us, I knew why we both felt strongly to go to Ayutthaya. 

We rented a car and Baidery rode with us to Ayuttaya. Dennis drove, the steering wheel on the right, driving on the left. I prayed. Baidery navigated.

Baidery wearing a shirt I wish I had!

Sunday, a memorial service was held for Ganjanee after church, then we visited her family at her village wat that evening. She will be cremated at the wat (in her temple clothes) on Monday night. The family still wanted to have a Buddhist ceremony since all of them are Buddhist, which is common here for those who are the only members of their family. The whole day was a lovely tribute to her, and we are glad we went.

Note, Plang, Cake, and Baidery at Ayutthaya

The Ayutthaya members reminded me that back in September, I jokingly promised Ganjanee we'd come to Thailand for her funeral. They called me a prophetess.

Always a photo shoot after church. Sister Naa knelt behind us and held up the flowers. Now that's dedication. Then, everyone individually or as a family had their picture taken with us.

The Branch and a few visitors for Ganjanee's memorial service gather for a photo.

Sister Wasana and I, waiting at the wat.

We went to the wat in the evening. Three of Ganjanee's sisters and several cousins, nieces and nephews, and others were there to meet us. This beautiful shrine below is to honor the deceased, and is only a front. The casket is behind the shrine. There is a window in the top of the casket through which to view the deceased. (I wish I hadn't looked.) The body rests here until the cremation.

Traditionally, the family gives funeral attendees a snack. Even though the real funeral isn't until tomorrow, we were given packaged cakes and a boxes of juice.

Sister Ben, the branch president's wife, made this flower arrangement to honor Ganjanee from the branch. Thais are very talented in flower arranging. I think they are born knowing how.

Sister Ben

Another grammar example.

Ganjanee and Joan in Bangkok in September.
A dear friends passes. We figure she is already teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to Thais on the other side.

The Temple Reopens Tomorrow!

We look forward to the temple reopening tomorrow. No more biding our time, though we have had some fun adventures.

Feeling secluded in our apartment, one evening we went over to the temple annex next door and found this young man, Peter, playing the piano. He was quite skilled but played only by ear or the memorized pieces people had taught him. I was blown away by his talent! I talked him into playing "Heart and Soul" with me and he picked it up right away. He said he'd never learned to read music. So using the children's songbook (on the window ledge behind us), I pointed out middle C and how to figure the following notes. He picked that up too. Next time I see Peter, I expect him to be giving a concert at Carnegie Hall!

This innocent looking mango drink is my downfall. It is so deliciously refreshing, but I fear it is the reason I am gaining weight. So I asked the girl who makes them at the FX hotel if she would teach me the process, and sure enough, she puts sugar water in it. I'll need to eat them sparingly from now on. I think Dennis has lost a pound or three because his wedding ring keeps sliding off. We've found it on the floor and in the hand towels.

It is uncommon here to see a Thai with hair as white as mine. This woman's hair is so beautiful, and I asked to have our picture together. She happily agreed. Afterward, we found out that she and her daughter were there visiting from Hong Kong! She wasn't Thai at all. 

On Saturday, the youth from three stakes came together for an activity. Here they are sitting in groups on the floor doing a scripture story project. Thais will happily sit on the floor. Image youth in America, going to a meeting in dress clothes, and then being asked to sit in groups on the floor. You'd have a bunch of whiners. Afterwards, they went to the chapel to hear a member of the General Young Women's presidency speak, a broadcast from Ubon, a stake up north of Bangkok.

We went for a walk down Asoke road and found this lovely park in the midst of the big city--Benchakitti Forest Park.

It seems every Sunday proves the saying that it is a small world in the church. Elle Pothier Simon is the niece of our Mesa Lehi Stake president, Stephen Pothier, visiting here along with her husband. 

We had planned to work on renewing our visas today, but again, it is a Thai holiday. Thailand has so many holidays--it seems like every other week.  We figure that traditionally the Thais didn't observe Sunday, so they took breaks by having frequent holidays and festivals. Now Sunday is observed as a day off work for most people, but they have also kept their traditional holidays.