AIT #23: April 30, 2003
Last week Elder Bevell and Elder Segsan went down to Bangkok for moves and ZLTM. Elder Segsan moved to Thonburi and is the new zone leader there, companions with Elder Lo. Elder Jorgensen (who used to be the office) moved here and is the district leader, and Elder Blodgett (who I replaced here) moved to the office to replace Elder Jorgensen. "It's a small world after all..." :) Elder Rock moved up to Lampang to replace Elder Dressen, so we're back in the same zone again. And Elder Houston moved to Chiang Rai. I'm not sure who else moved, but I'll try to find out.
Elder Bevell and Elder Segsan left on Wednesday night in order to get to moves on time, so Elder Burin and I were on switchoffs. Thursday morning Elder Bevell called and told us that ZLTM (zone leader training meeting) was moved to Friday, since they were showing some missionary satellite transmission down in Asoke. Thus, he and Elder Jorgensen didn't come back to Saturday at 3 a.m. Elder Jorgensen and Elder Burin moved back into their old house then, so we're back to a two-man house. Friday was a little crazy since we both had lots of appointments and most of his were quite far away, but it all worked out. Sister B (Brother A's girlfriend) was baptized on Sunday. We're seeing Root tomorrow to make sure everything's in order for his baptism.
Sunday afternoon it was really hot and we decided to go to Brother Adoon and Sister Wachariporn's house to get some water (since we couldn't buy any). To get to their house you have to enter a gate and walk past a few other houses, the first of which has four or five dogs. Usually the dogs don't present any problem, but this time they started barking as soon as we parked our bikes, and as we walked in, three of them scrambled towards me and the most vicious of the three chomped my leg. Luckily it only got a little bit; two holes in my sock and three scratches with a very tiny amount of blood. We checked with the owner and made sure the dog had been vaccinated, so I don't have to get rabies shots. (Hallelujah! :))
For the past two weeks or so I've been sleeptalking/sleepwalking virtually every night. I'm not sure why, but it seems to have gone away these past few days. At least I think so; it's kind of hard to tell since Elder Bevell sleeps through it. The only way I knew was that it scared Elder Segsan and Elder Burin almost every night (Thais are petrified of sleeptalkers) and they mentioned it last week. Occasionally I remember sleepwalking, and usually the scenario is that I'm in a room and my companion has disappeared and I have to go find him. :) After meandering about the bedroom for a few minutes, I realize that I'm still in my bedroom and that Elder Bevell is still in his bed and that I'm dreaming.
Yesterday we had a branch activity. Elder Burin gave a good lesson on Christ, and then we split into three groups and put together little plays on Moses, Joseph in Egypt, and Nephi and the brass plates. I was Moses and got to part the Red Sea. :) The members here are soooooo awesome. Brother A is a new branch missionary, joining the ranks of Tom, Por, and Kaew (who are very good and help us out immensely). I want to stay here in P-lok for the rest of my mission. :)
Elder Bevell and I speak to each other in Thai more than half the time, which has helped a lot these past six weeks. I think in Thai all the time now, and when I try to write in my journal, my mind produces Thai instead of English. :) I never realized how fun it is to be fluent in another language.
One thing I don't think I've mentioned yet is that those who ride motorcycles (and there are a lot of them) range from eight-year-old kids to eighty-year-old grandmas. It was kind of weird at first, but now it's normal. America seems so foreign now. It's bizarre -- farangs seem too white and misshapen now. :)
Here's a scripture I like, found in Helaman 3:35: "Nevertheless they [the people of Nephi] did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God." Our cry should be, "Here's my heart, Lord; take and seal it for thy courts above." ("Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing") He requires a broken heart and a contrite spirit. The thing is, in giving our hearts to the Lord, He gives us so much more in return. It's not really a sacrifice at all. Examine your lives and see where you can more fully give your heart to the Lord. Stay strong in the faith and cling to the iron rod by reading the Book of Mormon every day, praying several times a day, and doing the other things that will bring you close to God (paying tithing, going to church, attending the temple, holding FHE and family prayer/scripture study, etc.).
Elder Bevell and Elder Segsan left on Wednesday night in order to get to moves on time, so Elder Burin and I were on switchoffs. Thursday morning Elder Bevell called and told us that ZLTM (zone leader training meeting) was moved to Friday, since they were showing some missionary satellite transmission down in Asoke. Thus, he and Elder Jorgensen didn't come back to Saturday at 3 a.m. Elder Jorgensen and Elder Burin moved back into their old house then, so we're back to a two-man house. Friday was a little crazy since we both had lots of appointments and most of his were quite far away, but it all worked out. Sister B (Brother A's girlfriend) was baptized on Sunday. We're seeing Root tomorrow to make sure everything's in order for his baptism.
Sunday afternoon it was really hot and we decided to go to Brother Adoon and Sister Wachariporn's house to get some water (since we couldn't buy any). To get to their house you have to enter a gate and walk past a few other houses, the first of which has four or five dogs. Usually the dogs don't present any problem, but this time they started barking as soon as we parked our bikes, and as we walked in, three of them scrambled towards me and the most vicious of the three chomped my leg. Luckily it only got a little bit; two holes in my sock and three scratches with a very tiny amount of blood. We checked with the owner and made sure the dog had been vaccinated, so I don't have to get rabies shots. (Hallelujah! :))
For the past two weeks or so I've been sleeptalking/sleepwalking virtually every night. I'm not sure why, but it seems to have gone away these past few days. At least I think so; it's kind of hard to tell since Elder Bevell sleeps through it. The only way I knew was that it scared Elder Segsan and Elder Burin almost every night (Thais are petrified of sleeptalkers) and they mentioned it last week. Occasionally I remember sleepwalking, and usually the scenario is that I'm in a room and my companion has disappeared and I have to go find him. :) After meandering about the bedroom for a few minutes, I realize that I'm still in my bedroom and that Elder Bevell is still in his bed and that I'm dreaming.
Yesterday we had a branch activity. Elder Burin gave a good lesson on Christ, and then we split into three groups and put together little plays on Moses, Joseph in Egypt, and Nephi and the brass plates. I was Moses and got to part the Red Sea. :) The members here are soooooo awesome. Brother A is a new branch missionary, joining the ranks of Tom, Por, and Kaew (who are very good and help us out immensely). I want to stay here in P-lok for the rest of my mission. :)
Elder Bevell and I speak to each other in Thai more than half the time, which has helped a lot these past six weeks. I think in Thai all the time now, and when I try to write in my journal, my mind produces Thai instead of English. :) I never realized how fun it is to be fluent in another language.
One thing I don't think I've mentioned yet is that those who ride motorcycles (and there are a lot of them) range from eight-year-old kids to eighty-year-old grandmas. It was kind of weird at first, but now it's normal. America seems so foreign now. It's bizarre -- farangs seem too white and misshapen now. :)
Here's a scripture I like, found in Helaman 3:35: "Nevertheless they [the people of Nephi] did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God." Our cry should be, "Here's my heart, Lord; take and seal it for thy courts above." ("Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing") He requires a broken heart and a contrite spirit. The thing is, in giving our hearts to the Lord, He gives us so much more in return. It's not really a sacrifice at all. Examine your lives and see where you can more fully give your heart to the Lord. Stay strong in the faith and cling to the iron rod by reading the Book of Mormon every day, praying several times a day, and doing the other things that will bring you close to God (paying tithing, going to church, attending the temple, holding FHE and family prayer/scripture study, etc.).
posted by Ben at 4:12 PM
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