klap Trap

Dear Family,

Yes, the pictures failed to send, and it may be a little while before I can get them back again, but rest assured that they will come.

It's weird to think that another moves has passed away and that this is the first time that I am e-mailing with my new companion. It feels like we've been companions for a long time already. I suppose a week is a long time? Well, my new companions name is Elder Milton. He was in the group after me in the MTC so I kinda already did know him. We are doing great. We are excited to work. And we share a joy in serving.

Elder Milton is from Virginia. He is the youngest of five.

Yesterday we had another service project in the rice fields. This time we bundled up rice and carried the bundles together into a huge pile. Afterward we ate grilled chicken, sticky rice, papaya salad, pork jerky, and mandarin oranges. We sat together on a deck by the water Thai style while enjoying the cool weather and the great feast. And, whose field was it? It was Elder Manop's Dad's field. Elder Manop came home to Korad. Once we were mission companions in Ayutthaya and now I got to serve him in Korad. It's fun calling him brother Manop instead of Elder. Heh heh

One thing I am glad of about having Sisters in our District, other than their openheartedness and great service is that they help me to a certain degree with socializing with females again. Ayutthaya, as I mentioned before, is full of females. Sometimes we have to be cautious and even avoid some people a little bit because they are particularly flirty. I haven't had any problem understanding Thai people for a long time, even super drunk Thais who don't speak clearly I can understand. But there was this one girl in Ayutthaya who was a new member and still didn't understand the boundaries; who was so difficult for me to understand. It must have been a blessing of some sort because she eventually backed down. I'm sure I was a little awkward around the Sisters when I first came to Korad. Now that that's over, hopefully I can remember for when I get back home. :p

Well, we continue to work as hard as we can. We see miracles every day. We see the tender mercies of the Lord every day. Just today we had the unexpected opportunity to go lift some large and heavy sheets of tin for one of the elderly men in our Branch (half way around the world and I'm still the mover). We didn't have very much time and I had only been to the man's house once. The first time I went my companion got lost looking for the house. But, today as we headed out I said a prayer and asked for help to get there in our time schedule. We headed out traveling for about 20 minutes on bike and basically went straight there. We were able to help him in less than thirty minutes and get back in time for our appointment.

I love you all very much. I'm doing great, and the work is going well.
It's a beautiful season.

Love,
Elder Lilly