Reed's Mission - Bangkok

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=110 BGCOLOR="#336666" TEXT="#080000"> <div> Mission Experiences of Reed B. Haslam - Thailand Bangkok Mission          </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >  </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>  </B></FONT><B> </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >   </FONT><IMG SRC="04d44320.gif" border=0 width="68" height="50" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=190 BGCOLOR="#336666" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Reeds Mission Front Page"><U><B>Front Page</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="photo_album.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Reeds Mission Photo Album"><U><B>Photo Album</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="mission_companions.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Reeds Mission Companions"><U><B>Companions</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="mission_reunions.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Old Heads Mission Reunions"><U><B>Mission Reunions</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>===============</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.LDS-Thailand.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.LDS-Thailand.org"><U><B>LDS Church</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.LDS-Thailand.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.LDS-Thailand.org"><U><B> History in Thailand</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.translatingscripture.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.translatingscripture.com"><U><B>Reed's Book</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.theHaslams.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.theHaslams.com"><U><B>theHaslams.com</B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=370 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Bangkok, Thailand</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Week #93 - March 16-22, 1975 - Chiang  Mai and Bangkok, Thailand</B></div> <bR> <div> Sunday was "my last day in the North of Thailand" and "my last day as a Zone Leader and a District Leader". I spoke in Sacrament Meeting and said, "when Elder Mahler spoke here last week I pictured myself giving my farewell to Thailand address right here in 3 months. What a quick three months!" </div> <bR> <div> On P-day I took a daytime bus ride all by myself from Chiang Mai to Bangkok. This was really cool because I was able to see the country from the North all the way down to the big city. A couple of members came to the bus station to wish me well. Among them was brother Somchai who is the father of the girls baptized a couple of weeks earlier. I told him Elder Mongkol would work with him to see he is ordained an Elder. This was something that had been neglected for too long.</div> <bR> <div> Arriving in Bangkok I found Elder Konuzy there to tease me and met my final companion Elder Garrett (mission finance secretary). We lived in quarters at the chapel in Bangkok. There were 6 of us - the 2 APs, myself, Elder Garrett, Elder Koniuzy who was serving as branch president of the Bangkok branch and his companion.  We had bunk beds and a great maid.</div> <bR> <div> Elder Jarman (my predecessor in translation) left me a note (he departed a week ago). He said "you are the head of the translation committee- you are responsible to see that things are translated correctly with respect to gospel principles." I learned that I'd translate the index to the Book of Mormon - review final changes to the manuscript and review the translation of "A Marvelous Work and a Wonder". </div> <bR> <div> The first day was great as I felt like the words flowed from the spirit onto the paper as I translated the index. I was not sure how I was supposed to work with sister Srilaksana and felt extremely awkward about how to proceed.</div> <bR> <div> On Thursday David Kennedy (former Secretary of the Treasury of the U.S.) and now a special ambassador for the church came to Thailand to see if he could help with the Visa situation. Elders in the Bangkok area got to hear about his activities. He told us Portugal was just opened to missionary work and that he was stopping in Iran to see if it could be possible to send missionaries there. He said he met with the Finance Minister of Thailand and asked for his help with the Visa situation.</div> <bR> <div> On Friday Sister Sri finally told me how we work together. It was too bad that Elder Jarman and I could not have worked together for a time to make the transition smoother. We began the final review of "A Marvelous Work and a Wonder" which was translated by Dr. Bunthum who teaches at Khon Kaen University and was a protestant before he joined the LDS church.</div> <bR> <div> As for investigators we had a 16-year-old boy who was ready if his parents would let him. We had a Dad and 4 daughters, but they seemed more interested in English, and we had a couple of others who always came to appointments but never really seemed excited.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Week #94 - March 23-29, 1975 Bangkok, Thailand</B></div> <div> In Bangkok at the chapel at Asoke, Elder Koniuszy was branch president of the Thai branch and none of the other missionaries had much to do with the branch. He and his companion, along with the assistants to President Morris (Elders Welling and Castleton from my group), my self and my companion Elder Garrett (the finance secretary) all lived in the Elders' apartment at the back of the Asoke building. In 1976 when the building was remodeled to add the mission offices to the building, the Elder's apartment was removed and replaced with additional classrooms.</div> <bR> <div> On P-day we ran errands and then taught Anukol the young boy who was progressing well in the gospel. </div> <bR> <div> On Tuesday I had to accompany the Visa Secretary as he went to Thai immigration office to extend visas for missionaries and then to the Cambodian embassy to get visas for those who needed to leave country. It made a long and non-productive day. </div> <bR> <div> On Wednesday I went to the Don Muang airport to pick up 150 copies of the discussions and flip charts in the Thai language. We had to get these materials through Thai customs. This is not a simple process. You hire a man who knows the process to do the work for you; however in this case this was not enough. I had to demonstrate to the customs official how we used these materials. He listened to my presentation for a few minutes and then said, "OK get this stuff out of here". </div> <bR> <div> It was exciting to have flip charts with Thai people rather than American people in them. With the discussions printed in Thai, the Thai missionaries will have an easier time learning them. Sister Sri was pleased with the results of the work and I imagined what the day might be like when the first copies of the Book of Mormon were brought back to the office. </div> <bR> <div> In the evening we worked with our new Zone Leaders - one from my group and one who just recently went out with on a ZL visit up north. On Friday I had to go with Elder Garrett to register the mission vehicles.  It was worse than home - the lines were even longer! On Saturday we helped the American (English) branch with a missionary open house. Many of them brought Thais with whom they work and it was a good event. There was a recent incident in Cambodia where many American servicemen were killed. The Air Force members told us how badly this event went for America. A whole town in Cambodia disappeared as well. I wrote, "The War in Southeast Asia goes on what's next?"</div> <bR> <div> <B>Week #95 - March 30-April 5, 1975 - Bangkok, Thailand</B></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="272" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 291 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0dd001d0.jpg" border=0 width="256" height="285" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 38 WIDTH="260"><div> Elder Haslam at a street meeting in Praduu Nam (Water Gate)</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> Since we have no member responsibilities on Sunday we now spend time doing missionary work. We spent 4 hours at a street meeting at one of the nice shopping areas in Bangkok Praduu Nam (translation Water Gate!). It wasn't bad. After sacrament services my companion wasn't feeling well so we stayed home (in our apartment at the Church). On Monday we joined the Elders and Members from Thonburi for a trip to Ayuthaya. It was great to see my friends there again. Sister Hunsa became the second member in Ayuthaya. We went to see the ruins and then to the King's summer palace back down the great river about 20 km toward Bangkok.</div> <bR> <div> On April 2nd the typing of the manuscript of the Book of Mormon was complete. All that's left (other than the index I am working on) is to review, approve and publish. I wrote Brother Kan Watanabe in Japan who supervises the translation work in Asia to advise him of our progress.</div> <bR> <div> On Thursday we had zone conference and started it with our cultural event of seeing the national museum.</div> <bR> <div> At this time Vietnam fell to the Communists and they were on the move into Cambodia.  Many missionaries and most Thais were very nervous about what they saw happening around them. They wondered if the Vietnamese might also invade Thailand and turn it into a communist state as well. Elder Eldredge had parents working for the U.S. government in Saigon. We had not yet received word if they made it out safely or not. This was a major concern for Elder Eldredge and the other missionaries were concerned as well. [It was about a week later that we learned they had made it out of Saigon safely]. Elder O'Brian (one of my former companions) asked President Morris - how would we know when to get on the airplane? President Morris answered, "Elder just make sure that I am on the plane before you!"</div> <bR> <div> This worry among the Thai people about what was happening nearby was a major problem for missionary work. I could often see their concern in their faces.  Few wanted to speak much to us. It was noticeably different for several weeks until it became clear that there was not going to be any attempt to overthrow Thailand.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Week #96 - April 6-12, 1975 - Bangkok, Thailand</B></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="324" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 238 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0e933e70.jpg" border=0 width="307" height="231" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 38 WIDTH="312"><div> My group of 10 missionaries stop on the road to Cambodia to ride elephants in the wild.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> Sunday April 6 - Today is the 145th anniversary of the founding of the church. It was a busy day, but nothing out of the ordinary. Monday April 7th was my final trip to Cambodia to renew my Thai visa. On the way out we passed a group of elephants on the highway headed to Bangkok. Elder Castleton stopped the van and we all got out and had an elephant ride. It must have been a sight for passers by - a group of foreigners in white shirts and ties riding these tall elephants! It was wild. </div> <bR> <div> At the border there was a long line of fuel trucks waiting to enter and there were helicopters in the sky circling. You knew that Cambodia was at war even though we could not see the war. We asked shopkeepers for Cambodian flags - but no one admitted to having any. The natives were very restless. We knew that Vietnam had fallen to the communists and now they were marching through Cambodia. They were scared - they knew the end was near. Three days later PoiPet (the city we visited in Cambodia to renew or visas) fell to the communists and the border was closed. Missionaries started making the trip to Laos to renew visas. </div> <bR> <div> English class in Bangkok never seemed to be very productive; it just wasn't as much fun as Ayuthaya. On Wednesday I wrote "I was really humbled today in working translation. There are so many things I don't know about the Thai language. We continued review of a gospel dictionary that my predecessor had worked on. We made a few changes, but not many. He must have been really good at the language." On Thursday we worked on "A Marvelous Work and a Wonder". I wrote "Sister Sri has such faith and testimony that it is really unbelievable". On Saturday a group of 14 green missionaries arrived. One of them a professional clown (Elder Toekeldson)! </div> <bR> <div> Sister Sri and I performed the final review of the sacrament prayers. We changed very little but did make one change so that the sentence flows better. [Later when the prayers were translated for the Doctrine and Covenants that change was thrown out. It was not that Srilaksana did not like it, rather it was because the new manager of translation in Thailand did not like it]. Since the D&C translation is the official one that is what is used today for the sacramental prayers in the Thai language. We also removed the word prat (or holy) as an adjective in front of the word blood. It seemed un-necessary to repeat the adjective holy since it was clear we were speaking of a holy person. There are so many instances of the word prat that it gets annoying. I also started to translate the weekly missionary report into Thai for the benefit of the native missionaries.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Week #97 - April 13-19, 1975 - Bangkok, Thailand</B></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="373" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 300 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0e15d260.jpg" border=0 width="349" height="294" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 38 WIDTH="361"><div> Elder Haslam at a street meeting at Sanaam Luang The giant park next to the Royal Palace in Bangkok</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> Today I had fun with the greenies.  At 9:00 A.M. they came over from the nearby hotel. They came for church but the A.P.'s wanted them to get out and work. I asked, "Who wants to go to a street meeting?" They all just sat there. I could tell they were in cultural shock! Finally the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey clown Elder Torkeldson said, "I'll go". On the way to the weekend market at Sanaam Luang I learned that he was a recent convert. The busses were crowded and he couldn't believe it. He was in shock. The street meeting went pretty well. It was Thai New Year when people throw water at each other. We returned to the chapel without getting wet. In the evening we went to see Anukul's parents to seek permission for him to be baptized. Upon arriving we found that he had not discussed anything with his parents. I tried to be polite and tactful I told him Anukul wanted to join the church. His father laughed and said, "No, he can attend church but he cannot join your church". He repeated that statement 10 times. He never gave us a reason. On P-day we went to the beach southeast of Bangkok - Chonburi - I had visited a few times previously while serving in Chacherngsao, which is not too far inland from Chonburi.</div> <bR> <div> On Wednesday President Morris gave me a talk to translate. It was for district conference in May when a Thai was to be called as central district president.</div> <bR> <div> After a long discussion with a gentleman well versed in English at a street meeting I wrote the following…. "This is one of my great faults. I'm not tolerant of people who are at fault. I enjoyed proving to that guy that he was wrong and I was right. I made him eat his words on a few things, but when he ate them I'm sure he didn't feel very good. I need to learn how to guide people to find their own mistakes and correct them themselves - rather than looking to prove I'm right. This is one of my personality problems that I need to overcome.</div> <bR> <div> Sister Srilaksana told me about a letter from Korani where she complained that the Thais like to study with American's cause that's cool, but they shy away from studying with the Thais.</div> <bR> <div> On Friday I had my eyes checked to find out what the black spots were that floated through my field of vision. Were they some effect of the Rabies' treatment? No just vitreous floaters - common in people that are near sighted.</div> <bR> <div> On Saturday PoiPet fell to the communists and now the missionaries must take the train to NongKai and cross the Mekong to Laos to renew visas.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Week #98 - April 20-26, 1975 - Bangkok, Thailand</B></div> <bR> <div> On Sunday the 20th I wrote, "I was depressed today and really felt bad. At the end of the day I was determined to get things straightened out and that the last eight weeks of my mission would be just full of accomplishment and good feelings".</div> <bR> <div> On Monday evening we taught Anukul about the commandments and he committed to living them. It is sad that he cannot get his parent's permission to join the church. After teaching him he went with us to find a referral near his home. We found the referral, but he really wasn't interested.</div> <bR> <div> This week Sister Sri and I made great progress with "A Marvelous Work and a Wonder" One trouble we have is that when it quotes the Bible. Sometimes the Thai Bible is so poor we cannot use it. In such cases we retranslate the Bible scriptures and note the new translation in the footnotes. We covered 3 full chapters during the week. </div> <bR> <div> During the week we did splits with the zone leaders. We tracted an area of fairly nice homes and were totally unsuccessful except for running into a snake! The boy who came to the gate saw the snake too and killed it. He said it was mildly poisonous. On Saturday Sister Sri did not make it to the office so I was able to make good progress translating the index to the Book of Mormon.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Week #99 - April 27- May 3, 1975 - Bangkok, Thailand </B></div> <bR> <div> Sunday's we now proselyte except for Sacrament meeting at 1 PM. our morning tracting was unproductive. At sacrament there was a good group of investigators who attended. After dinner we went to home teach Sister Sri. We found a good group of ward members there at here home that has been the gathering place for them for years. You might say she was the mother hen to the flock. To end Sunday's the Elders in the area have priesthood meeting followed by district meeting.</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="260" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 330 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0dff5440.jpg" border=0 width="245" height="324" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 76 WIDTH="248"><div> Elder Haslam outside the Egamai Apartments. The only apartment building in which missionaries in Thailand lived.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> To start P-day the 6 Elders in the Egamai apartment challenged the 6 Elders in Asoke (the chapel) to a basketball game. They knew they could win; or so they thought.  Asoke (my team) won in overtime 40-38. </div> <bR> <div> On Tuesday Sister Sri opened up to me with some of her problems - bad back - 10 brothers and sisters none of who talk to her anymore. Her mother was over to visit a sister who lives near Sister Sri and was there all day but did not stop to see Sister Sri. She said that since she has been a member of the church (almost 7 years) that she has been in the hospital 3 times. First time 2 family members came to see her, second time 1 came and the third time - no one came. She asked "I'm the only member of my family who is a member of then church, then why to I suffer the most physically and emotionally? Often it is more suffering than I can bear". Today was clearly one of those days. I suggested that Elder Garrett and I give her a blessing. I gave her a blessing in English (I felt more comfortable that way and I knew that she could understand it). The blessing was long. I told her how she was foreordained to do the work that she was presently engaged in. I spoke of her great faith and how it has worked miracles and will continue to work miracles and bring light of the gospel of Jesus Christ into the lives of others. I commended her for the work she does with her 3 daughters and blessed her to feel better so that she could continue her work. Elder Garrett said that when the blessing was over he felt like he floated out of the translation room. I concluded my journal entry "what a great lady Sister Sri is and what a great blessing to be able to work with her".</div> <bR> <div> On Wednesday Elder A. Theodore Tuttle of the Seventy visited and taught the Elders of the Central Zone who could come to Bangkok. He had just come from teaching missions and stakes in Australia. His message was, "How to bring families into the church". My first reaction was "does he know about our mission?" He supervised missions in South America and had developed many proselyting methods used there. Does he think Thailand is like South America? He told us, "Families are the goal and this is how you do it".  His talk made us all feel like we'd been going the wrong direction. The surprising thing was that at about this time families started to join the church in Thailand - particularly in the poorer northeast section of the country. In the evening we tracted out a family of Brother Sagon- that family did have potential.</div> <bR> <div> On Thursday the mission held its 1st youth conference - perhaps better-said youth and young adult conference. It was exciting to see them all gather at Asoke to take the bus to Putthaya on the southeast coast of the Gulf of Thailand for the conference. The next day Sister Sri complained that the members have not learned to take responsibility. Those assigned to help her with food for conference failed to show up.</div> <bR> <div> On Saturday we returned to visit Sagon and did have a great family home evening with him and his whole family.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Week #100 - May 4-10, 1975 - Bangkok, Thailand</B></div> <bR> <div> On Sunday we tracted for families, but found none. We also taught an older Chinese gentleman who seems sincerely interested in the gospel but who is so shy that it is difficult for us to get him to share his feelings. On Monday P-day it was Buddha's birthday. We took time to travel west to see the famous bridge over the river Kwai. In Nakorn Phatom (a city with missionaries we stopped to see them and the largest Pagoda in Thailand). A pagodais a large cone shaped structure that is built to house artifacts of Lord Buddha. However, no one really seems to know what artifacts are included in each one. At the pagoda we found a family worshipping (owing to the birthday celebration).  </div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="471" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 321 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0e5d9320.jpg" border=0 width="217" height="306" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0e7e62f0.jpg" border=0 width="230" height="303" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 57 WIDTH="220"><div> The largest pagoda in Thailand located in Nakorn Phatom</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="232"><div> Elder Haslam on the Bridge over the river Kwai. In the distance is Burma.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> On the bus ride to the famous bridge I read an address by President Kimball where he said, "Marriage should not be delayed and children should come along straight-away". Wow I thought I'm almost done with my mission and will be home soon with this big decision coming in my life. I wrote, "I thought that at least after all I have learned on my mission I'll be better prepared when it does come". Arriving at the bridge we found that the river was wide and shallow (many Thai rivers are this way). We saw where the bombed out bridge stood and walked across the replacement bridge. On the way back across the bridge we met an old man who lived near the west end of the bridge and had lived through all the events that took place here during World War II. He told us about the incessant bombing that took place until the 2 former bridges were both bombed out. He pointed out where the old bridges stood. It was pretty cool to hear the authentic story of this historical event from a man who experienced it himself during WWII. The British government pays the costs of keeping a cemetery nearby. The cemetery is in perfect shape honoring the British men who died here during that war.</div> <bR> <div> We completed teaching Anukul the young boy whose parents won't let him join the church. He's ready to be baptized, but that event in his life will have to wait.</div> <bR> <div> During the week we made more progress on the index of the Book of Mormon and A Marvelous Work and a Wonder.</div> <bR> <div> On Friday I had my last interview with President Morris (before the LAST interview). He encouraged me to finish the index to the Book of Mormon or A Marvelous Work and a Wonder before I went home. I said it would be difficult to finish either. On the way home Friday night our bus crashed into a car in front of it. We had to take a taxi home from there.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Week # 101 - May 11-17, 1975 - Bangkok, Thailand</B></div> <bR> <div> We again visited Anukul's father to see if he'd give permission for his son to join our church. His answer was the same as before. He can attend your church but he cannot join your church. Another problem was the Anukul just can't find it within himself to explain his true feelings to his parents.</div> <bR> <div> Monday (P-day) was awesome because Brother Nydeger (the man in charge of translation for emerging languages in Salt Lake City came to visit and see if the Book of Mormon is ready for publication in Thai. I was able to go to lunch with him, President Morris and Sister Sri. With Brother Nydeger was Brother Kan Watanabe who heads all translation in Asia. After lunch we returned to the office to meet with many Thai brothers and sisters who work on translation. There we met with Sister Grace from Udorn, Sister Gulab from Bangkok and Sister Sri Phan Sister Daeng, Sister Mukdawan, - all currently serving as missionaries. Brother Nydeger remarked how it looked like the Sisters were holding up the church here in Thailand. Everyone had the chance to talk about his or her translation challenges. I thought most of these were minor issues. Then Sister Sri presented a history of the work of translating the Book of Mormon. Brother Nydeger then explained what would need to be done before printing the book. It didn't sound like much and that excited all of us. Then one sister said they thought the Book of Mormon was presented in language difficult to understand. Brother Watanabe said that you must ponder it to understand it. He had Sister Sriphan read a passage from the translation and then asked the others what did that mean in English? They gave the English interpretation and it was almost identical to the way its reads in English. Brother Watanabe added that this means it is a good translation. We then adjourned this meeting and Sister Sri and I met with Brother Nydeger and Brother Watanabe privately. We discussed the problems of providing translations of Book of Mormon passages that are also in the Bible. They told us that the words garment and endowments are not to be translated but transliterated (made to sound like the English words). </div> <bR> <div> Following this Brother Nydeger and I met privately. He asked the difficult question - Can Sister Sri run the independent translation office that he wants set up in Bangkok? I said I thought it would be better if her only responsibility was to translate. He said, "Perhaps we'll hire you to come back and run the translation office".  Note: I have wondered many times if I said the wrong thing at this point. Why? Because what eventually happened was Anun Eldredge (the first Thai missionary adopted by the Eldredge family) was hired to come back to Thailand and run the translation office. He and Sister Sri never got along well. Later he was called as the first Thai Mission President of the Thailand Bangkok Mission and there was more head butting with Sister Sri. </div> <bR> <div> At 6:00 PM President Morris took me back to Asoke and took the other brethren to their hotel. I was super excited about how close we were to printing the Book of Mormon - we can see the end now. I was so excited that everyone thought there was something wrong with me. Elder Hanks thought I was trunked out, but I was just excited at the prospects of printing the Book of Mormon in Thai.</div> <bR> <div> Work on A Marvelous Work and a Wonder progressed slowly due to the poor translations in the Thai Bible that we felt we had to re-translate. </div> <bR> <div> We met with Anukul and promised him that if he followed the commandments that he would be able to join the church someday and could receive blessings even before baptism. On Thursday we spent two hours in the morning visiting with my companion's Aunt at her hotel. She was visiting Thailand as a tourist. The hotel was very nice. I asked myself, "Where do you find carpet like this in Thailand?" On Friday night we went outside Bangkok on a home teaching visit to a sister we felt needed help. In the dark we found her home, but were told she had gone to Bangkok. This trip took our whole evening.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Week #102 - May 18-24, 1975 - Bangkok, Thailand</B></div> <bR> <div> Central District Conference - Today was a great conference for the members in the Bangkok area. Ayuthaya was well represented with 12 people coming from there - most of whom I knew and had worked with during my months in that city. It was great to be able to speak with them again. One girl even brought her mother - a native India Indian in real Indian dress! A native Thai was called for the first time to be district president (Brother Brajuab). President Morris used my translation to announce his call to the congregation. Prior to this time an American (usually someone connected to the military had been district president). It was difficult for an American who speaks no Thai to lead Thai members. The chapel and the gym were full of Thai people (50% of whom were non-members).</div> <bR> <div> After the meeting we went to see Wichit and his family. We explained that we came to Thailand to teach religion and not English, therefore we would not be returning to their home. They understood and we departed friends.</div> <bR> <div> P-day was shopping day in preparation for returning home - on my list - Thai Books, woodcarvings, and shoes (custom made) etc. I sent two large boxes home at the post office via boat. In the evening we tracted the wealthier suburbs of Bangkok proved to not be very productive. We tracted in President Morris' neighborhood for 3 hours and only got in one house. </div> <bR> <div> The church auditor visited our mission this week and this kept my companion Elder Garrett busy with office work. On Thursday we were at the office from 7am to 7pm missing both breakfast and dinner at our apartment. In the end the auditor asked Elder Garrett to make just a few minor changes in what he had been doing.</div> <bR> <div> On Wednesday we reviewed the spellings for Church and Mormon. Sri explained her reasons for the spelling of church as a combination of religion and organization. In the evening we met with Anukul again to keep him strong as his parents will not let him be baptized.</div> <bR> <div> On Friday we gave the Joseph Smith story to a protestant family. Somehow the story had no impact upon them. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Week #103 - May 25-31, 1975 - Bangkok Thailand</B></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="338" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 254 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0db49e90.jpg" border=0 width="329" height="233" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="3" VSPACE="3"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 22 ><NOBR><div> Elder Haslam outside the Asoke Chapel</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> Today was my last formal talk in Church at the Thai Bangkok branch. Elder Koniusy the branch president asked me to talk about Christ and our relationship to him. Even he said I did a good job. </div> <bR> <div> On P-day I made my last trip to Ayuthaya to say good-bye to all my friends in that area. We arrived in time for breakfast. It was a good visit. Some of them said they'd come to the airport (about ½ way to Bangkok) to see me off when I go home. I also received my last Cholera shot on this date. I took about 30 needles to get me through my mission including vaccinations (including rabies), gamma-globulin shots (to reduce the problems if I were to get hepatitis) and blood tests.</div> <bR> <div> Progress continued on the review of "A Marvelous Work and a Wonder". We were at chapter 19 - which covers much of D&C 76. There was some serious translation to be done here. What an amazing revelation that was! It now looks like perhaps I can finish MWW before I return home.</div> <bR> <div> On Wednesday we went to Promitr Hospital, not for me, but for Elder Garrett who has been battling something like the flu. We also had our weekly meeting with Anukul.</div> <bR> <div> Sagon's family was receptive but the father seemed fearful of the negative impacts of him joining a Christian faith in Buddhist Thailand. His son however was very interested about the Joseph Smith story and promised to read the pamphlet. If he were to press on perhaps he can bring the rest of his family with him. </div> <bR> <div> On Friday evening I went out with Elder Chidester, while Elder Koniuszy went with Elder Garrett. We visited a native of India and shared a discussion with him. That was very interesting. Elder Chidester ended up marrying a Thai woman and today they operate a Thai restaurant in Sandy called "Simply Thai".</div> <bR> <div> Now for the story of Elder Brown my last greenie (Trainee). Since the last transfers he'd been hanging around the office because he may be sent home to answer a lawsuit brought against him regarding a car he fixed up and sold. I had gone with him to purchase his ticket home. Knowing that his father was an orthodontist, I thought it was silly that his Dad would not step up and resolve this problem. Finally stepped forward and settled the case so Elder Brown would not have to go home. He was just about to depart when the phone call from SLC came. Elder Brown was happy because he said he knew had he gone home he would not have come back.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Week # 104 - June 1-7, 1975 - Bangkok, Thailand</B></div> <bR> <div> Sunday June 1st was fast and testimony meeting in Thailand. Thailand's largest branch had 30-40 members in attendance; however, the testimonies were awesome. We had some success tracting in Huay Kwang in the morning and evening.</div> <bR> <div> On June 2 the first 2 missionaries in my group of 12 (two had previously quit and gone home leaving 10), Elders Martell and Woodard woke us up. Elder Martell just had two show us the two tailored suits he had purchased. One was purple and the other was green, we'll that is Elder Martell. They reported things in the Northeast were heating up. </div> <bR> <div> That afternoon the Pollock Elder Koniuzy wanted to take the AP's out to dinner before they go home. He said Elder Garrett and I could tag along if we paid for ourselves - so we did. The restaurant was on the top of Bangkok's tallest building a place called the Chochai's Steakhouse. We enjoyed $5 stakes and talked about how quickly the end of our missions had come. On Tuesday my companion took ill at about 1PM so I returned to Asoke with him and continued to work on the index to the Book of Mormon while he slept. On Wednesday I became convinced that Sister Sri and I could finish "A Marvelous Work and a Wonder" before I go home. </div> <bR> <div> On Wednesday evening June 4th, as we were traveling into a new subdivision in Huay Kwang that we'd been tracting for a couple of days I met Bunyaa.  This is the man who 6 months later joined the church. We agreed we'd go to his home and talk more about the gospel. We told him of Joseph Smith; I wrote, "He listened, but nothing pointed out that he was a golden contact". </div> <bR> <div> On Thursday we finished chapter 23 of MWW. Anukul went with us to our street meeting that evening. I wrote, "Some day he'll be a good missionary". He tells his countrymen that he knows the gospel we've brought to Thailand is true. </div> <bR> <div> On Friday three more in my group left for home including the assistants Elders Castleton and Welling. Elder Palfreyman came down from the northeast and brought his companion Elder Richardson with him. Richardson brought his luggage (which I could not figure out).  Elder Castleton explained that Elder Richardson should spend time with me and then I caught on that he was my replacement. At first I thought - hum perhaps I should have left today - my replacement is here. Then I thought - no I can still finish MWW and perhaps the index to the Book of Mormon. Also it took me two weeks to figure out what to do on translation; with Richardson here I can tell him directly how things operate. We taught Bunyaa more of the 1st discussion that evening. Elder Richardson was excited about our teaching pool. On Saturday Sister Ratchaniewan from Ayuthaya was baptized being the 4th member baptized there in the last 6 months. I was able to speak with her before we left for the office. Also Sister Uphin was baptized up north on this same day. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Week # 105 Extended - June 8-18, 1975 - Bangkok, Thailand</B></div> <bR> <div> Our teaching pool was growing as we had 2 investigators at church and taught them both lessons that afternoon. A threesome was clearly more difficult as you have to get 3 people going in the same direction. </div> <bR> <div> On June 9th I celebrated 2 years since I had departed on my mission. It was P-day and we went to see the canals and floating markets in Thonburi across the great river from Bangkok. We also saw the King's barges on this day and Elder Richardson and I went to a movie all in Thai about Thai culture.</div> <bR> <div> We visited Bunyaa (the man I met a week earlier - he was baptized a few months later). He welcomed us and gave us some pop to drink. His home was 1 hour from our apartment at the church at Asoke. I wrote in my journal "Bunyaa is interested in religion, but I don't yet know why". It was a two-hour commute and a one-hour lesson. We worked a solid 8 hours at the office on A MARVELOUS WORK AND A WONDER and the index to the Book of Mormon. </div> <bR> <div> On June 11, 1975, I completed the translation of the index to the Book of Mormon translating Zoramites. The index is the only part of the Book of Mormon that was translated principally by an American (myself) and the reviewed with Sister Sri. </div> <bR> <div> On June 12th we did the final review of the Thai spelling of all the proper names in the Book of Mormon. These decisions are now final - the names are fixed for good.  We did change a few but not many. </div> <bR> <div> On Friday June 13th we finished A MARVELOUS WORK AND A WONDER - both tasks were now complete - the Book of Mormon (index) and the final review of a Marvelous Work and a Wonder. How blessed I felt I was to complete both projects before returning home. A MARVELOUS WORK AND A WONDER will be the first major church book to be printed in Thai - it should be done in 4-6 months. </div> <bR> <div> The prior day 9 green Elders (the first to do language training in Provo and not Hawaii) arrived in Thailand. I went tracting with Elder Robertson (one of the greenies). He told me how crowded and unprepared Provo was to take over the Thai missionaries. June 14th - my last day in the office. We reviewed some of the recommendations of the reviewer the church had hired to review the Book of Mormon. She was a Thai attending USU. Many of her marks were due to typographical errors. A few we accepted, others we rejected. Sister Sri and I then got to say our goodbyes. She said she was impressed with every Elder who sacrifices time to be a missionary. She told me how badly she wanted a son who (1) could hold the Priesthood in her home, and (2) serve a mission. She said there were only 4-5 Elders who had worked with her who had been excellent in the Thai language and I was one of them. I filled out my final missionary report.</div> <bR> <div> On Sunday June 15th after church I was talking with some of the members of the Bangkok branch (mostly sisters) when I hear Elder Konuizy call me from the Elder's quarters. He said I had a phone call. Returning I found there was no such phone call - he just wanted me to quit talking with the Sisters. I was upset at him something fierce. A few weeks earlier we had gone tracting together and found new respect for each other - but this action just made me bristle. Over the next 10 years I had to repent of this feeling. I've never seen him since, but I would like to see him again if only to tell him I'd forgiven him. His explanation was of course "President Morris doesn't want any of the Elders (except me the Branch President) talking to the sisters. Returning home with Elder Richardson that evening I knew I'd done my last missionary work in Thailand and I had a lot of mixed feelings.</div> <bR> <div> June 16th - Packing for the trip home and move from Asoke to Ekamai. I left a lot of stuff I wasn't taking home with Elder Mani who was down from Korat to take over as Branch president of the Bangkok branch replacing Elder Konuizy. At Egamai I met Elder Montgomery my companion for the trip home.</div> <bR> <div> June 17th - I expected to leave Thailand today and be in Hong Kong.  Our Thai International Flight was cancelled at the last minute. At the Morris' we had sandwiches - yuck what's up with that crazy American food? In my final interview with President Morris two things stuck out in my mind. First he encouraged me to get the heck out of Utah and provide critical leadership in other countries (like he had done) - to do this you will need a wife who is willing - we'll Mom was willing but I was not. Second he asked if I was leaving Thailand with "any understandings about any Thai girls I had met while I was here". I told him, "No President - not from my point of view anyway". Next we got our passports back - took pictures with the Morris' and returned to Ekamai to get our bags. As soon as we arrived Elder Konuizy announced, "Elder Haslam - you are not going home today - the airline called and your flight has been CANCELLED". We then called the airline to ask why we'd not be in Hong Kong tonight. They said the airplane has mechanical problems. We then called President Morris who said "that's the breaks - why don't you go to the airport and say good-bye to your well wishers and then go see a movie tonight".  When we arrived by bus there were already people there to say goodbye Brother Kaw from Thonburi, Sister Duangtaa and Somjit from Ayuthaya, the Yoedmonkol sisters from Thonburi and a few people from Bangkok. It was heart warming to see so many people come to see us off. We explained that our flight was cancelled and that we'd leave in the morning. We spoke with them for about 1 hour - then most said that they would be back tomorrow. Returning to Bangkok we saw the movie "Earthquake". It was OK but not perhaps the movie you want to see before a long plane trip home. </div> <bR> <div> June 18th - The next day 3 other Elders were ready to go and so there were 5 of us. Not all the luggage would fit in the car so we had to take the mission van, but as luck would have it the old blue pig would not start. We jump started it and were off to the airport. Upon arrival all of the people who were there the day before were there again except the Yoedmongkol sisters. At the airport President Morris issued each of us a new temple recommend. I spent much of my time speaking with Sister Duangtaa, I wrote "she is just like a younger sister to me". Our flight was called and we proceeded to the plane. As I boarded I heard the following "Sawadii Elder" - our stewardess was a member of the church! Sister Pensi. During the flight to Hong Kong she gave me $50 to take to her new fiancé in the US former Elder Fred Sheppard in Salt Lake. I told her I'd be happy to give it to him. On this flight I sat by a guy from Australia. Being a missionary I hoped to talk about the gospel. He as it turned out had been to Bangkok to partake in a wild weekend of sex.  So much for getting into much of a gospel discussion. Little did I know but exactly 20 years from this day the Bangkok Thailand stake was created by Neal A. Maxwell.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>