I'm in Thailand! This is not a drill!! Oh my gosh this is happening everybody stay calm! STAY FREAKING CALM! Sorry to everyone looking forward to an email last week, I was busy flying across the Pacific Ocean. We made it to Thailand! I got to do some inviting, get my trainer, and head out to my first area! It's finally real, you guys!
WELCOME TO UBON
I got my companion on Thursday. He's Elder Thorn and he's the greatest. His Thai is so good, the members love him, and I'm already learning so much from him. I couldn't have asked for a better trainer. Although, everyone keeps asking if we're brothers. I guess all ฝร่าง (foreigner/guava) look alike right? The ward is super cool. Some of the recent converts met us at the train station, there's a group of friends who got converted together who are all like 16 and 17 and they're so great. I've had a lot of opportunities to meet members and they're all so warm and welcoming, even though I can hardly communicate (even though so many of them actually speak super good English. I'm trying my best to not use that crutch haha). Ubon is soooooo pretty. There's a giant river that runs through the middle of the city and there are just trees and plants and everything is so pretty. I'm so happy to be here!
THE WARD
In the TBM, we're focusing super hard on working with members and keeping them strong in the faith, so we have a ton of activities at the church for them. My first night, Friday, we had sports night. It was uncharacteristically quiet, though. Usually tons of people show up, members and non-members, but not this week. I still got to meet a ton of the members and they're all so friendly! Some of them love to hug you, and all the little kids love it when we fist bump them haha. They're adorable. Saturday night, we had our Christmas party, so the Elders all wondered how we can advertise it the best. Elder Dollery had a great idea of renting a samlaw (a three-wheeled bike with a carriage in back) and decorating it with tinsel and Jesus. The result was so good, I was worried that it was about to be translated. We took two kids with us in the back and rode around the streets of Ubon wishing everyone Merry Christmas and inviting them to come to the party. We actually met a monk who had talked to the Elders before and he was super cool. He didn't come, but who knows maybe we'll see him again? Everyone was saying "Hello Hello! Murry Chreesmad!" We were quite the spectacle haha. At the Christmas party, we had food (because there is always food at ward events in Thailand haha), lots of kids had skits, dances, or songs to show, and the missionaries sang Angels We Have Heard on High in English and Thai. The Adults also had a hilarious skit too that I wish I could send haha. In church on Sunday, I got to talk to tons of members in my broken Thai, and they even called all of the new missionaries to go up and share their testimonies in sacrament meeting. While I was waiting for my turn, my heart was pounding. I was so nervous. But as soon as I stood up, I was calm and steady. The spirit definitely gave my talk on Sunday, not me haha.
WE'RE NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE
Thailand is nuts. It is nothing like Utah in the slightest. The second we stepped out of the airport, it was like a sauna. So humid, so hot. We went to Lumphini Park on our first day. While I was sitting and pondering, I looked to my right and saw a giant lizard. As big as my dog back home. This thing was straight up prehistoric. He was just chilling in a patch of tall grass. Then I look just past it to a tree and I see another one climbing down a tree. Then I look in the river right next to me and there's one swimming through it. I was outnumbered and surrounded. I wisely decided to remove myself from the situation in a timely manner. People drive crazy here. There are no rules, just drive. So biking through the streets can feel like a free for all. There are no mountains, I can see forever. We eat all of our food from vendors on the street, or 7-Eleven. Everywhere you look, there's a 7-Eleven. On our street alone, in a 2 minute bike ride you'll pass 3 of them. But they're so good over here, so don't think that I'm complaining.
BATIHAN
We are already seeing miracles. Yesterday, after we met with Bro. Addie, who is an amazing piano player, we went to meet with a less active member. We met Dong on the way, and we taught him how to pray, and we're meeting with him again tonight! When we got to the member's house, we found out that he wasn't home, but we met his mom and dad there instead. We talked to his mom, and we're going to meet with her again soon! The Lord leads us, we just need to be willing to talk to anyone and everyone!
LAST THINGS LAST
-Thai people cannot pronounce Barrett for the life of them. So I told them they can call me Elder Bear. Now a ton of them call me Elder หมี, which means bear in Thai.
-My district is amazing, we play guitar at night, eat pad thai with members, and other amazing things. They're hilarious and we're having a great time.
-I've sang so many Christmas songs in Thai. I've never sang this many in English.
-I love talking to members. They're all so nice and it's such a humbling experience seeing where these people live and being able to share a message of hope with them.
-We met with Bro. Hut yesterday and he showed us his garden and we ate all kinds of crazy leaves. Don't worry, we're still worthy.
-Even though I'm literally on the other side of the world from most of you (some of you are pretty close. Howdy, Brynlee, Sherstin, and Brady), I love you so much. Y'all are the best.
เอ็ลเดอร์ หมี (Elder Bear)
Elder Barrett
1. Me and Elder Thorn!
2. The Christmas Samlaw
3. Sister หวาน (Sweet) (this was my first lesson!!)
4. Bro. Addie
5 & 6. Me and Bro. ก่อน (he's a police officer and like the coolest guy ever)
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