Well..... here I am. The beginning of my 7th moves in country. Crazy. And I'm officially OLD. Yes... I never thought I'd be this old, let alone be a missionary at this age too.... But hey. Life couldn't be better.
Let me tell you about my week.... It was ridiculous and I loved every second of it.
Tuesday: We spent the day teaching (our awesome investigators who will be baptized next month!) and then preparing for our English "showcase" night. This time we did Army, and it was sooo fun! Not to mention i got to drive around a tank... (just imagine a wheelchair transformed into a tank....yes....we're that good. Pictures to come sometime soon) Tuesday night was great and fun and we just loved showcase English nights.
Wed: Taught at the Church. Then hopped on a train around 4 pm to go to Bangkok for "moves" meeting. We were all kinda excited to take this train because we were going 1st class.... because of our brokenness.... (Normally we go 2nd... which is honestly just fine and I highly recommend it) However, when we got on the train, they said. "oh sorry...this train doesn't have 1st class car..." (even though they said it did) so we were just in a really nice 2nd class car....(which was find) UNTIL.... 20 min into the ride, the electricity on our car WENT OUT....taking the air conditioning and fans with it. It was the HOTTEST Train ride I've ever been on. And it was such a tease, too. Every station they would restart the engine and the air would come back on (Hallelujah!) but then 20-30 min later, it would die again. So at 10 we tried to go to sleep...but because of the no air issues, and the curtains that transform your bed into a HOT POCKET OF DEATH.... there was little sleeping. I read a lot of the good book. And then around 1 am... one of the Elders and I both simultaneously threw our curtains open and we've both just covered in sweat. It was sooo hot. And so we couldn't sleep so we just ended up talking the whole night about random things (like Hollow Earth, Admiral Byrd, etc, and how it fits into the gospel and such.... hahhah.. RAY! Oh....Actually we talked about that astronaut who said there was aliens behind the moon...it was on CNN a year ago..... who was that again?) It was ridiculous.
Thur: Got off the train at 6 am.... and hoped on the song taws to go to moves meeting. ... Had the meeting (My "mom" died .... Sister Wichittra is done! and so did one of my other comps, Sister Bradfield. SAD!) then we went to the renew my visa. Ate lunch at the local missionary favy...Que Pasa... then waited at the church until we got back on the song taws to go wait some more at the train station, it get on the train again (at 9pm...cause it came late) This time, they did have the 1st class car and it was quite lovely. :) We are definitely spoiled. This train ride was much better, except for the fact that it ended up being a little engine that COULDN'T so we spent a total of 18 hours on the train (3 or more hours spent just sitting on the tracks in various places...) It was fun though. Especially because of all the candy and treats from the packages. Thank you Family!!! Lisa and mom (and clan) you're packages were successful and my whole district thanks you. Packages with candy from the America are the BEST packages ever... So thank you. when we finally made it back to Chung Mai, we had to go to a wedding. It was so cute too. .. Mame, our recent convert got married, and then another couple (Bro. Uan and Sister Pin) got married and it was fun. They're so cute. Thai Mormon weddings are strange....They gave us ear cleaning sets as a party favor....yes.
Sat: Recovered. We taught and did the normal missionary things... but also has a stop at the dentist for my comp.
Sunday: Church.
Now today. And we're going to make brunch with the elders at the church to celebrate a new moves.
So.... I think that's about it. Thank you to everyone for everything. I just really love you all. My birthday was fabulous..... esp. the Party at the park.... ;) (can't wait to see pics)
Umm....ok....
Farewell to Manzanar...
Love, Sister O'Neil
P.S. .... my new e-mail address is hilary (dot) oneil (at) myldsmail (dot) net.... it's fancy and new and looks just like gmail....please use that from now on. :)
Happy birthday to everyone too: Amy, Quasi, Jelly Bean, Bagel.... Aunt Brenda, etc. etc. .. !!
Mar 21, 2010
Mar 14, 2010
It's the most wonderful time of the year!
Yeah! ! ! ! Greetings from Thailand! ! ! !
Oh man.... I can't tell you how fun that is to day. I love that I'm STILL in Thailand. I know I'm so very lucky. So thanks to everyone for all of your prayers and greetings (and packages....even for the ones I have yet to receive, but you said were on their way. We go down to Moves meeting this wed, so on Thursday, we'll see if they made it to this country yet) and everything else. I love you all.
Umm... lets see. I can't even remember what happened this week because I CAN'T believe it's Monday again. ALREADY. Time is flying. . . (Which we are thankful for sometimes because let's be honest... we'd probably hate our broken lives if it was going slow... haha) We're just one week closer to normal-ness. YAY!!!
We had some pretty cool miracles this week.
Dang it.... I just accidentally deleted the last paragraph I wrote....but here it is again... the Readers Digest version:
So we've been teaching this mom and daughter and had invited them to be baptised about 2 weeks ago, but they said they weren't ready. So this past Thursday we were meeting with them again and Sister Nielsen and I decided we were going to invite her again, but we didn't even get the chance! She came right into our appointment and started telling us about how she got her answer and that they wanted to be baptised ASAP. And better yet, she already asked the district president to baptise her... Soo.... it's all set... April 18th. SO that's a miracle. We're pretty excited. Then yesterday night, I was home alone and the phone rang. It was the mom (a newish member) of an investigator of ours and all she said when I answered the phone was
"**(sorry can't type the Thai symbols)**"" (She's good)
I was so confused. But basically just went on to say "Oh, she's ready... she wants to be baptised. Can we do it before the end of the month? Here, want to talk to her. Oh, she doesn't want to talk. Ok... thanks sister.. Bye"
and then she hung up...
So.... I'm thinking we'll have another baptism this month....
What the random. I love my life.
OK... what else. Oh, District conference was this week. President and Sister Smith came up for it, so it was fun to see them again. Elder Perry and I (the cripples) were the butt of EVERY single speakers jokes on Sat night (except pres and sister smith...they didn't mention us...thank goodness) IT was kinda ridiculous.... I'll tell you more stories from this later. I don't feel like typing it all now. But here;s a teaser... it involves me on the ground, yelling "hellelijah!" (or however you spell it)... That will be fun to tell you later. :)
I think that's all for today. Last night I laughed harder than I have for a long time because my comp was sleep talking. She really loves Disneyland and "fish food" ice cream.... and it was in Thai-glish too.... which just made it better. Oh man.... I love my comp! Yay!
Well....
I love you all!
Love, Sister O'Neil
P.S. A big shout out to my birthday buddies... AMY! Bagel, Jelly Belly, Aunt Brenda... And everyone else I may have temporarily forgotten. I still love you though!! I hope you all had/have a great day filled with cake and ice-cream. I will be spending my birthday....1st class - cross country Thai-Hogwarts train Style.... can't wait. It'll be a party for sure.
LOVE YOU ALL!!!
Oh.... p.p.s. myldsmail is changing soon... so.... i should be able to give you a new e-mail address by next week... if not... last week of march until I tell you the new one, make sure to send it to both myldsmail AND gmail....ok... grood.
Oh man.... I can't tell you how fun that is to day. I love that I'm STILL in Thailand. I know I'm so very lucky. So thanks to everyone for all of your prayers and greetings (and packages....even for the ones I have yet to receive, but you said were on their way. We go down to Moves meeting this wed, so on Thursday, we'll see if they made it to this country yet) and everything else. I love you all.
Umm... lets see. I can't even remember what happened this week because I CAN'T believe it's Monday again. ALREADY. Time is flying. . . (Which we are thankful for sometimes because let's be honest... we'd probably hate our broken lives if it was going slow... haha) We're just one week closer to normal-ness. YAY!!!
We had some pretty cool miracles this week.
Dang it.... I just accidentally deleted the last paragraph I wrote....but here it is again... the Readers Digest version:
So we've been teaching this mom and daughter and had invited them to be baptised about 2 weeks ago, but they said they weren't ready. So this past Thursday we were meeting with them again and Sister Nielsen and I decided we were going to invite her again, but we didn't even get the chance! She came right into our appointment and started telling us about how she got her answer and that they wanted to be baptised ASAP. And better yet, she already asked the district president to baptise her... Soo.... it's all set... April 18th. SO that's a miracle. We're pretty excited. Then yesterday night, I was home alone and the phone rang. It was the mom (a newish member) of an investigator of ours and all she said when I answered the phone was
"**(sorry can't type the Thai symbols)**"" (She's good)
I was so confused. But basically just went on to say "Oh, she's ready... she wants to be baptised. Can we do it before the end of the month? Here, want to talk to her. Oh, she doesn't want to talk. Ok... thanks sister.. Bye"
and then she hung up...
So.... I'm thinking we'll have another baptism this month....
What the random. I love my life.
OK... what else. Oh, District conference was this week. President and Sister Smith came up for it, so it was fun to see them again. Elder Perry and I (the cripples) were the butt of EVERY single speakers jokes on Sat night (except pres and sister smith...they didn't mention us...thank goodness) IT was kinda ridiculous.... I'll tell you more stories from this later. I don't feel like typing it all now. But here;s a teaser... it involves me on the ground, yelling "hellelijah!" (or however you spell it)... That will be fun to tell you later. :)
I think that's all for today. Last night I laughed harder than I have for a long time because my comp was sleep talking. She really loves Disneyland and "fish food" ice cream.... and it was in Thai-glish too.... which just made it better. Oh man.... I love my comp! Yay!
Well....
I love you all!
Love, Sister O'Neil
P.S. A big shout out to my birthday buddies... AMY! Bagel, Jelly Belly, Aunt Brenda... And everyone else I may have temporarily forgotten. I still love you though!! I hope you all had/have a great day filled with cake and ice-cream. I will be spending my birthday....1st class - cross country Thai-Hogwarts train Style.... can't wait. It'll be a party for sure.
LOVE YOU ALL!!!
Oh.... p.p.s. myldsmail is changing soon... so.... i should be able to give you a new e-mail address by next week... if not... last week of march until I tell you the new one, make sure to send it to both myldsmail AND gmail....ok... grood.
Mar 7, 2010
SWEET LADY FREEDOM.....!
Hello..... So.... Here's the update on my life:
- I'm exactly the same.
The end.
Just kidding!
But I am kinda the same. I still have a broken ankle. (which cracks me up because everyone here will come up to me and ask "oh, are you better yet" and then I say "nope! Not' yet" I mean... come on people... isn't it OBVIOUS that I'm not "better yet?" but thanks for asking. It brings me joy. Everyday gets better though. I can do more and more. I even went out inviting again this week. and yes... the big farang on crutches does attract attention... so it's great... especially when we go anywhere and the elders are there too.. 2 big farangs on crutches attracts even more attention! The work still progress on here though. Did i tell you how my comp goes out on Member switch-offs while I stay home alone and party? Yeah... it's grand fun. She's off doing the work and I'm at home spending time with Paul (The apostle from the N.T.....calm down people) I still highly suggest reading the New Testament.... Think of me when you read 2 Corinthians 11:1 ....thanks).
I think the highlight of the week was Thursday. Elder Day (our district leader) came back from Bangkok and he brought all our mail too. I don't think I've EVER had a mail day like that. It was like Christmas, even. 3 packages and about 7 letters. YOAH DANG. So before anything else.
TTTTTHHHHHHHHAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNKKKKKKKKKK YOU! so much. Everyone.
Megan.... those packages were delicious. I and my whole district thank you from the bottom of our chocolate/jelly belly filled stomachs. Seriously though....I'm pretty sure the chocolates all gone already...
This part is dedicated to everyone else who wrote me: First, Jesse...YAY!!! Loved the package. Thanks! I'm loving putting that on Pineapple... :) Cami---YAY!! CONGRATS!!!! but I was not even surprised by that news.
Tara - I Love you.
So thank you thank you thank you for all the mail. You all know I love mail, (even before I was a missionary) but I really just extrally love it now.
So.... the work it good. We had a baptism (the elders did... but we've taught him a couple times too because his new wife is a member) and a wedding. Actually- this ward is have 3 this month (including Mame, our recent convert) so the next party will be on my birthday! holla! (the 2 other couples are having a combined reception on the 19th)
Ummm.... well. I think that's about it for the week..
read, comment and ask away.
I love you all!!!
Love,
Sister O'Neil
- I'm exactly the same.
The end.
Just kidding!
But I am kinda the same. I still have a broken ankle. (which cracks me up because everyone here will come up to me and ask "oh, are you better yet" and then I say "nope! Not' yet" I mean... come on people... isn't it OBVIOUS that I'm not "better yet?" but thanks for asking. It brings me joy. Everyday gets better though. I can do more and more. I even went out inviting again this week. and yes... the big farang on crutches does attract attention... so it's great... especially when we go anywhere and the elders are there too.. 2 big farangs on crutches attracts even more attention! The work still progress on here though. Did i tell you how my comp goes out on Member switch-offs while I stay home alone and party? Yeah... it's grand fun. She's off doing the work and I'm at home spending time with Paul (The apostle from the N.T.....calm down people) I still highly suggest reading the New Testament.... Think of me when you read 2 Corinthians 11:1 ....thanks).
I think the highlight of the week was Thursday. Elder Day (our district leader) came back from Bangkok and he brought all our mail too. I don't think I've EVER had a mail day like that. It was like Christmas, even. 3 packages and about 7 letters. YOAH DANG. So before anything else.
TTTTTHHHHHHHHAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNKKKKKKKKKK YOU! so much. Everyone.
Megan.... those packages were delicious. I and my whole district thank you from the bottom of our chocolate/jelly belly filled stomachs. Seriously though....I'm pretty sure the chocolates all gone already...
This part is dedicated to everyone else who wrote me: First, Jesse...YAY!!! Loved the package. Thanks! I'm loving putting that on Pineapple... :) Cami---YAY!! CONGRATS!!!! but I was not even surprised by that news.
Tara - I Love you.
So thank you thank you thank you for all the mail. You all know I love mail, (even before I was a missionary) but I really just extrally love it now.
So.... the work it good. We had a baptism (the elders did... but we've taught him a couple times too because his new wife is a member) and a wedding. Actually- this ward is have 3 this month (including Mame, our recent convert) so the next party will be on my birthday! holla! (the 2 other couples are having a combined reception on the 19th)
Ummm.... well. I think that's about it for the week..
read, comment and ask away.
I love you all!!!
Love,
Sister O'Neil
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