There is much packed into these past 6 months!

Area: Warin
Companion: Elder Gilley

"Hey, Hello, how are you?"

"My name id?"

Hi Everybody!

Haha that is most of the English that you hear over here! And they ask the question "My name is?" when they are actually asking what your name is and they say id instead of is. Fun times! It sounds like everything is crazy busy nonstop fun back home good to hear about the goings on! The idea about the email full of questions is a pretty good one you should do that! Although the letter will take a long time to get there! Speaking of which I sent Granddads letter to our house cause I can’t remember his address so if you could send that on to him that would be great! I love all the missionary experiences that the temple is bringing you all, that is so awesome. Sorry to hear about your finger Kendra! Hope it gets better soon. Elder Gilley and I were talking about broken bones just the other day, when he was in high school he broke his collar bone 5 times in 2 years! And it was in a different part every time! That is truly a beautiful horse sounds like Chrissy and Mikaela have quite the busy social lives these days! I love that Jeana's section of the email is always written the way that she would say it! 

As for the questions you sent today we have our own washer so we just do our laundry at home while we are out for the day. That satchel I bought at a market in the middle of Bangkok called pratuu nam (the water door) last transfer for 300 baht (I think I still paid too much for it but I got him to come down from 520) and I have been wearing it ever since. Today I just saw a place that was selling some pretty legit Dr Dre beats for 480 baht and Elder Gilley was telling me he saw some real ones at the black market in Bangkok for like 340! Crazy stuff, I swear you get anything over here and so cheap too but it sounds a little sketchy black markets and all! My shoes are definitely comfy! I rarely cook at home especially here cause the only thing we have is a microwave and a little propane burner that we aren't really supposed to use. We only cook on Sundays for dinner, we get fed right after church. I usually cook mama (which is a brand of ramen noodles that is so pervasive that it has dishes named after it namely phad mama) or usually something involving eggs rice and some sort of sauce, spaghetti is also good. Usually we just eat out every meal because here it’s actually cheaper to eat at a restaurant than to buy everything and make it yourself and I mean when its 30 baht and absolutely delicious why not! We just found a place that makes phad macaroni by our house that tastes amazing kinda like a burger or barbeque something that was a terrible explanation but anyways it tastes great! For treats during the day or snacks during the day we grab some fruit or some cookies or treats at 7-11 (not too much cause it makes you fat and broke) but my personal favourite is nam phans it literally translates to spun water but it’s basically fruit flavoured slurpees like whatever flavour you can imagine kiwi, blueberry, pineapple, banana, strawberry, coconut, creme soda, lemon they have got everything and they are waaay good and usually 15-20 baht. 

So our newest baptismal dater is blind! his name is Tuk as in like tuk tuk. He can actually see enough to read somehow but he is I guess what you would call legally blind he just sees shapes and shadows. He is way cool he is one of the Dads of the big huge family we are focusing on him and then we are going to work on all of the rest of the family and get them house by house, that's our master plan in any case haha Our tuk tuk driver phii miaw just accepted a date too, kinda funny story though a couple daters he had a dream where he says he saw Jesus Christ and some other stuff were not 100% sure what all but it like really freaked him out and now he doesn't want to read the B of M or pray cause he’s scared of what will happen. Not so sure what to do about that but we are going to help him out with that one. He is so awesome though he’s like a cat he just like goes wherever and does what he wants and when he’s waiting for passengers he just chills in the back of his tuk tuk sunning himself. Ah he makes me so happy he’s so funny. We had a sacrament meeting yesterday that was one of a kind halfway through the opening song the power went off which meant no lights no electric organ no microphone and no air conditioning, but we went kept on singing and said the opening prayer and then the Elders got up and opened up all the blinds and the windows and we carried on, it was really cool. Prbly one of the best sacrament meetings I have ever been in! It was kinda dark and really warm but the spirit was really strong, we had a bunch of extra time at the end so the branch president invited all the missionaries to come up and bear their testimonies and 2 RM’s, it was way cool. Our zone leaders Elder Siperly (my pa) and Elder Kunz gave way good testimonies, it was awesome and then Elder Gilley and I got to share our testimonies which was cool and I was able to speak really well. It’s really nice to have the Lord help in situations like that.

Well as I’m sure you guys are well aware I have now been on my mission for 6 months! Can you believe it’s been that long already??!! I can’t I feel like I just got here! But at the same time home and even my stay at the MTC seems like such a far distant memory so much has happened between there. I totally believe what Elder Holland said your mission is real life it’s the closest to real life that you will ever get. There is much packed into these past 6 months; it’s ridiculous, every day is the same schedule but every day is so vastly different it’s insane! This would be an “I told you so” moment for mum but I haven’t taken enough pictures or writing in my journal as well as I should have. And that needs to be fixed I never want to forget this stuff I want to remember every second of it for the rest of my life this is my mission and I’ve been looking forward to it for 19 years! So I have been writing in my journal much better and set a goal to take 2 pictures a day so I will report on that next week!

I love you all soooooo much! Big shout out to the Erasmus Family for the package, so nice of them! 

The church is true the book is blue and it’s a great day in the kingdom!

Love Elder Cahoon!

I LOVE Conference

Area: Warin

Companion: Elder Gilley

Good Morning Family!

(At least it will be morning when you're reading this)

Conference was soo fantastic! I loved it. We got to watch in English and we will be getting the Liahona as well, so don't you fret! I love the pictures, they are so cute and the temple is of course wow, the potato is pretty funny too! Good to hear basketball and volleyball is in full swing, congrats on the wins! It’s crazy that there is snow on the ground; Thailand is the same as ever! haha Thanks for the news about friends that’s nuts about Graham I remember seeing him in the MTC wow that feels so long ago already; which is the next weird part, on Thursday I will have been a missionary for 6 months!!! That’s right a quarter of the mission; that just can’t be right! I just got here! Craziness! Weird right?! Well that’s enough about how old I am cause that’s just weird. Chrissy I am sorry to hear about your tears over Justin but Tedora your tears were beautiful that was such a wonderful experience! This weeks’ email I’m sorry is kinda scatter brained but it looks like that’s just the way that it’s going to go today.

So, last week Monday night we had a big rain storm and we were inside eating and when we came back out the water in the streets was 2ft deep!! It was crazy and of course we hauled through it on our bikes; that was a hoot. Tuesday after district meeting I went on switch-offs in Yasothon with Elder Marshall who has been in Thailand for 2 weeks! That was crazy and way fun all of a sudden I was the only one who could speak Thai and let’s get real I’m trying but I don’t speak the greatest Thai. I’ve got a long ways to go, but it was a hoot being a trainer for a day and a half and teaching English out there it was great (btw Yasothon is even further in the boonies than Warin like a lot but way sweet) while we were out there we got songtham (papaya salad I guess) we bought it from this awesome sister who knew Bro Mckonkie and was way funny, anyways she asked if I wanted it hot and then I said the Essan phrase that’s like "if it’s not hot it’s not delicious" and she was like “oh really? I will show you! I made the last Elder cry that told me that.” and proceeded to put handfuls of peppers in my songtham when I asked she said there was 25 of them in it she’s like “your gonna have a problem in the morning you going to be scared of going to the bathroom” haha she was sooo funny I haven’t laughed that hard in a while (or understood that many Thai jokes) It was pretty hot but it honestly wasn’t that bad I was expecting a lot worse! but it was really good it was definitely really hot but it looks like I’m getting used to that too. Unfortunately, the meal on Thursday night after the switch-offs nearly killed me. I started feeling rough as soon as I ate it but then we went to go teach and it was an awesome lesson with Bank Bert Fone and Nu they were asking awesome questions and the spirit was definitely there as we taught the restoration it was way sweet. We went home, planned and I felt terrible so I got a blessing from Elder Gilley and went to sleep which proceeded to be the worst sleep I’ve ever had and I woke up with a fever, headache, nausea and the runs. Our diagnosis: food poisoning. I think it was pretty accurate. Well, ya so I had a rough couple of days and unfortunately spent sections of the Saturday sessions of conference in the wonderful facilities provided by the church. But I am all better and I have an awesome companion who took care of me and I have a much greater appreciation for a healthy body and good food and I dropped 5 pounds (the unhealthy way but that is the last of my MTC weight yeah!)

Conference was so amazing, some favourite talks were: Holland's about being a disciple, Bednar's about conversion, Pres Eyring's about getting rid of the pavilion and following God’s will, Pres Uchtdorf's in priesthood, Everytime Pres Monson opened his mouth, That one by the seventy about losing children was absolutely gripping wow, it was so powerful! I loved how much focus there was on the family and home it was beautiful and preparing children to be missionaries at an earlier and earlier age and about being a truly converted disciple of Christ! It was so awesome I LOVE conference and I cannot wait for the Liahona to get here. Well that’s about all the time I got but you can ensure Granddad his letter is in transit and oh yeah we saw the big family a couple times since and they have fed us, they are soo nice! I love you guys I hope everyone gets feeling better and that Pres Monson can go dedicate the Temple!

Love,

Elder Cahoon

เอ็ลเดอร์คาฮูน

P.S. I didn’t really see Zombie this week I will get a picture of him next week!

Weekly Dose of Thailand

Area: Warin, Ubon

Companion: Elder Gilley

 

Hey Family!

Sounds like a phenomenal week; Temple Open House and Conference and Jake and Liz! Wow! Thanks for the pics they are way sweet! Especially the one with everybody in it is awesome! But what is everyone holding? That's so awesome to have all the cousins there, way fun! The temple open house I am sure was amazing. I am so sad I'm missing it and Pres Monson is coming too! sweet! (It’s in Canada, of course, he is coming.) (Hey Winnipeg is getting a temple too; I totally forgot about that.) Um, yeah oh my goodness, that announcement is crazy! We got a text from the AP's yesterday after church telling us about it! This is a huge change! Elder Kunz was like "this just changed who my wife was going to be" way funny but prbly true. But ya I immediately thought of Mikaela you could totally do it. I can’t think of a better thing to do especially because you don't know what to do right now well, start saving your pennies and go on a mission! That would be so awesome but the choice is up to you so pray about it. A lot! The extra 10 months that you talked about will be nothing time flies on a mission and could you imagine how awesome that would be to write each other on our missions and then when we get back just imagine the stories and experiences we could share! This announcement changed thousands of lives it’s so cool the biggest revelation about missionary work in years and I get to be a part of it because I’m a missionary, so cool! I can’t wait to watch Conference this week (we do it a week later cause it has to be translated) and experience it firsthand (I just really hope that we can find a way to listen to it in English!)

Well there are a couple of things that I have neglected to share my joy about lately. Mum you have an iPad! That’s nuts! Do you just love it?! And Marci is having a baby! I am so happy for them that is way awesome! How is Tommy's baby doing?

As far as your weekly dose of Thailand: Things are continuing to go well out here we are working hard and learning a ton which is good because we have a ton to learn! The Thai continues to come along, in fact, it is getting a lot better a lot faster because I no longer have a trainer to rely on. It is coming well and I am even learning a bit of Essan (little did you know but they have their own language out here!) It’s kinda a hybrid mix of Thai and Lao, it’s pretty fun and most people freak out when they find out you speak it, it’s hilarious. We talk to lots of people out here cause Elder Gilley is a boss at inviting and I am practicing up lots so I can be that good someday. We are working a lot on the fundamentals of missionary work on the fundamentals of the gospel and the fundamentals of teaching. We have an awesome opportunity to be way young working in a great but hard area and just trusting in the Lord and working hard it’s pretty humbling which is good cause I need a lot of that! We taught a family that was way cute yesterday they have two little kids the one daughter is 3 and she is soo cute reminded me a lot of Jeana she was so sweet and such a cutie pie! We take a tuk tuk around quite a bit here in Warin (we are like the only people in the mission because our area is way big and kinda in the boonie) our tuk tuk driver is one of our investigators his name is Miaw (ya like what a cat says) he is way sweet and sometimes he helps us in our lessons because he is the only male we can find! Almost all of the members live in Ubon on the other side of the river and we are having a hard time convincing them to come over and help us. But that’s alright because this week we are going to go and find the less-actives in Warin reactivate them aand have them help us teach :) It is cooling off a lot temperature wise it is really nice I think cool season might be my favourite season that Thailand has! haha The house here in Ubon is way different than in Pakkret but it’s kind of more what I was expecting lets just say that I got spoiled in my birthplace. It’s a 2 story house but it is kinda old and has lots of tiny ants and the occasional lizard. The bathrooms kinda say it all; upstairs the toilet doesn’t have a flushing thing so to flush you fill up a bucket of water and dump it in once you are done with your business! Downstairs for the shower in the morning it’s just a regular old bathroom with a toilet and a sink and stuff no special place to shower just a shower head coming out of the wall and so when you shower the bathroom gets wet. It takes a little getting used too but it’s all just a part of this awesome experience. I rode my bike past an elephant today. The rats here are the size of a small cat, soo nasty and we have a dog on the street, who I’m going to take a picture of to send you, who has been lovingly named, by past elders, Zombie. I will leave you in suspense for next week but the name covers things pretty well, it is the ugliest thing I have ever seen. I wasn’t sure what it was when I saw it on my first day. 

Well that’s about all the time I got for today. I’m going to get another haircut today so wish me luck! cause its kinda hit and miss.

Love you all,

เอ็ลเดอร์คาฮูน

P.S. (By the way in the big picture with everyone Greg has a glorious beard, Teddy and Kendra are looking gorgeous and Alina and Emelia look waaaaayyyy similar!)

P.P.S. I got one of Grandpa's letters and I will be writing him back today!

P.P.P.S. Chrissy I have lost another 2 pounds since being in Warin I am almost back to normal again (man the MTC kills! you get so chubs!)

Big Week: Completed Training, Renewed Visa, New Area

Area: Warin Chamrap, Ubon Ratchathani
Companion: Elder Gilley

Hey Family and Friends!

Wow, those pictures are absolutely gorgeous; our temple looks amazing! It looks like Ben and Jeana look like they have got taller, like a lot! That rainbow picture is magnificent it really does sum it up nicely. I didn’t get to hear from my teddy bear but I am sure she had a great week too. Dad that is a way good missionary experience that’s so awesome! You are coaching a ton of teams! As usual. Who did LCI lose to? 

Well, we had transfers this week and despite all odds I moved!! We got a call on Wednesday that actually we were both moving; we were getting whitewashed out and that’s because they moved the zone leaders to our area. So, needless to say, Wednesday was crazy with packing and writing notes and fixing the area book cleaning our house. We got the call like 3pm so we didn’t really have any time to say goodbye to anyone like Sis Tuun or Faay but we talked to a couple of the members. Thursday was sweet I got to see my family again all of them! So happy! And we all went down and renewed our visas and ate lunch together and stuff but I am getting ahead of myself because all of that was after transfers meeting which was nuts! I was transferred to and am currently serving in Ubon!!! I am in the Essan. I left my birthplace and I have a new companion! Elder Gilley! So, to sum everything up I have finished my training I am on my 3rd companion and 2nd area in 3 transfers! I have moved from my birthplace in Bangkok 9 hours away to one of the farthest corners in the Essan and did I mention I am loving it!!! So I am in actually in Warin which is like town / suburb of Ubon which is on the other side of the River but it is basically one spread out city. Elder Richardson went DL and is serving as an International Elder (meaning he doesn’t teach Thai people only farangs) which is a wonderful place to be for General Conference and Thanksgiving there is defs turkey and mashed potatoes with gravy in his future! Elder Gilley is awesome he is way enthusiastic and happy and he is only on transfer 5! (meaning he is my Phiis Phii he has been a missionary 12 weeks longer than I have, he left the MTC 1 week before I got there!) So this is his first time being senior companion. We are both way young but stoked, happy and excited to go to work! Another crazy bit is that my Pa, Elder Siperly, is now my zone leader. In fact, we are in the same district; in fact, we actually serve in the same branch. Weird eh! It is like déjà vu every time I see him but its way cool to be around him again.

The Essan is way sweet! I am not quite sure how to describe it but its way different from Bangkok. It’s so green and open and laid back I love it! I can see the horizon and the stars and I can breathe its great I feel like I can stretch out and move around now Bangkok was making me a little claustrophobic (that’s a really hard word to spell!!) I really like it out here but I kind of really miss Pakkret; he members there and the district it’s all so different now. I’m getting culture shock all over again. haha And they moved me out right before it was going to start flooding so I am missing all the excitement cause the floods already happened out here in Warin cause it’s further north. The work in our area is about to explode. Elder Gilley and his last companion were killing it here just working their butts off and now I get to come and keep it going there we are going to be teaching like 30 lessons this next week. We had 13 investigators at church and just yesterday we went inviting for 3 hours and found 11 new investigators! The people here are ready for the gospel and Elder Gilley is such a friendly guy and talks to everybody! I have learned a ton from him already and we have been companions for all of like 4 days! Oh ya i forgot so on Thursday we did planning and waited with our Ubon district for the bus which came at like 8:45pm and then got on and tried to sleep for the next 9 hours (But it was really hard cause I was so excited and busses aren’t super comfy) because we got to our area at 6 am unpacked studied and went to work! Needless to say we were exhausted but we had an awesome day! and I got my first ride in a tuk tuk cause one of our investigators drives one he is so sweet apparently we use him quite a bit when we have to go way out in the boonies the "banog" in Thai the o makes an o as in ostrich. Oh and I reviewed the Thai slang Uncle Devin with Elder Richardson and it was all right on the money! we were both very impressed. 

The Pictures are after a bike ride in the pouring rain, Elder Richardson enjoying brownies honestly they were so good and he loved them so much! The one with the kids is my favourite that was just last night we taught this way big extended family that were all just chilling outside in like this really mini cul-de-sac where there was like 6 houses and all these cousins and aunts and uncles and grandparents lived. the grandparents had 8 kids and like 6 of them lived there with their families it was way cool we just walked and talked to them and joked around got to know them and then asked if we could teach them so the parents got all the kids together and everybody sat around and listened as we taught them how to pray and god is our loving heavenly father it was so awesome and the wanted to take pictures of it so we were like sure and they want us to go back on Thursday! The people here are so phenomenal! 

Well that’s all for now folks, but there is going to be loads of fun and amazing experiences I can feel it coming! I love you all and I am so excited for the Calgary temple I can’t wait to see it and to walk through its doors I think that will be first thing Saturday morning when I get home. I love temples so much with all my heart and i want to help as many people as possible to be able to go there and feel it the joy the love the peace and receive those magnificent blessings!

Love,

เอ็ลเดอร์ คาฮูน

Elder Cahoon soaking wet

Elder Richardson enjoying some microwave brownies

Elder Cahoon and Elder Gilley teaching