Weekend at Old Ayuthaya

Lois and I spent this past weekend at a the Ancient Capital of Thailand,


Sister Meeker waiting for the train at HuaLamphong Station

The city is located 1-1/2 hour train ride north of Bangkok in the valley of the Chao Phraya River. The city was founded in 1350 by King U Thong, who went there to escape a smallpox outbreak in Lop Buri and proclaimed it the capital of his kingdom, often referred to as the Ayutthaya kingdom or Siam. Ayutthaya became the second Siamese capital after Sukhothai. Its remains, characterized by the prang (reliquary towers) and gigantic monasteries, which give an idea of its past splendour. It is estimated that Ayutthaya by the year 1600 AD had a population of about 300,000, with the population perhaps reaching 1,000,000 around 1700 AD, making it one of the world's largest cities at that time. In 1767, the city was destroyed by the Burmese army, resulting in the collapse of the kingdom. The Ayutthaya historical park occupies the ruins of the former capital of the Kingdom of Siam. The city is located at the junction of the Chao Phraya, Lopburi and Pa Sak rivers. The old city is on an island formed by a bend of the Chao Phraya on the west and south sides, the Pa Sak on the east side and the Klong Muang canal on the northern side.



We were hosted there by Elder and Sister Sowards.  They are Senior Missionaries (Member Leader Services) serving in Ayuthaya.  They have rented a 3 bedroom house not far from the rented building that serves as the church in the city. 


On the Train to Ayuthaya

We left the Mission office and took the Subway to the Train Station.  We got on the 6:20 PM Commuter train for Ayuthaya.  Commuter Train means "the slow train" because it stops at ever station between Bangkok and Ayuthaya.  We were in Third class accommodations - only level of service available for that train.  The total cost for this 1 hour and 50 minute ride ....... 20 Baht each (abut 70 cents).

We arrived in Ayuthaya and the Sowards picked us up with their car.  They are the only missionaries in Thailand that have a car assigned to them full time. Their home is about 10 minutes away from the train station. It is a 3 bedroom home in a development that is several years old.  The house was built just prior to the large floods of 2011.  The house was flooded and was not lived in until the Sowards rented it in August of this year. 

On Saturday morning we found a Museum of a different variety than what you would expect for a city with so much history.  It is called the Million Toy Museum.  We had a good time browsing thru hundreds of displays of many kinds of toys from various countries and from different eras.  Lois and I had visited Ayuthaya two years ago before the flood.  We had seen most of the historical ruins, so the Sowards were looking to take us to new places that they had also not been to yet.

Lois with some of the Million Toys



Sister Meeker Joining with Super heroes



Even though Elder Meeker is Married to "Lois"[Lane] he doesn't quite measure up to Superman

Later we went to the Ayuthaya (water market in Thai) Floating Market (in English).  All of the actual boats are attached to the dock these days.  There are also shops on the land side of the dock surrounding the pond. It is quite a nice tourist area surrounding a very large pond . It features all kinds of souvenirs and food.  There are elephants to ride and goats and fish to feed. You can even dangle your feet and legs into a tank full of fish and have them eat off the dead skin (about 3 dollars for 15 minutes).

 

Elder Meeker enjoying the Floating Market (no his feet are not dangling in the fish tank)





Sister Sowards and Sister Meeker





We also got to spend a little time at some of the ruins which are abundant in Ayuthaya.  This National Park literally covers most of the Island because there are areas and acres of ruins - former great buildings of Ayuthaya.  Some of them are very huge . Note the size of the column Elder Meeker is standing beside.

 

 Our Host Elder Sowards is currently serving as the Branch President of the Ayuthaya Branch.  Elder Sowards previously served a Mission to Thailand like I did.  He is the 35th Missionary ( I was the 283rd) to serve in Thailand.  He arrived in Thailand in January 1970.  He and five other missionaries opened up Chiang Mai for the teaching of the gospel. 

 

Elder Sowards and Elder Meeker

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Giant Reclining Budda with a saffron colored robe

 On Saturday evening we were invited to a Christmas party at the home of a member.  They run a private school out of there home.  So the party was on the driveway outside of there home. Their home/house is actually a commercial building three stories tall that has other businesses beside them.
The party was quite fun. There was some singing and entertaining by some of the children and then we ate - Thai food and some spaghetti ( Which I did not eat).  I am in Thailand to eat and enjoy Thai food.   They had music and played three rounds of musical chairs. They even got Lois and I out there. Lois lasted longer than I did. 

Earlier on Saturday the Sowards introduced us to a new treat.  They call them Ayuthaya Rodees.  I would best describe them as Crepes and Cotton Candy.  I really liked them.  The Crepes are small... thicker than usual crepes.  The sweet filling is spun sugar ... but much coarser than cotton candy, almost to the consistency of straw bit definitely better tasting.  You put some of the spun sugar into the crepe wrap it up and waa...laa... you have a very tasty treat. I am definitely going to have that again.

On Sunday we had Church from 9 AM till Noon.  Afterwards there was a Baptism for two young ladies.  They were baptized by the branch clerk in a very small above ground baptismal font in a back room just off of the chapel. After the baptismal service the branch had a Potluck lunch.  More Thai food .... yum.  After Church the Sowards took us to the Train Station and we caught the 4 PM express train into Bangkok .  The express train skipped a few stops and got to Bangkok 1-1/2 hours later.  We then hopped the subway and were home very quickly.  A great weekend.

Sunrises from the Balcony

Our 22nd floor condominium balcony faces to the east.  So each morning, I have the opportunity to see the sun rise as we return from exercising.  The exercise room is on the 27th floor. It is still dark when we start exercising at 6 AM.  We get to see the sunrise as we eat breakfast and get ready for the start of the day,

Thailand is known for many things but one of the many things I enjoy is the Sunshine.  It has been below average temperatures for the last several weeks.  Very comfortable by my standards but unseasonably cold by Thai standards. It is mid 80's during the Day and down into the 60's at night. 
Enjoy the pictures. 

Christmas Season in Thailand

Bangkok Dolls

It is the Christmas Season even here in Thailand. Yesterday was preparation day and Lois and I went out to look at a Nativity Set made with Thai themed dolls.  We traveled on the Airport Link (above ground train) just one stop away.  We then wound our way down some back streets to a Thai home that has been the location for "Bangkok dolls for almost 60 years.  The original proprietor was there to greet us.  She has about 20 artisans that work for her making dolls etc.
 I have included a link to her website if you are interested in browsing. http://www.bangkokdolls.com/

We did not come home with a nativity set. We want to see what else is out there first. But I predict that we will have this one or one something like it in the near future.  Lois really liked the little wooden boats with the Thai Woman doll in them selling fruit - think floating market. 

We did come home with two things.  We bought an embroidery like thing of elephants and a ceramic feature of two little kids with great smiles. Se the attached pictures. I believe the elephants will get enhanced by Lois via mounting, background and framing.

There are Christmas decorations out at every store.  There is a large Christmas tree in our condominium lobby with wrapped presents placed beneath it.  At the department stores there is Christmas music playing " infinite loop of Santa Claus is Coming to Town".  We drove past an indoor mall yesterday evening in a taxi and there were large displays outside.  Life size snow man in a plastic container with fake snow around him.  Christmas tree lights etc.  At the Church Office the palm trees are lighted - not quite as exquisitely as Salt Lake City Temple Square but very nice.

We have had plenty of opportunities for Christmas parties.  Last weekend we went to the Ward Christmas party (see pervious post).  On Monday  we were invited by President and Sister Senior to attend a local performance of Handels's Messiah.  President and Sister Senior hosted us at Dinner prior to the show at the “coffee bean” restaurant (no we did not order coffee).  The food was very good and we ate family style.  There was 7 Senior Missionaries and 6 young elders (AP’s, Office elders and Media elders) along with President and Sister Senior.  We traveled in one van and the Presidents SUV. After dinner we traveled in the vehicles for a short distance to Handel’s Messiah performed by the Bangkok Combined Choir.  It was performed at a Christian Church that on the outside looked a lot like a Buddhist Wat (temple).  This group and its predecessors have performed Messiah in Bangkok since the late 1950’s.  I have never been to listen to Handel's Messiah live before. I was impressed.  It was very well done.  We lasted thru 2-1/2 of the three sections. We arrived about 6:30 but the performance which was supposed to start at 7PM did start until about 7:25PM. We left after the Hallelujah chorus at about 9:45 PM.  It was getting late and we needed to get the young missionaries home. 

Friday evening we went to the Bangkok Stake Christmas party.  It was held at the building close to our home.  Food was served outdoors. Thai food and lot's of it. There was some musical numbers singing of carols outside (sit down seating and amplified musical accompaniment) and then the audience was ushered into the chapel and cultural hall. We went to the second showing of the evening which was in Thai (first showing was done in English).  They did a reading with dramatic acting and songs.  The dramatic acting was enhanced by the awesome costumes created by Bishop Arun, Bishop of the Thonburi Ward.  They depicted the Prophets of old especially Nephi from the time of the Saviors Birth in the Book of Mormon. A Choir serenaded between scenes enacted of the Christmas story told from the perspective of the Book of Mormon.  Actors portrayed Mary, Joseph , Wise Men, Shepherds and then Nephi.  It was very well done.  There was background scenery projected on the wall behind the actors and spotlights.  A well put together theatrical show. The show was also presented three times on Saturday ( two Thai and one English)

On Saturday after returning from the Bangkok doll shopping trip we took the Airport link to the Airport to pick up a Thai Sister Missionary returning from serving in Australia.  We transported her by taxi with her luggage to the Bangkok North District Center (Future Stake Center) Building. There she met with President Senior and was released as a missionary. We went to the Bangkok North District Center because President and Sister Senior were there to attend the Bangkok North District Christmas party.  The District event was done very well.  There was plenty of food,  2 tables of Thai Food, 1 of American food and 1 table for deserts.  The decorations were marvelous.  There was a tall Christmas tree of light in the Cultural hall with a 7 foot tall paper cutout of the Christus statue. After the great food there was sweets available.  They even had self-serve ice cream cones.  The line was moving so slowly….each dipping their own cones ..... that I stepped in. I dipped cones for over a half hour in order to speed up the line.  It was very good coconut ice cream.  After dinner the program started in the chapel and people extended thru the overflow and one third the way back into the Cultural hall. Each branch did a number or two and the Missionaries helped out on several numbers.  The Ayuthaya branch did such a marvelous job that the audience broke into applause when they finished – nobody else got applause.  The had costumes and Thai instruments that they used set to a song that Elder Sowards (Former Thai missionary before my time now a Senior Missionary with his wife)  translated from Englsh into Thai. Song was written by his wife.   They had some young primary age boys that sang some solos that was very cute (awesome). 

 

We are not done with Christmas parties.  One Monday at the Office and one on December 23rd with young missionaries from the Bangkok area.

The Ward Christmas Party

On Saturday evening December 6th, we were able to attend the Asoke Ward Christmas party. It was very well done. There were over a hundred or so people in attendance.  They did a marvelous job of decorating. 

 

It all starts with the impressive scene that greets you when you wind your way from the small street that the Church is located on through the gate in the wall which surrounds the Church property.  You are greeted by lights placed on and hanging from the Palm trees and this very large Merry Christmas Sign made from Styrofoam and painted red. The Sign must have been 20 feet long and 2-1/2 feet tall.

 

They had lined the entire hallway of church from the foyer all the way to the back of the building with painted cloth attached to the walls.  The painting depicted Jerusalem type architecture and was meant to portray Israel at the time of Christ.  It was replete with curved arched entrances.  The play was a reenactment of the Christmas story with a family reading scriptures and actors on the stage portraying each individual scene.  There was a Choir which sang several songs.  The interesting part of the singing was that many of these Christmas songs are not in the Thai hymn book and have not been translated into Thai ...... so the choir sang in English.  Even the main character a young women member of the “family” sang her solos in English.  The actors did a marvelous job with their lines and the emotions they displayed.  Lois was particularly impressed with the actor who portrayed Herod when the wise men came to visit him.  He was exquisitely dressed with his wife standing beside him fanning him. When the three Wise men came in he was boisterous and the three wise men bowed to him - similar to what they do when they visit their King here in Thailand.   The Bishopric played the part of the shepherds.  They had four little children dressed in White with lambs head hats that were particularly cute. After the Angels appeared to the shepherds, they wanted to go and see the Christ Child they asked themselves --- what do we do with the sheep?  One said let’s take them with us.  So the four little kids tried to crawl across the floor on all fours while their long white costumes hindering their ability. The audience laughed at that scene. I was impressed with the actor who portrayed Gabriel when he visited Mary and then visited Joseph in a dream.  He spoke with such emotion and it touched me.  Even though I have head the words many times in English,  I was very touched at hearing it in Thai that night.  There were over 40 people involved in the production counting the choir, family and the actors in the vignettes. 

For Dinner we were invited to the parking lot where they served McDonalds Pork and Beef Deluxe burgers.  They also served small oranges, Punch and sheet cake.  Plenty of food. I had never been to a ward party where they served McDonalds food before. Only In Thailand I guess. 

 

It is deep into winter now as many of you in the United States are experiencing.  We are also in the Northern Hemisphere - so it is also the cold season here.  It has getting down to 70 degrees or so at night so it is very pleasant and was so Saturday night outside eating dinner. 

The evening finished with many of the guests picking numbers from a container that matched a number attached to a wrapped gift that had ben prepared ahead of time. I think there were 80 or so numbered gifts to handout. It was fun to see the joy on their faces.  We done. Well done.

I am attaching 3 YouTube videos made by a member of the Ward (Brother Chamrat Charoenkhet) that will give you some first hand visibility of what we saw last evening.
Wise Men Visit Herod

Wise Men arrive at the Manger

No Room at the Inn

 

Protests in Thailand

 You may have noticed that Bangkok Thailand is in the news.  There has been some civil disobedience and protesting at several government buildings.

These demonstrations are very localized in the Bangkok area. Lois and I, as missionaries do not reside or work anywhere near these affected locations.  We along with all other missionaries, have been reminded to not go near any of these locations and to stay away from any large gatherings.

We are safe. We will continue to monitor the situation.

Constuction uniqueness

We find that the construction standards are quite different here in Thailand. Even for our building which is supposed to be built to western standards. Attached is a view from our 22nd floor balcony,  Ther are 30 stories in our building.  We have a lovely view overlooking he Srinakharinwirot University Campus.

  






Lois was walking down the internal hallway outside our door and noticed a door slighty ajar. Lois opened the door to look, in preparation of closing it, thinking it was the access for the Electrical panel.  She was surprised with what she saw.

 The doors were not locked. There was no latches on them and they exposed a brick vertical passage way that contained pipes that  dropped the entire height of the building.  Some were drain pipes others were water pipes.  There were two separate locations like this in our hallway.


So we took note of other access doors and even looked in the garbage room.  Each floor has a small room with a garbage bin and a recycle bin.  These garbage bins are wheeled to the ground floor via the elevator.  There isn't a trash slot to drop things to the basement.

The pictures to the left and below are of three pipes that are in the garbage room.  Note that the pipes pass thru the floor ( thus the ceiling of the floor below) all the way to the ground floor.  I can just imagine if I was a 10 year old boy...... I would have to experiment with dropping things down just to see what would happen.  Could I get something all the way to the ground from the 30th floor?

Then we actually looked closer in side our own apartment. We actually found another door that was able to be opened without a lock or latch right in the kitchen wall.  I had assumed it was the electrical panel.  See Picture above of my shot looking down the length of the three pipes.

The windows on the building are single plane glass.  Many windows in the hallways open outward. Some are even knee high - again a hazard for little ones to simply fall out.  Our balcony sliding glass door has no lock or latch on it. The is a railing on the deck. It would be interesting and scary to live here with a little one.

I remember my first visit to Thailand 38 years ago taking a picture in Bangkok of scaffolding made entirely of bamboo. It was surrounding a 25 story building all the way to the top.  Things have changed in construction methods in 38 years, but in Thailand things still are quite different.

Thai Language

I have been blessed by my Heavenly Father to be able to recall much of my Thai Language skills. I have been earnestly studying the language again since August when I retired from the Boeing Company.  You need to know that I was a very good speaker of the Thai language when I departed Thailand 36 years ago.  I was paid the ultimate compliment by a Thai friend (a tailor in Lopburi) who told me one day,  Elder Meeker, when I listen to you speak Thai: if I wasn't looking at you I would not know that you weren't a Thai.  However, you also need to know that I had very little opportunity to speak the Thai language since I left Thailand.  I would occasionally meet a Thai speaker when we were at a Thai restaurant. Therefore, I really lost my ability to speak Thai.  I forgot the Thai script letters and forgot how to read.  My vocabulary became very weak as I no longer used Thai words or "thought" in Thai.  I can say that when I came home form Thailand 36 years ago I did not translate words I simply thought and then spoke in Thai.

The Thai language is tonal language - meaning the same sound spoken with a different tone is a different word and has a different meaning.  There are 5 different tones in Thai.  Low, medium, high, falling and rising.  Example: the word "my" spoken with a low tone means new and rising tone means silk, with a high tone it is a question, with a falling tone means to burn and its also turns things into a negative (no).  So you need to be not tone deaf and be sensitive as to the emphasis and tone you put on the word you are pronouncing.  So it can be a challenge at first.  After a while it becomes comfortable. Another challenge is the new and strange sounds that you are required to make with this beautiful flowing language. There are 44 consonants and36 vowels. The one easy part of the language is that it has a fairly simple grammar structure.... but it is different than English grammar. 

As I started to relearn Thai, many things came back to me.  Words (vocabulary) would magically be there in my mind to simply be recalled.  There were a few challenges.  One was that in the intervening 36 years the Church changed the official translation of the word for Saint.  So that means that the name of the Church in Thai changed.  So the flowing sentence for the name of the church that I used to know is different now.  It took me a while to say the correct name of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Thai.

The Church has program for Senior Missionaries to learn the language of the country that they will serve in,  This program starts as soon as the missionary receives their call if they desire. Lois and I took advantage of this resource. It consisted of printed material, audio files and most importantly tutors and volunteers that are available via Skype.  We were skyping as much as 3 hours a week during our preparation time prior to arriving at the MTC.  In addition we took advantage of the opportunity to go to Utah a week early and participate in language immersion where we had face to face time with tutors and volunteers for 4 hours a day for the entire week we went early.


This past Sunday was a watershed moment as I was asked to speak in Sacrament meeting without any prior notice.  Apparently some pre-planned speakers were not available.  So just prior to the meeting the bishop asked that I speak.  I was a little nervous.... as I like to over prepare when I am asked to perform official public speaking.  I spoke for about 10 minutes and for the most part felt very comfortable with my speaking in Thai.  I am so blessed to have the gift of tongues and be able to communicate with the Thai people in their language.

Picture is the Asoke Chapel - 1st church building in Thailand (built in 1974) and the chapel where I spoke on Sunday.  There are now 18 chapels in Thailand.

Muay Thai



Typical Thai Boxing (Muay Thai) - note the use of feet, elbows and knees

Lois and I had the opportunity to visit an international Thai Boxing School on Saturday (our preparation day – in other words - day off).  They gave us a demonstration and then we had dinner there.  The School is owned by the niece of the Counselor in the Mission Presidency.  The counselor "Mani Seangsuwan" is a native Thai returned missionary from my era. After his mission he married and immigrated to the United States.  After raising his children, he and his wife volunteered as Senior Missionaries. He wrote a book entitled "Monk to Mormon Missionary" about his life experiences in order to finance his senior mission.  He and his wife were called to go back to Thailand.  They served here for two years and returned to Utah.  After a short, while they decided to return to Thailand on their own.  President Seangsuwan serves as a counselor to President Senior in the Mission Presidency.  This particular Thai Boxing school caters to foreign students.  Over the weekend they had four foreign students - one from Cambodia, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore.  They charge ~ $40 US Dollars per Day for training and accommodations (2 meals a day with room that has a fan). The building sits on a large lot.  Building is grand looking with two story columns out front.  In the back are two covered boxing rings.

As we were eating a former missionary that was in my group (38 years ago) arrived.  Jeff Rock is a retired US government Foreign Service Worker who is again living in Thailand.  If I remember correctly he has lived in Fiji, China, Tiawan, Thailand and Malaysia.  He also did a 1 year stint in Iraq after which he retired.  He has a business here in Thailand and lives her full time.  He is very comfortable here in Thailand.   We returned to the mass rapid system station in a Taxi with Jeff. We went back into town.  He took a different train and went to his apartment north of the city center. The mass transit system sure makes getting around a lot convenient than it was years ago.

New Digs

We moved in our condominium on the 22nd floor yesterday. It is a very nice place. 

Below is a link to a You tube video of another unit in or building - very close to our configuration. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-kVRWxUel8
The second link is a video tour of the Building including the rooftop swimming pool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3Dxzb5nHvzxMA
These two videos will give you and idea of the luxury we find ourselves in.

We had an opportunity to Skype with our children and my mother this morning. We enjoyed seeing their faces and hearing their voices. We could not get the simultaneous video to work but we talked to everyone in series. We will work at getting that figured out - we purchased a premium Skype license so it is supposed to work. 

Yesterday was our Preparation day.  Every Saturday we are supposed to get time to prepare for the remainder of the week.  We will attend Church and serve in the Thai Asoke Ward on Sunday. On Monday thru Friday we work in the office during the business hours and then have opportunities to be with the people and do visits/service in the evenings.  Saturday is our day to clean the condo, go shopping, do something fun etc.

Although most things we are doing are fun already.  The experiences are new and exciting.  I got a call from a missionary - who was at the Hospital yesterday in Bangkok. Nothing serious except he came to town from Lopburi (several hours north by bus) without his medical card or enough money to pay his doctor/hospital bill.  So Lois and I went to the office. Lois found a spare picture of him and created a new medical card. I opened the safe and got some petty cash (3000 Baht ~ $100) for him.  We then took a taxi to Bangkok Hospital, about 10 kilometers away. We found him and his companion - gave them what they needed. The rescue was complete.

We took another taxi back to our neighborhood.  I told the doorman at the hospital where we were going and he hailed a taxi for us.  Unfortunately he did not hear me correctly (he told the taxi driver our destination) and we found ourselves getting more of a tour of Bangkok than we intended. As we passed our neighborhood on an elevated roadway I asked the taxi driver - isn't that Soi Asoke (Asoke Street) down there?   After our return, we then had time to go shopping in a neighborhood grocery store. We fixed dinner in the Condo - and of course I had Ice Cream before we went to bed. Yes believe it our not, I still like Ice Cream and they do have it in Thailand.  In fact, Friday for lunch Lois and I went to a nearby mall on an errand and to eat. After lunch, I had Baskin and Robbins Ice Cream.

What life is really like in Thailand

Wow - life is grand and very different.  We can walk from our Hotel (right next door to the condo we move into on Saturday) to the office in about 10 minutes.  But during some times of the day it is really an "adventure".  You get to cross two busy streets.  For the first one - you go to a cross walk and wait for a small break in the traffic in the closest lane. You then step out into the street and stop just short of half way .... hoping to get the eyes of drivers in the opposite lanes.  If you do... you again dart across the remainder of the Street.  Once safely across, you must then weave in and out of pedestrian traffic along the very uneven sidewalk.  You need to be careful not to twist an ankle or poke you head into a metal support which is part of  a sidewalk vendor umbrella.  In addition you need to look out for the motorcycles who insist on using the sidewalk when the street traffic is too slow for them.  I intend to make a video of our going to the office adventure in the near future - stay tuned.

We are truly enjoying our stay here in Thailand.  We are currently staying at a hotel on the 17th floor.  We can look out our window and see the Condo we will be moving into on Saturday.  This morning there was a street market in the courtyard surrounding our Hotel.  This area is an entrance to a major university here in Thailand.  There were hundreds of stalls. Clothing, furnishings, cooked food and fresh fruit's and vegetables were all here.  I was tempted by the fresh hot sugar donuts.  I watched them being made and could not pass them up.  This evening after spending the day at the office, Elder and Sister Manning invited us out to dinner.  They are the Public Affairs Senior Missionary Couple.  They are originally from Houston, Texas but followed their two married children (and associated grandchildren) to Utah almost a decade ago. The Manning's have been in country about 13 months.  We had Thai food and then followed up with Ice Cream - yum  - the best two things in the world to eat.

We move into our Condo on the 22nd floor on Saturday.  The Jone's (Current Office couple) are moving out Saturday morning and then they will be in a hotel for the last few days of their mission.  They leave Thursday the 21st.  Lois and I are looking forward to some normalcy as we have been moving about from home to hotel etc. for about a month now.

Meeker's are now in Thailand - Really

I arrived in Thailand 38 years and 4 days after my first missionary arrival.  Attached is visible proof the Jay and Lois (I mean Elder and Sister Meeker) are actually in Thailand. Note the Thai Airways Sign behind us -- yeah the one that says Lost and Found. President and Sister Senior were getting worried that they had lost us.  We were more than an hour from landing to getting out thru customs.  Essentially one of our five bags did not arrive on the same plane as us. This last bag made the next plane out of Hong Kong it landed less than an hour after us.  We then waited another hour with President and Sister Senior outside Customs for the Airline to collect the bag and bring it to us.  So we and our Bags were lost and then found.

Lois and I were driven to town, experiencing President Senior's driving of the mission van.  He describes himself as an aggressive driver.  I would concur ... he fits right in with most of the Thai drivers that I have observed in the past.

We got into town in time to attend the last 20 minutes of the Asoke Ward Sacrament meeting. Elder Woo an area authority seventy living in Singapore was visiting and was the last speaker. Since he spoke in English, there was a translator there doing it in Thai.  I was pleased as I understood essentially everything that the translator spoke. Of course it really helped that I listened to the talk in English before the translator spoke the words in Thai.   Sister Senior then took Lois to the Hotel room to crash and I went to Sunday School and Priesthood meeting. I did fairly well in following along at the Thai lessons. We were then blessed to have Dinner at President and Sisters Senior's home ( the Mission Home).  Got to know them better.  It will be a pleasure t serve with these fine people. 

I had a good night's rest and I am over the jet lag.  Not so sure about Lois as she is in bed and sleeping at about 8:30 PM. 

President Kaivatana (President of the Bangkok North District) called me at the office today. He is Sister K's father.  Sister K (real name - Benjarin Kaivatana ) is the native Thai Missionary that was assigned to the Lincoln Ward back home.  We were carrying some letters and small gifts from Sister K. President K called to work out the delivery  I ended up delivering the items to Sister Wan who works in our building for the Area Office. She lives upstairs from President K.  President K was very impressed with my Thai Skills.  He said my tones and other pronunciation was very good.  I suppose he expected something a little rougher since I had not spoken Thai for over 36 years on a regular basis.

Elder and Sister Jones were a real treat to get to know in person today,  They provided training in the office, they took us to lunch and we toured some other businesses that they do patronize.

Leaving on Jet Plane

The bags are packed and we are about to embark on a 26 hour journey.  We depart Salt Lake City at 6:30 PM Friday. We arrive in Bangkok at 11:30 AM Sunday accounting for the international Dateline. We travel through Los Angeles and Hong Kong.  Our stay at the MTC was marvelous.  Everything from the food, accommodations, and the people  My typical day started with a treadmill session. After that shower and shave.  Then to the super large cafeteria with a myriad of choices.  Breakfast for me usually consisted of eggs, ham/bacon/sausage, toast and orange juice.   For Lois it was hot cereal, yogurt, granola and fruit.  Lunches and dinners were equally marvelous.  Wednesdays and Sundays the cafeteria served all you can eat BYU Creamery Ice Cream. WOW!!!  This included toppings - hot fudge, hot caramel, marshmallow cream, etc. So no, I have not gone though Ice Cream withdrawals - yet.  Classes started at 8 AM every weekday morning.  We got out for lunch at noon and then started up again at 1:30 PM. Classes usually lasted until about 5 PM.  Then we were free until the next day.  On Tuesday evenings there was a General Authority speaker.  The first week we had Elder Carlos Godoy and the 2nd week we had Elder Craig Zwick both of the Quorum of Seventy. It was an awesome experience.  We were seated early in a reserved Senior Missionary section up front - with soft seats.  The entire congregation sang prelude songs for 15 minutes prior to the start of the meeting.  Awesome sounding singing.  There are so many missionaries now that the meeting was broadcast to the west campus (about a mile away ... located in the Wyview Park housing area of BYU) and a large meeting room in another part of the MTC.  Very enjoyable atmosphere and the talks were amazing.

Office Specialist Training

 

This week we are staying in the MTC proper as opposed to last week we were housed in the Provo Marriott Hotel.  See the picture of me lounging in our room looking at the website called iMOS (internet Mission Operating System).  It is what we have been training on all week.  I think I got it about down.  However, I should have paid more attention to what our ward financial clerk Tom Gold does when I was in the Bishopric.  Then some of these receipting and journaling concepts would not have been so foreign.



 

We returned to the MTC on Sunday evening in time for the weekly departure devotional (strictly for those in the last week at the MTC)  and the standard Sunday Evening devotional.  A former MTC president and his wife talked.  

 

There are 4 couples taking the Office Specialist training this week.  The Pendley’s are going to the Chile Concepcion Mission.  Elder Pendley served a Spanish Speaking Mission years ago. They have been married for 11 months.  The Birds are going to serve in Mexico City.  They both served a Mission separately to Baja Mexico many years ago.  Their assignment is MLS (Membership Leadership Services) but the Mission President wants them to oversee the office as a part time assignment.  The Pincock’s are going to the Japan Nagoya Mission. Apparently he knows the Japanese Mission President very well and was asked by him to come and serve in his Mission Office. Elder Pincock and his wife have served in Japan together twice already.  Once as a Mission President and once as the President of the Tokoyo MTC.  In addition, he just retired after working in the Church Missionary department for 16 years.  So he is well versed in Mission operations.  Our instructors have spent time teaching us the basics of computers, internet, Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel.  I did not learn anything new on that day except a few shortcuts.  We are being taught by 6 returned Missionaries (3 during morning session and 3 during afternoon session) who are currently students at BYU.  They have served Missions in Guatemala, Australia, Romania, Florida… several others I forgot.  They are fun to be with.

 

They have spent the rest of this week teaching us the ins and outs of iMOS software.  It is fun to log on and see the actual data from the Thailand Mission (data was two weeks old).  Got to see that Elder Brown (and his wife) who taught me in the MTC 38 years ago is to serve in Thailand starting in February next year.  I also tracked down the names and pictures of the current Missionaries being trained here at the MTC.  Lois and I got to meet them after the Tuesday evening devotional. We coordinated this with the Branch President who is over the Thai Missionaries.  He invited Lois and I to meet with the Thai Missionaries after the Devotional (Elder Zwick and his wife spoke). It was a treat to meet with them and get to know them a little bit. 

 

Lois and I then had an opportunity in a more informal setting to meet with them over dinner today. There are 5 Sisters and 2 elders currently preparing to go to Thailand.  They travel to Thailand next month and arrive on December 18th. There is one exception.  Elder Sukhan from Salt Lake City is leaving a few hours in front of us day after tomorrow (Friday November 8th).  He is on an accelerated schedule because he already speaks Thai.  His mother and father are Native Thai's.  His father happens to be the current Bishop of the Salt Lake 1st Thai/Laotion Ward. The other Elder in the group, Elder Arne has a mother who is native Thai having come to this country when she was 11 years old.  He is spending the full 8 weeks here learning Thai.

 

Senior Missionaries at MTC Week of October 28, 2013

This is a picture of the 94 Senior missionaries who started their Missions the same day as us, 28 October 2013.  There are 46 couples and two senior single sisters.  When we entered the room for our picture to be taken our Senior Missionary coordinator was sorting us.  We found out that he was identifying the couples he thought were more agile (not too old) and would not fall off the stage . He sent those to the hallway in order for us to go around and get on the stage.  You will find Lois and I on the stage just right of center. I guess that means were are more agile than average. 

Listed below is the names along with the mission assignments of our fellow Senior Missionaries. Generally the first two or three letters before the dash is the name of the State or Country followed by an abbreviation of the city where the mission headquarters is located. My nephew Christopher Meeker is married to Telly whose Uncle is the Elder Hiatt going to the Philippines.  My boss when I was a paper boy is Elder Tooley going to the Adriatic South Mission.

Name	Mission
ANDERSEN, ETHEL	FL-TAL
ANDERSEN, KAY E	FL-TAL
ANDERSON, CATHY	CAN-BC
ANDERSON, RICHARD	CAN-BC
BAILEY, CLYDE	DEN-COP
BAILEY, REBECCA LOU	DEN-COP
BALES, BONNIE LYNN	MD-BALT
BALES, RANDLE	MD-BALT
BIRD, CAROLYN	MEX-MCC
BIRD, DAVID PAUL	MEX-MCC
BUSBY, LARRY O'NEIL	PHI-SAN
BUSBY, MARIE MALOY	PHI-SAN
CAMPBELL, JAMES	PHI-CAU
CAMPBELL, JUDITH	PHI-CAU
CRABTREE, CAROLYN	UT-SLCW
CRABTREE, GEORGE	UT-SLCW
DE CARUFEL, PIERRE	CAN-MON
BERUBE, PRISCILLE	CAN-MON
FLANDERS, COLLETT	UT-SLCW
FLANDERS, JAY RALPH	UT-SLCW
FOSTER, RICHARD	CHQ
FOSTER, SHARON M	CHQ
FUNAKI, 'INOKE , SR	TON-NUK
FUNAKI, MALIA NOLINI	TON-NUK
GARNER, DAN J	OH-CLE
GARNER, GENEVA P	OH-CLE
GRIFFITH, CATHY	GA-MAC
GRIFFITH, ROLAND	GA-MAC
HAMILTON, GAIL	SD-RAPI
HAMILTON, RICHARD	SD-RAPI
HARMON, LARAY	JPN-SEN
HARMON, LINDA FAYE	JPN-SEN
HATCH, RIA ELAINE	UT-PRO
HATCH, RONALD LYLE	UT-PRO
HAWKINS, ANTHONY	UKR-DON
HAWKINS, NINA	UKR-DON
HIATT, C. RUSSELL	PHI-MAN
HIATT, SULET	PHI-MAN
HIATT, LEON	KY-LOU
HIATT, SHIRLEY ROSE	KY-LOU
HOSKISSON, ALISON	AST-BRI
HOSKISSON, BRUCE	AST-BRI
HUGHES, JOHN	NEW CALE
HUGHES, VALERIE	NEW CALE
JONES, MONTY	UT-OGD
JONES, LANETTE	UT-OGD
KESSLER, JANICE	GER-BER
MAUERMAN, JENNILYN	NC-RAL
MAUERMAN, KEITH	NC-RAL
MEEKER, JAY LEE	THAI-BAN
MEEKER, LOIS ANN	THAI-BAN
PENDLEY, ELIZABETH	CHI-CONS
PENDLEY, MARTIN	CHI-CONS
PINCOCK, LORIN	JPN-NAG
PINCOCK, VELLIS GAE	JPN-NAG
PORTER, LINDA	KS-WICH
PREECE, ALICE	UKR-DON
PREECE, BOB RONALD	UKR-DON
PULHAM, CLIVE LEROY	MN-MIN
PULHAM, CHRISTINE	MN-MIN
RASMUSSEN, KATHY	NOR-OSL
RASMUSSEN, ROBERT	NOR-OSL
SEVERINSEN, LYNN	FL-TAM
SEVERINSEN, MERVIN	FL-TAM
SHIRLEY, CATHIE	BRA-PAS
SHIRLEY, NEAL ROSS	BRA-PAS
SMITH, MARY LOU	ENG-LEE
SMITH, ROBERT	ENG-LEE
SMYTH, JAMES	FL-TAL
SMYTH, MIGNON	FL-TAL
STURDEVANT, HELEN F	TX-SAN
STURDEVANT, WAYNE	TX-SAN
TEW, GEORGIA	ALP-GER
TEW, RICHARD WAYNE	ALP-GER
THAXTON, ARLUND	KY-LOU
THAXTON, EARLENE P	KY-LOU
TOOLEY, DARLA	ADRTCS
TOOLEY, ROLAND	ADRTCS
WALL, ELWOOD JAY	MRI-MAJ
WALL, SUSAN	MRI-MAJ
WEBER, GARY DEAN	SCOT-IRE
WEBER, KAREN LAURA	SCOT-IRE
WIELAND, GERALD	PHI-CEBU
WIELAND, SHERRIE	PHI-CEBU
WISCOMBE, RICHARD L	SPA-MAL
WISCOMBE, SUSAN	SPA-MAL
WOOD, DARLENE	OR-EUGE
WOOD, EDWIN DWIGHT	OR-EUGE
WOODRUFF, DOUGLAS	PHI-ANG
WOODRUFF, VIVIAN	PHI-ANG
WRIGHT, CHARLEY	FL-TAL
WRIGHT, LANELL KAE	FL-TAL
WRIGHT, KATHRYN A.	GER-BER
WRIGHT, PAUL ALLEN	GER-BER