Water in the Streets of Bangkok

There are three seasons in Thailand hot, rainy and not as hot (they call it the cool season). It is currently the hot season in Thailand.  However it occasionally rains even in the hot season. Last week we were blessed with a down pouring of moisture from the sky.  I had to go to two banks on the way to the office. So Lois went with me to the first Bank and then went on to the office.  As I was waiting for the Bank to open (8:30 AM) it started to rain, I stepped around the side of the building to get out of the direct path of the rain.  Once I got inside to do my business, it really stated to rain.  After that transaction was complete I had to walk down the street about 200 feet to another bank.  I used my umbrella to try and keep me dry.  I carry a small folding umbrella in my bag 6 months of the year.  The umbrella put up a good fight but it was no match for the amount of rain coming down.  When I was done at the second bank 20 minutes had elapsed from the start of the rain.  The streets were beginning to flood.  Meaning that the rain was coming down faster than the streets could carry the water away to a nearby canal.  I grasped my bag and carried it close to my chest attempting to keep the contents dry.  Since I had a 9 AM appointment at the office - Meeting with Church headquarters and Hong Kong regarding the new Vehicle Management Software called CARS, I could not just wait out the rain.  So I started off towards the office, getting wetter with every step. 

There is a location where the sidewalk narrows and the street is close.  The water was deep in the street.  I have been doused there before by passing cars - so I checked my 6 (rear view) it looked clear. As I got close to the narrowest spot I met some ongoing pedestrians so I slowed down.  Unfortunately that slow down allowed a big bus to douse me above my waist.

When I got to the last street there was no choice but to step out into the street into ankle deep water in order to cross.  When I reached the office I was soaked from above the waist to my toes.  I took off my shoes and socks. I rang out my socks and put them on the un-interruptible power supply for my desktop PC to try to get them dry.  So for most of the day I walked around the office in my bare 
feet. One of the Thai employees teased me about my white feet.

I was dry enough by 6 PM to go out with the Branch President and 1st counselor to visit members in their home.

The pictures below are from another rainstorm about a week prior. Very similar results as far as he depth of water in the streets.  That day I walked back from the office  - your mother was already at the Condo and was oblivious to the rain outside.  I only got partially soaked that day.
These pictures are taken by your mother who went outside after it stopped raining to see the flooding. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Young Single Adult activity

Tonight the Asoke Branch held their first Young Single Adult Activity.    Several weeks ago, I had the privilege of calling the Young Single Adult Representatives for the Branch.  They were sustained and I was blessed with the opportunity to set them apart.  We met and then planned the first activity which was held today.  We had a good turnout about 40 people.  We started the activity everyone introducing themselves.  The first game we played was a ping pong ball game.  We used a round table with about 8 people around it with a Ping pong ball in the center.  The object is to make the ball go off the table to the right of your opponent not using you hands only blowing the ball.  If the ball went off the table to your right you are then out of the game.  As fewer people are left it gets harder to protect your right side.  It was fun. We had two tables and many participated.

Talented Artists

The second activity was the brothers drawing pictures (on a white board) of a selected female and the Sisters drawing pictures of a selected guy. Two separate sisters elected to draw a picture of me.



Brother Breeze - Branch Single Adult Rep with the Picture of the guys made by the Sisters



Do you see the likeness - this one was described as Elder Meeker currently

 

The skinny guy next to Lois was described as Elder Meeker when he was a young Missionary

 

After the activities we had Brownies and Juice - a fun successful activity.  They were excited and started to think about and plan the next activity. 

 

Side Story - I think the Young Single adults got the message that these activities are meant as an opportunity to meet a potential spouse.  They had fun with the introductions of themselves and emphasizing that they were single.  In fact, I met a Returned Missionary at Church last week (has been home for several years).  He was visiting our meeting from a neighboring ward.  He mentioned that he is looking for a wife.  So I told him about our YSA activity this week.  He said he would come.  When he arrived tonight he said he kept his promise and came.  After the activity he was excited about future ones and even suggested some dancing for the next activity

Really Big Elephant in Bangkok

Recently our Granddaughter Clara mentioned to us via Skype that she read in  a book that there is a very large building in Thailand that is shaped like an elephant.  We had not been aware of this until she told us.  So we put it on our list of planned Preparation day activities to go and find this building.  It turns out that it is not far from the Underground MRT line.  So last Saturday we stopped at the nearest MRT stop (Pahoyathin Station) and set off on foot to see this landmark in Bangkok.

As we got closer we were able to catch glimpses of this unique building.  This building is also known as the Chang Building (The word for Elephant in the Thai Language is Chang). The Elephant Tower is 335 feet high and 560 feet long. It's a national landmark that references the elephants and symbols of elephants that have been an integral part of Thai culture, industry and religion for centuries


Picture taken from a pedestrian overpass

 There is a building in Atlantic City New Jersey that was built in the shape of an elephant.  For over 100 years Lucy the Elephant bulding was the world's largest elephant-shaped structure. That changed in 1997 with the opening of the Elephant Tower in Bangkok Thailand, which according to Bangkok Post and Architectural Digest, has since become "the most talked about building in Thailand" and a national icon as well as the world's largest elephant building.

The building has 32 floors and is 335 feet high, it was completed in 1997. The Elephant Building was awarded no.4 for the "20 World's Most Iconic Skyscrapers" by CNNGo in February 2011.

The tusks house the offices of the bulding's management company.

The building consists of offices and luxury condominiums on 32 floors. It is 560 feet long and 130 feet wide.  The elephant building has 7 parts:

• Tower A (Office)
• Tower B (Office)
• Tower C (Residential)
• Top Floor (Luxurious residential suites)
• Recreation Ground (Swimming Pool & Gardens)
• Shopping Plaza, Bank & post office

 

 

The ears are actually multi-storied balconies, its eyes are huge windows.

The eyes have some kind of suspended item in them that sparkle in the sunshine.

 

The tail is comprised of 20 stories of smoked-glass enclosed rooms jutting from its rear.

 

Yes it looks like the Disney land Castle

On the walk back to the MRT Station we noticed this building across the street.  It looks like it has been around for a while.  We do not know it's original use,  but currently on the grounds of this building they are operating a go kart track.

Thanks Clara ..... we had fun seeing the Elephant Building.

January 2015 Transfer Meeting

New Missionaries arrive from the MTC every 6 Weeks.  They are so excited to be here and begin their adventure as Missionaries in Thailand.

I first posted about transfer day back in June of 2014. At that time transfers were 9 weeks apart. At that time it was thought that it was efficient to have transfer days at the same frequency that Missionaries start and end at the MTC.  Missionaries enter the MTC for a 9 week course. With 9 week transfers only one set of Missionaries is in the MTC at any one time, thus there only needs to be one set of Thai teaching instructors.

This circumstance created some hardship for the mission. 9 weeks was a long time between transfers.

Sister Meeker

Transfers is where the Mission President reassigns Missionary companions and/or reassigns them to a new proselyting area. So the Mission President had mini transfers about 4 or 5 weeks after New Missionaries arrived and completing missionaries returned home.  With the 9 week transfer cycle, the completing Missionaries groups were on average larger groups,  These larger groups had a high percentage of the mission leaders (Zone Leaders, Assistants to the President and Sister Training Leaders). This decimated his leadership team all at once, so the Mission President asked the Missionary Department to return our mission to the 6 week transfer cycle  (this existed previously). We transitioned back to the 6 week cycle in August of 2014. 

During the transfer meeting I make a short presentation - usually some information related to reimbursements etc.  It is very similar to a Boeing Management briefing (Powerpoint charts and all)like I used to give.



Elder and Sister Meeker Selfie Prior to the Transfer Meeting start.

After the meeting is over, I deal with phone moves for open and closed areas. I deal with Missionaries changing house leaders.  The house leader is the Missionary in each house responsible to pay for all of the common expenses, such as  utilities, transportation and house maintenance expenses.  I reimburse the Missionaries as they provide me receipts - usually sent in every 3 or 4 weeks.  At the Meeting many missionaries house funds are so low that they will need to give me a receipt to reimburse something so that they have enough money tor travel back to their proselyting area.

Thus the reason for the crush around the table after the meeting is over.  I do enjoy working with these wonderful missionaries.  They truly are on the Lord's errand.

Elder Meeker dealing with Many Missionaries simultaneously

Yes, I even have to deal with Missionaries issues for those missionaries that are not at the meeting.

Newest Meeker Grandbaby

We were blessed with the arrival of Grandchild number 8 (Grandson number 2) in December.  Amy and Josh Adams welcomed Xander Joshua Adams into this world on December 18 at 10:16 pm;  He was 7 lbs 11 ounces and 19 inches long.

Xander has an older Sister Gwen who is 2-1/2 years old.  Lois took a sabbatical from our Mission in early January and went to Utah to meet Xander and hang out with his family for a few days.

Lois arranged her flights such that she had a planned a 7 hour layover in Seattle on the way to Utah. The plan was to meet with family and friends during that window.  Well  it was too tough to drag herself from her family and friends and she took too long to return to the airport and ended up missing her flight to Utah that evening.  So she stayed with Kathryn, Eric and family for the night and eventually flew out standby on Sunday Morning.  Following are some pictures from her stay and more.

 

Xander, Joshua, Gwen and Amy Adams

 



Wow what a proud big Sister

Gwen Teaching Little Brother Xander that reading in bed is fun

Wow Cute Grandkids

Gwendolyn being watched by Grandma

White Elephant Gift - the orgins and explanation

Many of us have participated in a White Elephant exchange.  We do so without even thinking.... where does the term white elephant come from? Why is the word used this way? Is a white elephant really a useless gift as the name implies when we use it at a gift exchange?

A white elephant is a possession which its owner cannot dispose of and whose cost, particularly that of maintenance, is out of proportion to its usefulness. The term derives from the story that the kings of Siam, now Thailand, were accustomed to make a present of one of these animals to courtiers who had rendered themselves obnoxious in order to ruin the recipient by the cost of its maintenance. In modern usage, it is an object, scheme, business venture, facility, etc., considered without use or value.

The term derives from the sacred white elephants kept by Southeast Asian monarchs in Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. To possess a white elephant was regarded (and is still regarded in Thailand and Burma) as a sign that the monarch reigned with justice and power, and that the kingdom was blessed with peace and prosperity. The opulence expected of anyone that owned a beast of such stature was great.

White elephants are actually Albino elephants that do exist in nature, usually being reddish-brown or pink - not really white-white.  Because the animals were considered sacred and laws protected them from labor, receiving a gift of a white elephant from a monarch was simultaneously a blessing and a curse. It was a blessing because the animal was sacred and a sign of the monarch's favor, and a curse because the recipient now had an expensive-to-maintain animal he could not give away and could not put to much practical use.

In the West, the term "white elephant" relating to an expensive burden that fails to meet expectations, was popularized following P. T. Barnum's experience with an elephant named Toung Taloung that he billed as the "Sacred White Elephant of Burma". After much effort and great expense, Barnum finally acquired the animal from the King of Siam only to discover that his "white elephant" was actually dirty grey in color with a few pink spots. 

Actual White Elephant recently captured in the wilds of Myanmar

A war was fought in the 16th century between Thailand and Myanmar, then Siam and Burma respectively, over disputed ownership of four white elephants.

The expressions "white elephant" and "gift of a white elephant" came into common use in the middle of the nineteenth century.The phrase was attached to "white elephant swaps" and "white elephant sales" in the early twentieth century. Many church bazaars held “white elephant sales” where donors could unload unwanted bric-a-brac, generating profit from the phenomenon that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Many organizational and church fairs still use the term today. In general use a “white elephant” usually refers to an item that’s not useful (decorative) but may be expensive and odd.


Image of a ceramic White Elephants - similar to what was opened at our
Senior Couple White Elephant gift exchange.

Probably what you thought of in your minds eye when the concept of a White elephant was mentioned

Now you no the full story behind - the White Elephant gifts and how Thailand fits into this story.

December ---- Holiday Month in Thailand

There are a lot of Holidays in December that are celebrated and or recognized in Thailand.
And the Meekers got involved in most of them.

The beginning of the Month has Fathers Day.  It is celebrated on December 5th.  This Holiday is an official holiday that businesses are closed and people get the corresponding time off work.  The story behind this is December 5th is also the Kings Birthday.  The King of Thailand is currently the longest reigning monarch in the world 68 and 1/2 years.  The major businesses all put up a large display visible from the Street - generally on the sidewalk entrance.  Major players are banks and such. The display is surrounded by flowers and other decorations. Below you will see displays I photographed on the Queens Birthday (Mothers Day) actually celebrated in August.  However other than the Picture being the Queen the displays are essentially identical. 

Picture of the Queen from Aug
Same setting now has he picture of the King in it

Flowers all in pots for later removal

 

December 10th is constitution Day in Thailand. Another holiday where every one gets off of work and the banks and government offices are closed.  The interesting thing about this holiday of course is that is that the current Thailand constitution has been suspended due to martial law as of 22nd of May 2014.  Since the coup of 1932, Thailand has had 17 constitutions and charters, with a series of intervening military coups. Historical Link

 

Christmas Caroling outside Erawan Hotel
Just prior to December Zone Conference Meal

Next comes Christmas.  Christmas is not an official holiday in Thailand as 95% of the country calls themselves Buddhist.  Only about 1% of  the country is Christian.  They have all of the trappings of Christmas visible - but do not really celebrate the Birth of our Savior.  There are Christmas trees, lights, packages and other Christmas type decorations.  They tend to focus on the final Holiday of the month,  New Years.  Giving gift baskets is a vey big deal.  Go to any store and you will see dozens of different sized Gift baskets filled with fruit, cookies, crackers, energy drinks and other delectable items for sale.

Sister Meeker after finishing Zone Conference Meal



We were blessed to be able to participate in the Combined Bangkok, West, East an North Missionary Zone Conference activity early in December.  We met at the Erawan hotel for some caroling in public.  After about 30 minutes of  singing or so we got down to business for an all you can eat buffet lunch at he Hotel. 

After lunch we all traveled back to the Asoke Chapel (oldest Church building in Thailand - it was actually here when I was here as a young missionary).



Sister Meeker participating in the Zone Conference
Devotional Chime Musical number Led by President Senior

We had talks, singing, more musical numbers and we listened to the Missionaries who will go home before the next Quarterly Zone Conference bear their testimonies.  It was a great meeting. After that meeting was over we had delicious gingerbread cake with Carmel sauce and Italian sodas. 

Then on the 18th of December we had the  Service Center Christmas Party. This is for the Church employees in Thailand and the Missionaries that serve out of that office.  The Mission Office shares the building with the Church Service Center Staff ( Distribution Center, Translation, Finance, Facilities Management etc.)



Sister Marina Peterson, Buechter and Peck getting ready for the Church Service Center Christmas lunch

Then we got to attend the Asoke Branch Christmas party on Saturday Dec 20th.  My, was that done well.  We had over 200 people in attendance ( For comparison sake we get about 135 out to Sacrament Meeting).

Stage all set up prior to the party beginning
Mary and Joseph cutouts were replaced with live actors during the presentation.

 

 

Each of he Organizations had a part in the program.  There was video from the Bible Video series depicting gthe Birht of the Savir.  Then we read from the Book of Luke and then we sang some songs.  The Branch Presidency (and 2 of the wives) began the program and we sang Hark the Heralds Angels Sing in Thai.

President Chamrat reading from the Book of Luke just after a Video segment from the Bible Videos
and just prior to us singing.

 

Brother Army and Sister Green depicting Joseph and Mary
Yong Single Adults are singing

 

Brother Army is a recent convert to the Church - preparing to go on a mission  Sister Green (Amarita) has received a mission Call to serve on SLC Temple Square Mission next spring.

The Primary Presidency with the 3 Primary children dressed as sheep and shepherds.

After the Gift Exchange before the Cleanup

Also included for the evening was an excellent meal.  Sister Meeker was in charge of making Pumpkin Cake.  She and he helpers made 6 large sheet cakes and decorated them ( about 200 pieces).


On Sunday was our goal date to get 5000 Saints to church in Thailand all on the same date.  Below you will see the picture of our Asoke branch just after Sacrament Meeting on Sunday 21st of December 214.  I understand we fell somewhat short of our goal. There were more than 3800 Saints at Church on Sunday in Thailand. I was blessed to be conducting the Sacrament meeting on Sunday the 21st so we were able to sing lots of Christmas songs.  It was a great Sunday.

Asoke Branch after Sacrament Meeting December 21st 2014

Celebrations are not over yet. On Christmas morning the 5 Senior Missionary couples are getting together for a Christmas Brunch.  In the evening Sister Meeker and I are serving the 7 young missionaries serving in this district ..... Christmas Dinner.  We will have pork roast, mashed potatoes, gravy etc.  Sister Meeker has also made Apple and Chocolate Pie ----- Yum.

May your Christmas season be full of the remembrance of the Birth of our Savoir Jesus Christ.
May the season be as merry as ours.
Love the Meekers
Merry Christmas and Happy New year.