Chiangrai

April 29, 2012


Companion: Elder Todd


Hello we people of the world,
Another week has come and gone, and so I write again. I have had a very interesting week. Last P-day I got some fine-tip colored marker thingies, so now my Journal is starting to look all pretty and stuff. I sent a letter to Talitha like I said that I would, and included that she should be pen pals with one of the members here in Chiangrai, mostly because they are the same age, and she reminds a lot of Talitha. She is a luug khrxn, which means she has a Thai mom and a Western origin father, or vice versa. Her name is Saay Fon, which is about "Morning Rain." Very pretty. On Tuesday, Elder Todd had locked one too many locks when we were leaving the house today, and we didn't realize it until we arrived at 8:30 that night. So what did we do? We broke into our house, duh. It was exciting, I jumped up onto a fence/wall, and climbed onto the roof. It was pretty low to the ground already. We shimmied up to the back porch door, and as luck would have it, the key was in the lock. Elder Todd busted in, (pushed the screen part back, it was hardly in), and turned the key and let us in. So glad that nobody was watching/caring/paying attention. My days as a secret agent are nigh at hand. I've been put in charge of the house money since Elder Hess left, which means if I pay for rides to places, get office supplies, or make copies, etc, I pay with the money that comes from the house. I had to make my first reimbursement this week, and it was so scary! Mostly because the right amount of money never seemed to be in it. I worked on that for 40 minutes trying to find where money had disappeared to. I found out that I had gotten 16 extra baht when I pulled the reimbursement thing from last time. I was very upsetting, but I fixed it and everything is 100% correct now. 

Lately, Elder Todd has been asking how many girls I've dated and stuff, every day. He mostly asked about Alison. I think he is prospecting, for a year in the future?? Way funny actually. On Friday, we had a really violent storm, that got even us way scared. We holed up in a hotel lobby thing for almost 2 hours. Watching rainstorms is nice and pretty, when you are inside and not fearing for your life. Actually the last few days there has been rain storms. THE RAINY SEASON HAS BEGUN. Yesterday, we had the opportunity to clean out the "Elder's Closet" and get things rearranged. It took about 2 hours and it is now clean. There was lots of scripture pictures and Mormonads. Mormonads are those things that you see in the New Era. They are all very clever. The best one says: "It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice," it has a picture of Jesus on it. 

That is what happened to me this week, well a summary. We also invited a lot and taught lots of lessons, and lots of other missionary stuff. I don't want to bore you with that. Yep, the end.

Elder Anthony Susi

Chiangrai

April 22, 2012

Companion: Elder Todd

Hello, Hello, Hello,
Today is another P-day. We have had an interesting week full of inviting, inviting, inviting. We are just hoping for the best. We have had a special training about family history, and we are so excited to use it. We are trying to get a four-generation pedigree chart from new.familysearch.org, but it's being difficult. I also don't think that we are allowed to use ancestry.com or I'd be done so fast. I also would probably do some search, because that is so fun to do! 

Again, not too much happened, except for when we went to visit an investigator. We went there to see if they were home and make an appointment and the aunt/sister of the investigators came out saying they weren't home. She did this in a bra, thank goodness she was wearing pants too. 

It's so exciting to see people go on a mission. Brandon has the most unique one that I've ever heard of, and Jeremy is going to a nice place. I'm way excited for Brandon. Too bad, he isn't coming here with me. 

I don't know what else to say, except for HAPPY BIRTHDAY TALITHA!!! I'll be sending her a letter today, so she'll get it in a few weeks. 

OK bye, don't forget my SKYPE thingy before Mother's Day. 
Elder Anthony Susi

Chiangrai

April 15, 2012

Companion: Elder Todd

Hello Mom,

The only Elders on my bus back to Chiangrai were me and my new companion. I did do a squat-a-potty a couple of weeks ago. I was like in and out, and Elder Hess was like, "Did you really go?" I was fast.  There are three giant Daddy-Long Legs above my head. *in a hushed* I'm so scared right now. Brother Ton told me about your blog thingy. I hope that you have fun with it. Everybody ON the blog, "Hello, I am Anthony Susi. Nice to meet you." I'm scared to write letters, just because they take about 2-3 weeks to get to America.

We arrived in Bangkok at 4 am Thursday morning. We went to Moves Meeting, saw my MTC district, got my new companion, renewed my VISA, fixed my work permit thingy, and came home. I saw Elder Simonsen. He's still way cool. I'm probably gonna give the same greeting to Elder Slaughter, so get ready John! On Friday, we arrived home at about 9:30, we had to first fix our bikes. Both bikes had flats, we pumped up Elder Todd's and had to get a patch on mine. We went and got Songkran shirts, mine was a pink flower shirt, his a purple one. Purchased a little water gun, and rode through downtown, towards Central, we got wet. Only wet, compared to later. We ate some MickeyD's and continued.

The members called to tell us to go to School Dam Ron, so we tried to go there. One our way to I didn't know where, we found the members. They got us soaked, but we got them back. We started to follow them, because we thought that they were going there, turns out they weren't. We finally made it, thanks to another member, where we totally were drenched. Drunk people, happy people, children, white people were all having fun. We saw a tranny, but avoided her/him. It was way fun, Saturday and Sunday, we kinda tried to avoid all craziness, worked sort of. My new companion is Elder Todd, his family lives in Salt Lake City, and he's been out a year next month. 

I don't know what to write today. Today for P-day, we are just gonna chill.

Have fun with your lives,

Elder Anthony Susi

Chiangrai

April 9, 2012

Companion: Elder Hess

Hey,
I love Goblin Valley. Hope everyone liked it.

Um, so last month, I didn't have enough, I pulled out enough to continue through the month. It was only about a week left, so I had leftovers. The second withdrawal was for a just-in-case-I-run-out-of-money. Emergency cash. I pulled out about 7000 baht all together, I don't know how much that is in dollars, I think the exchange rate is 33 baht for 1 dollar.

Our moves meeting is in Bangkok, where I started my life as a missionary. We are taking a bus on Wednesday and riding for about 15 hours to get there and then about 30 or less minutes to the church. Where we all find out who is being companions with who.

I feel like I have had a spiritual moment, but I won't share it, not yet at least.

This experience is actually teaching me about love. Because of the loving nature of Thailand, people here politely reject you. "Sorry, but I am watching my baby," or "I'm eating" are nice ways of saying "I'm not interested." Also, Thailand church is definitely not like not other churches. If you ever go to church in Thailand you'll see, it mostly has to do with children in our church.

I hope to congratulate Bart and Chelsea with the baby. Let me know name and other stuff.
OK, have fun with your travels and see you soon,
Elder Anthony Susi

Elder Hess from Fielding, Utah. Anthony's training companion

Chiangrai

April 9, 2012

Companion: Elder Hess

Hey mom, and people everywhere,

Happy Easter! We don't get one. Well we do, but nobody celebrates it out here. So we watched General Conference finally on Easter. I totally forgot until the Sunday Afternoon session when somebody mentioned Easter and I was like "Oh hey, it's Easter." General Conference was good. Brother Ton, downloaded the sessions into English, so Elder Hess and I were able to listen to them. YAY! Brother Ton! 

Today is not technically P-day, but we get to send emails anyway. Reason why it isn't P-day today, because there is this thing called Son Gran here which is like a giant Nationwide water fight that starts on Thursday. Friday is our P-day, I need to buy a water gun pronto. Yes, that's allowed. 

We haven't had Moves Meeting yet, but will this Thursday. We leave on Wednesday, (two days!), and we'll see who my new companion is. As of yet, we haven't been told who's moving and who's staying. The suspension is killing us. 

Saw the picture of the kids, Matthew's tie screams "I'm a future Band Geek!" Beware the band geek. So the blond Elder was up here in ChiangRai because his companion was here to find out if he needed to be in the army or not. The companion is not going to be in the army, by the way. The companion is: Elder Anon, the army or not elder, and Elder Potter, the blond elder. When we go to Chiang Mai, we go by bus, about three hour ride. Not too bad. I'm so glad that I missed Spring Cleaning, but we did clean up our house majorly last Monday. Speaking of which, we didn't go anywhere, we had lots of things that we had to do. Sad, that was our last P-day together. I'm excited to see Matthew's letters. Send them soon? Or, I will get them soon? I don't know. 

Oh, question. What is ghost chicken wings? and why are Brandon and James so funny? 

Ok, see everyone soon. 
Elder Anthony Susi


Oh my gosh, I forgot! I got my package. Elder Hess totally thought that I look just like Chris. Garments are good. Apogrypha is nice. Chex mix are already gone, had it about 2 days now. Pretzels are almost gone. The almanac is great. We were really surprised that the bunny wasn't melted. The flavor packs are heaven. And the eggs are nice, who made them. We had the opportunity to get our packages when we were in Chiangmai. 14lbs is a lot of box, and Elder Hess got a package too. Manila envelope sized. yep. I got a big box. 


Songkran Thailand New Years celebration

Chiangrai

April 1, 2012


Companion: Elder Hess


Dear people of the USA,

Let me start by saying, there is a big ant on my computer right now, just walking back and forth on the screen. Yep weird. 

I acquired a cold this week, still getting over it, only have a little cough left. I think today for P-day, we are going to another national forest, I way excited. The last one was way pretty and I got some good pics. Elder Hess got some too, he got one that looks like he is flipping off the waterfall and the camera blurred it. He is really doing like a "BEHOLD!" hand pose and there happens to be a water drop at the point of his hand. There is a stupid kid playing Minecraft on the computer near me and it's super distracting. It looks like such an interesting game, but is so time wasting. 

We figured that our parents would talk about Conference, we haven't seen it yet, but will this coming Sunday. Most likely I'll hear it in Thai, but the Liahona comes next month so, I can definitely read what they said. 

The G-string on my guitar broke last night. I'm probably gonna replace it today. Most likely get the other strings too, in case those break soon. Elder Hess is getting really good at the piano, he practices every day, for at least an hour daily. Wow. I didn't know that a new mall was opening in SLC. Is it because it is since I left the MTC new construction wise? Probably not, I just never noticed it. I hope that everyone has a good Spring Break. Just keep trying with Matthew. 

Ok, see y'all later,

Elder Anthony Susi 

Chiangrai

March 11, 2012


Companion: Elder Hess


Hello again, 
This week seemed like a pretty slow week. We went to Chiang Mai twice this week: one for a zone meeting, and two district conference. So we went and rode elephants right? Well it was kinda fun, very relaxing and the area where we were made it a beautiful experience. (Fun fact: Did you know that elephant feces floats?) We had the opportunity to feed the elephants and we were warned to not tease the elephants. We soon found out why. Brother Ton was feeding an elephant and then wanted to do a peace sign while the trunk was there. So he put out his hand like he had food and waited for the trunk, he made a peace sign, and I took a picture. Right afterwards, the elephant roared at us. He was so angry. We discovered that day why ancient wars had the use of elephants in Asia, they are certainly scary we they are angry. No one got hurt, don't worry. 

We are getting closer and closer to our moves meeting, and Elder Hess and I are trying to guess who is moving and who isn't. He thinks that he is staying to train again, and I think that I am staying and getting a follow-up trainer. I also hope that I move to a new place, that would be so exciting. I wonder where I would go. 

As I am sitting here, typing my email, I discovered a white hair on my arm!! Ah!! Don't worry, it is no more. Today, we went over a journals for unknown reasons. But I discovered things in my journal. My first day in the MTC, I called Elder Hansen and Elder Tzanis, Brother Hansen and Brother Tzanis. Ugh, I was so dumb. I also discovered that my writings are kinda funny. Like, for instance: "Today we went to go visit a former investigator, and then afterwards, went inviting. When we were done we were walking back to our bikes and were almost killed by a bear! JK, it was a dog, but thank God, it was on a chain." Funny right? Yeah, probably not. 

I just got a Dear Elder from Brandon, from February 21, 2012. Wow, that was a long time ago. There was so many things that I didn't know about! Brandon says that he is getting buff. *shakes head in disbelief* I don't believe him. How is my "crew" doing. Brandon and Tanner groups. I know where Boyd is, but I don't think that missionaries can email each other, because I tried to send an email to my younger Thai group in the MTC, but it errored on me. Brandon also said that he isn't dating girls because, "I think that watching TV and playing games is a better waste of my time and money." Slightly true, but I totally regret going on any dates before I came out here. I bet he will too. 

I think it interesting that the girls still freak out like that, that you can record them and put them on Youtube. Let me know how that does. How are my videos doing? I'm pretty sure that the only one that is doing any good is the LEGO one. You'll have to send that video, unless it won't let you. 

Elder Hess just got an email from his family wearing all his clothes. I'm not saying that I want pictures like that, but is Matthew wanting my clothes? Tell him, if he fits in them, he can wear them. Just don't tear them. Then send pics. I think that it will be a while before he can fit in them though. hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. 

5 Words from Thai to English:

brathan: president
nguu: snake
baa: crazy
muu: pork
txxnten: excited

Wow, that was a lot. Thanks for everything y'all.
Elder Anthony Susi

Chiangrai

March 18, 2012

Companion: Elder Hess

Hello from เชียงรๅย!
So this week we had our first storms of the year! Yay! They were so cool! Except for the part where the power went out, the wind blew so hard that trees fell over and I could hear things flying around, and the fact that lightning was getting pretty close to our house. It was kinda funny, because when it started, I said "Where's a flashlight?" and Elder Hess didn't know so, I went downstairs to the extra study room and grabbed the flashlight. I noticed that the batteries were pretty much dead and grabbed my suitcase with a bagillion AA batteries and switched the batteries. As soon as I switched them and saw that it worked the power went out and Elder Hess called out, "Dang it! Why did you have to be right?!" It was out for an hour and then the lights came back on. It was fun. Two days later, it did the same thing, but earlier in the day. Thank goodness we were right next to the house. We went in and went through less-active members (there are a lot) and tried calling them. At one point, we stopped and watched the rain, and we saw that with the amount of rain and the excessive wind that it made waves in the rain. It was neat. 

Just the other day, we went inviting past the big mall and the mountain temple and came to this ladies' house. She was very energetic and had a son that was a soldier, wow. She kept getting up to go answer her phones and stuff, so Elder Hess and I played I-SPY. She had a lot of stuff to play it with. Then, we went down the street to this other ladies' house and her friend was there with HER little boy. After we sat down, all of these little kids somehow appeared. I felt obligated to give them something so that they would stay so that maybe we could talk with their parents. So I gave them each a piece of 5 Watermelon flavored gum. They sat and listened. When we left, they followed us and talked with us. At one point I think that they went to their house, because all of a sudden, they had a box in the basket of their bikes and was giving it to us to look at. It was full of Japanese Yu-Gi-Oh cards, very cool. Then they started to ride away, and we can't take things from people: money, children, Yu-Gi-OH cards. So we had to give it back to them, I think that they were sad that we didn't want them? 

When I was sick, I actually called the Mission President's wife and told her what was wrong with me. She "diagnosed" me and told me what medicine to get, and if I wasn't feeling better soon to go get a certain medicine from a hospital that she would tell me when I told her I was still sick. 

Last week for P-day, we went to a driving range with Brother Ton and whacked some balls. It was alright I guess, I still suck at golf so sure. This week, today, we are going to a National Forest Park and going to see a waterfall that is apparently very pretty. 

Being in Thailand is actually kinda funny. Lately we've been hearing swear words, coming from Thai people. It's like hearing a baby swear, it's really funny. We've heard a person say F you to his friends and run off. Then it church, yeah church, yesterday, I think one of the Sisters was complaining about how cold the classroom was (it was at 23) and she's like, "Elder! (says something in Thai here) What the H?" Elder Hess and I started busting up, then we had to explain that it was not a good word and she said wouldn't say it again. Too crazy. 

5 Words From English to Thai:

grod-angry
ron-hot
now-cold
blian-change
sookapab-health

Ok, that's it. See y'all later,
Elder Anthony Susi

Chiangrai

March 4, 2012

Companion: Elder Hess

Dear Mommy,
hi. How are you? I got over my illness? I only have a cough now, and a slight one at that. I turned out that I had a virus and maybe anoxeric too. I thought anorexia because I realized that I didn't eat from about Sunday afternoon until Thursday morning. It wasn't very fun. I don't know why teenage girls like to do it. On purpose. I hope that Matthew actually had fun in Disneyland. It sounds like a lot is happening at our house. Family moving away, family visiting, government overthrow, and remodeling.  I hope that Bill and Mary had a good time in Utah? It sounded like they came to visit. You'll have to send pictures of the remodeling so I can see the house. It's hard to imagine what it might look like. I'm glad that Glacier is still fluffy. I'm probably gonna write in each email that Brother Ton is my favorite member here in Chiangrai. His is right, I had a fever, and I definitely need to eat more fruits and veggies. I am just so darn picky and don't want to eat the veggies when they are in weird broth soup stuff. I've been buying apples to snack on at the house. Yum. They really are good, and we have some bananas too. I should go buy grapes and stuff as well. 

Ok, news. Today, we are going to ride ELEPHANTS!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited! Elder Hess and I made a list of things to do in our first week together and riding elephants is the thing to do. Riding ostriches was too, by the way. So I made a list of things that I am craving from  America that I cannot find here: pretzels, chex mix, and a picture of Chris, I realize that I don't have one. So on Sunday, I wasn't really feeling what the members made for lunch after church, so I grabbed some pineapple and was quite content to just eat that. 20 minutes later, one of the grandma members (Grandma G) comes with this bag of freshly bought chicken and sticky rice. She went to buy me food, because she didn't want me to starve. I felt so obligated to eat it, but was kinda full already, so Elder Hess came and helped me eat. Our members, the cool ones, every Saturday have a sports excursion where they go to this sports/excercise area and play a sport for an hour or more and the last two weeks us as missionaries have been asked to go. Last week was Basketball and this week was Soccer. We played, knowing fully well that we still had to fast for 18 hours, and we were sooooo thirsty afterwards. AUGH! But whatevs, it was kinda fun. One member, Brother Bird has been teaching me songs on guitar, I can now play The Lazy Song by i don't know and Love Story by Taylor Swift. Wooo!!


To my crewmates, Brandon Johnson, Nic Van Oene, and Alison Berghout: What the deal is? You wait until I leave to have tons of fun!!! 

5 Words from Thai to English:

suu suu do by: continue on/ fight on (idiom)
jin: true
jin uh: really?
pee nong: sibling
haa haa haa: 555

Sweet that's it. Thanks for the memories, thanks for the memories,
Elder Anthony Susi (the one with a Pikachu on the back of his Daily Planner)

Chiangrai

February 26, 2012


Companion: Elder Hess

Hello,
How are you?
Me?
I'm sick! I'm pretty sure that it's because we decided to stop at a side restaurant that we had never been to before. I feel all stiff and gross, and need food or something because my stomach hurts. I'm not sure
Anyway, I got my first baptism. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Her name is ปอย (Boy) and she was too excited. We counted the other night how many lessons that we taught her. 9. We taught her nine lessons, just enough to teach all the lessons plus the commandments. Wow, and she came to church for four weeks in a row, the first day we taught for until last Saturday is our lesson span. 
Brother Ton (ฅ้น) gave me John Slaughter's news, only because he was coming to Thailand. I'm so excited for that, and he will be in the group that replaces Elder Hess. Yay/NO!! I'm also happy for everyone else. 
So a goal right now is to obtain a dragon tie, and I haven't been able to find one, wanna help me out? haha

5 Thai Words to English:

baa-crazy
brasood-to be royally born
soodjay-all your heart (the name of our Branch President)
narag-cute
oggamlangguy-excercise

Ok, talk to you soon,
Elder Anthony Susi 

Chiangrai

February 26, 2012


Companion: Elder Hess


Paul's mom emailed Anthony a list of questions and he actually answered every one of them. I love finding out details. 


Hey, Grammom Mary,
I got your email today. I got your ties that you had sent for Christmas, in fact I am wearing the bright blue one right now! We don't really get to use the computers ever, only P-day for 1 to 2 hours. We think that we aren't really able to go to any other websites besides myldsmail.net. Our baptism went great! She was really excited, and very ready to be baptized. The members in our branch are the most helpful people that I have ever seen and I think most of them a scream. We have about 35 members that come to church every week, but we have quite that come every once in a while or not at all. They love to go teach with us, in fact, my companion said that they hate it when we have to go inviting, but they give us any referalls. The mall here is like the mall there: families and friends go to hang around and eat, there are lots of weird people that like to be there and American music plays over the speakers everywhere. Makes me forget where I am. They have a gigantic grocery store here that has two floors and a bagillion things to see. Pretty much like a Walmart. We buy food wherever: side restaurants, markets, grocery stores. Pretty normal.
Thanks for the email, I am happy to answer your questions.
Love you lots,
Elder Anthony Susi

On Mon, Feb 27, 2012 at 9:13 AM, MARYALICE MOORE  wrote:

Answer if you get a chance in your email to Mom.

Where do you buy food? 

Do they have grocery stores like we have in US?

What is the Mall like?

Do members go out teaching with you?

How many members?

Is it a branch or ward?

How did the baptism go?

How much time do you get to use a computer?

Do you go on Mormon.org?

Did you get the ties we sent to MTC for Christmas?

Hope you get this in time to answer.

Bill and I are so proud of you and share your emails each with with our friends.

Love ya

Grandma Mary

Chiangrai

February 19, 2012


Companion: Elder Hess

Hi!
Tell dad that I am slowly going through the list of people to answer and his was first because it said ASAP and these emails go to Facebook and I want to let peeps know how I'm doing. 

Ok, so today for P-day we are going to the ostrich farm to ride ostriches and I don't know what else. Ride more ostriches? Have an ostrich race? I don't know. I love Matthew's talk! It is so good! Tell him to go to Mormon.org and look at Hopoate in the People section. He is a Rugby player from Australia that went on a mission after a season on a good Australian team and then continued on in the career. And then he can look for the Rugby coach that coaches for Highland High School in Salt Lake City. He has gray and wears glasses and has a big smile. He and Hopoate are near the top of the faces. 

So that baptism that I said was happening on the 3rd of March isn't happening anymore. It's happening this Friday! Yay!!!! We are so excited! 

I want to see a picture of Brandon's doggy! I've seen a lot of really cute dogs here even though I said there would be zombie dogs, there really isn't any. There are so many cute puppies and I just want to take them to the house and have them forever. No pets are allowed, it says so in the missionary handbook, not even a fish. Darn. 

I hope that Laura gets better, I will put here in my prayers. 

I am perfectly healthy by the way, I checked my weight on Thursday and I weigh about 160, which is what I was when I left for the MTC 4 months ago. No need to worry there. I have been watching the sun and I try not to be in the sun a lot. Riding the bikes around a lot and eating a lot has kept my about the same. 

I love Brother Ton, (ต้น), he is so great! I'm glad that he is updating stuff and sharing things with you so you know what I'm doing. I take pictures when I am able, but don't know how to get them to you. Hmm, help me out. 

5 words from Thai to English:

jam may day-can't remember
may day-can't 
elder sushi-Elder Susi
ling-monkey
khaa-to kill

umm, I think that's it. I be online for a few extra minutes so go ahead and send a quick reply if you want
Lots of love,
Elder Anthony Susi (the one that has a companion that has a Wigglytuff on the back of his Daily Planner)

Chiangrai

February 12, 2012

Companion: Elder Hess

Hey!
I've been in Thailand for about one month now! Hooray! It has been so crazy! Why does everyone keep saying that I have lost like a ton of weight? Because it's true? I've been biking like almost everywhere and I am starting to feel hungry all the time. I feel like I am eating constantly at the house, but it must not stick. I've gotten a lot darker too! 
I hear that Brother Ton is friends with you on Facebook.  Let everybody know if you want an update on me earlier than Monday that they should be friends with him. A Sister Gee(gay) should be asking to be friends also. Totally accept. ( like totally awesome). Brother Ton said that he saw Glacier and thinks he is cute.  
So, our two investigators with dates are totally not a dater anymore. Sad day. But we have two new daters, Hooray!!!!!!!!!! One of them, is totally almost yelling at us that she wants to get babtized this week, instead of on the 3rd of March. Way cool! The other one is almost the same way! Yay! I don't want to spend a ton of time explaining, I'll probably tell you later, I've also been keeping up on the journal. Don't worry, I've got it covered. 
Teaching English is hard. A lot of it is explaining, especially vocabulary. Because you have to think really hard, you use these words for a good portion of your life and then have to go and define and simplify these words. It's like explaining what salt tastes like to someone that has never had salt before. 
I still have not submitted myself to the spicy foods. Never have, never will. haha.
We had a trial week this last week. Almost every lesson that was planned was canceled, while inviting, no one would let us talk to them, saying "I'm busy" and it was so hot and our bikes were having issues. 

Five words in Thai:

lxan: choose
phayayam: try
hay aphay: forgiveness
mxan: same
baan: home

Okay, that looks good to me.
Sees y'all later, 
Elder Anthony Susi

P.S. I don't think I said this. "Happy Late Birthday Mommy!" 
okay, now I'm done

Chiangrai

February 5, 2012

Companion: Elder Hess

Wow! There was so many emails this week! I am soo excited for everybody! I hope that the video is exciting, I can't wait to see it in 99 weeks!

I just wrote that and just realized how much I miss everyone, and real music. The guy that manages the email shop where we are at is playing the strangest music. One, it is English; two, the lady singing is playing some weird music. But music everywhere is crazy. Definitely not what I'm used to. Speaking of, I acquired a guitar in this last week! I have a Children's Hymnbook, so I've been practicing a lot. So, hearing that Bill did that is just so cool!! I can't wait to hear that.

It seems that Matthew is becoming quite the video maker, I'm glad that I taught him something good? It sounds very interesting, how is the other video doing? Did Matthew start his own profile on Youtube yet? Is he famous yet?

I have been losing weight, glad you noticed! I've noticed it awhile, and have been debating whether to get a smaller belt or not. The two that I have are not broken or anything though, except I think that I'm too small for one. I'm pretty sure that I shrunk out of it in the MTC. I have been eating fine and am opening up to more food slowly. I ate my first spicy thing last week, spicy KFC chicken! I'm such a big baby about spicy food, maybe, hopefully, I get better about it. Maybe not also.

I wonder what the whales sound like, and is it a good video? There is a video on Youtube of a whale breaching and then landing on the small watching boat. Glad that wasn't you. Was it any fun? I think that I'll put that as something on things-to-do-before-i-die list.

So that Sister I was telling you about last week is settled! Hooray!

Fast Sunday yesterday, was the hardest Fast Sunday I've ever had. We started fasting at 8:00 pm the night before. At church, the members make a lunch for everyone, every week. So they kept making fun of us, and eating in front of us. haha, funny. But then, it was a hot day yesterday so we were just sweating a lot, and while inviting, (not tracting, that isn't the correct term), everyone gave us water. I mean everyone too.

I'm getting a lot better at the language, everyday, I work at it. I can read pretty darn well, writing is okay, (the spelling part is hard), and speaking is just coming slowly. The members try to help everytime we see them, I appreciate it muchly.

Any letters that you may have sent three weeks ago should be arriving. If you send packages, and it is food, make sure it is not something that will go bad quickly. Send like Chex Mix and stuff like that.

5 Thai words in English:

plaa-fish

suu-fight

tham-to do something

thaam-to ask

dob-to answer

Life is good, tell everyone that I am okay. 

Love everyone!

Elder Anthony Susi

Chiangrai

January 29, 2012


Companion: Elder Hess


Hey everyone!
It is the end of my second week in Chiang Rai, and I am just loving it here! I appreciate all the love that I can feel here. Being in Thailand is definitely different and it does get hot enough, but being in the North does help. My companion Elder Hess says that I am lucky to be "born" in Chiang Rai because it isn't all that hot up here. I've seen some pretty things still. So on our street that we live on, we have this crazy dog that just sits in the middle of the street and waits for us. When we go by and he is out, he freaking attacks us!! Except now it is just me that he attacks. Bummer. I've seen a bagillion scooters, a lot with people just holding their babies in their lap. The baby just smiles. I've learned some pretty crazy evasive manuevers for bike riding I think; I've had to dodge car doors opening, crazy people just pulling halfway in the road before looking, other bicycles going the wrong way, near-accidents. AAHHHHHHHHH!!!!! I feel like I'm gonna die here!!

I just want to say that inviting is the craziest thing in the world, especially in Thailand. We have our good days and bad, but that is not what makes it crazy. It's the people and their animals. Almost every house, we walk up and yell "Sawaadii Khraph! Mii Khray Yuu Baan May Khraph?! (Hello! Is anyone home?!)" Almost immediately afterwards, or during that, some dog starts barking and appears at the gate. What we just did, is pretty much the doorbell of Thailand. They have doorbell, sure, but our way is better. You can usually scare the dog away with one motion though, pretend like you are picking something off the ground and are gonna throw it. It makes them run away, but it doesn't help the barking. 

I've spent many a day, standing like an idiot, because, I don't know what my companion or the person is saying. I know like nothing sitill, but you can't run before you can walk. A lot of days, I just sit and look pretty, which works well by the way, but I'm getting better at putting in my two to three cents.

We think that we got a special batch of people as our members in Chiangrai. I was asked to play the piano for sacrament meeting on Sunday, and as I looked into the crowd, many members sat and made faces at me. It was weird. One of the members went with us as we taught a recent convert and her non-member Dutch husband, and I have to say, that our member is THE scariest driver that I have ever seen!! I don't know how to even describe it, besides scary. 

We also have a member that is having house issues. She was converted after moving from Burma to here and has been living with her cousin. Well, I think that her cousin got sick of her or something because he said that she could not live there anymore. We went and had a meeting with them and started to try to discuss options. We had a few options with two living with a member and the last, moving back to Burma with her family. Every time Burma was brought up, she would say, "Oh NO!" and started to tell some crazy long story to Elder Hess. This happened at least four times. We finally agreed on her trying to move into a member's house that she knew. Well, the next day, she called saying that she wanted to wait until the 31st, and so she could get her money. It goes on longer, but me and Elder Hess decided that, for someone with no more options, that she is making things very difficult. As of now, we still are not sure what is happening. 

For Matthew Underwood:
yay-big
phom-I
phxan-friend
khrobkhrua-family
nonchay-little brother

OH, the script characters are really fun to learn and to write, and I love trying to figure out what signs say. 

There are people here that only know the "Tourist English" and some know full English. It makes it fun to try to talk to people here. The markets are also really fun and I love walking through them and just looking at what they were selling. A lot of shirts and phone cases, but there was some traditional stuff as well, also a ton of food was being made. We sat in a market on Saturday and passed out a bunch of English class papers, and we almost gave them all out. There were some very excited people, (especially a drunk, I'm pretty sure, farang (white person) holding a beer in hand). 

Well I think that that is all and I will talk to y'all again soon.

โชกดี!!
Elder Anthony Susi

P.S. I have a bagillion mosquito bites.

Chiangrai

January 22, 2012

Companion: Elder Hess

Dear family and friends,
What is up!!! I now write on Mondays, that is my P-day, but feel free to send emails whenever. I can only look once, at about 9:00 am January 23, 2555 today, and can only send two emails. One to parents, which can be forwarded to everyone and put on Facebook, and one to the mission president, President Smith. I am having an excellent time here in Thailand. We had a baptism, but I just happened to arrive two days before. I live in Chiangrai currently, way in the north part of Thailand. It is cold in the mornings, but it does get hot later. I am used to the timechange, but with all the bike riding and investigators, I get tired at about 4:00 pm. Our investigators are very nice, but it is hard to hear them because they talk so quietly. Our members here are really great and funny! I am called Elder Sushi, and by one member, Elder Suzuki. *shakes head* At first, they were asking if I was a phuu yin (girl), but they all found out that I wasn't. I congratulate Todd Campbell, and Tanner, you shut the cake up. lol  
Matthew:
     grangcay-obligated
     ob un-warm
     phuusonsadsanaa-missionary
     rong plane-hymn
     phratade thai-Thailand
The dogs are crazy. They are mellow one second, and angry and barking the next. No bites, thank goodness. 

OH, I forgot to tell I think, my companion is Elder Hess, he is from Fielding, UT and has been here for 1 1/2 years. He is fantastic! 

Elder Summers: I am training with Landon Hess, he says that he knows you or something.
Elder Harrison: I miss you and your wonderful Centerville voice. 
Sister Guildner: I met your dad! He came to Chiangrai for a BYU-Hawaii thing.
Sister Skalla: Whoo! You get to come to Thailand soon!!!
Sister Campos: How is your mission going?
Elder Tzanis: How is your mission going?
Elder Hansen: How is your mission going?
Elder Kofford: Hang tight buddy, you'll make it here someday. Pray for healing. 

I am already feeling better about riding bikes on busy, crazy streets because these streets are busy and the people are crazy. I hope that Mom and Dad have fun in Hawaii. I hope that school is going well. Christopher Susi, ask of God for your answer, in there lies the truth.

Ok, I think that I wrote a long enough email. Rock on, party hard,

Elder Anthony Susi

Mission Home welcome letter

January 18, 2012

Dear Brother Underwood, I am happy to report that your son has arrived safely in Bangkok and he is in good spirits.  He is being interviewed by President Smith and oriented by the office staff.  He will receive his first assignment tomorrow morning.

     His Preparation Day will be on Mondays and his email address will remain the same as he used in the MTC.  We encourage you to write him a letter this week so that he will have one next Monday when he checks into his email.

     Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions during his missionary service.

Sister Johnson

Thailand Bangkok Mission Secretary

MTC

January 13, 2012

Companion: Elder Hansen

We have an American Airlines flight to LAX at 4:25 pm and then a layover for 5 hours. We then have EVA Airways to Taipei, Taiwan! Woooooooo! That flight is at 10:45pm our time and we land at 9:10 am our time, and a four hour layover in Taiwan. WOOOOOOO!!!!! At 9:10, we continue on our EVA Airlines to Thailand and will land on January 17, 2012 at 11:50 am our time and date. Let Fred know, and I hope that you have an amazing birthday. I do not think that I need anything else, and tell mom that I will get a call card. I am going to get the $500 out of the account today, and then hide it.

Talk to you all soon,

Elder Anthony Susi

MTC

January 3, 2012

Companion: Elder Hansen

Thanks mom for that, I shouldn't need anything else on the iPod. Everyone loved their Chrismas stuff and were all excited for the chocolate and I love the stocking! I'm keeping it forever, or at least until the end of the mission, or it gets lost. The sisters loved your gifts for them. I must have forgotten to tell you that the other Thai sisters left about 4 weeks ago, but it's okay. Our Thai sisters have two roommates, one is our new Thai sister and the other is going to Cambodia, speaking Cambodian. I hope everyone loved my "Christmas box" and will use them and such. Send me a couple more T-shirts and some sudoku and/or word search and/or brain teaser books. Lori and Mark sent me a sudoku book and I went, "I never thought of that." Oh, tell Elder Hansen's mom that we said thank you for the Christmas gifts.

I realized as I was typing this to you that it is getting harder to write in English. We have heard some awesome stories that missionaries have to deal with, like, zombie dogs and a dookka, (a little lizard that says its name and is apparently to catch). And crazy marketplace and Thai people stories.

So uh, I've been starting my sentences the same for about 10 weeks now, and it's a hard thing to stop. Ah, oh well. I don't have my flight plan yet, but we should be receiving it Thursday. We keep thinking that we will be going to Taiwan, and I'm sooooooooo excited. I think that it is funny that Parker is going to South Carolina, I don't know why, but i do. I don't how much cash I'll need, but next week, I'll take out $300 for the flight and snacks and things before and in between flights. I printed Wortley's talk and will read it and share it. I've read the Book of Mormon 1 1/2 times, and read the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price once while out here. I also starting marking whenever it talks about the Godhead or any other names that they have. I don't hear any news, I haven't seen Brother Farley or Brother Reese, so give me some news!

Lots of love,

Elder Anthony Susi

MTC Christmas

December 25, 2011

Companion: Elder Hansen

Hey! It's Christmas and we are able to check our email and send some. I just thought that I would send an email and say Merry Chrismas and Happy New Year! I will still check my email on Tuesday as usual, but we get a minute or two to send one out. Christmas was great and I hope that you received some great presents, too bad I wasn't there to celebrate. I've been gettting more and more excited with each passing day as I countdown to January 16, my departure date. I think that it's going to be hard leaving this great country for 2 years, and then to come back will be even harder I hope. My language studies are going well and I am learning that much more everyday, and we help out the newer Thai missionaries with their language study. Don't worry, I'm going to be fine and I hope to see you all with everything intact.

Write to me soon,

Elder Anthony Susi

MTC

December 20, 2011

Companion: Elder Hansen

I hope that they had fun, I'm going to send my photo memory card home for Christmas. I will be working on it all day today. I got to clean the temple here in Provo today, I just got back a half-hour ago. I look forward to the Christmas PJ's and hope that they are good. Would you check to see which Facebook friends are coming out soon? I would like a list, and a notification for when they announce it, (if they do). I've been getting some strange mail this last week. A Dear Elder from a Jacob Newman, and then a card from his mother. Tell Robert that I appreciated his letter, and that I hope that the priests laughed at that joke, it was really funny when I heard it. Put on Facebook, when you receive the memory card, that I say this: "Merry Christmas from the MTC! I get to be here when a First Presidency member speaks to us and you don't! I hope that it is President Uchtdorf. Give me your Christmas greetings, and I wish you a Happy New Year. I leave for Thailand in less than one month now *excited face*. Oh, I talked to several elders here from Utah, and they all say that "they hate Davis high," keep up the good work Davis!!! Those that know an Andrew Harrison, he says hi." Put all that in, exactly as written, please and thank you. I think that I am also going to send the ipod back one more time. I'll send it home soon so that you can work on it.

Have fun with whatever, and see you sooner then you think,

Elder Anthony Susi