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