Letter 42 - Friends in Town! Good-byes! And More!

 Dear family and friends!

I did not get a chance to post on Friday because . . .

This past week has been insanely busy! We have had multiple patriarchal blessings, we had our good friends (the Scotts) from Oregon visit, we had missionaries departing (including our office coworkers and friends the Belnaps), and we had new missionaries arriving! We had a couple of doctor and dental appointments thrown in the mix as well as getting ready to MOVE!!

Departure (joping) and arrival weeks are the busiest of the transfer (a transfer is a 6 week period of time). We are busy with breakfast planning and preparation, training, reports, meetings and greetings, and the list goes on and on. It is a fun week with lots to do and it is especially fun to spend time with the missionaries! They are such terrific young adults! 

(I will post about our new arrivals next week as once again there are too many pictures to fit it all in to this week's blog!!!)

Well, enough of my ramblings. Let's move on to the pictures and stories! 

Thanks for reading the blog! We love and miss you! We thank you for your kind words and prayers.

Sincerely,

Elder and Sister Brady (mom and dad, grandma and grandpa, John and Shelly and so on)

Look who came to Thailand! Jon and Susan Scott, our dear friends from Oregon, traveled to Thailand. Their first stop was Bangkok and we got to spend time with them for 4 days! Here we are on Saturday, November 1st, at one of Thailand's many gigantic malls (Emsphere) enjoying some Mango Sticky Rice.

But before I tell you about our adventures with the Scotts (which began Friday evening), I will tell you about our day on Friday, October 31st. While many of our friends in America were busy eating yummy candy in fun and crazy costumes, it was business as usual here in Thailand. We started our morning with a house inspection! Elder Runia and Elder Dixon did an outstanding job cleaning their apartment and passed inspection with flying colors. We forgot to take a picture, so I asked them to send me one! 

Friday afternoon, we had two blessings. This dear Sister, Apphia, is from Pakistan. She was such a lovely woman. It was so nice to get to know her. 

Anisha, from India, also got her patriarchal blessing. We took this picture with her and her husband shortly before they left to head back to India. She was so sweet. 

We feel so blessed to meet these amazing people. 

After the blessings were typed up and hand delivered to the recipients, we took off Friday late afternoon to head to Chinatown. We had not been there yet, so I was excited to go. 

Our plan was to meet the Scotts for dinner and walk around Chinatown for a bit. There are so many beautiful structures and shops. My eyes were all over the place trying to taking it all in! 

This was a beautiful shrine near a 7-11. 

This Michelin starred restaurant was called "Chop Chop Cook Shop." 

And the food was fantastic! It was so great to finally see the Scotts! 

We have been anticipating this fun weekend for a few months!

The artwork and furnishings in the restroom where photo worthy! 

This was right outside of the restroom at the restaurant. 

Another beautiful gate! 

We took a walk to the river to see the night lights. 

We are a little blurry in this photo. I think it is an artistic way of showing how tired the Bradys were and how jetlagged the Scotts were! We are all still smiling (despite the rain and being so tired)!

Another snap of Chinatown, starring Susan and Shelly :). 

We walked by this little shop in Chinatown and now I want to come back. 

These people are having a little foot therapy. 

The baby fish will eat all of the dead skin on your feet - leaving your feet refreshed and silky smooth! 

I love this artwork in the subway in Chinatown.

Good morning Saturday! On the subway to meet up with the Scotts. We had planned to go biking in the "green lung" (you can google that), but it was raining. So we decided to walk through some of the fancy malls and taste food and eat lunch!

First stop - dessert! Here is that yummy mango sticky rice we enjoyed (mentioned in the first photo at the top). It was pretty good even though mangoes are technically out of season. 

We walked by this fancy cookie shop at the mall. 

So we had to try one! It was a double dark chocolate cookie. It was mouthwateringly delicious! 

Next stop was Ikea. John needed a chocolate bar. Look!! It's Christmas in Bangkok! 

Then we headed to the Terminal 21 Mall. Every floor has a "city around the world" theme. 

Guess what city this floor is! That is correct! Tokyo! 

We found a delicious noodle restaurant. It is called Thai Thai Boat Noodles. 

We ate Khao Soy! It was fabulous even though it burned my lips and mouth! 

The final stop on Saturday was Chatuchak Weekend Market. I was so excited to find the Celedon Shop. Here is a little info from Google:

Thai celadon is a type of stoneware ceramic characterized by a distinctive jade-green glaze with a fine network of cracks, known as crazing. It is traditionally made by combining local rice paddy clay and wood ash, and it is known for its beautiful, handcrafted finish and the distinctive crackle pattern that forms during cooling. 

The one souvenir I really wanted to bring home from Thailand was a Celedon Thai Nativity set. 

I am so happy with what I found! 

Sunday, the Scotts joined us for church and a tour of the temple grounds and the annex where we live. 

Sunday afternoon, John had another blessing to give to sweet Jeejeeh. We met this lovely young sister this past summer at the Young Single Adult conference. 

She is such a great person who will do great in life!

Sunday night we had our goodbye fireside for Elder Olson! Hello Sisters Sanford, Lundberg, and Siri!

Zoom firesides are the best! 

Monday morning, we met up with the Scotts again! 

First stop - iced chocolate milk from the vending machine! 

Next stop - Benchakitti Park

We took a walk around the beautiful pond at Benchakitti park. 

More walking and sightseeing! 

A Thai Dragon (water monitor). This little guy was just walking along the same path we were on! 

We wondered if it might be dangerous to get to close, so we walked closer to take a picture! 

He decided to go back to the water! 

We walked through the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center on our way to the MRT (subway). 

It was so nice and airconditioned. 

We walked past this gorgeous piece of art on our way to a restroom break!

Heading up from the MRT. On our way to Central Park Dusit. 

Here we are back at the mall with the cool escalators! Picture time! 

And once again, we are on the Dusit Central Park overlooking Lumphini Park and the Bangkok skyline!

We came here the weekend before last with John's family. It is a nice place to bring visitors.  

This is such a cool place to take a picture! 

Capturing the Scotts taking a picture from the same spot! 

Central Park with Lumphini Park in the background! 

Next stop - find some delicious coconut ice cream! 

Do you see the Mahanakon building in the background?  

Do you see that tall building? That is where we did the skywalk last week! Zoom in to see the glass floor overhang on the upper left of the building! We stood on that!!

Susan tried a Thai Ice Cream Sandwich. That is the same ice cream I am eating only on bread! Like an actual sandwich! It tastes really good - trust me! After a quick dessert and dinner, the Scotts were off to catch a plane to see more of Thailand! It was so great to spend some time with them! 

Tuesday morning, I had a physical therapy appointment for my neck and shoulder stiffness. This is the outfit they gave me to put on for my appointment. I sent this picture to Katrina (she called when my appt was about to start so I sent the pic and said "can't talk now"). She responded that she loved my outfit! I don't know why, but that made me laugh! 

Walking home from the doctor's along the klong. This path just reopened after repairs. It beats walking along the main road with all of the loud traffic. 

Farewell dinner for the Belnaps. This restaurant across the street from the temple had yummy food you could cook and grill yourself!

Our mission leader, Sister Kanyaphan enjoying a bit of meat fresh off the grill! 

Belnaps and Bradys!

On our way home from dinner. 

Do you see where I am pointing? This is where we were planning to move on Friday!! I am pointing near the top of the building where the Belnaps have been living. 

Waiting to cross the street. 

We made it across and ran into Sister Bunker! 

These cute missionaries are leaving on Thursday! Sister Bunker, Sister Skidmore, and Elder and Sister Belnap (included in the cute missionaries that are leaving). We will be sad to see them go! 

Nothing picture worthy happened on Wednesday apparently! Haha! 

But on Thursday, I went to the dentist for my final crown placement! 

They took good care of me and smiled for the camera when we were done! 

On my way out of the dental office, I took a stroll around the building and noticed this sign! 

So I walked upstairs to check out the jogging track and I saw this beautiful picture of the temple and our new future home next door! (SPOILER ALERT - WE DECIDED NOT TO MOVE - BUT YOU WILL HAVE TO READ ALL ABOUT THAT NEXT WEEK!!!)

Thursday - Saying goodbye to Elder Olson. His parents came to Thailand to pick him up! Also we used the family tree app to discover that Elder Brady and Elder Olson are 4th cousins! Turns out I am 8th cousins with his parents. And if anyone is interested, Elder Brady and are 10th cousins! Haha! 

The Belnaps shared some Thai snacks with us. One of the containers has frosted corn flakes! 

That is my kind of snack! 

This is not a taco! That yellow stuff is not cheese! 

Thus Thai treat tastes like a yummy sweet fortune cookie. 

Thursday afternoon we got a tour of the MTC on the 3rd floor. 

This is the cultural hall where the missionaries (in training) eat, play, and workout! 

We have lived here since January and have not visited the Thailand MTC. 

There are beautiful paintings in the rooms just like the Provo MTC. 

The art work is inspiring and invites the Spirit. 

"Go you therefore and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Matt. 28: 19-20

Good-bye Belnaps. Cheryl and Boyd have been our coworkers since we arrived in January. They were here when the Thailand mission split into two missions and they were a big help in getting things going in the Thailand Bangkok East mission! They taught us what we needed to know to successfully do our office and mission duties. We will miss them and wish them the best! 

Thanks for making it to the end!! 

You are the best!! :)