Surin Elephant Village

Area: Warin

Companion: Elder Gilley

January 8, 2013

Hello Family!

So yeah I don’t know if I mentioned but we went to the ELEPHANT VILLAGE it was so cool there were elephants all over the place just loose and walking around. It was awesome we got to ride to sit on them and I played with a little baby one sooo cute! They put a big show and the elephants were painting pictures throwing darts playing soccer and basketball and they even gave my companion Elder Gilley a massage! Then we went and saw a snake show that was crazy the guy was in a little ring with 3 cobras and these guys had fangs and venom he showed us after the show it was nuts he barely had control of them and he even kissed one on the mouth . . . . sketchy!!! Then he pulled out an anaconda and it was ticked we thought he was gonna get bit for sure but he made it out all right it was so crazy another only in Thailand kinda thing. I also bought an ivory ring way cool probably one of the few places you can buy ivory that’s legal cause it’s from the elephants there. We got home really late which is why I wrote late but it was such an amazing trip and the whole thing only cost like 30 bucks. 

This week we started off the New Year by getting another less-active back to church. Hers was a really cool story she hadn’t been to church in over a year but we went caroling at her house and then went back on Saturday with the ward mission leader Br Niwat and his son Br best (sweet name right!)  Anyway we talked to her for a bit she is way solid and a way nice lady her name is bow dan she’s like 62. We asked her to share her favourite scripture with us and she shared 3 Nephi 13:33-34 which is all about how we shouldn’t give thought to tomorrow but do things today. It was absolutely perfect! So we invited her to stop putting off and procrastinating church but to do it today obey god and receive blessings today! And she did! She came to church and was so happy to be there, we are going to go serve and do some yard work this week and she invited us to have FHE at her house next week! So awesome the Lord is helping us herd His sheep back into the fold it’s such a miracle we have seen at least one less-active member come back every week for the past month! I'm so blessed to help and have a role in changing these peoples lives. How are your reactivation efforts coming along? It’s honestly so much fun you just invite your friends who are literally your brothers and sisters!

This week while we were inviting at night, inviting at night in Warin is extremely difficult it’s a just a small town and everyone gets up at least 6 am and most people are in bed by 8pm and the ones that aren’t, are waaay drunk. Thus is the dilemma that is 8pm in Warin when you have no one to teach, everyone is on their way to bed and they think you’re a little nuts if you’re not doing the same, haha. However this week we have been blessed with finding lots of people at night in fact just the other night we found a family helped them put up a sign they were hanging and then talked with them and found the mum Naang, is like the mayor or governor whatever of all of Warin and area! She was way nice and is extremely skilled at everything she does and she has got a great family. Way cool the Lord blessed us a lot and service opened a great door.

Good to hear that home is doing well and that Ben is getting all prepared for his baptism and taking the lessons and it sounds like you have some awesome missionaries in Mckenzie right now please pray for them like you do for me they need it. I have one other request please have family home evening weekly, the prophets have asked us and I can see the difference that it can make out here. Mum I hope you feel better and girls and Ben please take better care of our mummy she needs you be the kids she raised us to be please find ways to serve each other. 

Thanks so much for the packages I got them all this week it was way funny and I was very impressed with all the scriptures and I know have a Canada pin on my backpack and Sis Redd said that she bought Peter the exact same Canada towel and the ukulele music is awesome I’ve just about got Silent Night down! 

I love you guys soooooooooo much!

Elder Cahoon