Branch 2 Campout

The branch was very excited about this branch activity--an overnight camp out. They had a good turnout and lots of fun.

VISITING

My dear friend, Sister Mo. She is the primary president and a sweet, wonderful person. We have worked together a lot. She is in process of turning in her papers to serve a mission. Love this girl!

Two of our little primary girls.They love Sister Mo, and she loves them.

Our new companions, Elder and Sister Sangwein

 

PLAYING GAMES AND LAUGHING

COOKING

Sister Uan is an expert at grilling corn. She cooks and sells it along the side of the main road from Khon Kaen into Udon. Sister Uan was just baptized the Sunday before this activity and her husband, Sanay, was baptized the next day. Sister Khanung and Sister Ut are both recent converts as well.

Sister Jinthanaa

 Steaks for dinner, but we couldn't stay. We had other appointments.

EATING

At night, a few had tents as you can see, but most of the people just rolled out their blankets or sleeping bags on the mats under the big awning that they had been playing under all day. Those who know us well, know there was no sleeping overnight for us!

It was a great activity that brought lots of people together!

Fun in the kitchen

Sister Nee wanted me to teach her how to make jello, so I took all the necessary ingredients to her house. She was really excited to make it for her nephew's birthday.The plastic bag by the bowl has blackberries we found in the frozen food section of the local version of  a Costco/Sam's Club. We enjoy frozen strawberries for our smoothies, too. Very nice touch of home!

I always feel like a giant here!

The jello turned out great, but she told me later that her neighbors ate all of it that night, so she had to go to the store to get more stuff to make for his birthday. It's a different taste for them that they like.

She couldn't have me come and help her without her teaching me something, too. So, she taught me how to make nam dok. Her sister is a great cook, too. Counter space is at a premium and kitchens are small, so they spread mats out on the floor to have a place for food preparation. This is where where we did all the chopping, slicing, and combining. Only the cooking was done up on the stove and counter. Worked great!

Pork, onions, lime juice, fish sauce and peppers. Spicy and delicious! I really like this!

Dinner party

We invited the branch presidency of Udon Branch 2 and their wives to our house for dinner one night just for fun. And, we did have a good time.

Pictured (left to right): Brother Preecha (first counselor) didn't know his wife, Nim, was invited so she stayed home. We were sad about the miscommunication and missed her. President Sitichai and his wife, Sombuun, Ray and Sister Nee. Sister Nee's husband, Tuy, is the second counselor. He was out of town caring for his mother.

"the girls"--Sombuun, Jeanene, Nee

In the first picture we took, President Sitichai wasn't sitting very close to Sombuun, and she said, "You don't love me!" and then laughed. (Even joking, that is an unusual comment here. I was a little surprised.) So in this picture he moved closer. Very cute!

We were a little concerned about what kind of food to serve, but finally decided on Vietnamese. I think they all enjoyed it. For dessert, I made blackberry and banana jello with whipped cream. Preecha liked it except for the blackberries which he thought were so sour--he really twisted up his face and picked out the berries. Nee loved it, said her family would love it, and later I taught her how to make it! Everyone definitely has his own taste buds!

We have dedicated leaders who work very hard. We really love them.

Monkeys!

Kumpawabi is famous for its monkeys. One day after piano lessons, we went to the park where most of them hang out. They are not afraid of people or cars or much of anything. They just go about doing whatever they want to do, including holding up traffic if they are playing in the street. They really are in no hurry to move until they are ready.

Mom and baby

Playing in a puddle.

Getting a drink. This one kept dipping the plastic bag in the puddle and then sucking on it.

They really are everywhere and very fun to watch.

Cooking Thai food myself

Thai food is so inexpensive to buy here that it is hardly worth the time and effort to make it myself. I do, however, want to prove that I made the effort to make spring rolls one time while in country.

The spring rolls sat in the refrigerator over night after putting them together, and the wraps got a little damp. Because of that, some of them popped open when I fried them. They were okay, but the missionaries thought they were great. But then, missionaries will eat almost anything you put in front of them. Gotta' love 'em!

We love to visit!

Visiting is one of our favorite activities. 

(These pictures are in no particular order--old and more recent)

A while ago, we visited Sister Du and her son, Phichai. They live quite a distance from town, so they don't get many visitors. They were both excited to have us come. They think WE were the blessing to them, but they have it reversed. They are great. We took them some snickerdoodles, and they were thrilled. She was excited to learn that she and I are the same age, actually I am five months older than she is. That made her smile! She is unable to walk, so she has to be carried up the stairs for sacrament and other meetings and then back down when they are over since there is no elevator in the church building.

We spend a lot of time visiting people. Here are just a few more great people . . . .

 Brother Waranyaa and his son Mark--this was taken at the church. He had been away from church activity for about six years.We are so grateful to have him come back. He has become a strong member again.

Sister Rachanee Gorn, who's been a wonderful member of the Church for 35 years and a widow for nine. Sweet lady!

 Sister Somridii

Brother Somphorn--This was also taken at the church--we were so happy to see him there.

 Wasan has a wife, four daughters and a granddaughter; all are members of the church. Brother Wasan hasn't come to church for quite a while. We hope he will return. Ray blessed the new granddaughter in church a few months ago. We realized the connection when we went to visit one day. We were excited when his wife came to Book of Mormon class last night.

These are just a few of the many wonderful people who touch our lives as we visit.

Watching General Conference in Thailand

General Conference takes place in the middle of the night Thailand time, so we don't watch it in real time. It is downloaded and then replayed the following weekend. They replay it on the same schedule as the original--which means: on Saturday, they play the morning session and then have a lunch break. Then they play the afternoon session and have a break, then play priesthood session. On Sunday, they play the Sunday morning session have a break and then play the afternoon session. It is a couple of long days, just like at home, and the members have to come to the church to watch because most of them don't have computers or other access to the broadcasts. It is a great weekend full of inspiration!

Getting ready. President Sithichai (president of Udorn Branch 2) greeting the members.

Lights out and the meeting begins:
We are so grateful for inspired prophets and apostles and other leaders to help us.

Upstairs in the chapel, the broadcast is in Thai, so we missionaries have our own little broadcast in English in a room downstairs. We are missing a few missionaries in this picture. Sister Hughes was setting up the flashdrive in the TV, and Sisters Muller and Hatch were upstairs checking on their investigators and new converts making sure they understood what was going to happen. All missionaries were seated and fully engaged with note taking materials during the broadcast. They look forward to this and talk about it for weeks beforehand. They almost have a "countdown to conference", they love it so much!

Conference was great--very inspiring!!

Our tradition for general conference at home is for Ray to make fried chicken (RayFC) and milk gravy for dinner on one of the days. The missionaries were very happy to allow us to continue this tradition here in Thailand. Ray fried 30 pieces of chicken: one breast, one thigh, and one drumstick for each person. Most of it got eaten, too!

I had him fry it outside the back door in the laundry area because I didn't want all of the grease in the kitchen. I was really glad. This area is much easier to "hose down".

Ready to eat: four platters of chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, and fresh green beans. The missionaries could hardly wait!

Apple crisp and whipped cream for dessert. (I'd say they look pretty satisfied!)

There is lots to clean up after such a big meal for 10 people even in a small kitchen, but we had many willing hands.

It was a wonderful, inspiring, and fun-filled conference weekend.