Dearest Family, February 22, 1998

I had the most WONDERFUL weekend!!! The executives from the television station, Channel 9, came for us in a big van on Friday afternoon - there were 11 of us in it. My companion has some kind of muscle disease and she can't sleep on a firm mattress or the floor so I took my pillow for her and I had to take that red suitcase I carried on the plane - it was too big but they managed to get everything in.

We drove and drove and about 6 p.m. we stopped for dinner and you just wouldn't believe all the food - it was 12 courses, including crab, lobster, duck, chicken, pork, shrimp and all kinds of vegetables and fruits. It really was delicious and the restaurant was right on the edge of the “Gulf of Thailand” - it reminded me of places we went to with Chris and Wayne in Alabama and also when I have been in California.

Then they took us to the place where we spent the night. The woman who planned all this has an Uncle who is Secretary of all the Communication Companies in Thailand and he is wealthy. We thought we were going to stay in an OLD Thai home and sleep on the floor - that was a joke. The home where we stayed is owned by her Uncle and is absolutely one of the most beautiful places I have ever been including the Greenbrier. It was typical Thai style but with every modern convenience you could imagine. They put Darlene and me in the largest bedroom (I'm sure it is because I am SO old) and we had a large balcony and when we walked out on it we could see a big airplane down in the gardens. They told us it is not in use but they keep it there for a toy. Next to this house is the “OLD” Thai home they had told us we would stay in. It is 100 years old but it is so well kept that it doesn't look that old. It is so beautiful - it is built so the living rooms and bedrooms are separate homes from the kitchen and eating areas. We went through all the rooms and the furniture is all wood and so unique. They told us it is a “prefab” home that is built that way so they can move it in case of flooding - it is a far cry from the prefab homes I have seen in America. They moved it from Ayutthaya many years ago. Next to that home is another place where the people live who take care of everything. They also have a “Buddha Shrine House” separate from the home where they go to meditate and pray.

The people who own the home live in Bangkok during the week and go there on the weekends and take friends - they gave it to us this weekend. It kinda reminded me of the “Hearst Place” in California only this is more homey. In the bedroom where I stayed there were pictures by Van Gogh and Monet - I'm sure they were prints but they were very beautifully framed. This place is very close to Pattyah (I don't know how to spell it) but that is the beach.

Saturday morning they “went to the market” to get us food for breakfast. They always serve soup for breakfast and it usually has “pork blood” in it - I was hoping this wouldn't but it did (I can eat most things but I can't eat that). We also had Western food - sausage, eggs and toast and lots of mangoes, papaya, bananas and other fruit. It was delicious!!!

Then they took us to “The Tiger Zoo” where we saw LOTS of elephants, tigers, monkeys, camels, snakes, etc. We even saw a “pig race” - I have never seen such clean pigs in my life and they were all pink. You are not going to believe this but I had my picture taken with a “python” wrapped around me and I did it for Jimmy - AND it cost me 50 bahts!!! I also had my picture taken with an elephant lifting me. I hope my pictures turn out because it took a lot of courage.

Then they took us to lunch at one of the “vendor restaurants” and they ordered for me and had me sit so they could bring it to me - honestly they think I am SO old!!! (One of the men with us said most Thai people just stay home when they reach the age of 50 because they don't have any energy. I don't believe that because I have met many Thais who look and act young and they are at least 60.) Then we went to the Nong Nooch (sp.?) Gardens and they were so gorgeous. I tried to take pictures of everything but it is impossible to capture the beauty of it with a camera. They have trimmed many of their trees in the cone shape like Christmas trees and they are just immaculate.

Then we came back to Bangkok and got here about 9 p.m. I was SO tired. One of the reasons they plan trips like this is so we can “practice English” with the people who are taking the English classes. It is VERY DIFFICULT to talk with them and try to explain everything so they will understand it. I played “hangman” with some of them in the van on the way home and they loved that.

Today we went to the English Branch of the church and what a joy to be able to understand the talks and I couldn't believe all the people I met today and as Ann would say “made connections”. There are three couples here from Utah State University - they are helping in different areas of the “Ministry of Labor” and the wives came along. One of the couples gave talks today and the wife mentioned that she often visited her Grandma Nyman in Logan. After, I talked to her and asked her if she knew an Afton Nyman and she said, “Oh, yes, she is my mother”. I about dropped over dead. Afton was a very dear friend of mine in college - I have the most difficult time realizing how old I really am. The other couples all know my “Logan Friends”. THEN - a man introduced himself and said he was from North Little Rock, Arkansas. He is a flight engineer for an airlines company and is just visiting here and his last name is Greer and I remember his wife Pat - they live in Russellville now. It really is a small, small world, isn't it???

There is a VERY big reception tonight at the new Marriott Hotel!!! Elder Groberg from the First Quorum of Seventies is here from Salt Lake - they are having the Grand Opening of the Hotel and the church officials are involved with Government Officials in the hope of establishing good relationships. Their ultimate goal is to have the church officially recognized in Thailand so the missionaries can tract door to door - they can't do that now. The only way they can find people to teach is to have the people come to them and ask questions.

I surely hope you are all doing GREAT. Sometimes I feel like I am on an extended vacation. I really am grateful to see so many things and learn the Thai culture but I believe I am happier when I am involved in the teaching. March and April are going to be hard months for us - school will be out and we understand that the books for the resource centers will not be here by then. I don't know what we will be doing but then we are all in the same boat. Helen's daughters are coming for some of that time and Janet's sister and family will be here in a couple weeks. That is also supposed to be the hottest time of the year.

I LOVE YOU ALL SO VERY, VERY MUCH. PLEASE BE SO VERY, VERY CAREFUL. Grandma B