Elder Pornchai

     It's been a whirlwind of a week, lots of highs and lows, and miracles as well. And it's been raining too, rather than being sunny and a little hot every single day. The problem is that it's raining right as I am writing this email, and my companion and I were planning on going to an ancient city, but looks like those plans are cancelled. Rats.

     I am staying for another transfer in Samutprakan. Part of me wanted to leave and have a new adventure, part of me didn't. Transfers are pretty fun. After everyone gets their transfer calls, the missionaries all around the country start calling each other to see who's going and who's staying, and who got new companions.

     The other day while riding on a bus, I was looking out the window, then I saw a woman wearing a Harry's Chocolate shop (a bar in West Lafayette) shirt. I guess whoever previously worn that shirt was a little upset that Harry's chocolate shop isn't actually a chocolate shop.

     Last Wednesday, nobody answered their phones, so we were stuck for 6 hours, wandering neighborhoods, finding people to teach (we call it inviting). It was frustrating, since most people said no, or that they were Buddhist. 

     The next day, we scheduled another two-hour block of inviting in the morning, and right as we were about to leave the house, we got a phone call from a member, and she said, "My mom's in town right now, could you come and teach her right now?" Looks like we don't have to invite for that two hour block. 

     Our district leader asked us to find three new investigators last Sunday. We had two hours left in the day, and when he told us that challenge, my first thought was: "We invited for six hours the other day and had little success, that's going to be tricky." But we accepted the challenge. We were wandering through a neighborhood, and got the usual excuses when we asked them if they wanted to learn about Jesus Christ:  "I'm not free," "I'm Buddhist," and "Every religion teaches good!" or they just ignore us altogether. It gets really frustrating at times. It was getting late, and we turned a corner to one street, where there were four dogs on the street barking at us like crazy. We walked past them, and then walked past a group of men outside a house, blasting their music and drinking a lot. We were about to turn around, and we invited at one last place. There were a few people living in a poorer house area, and they let us in. We introduced them to the gospel, and three women were interested. We asked them if we could come back the next day to teach them, and they all said yes. 

     Brother Pornchai (Pronounced Prawn-chai) was feeling a little sick and hasn't been to church in a while, so Elder Duke and I paid him a visit. He is the man who my Uncle was good friends with when he was getting his master's degree. I didn't really know too much of his backstory, the only thing I knew was that he was blind, has a master's degree in English at BYU, and was good friends with my Uncle Kent and my Grandpa Barrus. 

     When we got there, he started talking to us a bit, and walked over to a bookcase, and handed me the book called, "Pioneers in every land." (I highly recommend reading that book) My first reaction was: "Why would he hand me this book?" While Elder Duke was talking to him, I opened the book and the first chapter title said: Pornchai: The First Thai Patriarch. 

     I was surprised, and read Pornchai's entire story in that chapter. At age 14 he started going Blind, and at age 26 he was completely blind. That didn't stop him from moving ahead in life, however. He learned American Braille, and started learning English. He also wrote stories, and won many awards as well. One was featured on the BBC World News radio.  Later, he met the missionaries, and became a member. He walked three miles to go to church as well. After that, he went to BYU Hawaii to get a bachelor's degree in English, and also a minor in Spanish. Afterwards, he went to BYU Provo and got a master's degree in literature, where my Uncle Kent and my Grandpa Barrus met him.  He later returned to Thailand. He has translated a lot of important church books and documents into Thai, like the Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants. When the first stake was organized in Thailand, he was called to be the first Patriarch in Thailand.   One of the most interesting quotes that Brother Pornchai said in that book was, "I want to work to the end of my life, and make my life worthwhile. 

     After that visit, I walked out of his house in awe. Brother Pornchai is an inspiration. He got two degrees in English, doing all of it while being blind. And he is an inspiration for many church members in Thailand as well. 

     He is still making his life worthwhile. He is still writing. I then thought of my family, and how they are making their lives worthwhile, and how their influence has made me want to make my life worthwhile as well. 

My Question for you is: Are you making your life worthwhile?

-Elder Brinkerhoff

Goin' Fishing

     You know things are heating up in Thailand a little bit when your english and Jesus Pass along cards get soggy in your shirt pocket.

     On pday this week, a few missionaries and I went fishing with some church members to a small pond. (I got to wear my awesome elephant shirt.) The first 15 minutes I caught a small fish, and was very proud of myself for being the first person to catch a fish. Then I didn't catch anything for the rest of the time, and everyone else caught fish that were a heck of a lot bigger than mine.  I think I will just stick to the hobbies that I am good at, like running, piano, and Thai boxing.  

 

     I did another switch off in Bangnaa, with Elder Ton, who is from Burma. He is a funny dude. He taught the security guard some English. (See video.)

     My companion and I go to the 7/11 near our house pretty often to get snacks and other stuff. The workers know us pretty well too. Well, one day my companion and I were walking in a neighborhood and inviting people to know about Christ and inviting them to attend English class.  I saw a teenage girl outside her house and asked her if she was interested in Christ/English, and she laughed, said, "One second!"  ran into the house.  She brought her friend out to look at my companion and me. Then one girl said, "Do you remember me?" I said no, and she said, "I work at 7/11!" Then I realized who she was. 

     Now that the church members know that I play piano, I play every Sunday. Last Sunday I was sitting during church and one of the members came up to speak. Next thing I know everyone in the congregation was standing, holding hymn books. The chorister was looking at me, and said, "Play #15." I had to go Improv mode and just go for it. Somehow I played that piano piece well. Somehow. Any of you piano players out there, prepare for unexpected times to play piano. Shoutout to my piano teacher Mr. Rich for making me sight read during piano lessons sometimes.

     We had Zone conference last Saturday as well, I love those. We play games, we learn from each other, and learn how to become better missionaries.  We played a game where one team had to flip cups to the opposite side, while the other team had to do the opposite, in a certain amount of time. It got ugly, elbows were thrown everywhere, at one point I was lying on the table, and then I was on the floor. Elders can get really competitive at times. My trainer, Elder Cecil, was standing next to me and on the other team, and we were going ham on each other.

     During zone conference, I was talking to Elder Latimer, who was a missionary in my MTC group. I noticed his planner cover photo: A photo of Dwayne Johnson, with a small photo of a house on his head. I asked him about that photo, and he then said: "Always build your house upon the rock!"  I'm going to be sorely disappointed if Elder Latimer doesn't become a famous comedian. He makes me laugh all the time.

     Transfers are this week, so I may be on the other side of the country, or staying for another 6 weeks.

     It's been a good week, lots of ups and downs as always, but I am glad I am serving.  During church, one of the members was teaching a class, and she asked me, "Have you ever wanted to go home?" I replied, "Sometimes, but I know I am doing the Lord's work."

     I can go home in August 2018. But for now, let the work carry on.

-Elder Brinkerhoff

Are You Sure? Seven peppers?

     Just another week in Thailand. I feel like the weeks nowadays are getting faster. The saying goes: "The Days go by weeks and the weeks go by days." 

     The Last few weeks feel like it's just been a few days.

     Anyways, last pday was pretty fun. My companion, Brother Day, and I went to Central world in Downtown Bangkok. Literally It's a huge mall building six or more floors full of stores, and turns out there are like five other buildings surrounding it, and they are all connected. One could spend all day there, and not be able to see all the stores in those buildings. It was super fun to explore, and they had everything there, from cheap Thailand souvenirs to Nike gear. If anyone loves to go shopping, this is the place for you. There were lots of white people there, and turns out the majority of them are Europeans. I guess they love Thailand more than Americans do. 

     I got to switch companions for the day and got to go to Bangnaa, the area where my mom served. It was really neat again to be in the same area that my mom served in. Also, the apartment that the missionaries stay in has a gym with treadmills. After teaching a lesson, a woman across the street made us free food. She LOVES us missionaries. Loves us so much that she makes us free food. After she made us food another woman nearby gave us free pumpkin dessert. She loves the missionaries too. I kind of want to serve there someday.

     

     Papaya salad is a popular dish here in Thailand. They also put small hot peppers in the salad, and it is very delicious. Usually the people who cook it put at least 1 or 2 peppers in the salad for me, since they assume that I'm white and can't handle the spiciness. One day I came up to the cook and asked for seven pepper papaya salad. She said, "Are you sure?" about five times to me, and then pulled out seven peppers, held them up to me, and asked if I was sure, again. I agreed. I started eating the papaya salad, and it

wasn't so spicy, at first. Then it hit me, when I started sweating bullets and tears were forming in my eyes. My mouth was burning. The cook looked at me and I gave her a huge thumbs up. The result of eating seven-pepper papaya salad? Drinking two full bottles of water, tears in my eyes, sweating, and some burn marks on my chin when some of the juice dripped down my chin. 

     I heard some missionaries built their spice tolerance to eat 25 pepper-papaya salad. Challenge accepted.

     

     I walked past a smoothie stand and noticed the sign for the smoothies. The lady at the stand was confused to why I was taking pictures of her smoothie sign. Good thing she doesn't have that smoothie stand in America.  ("Porn" is a common Thai name for a girl.)

     The other day at church, I saw a woman who looked familiar. Turns out it was the woman who my mom taught on her mission. She was there visiting a member, and she was very excited to see me again. 

     During church some Primary teachers came up to my companion and I and asked if we could teach some of the little kids for a few minutes. There were three little kids, and it was lots of fun to teach them. Lots of fun. One of the Sister missionaries in a different area called one of the little girls, "the cutest little Thai girl I have ever seen." Later on in church, I walked past some of the church members in Bangnaa, the members in the area my mom served. One member who knew my mom, pulled me aside, talked to me for a minute, then handed me a large bag of delicious sweet-fried peanuts. I love church members. They spoil the missionaries sometimes.

     Every time my companion and I visit one member, his mom buys my companion and I a bottle of Pepsi. My last companion would save it and give it to a homeless person on the street. Last time we met up with the member, I saved the Pepsi that was given to me, and gave it to a really poor woman on the street. Her facial expression of gratitude was sweeter than Pepsi. 

     Some members asked my companion and I if we could visit a sick member in the hospital. We agreed, and visited him, along with three church members. He was on a bed, looking miserable, and the only thing he could do move was his eyes. He couldn't talk at all either. All of us spoke to him for a minute, and one of the members played church music on her iPad and held it close to his ear. Before leaving, I noticed a tear streak down his eye. That small sign showed that he was really appreciative for visiting him, despite him not able to speak. I am truly glad to be a missionary and to be able to serve the people of Thailand. By small and simple acts of service can really go a long ways, and I have seen that all the time as I serve my mission.

     Small acts of service can go a long way.

     Have a great week,

     Elder Brinkerhoff

The Lost Sheep

  

     Last P day was a hoot. I planned out and invited the missionaries in my district to go explore a small island, and then go to the World's largest crocodile farm.  Two members came along as well, which made it a lot more fun.  The island was really neat.  It looks like a jungle, and hardly anyone was on it.  We went to the croc farm and bought long sticks with string attached to a raw chicken, and we fed and tormented the massive crocodiles with our chicken-on-a-stick.  

     We then went to a crocodile show.  Two middle-aged white guys sat near me. One of them turned to me and said, "Where are you from Elder?" There's something I never hear in Thailand, especially from a white guy. Turns out he was a missionary in Thailand 37 years ago, and returns often for business. He's been to the croc farm so many times he knew exactly what was going to happen in the show. 

     Some of the missionaries in my group went to get a picture with the big tiger again.  I noticed that there was an animal that I wasn't able to get a picture with when I came to the croc farm before. I eagerly walked up to the lady in charge of the photo booth, handed

her six bucks, and sat on a bench, like a father awaiting his first-born child. The lady handed me a bottle, opened a cage, and handed me a tiger cub, and I got a picture with him. I wanted to hold him for a few more hours. 

     Probably one of the best parts about Thailand is how ridiculously cheap the food is. One of the members showed us a restaurant where one could buy chicken steak and fries for two bucks. Also they sold T-Bone steak for five.  

     My Grandpa Barrus Turned 92 this week. He is an amazing person, he has served numerous missions, been to over 50 countries, and has been such a loving and kind man. I am glad he is a big part of my life. Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

     This last week we have been searching for many church members that we have lost contact with. At one point my companion spent four hours searching for one family.  And we FOUND them. Our area has hundreds of neighborhoods, so it was huge to find them, since we couldn't use google maps. We only used the poorly written directions on the phone. We have found numerous church members who have lost contact with the church. It reminds me of Jesus' parable of the lost sheep, where a shepherd went to find just one sheep in a flock of 100. It is great to be one of God's shepherds, looking for the lost sheep in the hectic Thailand.

     Have a good week,

     Elder Brinkerhoff