Banburu

Dear Family,

Well this week has been a wee-bit stressful. I haven't had any time to write letters, or get a hair cut, or even e-mail. But I did get some pictures which I can send home. Yay! Unfortunately, it will be another week before I can even send it. But at least there's hope now.

Yesterday was the zone activity. We gathered at the edge of a massive jungle park. The variety of trees and vast greenery was astonishing. In the center and also further around the edges was a pool of water wherewith guests could come paddle-boat or fish. In actuality the field consisted of two parks. We took a Sky train in about half way down the first park and it still took a 10 minute journey to get to the field on the second half. The entirety of the Bangkok elders came in, both the East zone and the West. In the planning of this activity the Zone leaders asked us to give them the number we wanted for the soccer jerseys they were ordering. Therefore upon our arrival we had our Bangkok West zone jerseys waiting for us with our proper size and selected number. As the East zone jerseys were red and our West zone jerseys were white and black, we easily split the teams based on color. All in all the soccer, Frisbee, football activity at the park near Asoke met our good expectations. And, to make it better, the jerseys were designed based off of the Band of Brothers shirts that Elder Miles and I designed. :)

Then this last Saturday, the Bangkhae branch prepared a service project at one of the member's farms. We were well equipped with various machetes and harvesting blades. I personally chose a tool with a large shaft and a curved scythe-like blade at the end, the shape of which I had never seen before. We used these tools to slice down banana trees and various other trees and plants to clear a berm for the safe burning of the vast excess foliage. I particularly enjoyed cutting down the banana trees which were large and provided little resistance. My blade cut through it much like a light saber. Every once and a while I'd cut it down it to smaller pieces before abandoning it, just for fun. Then Brother Thanachode came in with an abnormally large chain saw which was about as big as he was and began clearing trees that had been there for over ten years. The activity was very tiring. Then as we were about to make our return home the young men went ahead and started the fire, which went a little bit out of control. After President Nopadone was finished yelling for us to go grab buckets of water and our mini forest fire was extinguished we found President Nopadone restarting the burning as if nothing happened and the last fire went smoothly. He's a very funny guy.

I'm glad to hear that the Family is doing well. I'm still alive. These last few weeks have been especially hard as I've been working with Elder Olinger and going through some ups and downs. Then Sister Naa had a miscarriage and her and brother Sang don't have any money. But right now they are doing okay. They came to church with just enough money to take a bus which just happens to go right by their house to the church and they had not enough money to return. They didn't tell anybody but they weren't sure how they were going to get home. Then Sang found 20 Baht on the ground and they made it home safely. The Lord provides a way.

Next week is moves meeting but I don't think that Elder Olinger or myself are moving. I'm glad that my Branch is so awesome. I Love the people sooooo much. It makes me think about how much I Love everybody back home!

I love you this much [-------------------------] (actual size)
Just kidding.

Much much more than you think I love you.

And much much more after that.

Love,
Elder Lilly


And to Braden and Jade: They grow weird plants that aren't in America and some that are such as carrots and corn, but mostly rice. And it's way hot out here. Way hot.