Thailand Letter
October 21, 1997
Bangkok, Thailand
Dearest Family,
It was SO wonderful to have some more news articles from you today Bob. The Primary Children's Hospital has come "a long ways". My mother was Stake Primary President for a million years when I was growing up and at that time they had just started the Penny Parade (I think) and everyone has worked SO hard to get funds to have the hospital what it is today. Margaret Jost, who is Ellen Mae's friend, has a daughter who is married to the CEO of the hospital - Joe Horton. His parents are the owners of the home we went to in Palm Springs.
I think of the leaders of the church in the days when the hospital was first started and I wonder what they would do to improve the living conditions of the people here who live on the khlongs. I don't have any idea what the children in those places do when they get sick.
The hospital today is the most modern pediatric place in the world and to think most of the doctors donate their time and talents makes it all the more special. It is so inspiring to read about things like that. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
We enjoyed reading the USA Today news also. Was there very much news when John Denver was killed? It was SO funny - our driver always tries to have some news on that is in English when he takes us to and from school. One day last week we just heard a "blip" about the untimely death of John Denver. Someone told us he was killed in an airplane accident in an experimental airplane. I am also interested in knowing if they ever found the person who killed that little girl in Colorado (Boulder, I think).
We started in another school today. All the schools are out for vacation so we didn't think we would have very many teachers but there were 20 who came - we were amazed!!! Three of them came from a Muslim School and one was dressed with the cloth wrapped around her head - she was SO sweet and beautiful but I felt sorry for her when she went outside because it was SO hot. We are giving English workshops during the vacation time and it is flattering that they will give up a week of their vacation to attend our workshops but it is also VERY hard. I am making Bingo cards for vocabulary and I had 10 made and tonight I have to make 10 more - each one has to be different and it takes me forever.
This Thursday is a State Holiday to honor Rama V - he was the king who freed the slaves - much like Abraham Lincoln. The teachers want to take us some place special - I'm not sure exactly where but it sounds like an "ancient" place that is fairly close to Bangkok.
I had a sweet letter from Ellen Mae - she said she had just talked to Jeannie. It makes me feel so close to home when I can keep connected like that. She said Jeannie had told her all about their trip. Ellen Mae's granddaughter (Susan's daughter) just got engaged and will be married in January. Ellen Mae and Mel have more trips and fun than anyone I know of. Our friends, Clint and Eris Holmes, have just returned from their mission in California.
I had an e-mail message from Marian and Malcolm. Malcolm has opened a little medical center in his garage for some of his former patients who visit them or are living in St. George now - he doesn't charge them anything.
John - I worried in the night that maybe you have forgotten to have the furnace filter changed. It is a filter that you can't change yourself - you have to take it to the Lewis and Guymon place west of the freeway - it isn't hard to find. I paid for a service contract so maybe it has already been taken care of but if it hasn't be sure to have it done before Winter starts and you use the furnace a lot. It will take a lot of the dust out of the house.
I love you all so very, very much and I miss you like crazy. Please be so very careful in everything you do. THANKS AGAIN BOB FOR YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS. Grandma B