TBM - Trang

Hello again, This week I'd like to share with you our train trip to the South of Thailand to visit Trang Province.  We had business there, but we also had a lot of fun - Pday included. At our hotel there was a UNESCO presentation on bringing sustainable educational and vocational resources to Thailand to help the people help themselves.  We met the Governor of Trang Province and the Mayor of Trang City.  Unfortunately, they were so busy taking our pictures for the newspaper, that we don't have a picture of them! There is only one faithful member of the Church in Trang who has lived there with almost no contact other than church magazines and an occasional visit for the past 17 years.  She joined the Church in the North, but had to move back to her hometown to care for her aged mother.  The nearest Church members are 5 hours away by bus.  Her name is Yindee and she is seated next to Sister Lindorf  in  the picture: Her friend is not a member (yet) but runs a Nursing College in Trang.   We arranged to teach English to her students one of the days we were there.  It was a lot of fun and the girls were eager to learn. We also did a little sightseeing in the vicinity.  Have you ever been to a rubber plantation?  Did you know the stuff they make tires out of is white, not black when it comes out of the trees? Here is a rubber tree oozing latex.  It is collected in a tiny cup hanging from each tree and gathered every morning. After some minor processing, the raw material is rolled into sheets and sold to rubber producers to make a variety of goods. Have you ever seen how Cashews grow?  It's no wonder they're expensive.  The Cashew nut is inside the brown shell growing at the top of the blossom.  Only ONE nut per apple sized  fruit. Although this is the 'rainy season' we had some beautiful beaches to visit. Notice the unusual patterns in the sand.  These are made by some kind of crab.  Here's a closer look: I've been to a lot of beaches all over the world and I've never seen anything like this! These beaches are on the Indian Ocean and were hit by the tsunami of 2004.  There are signs now to warn people to head to higher ground.   There is dense jungle nearby with a suspension canopy.  This is not for the faint hearted! Blue Fern We were able to hold church services with Yindee on Sunday and she was extremely grateful.  It was a good experience for us all.   Everyone we met in Trang was extremely friendly and open.  It would be a great place to serve a Senior Mission if we just had a few more Senior Missionaries! In Myanmar, and Laos (also in our Mission) Senior LDS Charities Missionaries have organized branches of the church with over 100 members each in countries where we are not even allowed to proselyte.  All of this interest has been initiated through the English teaching program.    We are having such an amazing experience here.  I know I've told you that about every week - but it's TRUE!   We are so happy to be here.  Whoever said "Service is its own reward" was correct.  It's the BEST! All our best to you, Elder & Sister Lindorf

TBM - God minister to our need

Dearest Family and Friends, Thank you, so much, for your tender and loving responses to our email mission updates.  You bless our work and fill us with your love and encouragement.  God bless you! As you may have heard, Jessie, our youngest daughter, just had her first baby.  Jane Ellertson was born May 12th, and we are so grateful for God's blessings in her behalf.  She was blessed today, and we have already read and seen beautiful accounts of this treasured event.  Well, this week, I'd like to share with you some very tender experiences surrounding her birth, and a testimony of how God truly ministers to our needs. There are many sacrifices that you make to go on a mission, but none seem as great as being absent for family times.  While I feel those sacrifices keenly, I have noticed that God blesses me so that I don't feel the pain.  I feel the sacrifice, but not the pain.  However the day that Jane was born, I felt great pain.  Part of it was for Jessie, I know.  It was so hard to not be at her side.  Every particle of my being yearned to be there; to share, to love, to bless.  But I was not.  I went to work that morning suffering in mind and spirit, praying fervently for the Lord to bless the delivery and to comfort my soul.  It happened that the Mission Office was very quiet that morning.  In fact we only had the two office couples there, which meant there were no Thai speakers.  After a little while, a group of Thai people came in the front door.  I went out to greet them and help them as best I could.  They were all happily chatting in Thai, and I soon figured out that they were a group of extended family.  They obviously were comfortable waiting for someone, and didn't really need my help.  So I just quietly observed them, allowing the familial love to wash over my aching soul.  Soon, one of the District Presidents came in, and I found out that he was going to be borrowing President Hansen's office to interview several family members.  They were preparing for a family trip to the Hong Kong Temple.  Again, I silently thanked the Lord for giving me this sweet scene, as it brought me comfort and joy.  As the various members went to and fro from the office, I too found myself going to and fro from my desk to the foyer.  As my heart was heaving great tears on the inside, on the outside I was watching and loving this sweet family.  Then, out of the blue, a young woman from the group (about Jessie's age) walked right up to me.   With no greeting or prelude, and in perfect English, she asked simply, "Would you like to hold my baby?"  God sent me this sweet angel of a woman and her beautiful little boy, and my pain was assuaged.  My yearning arms were soothed in such a sweet, personal way, that only Heavenly Father could have orchestrated.   My heavy heart was healed, as my prayer of gratitude flew heavenward. Now that you've heard my side of this sweet miracle, would you like to hear a little bit of Jessie's side?  Today, at Jane's baby blessing, Jessie bore her testimony.  My sister, Cindy, was there and wrote to me about it.  I would like to share a quote from her letter.  "Today we went to Jane's baby blessing.  Your daughter offered a very sweet testimony.  She talked about the responsibility she feels as a parent to teach and rear Jane unto the Lord and how there is not anything more important that she could be doing with her life.  She then bore her testimony of missionary work.  She talked about the Spirit that has sustained her for her entire pregnancy and the birth of Jane.  The Spirit and other people have filled in the gap during her parents' absence.  She discussed how difficult it was to have you half way around the world, but she bore witness that she had a testimony of the importance of the work that you are doing in Thailand.  Her sincerity and love towards you and your mission was beautiful and brought tears to my eyes." I want to leave with you my testimony, that the Lord knows, loves, and ministers to each of us individually.  He is the author and finisher of all that is good in our lives.  And I know that whenever we sacrifice for Him, He will pour out personally chosen blessings upon our heads.  I know this to be true. All my love, Sister Lindorf