Week 50 - Khonkaen, Thailand (Feb 8, 2015)

Elder Matt Boonmee indicated that, finally, people in Thailand are recognizing him as a Thai.

"It will be very fun to be serving with these missionaries in Khonkaen. I will keep all that I do in line with what the Lord has in store. It's possible that there is a reason why I am staying in the อิสาน for most of my mission. But all I know that the Lord knows where he wants me to go and I will do..."

We told Elder Matt Boonmee about Elder Martin's homecoming, his former companion from Sakonakhon.

"...Jeremy Martin is a great missionary. He was my district leader in สกลนคร He really showed how to be a dedicated missionary. He did some awesome things there. Also, Christian VandenBergh, I have been in almost every single one of his areas. I have followed his areas since บางเขน all the way until now. His last area was Chiang Mai so it's possible that I go there next.

...


I haven't done anything too exciting lately. We have been working hard here in Khon Kaen. We are working to get 65 people at church this next month. I think it will be a great start. My greenie area, สกลนคร has brought the weekly members up to 90 people! IT's incredible. The members in สกลนคร are great. So we will be trying to do what they do there and go out and find our lost brothers and sisters.

Something cool to study is to look into the book, the duties and blessings of the priesthood. It's an Elder's Quorum teaching booklet and talks about a lot of deep stuff. Really cool studies.

Anyways, I don't have much. I love you all and say hello to everyone for me!

Elder Boonmee"

Week 49 - Khonkaen, Thailand (Feb 1, 2015)

Khon Kaen is a good area. On a weekly basis there is about 45 people at church. We are going to try and build it up a little more as well.

People in my district is Elder Parker, Elder Pratt, and Elder Nelson.

Elder Parker was trained by Elder Smith.

......

One insane event happened on Saturday. Elder Parker and I went to the walking market to go inviting. So we parked our bikes turned around and started inviting. After I had invited about 3 people, I turned to find some more people. I made eye contact with some one and I looked away.

She looked familiar so I looked back and turned out it was my Recent Convert from Sakon Nakhon Sister แบม! I just went crazy! The thing is, is that she went less active when I was still there. We lost all contact with her because she had some problems in her life. But I was so happy to see her! We talked for a little bit and I got her phone number. She said she was just in town for testing, but is still in Sakon. She said she would go tell one of the members in Sakon that we ran into each other. Hopefully that will be the way she gets back to church. It was one of the most incredible things ever. I'm not sure, but I think the Lord planned for that. I might have to check up on if she went back to church in Sakon or not. But it was so awesome to see her here in Khon Kaen.

We have been teaching lots of lessons, but are having a trouble holding on to them. But that will just be part of the diligent work. Just doing it. The Lord has a plan and is preparing people and we are just working continually. I know the Lord is almighty and that He knows everything, and that everything that happens, is because of Him.

I love you all

Elder Boonmee

Week 48 - From Surin to Khonkaen, Thailand (Jan 25, 2015)

Transfers was good. I guess I will just start out with what happened this past week.

So on the last few days of being in Surin, I started to realize I was really going to miss them. They are great people. Surin is one my favorite places, if not the favorite. It was a hard place but I learned so much from the area, as well as loved the members.

After we left Surin at 12 in the morning we got to the place at about 6 in the morning and headed to transfers. Saw a lot of past companions and all that stuff. I got a photo with some of the past companions. Then we had transfers meeting. I have a new companion who is actually Elder Jacob Smith's trainee. So I guess it's like I'm his step uncle or something like that. He is a funny guy. And that I was headed to Khon Kaen. Still in the Isan. I have only been out of the Isan for 12 weeks when I was in Bangkhen. I guess I'm just an Isan kid. I've been working on my Isan so hopefully I can speak to grandma.

I've been to Khon Kaen twice for zone conferences so I'm a little bit familiar with the area.

I can't wait to see what is in store. The district is pretty young. I'm the district leader and the rest are pretty young in the mission. It's really different, I realize I'm getting a little old now a days.

Anyways, love you all and I will see you on December 18 which is my finishing date.

Elder Boonmee

Week 47 - Surin, Thailand (Jan 18, 2015)

Not a lot of update this week from Elder Matt Boonmee.

Here are some of the most recent photos. Tell everyone I say hello and I love them!  ...

... not much at allllll. Just working hard with this small branch. Today we will see if anyone moves or not. We have just been doing the same things as usual. Inviting, teaching, and running the branch which is a little different from some other areas. I honestly have not much else to say. I love you all and I'll tell you what happens next week!

Elder Boonmee

Week 46 - Surin, Thailand (Jan 11, 2015)

It's been 4 month in Surin since the transfer. Smaller ward with some challenges but he is doing well and enjoying the challenges. We told him about our upcoming trip to India and our plan to stop in Thailand to visit with my wife's family and perhaps a drop by to attend church with Elder Matt Boonmee as well. We told Elder Matt Boonmee that we sent our request for permission to visit hi to President Senior (Elder Matt Boonmee was adamant about us getting the permission first.)

In addition, our dear friend, in Thailand, was involved in tragic accident in the recent week. We asked the mission office if it was possible that they send missionaries to see our friend and give him a blessing.

On the other side of Thailand, in the province of Sisaket, one of our Thai family member, for the first time, went to church to learn English with the missionaries.

The following are some of  the responses and comments from Elder Matt Boonmee's email to us this week.

"...turns out that the Elders in Thonburi it has Elder Tanner! He was just with me not too long ago. The redhead. He just told me about what happened. I will copy what he said.

"Hey today we were able to go give your dad's friend a blessing in the hospital. I'm not sure if you knew about it, but it was really a great experience. Elder Wheeler, Elder Chambers, Elder Frodsham and I went to the hospital and we really didn't know what to expect. We met with your dad's friend's mother, who is this sweet little Thai lady. She showed us into where this man was laying. He looked pretty bad. No bandages or anything, but he was laying there with kinda a blank stare. I could tell his mother was very worried about him. She said he'd been like that since December 11th or 12th. He had to have surgery done on the right part of his brain because apparently he had been in a motorcycle accident. We asked his mother if she believed that Jesus Christ could help her son, and she said she believed. We told her what was going to go on, and then I was able to anoint the blessing and Elder Wheeler gave a powerful blessings stating that he would become better. We explained where the church was and how to pray to his mother and told his mother that she can pray for him as well. I have faith that it will all be through the will of God. And the interesting thing was that after the blessing was performed, he took a couple of big breaths and his eyes started moving more. Please tell your dad and family to keep praying for them. This will be a great way that this family will come to know who Jesus Christ truly is"

... it is very much possible that I would be moving. I have been here for the same amount of time I was in Sakhon Nakhon. But who knows!"...

... 100% true, that if we give all that we can to follow whatever the Lord asks of us, we will be forever blessed. We don't have any idea what is in store for us in the future, but the Lord does. He does EVERYTHING for us. 

For this week we didn't really have all that much happen. I forget to send a photo of Brother ป๋อง He is our most recent convert. I met him in front of a store. Turns out he had learned with the Elders before and was nervous to come back after not coming for so long. So it was planned that we were supposed to see him again. When we taught him, he was once again, golden. He had no problems. This man will be a future branch president. He has a family. A little 7 month year old baby and his wife. I got to meet his little baby daughter. Such a chubby little cute girl. I can see the gospel blessing him and his family. 

Anyways I love you all and that is all!

Elder Boonmee"

Week 45 - Surin, Thailand (Jan 4, 2015)

This week we reported on Elder Matt Boonmee's friends, Elder Cooper, Elder Richardson, Sister Burr, and Elder Claflin. We also told him many from our ward are coming home soon. Lilly also sent this fire-spitting dragon to her uncle.

Elder Matt Boonmee responded as follow:

"Dear Famaree,

I didn't see any videos or emails from mom. Maybe you sent it to the wrong email? Yeah I saw the photo of him with it. They have that same thing here in Thailand.

It's weird to think that so many people are coming home now. I only have 11 months left and Jacob has only 3 more transfers then he is back home with you all.

Not too much has happened in the last three days. Just slow work because EVERYONE is gone. But we should be back to normal now. 

Keep praying, keep reading the scriptures, and keep going to church. Also, If you ever have the chance go to deseret book and buy something called the handbook for missionaries. It's got a lot of cool facts about the church and what a lot of investigators have asked before.

Love you all!

Elder Boonmee"

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"