September 13th Letter

Hi.

Ok wow, I don't have a whole lot of news today. This past week has been one of the faster ones on my mission. I can’t believe that it is already Monday. But in answer to your questions, yes my companion and I have eaten at all new places. We have only eaten at the same place once, and that is because we didn't have any breakfast food, so we went out for breakfast, it was so good. It was an American food place so we got the whole shebang, eggs toast, sausage!!! It was sweet, not to mention they happened to have a TV on that was playing American baseball. And just my luck, it happened to be the Yankees, however, we only get a half hour for breakfast so I didn't really see a whole lot. Oh well.

Yes, I have thought about your idea about getting something in each place. But I am having a hard time finding something that will remind me of Nong Khai. I am keeping my eyes out. I did send a package home to you guys. I sent it by boat, so it will be there in 2 months. I sent my memory card home with all 700 of the pictures/videos I have taken, some stuff for people, and also I have a manila envelope full of letters that I have gotten and a manila envelope full of stuff that I thought you could use in my scrap book (if you are still keeping one). It all has meaning so don't throw it away. You will notice some money in the envelope, it is Laotian money, and it was given to me by the man with gold outside his house. It is a way funny story. Hopefully when I get home I will still remember it.

As for the weather here: If it isn't wet and raining it is way hot and humid, but I love it. I know if Maren were to go down to Florida she will love it too. I'm sure this winter I will miss the snow, but the weather here is always so interesting, I have grown to love it. The heat doesn't even bother me anymore. Unless I’m out doing exercise or riding my bike for a long time, I don't even sweat.

This past week I have been thinking about Lee and TJ. I'm glad they have both done their papers. This is such a huge step, I know they will both have so much fun. I really do hope one of them gets called here. I know it is seriously unlikely, but I guess it could happen. As for my other friends, I'm convinced I don't have any – just kidding. Tazia has been writing me and Becca and Ashley, but that is it. I guess it is probably my fault, I haven't written a whole ton of people. I just have too much fun with the companions I’m with, I can't afford to waste time writing.

I have one experience to share this week. It isn't really spiritual but it is kind of a bummer. We went to go teach สมยศ yesterday, he is our investigator that has been progressing really well. He has quit everything but smoking and he goes to church weekly. We have been visiting him twice a week since my first week here, in fact, he was my first lesson in Thailand. Yesterday he told us that he wants to take a week off from everything to be by himself and think things through. We were like, “I don't think it is going to help you to stop learning from us, but it is up to you.” Is it wrong to hope something bad happens, just for humbling purposes? Anyway that isn't really that bad. I was just hoping that he would continue to progress like he was. I'll let you know next week how that went.

Anyway I think that is all for today. I just want you to know that everything is going great here, I am loving it. Today we are going down to Khon Gaen because tomorrow we are hearing from Elder Perkins. He is Asian Area Seventy, I'm way excited. I'm glad everything is good at home too.

Have a good week, I love you

September 6th Letter

Dear Mom and Dad,

Thanks for your letters this week. They were really sweet. I will start with the questions. My companions name is Elder Bloustein. He is from Los Angeles, California. He is probably the coolest elder in this mission. I always thought that Elder Greene and I got along great, but Elder Bloustein and I get along even better, and we are always have fun. It has only been 5 days and we are already close. We like the same things and have the same sense of humor. He has the perfect attitude about everything He is just very optimistic. It sure makes the work a lot easier. Plus it makes it makes it hard to complain when you have someone next to you that is only saying good things. I'm glad he is my companion. I hope I build some better habits from him, mostly how I think. I don't want to think negatively first and then change to be positive. I want the first thought that comes to my mind to be positive. He is such a nice guy. Details: He is a football player. He played in collage for a year before his mission at some school in Illinois. He is way strong. I think he will start forcing me to work out in the morning with him. Maybe I'll look like him one day.

(Elder Bloustein)

Sizzler, it is amazing. Tell Lionel it tasted like the American Sizzler’s – no joke. It turns out that I have been missing out this whole time. When I was there I got a hamburger (I know... But you miss the simple things), Anyway, it was huge and delicious. Best of all it didn't have corn or carrots in it. When Thai people make hamburgers they mix there beef with corn and carrots it is way gross. But yeah, they have a salad bar with Ritz crackers and soup. You know I went to town on those suckers. They also have a few other things that you can find at any regular salad bar. My new companion and I have been on the search for new places to eat in Nong Khai, and it turns out they have a ton of places that look way good. Our goal is to eat at a different place every day we are together. I'll let you know how we do.

(Christian showing respect to the idol of fast food.)

Man that is way sad about Bennet. I don't know what it is about my friends! I just found out that Tyson is convinced that he is about to invent the next big thing with another friend of his. So, he is going to wait for a while to go on a mission. If only they knew how important this really is. I feel so different then when I left. I feel so different then when I left the MTC. I was so immature! I was worried about things that don't matter at all. I know that I have changed a lot. At first I was scared to change but now it is all that matters. The experiences that I am having every day, I know will shape my life forever. I just wish everyone knew what we know. As I watch the gospel change other people’s lives, I can’t help but notice how it is helping my life. How it has helped our family. I think about my brothers and sisters and how they are married forever in the temple of the Lord. That is amazing. People in Utah can go to the temple every day, even multiple times a day. We have a Thai sister in our ward that is saving pennies to be able to go to the temple in a year, ONCE. So many things that before my mission I took for granted. I so wish I could go back and slap myself silly! I just got done writing Tyson. So if you felt obliged you could get Bennet’s address in Florida. I know that it is never too late to serve a mission. Elder Bloustein had struggles too, he is 22 and has never been more grateful for his decision to serve. He is so strong and his testimony has been building mine every day.

(Decapitated lizzard - He spent his last night sleeping in bed with Chrsitan)

I love you all. I want you to know that I am grateful for the support I have. Tell Maren and Andy good luck, and tell them not to forget to pray for guidance. Tell Judd and Jessie the same thing. And how is my nephew? I'm glad mom is doing better, and that the dad's auditing thing is done at work. Tell grandma that I get her letters every week. I hope you guys are sharing these letters with her. They are written to her too, and grandpa. I appreciate her consistency. I love getting her letters every week. Have a good week!

ps. When I was talking about things that weren't important I was not talking about sports. You still better keep me posted. That is so sweet about BYU. I'm so jealous that you get to go see them. I hope you are slowly converting Andy.

August 29th Letter

Howdy!

I will start with our questions. I took out a hundred dollars for a few things, I bought a bag, and then I did some fun things down in Udon whilst I was there that cost money, like eat at Sizzler. Now I know that it doesn't sound that cool, but Sizzler is one of the nicest restaurants in Thailand. I’m not lying it is so high society. A meal here is usually about 30 baht, a dollar. To eat at Sizzler it was 400 baht, 12 dollars. Still, not a lot but for a Thai person, it is a fortune. I figured I would give myself a treat because up here in Nong Khai the only Farang (white people) food we have is KFC, and I am not a huge fan. Plus it was Elder Andersons Birthday so we had to do something, but I have about 1000 baht, 33 dollars, left I'm not sure what to do with it but I'm sure I will put it to good use. I feel so guilty spending money. Compared to the other elders I haven’t spent hardly anything. I'm not sure how much is appropriate to spend but I hope this isn't too much. I am also sending a package home in the next few days, it doesn't have anything way cool in it, but I have put something cheap and simple for everybody. It will probably get there by Christmas; I will send it via boat so it should take 3ish months. To answer mom’s question, here they only have Bahts, anywhere from 30 to 33 baht is a dollar, depending on the exchange rate.

I got your package by the way. It was way sweet. Thanks for the treat. IT was a nice taste of America. Those rice crispy treats might be gone already though - I downed them. I shared though so I don't feel so guilty.

Our physical address is really hard to give you because we don't have a house number, but the road (also called thanon) we are on is called "thanon mechai" and then we are down a little street called a soi. It is "Wad Yod Gaew soi 2". IF you get Brady’s help he might be able to describe the difference between a thanon and a soi. It confused me at first but now I understand.

P-days are actually pretty lame. Sometimes we go out and do something fun like here in Nong Khai we have very popular talaad (market) called Tasadet. We go there sometimes, like today, because Elder Greene is leaving and he wants to go get a few things there, but we have seen Sala Kaew Ku - That was fun once. I'm sure I will have to go with my new companion. It seems to be one of the more favorites. We also have a huge water fall here called Chetsi. It is about an hour drive away. I think on a p-day in the future I will go see that. Elder Greene isn't a huge fan of going out and doing stuff so most weeks we just relax at home and write letters or whatever. I don't get a whole ton of letters so mostly I just sit around, I'm attempting to learn the ukulele and the piano. I am not being successful at all, which reminds me - I never got Maren’s letter - Did she even send one?

This week has been pretty fast. Because we didn't get home to Nong Khai until Friday and now it is Monday so I don't have all that many stories. But I do have a question which will actually answer one of mom’s questions. You asked about a really good investigator that we have. Their names are Waew and Ning... ish. Anywho, they have been investigators a long time but the previous elders have dropped them, but recently they started coming to church, so we figured we can't not teach them. We pray for people to come to church every day. We just need to be grateful for the ones that do. When they come to church nobody is really befriending them. I don't know how to get the members to except them. It is way hard for Ning because she is only 15 and a lot of the younger members are very excluding, and we can't sit by her and initiate her because that would really feel inappropriate. If you have any suggestions, just let me know.

I don't have a whole lot else, but about that small procedure. I'm not exactly sure what the “doctors” up here in Nong Khai were thinking. They didn't stitch it up, I suppose they thought it was still oozing, but I decided to go to the international hospital in Udon. I saw an American doctor who was just like "you’re done." He put a band-aid on it and said don't take this off for 3 days, after that you are good. He still wanted me to take antibiotics to make sure I don't get infected. He went to school in Boston, so I trust him over all the other doctors here. No need to be worried, all is good. I'm way excited for this week though, moves weeks are way exciting. It is always a surprise what happens, I hope I get a cool companion.

I love you all. Thanks for your support and your love. I will write next week and let you know who I get.

August 24, 2010

August 24th, 2010

Hi

I have no idea how I am going to tell you everything that has happened this week. It has been probably the most exciting and fun of my entire mission, also a bit ridiculous. I will start by explaining why I am writing on Wednesday instead of the usual Monday. P-day was changed this week because the mission has been doing trainings for all the Zone Leaders and District Leaders. So all (yes all) leaders had to go to Bangkok this week. You may be asking yourself, "what do they do with all the companions of the leaders?" I will tell you. They stick them together. This is some important information because the only elder close to me that wasn't a leader is Elder Anderson, who is one moves older than me in the mission. So this week we have been together, a person who has been here for 3 months and a person who has been here for 4 months. We are both still greenies! It has been so fun, we just go around making fools of ourselves and loving it - We are having a blast. We spent Monday and Tuesday in Nong Khai, and then today we came to Udon (it is right below Nong Khai) and will stay here until Friday, it is great. So I think your story this week fits in perfectly dad. I can totally see us getting on a bus and ending up somewhere else, like Khon Khen. I think between the two of us we speak just enough Thai. We taught a lesson yesterday, we got a member to help us so it went well. They are these two peeps who have been investigators before. They have probably gone to church a total of 30 times, which for an investigator is pretty amazing. But until this lesson they had never understood who god was... No wonder they weren't progressing before! I haven't been here that long but even I know that the first step to baptism is believing in God, but they are way good. I'm pretty sure this time around they will get baptized.

Another cool thing that happened this week, I had a minor surgical procedure done. There was a bump under my arm that was way painful so I had to go to the doctor and have a “doctor” cut it off. It was way sweet. There is a pretty good size hole in my arm, but now it is healing. Every day I have to go back to the “doctor” so they can clean the inside out and re-bandage it. Nobody told me what it was, they just said they see that a lot. It was way cool.

I have also had some bad luck on my bike this week - I have fallen twice. It was way terrible. Both times I came out without a scratch, but I feel like I should have. One time I was on this highway with my companion and as we were just going along we were biking at about 15 miles an hour so not terribly fast, but it turns out we both hit this bump and all of a sudden hit each other. I went straight down to the ground and rolled like 15 feet. He hit the guard rail and just kind of sat down on it. He barely even fell. I was so scared, but turns out nothing bad happened so we just got up and carried on.

The next one was a little worse. It was raining way hard I was with Elder Anderson, we were riding down the little road, it had nobody on it, but there were speed bumps. So I was riding around each of them and as I came around one, my tires stopped gripping the road and I went straight down to the pavement on my face. It hurt a little bit but, one again no scratch. I guess someone is looking out for me.

That is way exciting about BYU. I hope they go independent even if it is harder to make it to the BCS bowl games. That way they can play some better teams. They will at least be more fun to watch. And they are already set up with Texas. I'm so stoked... I will be home for those games – YES!!!!! What great news.

I'm glad your leg is getting better mom. I know it is slow, but hopefully it is steady. I've always been told that, that is what wins the race. You’ll have to let me know if that is true.

Also some good news, because my companion went to Bangkok he picked up my package. So, I will get that on Friday or Saturday instead of next week, I'm way excited for it. He also picked up mail so maybe I will finally get Maren’s letter, who knows. Let me know how she does on Sunday. I know she can do great.

Also, next week is moves, which means I will be getting a new companion. President Smith told us in advanced what was happening with us. Elder Greene is leaving Nong Khai. That means I am going to have to lead the area. Scary!

I'm not sure when P-day will be next week so if it is not on Monday again don't be too shocked. But I think it probably will be - who knows.

Anywho, I love you all. Have a great week.

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.