Monday, June 14, 2010
Senior
June 14, 2010
Life back home sounds great. I’m so glad everything is going just peachy! I’m glad it's been decided no one will be getting married till I get home, just make sure you remember that. if you need to write it down and put it on the fridge, the mirrors, the front door, the table and everything else then so be it =)
Well it's true, I’ve moved out of my last area into a place in the upper part of Bangkok called Bankean. President Smith just called me to be a senior companion and a district leader, no pressure right! It’s great though I love it to death. My new companion -Elder Michel and I are just loving the work here. The ward is very small (maybe 30 people). We’ve got some great investigators we're teaching right now who are planning on getting baptized next month. I’ll admit, being the senior companion is a bit different then I’ve experienced before. I’m now the one in the lessons that speaks when no one knows what to say, it was always great before because if I ever got stuck before I would just turn to my companion and he would handle the situation or answer the question that I didn't understand. I really do love it though, my language ability is growing so much, and it's only going to get better. I don't know what it is about another language but it's one of the funnest things I’ve ever done. It’s incredible all the things a language can do and all the fun you can have. In Thai there are three level of speech. There is a royal level: God the king... there is the formal level: government officials, how you talk if you’re giving a talk and then the common language which is just your every day on the street language. It’s so fun because you can be talking about the same thing but depending on who you’re talking to you have to use one of three words. And sometimes of you use the wrong word...well...it's not appropriate =) but all in all life is great, in all reality it couldn't be better.
The big focus of the church right now in Thailand is preparing for a Temple. It’s something that is very important for the members. The closest temple is in Hong Kong and it takes a lot of time and money to get there. There has been a lot of training for the leaders of the church here and there is some great progression being made. President Smith wants me to build up this ward again, at one point there were lots of members that slowly disappeared. I can't wait to see the progression here.
Well I don't have a lot of time right now. I love you all so much. You’re the greatest
Tyrel
Ps. that's great about Rachel and Josh getting their mission calls. Tell them congrats for me
Life back home sounds great. I’m so glad everything is going just peachy! I’m glad it's been decided no one will be getting married till I get home, just make sure you remember that. if you need to write it down and put it on the fridge, the mirrors, the front door, the table and everything else then so be it =)
Well it's true, I’ve moved out of my last area into a place in the upper part of Bangkok called Bankean. President Smith just called me to be a senior companion and a district leader, no pressure right! It’s great though I love it to death. My new companion -Elder Michel and I are just loving the work here. The ward is very small (maybe 30 people). We’ve got some great investigators we're teaching right now who are planning on getting baptized next month. I’ll admit, being the senior companion is a bit different then I’ve experienced before. I’m now the one in the lessons that speaks when no one knows what to say, it was always great before because if I ever got stuck before I would just turn to my companion and he would handle the situation or answer the question that I didn't understand. I really do love it though, my language ability is growing so much, and it's only going to get better. I don't know what it is about another language but it's one of the funnest things I’ve ever done. It’s incredible all the things a language can do and all the fun you can have. In Thai there are three level of speech. There is a royal level: God the king... there is the formal level: government officials, how you talk if you’re giving a talk and then the common language which is just your every day on the street language. It’s so fun because you can be talking about the same thing but depending on who you’re talking to you have to use one of three words. And sometimes of you use the wrong word...well...it's not appropriate =) but all in all life is great, in all reality it couldn't be better.
The big focus of the church right now in Thailand is preparing for a Temple. It’s something that is very important for the members. The closest temple is in Hong Kong and it takes a lot of time and money to get there. There has been a lot of training for the leaders of the church here and there is some great progression being made. President Smith wants me to build up this ward again, at one point there were lots of members that slowly disappeared. I can't wait to see the progression here.
Well I don't have a lot of time right now. I love you all so much. You’re the greatest
Tyrel
Ps. that's great about Rachel and Josh getting their mission calls. Tell them congrats for me
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
The rest of the story
I’ll tell you what I told Tara about the snake: the snake story ends like this: when we were both about two feet from each other I pulled one of those moves you see in the cartoons where they start running but don't move for a minute and then they speed off. As soon as I saw the snake (HUGE AND FAST) I put my feet on the ground and started running backwards while I was still on my bike. The snake probably was scared to death and decided against whatever he had planned. Needless to say he sped off as fast as he could move which was pretty dang fast! It didn't bite me or give me a hug =) if only you knew the animals in my back yard (insert evil chuckle here) but we won't talk about those =)
There is a very good chance this is my last week here in Korat. I’ll admit I don't want to go in the least but if I’m needed somewhere else I’m more than willing to go. The members here are so great. There is one guy named dam (meaning "black") who helps us teach a lot and has a way sweet family who are way active in the gospel. I want to go on and on about all the members but it would take forever to tell you all about them.
You won't even believe what I found this past week! Last week Elder Dearden had to go down to Bangkok to extend his visa. While we were down there another elder told us about a store that had strait up American food. We went there and I found some Teddy Grahams. I wanted to grab as many boxes as I could hold, sit on the ground in the corner and just cry with joy. It’s true the price was out of the roof and going without a couple meals might be the result but I got a box of chocolate ones, and boy are they delicious.
Addressing your question of coming home. I have two options on a date to go home. There’s the middle of June and the middle of May. The group I came in with are leaving at both times. The things I’m considering is finding work, possibly taking collage classes before fall semester. It’s something that doesn't need to be decided for a few more months and I really don't know yet what I should do. If you have any thoughts or suggestions let me know.
Right now we have two people who are really close to baptism, their names are Bom and Somneuk. They have both been coming to church for a while and are doing really well. This past week Bom said he wanted to be baptized on the 27th of this month. Somneuk is giving up smoking and drinking right now but it really shouldn't be too long for him either.
I love you all, keep it up.
Tyrel
PLEASE DON'T EVEN THINK ANOUT GETTING MARRIED BEFORE I GET HOME!!!!
There is a very good chance this is my last week here in Korat. I’ll admit I don't want to go in the least but if I’m needed somewhere else I’m more than willing to go. The members here are so great. There is one guy named dam (meaning "black") who helps us teach a lot and has a way sweet family who are way active in the gospel. I want to go on and on about all the members but it would take forever to tell you all about them.
You won't even believe what I found this past week! Last week Elder Dearden had to go down to Bangkok to extend his visa. While we were down there another elder told us about a store that had strait up American food. We went there and I found some Teddy Grahams. I wanted to grab as many boxes as I could hold, sit on the ground in the corner and just cry with joy. It’s true the price was out of the roof and going without a couple meals might be the result but I got a box of chocolate ones, and boy are they delicious.
Addressing your question of coming home. I have two options on a date to go home. There’s the middle of June and the middle of May. The group I came in with are leaving at both times. The things I’m considering is finding work, possibly taking collage classes before fall semester. It’s something that doesn't need to be decided for a few more months and I really don't know yet what I should do. If you have any thoughts or suggestions let me know.
Right now we have two people who are really close to baptism, their names are Bom and Somneuk. They have both been coming to church for a while and are doing really well. This past week Bom said he wanted to be baptized on the 27th of this month. Somneuk is giving up smoking and drinking right now but it really shouldn't be too long for him either.
I love you all, keep it up.
Tyrel
PLEASE DON'T EVEN THINK ANOUT GETTING MARRIED BEFORE I GET HOME!!!!
Monday, May 31, 2010
TruSSSSSSt in me
Now that I’m fitting into a 34+ waist and probably still growing, I just don't know how to feel about all that. All I can say is DAD you better have a lot of physical labor waiting for me when I get home because all of my pants back home are 32's (waist) =)
I’m starting to feel like dad a little when he would say "I don't want you to date till your married". Just leave the whole "boy" world alone for another year...not even a year. See I’m not asking too much, am I?
Do you remember before the mission when I would talk about all the crazy animals I was going to see in Thailand? I remember reading about all the snakes they have and about how big they were. (Drum role)...the other day we were coming home from the church so meet a member at our house or something. We were coming down the dirt road by our house surrounded by jungle trees and piles of garbage when all of the sudden, out of the side of my eye I saw something move really fast. Before I could do anything this huge snake, I mean huge (it was dark green and was at least 10 feet long, it was probably about 5-6 inches thick) darted out into the road. I slammed on my brakes and skidded to a stop. As I was stopping the snake came right at my bike and then went right in front of my front bike tire almost hitting it. I have never seen a snake move so fast in my life. I can't even begin to describe how fast that snake was moving, I honestly don't know if I could have outran it. Wow what a scare!
This last week we had the opportunity to go hear Elder Halstrom speak in a place called Konken. What a powerful talk he gave on the language of the spirit, and how it's the one language everyone understands regardless of nationality. After that we had a question and answer with him. I’m telling you he knows so much about this gospel. After we met with him we traveled to Lao to meet with government officials in order to help reduce the persecution of the members there.
While traveling to this conference in Konken we had to take a bus. Little did we know, it was a four day holiday here in Thailand and that people were traveling to see family and go vacationing meaning that the nice busses we usually take were all taken leaving us with another bus that was well, not as nice=) we got on and I quickly realized that there were way to many people then the chairs would accommodate. We got chairs and then people started standing in the hallway of the bus. I knew that if I gave up my seat I would be standing on a bus through part of the night (four hours). I waited for all the guys to get past me and then I gave up my chair to a lady going so see her family. People keep getting on the bus until I didn't think they could fit one more person on it. They had to position us all three times in order to get everyone on. When I say packed I mean PACKED. I could not ever move my feet from side to side without hitting into someone else. I’ll admit it was a long bus ride but I was so glad that I was able to help someone else have a better trip home. I’m so grateful for all that you have taught me about respect and thinking about others. I can honestly say if I was from another family and hadn't had the examples of Dad, Mom and all my sisters I probably wouldn't have given up my seat on that bus.
Samran received the Holy Ghost this week. I can't describe it, but it was a great experience. He went and bought a shirt and tie and the works, so now he looks even more like a stud. I just love that man. I’ll send you pictures soon.
Hey I love you all so much, keep it up
Tyrel
I’m starting to feel like dad a little when he would say "I don't want you to date till your married". Just leave the whole "boy" world alone for another year...not even a year. See I’m not asking too much, am I?
Do you remember before the mission when I would talk about all the crazy animals I was going to see in Thailand? I remember reading about all the snakes they have and about how big they were. (Drum role)...the other day we were coming home from the church so meet a member at our house or something. We were coming down the dirt road by our house surrounded by jungle trees and piles of garbage when all of the sudden, out of the side of my eye I saw something move really fast. Before I could do anything this huge snake, I mean huge (it was dark green and was at least 10 feet long, it was probably about 5-6 inches thick) darted out into the road. I slammed on my brakes and skidded to a stop. As I was stopping the snake came right at my bike and then went right in front of my front bike tire almost hitting it. I have never seen a snake move so fast in my life. I can't even begin to describe how fast that snake was moving, I honestly don't know if I could have outran it. Wow what a scare!
This last week we had the opportunity to go hear Elder Halstrom speak in a place called Konken. What a powerful talk he gave on the language of the spirit, and how it's the one language everyone understands regardless of nationality. After that we had a question and answer with him. I’m telling you he knows so much about this gospel. After we met with him we traveled to Lao to meet with government officials in order to help reduce the persecution of the members there.
While traveling to this conference in Konken we had to take a bus. Little did we know, it was a four day holiday here in Thailand and that people were traveling to see family and go vacationing meaning that the nice busses we usually take were all taken leaving us with another bus that was well, not as nice=) we got on and I quickly realized that there were way to many people then the chairs would accommodate. We got chairs and then people started standing in the hallway of the bus. I knew that if I gave up my seat I would be standing on a bus through part of the night (four hours). I waited for all the guys to get past me and then I gave up my chair to a lady going so see her family. People keep getting on the bus until I didn't think they could fit one more person on it. They had to position us all three times in order to get everyone on. When I say packed I mean PACKED. I could not ever move my feet from side to side without hitting into someone else. I’ll admit it was a long bus ride but I was so glad that I was able to help someone else have a better trip home. I’m so grateful for all that you have taught me about respect and thinking about others. I can honestly say if I was from another family and hadn't had the examples of Dad, Mom and all my sisters I probably wouldn't have given up my seat on that bus.
Samran received the Holy Ghost this week. I can't describe it, but it was a great experience. He went and bought a shirt and tie and the works, so now he looks even more like a stud. I just love that man. I’ll send you pictures soon.
Hey I love you all so much, keep it up
Tyrel
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Priesthood Power
May 25, 2010
Sorry if the red shirt stuff has been giving anyone stress! It’s been a bit stressful over here too. We’ve been in missionary lock-down a couple times in our houses, but it's all better now. Going out to work this week was a bit different because of all of the mobs, fires, explosions, and such. Don’t be worried here in Korat is a huge military base and there shouldn't be any more problems.
Miracles!!! This week as you have just read has been one of "be careful, and watch yourself" the whole nation was going a bit crazy! I’m sure with the news you’re only hearing the half of it! This place was out of control for a while! But the miracle was that on Friday of this week we had four General authorities (one of which was Elder Oaks) come to Thailand! On the very day they showed up the nation settled right down. There was news of red shirts going all over Thailand blowing up everything, and people were dying everywhere! Elder Oaks showed up and in a meeting with the Bangkok stake he gave an apostolic blessing to Thailand which spoke of peace and unity. That very day things just stopped, there hasn't been any more problems with red shirts. The whole country changed! The gospel isn't just spiritual, when we say the Priesthood is the power of God here on the earth I think we sometimes don't understand. I testify that God has all power and everything is under his care. We were told "if you leave your house past this time you could be shot down" the next day, there are no problems. The priesthood of God is true and is such a blessing to our lives! Oh ps. I hope that all didn't scare you =)
This Sunday Samran was baptized. It’s amazing the feelings you have when you’ve been working with someone for so long and you get to see him change everything in his life in order to fallow the savior. From day one till now you wouldn't even believe it, he's a different person, he's so much happier and knows what he's doing with his life. It’s something indescribable, the feelings that have been going through me the last few days. I can't say it enough. I love this gospel.
I’m sitting here with another Elder named Elder Pieper who is going home in three weeks. We’ve been talking about how weird it is to know you’re leaving. I can honestly say that I honestly don't know how I’m going to do it. I have under a year left in this wonderful country and I won't want to leave it. My goal coming in was; I want to hate life when I leave Thailand. That will be the hardest day but let’s not dwell on that!
I love you all so much, keep it up!
Tyrel
Ps. thanks for the pictures. I’ll try and send you some pretty soon
Sorry if the red shirt stuff has been giving anyone stress! It’s been a bit stressful over here too. We’ve been in missionary lock-down a couple times in our houses, but it's all better now. Going out to work this week was a bit different because of all of the mobs, fires, explosions, and such. Don’t be worried here in Korat is a huge military base and there shouldn't be any more problems.
Miracles!!! This week as you have just read has been one of "be careful, and watch yourself" the whole nation was going a bit crazy! I’m sure with the news you’re only hearing the half of it! This place was out of control for a while! But the miracle was that on Friday of this week we had four General authorities (one of which was Elder Oaks) come to Thailand! On the very day they showed up the nation settled right down. There was news of red shirts going all over Thailand blowing up everything, and people were dying everywhere! Elder Oaks showed up and in a meeting with the Bangkok stake he gave an apostolic blessing to Thailand which spoke of peace and unity. That very day things just stopped, there hasn't been any more problems with red shirts. The whole country changed! The gospel isn't just spiritual, when we say the Priesthood is the power of God here on the earth I think we sometimes don't understand. I testify that God has all power and everything is under his care. We were told "if you leave your house past this time you could be shot down" the next day, there are no problems. The priesthood of God is true and is such a blessing to our lives! Oh ps. I hope that all didn't scare you =)
This Sunday Samran was baptized. It’s amazing the feelings you have when you’ve been working with someone for so long and you get to see him change everything in his life in order to fallow the savior. From day one till now you wouldn't even believe it, he's a different person, he's so much happier and knows what he's doing with his life. It’s something indescribable, the feelings that have been going through me the last few days. I can't say it enough. I love this gospel.
I’m sitting here with another Elder named Elder Pieper who is going home in three weeks. We’ve been talking about how weird it is to know you’re leaving. I can honestly say that I honestly don't know how I’m going to do it. I have under a year left in this wonderful country and I won't want to leave it. My goal coming in was; I want to hate life when I leave Thailand. That will be the hardest day but let’s not dwell on that!
I love you all so much, keep it up!
Tyrel
Ps. thanks for the pictures. I’ll try and send you some pretty soon
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