Letter 3

Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 1:22 AM
> Hello Familu\y. First I want to
> apoliaize for the typing. YOu know I can;t type and I can
> read the letters. But things are going good here in Asoke.
> Today I am in Lobpuri its about three hours away and we
> played with monkeys. I will have to send some puctures.
> We have a baptism on Sunday and we have a new investigator
> who comes to English duay. She is really cute. The language
> is really hard but I can understand a lot of it and I cannot
> speak but it will come. My maa is really great. Now it is
> just the two of us.
> So family I wanted to tell you how amazing this fruit is
> here. Holy Moly I love it. It costs like 5 cents and I get
> it twice a day. Im not a fan of the stcky rice. I know
> right. But it is really sticky and it seriosly sticks to
> your intestines. So I eat fruit and craxkers and noodles all
> day.
> So I bet everyone is there for the weddign. Tell everyone
> that I love them and that I miss them. Becasei I really do.
> I love how the Lord is blessing you so much. It makes me
> want to go work harder. I love how he is so aware of our
> needs and he gives us trials to help us. And this mission is
> one. Eventhough it has been four weeks I n\know I am in for
> a hard ride. But one that I know I can go through.
> The people here are so nice. Even when they don't want to
> hear your message they are nice about ti. I still have so
> much to learn. My mom is leaving and that means I have to
> learn the area of Asoke. wow my reaction duay. The heart of
> Bangkok and I have to lead it. So she will be training me to
> know my way around. With the Lords help he can help me.
> I pray for all of you every night. And I am sorry that I am
> not writing individual emails to forward but I am not even
> in asoke and we have to catch a train soon. ANd it will take
> three hours to get back home to go and teach English. But
> next week I will sirely try.
>
>
> If Brother Saakha is reading this. I just wanted to thank
> you and Bro Duval for everything. You taught me so much and
> not bragging but my trainer was really impressed that I
> could read so well. So Thank you for teaching my Thai but
> for teaching me that the Lord is aware of everysingle one of
> us.
>
>
> Mom I haven't seen those people yet. And I don't hink I
> will be able to. They probably go to the internation ward
> and I am not apart of that area. But its crazy hot here. Ah
> I feel like my whole face is about to die and then I will.
> And the misquitoes love me legs. And the smog is clogging my
> throat, but not to worry.
> I am so serious family you would not believe your eyes. I
> don't want to say this but it is not Norway or Scotland or
> any of the states that is for sure. But it is where I am
> suppossed to be. Becaise that is where the Lord wants me.
> Thank you for all that you have done. I am loving it here
> but I am homesick. I wont lie. But I wouldn't come home
> because I am in it for the Long hall.
> Dad when you conduct on Sunday tell the ward that I love
> them and that things are great and HOT here in Thailand.
> Tell all my friends hello. I love you all so much and I am
> glad you are all my family ah ha ha ha ha.
> Have fun at the wedding manda have fun with Grandma kids be
> good to your parents Digg do you rememvber when you killed
> that Hawk adn you cried like a girl. ABby have fun gettin
> married randy welcome to the family. Joe I love your house.
> Jen I miss your cooking. Amy I miss missouri. Josh I miss
> you telling me how to fix things. James remember the time
> you ran into the stump? Is the foot better. Aud Miss you and
> how is the fam. Jud yoour neighbor is Thai. DOn't try
> to learn the Language. Ah ha jk Dig and Ab I already tolf
> you.
> Oh and I wont be writing next week. I will wrote next Sat.
> Becase we are switching are P days. Love you so much and I
> wil write you nest Sat.
> All my love remeber take pictures at the wedding. I wish i
> was there. So that means abby can't come to mine. But randy
> can.
> I am sending pocs through my email at yahoo. Make sore
> people get them/

Letter 2

Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2009, 11:24 PM
> Well Hello Family. It has been a
> crazy week in Thailand. All of us have been sick and I think
> I got the crazyness because I am a Greenie. I have had the
> worst tongsia. But I wont tell you what that means and my
> throat was infected and I had to go the the Thailand Bangkok
> Hospital. And my Doctor was a man in a complete turban and
> full on facial hair. But don't worry I am all better now. I
> have just been taking some pills and we'll see how the rest
> of the week goes.
> Well we went inviting on Saturday and Chatuchad park
> and my companions put me on the spot and all I could say was
> "Khaa Fag Egisan day may kh?" And she was like egisan what
> and I couldn't say anything but the spirit helped calm my
> nerves and she gave us her number so we were able to get it.
> Then we talked to this one other girl she wanted to meet
> with us and we taught her yesterday. I was teaching about
> prayer and she said something back in Thai and I didn't
> understand but answered the right way. We had a member there
> name Phii Chum and she gave me the biggest complument that I
> could recieve and she said out of all the missionaries who
> have been here the same time as you, you can speak the best.
> I was crying I was so happy. But its not me its the spirit,
> I cannot take any credit for anything. I am so glad that I
> am here.
> Well I think email might have to be the way thta I
> can get a hold of you all. I really have no time with mail
> but I will do my bst. Things here as you know are so crazy.
> Although today was fun this morning, cause I got my new
> badge and I got four letters and it was so much fun, I hope
> all you know how much I love them. Oh and mom yes other
> people can write to me, and I forward my reply back to them
> through you.
> Other than that not much has happened because we
> have been sick this past week. But things will be better you
> can be sure of that
>
>
>
> Okay and just for the record I have tried so many
> computers and I cannot get them to work with my camera. Not
> many people here have nikons so the I am going to have to
> send them via air mail. Ah I want to show you the picture of
> my elephant I saw and the things that I ah lets just say its
> beautiful here. So how are things with Abby's wedding? I got
> a letter saying that Barbru gave her a shower. Thats fun and
> yes she does have amazing friends. Glad I'm the best one.
> But I am sad that I will miss the wedding. But Im glad she
> can come to my wedding. I love you
> Abby...........................................And Randy.
>
> Well we have had many interesting encountars with farangs.
> Which are white people. A man who came up and asked my
> companions and I what side of the cross we were on and
> told us we couldn't be saved through baptism. I am just glad
> to know that the church is true and how God does have a plan
> for us. I love this Church.
> And another one were some Danish men who yes they
> saw my name and was like "Are you Danish" then they started
> talking and said the word that starts with the letter F and
> you could just feel the sprot leave. There is so much evil
> here but I don't feel apart of it becasue I am a missionary.
> And it really is so great. I love you family so much. Hope
> all is well love you tons bye bye.

Jessie's letter from Thailand

Hello Family!!!!
> And greetings from Thailand. I have been waiting to write
> you and tell you all that has been going on in Thailand. It
> was a crazy flight that's for sure. 24 hours of sickness in
> an awful airplane. But the sad thing is that that food was
> better than the MTC food. AH! I am so glad that I am out of
> there and ready to work. I love hearing what is going on at
> home, all of the emails were wonderful. Thank you again.
> It's weird that I don't get mail everyday but I think its
> better that way. Well I thought I would answer some
> questions and tell you somethings in my full week of being
> here in the land of smiles.
> When we arrived at the airport we couldn't find president
> and sister Dodge. My companions and I were not getting along
> but we are seperated and its for the best. (Three months
> with just them is really hard) But I love them so much don't
> get me wrong. We got there and ate again. And then we got
> our pictures taken and then we were interviewed by the
> President. We then went home to eat and then went to bed. We
> woke up ate and then went to moves meeting where I got my
> new companion(s) yes I am in another three sum. Ah. Then
> they took me to the house and then we got to work.
> The food here is amazing! I thought you
> all would like to know that. Mom I don' think I have ever
> tasted pineapple like this. They have fruit stands all over
> where you can get papaya, watermelon, pinapple, guava, and
> all this other stuff. The pineapple whcih they come in whole
> halves is ten baht. Which comes to 5 cents in American. The
> food is so cheap here. Even the bananas are amazing. I'm
> sorry but I am going to have to give in and gain weight I
> can't help that the food is amazing. You know they have the
> best fruit in the world but they also have the worst fruit.
> We went to a mans house on Monday and he cooked us all that
> he could and it was grass and leaves and intestines, with
> rice and then he handed us this awful fruit that tasted like
> cleaner. It was really bad. But I ate it.
> I cried my eyes out there because these
> people are so poor and they want to feed us. It defenatly
> was a really big eye opener. The people are so nice here,
> and there aren't nice poelple here, but that is just the
> process of missionary work. The language is a huge barrier.
> But pray for me that I can not be afraid of opening my
> mouth. I want these poeple to have the happiness that I have
> and it is hard I get scared. So I know things will get
> better though because I have the Lord on my side.
> I have been reading in 1 Nephi and I just
> love hoe it talks and teaches taht you have to put forth
> your effort. YOu do! IT's just that simple. I also read in
> chapter 16 where nephi is searching for food. It says that
> they got plenty and the cool thing is that is said honey
> Duay as well. Thought I would share that with you.
> WE are going shopping today and we are
> excited, my companions wanted to make this one a fun one for
> me. I got my bike and I thought I would tell you that the
> stuff here is amazing. Abby you can get louis vatone stuff
> her for like 1,000 baht which is like thrity american
> dollars, but only if you know where to find it. The shoes
> here are so cute and all the clothes are so cheap. I needed
> to get some shirts so I did and it came to like 500 baht
> wich is like 15 bucks. Oh famliy it is so insane that I am
> finally here.
> I am located in Asoke which is the heart of Bangkok
> and I mean literally the heart of Bangkok. It is a big city
> and I mean big. Bigger then Manhattan Abby. Oh and the
> traffic is nothing like Manhattan it is worse. Much worse,
> they drive on the wrong side and then they have random
> motorcycles everywhere drivnen in-betweem them. IT is
> insane.
> We stopped in Taiwan and I got some hello kitty
> stuff. I had to I mean come on, it was just like some paper
> that has Hello Kitty on it and it says Taiwan.
> There are so many 7/11 here on every corner you can
> find them and we have to stop to get water because it is
> sooooooo hot. This is there hottest season. IT truly is
> crzy. We take the sky train and the subway alot and I can't
> use my bike and I am sad but I think that the Lord is trying
> to humble me. And that's all good.
> The misquitos here are all over and I am
> going insane becasue I am new blood and all they want to do
> is eat me. So I am sending a picture of my legs to show you
> how red they get. Its not like america that's for sure.
> Things have been slow but they will come up, I love
> being here and I loive all of you. We have two baptisms this
> month and I have been able to bare my testimony. I struggled
> but it came out wrong too but the lady said to my companions
> that she could tell that the spirit was testifying through
> my struggles. IT jsut goes to show you how true this work is
> and how God has a plan for you and you can't fail that plan.
> I love it. This is going to be the hardest but best time of
> my life. I love you all so much this work is so true. THank
> you for your prayers and I pray for you duay. I will try to
> write a letter but I will do my best.
> I have the phone today so I have to answer in Thai.
> Ahhhhh. BUt I irealize that no wonder people think that they
> can conquer the world after there mission. I invited someone
> to come to English class. I totally messed it all up but I
> was able to do that. I wouldn't be able to at home. The Lord
> helps you so much. Love you family love you so much. Bye
> Love always Jessie.
> Oh and you can forward this to anyone you want. Oh
> and I have a few questions that I would really like
> answered. How are the Holtkamps? Make sure you tell them
> thank you so much, but how are they doing? How are the
> wedding plans. OH and I saw my first cockroach today in our
> house. It was awful I tell ya! oh the pictures don't work so
> I will have to send them air mail. That is really
> unfortunate.