August 16th Letter

Howdy mom and dad.

Your emails were very fascinating this week. They went right along with some of the things I wanted to tell you. This week was very fun, it went by way too fast. For starters, I have to say, “ Dad I'm glad that you don't have an arrest warrant; however, it would have been way funny if that story ended with you calling mom form jail.” I would have laughed myself sick. Your week sounds very interesting. Maybe you should try to stay out of construction zones.

It is too bad Leslee is gone now too. I hope she makes it back all safe and sound. I guess this will give you two a lot of time to spend together. Dads story about the Star Trek movie reminded me; I bought that movie in Thai. I am sending it home in a little bit. But I'm way stoked to watch it in 2 years. Movies here are way cheap, it only cost like $3.00.

I'm glad you liked the pictures, I have like 500 pictures on this card right now. I had a hard time deciding which ones to send. Soon I will send the card home with some other things I have, then you can look at all the pictures and a few videos. I have the coolest video of me eating an unborn chicken. What they do is boil the egg after the chicken has already grown and is about to hatch. It is way gross but funny also. Next Monday we are going to go eat shrimp that are still alive. They call them กุ่ง เด้น (gung deen) = dancing shrimp because they flop around on your plate.

Ok, so i have one way awesome story to tell you. It is incredible... kind of. I'm impressed at least, I hope you all are too. Yesterday, Elder Greene and I went with a member family to see the two that we baptized last month. She has been in the hospital since her baptism so she hasn't been able to come to church, so we thought it was important to go see her. She is home now. Anywho, as we are sitting there having a very great chat, the member, his name is brother เทอด, asked her if she would like a blessing. She of coarse said Yes! So they are getting ready to give the blessing, and i'm just hanging out waiting, and Elder Greene turns to brother เทอด and say's "I think Elder Warner should do it." I was “NO!!! I can't do that.” They both proceeded to “gang up” on me and told me that they had faith that I could do it. And “made” me do it. But yeah, I gave my first blessing in Thai yesterday. (And this wasn't just concecrating the head and oil thing. This was a legit blessing.) I was way nervous. But I did it without even messing up, maybe one day I will speak Thai. There is hope!

Anywho, that is my big story for the week. We also had zone conference this week. We talked about the Book of Mormon and how important it is in every aspect of missionary work, it was great. I love going down with more elders. It really is way lonely just the two of us up here, and our Senior Couple that doesnt speak English. What a riot!

I have a few questions:

1. I have not heard any news about andy and maren getting interviews... What is that all about?

2. Where are my tennis scores?

Those pictures of the BYU practice/game were way sweet, I can't wait o hear how JJ does. He is going to get more playing time now that Unga isn't there. Way awesome.

I love you both. And everyone else at home. I'm greatful for your testimonies every week. I love hearing them, they are a great boost. I don't really know what else to say. but thank you for all your support. I love you I will talk to you next week

August 9th Letter (8/9/10)

Note from Mike - Updated pictures on his other blog

Dear mom and dad.

I would like to start by saying rude. Mom has surgery, and still can muster up the energy to write me. Dad doesn't have surgery, but no letter, SAD!!! You better have been busy taking care of my mother.

So this week I don't have a whole lot to respond to but luckily I brought my camera so I will take the time to send some pictures. To answer some of your questions mom, every night I hang up my clothes in side to let them dry, and then put them on and go get wet. At first I thought it was kind of fun being wet all the time, but now I do not enjoy it. It is hard to find people to teach when it rains because everyone goes inside and doesn't want to visit with us. Plus it is cold, but no worries, we will overcome. I have some cool pictures of the road being all flooded because of the rain. There is so much water on the roads that fish swim around in it, it is way cool. Elephants – the place with elephants is up in Chaing Mai, But there is one elephant that walks along the river everyday. So I see it almost everyday, it is way cool too. I can’t wait for an opportunity to ride one.

Ok so I just got a letter from dad. It was weird you must have been on at the exact moment that I was on – cool huh?

I'm glad to hear mom is doing a little better the last few days than the first few. I know that in no time you will be back to running around, but more comfortably this time. Anywho, yes i liked that story from your mission. Some things are just plain stupid, but it is all part of the experience. I love it. I wouldn't change this for the world.

I will share one experience I had this week that was way awesome, and then a funny story.

We were teaching this recent convert her name is sister (jiab), her husband has been a member about a year now. He is a Laotian, but he lived in England for about 30 years. He was there when you were there dad! Cool little fact. He speaks great English also. Anywho, as we were going to their house to teach we decided to share the Proclamation on the Family thing. As we were finishing up she told us that her husband and son haven't been getting along, and she has been praying for something that would help recognize how important family is. She said this lesson was her answer. I was the answer to someone’s prayer. It was kind of a humbling experience. This new member had enough faith to pray for the help, and the Lord blessed her through us, and really blessed us to be able to convey the right message. It was a very nice experience.

The funny story might not come off as funny, I'm not sure, but we laughed ourselves sick almost. As we were riding our bikes yesterday, a white guy on a little scooter pulled up along side us and then pointed his hand at us (in the shape of a gun) and then said "Bang, Bang!" "I shot you both!" And then sped off! It was way funny. The white people here really don't like us. But this was very random and unexpected. It brightened our whole night.

I think that is about it. Oh but I remember one thing, I taught my first lesson by myself this week. I took one of the members, his name is Brother Troy. He is about our age, and we went and taught a lesson while Elder Greene was in a Branch Presidency meeting. It was so cool, but I was wicked nervous. I did pretty well I think. We went back last night and taught him again, he had been reading in the Book of Mormon and he understood everything that I taught the time before so it was cool.

And I saw a picture of Bennet and Megan in this months ensign, it is on page 32. The column is called mutually benefited. It is a way old picture but you should tell their parents, I laughed a little bit.

Anywho, I love you all I appreciate your love and support. Mom, get feeling better. Dad I hope this next week at work will be more สบาย (great). I'm sure it will.

Tell Maren I have not yet received a letter but it will probably come this next week sometime. They take about 2-3 weeks to get here. Lame, I know.

August 2nd Letter

Hello Family,

So another week is down can you believe it, It is august. We are right in the middle of rainy season. It rains everyday and I'm always wet!!! Next season is cold season. (I know I was shocked to hear they had a cold season too!) But apparantly you freeze at night. I'm so stoked. I'm glad you guys had the opportunity to see those pictures and talk to brother Ice. I'm shocked he talked to you, He told me he was to scared to talk to family! Anywho, how was his english. He comes to the english class we teach every tuesday. He is getting way good. (unlike me, He is just being nice, I'm still terrible at thai) No i do not have blonde streaks in my hair! I'm just in the sun all day so it has gone pretty light. I'm not sure if you saw pictures of the baptism or not. But this week I forgot to bring them again so hopefully next week. I'll get better at remembering eventually.

I'm glad you all enjoyed the funny story. Elder greene has thouroughly enjoyed sharing it with everyone here. Including our zone leaders who cracked up. Which reminds me, We did another switch of this week. But this one was special, they both came up to nong khai and worked in our area with us for a day. So I went with Elder D. (he is the oldest zone leader, he will be จบing at the end of next moves) But we went out inviting all day. It was so awesome We found 8 Potential families. Our goal is to only be teaching whole families. Because that turns one lesson into 4 or more new investigators. This is the way that the church will progress the fastest, so we went out and found a bunch. A good day for finding is like 5 to 6 people. But we found 8 families. It was spectacular. And then elder greene did the same thing with the other zone leader (elder Richie). It was a great day. We Have got a bunch of new investigators because of it. Then they stayed at our house that night. It was way fun havng four elders there. It is always fun to get a change.

Ha that story with maren is pretty funny. I giggled. It reminded me of a story here. Singing the hymns in thai is fun. Reading is one of the easier things to do in thai. Once you know what sounds everything makes. reading is easy. And in the Hymns You don't have to worry about tons so it is even better. Anyway to my story. We got our senior couple in this week. and they are japanese. They speak a little bit (Very very little bit) of english. And nobody here speaks japanese, anyways, we were with them at church yesterday and we were getting ready to sing the opening hymn, so I handed them a hymnbook (in thai) and the sister was like no thanks, I can't read that. And pulled out a japanese one... Wow, that was hard. Thai people aren't the best singers to begin with. especially since they don't know the hymns very well. So when she started singing in japanese. it through everyone off. And on top of all that. NOBODY here can play the Piano!!! Yeah that was a fun. Anywho after that we found out she actually could play the piano so she went and played and didn't sing the last two hymns.

that Article about thailand wasn't lying it is way pretty here. All the people in Nong Khai like to brag that it was rated the number 7 best place in the world to live. You should look that up. Everyone here says that, but nobody can say where it was published. I'm not sure I believe them.

Also i really really really hope byu does that. That would be so sweet. Forget all conferences and go and play whoever. That would make for some pretty sweet games. Also It would make us look really awesome. We would be trend setters.

Oh my gosh, I forgot it was marens birthday this week. (don't tell her) But tell her happy birthday. I'm glad she had a good one. It is great that Jenny and ted came over too and had fun. It sounds like everyone is still having a blast. All of you healthy go getters back in utah... I have been eating nothing but greasy delicious thai food for 2 months and i love it! Plus the bonus, I haven't gained any weight. I also have been utilizing the half hour they give us to work out in the morning. It is a goal to start though.... Some day. YOu know how I always did with going to the gym.

You asked me about the answer I got to my prayer. IT was a really complicated answer it was just that I needed to change my attitude, and do the best that I could. This past week I have found out a little bit more about it. He is my trainer. and The truth is he really hates training. you have to do quite a bit, especially since the JR. cant speak thai very well. And he doesn't like having to do that. he didn't want to help out much. So he has been frustraited that he has to do so much. But that isn't something I can help with. I do as much as I can I even teach some whole lessons by myself. I know that as I do as much as I can I will be blessed by the lord and that He can atleast see that I'm putting my all in to it and be a little less flustered. But just even in the last few days I feel like I have grown more with the language then in the whole 2 months I've been here. Elder D really helped out alot. And I think it was a nice break for elder greene. I think it is just helping us both grow and be patient. We get along great, I just think when he looks back on his mission this will be his least favorite part. But I love it and I'm having fun so I think we will both be good. He Only has this moves left up here anyway then he will get changed around and change is always good. I just know he is praying he doesn't have to train again.

Thanks for sending that package. I'm not sure when I get it. We usually don't get our packages until moves meeting so probably the last week of august or first week of september. Hopefully what you put in it will last a little bit. But I'm way excited to get it I use the chap stick everyday so that will be nice.

Anyway I think that is all I have. I love you mom and dad. Mom good luck on your surgery tomorrow. or later today for me. I will pray for you. I know everything will go well.

P.S. I found a scripture the other day that I loved. IT has a ton in it. if you want to read it it is Haggai 1 :4-5 IT is good.