Dear loved ones!
Since I have a million photos this week, I do NOT want to waste any time here! We have been going nonstop and so I am going to jump straight to the pictures! Scroll on through if you want to see more of the wonderful time we had with the returned missionaries from all over Asia last week and some beautiful pictures of our visit to Khao Laem Ya-Mu Ko Samet National Park on Monday. On top of all of that, we have had our regular office responsibilities, housing inspections, patriarchal blessings, and lots of choir practices for our upcoming Christmas Concert!
We love you and miss you and are so excited to have actually gotten a Christmas Card in the mail!!!! Thank you for taking the time to send us your love! We appreciate your comments, cards, emails, texts, and phone calls!
Love,
Elder and Sister Brady (mom and dad, grandma and grandpa, John and Shelly and so on)
READ ON for all of the details!
Thanksgiving day was just another day to be grateful for our many blessings in Thailand! We spent it with returned missionaries from all over Asia. This group of beautiful sisters are mostly from Vietnam. You can see two of our new friends from Pakistan behind me and Elder Brady! After a wonderful day of workshops (I gave my Bill Porter presentation), yummy lunch, and time in the temple, we all boarded a bus to head to our river cruise!
Here we are at the bus stop getting ready to walk over to the Asiatique Mall where we will have time to shop before boarding the boat.
Elder Brady hamming it up for the "selfie!"
This cute sister is from China. She was companions with another RM sister we met at the last seminar!
Here is the whole group! Picture time before shopping time.
Elder Brady and I spent "shopping" time sitting on a bench and people watching.
We did wander around for a little bit and found this pretty fountain.
Elder Brady decided to photo bomb my picture :)!
We heard fireworks at the waterfront so we hurried over.
We missed the show, but we ran into our friends from Vietnam!
This stuffed hamburger needed a photo with Elder Brady.
Lily and I decided to try a bite!
Time for the river cruise! The mall across the water is the fancy Icon Siam Mall.
The hotel on the right (after the two tall hotels) is the Millennium Hilton,
where we stayed last summer for the YSA conference.
More beautiful lights and views along the Chao Phraya River.
Endless yummy desserts!
The beautiful Wats are lit up at night!
Wat Arun all lit up!
The lights from the Rama VIII bridge shine on the water.
Time to smile!
Time to dance!!
Grooving on the dance floor!
The dance floor is crowded with young and old alike!
As we were about to exit the cruise, the man with the cap on asked Elder Brady if he could take a picture. His parents (from Indonesia) really enjoyed his dancing!
Lots of new friends jumped in for the photo op!
During the morning devotional, we got to hear from this cute couple, Joe and Vanessa, who met at a RMRT seminar! They are planning their future together. We are so happy for them.
Friday morning (Thanksgiving evening in the USA), we facetimed with Michelle and Kevin! Michelle and family were heading back from Thanksgiving in Idaho and stopped for a visit with Kevin in Pocatello! They hit up I-Hop for pancakes and burgers!
Friday afternoon, we had an opportunity to meet Preethi and her mother, Chitra, from India. They received their patriarchal blessings. It was wonderful to get to know them and hear their stories.
Friday evening dinner was amazing! It was delicious Indian food!
Yum!!!
And Mango Sticky Rice for dessert!!! (Which I saved for breakfast because I was so full!)
The Seminar ended on Saturday! Here is a lovely picture with all of the RMRT RMs and Leaders.
Sunday, we got up early and drove down to Rayong. Church was lovely and it was followed by a delicious potluck!
Elder Brady is ready to dish up!
I tried the Filipino noodles! They were so good.
And I tried the Thai noodles, but I placed some of the Filipino Adobo on top
and I even tried my first quail egg!
I was told this was primrose fruit. It was tasty. Sort of soft and perfumy!
After church and lunch, we headed over to Elders Westcott and Morgan to do a house inspection.
They passed with flying colors!
Next stop was Elders Sevilla and Borden. We forgot to take a picture, but we did get this cool picture of Elder Brady with one of Elder Borden's ties! :)
Next stop the beach in Rayong for a branch activity. We ate, sang some hymns and primary songs, and the members wrote their testimonies in the scriptures to give to people interested in hearing about the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The view was spectacular.
And it just got better and better as the sun began to set.
It's so pretty in Rayong!
Smile :)
Zooming in!
Less than a minute from disappearing! Until tomorrow!
Monday morning at the buffet, I was so happy to see the gingerbread houses! I love Christmas!
We picked up the missionaries after breakfast and headed to the Khao Laem Ya-Mu Ko Samet National Park. It was only a 30 minute drive from our hotel. Pictured: Me and Elder Brady along with Elders Borden (with the guitar), Westcott, Sevilla, and Morgan!
Posting for a picture before we start our hike!
The Elders are up ahead walking past a bunch of monkeys! (Monkeys are on the left - haha!)
Here is a closer look!
Here is an even closer look! Look at this mama with her baby cleaning to her and hanging under her!!
Smile!
Heading up the trail to the viewpoint!
It is such a beautiful view!
Smile!
I love this photo! We work with such great missionaries!
Smile everyone! We sure love our Rayong Elders!
Ko Samet Island in the distance. This Island is also part of this national park. You can take a ferry over to see the Island. We might have to do that one of these trips to Rayong!
Smile :)!
The trail loops around. The first part is a hike up to the viewpoint, and then as you continue on you come to a boardwalk along the water. It is so picturesque.
The water was so clear!
We often fill up at the gas station next to this McDonalds. It is a perfect place to take a little break!
We got back to Bangkok on Monday afternoon and we had mail!!! Our first Christmas Card arrived on December 1! What a great way to kick off the month!
Do you see the motorcycles on the sidewalk!
In the time it took me to get my camera/phone out, several had made their way on to the road!
We are constantly dodging motorcycles in Thailand! Even on the sidewalks!
This beautiful sister, Yie Mon, from Myanmar got her blessing on Tuesday. She lives in Thailand now and she sings with us in the Christmas choir!
Thursday, we had a house inspection next to this beautiful mall!
These four live together in one small apartment but managed to have it nice and tidy! Good job Elders: Richards, Propromma, Rurale (temporarily in Thailand and soon to head to Italy for his mission), and Elder Kaiyafai (temporarily in Thailand and soon to head to London). We sure love these missionaries!
Another festive tree in the Mall!
Lunch at the Mall! Eat am Are! We loved hearing the amazing stories of these great missionaries and why they are choosing to serve!
Friday morning, poor Elder Brady did not get a chance to eat breakfast. So we stopped and got some pantangko (Thai Donuts) and sweet milk to dip it in. He felt better after that! Oh, and Happy Father's Day to John! It is Father's Day in Thailand!
Sisters Pathoumma, Sanford, and Sirisouk share an apartment and do a stellar job keeping it sparkling clean! We love them and we love spending time with them!
Songthaew ride to the mall for lunch!
Lunch at Pepper Lunch with the ZLs and the Sisters.
The ZLs (Zone Leaders) have the smallest condo in the mission we think! Elders Redd and Fife did a good job cleaning. They are hard working Elders and we love them.
If you made it this far, you get bonus points! I don't know how I made it this far!
Thanks for reading! We love you!
