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