...Unto The Ends Of The Earth: Elder Anderson, Chiang Rai, "even writing my notes in Thai"

Area: Chiang Rai
Companion: Elder Omer

May 19, 2013

Hello!

You would never believe the weekend I just had! Elder Andersen came, I got transferred, I got a new companion, I moved to Chiang Rai, I am a new District Leader, We had 3 baptisms yesterday, I translated in church for an American member and two girls from UVU, I am learning a 4th language, I gave a member a blessing, I lost my ukulele :( . . .

We will start off Friday we had a specialized training from the Zone Leaders that night we met with that awesome family of Oom Christian and Tan they are so sweet and so prepared I love them so much, that night Elder Haughton (my phi) and his companion Elder Nirut came and stayed at our house so they could go see the apostle in the morning. Then we went and saw Elder Andersen in the morning and got a mission picture with him. I saw the Redds again they are doing so good and they said Pong and Jan and their family are doing so well they are all actively serving in the church. Elder Anderson taught us about teaching about the Saviour and helping others to come to know him. He is not this power or a figment of imagination or some important figure in history or an an unknowable God But he is our Saviour and Redeemer, Jesus the Christ the Son of God. The resurrection really happened and Jesus lives today, tomorrow and for eternity and he loves us sooo much. And he bore his apostolic witness I love it when they do that it just blows you away. Also their son served here in Thailand on his mission!

After that amazing meeting we went over to the Bang Khen church to have a mini transfer meeting and in transit I left my ukulele in the taxi. For this meeting we all just went upstairs in the church and got envelopes with our new assignments and mine was to be the new District Leader in Chiang Rai and my new companion is Elder Omer who just finished being trained. The rest of my district is Elder Huntsaker (my nong who I always use to play ball with in the MTC) and his companion Elder Thanawat who is a member back in bangbuathong I taught with him a couple of times before he left on his mission he is such a stud! Elder Vandenberghe's new trainer is Elder Nirut the khonthai elder that had stayed at our house the night before, he is going to be way good at the language he is a little stressed about having to lead the area and having to speak all Thai but he is going to do great.

Next up was a the 13 hour bus ride to Chiang Rai from 5pm to 6am it was like driving to Utah except not nearly as much fun haha but we did stop at the equivalent of Helena where we got a free buffet! We got home and crashed for a half hour before getting up and getting ready for church.

This branch is amazing they have a ton of youth and they just got 2 more our investigators were sister Nuun 13 and sis Bo 12. There are a bunch of way funny ladies and the brothers are such great priesthood holders. In sacrament meeting I translated for a brother Tomlinson who is a less active brother from America and 2 girls from UVU Paige and Carly who are over here on a volunteer program teaching English. That was kinda hard but way fun! After sacrament I gave a brother a blessing because his neck was hurting way bad. And then was in meetings for the rest of church the first one was with some of the leaders who wanted to discuss our investigators. It was nice the leaders are so familiar and concerned with our investigators and they are so willing to help I have never been in a branch like it. After that I had a meeting where I needed to translate between the American member and the branch presidency the member has hit rock bottom and needs a lot of help but they were so loving and I was also able to teach and offer assistance and share testimony with him as I was the middle man in the meeting it was really a unique experience. Then we had the baptism our 2 investigators and the other elder’s investigator it was soo awesome made me so happy. After that for the rest of the day we biked around in a rainstorm and I was able to meet several of the investigators here. Both areas here are thriving with both companionships working their butts off and meeting a lot of success the last district leader Elder Saunders is an incredible missionary with a great work ethic and a gift with the language. I have got some big shoes to fill but I am so excited to be out here.

It is gorgeous we are in the mountains and it’s a lot more forested and theres hills and elephants and the air is amazing and the weather is actually really cool by Thai standards it’s still hot but nothing like Bangkok. haha I have had like 8 people ask me if I was hal thai in one day. It was ridiculous everyone from members to investigators to people we contacted on the street. I had only ever imagined coming up north but so few elders get to serve up here so I thought no way. But I am here and its absolutely gorgeous and the people here are so beautiful and happy and chill, kinda like the Essan but in the Essan they are chill and happy but tough but here they are the same but gentle and they have their own language like the Essan its derived from Laotian as well so it’s really similar way fun learning it and speaking it with people they freak out when you speak it! I am just so excited and happy to be serving up here with an amazing branch, great members with the work progressing and 3 other elders that are way boss! Oh yeah we all live in the same house too and its way nice like really really nice and it’s got like 3 couches that are all way comfy too. Like nobody has couches but we do and its awesome. I love you guys so much I’m glad you’re having a blast in Raymond! I love what that missionary said I feel like the same thing is happening in my life that the challenges are making me that much better and as I teach and testify I learn so much of God's love the miracle that is the atonement. Personal study is always too short. Lately I have been studying in all Thai even writing my notes in Thai and it has been amazing, it kinda just started I didn’t even make it a goal I just did it one day and have been doing it ever since. I love this work I love this country I love this language I love my Heavenly Father I love my Saviour and I sure do love my family!

Elder Cahoon

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