This is the sending off crew.
I am literally going to miss them all so much.
They are so nice and so much fun.
This is a member named June who kept saying that she wasn't going to cry when I left. But then she did. Haha I had fun teasing her.
Sister Salyad gave me a bag and an awesome tie. She is so nice.
In my new area with my new companion, Elder Pastores (from the Philipines). The first person I wanted to visit was Brother Duhey! (He has autism.) He is one of my favorite people in Bangkapi. He's so great.
Back in Bangkapi.
My new district! The sister in the right is Sister Chambers, she was in the MTC with me and is way cool.
What's goin on:
So every time I feel like I am getting used to being a missionary, I get thrown a curve ball and I have to take a while to adjust. I think each time I am getting quicker at adjusting though.
So basically what has been happening lately:
So a week ago, I was told I would stay in Buriram for 7 more weeks and then head off to the country Laos to continue serving as a missionary there. Then I got a call from President saying that the plan is changed. I am actually going to Laos in a week. (like 2 days ago). Then the day before I was going to leave, President called me again and said, "You going to Laos is delayed. I can't send you why just yet, but instead of going to Laos just come to the mission office." So the next day, I rode a 6 hour bus ride down into Bangkok during the night. I got to the mission office at about 4 in the morning. When I got there I was told my new companion (Elder Pastores) was in the hospital. Apparently I am going to serve with him for a while before I go to Laos. He has been getting sick lately, and needs to go to the hospital often. So I waited about 8 hours at the mission office for him to get back from the hospital and then we traveled back to our area. Another twist, the area we get to serve in is called Bangkapi. This was actually my very first area in Thailand. Another twist, it was my companions first area in Thailand as well. We got there into our area and as soon as we went to the church for a meeting, everyone was so excited because they remembered us. At church I got to bare my testimony and it felt so good. I remember standing in that same exact spot almost a year ago and having really bad Thai. After sacrament meeting, one of the members came up to me and said they cried during my testimony. Oh, how far I have come.
So Elder Pastores has been getting extremely tired lately and he didn't know why. There was one time he fell asleep on his bike and crashed. He was so tired he walked over to a tree and started sleeping under it. The mission nurse said he should go to the doctor and check his kidneys cause he was showing a lot of symptoms for kidney problems. The doctors checked Elder Pastores's urine and found an extensive about of protein. A normal amount of protein would be read about 30-40(I don't know what the measurement is). If there is over 1000, there is definitely something wrong and you need to go to the doctor. Elder Pastores had well over 2000.
Right now, we are in the hospital. I will be staying with him at least tonight and maybe longer on a couch. Elder Pastores is very weak because the doctor took cell samples out of his kidneys or something. I really hope he gets better and the results come back well. Everyone pray for Elder Pastores that he will get better please!
I don't know what day I will go to Laos, but I am fairly certain it will be soon!
I love you all!
-Elder Barron
