Monkeys, Monkeys Everywhere

     

     Hello from the Monkey City. 

     Things are going well here, and I am all settled in Lopburi.

     Last Wednesday night, I packed up all my stuff and the next morning I met up with all the missionaries that were going to be transferred in Bangkok. I was looking for my new companion but then turns out he was still in Lopburi, and I would be going with Elder Tone (The Burmese missionary) to Lopburi, to meet our new companions. Then an older Thai couple with a truck came to Elder Tone and said that they were driving us to Lopburi (A few hours north of Bangkok). They treated us like we were family, despite us just meeting them. After going to Lopburi, these extremely nice church members took Elder Tone and I to lunch, then took us to our house to meet our new companions. I met Elder Tone's new companion, who is half Thai.  Looks like I am the only white guy in the house. Should be fun. 

     My new companion is Elder Fukino, he is Japanese-Hawaiian from Hawaii. Funny thing is, that we were in the same house together when I was in my greenie area (Surin), so I already know him. It's really fun to serve with him.

     I love being in a four-elder house. Because if you have a companion on the quiet side, you got two other fun missionaries to be around as well! And it's double the fun. 

     The members are awesome in Lopburi, along with the other areas that I have served in. They are a really tight-knit group, and they love us missionaries to death. I have eaten with them at least once each day ever since I have been here. One member asked if I could write my name in a little notebook she had, and she has written down the names of every missionary that has served here for the last few years. She had 50+ names in that little book. 

     People weren't kidding when they said this place was nicknamed the monkey city. In the "downtown" area, there's an ancient stone Buddhist temple, and

there are hundreds of monkeys roaming around it and surrounding areas. I see loads of tourists there, and all of them travel a few hours north, just to play with monkeys. These monkeys aren't the cute and cuddly kind. They steal a lot and are kind of crazy. If I get one scratch or bite from them, I have to get a series of rabies shots. 

     Elder Fukino and I were visiting a church member, and he was wearing a Fishers High School shirt. That high school is in Indianapolis, and it used to be a rival high school to Harrison when I was there. I've always been curious on how shirts like those wind up in Thailand. 

     I have been noticing some other patterns concerning the areas I am serving in. I am now the pianist for the church congregation. I have been using my piano abilities in all the areas I have been serving. I have noticed some common characteristics concerning the missionaries called to Thailand.  If you:

- Have studied Chinese or Japanese (I have)

- Had a parent serve a mission in Thailand (Thanks mom!)

- Have a parent that had served a mission in Asia

- Have one or more parent that is a Thai or Laos Native

- Have connections with Thailand, such as teach English or have lived in Thailand before

No joke, about half of the missionaries here in Thailand fall under at least one of those five categories.  

     Have a good week,

     Elder Brinkerhoff

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