TBM - Thailand's FIRST

Hey, all you campers! Okay, I think I feel recuperated enough to report on one of this week's activities…  Can you guess what it was?  Yes!  Girls Camp!  Whew! A few months ago, my name was discussed in High Council for a counselor in the District Young Women's Presidency.  Elder Lindorf was quick to reply, "She's spent most of her time in Relief Society and Primary.  About the only thing she's done in Young Women is Girls Camp."  "Perfect!" came their excited reply.  "That's just what we want her for!" So we've been planning Thailand's FIRST year of Girls Camp.  Can you imagine the fun?  What an amazing privilege!  When we had our planning meetings, with each activity we would discuss, they would turn to me and ask how we did it in America.  As I would begin to tell them a little bit of what we had done, their eyes would get so sad.  It was too overwhelming for them.  The "scale" was all wrong.  So, I would immediately suggest a compromise and then they would be all smiles again!  With each suggestion, the Spirit would sweetly testify to my heart, "This is good."   Of course, the best way to start Girls Camp is with a good breakfast.  Mmmmmm….!    The language barrier gave us lots of humorous situations to laugh about.  I was never quite sure what exactly would be next.  However, this game needed no translation!   For the cooking requirements, we divided the girls into 3 groups and gave each group identical pans of food.  Then we turned them loose to see what they could come up with.    First we prepare the food...     Next, we cook the food (Thai style, of course).   And look at what they made!  It was delicious! We also invited 2 Sister Missionaries to join us for a day, to help the girls ease into this and to translate for me.  They taught the girls how to make Banana Boats!     Here we are, demonstrating line dancing...  Yee-haw!!     We had fun singing camp songs, thanks to the Camp Manuel being translated into Thai.  You may notice my new innovation...  I'm playing the guitar like a base.  I have a shoulder problem that made it so I couldn't play the regular way.  Whatever works! And, what would Girls Camp be without skits???     The girls chose themes for their skits, such as "Sister missionaries out preaching the Gospel," and "Praying to know if the Book of Mormon is true."  It is easy to see their perspective on what is important in life! I feel so blessed to have had the privilege of working and playing with these Young Women!  As I took this picture, I couldn't help but reflect on the chosen, valiant sons and daughters God has reserved for these last days.  I pray that God will bless each of them to go forward in faith and help to strengthen the Kingdom of God in Thailand. Keep the home fires burning... Love, Sister Lindorf

TBM - Flooding in Ayutthya

If you've been following these updates very long you'll remember that our branch is in Ayutthaya about an hour North of Bangkok.  It's the ancient Thai capital city, burned out by the Burmese in the 1600s. It is currently the site of the worst flooding in the whole country of Thailand.  All the reservoirs up-river are full to capacity, so they are unable to stop the flooding.  In fact, they're going to have to release more water soon to keep the earthen dams from breaking.  Things could get worse very quickly.  We currently have about a dozen member families who's homes are under water. Here are a few shots taken this week so you can see the gravity of the situation. Some get around in boats now instead of cars and motorcycles. This was a two story house. This is one of the neighborhoods where some of our members live.  The two Thais (branch members) are showing the missionaries the damage. This is inside one of our member's kitchens. Does this remind you of the duck-walks we used to build to get over the mud? This is the missionaries house right on the river.  It is now about 10 feet above normal.  If it gets any higher, they'll have to move out. Members and  missionaries putting together hygiene kits. Street scene.  There have been 38 deaths so far from disease related to flood waters. This is our LDS Charities Country Director and the missionaries meeting with the Governor of the province and her assistant to see what the church can do to help meet the people's need for food, clothing, clean water, and shelter.  The Church won't duplicate government's efforts, but they pick up where the government leaves off to help provide basic human needs for all affected, regardless of what church they belong to. Backhoes have been busy building dikes in an attempt to contain the water. Rice farm Notice the center line on the road. When was the last time you saw a skidoo on the highway onramp? Buddhist temples are not immune. This used to be rice fields.  Now it's water as far as the eye can see.  COT members, can you spot Waldo in this picture? It is sobering to have this amount of damage affecting people you know and love.  We are currently looking for sites for alternate housing on higher ground (not much of that around here though).  This flooding could continue for several more months.  October is traditionally the month with the most rainfall, then we should get a breather. We held District Conference in Bangkok today and most of our members came - even the ones whose houses are underwater.  Our Temple trip is still on for next week.  These good people wouldn't miss that opportunity.  They are valiant souls. We are blessed to be associated with them.  Please keep them in your prayers. Elder & Sister Lindorf

TBM - Bangkok Occupied

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Paul Lindorf <plindorf@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Dec 17, 2011 at 11:20 AM
Subject: Fwd: Bangkok Occupied
To: Teena Lindorf <klindorf@gmail.com>

Some have enquired what we've been up to this past week........ All the missionaries were asked to stay in quarters on Wednesday.  In the afternoon I ventured out to go down to the office, thinking that all the military activity was downtown.  Not so, I was greeted by a humvee coming down our street with machine gun and gunner atop.  That incident reminded me of the pictures we've seen of tanks and troops in Baghdad. We spent a few stressful days, but when it was clear that Thaksin supporters were not going to go up against the entire Thai military, then things settled down.  Initially, I was reticent to shoot pictures of people who could shoot back, but today we went out to get a few shots so you could see what it's like to have the military maintain presence in an entire city.  Bangkok is like Los Angeles and we're about 20 miles outside of downtown. Tanks & troops on Chaengwatana Rd.  Just down the street from where we buy our groceries.. This shot was taken 1/2 block from our local church house. Every major intersection is guarded by patrols The Troops are supportive of the King and with no resistance from the opposition, I suspect they'll retreat back to their barracks very soon. There will be a new prime minister and cabinet appointed in the next week or so.  Most other government functions seem to be back to business as usual. Sister Lindorf is trying for a new fashion statement with these magnets on her right shoulder.  What do you think??? They're helping a lot with the pain that has developed over the past few months.  I think she just works too hard. One funny story about the magnets.  We had to go to the US Embassy this week on Thursday and knew there would be a metal detector - so we left the magnets home.  I walked through the scanner with belt and watch and ring and shoes and had no problem.  She walked though with no metal on whatsoever and she set it off!.  Must be her magnetic personality! One problem we are currently having in the Mission, partly due to the coup and partly due to changes in Thai Immigration - they haven't extended visas for the 20 missionaries scheduled to arrive in 10 days.  They may be delayed for a time until all the problems get worked out.  Please pray for this door to stay open! Best wishes to you all.  SAFE in Thailand. Elder & Sister Lindorf

TBM - Common Place

Dear Family and Friends, Our weeks continue to fly by.  We often wonder where the week went and are comforted by the knowledge that we are on the Lord's errand and the Lord's timetable.  Wow, does His "timetable" click! What errand?  What timetable? We arrived in Thailand in September of last year and I can't help but pause and reflect on all that has changed.  There are many scenes in our daily life that have become common place to us, that I know are not common back home.  What a beautiful woman, out peddling her vegetables! Elder Lindorf has coined the phrase: "Rice is nice!"  It seems the more rice we eat, the nicer we become.  Is there a correlation here?  I don't know.  But when one of us is feeling a little grouchy, we eat more rice and it goes away!  We eat rice almost every day, so of course we're getting nicer all the time. You should try it.  Rice noodles are a favorite! We taught our last temple preparation class, today, in Lopburi.  It has been wonderful to be a part of the process of these brothers and sisters preparing themselves for the temple.  They begin with little to no understanding of what the temple is about, even though they may have been members for several years.  With so few endowed members in Thailand, they simply have no exposure.  In addition to that, because of the prohibitive cost of going to the temple in Hong Kong, even the endowed members have limited exposure to the truths of the temple.  Because Buddhism also has "temples," there is often confusion.  It is a joy to see the light come on in their faces as they learn the truth.  They are so full of faith!  Hong Kong Temple  We said good-bye to Sister Kornwika this past week.  If you happen to bump into her in the United States, she is going by Michelle.  Yes, she finally got her visa.  Elder Lindorf and I went with her to her follow-up appointment at the US Embassy.  We also took several letters of recommendation for her and there were many people fasting a praying for her.  It was a miracle; a sweet gift from God.  One of my favorite parts was, as we were waiting for her number to be called, instead of being anxious and worried about the outcome of the interview, she was busy sharing and teaching the Gospel with those around us.  What a woman of faith!  We'd like to wish her THE BEST, as she begins her adventures at BYU. Fond good-byes...  (Sister Kornwika is on the right.)        I'd like to close with a tender experience I had at Church today.   One of the interesting things about attending Sacrament Meeting in Thailand is that, of course, the Sacrament prayers are in Thai.  After listening to them for a year they have become very familiar to me.  I usually recite the prayers to myself in English, while the Thai is being spoken.  It has added new depth and dimension to my Sacrament worship.  I remember, when we attended Church in Myanmar, watching an American mother quietly slip a card with the English Sacrament Prayers on it to her young son, so that he could read it as the Sacrament was being administered in Burmese.  These simple accommodations, instead of detracting from the emblems, contribute their own elements of beauty and devotion to Christ.  Well, today I was sitting right by the Sacrament table because I had just accompanied the Sacrament Hymn.  When the brothers came up to the table, in preparation for passing the sacrament, I was very close to them, too.  As I was just about to bow my head, I looked into each of their eyes.  As I closed my eyes, I still held the vision of their love, their faith, and their reverence for this sacred ordinance and the Priesthood they hold.  The Spirit was palpable...  we each felt it.  The brother blessing the sacrament had to pause several times.  The words, in both Thai and English, washed through my mind, and bathed it in sweetness.  When the blessing was finished, and we raised our heads, there were tears running down our faces.  Oh, how I love the people of Thailand.  Elder Lindorf and I feel such a communion with these dear people, that we often forget that we are white.  Today, Elder Lindorf observed that we are being prepared for a time when there will be no more borders.  I can feel them being erased from my heart.  The love of Christ is a love with wide-open arms! All our love, Sister and Elder Lindorf

TBM - On the Waterfront

Good Morning Bangkok! We've had a couple of occasions lately to be on the river.  Betty & Marc visited on their way home from Saudi and we went to an island where they make local pottery. I hope this isn't the plane they flew in on! How did they land that thing??? Here are some of the pots the locals make This fellow is giving his dog a ride.  He has a LOT to be happy about! Local flower Vendor.  Hey that looks a lot like Betty! Here's a row of motorcycle taxis waiting for riders.  The women all ride side-saddle. Four on a scooter - Thai 'family sedan'. We also had a chance to take a dinner cruise on the river.  To get there we had to ride in this River Bus.  Believe it or not, it's much faster in a boat than trying to fight traffic! Candle Dancing on the boat It was evening so I don't have any pictures, but the view of the river front was spectacular at night. I think Sister Lindorf likes being a missionary!  What do you think? Hopefully you enjoyed these recent photos.   I think Sister Lindorf mentioned that we've been working for the past several months with a small group from our branch in Ayutthaya (the ancient capital of Thailand) and another group from Lopburi to prepare them to attend the Temple in Hong Kong.  Our mission president has decided to let us go with them in October.  They're all so excited to finally be able to go to the Temple.  It's been rewarding to watch them grow through this process. We LOVE being here and working closely with the young Elders and Sisters everyday.  It's hard to describe the feelings we have as we witness the transformation that is continuously taking place.  As these young people serve they are tutored by the Holy Ghost and are maturing into the future leadership of the church.  We get 10 more new missionaries this week fresh from the MTC and have to say goodbye to many others.  I told Sister Lindorf today that it reminds me of baking cookies.  You take out a batch that's all done and put in a batch of dough.  The 'oven' never gets turned off. We've been in that same oven and I think we're browning up nicely.  We're so content in Thailand and we love missionary work.  We're really going to have a hard time going home when our 'batch' is ready to come out. Despite what you might think, we're not really that far away from family.  You're right on the wall! Until next time! Elder & Sister Lindorf