Dearest Family, July 3, 1998

Our gate guard, Dubey, came running upstairs this morning saying “Babra, Babra” and he had this green paper in his hand. I looked out the window and saw a man on a motorcycle by the gate so I went down. It was SO funny - they were both talking a mile a minute in Thai and of course I couldn't understand a word they said. Dubey finally convinced me that I needed to sign on the green paper and then go to the post office and pick up a package.

BOB AND CLAIRE - THANK YOU JUST MILLIONS AND MILLIONS FOR A WONDERFUL NEW CAMERA!!! I AM SO THRILLED WITH IT AND TOOK LOTS OF TIME READING THE INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO USE IT - I never do that because most of the time I don't understand things like that. I even set the date right. I have wanted one with a zoom lens and now I will probably fill four more albums before I come home.

My roommates are all convinced I have put my camera in some obscure place in my tiny bedroom but honestly I have turned it upside down and can't find it. They are all worried that they will find it in one of their bedrooms. I am absolutely positive it is somewhere in this apartment and WHEN we find it I will save this new one and give it back to you when I get home, Bob. I would like John to take some money from my account to pay for it - PLEASE!!!

This is one more “Journal Experience” I have had here - Helen took a picture of me at the gate talking to Dubey and the man on the motorcycle - I hope it turns out and she will give me a copy of it.

It is July 3rd here now and evening and I am thinking of my Utah family getting together to go to the temple and then celebrate the 4th of July. I know we are 11 hours ahead of you so you are asleep right now. Several of the American Teachers are getting together tomorrow at T.G.I. Fridays for lunch and we may sing “My Country 'Tis Of Thee” so it will be a special day and I WILL TAKE PICTURES!!! I have been lost without a camera. I hope you will all light a sparkler for me and I hope you will be very, very careful with the fireworks.

Helen and I had today free and we worked all day on things for the Resource Center - that is such a big job. All the teachers contributed things and then we have to have them all printed and would you believe it will amount to about 300 pages for each school. This is besides the things we have been making in the schools. The hardest part has been deciding what to use and what to not use. I just hope it gets used because it is a big expense for the schools.

I had my two High School students come tonight for 1 1/2 hours. Their English vocabulary is very, very poor - I hope I can help them. The Father of the young man is an attorney for the Ministry of University Affairs and has been in my English class there.

Bob and Michael - I keep forgetting to tell you how much better our computer is working - we appreciate SO very much all the help you have been to us.

It has rained here a lot the past few days and nights - it is SO funny - I hear it raining and I think “Oh good, it is getting Fall or Winter” and then I go outside and it is SO hot and humid!!! I hope the weather has cooled off for the Roys in Little Rock - I know it is cool in Utah.

I DEARLY LOVE MY FAMILY AND I AM SO PROUD OF ALL OF YOU. PLEASE BE SO VERY, VERY CAREFUL IN EVERYTHING YOU DO. Grandma Bxxxxxxxxxxxxxooooooooooooo