Tom Sowards Visits

Dennis' brother Tommy came for a visit, arriving on Thursday just in time to celebrate Pioneer Day at the church offices. He brought gifts from the family, which we appreciate. We tried to turn him into a missionary while he was here by going to bed early, doing home teaching, cleaning the church house, helping to record the Chinese cemetery, helping teach our English class and youth activity.

Fish foot therapy

Tommy and Dennis at the Chinese cemetery

On Sunday Tom enjoyed our wonderful sacrament meeting and heard the primary sing the special number – The Holy Ghost. He enjoyed the Thai potluck lunch after church. Real Thai food.

We took him to see the giant Buddha at the nearby watt, the ruins of Thai temples in Ayutthaya, and the outdoor markets where he sampled real Thai food and saw elephants walking the streets. He sat for 20 minutes and let fish eat the calluses of his feet, and then was treated to the best chocolate mousse in Thailand. 

Goats returning home after a long day of entertaining tourists

We contributed to his game repertoire by teaching him to play Rummikub and Take Two. Ah, Tom! We will miss you.

We ate Mexican food at Que Pasa in Bagkok.  See http://www.quepasa-th.com/Que_Pasa/Que_Pasa.html 

Judo and a Few Surprises

At English class last Tuesday, we had “Speak Like a Cowboy” night.  We taught fun words including “Howdy" and “Whoa" and talked about pioneers. Joan had made a slideshow video of rodeo words that turned out fun.

Saturday for our youth activity, the elders taught judo judo basics. I am so grateful we only had a few bruises afterwards. The youth enjoyed it.

Elder Sowards drove the elders to Suphanburi (1 hour away) to teach an investigator at the only member’s house in that town. She was very interested. She drove herself to church on Sunday. Maybe some day we can have a branch there. There are so many large towns in Thailand that we have no members--area that are wide open for missionary work.

Elder Sowards took the branch presidency to the leadership training on Sunday. We are beginning to realize that when Thais say a meeting will go 3 to 6 PM they really mean 3:15 to 7 PM. While he was away, the wife of one of the priesthood leaders waited at our house. She and Joan had a fun time since she speaks little English and Joan only some Thai. They read scriptures (in two languages) together, made felt flowers, studied Thai and English, and discussed many things. She told Joan she wasn't married – she and her husband were baptized earlier this year and she is obviously expecting. This shocked Joan until she learned that the sister meant that they were legally registered as husband & wife but had no formal wedding event. To the Thai people there is a difference. She said the formal wedding would happen when they go to the temple.

We had a problem with a missionary misusing his Facebook privileges. I hope it is better now that President Senior has discussed it with him. The Internet is a two edged sword. And our elders do not have iPads yet, though they are allowed to keep a missionary profile page and post uplifting messages for their investigators and new members. They are not allowed to visit friends' pages or communicate with old friends through Facebook. Big temptation.

Congratulations to our son-in-law Chris Stapley and nephew-in-law Adam Brown for completing the bar exam this week. What a great accomplishment!

Impromptu English Class

We were invited to a school to have our picture taken for the English Camp we did last week--or though we thought. (Schools will write up a report of our visits for the system.) As soon as we arrived, our hostess took us to another school, and upon arrival asked us to teach English for an hour. Surprise! Luckily, we had Primary song posters in the trunk of our car. We sang and went over an English handout.

We had a fun time. Flexibility and being prepared is always needed.

This photo doesn't show the entire 138 students who came, or how delightful they were. In each school we visit they put us in a large open room to present or teach. Even though they have desks in the classroom, the children sit on the floor during our presentations. 

Lean Presentation at Taksin Hopital

Elder Sowards gave a presentation on how to implement Lean to the Bangkok Taksin Hospital doctors and nurses. He taught half in English and half in Thai. The conference chairman said this was the first time an English speaker had presented there. They invited him months ago to speak at the hospital. He also introduced the church in his presentation, and extended an invitation to them to speak with the missionaries they might meet on the street. We invited them to English classes too. It all seemed well received. 

This is the fifth LEAN presentation he has given here.

Question and answer time

Nurses and doctors

Japanese Once Lived in Ayutthaya

Elder Meeker and Elder Sowards studying the map of Ayutthaya at the Japanese Settlement museum. Interesting thing about these settlers is that they were Japanese 

Christians who left Japan (c1600) when the Emperor declared no Christians could live in Japan. Their population grew to 3000 before they were forced out due to a change of kingship in Thailand.

Pioneer Day in Ayutthaya

Our youth activity this week was "Pioneer Day."

Elder Larsen started the program by explaining Pioneer Day as celebrated in Utah. He also told a story of his great-great grandmother crossing the plains. She was cooking breakfast when some Native Americans walked into her camp. She remembered Brigham Young telling the saints to be kind to the Indians and not fight them, so she offered them breakfast. They sat down and ate. Upon leaving, they told her that before they came into camp they had planned to kill her, but because of her kindness, they changed their mind. It was a confirmation to her to always follow the prophet's counsel.

Elder and Sister Meeker stayed to be part of our activity. Sister Meeker told about the crickets that came to eat the pioneer's crops in Salt Lake valley. Her great grandmother's family was without food during that time. They prayed for food. While walking along a road, a man came up to her and gave her a bag of food. He told her the Spirit had told him to take the food and give it to the first person he saw. She was very grateful to have their prayers answered by someone who listened to the Spirit.

All members in Thailand are pioneers because they are the first, and usually the only members of the church in their family. They must be brave and endure the hardships that come from being a pioneer.

We made biscuits and our own butter out of cream as we listened to the stories. Thanks to Sister Meeker's help, they both turned out delicious.

We even danced the Virginia Reel. I had worried how dancing would be accepted by our youth, but they learned quickly and seemed to enjoy it a lot. Some even said it was one of the best activities we've had.

Proud of the biscuits we made

Mmmm... And the butter

True pioneers

English Day Camp

Nine missionaries--Sisters Weed, Packard, Embley, and Elders Ketavong, Larsen, and Elder and Sister Meeker, and we went to Nong May Sung school outside of Ayutthaya to present an English Day Camp to seventy 11-13 year-olds.

We taught five classes simultaneously in eight half-hour periods. Much of what we taught was above the students' level. We tried to simplify the subjects the best we could. I'm sure by the end of the day, the students' heads were swimming in English, but the exposure was good for them.

It is a very nice, well kept school. They fed us a great Thai lunch and took good care of us.

Class showing their family cards

Sisters Sowards, Weed and Embley teaching Family

Elder Sowards teaching Opposites

Elder Sowards explaining the Opposites Challenge game.

YSA FHE

Eleven YSA came to our home for family home evening. We discussed the dual between Elijah and the priest of Baal, played pictionary and had homemade chocolate cake, and ice cream. Elder Sowards announced the cake was chocolate but that we had vanilla ice cream if they did not like chocolate. Several of the YAs immediately responded,  "We love chocolate!”, and then they proved it.

A Missionary Couple's Week

Motorscooter photo of the week

We drove the elders to an investigator's home about 35 KM south. We had to cross an high arching bridge.  As we started to come down the other side, I realized the bridge ended at the bottom. The family parks their cars on the down side of the bridge. Glad I was going slow.

At that meeting Elder Kittavong, from Laos, did a super job addressing the investigator’s fears about being a Buddhist converting to Christianity. Having done so himself he answers the concerns better than we Americans can.

We had a wonderful 4th of July celebration with the Senior couples in Bangkok at a hamburger dinner held at the home of President and Sister Senior. The burgers were real hand made patties and tasted like hamburgers. A rarity here. Afterwards we all shared thoughts about our grand country and its inspired founding fathers.

Goats at the Catholic church.

The bridge that goes nowhere

Elder Larsen at the end of the bridge.
Boardwalks leading from the road to a house, such as this,
are very common, and shaky to walk on.

Saturday our branch took over 1000 pictures of gravestones in a soon-to-be-destroyed Chinese cemetery. We uploaded the photos to BillionGraves.com for indexing in the future.

Sunday I read the releasing of all the district clerks, secretaries, and high council, and then read in the sustaining of the stake similar callings. This is always a challenge to pronounce the Thai names correctly. President Sathit said the Branch President had to do it as authorized to represent the stake presidency, otherwise I would have delegated it. I am sure I said a few names wrong but they were not there to be unhappy with me.

Because we have several (5) English speaking members in the Branch, we started an English Adult Sunday School class. Joan taught the first lesson about Psalms and did super.

Happy birthday, America. And everyone who lives there, have a nice week.

Another Amazing Week in Thailand

by Elder Sowards

Transfer meeting this week was a big surprise: We lost three missionaries from branch and only received one back. With twenty-two missionaries leaving and only 8 arriving, the mission had to downsize so we lost a companionship. To make it more interesting Elder Kittavong stayed so we have gone from three English-speaking Elders to one – Elder Larsen. Teaching English class is now more of a challenge with 3 classes.

Elders Kettavong and Larsen

We have several English-only speaking members attend Sacrament meeting and the missionaries translate into a transmitter that allows them to hear the talks through wireless headphones. Elder Larsen, the new elder, has been in country less than 6 months and it is all his job now.

 
We have had several big rainstorms this week. The lawn was so tall I had the lady lawn-care person come cut it on Saturday. With the big storm we received Sunday nigh it will probably be just as tall in a few days. Two days of rain

We held a Work of Salvation Fireside on Sunday afternoon to help encourage more unity between members and missionaries. I was one of the speakers. We had made no-bake copies and I asked a few members plus the new missionary to come up to the podium. I asked if they looked exciting to eat (they look like mud). The Thais said no. Only E. Larsen was happy to try them, as he knew what they were. After they all tasted them they want more. I used it to illustrate that we shouldn’t judge people such as investigators or new converts.

Taught crocheting at the Saturday Youth Activity. Only a few were interested in crocheting, but it is good to be exposed to the basic stitch.

We held a special meeting honoring Joseph Smith on Friday June 27th. One sister said that her grandchildren had asked why Joseph had to die like he did.  She said after the meeting they understood more and had a better testimony of the prophet.

During our combined Priesthood-Relief Society 5th Sunday lesson, I realized how important reading is in the Church. The lesson was about being better teachers of the gospel. The stake Sunday School president used several lesson manuals to help explain how to teach. Most Thais and many Americans do not read the training material provided us. As I thought about this, I wondered where the Church would be if Joseph Smith had not read the Bible?

 We fed the two full-time elders Sunday night. We had bought Oscar Myers hotdogs and potato chips at an American food store to celebrate the 4th of July. We didn’t have apple pie but substituted brownies.

Gorgeous but tasteless. Thai people don't care for rich desserts as do Americans,
but they enjoy a great presentation such as this cake.

Brownies are American.

Everyone have a great 4^th of July. Happy birthday, America!

Transfers!

Ayutthaya Elders Martin, Nowsuwan, Crump, Kettavong
All transferred but Kettavong. Elder Larsen from Fairview, UT has come to serve in Ayutthaya.

Finishing elders sing "To Bring The World His Truth." Three in this group served in Ayutthaya.

Cobbers (not in order of picture)

Elders Morgan Hunsaker, Morgan Marshall, Ian Lucas, Jeffrey Watts, Taylor Wilko, Marc Berbert, Michael Unsworth, Troy Christiansen, Jared Pearson Tarrell Merkley, Spencer Buehner, Brandon Barfuss, Garrentt Harris, Drew Jex, Jason Murray, Ryan Tirrell

New elders, welcome!
Elders Brandon Lee Butler, Ryler Jordan Despain, Luke Siebach Hartung, Todd Wyatt Nelson, Jackson Andrew Reed, Logan Jan Visser, Chandler Addison Williams, Devin Christopher Wright.

We home taught a sister who likes spaghetti. It was her birthday so we took her some. While we were talking with her and her mother on their porch, an older sister walked up, and in a not very nice voice asked the mother if "those foreigners" were “praying." The mother said “no", we were only visiting. The sister then said all types of mean things about us coming to their house. This is the same lady who months ago demanded to know why we could say a prayer in their home (after a home teaching visit) when they don’t send Buddhist monks to pray in our church? The mother apologized for her daughter, saying she has been sick (mentally) for 3 years. It was an uncomfortable situation.

Saturday, we held a music recital featuring Joan's piano students. Each played one or two songs. Joan taught them proper recital ettiquette and had them announce their songs and bow after playing. It was fun to watch them perform. Less than a year ago they could not read music or play any instrument. They get a half hour lesson once a week. The only time they can practice is at the church since they have no piano or keyboard at home. Cake (that’s her nickname) is the only non-member young woman taking lessons. Her parents were the only parents who came, though all were invited.

Sunday went better than expected –

Youth Posters

Four our Youth Activity each made a poster about themselves, their family, testimony, and goals.

Arm

Cake

Pleng

Nut

Note

Poon

Five

Now

Photos of the Week

Elder Crump takes pride in his every-day shoes he has not polished in a year.

Neighborhood traveling vendor.

Piano students give recital after a year of lessons! They did great.

Bananas going to market.

Motorcycle Safety (or the lack of it)

Thailand has motorcycle laws. Each rider must wear a helmet, and no more than two on the bike. The laws are observed by only half the riders (at least outside of Bangkok).

I cringe every time I see a baby on board.

The motor scooter is the major mode of "family" transportation. Parents pick their child up from school. Many think they are only going a short distance, so why wear a helmet? The whole year we have lived here, I have not heard nor seen any type of campaign to improve motorcycle safety for children. Motorcycle accidents are a leading cause of death for children in Thailand, 2nd only to drowning.

Family transportation.

This woman is holding a cellphone, not the child.

Going at a high speed.

Waiting at a light, but the child stood the whole ride.

At least the adult in the rear is holding the child.

Standing on the runner is a favorite way to ride.

Comments?

Historic Week--Now and Then

Tuesday we had Zone conference at the Asoke church building - 1.5 hours away in Bangkok. While there memories flooded my thoughts, I was there on this land (1970) when President Marion G. Romney sawed a board, when this, the first church building in Thailand, was being built. This was as I finishing my mission and one of my last special memories. Two years later, I came back with Willie Greene. The translation committee was finishing the final review of the translation of the Book of Mormon. They invited the two of us into the meeting. Not that we added anything but we were thrilled to be part of that meeting. This is the same building that our family went to church in 2000 on our first day in Thailand. We had come in the night before at 1 AM. This is the same building that Joan & I watched a meeting celebrating the 40th anniversary of the church in Thailand in 2006 when they asked all Thai return missionaries to stand. The room was full of “Thai" return missionaries. We have pictures of us with others who came to the celebration standing in this chapel. This is also the church that Joan and I attended on the day we arrived in Thailand for this mission. They asked us to share our testimonies in Sacrament meeting. We had only been in the country about 3 hours. So many special memories.

If I didn’t announce it before, our mission has already over 1000 baptisms this year, as much as all of last year.

For lunch at the zone training, I made root beer and we all had root beer floats. I had brought a bottle of RB extract from Mesa (which is almost impossible to find here), and we bought dry ice in Bangkok (not available in Ayutthaya). It was fun to serve the missionaries homemade root beer.

As said in our previous post, Sunday was a great day for the church in Thailand. We now have a 2nd stake in Thailand and also a new district divided off from the Bangkok stake. We have five districts in the country and they are growing to become stakes. Mike Smith (from his mission in Albania) noted "It is also interesting to note that both stake presidents and the district president are RM’s as well as one counselor each in both stakes. Both of President Senior’s counselors are RM’s not to forget that Thailand’s first Area Seventy, Elder Khanakham, is also an RM. All of these presidencies are Temple endowed and sealed with their families. This is what we all, as young missionaries (back in the day), envisioned for the saints in the country that we love so much.” Our branch remains a branch in the new stake. We did have one man from our branch receive the Melchizedek priesthood as part of the conference.

Anan Eldridge was at the conference too. He is in town with one of his sons. It is always great to see him and his smiling face. He told me that both of the stake presidents were missionaries when he was mission president. He was able to assist in ordaining one of them a stake president. (The other was ordained several years ago.)

Anan Eldridge, first baptized male Thai,
my first companion
and a previous
Thailand Mission President.

On Wed a phone call came in from a counselor in the mission presidency. Seems he was interviewing a member and somehow they discovered that she knew me. So he called and handed the phone to her. It was Sister Chantakan, who I helped baptize in Korat when a young missionary. I had lost all contact with her after the mission. It was wonderful to talk with her. I hope to actually meet her before we return.

A New Stake In Thailand!

Past stake presidents with Asia Area Presidency

On Sunday, June 15, 2014, our Ayutthaya Branch became part of the second stake in Thailand was formed from the Bangkok North District--the Thailand Bangkok North Stake. President Sathid will continue as stake president.

The conference was held at the Watergate Hotel in Bangkok in one of their largest conference rooms, but so many people in attendance that the room could not hold all who came. A new district, the Bangkok West, was also formed. The work in Thailand is going forward and the Church is growing!



This photo above from left to right:
Mission president, President David Senior, area President Elder Wilson, Brother and Sister Tip--the first stake president of Thailand, Elder and Sister Konakham an area 70 and second stake president in Thailand, the current stake president Sarawuth Kanyaphan of the Bangkok Stake and wife,  Asia area President Elder Gong, Asian area President Elder Woo.

Pictured right above: the new Stake Presidency for the Bangkok North Thailand Stake (seated center) President Sathit Kaivalvatana, and standing at each side is President Natthapol Lattisophonkul, first counselor and President Narin Yantaphan, second counselor.

Pictured right: Ayutthaya Branch on the bus,  to the conference. Early this morning, it poured rain in Ayutthaya. All of our members had to come by motorcycle or duk duk to the church to catch the bus to Bangkok. But they came! What faith these members have. Most were soaking wet when they arrived. Usually when it rains, Thai people stay home because their only transportation is by motorcycle. Look how happy they are to be together and on their way to hear representatives of the Lord speak.

Why is Sunday the Craziest Day of the Week?

Saturday night, everything was set for a smooth-running Sunday. I felt calm about what would happen this during the day. Just as I went to bed, a voice whispered that this was the calm before the storm. I wish that voice would have told me more!

It was a crazy Sunday. It stared early with a text message from the district executive secretary that we were to have all the auxiliary secretaries along with the branch clerk and branch president/counselor attend a meeting in Bangkok at 3 PM. I knew the clerk was to attend, but no one else. I asked the others at church if they could attend. This changed their day’s plans and mine too, since the counselor could not go, I needed to.

I had asked four people to speak in Sacrament Meeting. I usually only ask three but had asked four thinking two might give short talks. All four gave short talks even though two of them have been members for years and have been to the temple. We then asked two visitors to speak: one is a former member of the branch back visiting and the other a district family history leader. They still left time, so I spoke for about 7 minutes. We had asked a youth to play "Walk in the Light" on her violin, but she had to leave early due to illness. So we sang the song as a congregational hymn.

Elephant walking past church. The street is still not finished.

The parents of the ill sister were to lead a fireside on family history after church. We had to cancel that meeting. After church the clerk and 3 secretaries (Relief Society, Primary and Young Women’s) all loaded into our car and we drove to Bangkok for the training. We arrived back at the church late, so we drove one of the sisters home since there was no public transportation going her way. By the time we got home, our gas gage read empty.

An elephant walked in front of the church one day this week. I guess it was just out for an evening stroll, or on its way home from work. There are elephants in the city at the tourist park but not usually by our house or the church. The tourist park is not just for foreigners but many Thais go there to ride the elephants too.

Nativity puppets made by youth

The sister we took to the hospital last Sunday was in there all week. She is doing better but not great. I wish I could take pictures to show what this hospital looks like. Joan has said to not take her there if the need arises.

Brownies after YA FHE

The youth activity this Saturday was making a nativity set of hand puppets for the primary. When finished the youth sang the “The Nativity Song” and displayed their puppet at the right verse.  We showed the video "Luke 2" and ate Christmas cookies – it was Christmas in June.

Monday night we hosted the YSA monthly family home evening with six in attendance. Joan taught about spiritual crocodiles. I made brownies. They members all said they loved the brownies and want me to teach them how to make brownies. I didn’t tell them it was a mix.