A little space please.

I'll start out with some crazy culture facts. People in 
Thailand love hair. Hair on arms and legs are a favorite 
for them. I was warned that when we're sitting in church 
the members will take our arms and sit there and rub them 
the whole time because they LOVE hair. And if that doesn't 
just creep you out the next one is even worse...people over 
there don't have any personal body space so they will just 
randomly put their hand on your leg and I was told "I mean 
upper leg" ahhh! I just don't know how I'm going to take 
this, as if the toilets aren't bad enough!!!
Another funny story. I love to debate and have 
discussions but this seek we were having a lesson on 
Sabbath day observance when I made a comment that an elder 
(the same one that hit me in the head with the lunch tray) 
didn't agree with. He turned right to me and said "I 
disagree with you completely," it shocked me because he was 
kinda mad. I tried to prove my point again, and yet again, 
he started getting mad. I just stopped talking for a while 
because I was starting to get a little aggravated, because 
I knew I was right and I wanted to prove that. During the 
rest of the class he kept saying stuff like "there's no 
way Elder Parkinson can be right" or "I totally disagree 
with him," then he would point at me. It was all I could do 
to keep my mouth shut. This elder is one of my favorite 
elders though, he just Gets bugged about stuff sometimes.
I have an elder in my room who was really serious with 
his girlfriend before his mission and is having a really 
hard time focusing on the work. This last week he received 
a package from her, she had send a bunch of tapes that were 
full of lovey-dovey stuff and kisses. He listens to it 
every night sometimes in the morning, it kills me! We all 
talked about it and I told him that it doesn't affect just 
him, it's hard for all of us, who have left people we love 
behind, to hear about home day in and day out. But oh 
well! When we struggle that's when the lord helps us most. 
I've heard it said "mans afflictions are Gods 
opportunities", I should be glad he listens to it every 
night =)
As a district this week we were having a hard time being 
unified. Everyone knows the time is short, and there is so 
much to do, we've all been thinking about "me" and "I" to 
much. I have been praying a lot about it and trying to find 
a way to unite everyone again because when we are united we 
learn more and the spirit is able to teach us. In district 
inventory I brought it up, and we talked about it for 
awhile and then I stood up and shared a story with 
everyone, the spirit took over and I started saying things 
I didn't know i had in me, that room was absolutely 
silent. After that everyone started sharing ways they could 
help everyone and the district as a whole. People were 
crying and testimonies grew so much that night. Our 
district has never been able to work so well together. I 
am so glad to be living in such a way that the spirit can 
work through me. 
Sorry the letters are going to be kinda lacking this week, 
today was one of our last days in the temple and we spent 
a lot of time there today, which means less time for 
letters, sorry!
I love you all, and pray for you about 8 times per day. 
God lives, Jesus is the Christ, He loved us enough to 
come down and die for us, each and every one. 
13 days till Thailand!!! I'll let you all know about the 
phone call, I haven't heard anything yet.
Elder Parkinson