Week 44 - Surin, Thailand (December 28, 2014)

Well, we had a great time talking to Elder Matt Boonmee on Christmas Eve. With today's technology, GotoMeeting, we were able to conference uncle Steven's family, grandma, grandpa, his sister Kelly, nieces Lilly and Daysie into the conversation.

For the first time, we were able to speak to Elder Matt Boonmee in Thai. His Thai was awesome, other than his American accent. He was able to understand everything we said to him and visa versa. He has grown much. Needless to say, we are very proud of him. Unfortunately, we were too excited and busy trying to talk to him that we forgot to capture the screen of Elder Matt Boonmee so we can post it here.

Due to the mix up of schedule during Christmas, we didn't not receive any update from Elder Matt Boonmee until December 31, 2014. The following is what we finally received form him.

"It sounds like a pretty fun Christmas in Utah!

All is well here. The work is getting a little harder because everyone was gone for new years and what not. Last night was New years eve so it sounded like World War III outside. But apparently I'm the only one that woke up when it happened.

On Christmas, I just took a nap and then ate moogratat เข้าใจไหม? (HotPot)

Haha that is too funny. I can't belive how old they look now. Lilly looks like a ฟรัง (white/Caucasian) completely. and Daysie is sassy! haha I can't wait to see them again! They are such little funny ones.

Holy cow you guys bought those things? That iphone 6 plus thing is massive! How do you fit it into your pocket? I feel like a normal is just fine.

Yeah, just call president Senior first and talk to him about it (He is referring to our plan to drop by and see him on our way to visit our YooFoo office in India).

That's great to hear that Jacob is back and happy! Tell him I said hello, if I don't get the chance to.

I'm assuming mom never made that email haha

Lately they just came out with a rule that we can't PLAY songs that aren't hymns. The past few months I've been singing and playing hymns with the guitar at church, but now we can't do that either. what a waste of such an angelic voice (His personal joke).

Anyways, It's new years for you all! Hope all is well! Love you all and happy new years!

Love Elder Boonmee"

Week 35 - Surin, Thailand (October 26, 2014)

Dear Family,

Once again I wont be able to expound on my personal studies of the Book of Mormon, because I am headed to Buriram pretty soon. It would be cool if I could see some photos from that conference because we don't see anything about that anymore.

...

Well this week was very eventful. On Tuesday our Thai family came to see me. It was little odd because I don't remember any of them. They all remembered me, but I didn't. To me, it was the first time seeing everyone. They also came back another time on Saturday, but not all of them. Just the two aunts and their family.

Elder Beebe and I brought up the Plan of Salvation. We taught them a bunch of things. It was all new things for them so I'm sure they felt odd a little bit. But I told them to pray and other things as well. I'm really hoping that they try it. It would awesome to see them be baptized. The thing is, is that they live in Korat. So it was a 4-5 hour drive to come here.

Then on Sunday we had a baptism. Sister พิมพ์ has been a long going investigator. She has been waiting about 3 months to be baptized because her dad wouldn't give her permission. This whole transfer we have been trying hard with her, and finally she got permission.

A little back story of her is that the missionaries didn't contact her. She walked straight into the church. She said that she just felt that Buddhism wasn't right, so she just decided to go to a Christian church. She asked a friend that had seen our church or something. But when she was looking for the church, she just parked her scooter and was thinking about where the church was. Turns out she was right in front of the church. So as time went on, and she was awesome. She should have been baptized a long time ago.

The Lord was helping her with everything. For sure. In the end, her Dad even came to support her for the Baptism. It was awesome to have a small part in conversion.

I love you all and tell everyone that also!
Elder Boonmee

Week 33 - Surin, Thailand (October 12, 2014)

Lilly and Daysie had a Roadrunner Fundraiser at their school this week. Took the morning off from the office to go watch them. Daysie's run was at 9:15 am in the morning. She did 13 laps and Lilly had hers at 11 am where she ran 15 laps. Needless to say, I owe each them some money this week.

Grandma Capps was visiting from Idaho and was able to see Lilly run but missed Daysie in the morning. It was hilarious when Daysie came walking out of school and saw Great Grandma at Lilly's run. She was so upset great-grandma wasn't at her run (Daysie has this walk where she lowers her shoulders, slump her back, and walks when she's upset. That's what she did when she saw great-grandma, from 50 yards away, as she stomped her feet). Great-Grandma asked "what's the matter honey?" That's when Daysie said, with a really upset voice, "you didn't come to mine but you came to Lilly!"

Little background, grandma didn't know about Lilly and Daysie's run, until I told her about Lilly. That's when she said to pick her up from aunt Melody so she can come to watch the run.  Then, in the evening, Daysie really let Wan, my wife, know how disappointed she was. She said, "grandma , you didn't come to my run" Wan responded by saying "Aww, I'm sorry, I had to work". Guess what Daysie said? She said, "well, grandpa worked, but he came". Here are some videos of Daysie and Lilly I sent to Elder Matt Boonmee. The following is Elder Matt Boonmee email response to us.

"...Holy cow, they are soooooo grown up! Tell them DON"T FORGET ME!!...Conference was awesome. This is my second conference out on the mission. I remember the last one like yesterday, I can't believe that I'm already almost at my year mark! I have only 2 more months until I'm there.

We went to the church for conference. Then we went into a different room for it in English.
Scripture studies has been great for me. I have learned so much. I also learned a little bit of the historical background of the sons of Mosiah. I will expound a little more in a later email. But I've been studying about temples as well. Going to the temple regularly is sooooo important. ...great reading in the "Preparing to enter the temple" And it goes really deep into all that kind of stuff.

I've also been reading in Jesus the Christ. It talks about almost every single thing that happened in Jesus' life, before, during, and after. It is a great one as well.

In the Book of Mormon, I've read it all before, but now I'm in the war chapters. Ever since I've studied about the background of it, the fact that at that point the Nephites are now in a democracy just barely changing from the monarchy, but that is for another email to talk about. But just a little taste, is that The Sons of Mosiah are Princes. I'll talk about that more.

Today we are going to Moo Baan Chaang (The Elephant Village) to go see elephants, so I hope the lack of photos this week will be made up by next weeks photos.

Anyways, I have to go, the bus is leaving soon!
Love Elder Boonmee"

Daysie's run

Lilly's run

Transfer Week - Bangkhen, Thailand To Surin, Thailand (September 18, 2014)

Well, the anticipated transfer has arrived. My wife and I were hoping Elder Matt Boonmee would get to Chiang Mai this transfer. Most of his extended family, on his mother side, whom he hasn't seen since he was 3 years old, still live in this beautiful part of Thailand. Nonetheless, we know he's very happy to serve his father in heaven wherever he is needed.

In this case, Elder Matt Boonmee is heading to Surin, a norther-eastern province bordering Cambodia, where the famous Angkor Wat is located.

The following are some pictures and videos at the transfer meeting.

With his MTC group at the transfer meeting

Packed, loaded, and ready to move to Surin province, where elephants roam.

The meeting

Week 29 - Bangkhen, Thailand (August 14, 2014)

Another week. Hope you are all doing well. If you do meet up with Drew Jex (last companion while in Sakon Nakhon), tell him I said hi and miss him.

The video, you asked about, was just a game that we played for FHE. I messed up and I spilled the cornstarch, so I had to try and get the candy with my mouth.

I didn't know Kenny got married, how are the Bensons doing? Also the Parkinsons, how are they? Please send my best wishes to both Kenny and Braden.

I miss my nieces so much, I can't believe they are so grown up.

Just one thing this week, it is about Brother Golf, the taxi driver who was baptized last week. Little did we really know how much of a conversion he has had. In the photo is him in his taxi, he used to have Buddhism symbols all over his taxi, look carefully at the taxi meter, it was replaced with a Book of Mormon. He is so awesome. He says he doesn't have time when he is at home, so he says he reads during traffic jams. Hopefully the Book of Mormon won't be the accomplice in a car accident.

Just in the last couple weeks, brother Golf, has changed so much. He knows that the Lord is caring for him and that he is on the right path. He is now trying to get his wife to come along with him. But he said it's a little hard, but will be worth it. It's so great to hear about how much of a testimony he has, especially in that small amount of time that he has learned with us. The Lord really did place him in our path. Lucky for me, we needed a taxi that day.

So I guess that is all, this week is transfers and I might be moving, I won't know until later today. So by next week we will know what happens.

Tell everyone I love them!

Elder Boonmee

P.S. Couple more pictures

Nacho Libre

Just me

วีดีโอ ตอนน้องเเมทมาถึงกรุงเทพฯ / Just got the video of Elder Matt Boonmee's arrival to Bangkok, Thailand.

เรามีความยินดีที่จะรายงานว่าน้องแมทมาถึงประเทศไทยอย่างปลอดภัย เราเพิ่งได้รับข่าวว่าน้องแมทได้รับย้ายไปอยู่ที่สกลนคร

We are happy to announce that Elder Matt Boonmee arrived in Bangkok safely and received his first assignment to the  Sakon Nakhon Province. We will update his new address soon. Stay tuned!

Arrival (Bangkok, Thailand. With President and Sister Senior. 2-19-2014)

เรียนพูดภาษาอังกฤษ

Matt's Farewell (งานเลี้ยงส่งน้องแมท)

Just wanted to say thank you for  such a great turnout. Your support and friendship means so much to him. Your love and example has made him who he is today.  As parents, we thank you.

Book of Mormon

The Book of Mormon - (introduction)

Post by ศาสนจักรของพระเยซูคริสต์แห่งวิสุทธิชนยุคสุดท้าย(มอรมอน).