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Sunday, March 16, 2008

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January 27, 2008 to Present

We have been assigned to work in the Udonthani District. We have been given assignments to teach new and less active members by using book "Preach my Gospel." We work with less active members and we take part in humanitarian service. We have also been teaching teens on drug and alcohol prevention and keeping the law of chastity and the word of wisdom.

Sister Seangsuwan and I have also been asked to help with the training of the church leaders in this area. We have been in Udon since Jan 27. and do not know how long we will be in this district, it is up to the Mission President. We love the people here and love working with the other missionaries.

We have contacted about 44 families which 7 families are being taught the discussions. Our Mission President asked me to preside and train the leaders in Udon district on March 8. He and his wife are very happy to have us working with the people in this area. We are really happy and enjoy our assignment. For the most part the Thai people in this area open the doors and let us in to teach there family members. They are humble and happy to see Senior Missionaries come to their homes.

Our testimony has grown due to our assignment of teaching the truth of the gospel of the Lord to His children. Our most memorable moment so far is when we introduced ourselves to them that we are from Utah and come to serve the Lord in Thailand, eventhough, we miss our children and grandkids. Serving and leaving family is such a small sacrifice for such a great purpose. It helps us understand more of the great work that we are doing. We work each day and love to serve. Sister Seangsuwan loves to study scripture more and more and is doing her best to learn how to teach the gospel. She still loves to talk alot and share her testimony. We should teach only 30 minutes, but she still goes on and on and the converstation ends up over one and half hour each family.

I told her not to worry about the family at home. When we work hard we know that the Lord will take care of them. So far, we love to serve the Lord in Thailand as well as eat the Thai food. Wednesday is our Preparation day. Sister Seangsuwan does alot of window shopping but does not buy anything. She just likes to look around and I love to follow her. In the evenings, we return back to Church to help young missionaries teaching ESL and we also are able to meet new people to teach. In class, the last 10 minutes, I was introduced as Guest Speaker to teach something that I have learn in the US and answer their questions.

We have had a great experience on our mission and love all of you! Thank you so much for your support! More comments and pictures to come.

Email from Elder and Sister Oldham

Their words and message are sweet and I wanted to share to you how the work is progressing in other parts of Thailand:

Dear Family and Friends,

On our early morning walks, we watch young monks leave their wat and begin the morning ritual of being fed along the streets by devoted Buddhist women. The women prepare sticky rice, dress in their nicest clothes, kneel beside the road in front of their homes, and then wait for the monks' arrival. After receiving the rice into their "silver" bowls, the monks chant a blessing on the women and then walk on down the road to another home. I have wondered if these lovely women occasionally also think of the time when their own sons were monks and hoped that a kind woman would feed them--perhaps not unlike LDS missionary moms feeding local missionaries and hoping at the same time that someone is taking care of their own sons or daughters. (See the attached pictures)

It is traditional for all men in Lao to become monks at least once in their life in order to devote all time to Buddha, learn more about him, and to practice self denial. While one young man was very sick, his parents promised that he would spend 3 months as a novice monk if he recovered. Shortly after his recovery, the father shaved his son's head and went with him to the wat (temple) to help him enter. He took his new robes and someone showed him how to put them on his left shoulder. Isn't it wonderful to think how most cultures have bits and pieces of truth as they strive to serve God.

I think life as a novice must be quite hard for young teenage boys since they may not eat anything after 12:00 noon and must get up at 4:00 a.m every morning. They are awakened by drums beating to drive away evil spirits, then they pray and clean the wat. At 6:00 the bells toll and they begin their barefoot walk to collect food. With 197 wats in Vientiane, 2 of them behind our hotel apartment, we get to hear lots of bells along with drums and roosters.

We have a plum assignment here and we're so grateful to our Heavenly Father for His loving guidance, mercy and patience with us. We love seeing first hand how the gospel changes people, how it radiates from our Branch member's faces, and is in turn noticed by those with whom they associate in other capacities. This week, 2 people who have been attending Elder and Sister Jone's English classes along with a few Branch members, noticed the difference and asked to know more about our organization. The Jones couldn't tell them, but they could and did tell them where we meet on Sundays. That is the way our Branch grows--it is the fastest growing Branch in the Thailand, Bangkok Mission even though we have no proselyting missionaries here. It is really quite remarkable.

As always, please count your blessings; we have so much.

Love, Jim and Carolyn Oldham

In the Lord's Service - Thailand Bangkok Mission 2010-2012

Experiences in Thailand on Our Mission

After the Flooding, Huge Humanitarian Effort

In the Chapel putting Relief Bags together

Sunday, March 16, 2008

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Thailand Mission Photos

Preston and Tanner Saying Hello to Grandma and Grandpa

January 27, 2008 to Present

Family Member in Bangkok