Singapore

 

Brother Chang and wife, and us in our costumes.

We started the week off by giving a pioneer powerpoint presentation for Family Home Evening and potluck, focusing on the handcart companies of Willie and Martin. Dennis and I dressed in costume (compliments of the Ayutthaya Branch.) About twenty-five temple workers came. We made pioneer biscuits and passed around a jar of cream to shake and make butter. Of course there was a lot of Thai food there too, but the biscuits got eaten!  

FHE singing "Come, Come Ye Saints"

We also showed the video "Eyes Turned Toward Zion" that I made a three years ago. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRL6VtB4CXk

 

Back a day, we were delighted to see Boomee from Ayutthaya visiting our ward. She said she is preparing to serve a mission! Ten years ago she was just a little girl in the branch, now she's taller than me. She'll be a good missionary.

At the annex, a conference for single returned missionaries (about 50) from SE Asia was held. At least 12 received their endowments (post mission). Dennis and I led a session for 21 of the RMs on Wednesday morning. They were so tired (I guess from socializing all night) that it was humorous watching them try to stay awake! 

On Thursday, half of the conference did baptisms for the dead, and the other half did them on Friday. I'd never seen the baptistry so full. Dennis was the coordinator on Thursday, and I assisted. It went surprisingly well. I think it was a good experience for everyone.

My vertigo improved, but I still had to be careful with balance. The doctor said to sleep sitting up for a week. I did, and I got a little better every day. Our attempts at the Empley maneuver did no good and just made me sick to my stomach.

At the buffet

On Friday, we flew to Singapore to renew our visas. In Thailand, you can renew your visa once, but then you must leave the country and enter with a new 30 day visa. We tried to apply on line for a 60 day visa, but they kept asking us to jump through hoops and give up our first-born, so we finally settled for the 30-day visa. My knees don't do well jumping, and I'd like to keep my daughter.

Saturday, we took the Hop-on, Hop-off bus around Singapore. It is a beautiful city with modern architecture and wonderful landmarks.

Dennis with the buffet mascot.

We went to a fancy, high-priced buffet at the Fairmont Hotel because we heard it had a chocolate bar and you know how much we love chocolate. It had tables and tables of food from all over the world. The food was delicious and the chocolate bar was wonderful. We waddled out quite content.

This young woman is making a "Nitrogen Chocolate Bomb." It looked very impressive. It smoked all the way back to our table. I cut it with a knife and the contents oozed out. I will not order one again. 

The bomb is in the lower part of the photo below. 

The war memorial to the left, against the Singapore skyline.

We walked around the "Gardens by the Sea" --very lovely and peaceful.

Twelve of these SuperTrees "stand between 82 and 164 feet (25 and 50 meters) tall and consist of canopies of steel branches above steel-and-concrete trunks fitted with planting panels." I don't know if I understand all that, but they were impressive. It seems they capture solar energy too. Look closely and you can see people standing on the top.

Supertrees

Little India 

This ferris wheel looking thing is called the Singapore Flyer and moves very slowly. They say the trip around is over an hour.

Walking bridge

ArtScience Museum- the lotus shaped building in the rear.

Lovely architecture, incorporating the greenery of Singapore.

One of the malls inside the Marina Bay Sands Hotel

Digital interactive sea floor at the mall

Our hotel is in "Little India." We have walked through the shops a few times. A lot of lovely Indian clothing, authentic gold, electronics, and jewelry are sold here. Above is a henna artist doing her craft.

Our hotel is next door to a popular Hindi temple. There are always a lot of shoes along the street, left by temple attendees.

So many dresses!

Vertigo!

 "A sensation of whirling and a loss of balance."

Yep. That's me. And may I add, "Accompanied by nausea." 

The Staton family

Despite my vertigo becoming evident on Monday, we went to Sunrise Tacos for dinner, and guess who we saw there--Elder Staton who served in Thailand 10 years ago while we were here, with his wife and three adorable daughters. They have another daughter due next week. When we first arrived at the restaurant, he looked familiar to me, and I wondered if it was an LDS family visiting, but then he came over to us. I expected him to ask if we were missionaries, but he said, "Are you the Sowards?" Good memory! It was good to see him again. They had come to Thailand so she could deliver her baby here.

The hospital is clean
and very international.

Dennis served in the temple all this week without me. I got a bit stir-crazy staying home. Our neighbors brought us food daily, including a rubber chicken that honks, proclaiming the gospel. Thank you for the smiles.  

We finally gave in and went to the hospital on Thursday to see a doctor. The Bangkok International Hospital is huge and very state-of-the-art, with no waiting for hours in the emergency. They have their processes down pat. The greeters are dressed like stewardesses in uniform dresses, nylons and heels. I was seated into a wheelchair, and they pushed me back to the ENT office. (The little white-haired old lady in the wheelchair. That's me.) In only minutes we saw the doctor who assisted me in doing the Epley maneuver, then he told me I should sleep sitting up for a week.  Yeah. 

Pianist plays soothing music in lobby

In the lobby where everyone pays their bill was a pianist playing soothing music on a grand piano. Get everyone calmed down to pay their bill. Good strategy.

Sitting up while sleeping has lasted three nights now. I'm doing much better, but still a little light-headed.

Dennis had all the fun in the temple this week. On Thursday he was baptistry coordinator for 21 American youth on a work-study project in Chaing Mai.  He'd come back to the apartment every night and tell me all about it. Envy. We had a new group of Russians here, but they have returned home already. Another group arrives tomorrow. This is temporarily assigned as their temple.

Gathering my strength, I did an endowment session on Saturday afternoon. Susan was the woman whose name I took through. I had researched her, so she was special to me, and I had been given a special witness that she had accepted the baptism and initiatory previously done. There were only six participants in the session, so I stood in the prayer circle, knowing my name was on the prayer roll. Strange feeling. 

To my surprise, Dennis brought me through the veil at the end of the session! It was a sweet experience, being the first time since our wedding day forty-four plus years ago. We were both a bit teary-eyed, and I'm sure Susan was too.

We went to church on Sunday, I was still a little bit wobbly. A couple from the Philippines gave inspiring talks. The Elders assigned to our ward played a violin/piano duet--A Child's Prayer. Very well done. In this photo, we are with Elder and Sister Poon, serving here from the States.

German pancake is always  
comfort food.

We awoke to the news of the attempted assassination of former Pres. Trump. Having an ocean separating us from our homeland doesn't relieve the worry, or lessen our love for our country. We are sorry that two people had to lose their lives in this horrible incident. May the love of Christ fill all our hearts--and as Dennis reminds us at the beginning of each Sunday School lesson he teaches--Christ is always the answer.

Happy July 4th!

These missionaries completed their service at the end of June after serving honorably. The 2nd from the right is Elder Nut who is from Ayutthaya. We are so happy for him.

A large group of Vietnamese came to do ordinances this week. We witnessed history again when the first Vietnamese ordinance worker was set apart for our temple. Jonathan is a translator for the church and a delightful young man. We were privileged to visit with him and hear his conversion story. So many members give up so much--jobs, family, friendships--to join the Church and follow Jesus Christ.

I got a haircut this week as shown in this goofy "Stan Laurel" photo. I went to an upscale mini-mall near the temple. They had their prices posted, which seemed high for Thailand. They charged for everything separate--the wash, cut, blow style--which is not unusual for the states, but when the hostess showed me the price up front, I was blown away but just couldn't walk out because I was hopeful to get the cut. They said it would take 45 minutes, so I agreed. First, a young girl washed my hair. She washed and washed--two washes and a conditioner, and 20 minutes later--I pointed to my watch, wondering if I'd committed to a 45 minute head massage! I had to be in the temple in an hour. She giggled and ended the washing. Then came the cut, done by another lady. Nothing unusual about it or the dry. I tried to speak Thai to the person, but she kept say she didn't speak English, so I'd repeat the memorized line again, trying my best to say the tones and correct pronunciation--"Do you have children?" Easy, right? She'd again say she didn't speak English.

Do I speak Thai that badly? I guess so. 

We had a 7 AM session on Saturday for the new mission presidents and stake presidents and their wives. It was a privilege to be present as all these Church leaders in Thailand came for a session together.

I usually don't add spiritual experiences we've had in the temple, they being sacred, but there have been times when the person we are acting in proxy for has undeniably accepted the ordinance--the Spirit being so strong at times. 

I served as a witness in the baptistry one morning this week. For both the recorder, the baptizer, and the proxy, it was their first experience in those positions. The man baptizing had never baptized anyone, let alone in the temple. There was a quiet discussion on how to hold the hands and raise the arm to the square. It was a sweet experience watching these men prepare themselves to do this sacred ordinance. And then the Spirit witnessed to me as the baptisms began that this was the way it was meant to be, that we all work together to bring to pass the salvation for our dead, made possible through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. 

We celebrated the 4th of July long before any of you even woke up (since we're 14 hours ahead of Arizona.)  Dennis arranged with the American senior couples and other American visitors to go to lunch for hamburgers. We walked across the street to Mos Burger (18 of us). They have good burgers, all Thai flavored, and the size is small. We had no fireworks, except Elder Belnap did blow the wrapper off his drinking straw and sent it flying through the air. Happy birthday, America!

Okay, I got over the belly problem, but now I have vertigo! 

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.