AIT #24: May 7, 2003
It really is the hot season now. :) Earlier this week I found out where everyone moved. Elder Berlin moved to Ratcha Thewi; Sister Grimmius is now in Bangkhen; Sister Kravetz moved to Bangkapi and is companions with Sister Aemon (small world :)); Elder McLelland and Elder Walker both moved to Udorn North; Elder Suttiphong moved to Bangnaa and is companions with Elder Orrock; Sister West moved to Udorn.
On Monday we got a package in the mail from the Church, a three-hour long training video on the recent change in missionary work (teaching by the Spirit). The video is mostly Elder M. Russell Ballard, Elder Richard G. Scott, and Elder Charles Didier at a table answering questions that have come in over the past few months about the adjustment, but it also has a lot of segments from others (Elder Holland, President Hinckley, MTC people, etc.). It was really nice to be in the learner's seat instead of the teacher's, and furthermore, to listen to English. :) (I do love Thai a great deal, but it's not the same.) Since then I've done a lot better teaching, more from the heart and the Spirit.
Monday night Elder Bevell and Elder Jorgensen went up to Lampang to switch off with Elder Sessions and Elder Vue (the two seniors there). So on Tuesday, Elder Burin and I worked in his area half the day and in mine half, as usual. It's nice to switch off every once in a while, to see what the other companionship's area is like and get to meet their investigators.
Last week I heard my first dookae (a lizard that makes a really weird noise, kind of like a wind-up doll that says "Googie-goo" in a gravelly, drawn-out way). Still haven't seen one, though. At first I thought it really was a doll, but that didn't make sense since we were in the apartment of a bunch of 19-year-old studly guys. :) Since then I've noticed it a lot more, even at our house.
I had a scary/disturbing experience last week, too. :) Elder Bevell and I were doing invites and came to a secluded apartment. The door to the last room was open and we could see some people sitting inside, though the light was off so we could only see their silhouettes. Elder Bevell said hi and was about to invite them, but he decided not to and went to see if any doors were open farther down. I asked them if we could do anything to help them and started to get on my bike to leave. One of them stood up but didn't say anything, so I repeated my question. They invited me to sit down and so I came to the door. The light came on and I slowly realized that the guys had makeup on, and the two people that I'd thought were girls were very manly looking. I'd just stumbled into a nest of krathoeys (transvestites). They started asking for my personal phone number and how old I was and I quickly made an exit. It felt incredibly good to get out on the main road among normal people who aren't confused over gender issues. :)
Occasionally we run into farangs, mostly Europeans. The other day we found a Scottish man named Bill and chatted with him a bit. He's an electrical engineer and has lived in Thailand for six or seven years. When we asked if he'd ever talked with us missionaries before, he said he first met us back in the 60s in Scotland, and that he's not very religious. Now, almost every single Thai person we invite says, "All religions teach us to be good." In contrast, our Scotsman (and from what I've heard from other missionaries, this is usual among Europeans) said, "Religions cause most of the world's problems." He bluntly told us that we'd be wasting our time and that he's absolutely not interested in reading the Book of Mormon, period. I don't know why, but talking with Thais feels much different, even when they reject us. I think Thais are generally nicer about it, since they don't want to hurt our feelings. And no doubt the language issue is part of it, too. Being an English-speaking missionary would be a lot harder in many ways, I think. Regardless of the difficulties, however, the fact remains that the gospel is true and it must be preached to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, till the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.
Root's getting baptized on the 21st or so. We've been teaching Sister Gittiya's nephew (or some kind of relation, I'm not sure exactly what), Boi. At first it seemed like he wasn't too interested, but when we taught him about the first principles and ordinances of the gospel last week, he lit up and started talking a lot, explaining all sorts of stuff. He said he hasn't studied with missionaries before, which is kind of weird. We set a baptismal date for the 18th, but he still has to stop drinking and smoking, so we'll wait till he's ready. Lately we haven't had many investigators come to church, but this Sunday Ohe came, which was really good.
Ack, I'm out of time. This Church is true and Christ lives!
On Monday we got a package in the mail from the Church, a three-hour long training video on the recent change in missionary work (teaching by the Spirit). The video is mostly Elder M. Russell Ballard, Elder Richard G. Scott, and Elder Charles Didier at a table answering questions that have come in over the past few months about the adjustment, but it also has a lot of segments from others (Elder Holland, President Hinckley, MTC people, etc.). It was really nice to be in the learner's seat instead of the teacher's, and furthermore, to listen to English. :) (I do love Thai a great deal, but it's not the same.) Since then I've done a lot better teaching, more from the heart and the Spirit.
Monday night Elder Bevell and Elder Jorgensen went up to Lampang to switch off with Elder Sessions and Elder Vue (the two seniors there). So on Tuesday, Elder Burin and I worked in his area half the day and in mine half, as usual. It's nice to switch off every once in a while, to see what the other companionship's area is like and get to meet their investigators.
Last week I heard my first dookae (a lizard that makes a really weird noise, kind of like a wind-up doll that says "Googie-goo" in a gravelly, drawn-out way). Still haven't seen one, though. At first I thought it really was a doll, but that didn't make sense since we were in the apartment of a bunch of 19-year-old studly guys. :) Since then I've noticed it a lot more, even at our house.
I had a scary/disturbing experience last week, too. :) Elder Bevell and I were doing invites and came to a secluded apartment. The door to the last room was open and we could see some people sitting inside, though the light was off so we could only see their silhouettes. Elder Bevell said hi and was about to invite them, but he decided not to and went to see if any doors were open farther down. I asked them if we could do anything to help them and started to get on my bike to leave. One of them stood up but didn't say anything, so I repeated my question. They invited me to sit down and so I came to the door. The light came on and I slowly realized that the guys had makeup on, and the two people that I'd thought were girls were very manly looking. I'd just stumbled into a nest of krathoeys (transvestites). They started asking for my personal phone number and how old I was and I quickly made an exit. It felt incredibly good to get out on the main road among normal people who aren't confused over gender issues. :)
Occasionally we run into farangs, mostly Europeans. The other day we found a Scottish man named Bill and chatted with him a bit. He's an electrical engineer and has lived in Thailand for six or seven years. When we asked if he'd ever talked with us missionaries before, he said he first met us back in the 60s in Scotland, and that he's not very religious. Now, almost every single Thai person we invite says, "All religions teach us to be good." In contrast, our Scotsman (and from what I've heard from other missionaries, this is usual among Europeans) said, "Religions cause most of the world's problems." He bluntly told us that we'd be wasting our time and that he's absolutely not interested in reading the Book of Mormon, period. I don't know why, but talking with Thais feels much different, even when they reject us. I think Thais are generally nicer about it, since they don't want to hurt our feelings. And no doubt the language issue is part of it, too. Being an English-speaking missionary would be a lot harder in many ways, I think. Regardless of the difficulties, however, the fact remains that the gospel is true and it must be preached to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, till the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.
Root's getting baptized on the 21st or so. We've been teaching Sister Gittiya's nephew (or some kind of relation, I'm not sure exactly what), Boi. At first it seemed like he wasn't too interested, but when we taught him about the first principles and ordinances of the gospel last week, he lit up and started talking a lot, explaining all sorts of stuff. He said he hasn't studied with missionaries before, which is kind of weird. We set a baptismal date for the 18th, but he still has to stop drinking and smoking, so we'll wait till he's ready. Lately we haven't had many investigators come to church, but this Sunday Ohe came, which was really good.
Ack, I'm out of time. This Church is true and Christ lives!
posted by Ben at 8:56 AM
2 Comments:
where is elder vue from?
Hmm, that's a good question. I can't remember. If you e-mail me, though, I could send you his e-mail address. (Assuming it still works, that is. :))
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