October 11, 2015

Elder Jesse Bundy listens to conference, 

teaches English classes and enjoys teaching the 

Gospel of Jesus Christ in Bangkok!

Elder Tew, Elder Jesse Bundy and two other Elders enjoying finding in Bangkok, Thailand

Elder Bundy has been extremely busy this past week learning his new area.  His letter home with his apologies, was short but filled with excitement over his new area and working with his new companion.  He writes, "I’m really, really good! It took forever for us to find an internet place.......this week was good, Elder Tew got way sick.......he is a lot better today..."  

When one missionary in a companionship gets sick, both missionaries usually stay in their apartment while the missionary recuperates.  Because Elder Bundy is in an apartment with 4 other Elders, he was able to continue working while Elder Tew was ill.  He goes on, "...I ended up working with the District and Zone Leaders, which was a lot of fun.....We watched Conference yesterday and it was wayyyy boss! I just loved it all!  My favorite talk was Jeffery R. Holland's talk about Moms!  I love my Mom!  We didn't get to watch conference until a week after it aired because it had to get translated into Thai..."  (Check out Elder Jesse Bundy's favorite conference talk on lds.org, and search Elder Jeffrey R. Holland talk on mothers given October conference 2015.)

"Our apartment is great! The neighborhood its in is wayyyy good for running, so we've been getting up everyday at 6 a.m. running.....then we go back to the apartment and do T25.....and yes mom, we do have a washer, and it works!  Everything is just way awesome! Other than being way sick this week, Elder Tew is great!  We get along and work really well together.  He likes working hard and so do I, so that's cool.  The biking in the big city is very difficult! It's scary sometimes because of the number of cars and motorcycles that rush around everywhere.  So, we actually try to keep it to a minimum."

Elder Bundy goes on to tell about his the work they are doing in Bangkok, "......we have been teaching a brother and sister.....They are ready and excited to hear the Gospel.  We met them while teaching English class.  They have a big family and love the concept of eternal families.  They love reading the Book of Mormon......it is awesome to have them share with us answers they are receiving to their prayers that the gospel is true!"

Elder Bundy and his companion, along with other missionaries, teach English classes once a week in LDS chapels all over the world.  He writes, "….we have some crazy experiences teaching English!  It is a lot of fun…..sometimes hearing them try to speak English is hilarious…..but, then I remember that's probably what they think of me…lol...we meet a lot of really great people while teaching that class."

Elder Bundy reported on what they were going to do for the rest of the day, "......we don't have a whole lot planned for our PDay today. At about 4, we are going to head out to a family’s house and hopefully help them have a family home evening and then at 7, we have another one.   Both families are members, but haven't gone to church in a while......so hopefully, we can help them see the importance of going to church every week!  Until then, we are probably just going to go to the market and pick up some food.... I've been dieting really well this past week."

He signs off with, "I'm solo sorry this is short, and I took no pictures....we've just been so busy and I kept forgetting to take my camera.  Oh yeah, this Wednesday we have a General Authority coming to speak with us.  His name is Elder Funk and I'm real stoked about it!  I'll tell you all about it next week."

"Hey Eric…that piano piece you arranged for your Grandpa's funeral was really awesome!  Wish I could have heard it really clear, but I was able to kind of hear it.  It was just soft because these computers don’t have good speakers, but it sounded amazing!  But I most definitely could hear it and Willis singing with it!"

Well….Mom, Dad, I think I'm gonna stick with becoming a doctor when I get home.

"I love you guys sooo much and I'm really glad that you and Dad are my parents!! I love you both!  I'll take better pictures this week, I promise!  I love everyone.  Tell the bros, sis’s and nieces and nephews I love them!"

Elder Jesse Bundy

October 5, 2015

Elder Jesse Bundy gets transferred to Bangkok

Jesse enjoying the daily rain while street contacting in Bangkok

Elder Bundy receives a transfer of assignment to Bangkok.  With his new assignment comes a completely new area, new companion and new experiences.  He writes, "...I was transferred!..... I am now in Bangkok, in an area called Bangkae.  I'm in the big city!....I'm not going to lie, I have a problem with almost getting run over by cars while I'm biking....I'm just not used to maneuvering around them, but I am getting better at it everyday.  There are 3 whole zones of missionaries in Bangkok, and I'm in the West Zone." 

When asked about the language and if there were differences in dialects from the people in Plok and those in Bangkok, he wrote, "Plok is in the dead center of the country, so I use to hear every accent you can imagine when I was there.  I even heard Lao and Burmese speakers!  But here, I think they speak very clear.  At least I'm finding it much easier to understand people here than I did in Plok.  I think I'm always going to feel behind on the language.....but, I don't have any problem whatsoever communicating and teaching."

Elder Jesse Bundy with his new companion, Elder Tew

Elder Bundy is excited about his new assignment and anxious to get to work.  He writes, "My companion is a boss! I'm SO excited for this transfer!  His name is Elder Tew (pronounced two).  He has only been on his mission two transfers longer than me but he is wayyy good!  Bangkae is his second area as well, and this will be his 3rd transfer in Bangkae.  Elder Tew is 25 years old and he is from Clifton, Idaho near Preston.....He’s only been a member of the church for about 3 years.   The missionaries found him when he was 21 and he was baptized a year after that… he is a real hard worker and I love the guy!  We are going to be wayyy successful this transfer."

Elder Jesse Bundy also shared other news that happened during transfers, "ELDER WRIGHT WENT AP, (an abbreviation for Assistant to the Mission President, a leadership calling within the mission.  Elder Wright was Jesse's first companion and trainer when he began his mission in Thailand).  He went on to add,  "He is one of the youngest missionaries to ever go AP!!....The missionaries in this mission really love and respect each other......everyone tries really hard to help each other out."  

Elder Jesse Bundy enjoying the rain in Bangkae, Thailand.

Elder Bundy is pumped about getting to work with Elder Tew in the Bangkok area.  He wrote, "....our apartment is soooooooo much nicer than the one in Plok!  It's 2 floors, but there are 6 elders living in it and I am the youngest… coordinating showers gets a little tough.   My new area is so awesome.  We have a real church. It's huge!  Street contacting is very different as well.....there are so many people here it's ridiculous!   Unfortunately, we don't get to watch conference until next week, but I can't wait to watch it."

Elder Bundy is learning to adjust to living with 5 roommates instead of just one.  He goes on.... "It gets way crazy living with 6 elders in one place.  But thankfully, they all love t25! They all do it with me every morning and night!.....living in the apartment are the zone leaders, our district leader (who is training a brand new missionary called a greenie) and then Tew and I.  Elder Tew was also a wrestler in high school and he is on the same health nut thing that I'm on....It’s totally awesome!"  He goes on to describe street contacting in Bangkae as being very different and very difficult, but adds, "it's hard, but strangely fun…. I am really learning to enjoy it!"

Elder Jesse Bundy received a package from his sister, Chelsy on transfer day.  He was so excited and writes, "Tell Chelsy it was amazing! Thank you, thank you, thank you!  To get little notes from all the nephews and nieces was way fun.  And, to get pictures was awesome! The drink mix she sent is priceless and of course the t25 was just perfect."

Jesse went on to describe what he and his companion were going to do today for their PDay, ".....we are going to deep clean our study room and finish up some week planning."  Before adding, "I'm serious…..this transfer is going to be crazy!"

Elder Bundy closes this week's letter with, "Well….I'm out of time on the computer.  I love you so much......make sure to let dad know I love him.....I really love my family and I miss you guys!!  But please know that just when I think my mission can’t get any better, it does!  I am very thankful."

"Til next week…"

Elder Jesse A. Bundy

September 27, 2015

Brother Gap prepares for his mission as Elder Jesse Bundy says good-bye to Plok

Elder Jesse Bundy, Brother Gap and Elder MartinDale

Elder Bundy prepares to leave his first area in the mission field, describing it as a bitter sweet week.  He writes, "...it will be really hard to say goodbye to the members and all the friends I have made here in Plok...right now, we’re waiting for transfer calls….I’ve been in Plok for more than 4 months now!  That's 3 transfers! The zone leaders said that that was usually when people get moved..... that, and I feel like I have done everything here I'm suppose to....I love Plok, and it will be hard to go, but I do feel it's time.."

Elder Bundy sent several pictures of a few of the converts he taught  and baptized while in Plok.  He is excited for the challenge of a new area and companion, but will really miss the people he has grown to love there in Plok.

Elder Jesse Bundy, Sister Kag, Sister Ooy, (2 of the sisters I had the honor of teaching and baptizing), Brother Gap who is my buddy and getting ready to become a missionary and Elder MartinDale. 

Elder MartinDale, Elder Jesse Bundy and Sister Dang with her children in her home and a member from the Branch, Brother Nak.

Elder Bundy tells of a special family he has been teaching in Plok, "The best thing that happened to me this week was teaching one of our investigators named Sister Dang.  After church yesterday, she asked if we could go to her home later that evening to meet her family.  Obviously, we ecstatically said yes!  We went to her humble home and met her 4 children, ages around 16, 14, 12, and 4 - they are all way cute!  After explaining who God really was, all of them showed a lot of interest in learning more and going to church.. little did we know that they had grown up in the Muslim faith.... apparently their dad was a stout Islamic and treated them as they usually treat women and children in that faith.   This was the reason she moved to Plok with her children, leaving her husband.. It was just a really GREAT spiritual experience!  She and I really became good friends at this point.   The spirit was SO strong!  She's actually the one getting baptized this week, and then her older kids will be next.  They actually live in what used to be a gas station.  It's cool because she has the whole parking lot area as well.  It's actually a pretty good set up."

Elder Bundy, Sister Ploy who I was honored to teach and baptize, Brother Gap and Elder MartinDale

Elder Bundy went on to talk about this past week, "..even though things are much better, they have been really SLOW…..in Plok, there is not just one place you can go where people gather, so we have to ride our bikes around the whole city looking for people walking around... on certain days, the markets are open and we invite people there.... lately we have not had a whole lot of success with street contacting….except people are really getting to know me, so they are all real friendly and always want to visit with me, just not about the gospel…..so I have to be skilled at not offending them and not wasting time and moving on..."

 Elder Martindale and I soaked from the weekly typhoons after working all day.  Elder Bundy writes, "Elder Martindale is 6’5”.   We make quite the pair here in Thailand.  Yea, the rain coat doesn't help one little bit here.   You just get wet no matter what and with the plastic, you get sweaty too!  So I prefer to just get wet...lol.."

 Elder Jesse Bundy went on, "....we didn't have any baptisms yesterday, the first week in a while we haven't baptized someone.  I felt really bad, like I let the Lord down.  We had someone committed, but it didn’t work out.  Anyway, this coming Sunday we have 2 lined up, and 2 the Sunday after that, so that’s good.."

When Elder Bundy was asked what was one of the best things that happened to him this week, he said, "....Elder Stoker and his wife came down from Chaing Mai this last week and took us to a pizza company.  They bought us each a pizza and then took us to Swensen's and bought us our own quarts of ice cream!!!!.. That was a beautiful thing... I don't really remember what pizza normally tastes like but.. all I know is that pizza here kinda stinks because I remember liking it so much more back home, but it tasted good to me at this point!  The Stokers are the 2nd Councilor in the mission presidency.  They are currently serving in Chaing Mai..."

Elder Bundy reported on Brother Nam, the young man who had been paralyzed for seven years before receiving a Priesthood blessing.  He wrote, "Brother Nam is getting better every day.  It is a very, very slow process.... right now, his parents are saving money to have a doctor come look at him."

Elder Jesse Bundy and Elder Davenport.  Elder Bundy writes, "This is when Elder Davenport and I rode this cart down a mountain... it was amazingly fun!"

Elder Bundy is showing off his new look, fanny pack and all.  He writes, "My district makes fun of me because I wear a fanny pack. and these glasses were custom made for my face....they are UV sunglasses that change to be clear when I go inside.  Oh and don't worry Mom,  I got my hair cut...lol."

Elder Bundy rock'n his fanny pack and 'stylish' glasses

Elder Bundy finished his letter with, "for PDay today, we’re not doing a whole lot.  I will be doing a little bit of packing to get ready for transfers and resting.....we actually have to go.  Well, I love you guys soooo much!!! Tell dad and everyone I love them…I am LOVING my mission!"

Elder Jesse A. Bundy

September 21, 2015

Elder Jesse Bundy enjoys the Chiang Mai landscape and Zone Conference

This is Elder Jesse Bundy with Elder Arne.  Jesse writes, "Elder Arne is one of the best missionaries in our mission.  He is way cool and an AP, (short for an Elder who is called to be an assistant to the Mission President).  Elder Arne helped me a LOT when I first came into the mission and we have become very good friends."

Elder Bundy and his companion spent several days in Chiang Mai for Zone Conference and interviews with their Mission President.  Then they returned back to their area to continue their work.  He wrote, "....so my interview with President Johnson was extremely good.....he is a way good guy....I feel like he is a real friend."  

Elder Bundy went on to discuss his progress in becoming the missionary he wants to be, "I've changed a lot over this last month......my companion has helped me in more ways than I have helped him.....I credit him with the opportunity I'm getting to become a better missionary, a better person...."

Elder Bundy sent some beautiful pictures of some of the incredible landscape in Chiang Mai and Gangenpet.

Here Elder Bundy is with other Elders on their way to the top of the mountain to ride some wooden carts like sleds down the mountain side.

Elder Bundy was awe struck with the beautiful scenery at the top of the mountain!

Elder Bundy with his companion and the Sister Missionaries in his district.

Jesse writes, "Can you believe how beautiful this is!  So yeah….Chiang Mai was awesome!!!!  We went way up in the mountains.....the best part was that they had these wooden carts that we were able to ride down the hill on…..it was soooooo much fun!!  I got it all on my Gopro, and I will send the videos to you on one of my cards.....it was so much fun."

This picture is of one of the beautiful old ruins in Gangenpet with Jesse standing at the top.  

 Elder Jesse Bundy wants his brother-in-law, Bryant to notice the tie.  These are more of the beautiful ruins he toured in Gangenpet.

These incredible waterfalls are deep in the jungle near Gangenpet.

Elder Jesse Bundy went on to say, "I love the movie, Ephraim's Rescue...tell everyone to watch it and show it to the grand kids.  Its awesome…"

Last week, Elder Bundy ended up with a bad case of food poisoning.  He wrote, "So, on the bus ride home from Chiang Mai, I got WAYYY sick!  The sickest I’ve ever been.....all of the sudden, I had way bad headaches, body aches, nausea....the symptoms have just followed me throughout this week.  Today, I'm just way tired and my head hurts way bad, so if its o.k., I'm going to be short and sweet so I can get some Gatorade and go to bed.....this week I have done my best to just work through it.....don’t worry mom, I'm alright, it was just harder.  And no.....it wasn't the bannas….lol."

Elder Jesse Bundy sent some flowers to his Mom via a photograph.  He writes, "Mom, I'm just way tired and my head hurts. I miss you taking care of me when I'm sick….lolol….. sorry this is so short and doesn't say much but I'm literally just thinking about food and sleep right now..lol....I'm sending you this picture of some really pretty flowers in a field.  If you were closer, I would  send you a bouquet of them….I love you." 

Elder Bundy ends his letter with, "Well, I think I might be going here pretty soon... I still have to get a haircut before I am able to rest and we have appointments later…So, I don’t want to run out of time.  I love you guys a bunch!  Don't worry about me mom.  I really am doing great and I really, really, really am loving my mission!  Thanks for everything you guys do for me.  Talk to you next week!  I miss you…."

Elder Jesse Bundy