Not Everything that Glitters

Rama 9 Central Mall held a Thai handcrafts fair. Everything was so beautiful--the clothing, jewelry, handbags, etc. Of course they asked handcrafted prices, which were reasonable for the quality. These two ladies are selling embroidered bags and clothing.

I bought this handmade whisk broom and pan. They are so Thai style, and something I can take home with me in my luggage.

The local news was there reporting on the fair. A photographer took Dennis and my picture with our new purchase.

President and Sister Khanakham presented a Family Home Evening about the need to be fit. The president showed us a series of simple exercises to do daily. Afterward, we held a potluck. A popular Thai dish, massaman curry, was the main dish. We served vanilla pudding with the bananas that Brother Yaay had given us.

The FHE potluck

We went to the night market hoping to find trinkets to take home to AZ but we got caught in a brisk rain. Below are the biggest prawns I've ever seen. 

This beautiful sister from Indian met us on the way home in the downpour. She came at the beginning of the week, traveling alone, to receive her endowments. Then she spent every day in the temple doing work for her family. When she first arrived, I told her how brave she was to come without a companion. She made friends with two other young sisters from India, and they were often seen working together. I am constantly in awe of the devotion of the member who sacrifice so much and travel far to come to the temple.

The last group of Russians who were scheduled to come while we are here, came this week--a group of 40 including teens and children. The work went practically non-stop for five days. Nine women and four men received their endowment. About seven youth are going on missions. I was coordinator for the own endowment initiatories on Wednesday. Imagine, nine sisters waiting in line in the initiatory area. 

The next day, the whole group did four straight hours of live sealings.

Every endowment session held this week was full. Several sessions were added to accommodate everyone who came. This must be the most flexible temple in the world.💪

Dennis lost a tooth filling. Imagine that! We don't know what it is about Thailand (and traveling in general) that causes fillings to fall out. 

We went back to the dentist office where I had my tooth fixed last week, and after they looked in Dennis' mouth, they said he needed a crown, so we made an appointment for Friday at noon. 

We missed our mid-shift at the temple to keep the appointment. On our arrival, the receptionist told us the person who had an appointment before us needed a complicated procedure that might take up to an hour or two. We decided to wait and went to the skin clinic next door to the dentist's office.

The clinic was posh and glittery like gold. Photos of women with perfect skin graced the walls. Every worker wore matching suits and high heels. Clients sat in plush chairs for consultation. The place was gorgeous. 

Their flyer that lured us through the door claimed they could remove red spots with a laser. I told them what I wanted removed. They said they wouldn't use the laser, but use a--- gave me a fancy name for whatever it was. They sweet talked me into having the treatment right then, doubling the price from the flyer. (Should have been a warning.)

Dennis went to his dentist appointment while they took me back into a salon room and first gave me a relaxing half-an-hour facial, then the doctor brought in the (whatever they'd called it) which looked like a fancy wood burning kit. To make a long story short, they burned every spot on my face--except for the red spots I wanted gone in the first place. The assistant pointed to one spot under my eye and asked the doctor if she was going to treat it. "Mai dai," Doc answered, meaning "Cannot." At that moment I knew I'd been taken by bate and switch, a victim of a lack of communication, and would probably end up walking out looking worse than when I came in the door. I worn a face mask for two days in the temple to hide my wounds, and caked on the makeup today for church.

Not everything that glitters is gold.

[PS three weeks later: My skin healed well, and actually I'm glad I had the treatment.]

BTW, Dennis was measured for a dental crown, and we will go back next week to have it placed.

Keeping the Faith

The Thailand patriarchs all came to the temple on Saturday. I mentioned last post how good it was to see Brother Nurock (second from the left.) Two of these great men also serve in the temple. They each are long-standing leaders in the Church in Thailand.

 Another large group of Russian members came this week. They keep so busy doing ordinances, it is amazing. We had two more overflow sessions. They did one sealing session lasting four hours, and they each do initiatories and at least two endowment sessions a day, working right up to closing time on Saturday.

One of the surprising additions to the subway are these new signs! Sorry I didn't get a clearer picture, but the last item on the right side says "Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ." I am totally amazed that we received that consideration.

I mentioned that I broke a molar in Singapore when we went to renew our visas. 

The dentist and her team.

It took about three weeks to finally do something about it. We first went to the dentist office where the missionaries have been going, but I didn't feel comfortable there. When we were at Rama IX mall, we saw a dentist office and went in to ask about fixing my tooth. We made an appointment for Monday. I assumed I would need a new crown on the tooth. But to make a long story short, the dentist replaced the filling and rebuilt the tooth. An hour-and-a-half and $83 later, I walked out with a new tooth and the hope that it will last the 20 years I have left in mortality.

The Eldredges have gone home for six weeks and will return a few days before we return to Arizona. That same evening as the dentist visit, we took them to Spaghetti Factory for a farewell dinner.

I posted a picture before of this lego station in Robinson's, but on Monday it was full of people of all ages playing with the legos. So fun.

 

We tried to make Forgotten Cookies in our oven that we're still trying to figure out. After four hours, they still tasted raw-eggy, so I turned on the confection fan in the oven and left them for a few minutes on 100 degrees. They dried more but stuck fast to the pan, and were still gooey. So on the first try, I don't think the oven stayed hot long enough to cook the cookies (because you heat up the oven, put in the cookies, turn off the oven, and leave for four hours.) I don't know why they stuck to the pan after running the fan, but here they are, deformed from being pried off. Despite their mangled appearance, they were delicious. I think it is obvious why we didn't share them with the neighbors.

We work the Saturday morning shift in the temple, but I take the afternoon off to take my own names for ordinances. Dennis works both shifts. I took a stack of family names to the sealing room. No one was there. I was told the Russians members were coming to do their own sealings. They are usually so busy trying to get their own family names finished, that they wouldn't have time to do mine too. So I decided to go back to the apartment and work on FamilySearch for the afternoon. I was exhausted and looked forward to curling up with my laptop.

Then the assistant matron came to me. "We are adding a 3PM endowment session, if you would like to join." My heart sank! There went my afternoon of free time doing my most favorite thing. I selfishly decided not to go to the session and started to return to the apartment, but felt guilty for my choice. It would only be an hour and a half of my life, I reasoned. I could give that. 

I dragged my feet to the 3rd floor to get a name, and when I read it, a wonderful feeling of love flooded over me as if the woman was thanking me for doing this work for her. I went to the session with a tear in my eye, feeling happier, and with a renewed conviction of how important this work is.

Okay. We have to post food, right? We ate at BonChon Chicken, recommended by Ted. It was as delicious as he claimed. We tried the chicken breasts, pickled radishes, and coleslaw (and French fries, not pictured). Yum!

I serve often as the attendant in the Celestial Room, and between sessions when no one is there, I read the scriptures. I found 2nd Timothy 4:6-8 and thought of my brother Russel who is in the last stages of cancer. These verses describe him so perfectly:

6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

May we all be ready for the call to return to our Maker, as is Russ. He has lived a good life, raised righteous sons, and has kept the faith. 💔

A Joyful Week

We had our largest group of Russians, about 26, come to the temple this week. Eight received their own endowment, couples were sealed, and a 15 year old son was sealed to his parents. We had a group from Nepal, a family from India, and of course, many Thais. 

The MTC came alive again this week with 14 missionaries newly called from India. Thirteen received their own endowment and the temple was very busy on Tuesday.  Dennis and I led their first endowment session. It was so fun being with these eager young people as they participated in this house of learning.

On Friday, the early session was overbooked. We can seat 28 people comfortably in each endowment room. We did our best. The next day, it was overbooked again, so we had two sessions running at the same time. Now we've gone to a number card system, a larger card for those who made a reservation, and a smaller standby card for walk-ins.

On Saturday, I was truly blessed. After an hour in the baptistry, witnessing a Russian brother baptize his 15 year-old son for 21 of their deceased relatives, I went to the third floor to greet at the elevator. It is a fun place to stand because you see everyone who comes to participate in ordinances. In walked Brother Nurock and his wife, friends from our previous visits to Thailand. He is now a patriarch. And Chinowat, the brother called as branch president after we left Ayutthaya. How joyful to greet these two faithful brothers whom we love! Hugs for all.

Armenia and Christine, mother and daughter, were in the Russian group. They made this a mother-daughter trip so that Armenia could be sealed in proxy to her parents. Armenia is a seasoned member, joining the church in Armenia in 1965, and Christine was born in the covenant. They both live in Russia now with their husbands.

Armenia and Christina before the fall.

Their flight didn't leave until 10PM Sunday night. After church, they decided to go to the nearest Buddhist temple to experience Thai culture after being in the LDS temple all week. While walking on the uneven sidewalks of Bangkok,  Armenia tripped and cut her lip quite severely and banged her head. Dennis and the full time elders gave her a blessing to heal and be able to make it home all right.

Brother Yaay has become a good friend and brings us something tasty each week--usually fruits and veggies. He brought a jar of strawberry jam this week. I tell him he needs a wife, but he is a little shy. Any takers?

Friends from Ayutthaya came to attend the Family History workshop and to work in the temple. Dennis took a moment to pose with Baidery, who is a temple facilities worker here, Wichuda and her daughter Holly, who came to the workshop, and Sister Saaw, who is an ordinance worker.

Our Thai neighbors went home for a few days--the ones who bring us Thai food daily. But as soon as they returned, she brought us fried bananas, roasted cashews, and mango sticky rice to make up for the days they were gone. They are the best neighbors!

I taught Relief Society this morning. The lesson was based on President Nelson's talk, "Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys." The discussion went well, and the sisters participated. The sweetest part of it was a little three-year old, curly blonde-headed girl named Bailey, stood beside me through about half of the lesson, leaning into my skirt. She was so sweet and calm. Having her beside me took my mind off my jitters.

I tried to show a video about latter-day temples at the end of the lesson, but couldn't get the computer and the screen to connect. Oh well. Everyone understands about technology failure. The RS councillor sent out the link later that afternoon so everyone could watch it. 

Happy birthday to our grandson, Teddy, who turned 11 years old, and our twin granddaughters, Nellie and Rosie, now 13, and to Aunt LaPreal who is an amazing 95! 

Asian Area YSA Conference Aug 1-4

These photos are not in order because they are resisting me trying to move them. We had a wonderful time being chaperones for the Asian area YSA Conference. Those invited had to be able to speak English, had to be living--working or going to school--in countries not their native land. We had YSA from China, Myanmar, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the USA. I probably missed some countries. About 162 young adults came, along with about 5 missionary senior couples.

The conference was held at the Novotel Airport Hotel in Bangkok. The youth flew in and walked through a very long tunnel to the hotel, or rode a shuttle. On the arrival day, Dennis and other senior missionaries held up a sign in the airport that read, "Asian YSA Conference" so that the YSAs would know to come to them for instructions on how to get to the hotel. It all worked out and we didn't lose anyone. 

Jorry from our English speaking ward, received her mission call to Taiwan and it was announced at the conference, along with one other young woman who is going to NYC Mandarin speaking mission.

Elder  and Sister Johnson with the Senior Couples

These are the adult advisors/chaperones. Elder Kelly Johnson of the Asian Area Presidency and his wife, Terri, the Ercanbracks of the Bangkok Mission, Dennis and I, the Belnaps of the Bangkok Mission, and Elder and Sister Hoke of the Hong Kong area office and chair advisors of the conference. 

We had a great young adult committee who did all the planning and reservations. They were amazing. The senior missionaries were only there to advise and assist.

Ferris wheel seen from the boat

Conference committee

One of the actives we did was go 

on a dinner cruse. The buffet was seafood. There was a live band and singer. The kids loved singing along, which turned into dancing. The evening was quite lively and loud!

Dancing on the cruise ship

It poured rain on our return lap to the dock. Everyone got soaked returning to the busses.

Meyer makes the Asian sign for love.

Meyer, a Burmese working in Malaysia as an IT specialist, joined the church last February. He said he was "lost" and being from a Christian family, he prayed to find the truth. In only a few days he met two elders who invited him to listen to their message. He is an amazing young man. The YSA were scheduled to go to the temple on the Saturday of their conference. I asked him if he had prepared family names for baptism. He had not, so we sat down and cleared his grandfather for baptism, right on his phone.

Elder Johnson and the Ercanbracks
with YSA waiting for the rain to stop.

Girls waiting for Sacrament meeting to start.

YSA girls ready for Sacrament meeting to start.

These photos are way out of order.

The Friday evening talent show included quite a variety of talents. Several sang, some performed dances from their countries. Our MC, Twit, was quite entertaining. We first met him when we served here 10 years ago.

 Below, YSA dress up for group photos.

Girls do a dance from Myanmar

Group photo with everyone wearing conference t-shirts.

Novotel Hotel's swimming pool

Busses take YSA sightseeing 

in Bangkok.

The young man wearing the mask is with his parents who came from Malaysia to take him to the temple to receive his own endowment.

President Sathit Kaivalvatana (sitting) spoke to the YSA about meeting the Goliaths in their lives. He illustrated his points with his own story of a car accident that left him paralyzed, and how he worked to regain partial use of his body, he got an education, has a really good job, and has held many callings of responsibility in the church. He now serves as a sealer in the Bangkok Temple. His wife handed out suckers, the candy on a stick representing the stone (our strength) with which David defeated the giant.

Elder Kelly Johnson gave the keynote address on how desires work in our lives and can be used to strengthen our paths.

Designing t-shirts activity.
The ysa are willing to work on the floor.
That is an Asian thing.

Saying goodbye to the beautiful Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel.

Our Temple Saturday involved baptism, endowment sessions, two sealing sessions with Elder Johnson, initiatory, lunch, and a humanitarian service project. It was a great day. We had four YSA receive their own endowment. 

While helping the YSA in the temple, Dennis and I finally realized why we'd been called to serve at the conference. We already loved these young people before they arrived at the temple. We greeting them as they entered the temple, helped them get their clothing and get family names printed, attended as they did baptisms, and tried to get them in the right place at the right time. We enjoyed so much being with them through this uplifting and spiritual experience.

This conference was very good. We are grateful we were invited to be a part of it. We got to know some upcoming church leaders (YSA) from all over Asia, faithful missionary couples, we enjoyed good food, and were privileged to serve at the same time.

Power Outages and Covid Recovery

 The electricity was turned off for maintenance in the temple complex for the entire Monday, so we rented a room at the FX Hotel next door for the day. We had the best room of all the times we've gone there through the years. I was still not up to par from having the flu, so Dennis did a few errands while I stayed down. 

We went back to our apartment around 6PM. All was well, but the air-conditioning hadn't cooled the rooms yet, so we had a warm evening, and there was no hot water until Wednesday. Yet we were happy to be home!

Egg poached in coconut milk

We awoke to neighbors bringing food--Eggs poached in coconut milk made by the temple 2nd councillor, and cooked black urad brought by the president's wife. We ate the urad like cracked wheat. Both tasted good.

Black urad

Eating Thai food is always an adventure.

Our first friends from Russian are back. The couple in the front returned home on Tuesday, and the second couple have come to prepare for the group who are coming next week, some of whom had come in April. The woman in the back is the second couple's daughter. She lives in Germany with her American husband. She also has American citizenship. 

My brother, Russel, has stage 4 colon cancer. My son, Rex, took his two boys to visit and sent this precious photo of Russ with the oldest son. I will treasure this photo forever.

When we serve missions or make commitments to serve as Dennis and I have, we know we will miss important events such as graduations, weddings, funerals, and birthdays. I wish I was there with Russ through this hard time in his life, and I try to send my love from time to time. I would pray he will wait for me to return, but that is too selfish. So I pray that the Lord's will be done. Miracles happen every day, so I can hope for the best.

The temple was closed Tuesday at the last minute due to a power outage. Several members had come from Cambodia and some were to receive their endowment, and had to wait until Wednesday.

Dennis and I were asked to help with the Asian Area YSA Conference. Those invited were x-pats ages 18-35 who are living in Asia but not in their native countries and speak English. My next post will feature the conference. It was a lot of fun!