Riley Pictures 10.29.12

Chiang Mai 10.29.12

Hey Family!

Today, I rode an elephant. Yep. It was sweet. I rode right on its neck and boy was it nuts. You right on their shoulders so when they walk, you rock back and forth like a beast. We definitely almost fell off a couple times, especially when our mammoth went up and down hills. Super fun though.

So Narongdej got baptized. YES. It was the funniest baptism ever. E. Campbell and I were in the bathroom when he walks out of a stall with all white on...and a fat brown belt. We told him that wouldn't fly so he takes it off and we realize the pants are waaaayy too big. He is the skinniest dude ever. So we have him try on the other pants...they are even bigger. So we decide to pin the pants and pray all goes well. After we rip apart a 'We Care about You' pin that we use for english class and pinned his pants together we thought we were money in the bank. But when it was time for the actual ordinance it got sketchy. So he was baptized once, but his toe poked up. No good. We tell them they gotta redo it. Then we notice Narongdej's pants sliding down...but it was too late, P. Supat was already saying the prayer, there was nothing we could do but watch and pray that his pants stayed on. The second time down was clean, as he comes up his pants are even lower than before. We gave them a thumbs up and slammed the curtain closed (for the sake of the women and children who were watching). It was classic.

Eagle Scout moment: So we had a new sign made for english. We found a place to hang it and even got permission. We picked up our shiny sign and went to hang it at this bike shop. That's when we realized they didn't have a ladder we could use, or rope to hang it for that matter. Yeah...we weren't prepared at all. Little known fact, scouts are rarely prepared. We just learn to make do with what is there. So we said a prayer trusting the Lord would provide. We asked the bike shop how they normally hang signs up, they said they borrow a ladder from the construction site down the street. So off we went in search of a ladder. We found the construction site but couldn't find the workers. So we went exploring in this half finished building for people/ladders. On the top floor we finally find them and attempt to explain our situation. They let us borrow a ladder. Score. As we are leaving I find some heavy duty ribbon and ask to use it. They say yes. 3 Pointer. We carry the ladder to our hanging spot and realize we are being followed...by a construction worker. He is shorter than me. He proceeds to hang our sign for us. He sort of hung it in the wrong spot (2 feet to the left would have been perfect) but beggars can't be choosers. So in the beginning, we didn't even have a ladder. In the end, we found a ladder, some rope stuff, and a person to hang our ladder for us. Sometimes you just aren't prepared. So you make it up as you go. #Eaglescout.

Out of time. Much Love!

Elder M. Riley Creer
The Only

#hashtags:
Less active's scriptures have Playboy written on the side...#definitelynotkosher
Watched a kid rip a fish eye out, offer it to us, then devour it when we refused. #bizarrebusiness

Riley Pics 10.22.12

 You know you've made it big when you are an Elvis impersonator. In Thailand. In a mall food court. #success.

"Called to serve in...France??" (insert Thai accent).

Chiang Mai 10.22.12

Dear Family,

What's up!  Chiangmai is fantastic.  The weather has been pretty hot recently which isn't too fun but no worries, I'm getting plenty of vitamin D and my watch tan is looking better than ever.

Good luck with the schoolwork Katie and Jeremy.  สุ้สุ้ (not sure I spelled that right...).  Sam, I'm definitely down to design skis for the rest of my life, no problem.  Mom and Pops, I'm #lowkey jealous of your trip.  

This week I was in Lampang with E. Berbert.  It was pretty fun.  He is way funny.  We taught an investigator there that has read the entire Book of Mormon and believes it is true but doesn't want to get baptized.  It was a frustrating lesson, she said there are elements of her life that won't mesh with Christianity (like worshiping the 'ghost' that lives in the apartment building she manages).  It was a bizarre lesson.  I don't think she had a spiritual witness of the Book of Mormon yet.  When you have that witness from God that these things are true, it changes you--your desires--and you want to follow it.

The most exciting part of this week was when Brother Champ opened his mission call.  He opened it after church when everyone was there.  He is going to Paris France!  And he will be speaking Mandarin Chinese!  He was in total shock.  He goes to the Provo MTC in February and will learn French there.  I think his mom is Chinese so he already knows a lot of Mandarin but zero French.  Can you imagine being taught another language in your second language?  He is Thai, going to France, speaking Chinese.  Wow.  Everyone is super excited for him.

So right now, we have very little investigators.  It stinks.  I've been reading in Preach My Gospel about finding new investigators and learned quite a bit about faith.  God is currently preparing people all over the world, He is pouring out His spirit, softening their hearts.  It is our job to find them, to help them recognize that this is the truth they have been searching for.  I really liked a scripture I read somewhere in the Doctrine of Covenants about how we are supposed to find the 'elect of God,' or those who are ready.  There are so many people in Thailand, in Chiangmai, that I can talk to, but only the elect will be prepared to receive the message of the Restoration.  So I need to be able to discern who is prepared and who is not.  Good thing God gives us great tools to do this or else I'd be done for.  Through prayer we can be guided to the prepared souls, we can be sensitive to the quiet Spirit that tells us who to talk to, who to help.  Then miracles follow.  I guess this paragraph is more for me than for you.

Life is good in Thailand.  Still hot, but still worth it.

Much Love,

Elder M. Riley Creer

The Only

#hashtags:

#whatdoyousay: when your investigator wants to come to America with you... #wellthisisawkward

Picture famine. #sorryteam

Chiangmai. 10.15.12

Hello Family.

How is life?  Tell Grandpa I really enjoyed that talk he sent me by Tad R. Callister.  It was amazing.  I can't believe you guys are Paris right now, Mom and Dad.  That is nuts.  Good luck in those museums.  You should watch Midnight in Paris while you are there, pretty funny stuff.  Sam, Thailand rocks.  My companion is hilarious and likes to eat at the most hi-so places in Chiangmai, so my lunch money has taken a real hit these past few weeks.  But he is great.  Did you ever struggle making your MSF last all month in Florida?  K&J, Spanish branch sounds nuts!  What a fun opportunity though, you two will be Spanish speaking machines in no time.  Well Jeremy, you already are...but don't fret Katie, you'll get there.  You definitely have to be patient with yourself, pray hard (REAL hard) and rely on the Lord's help.  Super cool though.

So Thailand is still awesome.  It doesn't rain as often anymore which would be great if it weren't for the irrepressible heat that has taken its place.  But riding a bike while baking in the sun is doing wonders for my watch tan, so don't even worry.

News this week: Narongdej passed his baptismal interview.  Score!  He will be baptized this upcoming Saturday.  Narongdej is an interesting man.  He is skinny, skinny times 10. He has some health issue so I think that is the cause, but what he has I have no idea (diseases isn't number one on my vocab. priority list, in fact it isn't even on there).  But he is a talker.  He'll talk your ear off.  About anything.  It is hilarious.  He follows us to our bikes, chattering the entire way, watches us mount up, still going strong, and waves as we ride into the distance, finally stopping.  Classic.  Also, B. Rak cut his hair.  He looks completely different.  Because I know you are all dying to know what he looks like I'll send a picture soon.  That is all.

Following...Something:  This week E. Campbell went to Lampang with E. Berbert, so E. Davis and I were in Chiangmai.  We were riding back from a less-active's house when I noticed a dog walk down a path I never really noticed before.  I stopped my bike and decided to check it out.  The dog stopped in front of this house that I didn't even know was there.  A girl was about to go inside so I started talking to her (by this time E. Davis is catching up to me).  She went and got her dad and we told him who we were and asked to tell him more.  He said right then was no bueno because he had some friends over but to come back another day.  Nutshell: I followed a dog.  The dog led me to a house.  In that house is someone who is going to get baptized (I hope).  Immediately after that, we are riding down this road intending on going street contacting, I'm riding in front and E. Davis is following.  I feel prompted to turn right, so I do.  I keep riding and then realize I have no idea why we are on this road so I stop.  I turn to E. Davis and say, "I have no idea why we are on this road."  He says, "Well maybe we should invite this house (the one I stopped in front of)."  So we get off our bikes and I'm about to ring the doorbell when this guy calls from inside, "Can I help you?"  Then he comes outside and starts talking to us.  He has been visited by missionaries before, 2 sets in fact.  

He asks, "Why did you come see me this late?"  

I respond, "We didn't intend to, we just felt like we should come talk to you."

"Right now?"

"Yeah, right now."

"Ok come on in."

So we went in.  He's loaded.  The half house half museum type.  He already has a Book of Mormon but it is the ancient copy (the old translation).  So we give him a new copy and teach a little about the Restoration and then make a return appointment.  This is when the story goes down hill.  We meet him a second time.  He feeds us a royal dinner.  We try to teach.  Turns into him educating us about Buddhism and how things "really are."  After teaching very little doctrine we leave the pamphlet and make a return appointment.  Third visit:  He spends the entire time comparing the Plan of Salvation to Buddhism, explaining how Buddhism has all the same elements of the plan.  Bogus.  His comparisons are wack, his analogies are confusing.  He says going to church won't have any benefit for him.  #thathurtstheteam.  Pondering our visits with Calvin (his farang name), I decided that he heard what we said but never really listened.  When we don't listen, the Holy Ghost doesn't have a chance to bear witness of truth.

So conference was great.  We watched it at the church on Saturday and Sunday.  Super Sweet!  Learned tons.

Much Love,

Elder M. Riley Creer

the only

#Hashtags:

#thatawkwardmomentwhen: you try to tell someone about the prophet's message and say the prophet's rice.

Left my backpack in my baller bike basket.  Went back 20 minutes later and it was still there. #blessed #holleratthatalliteration

Riley Pictures 10.8.12

 

 My companion at the end of weekly planning

YES!

  Sponsored Sperlunkers.

 All natural cave formations.

Are they serious? Yep.

 

  Brother Pom, wood chopping extraordinaire

 

 B. Pom's home-made panacea potion. Supposedly it cures cancer.

Chiang Mai 10.8.12

Dear Family,

Life is marvelous.  E. Campbell is possibly the funniest man I know.  I've spent the last week laughing my head off.  It was pretty great.  If I were to name this week it would be: The Week of Dropped Appointments.  We had at least 2-3 appointments fall through each day.  It was awful.  Consequently, a lot of our investigators were put on the shelf (aka dropped).  It was pretty frustrating.  The worst was this lady who we had an appointment to meet on Saturday.  We stopped by her workplace 20 minutes before we were supposed to meet to confirm the appointment.  She said she would meet us.  She didn't come.  Nuts.  The worst part of canceled appointments is feeling like we wasted the members' time.  It is the worst.

This week we served B. ป้อม (Pom).  We made the trek to his house and helped him cut wood.  It was pretty fun.  His outfit was the best.  He looked like a dwarf from Snow White.  Classic.  #Badnewsbears: While chopping wood, the axe bounced off the wood block and nailed my right shin.  It hurt like crazy.  It cut to the bone.  Blood was everywhere.  Since B. Pom lives so far out of town it took a while to get to the hospital and I fainted from blood-loss.  2 hours and a few blood transfusions later I regained consciousness in a thai hospital with a very sore leg.  Don't worry though, the doctor said after a month of resting I should be as good as new.  Definitely put a damper on the day.  PSYCH.  Don't worry mom...I didn't actually chop my leg in half.  The real story:  I'm going hard in the paint on this wood chunk axing it to pieces, well trying to at least.  Finally it splits in two.  Unfortunately, one piece jumps up and nails me right in the knee.  It hurt.  BAD.  It was that kind of pain that makes you nauseous.  I had to set the axe down and walk it off for a few minutes while doing yoga breaths to soothe the pain.  So in the end, I don't have a prosthetic leg.  Just a bruised knee.

#TastyBusiness: E. Campbell likes to eat Hi-so (stands for high society, thai people use it all the time).  Which means we have been checking out the fanciest restaurants in Chiangmai, and boy are there a ton.  We ate at: G Long Burger (tasty and plays good music, smallest serving of french toast ever though), Paradise Pizza (HUGE slices), 3 Little Pigs (New Orleans style BBQ, aka Yum), F Full (banana pancakes, rumor has it Jack Johnson ate here and then wrote a song about it), El Diablo (Oh Baby that was a tasty burrito), Fai Bakery (don't need to go back...ever), The Dukes (takes the cake).  The real challenge will be eating like this every week and still having money at the end of the month.

So Thailand is great.  I love it.  The church is true.  The Book of Mormon is still true.  The Liahona is the best magazine ever.  Life is good.

Much Love,

Elder M. Riley Creer
The Only

#Hashtags:
Went on a cave tour this morning full of Buddhist lore and "dinosaur fossils."  #nowaythatsadinosaur #bogusbusiness
New Liahona this week. #hallelujah.



package requests: not chocolate, hamburger helper.

It rained...a lot.

Even the jungle has 7-eleven. (psych. this is at the zoo)

Glamour Shots by Deb

No he's not dead...just heavily sedated. Tiger Kingdom actually insists the tigers aren't drugged, just very lazy during the day. Sounds bogus to me.

Chiangmai #Holler

Potgut: at the ranch we shoot em, here they sell em as pets.

We got to wear these sweet sandals. I was tempted to not switch back and keep the sandals.

Ya know, just me playing with a baby tiger. No big deal.

Adorable.

Way bigger than Tigger.

Chiang Mai 10.1.12

Hello Family!

This week was sick!  We found out wednesday afternoon that E. Wilamas was moving.  He was not happy.  So that day was pretty nuts.  We had to rush to the bus station and buy tickets to Bangkok for that night and then back to the house so he could pack all his stuff.  Then we got on a bus at 10:20 PM and arrived in Bangkok 7:30ish AM.  After the moves meeting we traipsed all over Bangkok buying bus tickets and going to the office to take care of my companion's ingrown toenail.  Then we got on another bus at 7:30 PM and got to Chiangmai at 5:30ish.  Let it be known that I seriously detest all night bus rides.  But my new companion is E. Campbell.  He came to Thailand in the group right after me, so we already knew each other from the MTC.  He is hilarious and so pumped to be in Chiangmai (mainly for the great food).  We have already discovered one new restaurant: Three Little Pigs.  They have New Orleans style food and REAL milkshakes.  Real milkshakes are an endangered species in Thailand.  Most places don't know how to make a real milkshake (since when do you add ice to a milkshake?).  So we are stoked on REAL milkshakes.

Other news:  B. รักษ์ (Rak) and S. อิฐ (It) were baptized on Friday and confirmed yesterday.  Go Team!  S. It's son didn't get baptized though, but hopefully soon.  S. It's husband (B. Rod) baptized her and boy was it a sweaty five minutes.  He kept saying the words wrong.  He left words out and then was adding words in, it was just a mess.  A  member of the district presidency said it and B. Rod repeated it but then the president said it wrong too!  In the end, I said it first and B. Rod repeated it.  It was nuts.  I thought B. Rod was going to give up and leave the font, but he hung in there and now his wife is going to heaven.  Yes.

The best part of the baptismal service was hearing B. Rak's testimony.  He was so nervous about speaking in front of people but he stomped it.  His testimony was so powerful, he talked about how he was facing some challenges and didn't know what to do.  He talked about how he prayed and received guidance.  Then he talked about how he knew the Book of Mormon is true.  It was awesome!  He is a champion and still has great hair.

So more happened this week but this is the exciting stuff.  I think I'll send my pictures instead.  Life is good, especially in Chiangmai.

Much Love!

Elder M. Riley Creer
The Only

#Hashtags:
That awkward moment when you are trying to translate at church and fail miserably and very noticeably.  #Amateurhour #maybenexttime
Chiangmai: Round 2 #holleratyaboy


Pic issue- I guess I sent too many.  I'll rese