Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
ecember 21, 2009
To our astonishment, the month is nearly over- we will be spending Christmas Day in Phnom Penh again this year with all the missionaries assigned to Cambodia. Many of the missionaries we have worked with have already returned home, but we have wonderful new elders that build on their foundation and continue to move the Lord’s work forward. And truly, it is the work of the Lord and not of man.
(It has been several weeks since we last posted an entry and our lives have been busy, so if this feels like reading a condensed book, well, it is!)
Earlier this month we went back to Bangkok for my four week check-up and everything is healing well. We again thank all of your for your prayers in my behalf- we know that they were heard and answered.
It takes about 8-9 hours to get to Bangkok by bus- which includes the long delays at the border, various bus stops along the way, and finally the sky train and taxi ride to our final destination. We set aside four days for the trip- two days in travel, a day at the hospital and one day to visit the Royal Palace, the heart of Thailand for many of its people. Thailand has been known by that name for only 70 years- before it was the kingdom of Siam and although the political power is no longer exercised by the king, the people still have great respect for their monarchy. The current king, now in his eighties, is beloved by his people and for his birthday this month, the entire country was decked in large banners, enormous framed photographs, and various visual tributes to him. The Caldwell’s, with whom we stay with in Bangkok, are the LDS Charities couple for Thailand and work closely with one of the royal princesses. She attended a prestigious eastern university in America where she became acquainted with the Church and was very favorably impressed. Her influence has done much to bring the Church into positive and influential circles in Thailand.
The entrance fees to the Royal Palace complex provides the main source of revenue for the royal family- they receive no financial assistance from the government. The grounds are extensive and nearly every available space is taken in elaborate buildings or statuary of some kind. Many were constructed by Rama 1, who ruled here in the early 1800’s. Buddhism is strongly entrenched in Thailand, and tributes to him flourish throughout the complex. The only building, out of the 100 there, open to the public is Wat (Temple) Phra Kaew, which contains a jade carving called the Emerald Buddha. As we walked into the elaborate and golden interior, rows and rows of devout worshipers knelt in front of the tall edifice that housed the carved statue on top. The sight brought memories of Old Testament stories and the challenges the Israelites had with idolatry…. and how relevant those challenges are even today.
In addition to the Royal Palace, we took a quick stop in an area known as the Indian Market- a bustling, packed, elbow to elbow jammed- full street market selling everything from jewels, silks, satins, native costume apparel to every kind of fabric and accessories possible. It is a shopper’s paradise, but just about near misery for Elder Dickerson. He was the one who suggested the stop, but about thirty minutes was about all he handled well. I managed to walk away with about $3.00 spent in beautiful costume jewelry bracelets, and am still bemoaning the lost opportunity to explore! I am not a “shopper”, but I don’t think there are very many women who could have resisted the bargain lures that lay on every table and down every alley.
Although it was a crammed visit, our most treasured memories are the ones we have of Elder and Sister Caldwell and the loving hospitality they have extended to us each and every time. They truly took us in and exemplified the Savior’s admonition to aid and comfort. Our mission experience would not have been complete without the opportunity to be blessed by getting to know them.
Arriving back from Bangkok, we jumped right into the final preparations for our KT Branch Christmas party. We followed a similar program as last year’s: nativity play, music, dinner and a dance. The Khmer people love to eat, socialize, and like youth everywhere, the youth love to dance. It was a positive experience all around. The play was reverent and well preformed and all the other activities noisy and enjoyed by all. This is our largest branch activity of the year, and we always have nonmembers who come and experience a bit of Christmas.
This week the big focus is not only getting ready for our zone’s contribution to the Mission’s Christmas talent show, but we just received word that the grant we had proposed to Hong Kong through LDS Charities for a clean water and self- reliance project here in the KT and Siem Reap Branches has been approved. This grant approval will define most of the time we have remaining on our mission here. The couple who replace us will have the opportunity to really see the project through- we are envious! Our mission experience has been no different from a young single elder or sister’s experience…about the time you finally get your mission really pulled together, it’s time to come home!
We leave for Phnom Penh in two days to celebrate as a mission this wonderful time of year. To each and all, we send our love and testimony that Jesus is the Christ, the Redeemer of all mankind.
Merry Christmas! Elder and Sister Dickerson, “Grandpa and Grandma”
To our astonishment, the month is nearly over- we will be spending Christmas Day in Phnom Penh again this year with all the missionaries assigned to Cambodia. Many of the missionaries we have worked with have already returned home, but we have wonderful new elders that build on their foundation and continue to move the Lord’s work forward. And truly, it is the work of the Lord and not of man.
(It has been several weeks since we last posted an entry and our lives have been busy, so if this feels like reading a condensed book, well, it is!)
Earlier this month we went back to Bangkok for my four week check-up and everything is healing well. We again thank all of your for your prayers in my behalf- we know that they were heard and answered.
It takes about 8-9 hours to get to Bangkok by bus- which includes the long delays at the border, various bus stops along the way, and finally the sky train and taxi ride to our final destination. We set aside four days for the trip- two days in travel, a day at the hospital and one day to visit the Royal Palace, the heart of Thailand for many of its people. Thailand has been known by that name for only 70 years- before it was the kingdom of Siam and although the political power is no longer exercised by the king, the people still have great respect for their monarchy. The current king, now in his eighties, is beloved by his people and for his birthday this month, the entire country was decked in large banners, enormous framed photographs, and various visual tributes to him. The Caldwell’s, with whom we stay with in Bangkok, are the LDS Charities couple for Thailand and work closely with one of the royal princesses. She attended a prestigious eastern university in America where she became acquainted with the Church and was very favorably impressed. Her influence has done much to bring the Church into positive and influential circles in Thailand.
The entrance fees to the Royal Palace complex provides the main source of revenue for the royal family- they receive no financial assistance from the government. The grounds are extensive and nearly every available space is taken in elaborate buildings or statuary of some kind. Many were constructed by Rama 1, who ruled here in the early 1800’s. Buddhism is strongly entrenched in Thailand, and tributes to him flourish throughout the complex. The only building, out of the 100 there, open to the public is Wat (Temple) Phra Kaew, which contains a jade carving called the Emerald Buddha. As we walked into the elaborate and golden interior, rows and rows of devout worshipers knelt in front of the tall edifice that housed the carved statue on top. The sight brought memories of Old Testament stories and the challenges the Israelites had with idolatry…. and how relevant those challenges are even today.
In addition to the Royal Palace, we took a quick stop in an area known as the Indian Market- a bustling, packed, elbow to elbow jammed- full street market selling everything from jewels, silks, satins, native costume apparel to every kind of fabric and accessories possible. It is a shopper’s paradise, but just about near misery for Elder Dickerson. He was the one who suggested the stop, but about thirty minutes was about all he handled well. I managed to walk away with about $3.00 spent in beautiful costume jewelry bracelets, and am still bemoaning the lost opportunity to explore! I am not a “shopper”, but I don’t think there are very many women who could have resisted the bargain lures that lay on every table and down every alley.
Although it was a crammed visit, our most treasured memories are the ones we have of Elder and Sister Caldwell and the loving hospitality they have extended to us each and every time. They truly took us in and exemplified the Savior’s admonition to aid and comfort. Our mission experience would not have been complete without the opportunity to be blessed by getting to know them.
Arriving back from Bangkok, we jumped right into the final preparations for our KT Branch Christmas party. We followed a similar program as last year’s: nativity play, music, dinner and a dance. The Khmer people love to eat, socialize, and like youth everywhere, the youth love to dance. It was a positive experience all around. The play was reverent and well preformed and all the other activities noisy and enjoyed by all. This is our largest branch activity of the year, and we always have nonmembers who come and experience a bit of Christmas.
This week the big focus is not only getting ready for our zone’s contribution to the Mission’s Christmas talent show, but we just received word that the grant we had proposed to Hong Kong through LDS Charities for a clean water and self- reliance project here in the KT and Siem Reap Branches has been approved. This grant approval will define most of the time we have remaining on our mission here. The couple who replace us will have the opportunity to really see the project through- we are envious! Our mission experience has been no different from a young single elder or sister’s experience…about the time you finally get your mission really pulled together, it’s time to come home!
We leave for Phnom Penh in two days to celebrate as a mission this wonderful time of year. To each and all, we send our love and testimony that Jesus is the Christ, the Redeemer of all mankind.
Merry Christmas! Elder and Sister Dickerson, “Grandpa and Grandma”
Friday, November 27, 2009
YSA conference
Sida conducting
Pres. Eng seminar preparing to serve a mission
Somporhen (CES director) preparing to go to the Temple
Lunch for 100
Krabie
Mom's bungalow
Thai cooking class Ian (who was from Munich Germany) and I were the only ones in the class. I can't wait to share what I learned.
Long tail boats, the tourist taxi around the islands.
On our way to Raily beach
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