Dear Mom and Dad,

So this last week was pretty good, it just zoomed on by. It has rained every day really really really hard so all of our appointments have been canceling on us. That has made the missionary work pretty difficult, but other than that it has been going pretty well. Yes, it has been flooding quite a bit, but it isn't near our house or the church so we don't really have anything to worry about. Just to give you an Idea, two days ago it took us an our and a half to go 7 miles in a taxi, how terrible is that? There was about two feet of standing water on the road the whole way and It seemed like half the cars on the road were broken down because their engines got water in them. It was awful, but in the end I don't have to much to complain about because everything is good. We did meet with the Stake President yesterday and we told him all of our concerns, he said he would take care of it. We had a really terrible lesson on Sunday taught by that same member. It was about subjects that just aren't appropriate to talk about in a church setting, or in any setting really. Everything that was taught was speculation and not church doctrine. It was supposed to be on respecting women, but instead we talked about our Heavenly Mother and all kinds of stuff that was more than apostate. He also decided to talk about some things from the temple - way terrible. An entire hour spent and we didn't open up the scriptures once, not once! How in the world did he expect the spirit to be there? Anyway, we shared that lesson with the Stake President, he was displeased. I hope this time they can just take care of it and then we won't have to have any more issues with this guy.

How scary is that about TJ. I can't believe he is having hurricanes and tornados. I thought there was just an earthquake there last week too. That is so weird, it seems like TJ gets nothing but natural disasters on his mission. You'll have to let me know how he faired the storm. So in the next coming week it is going to be pretty exciting, except for quite a bit of our proselyting time is being taken away. Tomorrow we have a zone leader counsel because there isn't a better time to do one I guess. But after that on Tuesdays we teach English so I can't do a whole lot on that day.

On Wednesday Elder Gong (the new Area President) is going to give the missionaries in Bangkok a devotional. We are all pretty excited about that, but keeps us out of our area for a while. I will tell him hi for you, Elder Larson knows him too.

Anyway I'm really excited for the football season to start too even though I can't watch it. It will be exciting next year though. I hope that UofU loses to BYU that way I can rub it in to President Smiths, just kidding, but I probably will.

I think that is all that I have to say in this letter. I read a talk I really liked, it kind of answered my questions about being a better leader and what not. It is in the June 2007 ensign it is called "Examples of Great Teachers" it is by president Monson. It is a really good talk and I really enjoyed it. Pretty much that whole Ensign is good. If you want to look it up and read it, I would recommend it. It has some great articles on becoming better teachers and students.

The movies are Twister and Day After Tomorrow. Obviously the theme is natural disaster which is actually quite fitting for this email.Anyway, I love you guys.

Thank you for your letters and your prayers.

I have a question, when you want to turn sweetened condensed milk into caramel how long do you have to boil it?

Examples of Great Teachers
President Thomas S. Monson
First Counselor in the First Presidency

We have heard from some of the greatest teachers in the Church, who have given us wonderful insights into many of the elements and principles of good teaching.

As has been mentioned, we are all teachers in some respect, and we have a duty to teach to the best of our ability.

I should like to share with you some examples of individuals I have known who have touched my life and have taught me important and never-to-be-forgotten lessons.

Everyone Has a Story
I have been thinking of one of our emeritus General Authorities, even Elder Marion D. Hanks, who has excelled in teaching seminary, institute, and the Church generally. He has utilized many different teaching methods.

On one occasion, Elder Hanks toured a mission, interviewing each of the missionaries laboring in that particular area. I had been on an assignment in an adjoining area and was given a ride to the airport with Elder Hanks and the mission president.

Elder Hanks told the mission president what a privilege it had been to visit with and interview each of the missionaries. He said he had felt prompted to ask one sister missionary, “Please tell me about your mission and how you felt about being called as a sister missionary.

”She told him that her humble father, a farmer, had willingly sacrificed much for the Lord and His kingdom. He was already sustaining two sons on missions when he talked with her one day about her unexpressed desires to be a missionary and explained to her how the Lord had helped him to prepare to help her.

He had gone to the fields to talk with the Lord, to tell Him that he had no more material possessions to sell or sacrifice or to use as collateral for borrowing. He needed to know how he could help his daughter go on a mission. He felt the inspiration to plant onions. He thought he had misunderstood. Onions would not likely grow well in this climate; others were not growing onions; he had no experience growing onions.

After wrestling with the Lord for a time, he was again impressed to plant onions. So he borrowed money from the bank, purchased seeds, planted and nurtured, and prayed.

The elements were tempered; the onion crop prospered. He sold the crop; paid his debts to the bank, the government, and the Lord; and put the remainder in an account under his daughter’s name—enough to support her during her mission.

Elder Hanks then told the mission president, “I will not forget the story or the moment or the tears in her eyes or the sound of her voice or the feeling I had as she said, ‘Brother Hanks, I don’t have any trouble believing in a loving Heavenly Father who knows my needs and will help me according to His wisdom if I am humble enough.’

”Elder Hanks was teaching a most important lesson: each child in each classroom, each young man or young woman, each student in seminary or institute, each adult in Gospel Doctrine classes, each missionary—yes, every one of us—has a story waiting to be told. Listening is an essential element as we teach and as we learn.

“It Is More Blessed to Give Than to Receive”
It was my experience as a small boy to come under the influence of a most effective and inspired teacher who listened to us and who loved us. Her name was Lucy Gertsch. In our Sunday School class, she taught us concerning the Creation of the world, the Fall of Adam, the atoning sacrifice of Jesus. She brought to her classroom as honored guests Moses, Joshua, Peter, Thomas, Paul, and, of course, Christ. Though we did not see them, we learned to love, honor, and emulate them.

Never was her teaching so dynamic nor its impact more everlasting as one Sunday morning when she sadly announced to us the passing of a classmate’s mother. We had missed Billy that morning but did not know the reason for his absence.

The lesson featured the theme “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Midway through the lesson, our teacher closed the manual and opened our eyes and our ears and our hearts to the glory of God. She asked, “How much money do we have in our class party fund?”

Depression days prompted a proud answer: “Four dollars and seventy-five cents.”

Then ever so gently she suggested, “Billy’s family is hard pressed and grief stricken. What would you think of the possibility of visiting the family members this morning and giving to them your fund?”

Ever shall I remember the tiny band walking those three city blocks, entering Billy’s home, greeting him, his brother, sisters, and father. Noticeably absent was his mother. Always I shall treasure the tears which glistened in the eyes of all as the white envelope containing our precious party fund passed from the delicate hand of our teacher to the needy hand of a grief-stricken father.

We fairly skipped our way back to the chapel. Our hearts were lighter than they had ever been, our joy more full, our understanding more profound. A God-inspired teacher had taught her boys and girls an eternal lesson of divine truth: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Well could we have paraphrased the words of the disciples on the way to Emmaus: “Did not our heart burn within us … while [she] opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24:32).

Lucy Gertsch knew each of her students. She unfailingly called on those who missed a Sunday or who just didn’t come. We knew she cared about us. None of us has ever forgotten her or the lessons she taught.

Many, many years later, when Lucy was nearing the end of her life, I visited with her. We reminisced concerning those days so long before when she had been our teacher. We spoke of each member of our class and discussed what each one was now doing. Her love and caring spanned a lifetime.

The Articles of Faith
Another inspired teacher in my life was Erma Bollwinkel, a member of our stake Primary board. She constantly stressed the importance of learning the Articles of Faith. In fact, we could not graduate from Primary until we successfully recited each article of faith to her—something of a challenge for rambunctious young boys, but we persevered and succeeded. I have, throughout my life, as a result, been able to recite the Articles of Faith.

For many years as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, I had responsibility for East Germany, also known as the German Democratic Republic. In this assignment, my knowledge of the Articles of Faith was most helpful. On each of my visits throughout the 20 years I supervised this area, I always reminded our members in that area of the twelfth article of faith: “We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

”Our meetings behind what was known as the Iron Curtain were always monitored by the communist government there. In the early 1980s, when we sought approval from the government officials to build a temple there, and later when we asked permission for young men and women from that area to serve missions throughout the world and for others to come into their country to serve missions, they listened and then said, “Elder Monson, we’ve watched you for 20 years, and we’ve learned we can trust you and your Church because you and your Church teach your members to obey the laws of the land.”

I share another example of the value of learning the Articles of Faith. Forty-five years ago I worked with a man named Sharman Hummel in the printing business in Salt Lake City. I once gave him a ride home from work and asked him how he came to receive his testimony of the gospel.

He responded, “It’s interesting, Tom, that you asked me that question, for this very week my wife, my children, and I are going to the Manti Temple, there to be sealed for all eternity.”

He continued his account: “We lived in the East. I was journeying by bus to San Francisco to establish myself in a new printing company, and then I was going to send for my wife and children. All the way from New York City to Salt Lake City the bus trip was uneventful. But in Salt Lake City a young girl entered the bus—a Primary girl—who sat next to me. She was going to Reno, Nevada, there to have a visit with her aunt. As we journeyed westward, I noticed a billboard: ‘Visit the Mormon Sunday School this week.’“

I said to the little girl, ‘I guess there are a lot of Mormons in Utah, aren’t there?’“

She replied, ‘Yes, sir.’“

Then I said to her, ‘Are you a Mormon?’“

Again her reply: ‘Yes, sir.’”

Sharman Hummell then asked, “What do Mormons believe?” And that little girl recited the first article of faith; then she talked about it. Continuing, she gave him the second article of faith and talked about it. Then she gave him the third and the fourth and the fifth and the sixth and all of the Articles of Faith and talked about all of them. She knew them consecutively.

Sharman Hummel said, “When we got to Reno, and we let that little girl off into the arms of her aunt, I was profoundly impressed.”

He said, “All the way to San Francisco I thought, ‘What is it that prompts that little girl to know her doctrine so well?’ When I arrived in San Francisco, the very first thing I did,” said Sharman, “was to look through the yellow pages for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I called the mission president, and he sent two missionaries to where I was staying. I became a member of the Church, my wife became a member, all of our children became members, in part because a Primary girl knew her Articles of Faith.”

I think of the words of the Apostle Paul: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16).

Just three months ago, the Hummel family came to Salt Lake City for the wedding of their daughter Marianne. They stopped by the office; we had a wonderful visit. All 6 daughters came, along with 4 sons-in-law and 12 grandchildren. The entire family had remained active in the Church. Each of the daughters has been to the temple. Countless are those who have been brought to a knowledge of the gospel by the members of this family—all because a young child had been taught the Articles of Faith and had the ability and the courage to proclaim the truth to one who was seeking the light of the gospel.“

Be Ready Always”
I love the Lord’s injunction found in the 88th section of the Doctrine and Covenants: “I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom. Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you” (D&C 88:77–78).

Many years ago, as I was traveling by air to an assignment in southern California, a lovely young lady sat down in the empty seat next to me. She began reading a book. As one is inclined to do, I glanced at the title: A Marvelous Work and a Wonder.

I said to her, “Oh, you must be a Mormon.”

She responded, “Oh, no. Why would you ask?”

I replied, “Well, you’re reading a book written by a very prominent member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”

She said, “Is that right? A friend gave this to me, but I don’t know much about it. However, it has aroused my curiosity.”

Then I wondered, “Should I be forward and say more about the Church?” And the words of the Apostle Peter came to mind: “Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). I decided that this was the time when I should bear my testimony.

I told her that it was my privilege years before to have assisted Elder Richards in printing A Marvelous Work and a Wonder. I told her something about that great man. I told her of the many thousands of people who had embraced the truth after reading that which he had prepared.

Then it was my privilege, all the way to Los Angeles, to answer her questions relative to the Church—intelligent questions that came from a heart which was seeking the truth. I asked if I might make arrangements for two sister missionaries to call upon her. I asked if she would like to attend our branch in San Francisco, where she lived. Her answers were affirmative.

Upon returning home, I wrote to President Irven G. Derrick of the San Francisco stake and passed along to him this information. Can you imagine my delight when, a few months later, I received a call from President Derrick in which he said, “Elder Monson, I’m calling about Yvonne Ramirez, an off-duty flight attendant, a young lady who sat next to you on a flight to Los Angeles, a young lady to whom you said that it was not coincidence that you sat next to her and that she was reading A Marvelous Work and a Wonder on that trip. Brother Monson, she has just become the newest member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She’d like to speak to you and express her gratitude.” Of course I was overjoyed. It was a wonderful call.

President McKay’s Example
An example of a master teacher was President David O. McKay, who called me to be a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He taught with love and with sensitivity. He was the epitome of what he taught. His heart was kind, and his manner was gracious. He was a teacher of truth after the pattern of the Savior.

I observed this trait when, long before I was a General Authority, I entered his office to review some printing proofs of a book that we were printing. On that particular occasion, I noticed a picture on the wall, and I said to him, “President McKay, that’s a lovely painting. Is it a rendition of your childhood home in Huntsville, Utah?”

He sat back in his chair and gave a familiar David O. McKay chuckle and said, “Let me tell you about that picture. A sweet woman came in to see me one autumn day and presented to me that beautiful painting, framed and ready to be placed on the wall. She said, ‘President McKay, I spent much of the summer painting this picture of your ancestral home.’” He said he accepted the gift and thanked her profusely.

And then he said to me, “Do you know, Brother Monson, that dear woman painted the wrong house. She painted the house next door! I didn’t have the heart to tell her she painted the wrong house.”

But then he made this comment—and here is a vital lesson for all of us. He said, “In reality, Brother Monson, she painted the right house for me, because when, as a young boy, I would lie on the bed which was on the front porch of my ancestral home, the view I had through that screened porch was of the very house she painted. She did paint the right house for me!”

Lessons about Serving Others
Some of the best lessons learned in life come from our parents. Mine taught me valuable lessons as I was growing up. Frequently those lessons had to do with serving others. I have many memories of my boyhood days. Anticipating Sunday dinner was one of them. Just as we children hovered at our so-called starvation level and sat anxiously at the table with the aroma of roast beef filling the room, Mother would say to me, “Tommy, before we eat, take this plate I’ve prepared down the street to Old Bob, and hurry back.”

I could never understand why we couldn’t first eat and later deliver his plate of food. I never questioned but would run down to his house and then wait anxiously as Bob’s aged feet brought him eventually to the door. Then I would hand him the plate of food. He would present to me the spotlessly clean plate from the previous Sunday and then offer me 10 cents as pay for my services.M

y answer was always the same: “I can’t accept the money. My mother would tan my hide.”

He would then run his wrinkled hand through my blond hair and say, “My boy, you have a wonderful mother. Tell her thank you.”

I remember too that Sunday dinner always seemed to taste a bit better after I had returned from my errand.

My mother’s father, Grandfather Thomas Condie, also taught me a powerful lesson which involved this same Old Bob, who came into our lives in an interesting way. He was a widower in his 80s when the house in which he rented a room was to be demolished. I heard him tell my grandfather his plight as the three of us sat on the old front-porch swing of my grandfather. With a plaintive voice, he said to Grandfather, “Mr. Condie, I don’t know what to do. I have no family. I have no place to go. I have little money.” I wondered how Grandfather would answer.

We just kept rocking the swing. Then Grandfather reached into his pocket and took from it an old leather purse from which, in response to my hounding, he had produced many a penny or nickel for a special treat. This time he removed a key and handed it to Old Bob.

Tenderly he said, “Bob, here is the key to that house I own next door. Take it. Move your things in. Stay as long as you like. There will be no rent to pay, and nobody will ever put you out again.”

Tears welled up in the eyes of Old Bob, coursed down his cheeks, then disappeared in his long, white beard. Grandfather’s eyes were also moist. I spoke no word, but that day my grandfather stood 10 feet tall. I was proud to bear his given name. Though I was but a boy, that lesson has had a powerful influence on my life.

These are but a few of the lessons I have learned from those who have touched my life and have taught me.Again,

I reiterate that we are all teachers. We should ever remember that we not only teach with words; we teach also by who we are and how we live our lives.

The Perfect Example
As we teach others, may we follow the example of the perfect teacher, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He left His footprints in the sands of the seashore but left His teaching principles in the hearts and in the lives of all whom He taught. He instructed His disciples of that day—and to us He speaks the same words—“Follow thou me” (John 21:22).

May we go forward in the spirit of obedient response, that it may be said of each of us as it was spoken of the Redeemer, “Thou art a teacher come from God” (John 3:2). May this be so, I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

August 21st Letter

Hello family.
 
This week was a good week for the most part. We didn't have anything big to do so we just did a few exchanges.  I wish I were a better leader. I'm never exactly sure how to inspire people to be better. Not just a better teacher or finder but a better disciple. We really feel like obedience is a big problem, but I can't force somebody to be obedient, and I'm not exactly sure how to help people get it.  I want people to work hard because they are devoted to the Lord, not because their leaders are following up with them everyday. How do you get somebody to change that? I guess it has something to do with their own personal conversion to the gospel, but it is so frustrating when somebody doesn't understand, it totally puts a kink in their chain. 
 
We are also having some problems in the ward too, but I think we will be able to solve it next week when we go and meet with the Stake President.  We have this one member who thinks he is the boss even though he is not.  He is so prideful and power hungry (I realize that it is prideful to call other people prideful but this one is true).  He called a Ward Counsel meeting together yesterday while the bishop was out of town – he has no authority or responsibility to do that. The whole purpose of that meeting was to yell at the missionaries. Anyway he didn't invite me and my companion to go into the meeting; he invited the younger companionship to go in so they weren't brave enough to say anything for the twenty minutes he yelled at them.  He is sure lucky I wasn't in there, anyway he will probably be our main discussion with the Stake President next week. 
 
Other than that it was a good week. One of the senior couple missionaries in Thailand has also been called to serve on the Stake High Council, anyway he came and gave a fantastic talk on service.  He talked about the little acts of service that we do to become more Christ like.  He shared the talk about the statue in WWII that was broken and they couldn't repair Jesus hands so they made the sign "You are My hands" It was a very great talk.  I think I enjoyed it most of all because it was in English.  Elder Larson translated for him this time so I got to listen better. 
 
It sounds like your week was really nice and relaxing.  Do you guys ever work anymore?  It seems like Maren is always sad to see you guys go. If she keeps seeing you every week like this it will hardly feel like she moved away.  I think it is so good that she is in the Young Women’s. They need her, she really does have some good experiences that she can share.
 
As for the questions mom, I'm not sure what my future is going to look like.  I think I will be here until November-ish which is another two transfers, and then after that move to a new area for my last 3 transfers. I really don't want to leave Bangkok but there are only two Zone Leader areas in Bangkok so I feel like I don't have a very good chance of staying unless President releases me. Yeah I really was serious about going to BYU.  Maybe you could look into that and see what I would have to do to go there. At this point it seems like the best decision. 
 
Anyway in closing... the movies are: Lord of the Rings, and The DaVince code.  The theme is way hard but I’m going to say something about a ring. Ok I’m probably just over thinking things, I have no idea.
 
I love you guys. Have a good week. I'll talk to you next week. I'm glad you got home safely.

August 14th Letter

Mom and Dad,
 
This week was a lot of fun, I feel like the Zone Conference went especially well.  The most hectic part was the food.  We couldn't find anyone to make us food until Tuesday so it was kind of rough on Tuesday and Wednesday trying to get all the food ready, but in the end it was really good.  I didn't use any of the trainings in the Zone Conference, but I will be doing some trainings this week where we have a little bit more say in what we do, so I think I will use them this week. But I did use one of your training things in a talk I gave on Sunday.  I talked about the atonement and repentance and led it in to our will and his will.  I thought it turned out pretty good.  As for the Visa, apparently they just worked themselves out.  I called the person over the visas a couple days ago and he said that they just worked themselves out. So we don't have to worry about that anymore. 
 
As for the other questions, No I don't think I have eaten cat fish yet (but to be honest there is no way to know, whenever somebody puts something in front of me, I just close my eyes and eat it.) But yesterday I did have something new, jelly fish.  It was really weird, it looks like it would be very soft meat, but in reality it is not, it is really really tough.  I don't think I'm a huge fan, but it was ok. Elder Black is doing pretty good, his area is pretty hard right now because they just opened it up, so we are going to help him out more this week, but other than that he is really good. 
 
The investigators here are great, we have two people that are going to baptized at the end of the month, but other than that nobody has a baptismal date yet. We have a bunch of investigators that are progressing and going to get baptized but not quite yet.  The two that are coming up are named Awt and her son Ice.  They are pretty cool Awt is really growing in her faith in Christ so we are excited for her.  I don' know what happened, but it seems like after my first area, none of the members in these other ward/branches have really liked me.  I don't think they hate me (at least not all of them), but they don't particularly like me either.  It is ok, they are nice enough to help me so that is good.
 
Anyway this next week seems like a pretty busy one for you guys. Another trip down to Las Vegas and what not. That is way cool, but it seems like it is going to be all work and no play which we all know is no fun.  You guys will have to let me know how it goes.  It is also cool that Ryan is getting married, everybody I know is getting married.  At least they have all caught the vision, You can tell him congrats for me. 
 
Movies: Catch Me If You Can and The Italian Job. The theme could be about changing Identities or just robbery.
 
Those two thai things you sent say 
 
1) "Is Mr. Brow your friend?" (I assume brow means brown because they don't know how to do an "n" sound after a "w".
 
2) "right now are you still doing your duty?"
 
Who sent those?
 
I love you guys Have a sweet week. Don't forget to pray often.
 
p.s. Those pictures of BYU.... AWESOME

August 8th l

Howdy Parents,

Well it sounds like your week was a hit, and so much happening!!! The family reunion sounds like it went very well. I don't know a whole lot about that side of the family because the first family reunion you guys did in 35 years happened to be during the 2 year interval that I was on a mission, how does that happen? Maybe one day we will have another one and I will be able to go to it and meet some of that family.

How does it feel? You finally have no kids at home! I'm really happy for Maren and Andy it will be way sweet for them to get out and have some new experiences together. How much did you two cry? You don't have to answer I already know - you guys are such babies. I hope they end up liking their new ward, and hopefully they won't be called into the nursery, that would just be a bummer.

I can't believe you two learned how to use skype, that is just funny. I remember the first time I got a text message from mom, I was shocked, now look, you are using an i-pad and talking to people face to face through the internet. I wonder what new trick you are going to learn next.

As for those questions, Nobody really went anywhere in my zone except Elder Black, and he moved in (he just came from Nong Khai), but that is pretty much it. The people in my group that are Zone Leaders are Elder Furr Elder McDonald and me. This is pretty cool because out of our group the three of us got along best, and we all love BYU. They both went to BYU before their mission and they beg me every time they see me to go there with them when we get home. Personally, I think that would be fun, but I don't think there is any chance in the world that I would be able to get in there.

Something happened this last week which was interesting, the Thai government has been giving us some grief lately about our visas (we have working visas and they think that we aren't working). So as we were going in on Thursday to renew them, a bunch of us had our renewals denied. I'm pretty excited to see what happens with that. Since last week I haven't heard anything about it, but I think we are going to have to change the type of visas that we use. anyway that is pretty much the only interesting thing that happened last week.

I'm pretty excited this Thursday is the Zone Conference, it should be pretty easy and straight forward but we don't get to choose the lessons that we will teach. President Smith told us that we have to train on "teaching people not lessons.” We are also going to do a mock baptismal interview to train people on how to prepare people for baptism. Other than those we don't have to doing anything else, so it should be fairly simple.

I love you guys. thanks so much for your letters. I hope you have a good week.

The movies are Men in Black and Dr. Doolittle – what in the world could the theme be? I think as time goes on I'm getting worse and worse at this game, plus I haven't seen Dr Doolittle in like 10 years. It couldn't possible be something with a talking dog could it?

Dearest family,

Wow... the saying "a picture is worth a thousand words" has never been truer. You guys used a thousand words and I still can't picture the house. Maybe you should just take a picture. It sounds like a really nice area though... is it far from the school? How is traffic in las vegas? this week we had to go and train a district leader in a place called saphaan sung, it is about 5 miles away, it took us over an hour to get there... Traffic in bangkok is soooooooooo awful. I can't remember what it is like in nevada. What else are you guys going to do down there... You are their until tuesday right? are you doing any vacationing or just helping maren and andy move? HOw many days did you guys take off from work?

This week for me was pretty good. It went by extremely fast as usual but I'm sure exactly what to tell you about it. We did this one really sweet thing on saturday. We did some service in a neighbor hood that is kind of nice but the streets are pretty trashy. So all six missionaries plus about 10 people from the ward came and we swept up the streets. It was kind of fun because all the streets are so dirty in thailand that you finally feel like you did something to make it better. HOwever, after sweeping the streets for three hours it looked the exact same as if we hadn't swept. So i'm not sure what we did, but I would hate to see what it would look like if we hadn't done it. Another thing that happened this week that was pretty interesting was yesterday we were invited to attend a ward counsel meeting in our ward, anyway the sunday school president is kind of anti missionary, anyway he started to yell at us for trying to change things. when he started to yell the spirit definately left and I think everybody noticed it. It made the rest of the day very awkward. But in the end I think it made him feel better so maybe he will start to relax a little bit.

Other then that this week has been really normal, this thursday is the transfers meeting so we aren't sure what is going to be happening, I think that elder larson and I will be here together for another one but there are quite a few people in our zone that will be meeting, then next month on the tenth we have our first zone conference, that will be pretty good. I'm kind of excited to do that. maybe I will get the opportunity to share some of these things you have given me.

Anyway I know that this one is really short but I am going to try and write some of my siblings so I will just let this one be short. I love you guys. Have a great week.

P.s. the movies this week are Oceans 13, rush hour, and then I want to say dick and jane, but I'm not sure what the theme is, If i guessed it would be the steeling something by using the "hat trick". like in oceans they still the diamonds and then in rush hour he has the money to go to china and in dick and jane they use the signiture to get his job back and donate the money.... I'm probably way off but that is what got..