White elephants (as well as white cows and white monkeys) have always been venerated in Asia. Margaret describes the white elephant festival. Large crowds would go out in procession for this festival. The first time the Landons joined the crowd they…
Margaret played in a singles tennis match and lost the game. In the doubles she played with Dr.Theobald and played well, but they didn't win. The Landons talk about their misfortune buying some furniture. It cost them everything they had because of…
Margaret tells about the furniture they owned. Kenneth tells of the way the Chinese made the furniture beautiful by rubbing it and polishing the finish to a gloss.
Kenneth and Margaret tell about Ah Chuan, their houseworker's baby. Chuan and his wife had already lost a first baby, so the Landons recommended that they see Miss Christiansen. The wife thus received pre-natal care and delivered a healthy baby.
Margaret and Kenneth witnessed a cremation ceremony. The actual cremation usually took place only after a couple of months or a year or several years. It was costly to afford the cremation, so many families could not get enough money for it until a…
The Landons began to attend school commencements. Once they attended a commencement ceremony and were so exhausted that they had to leave before it was done. They were told later that the ceremony did not end until 1:30 a.m.
After the vacation the Landons returned to Bangkok and began to prepare to move. Everybody started to entertain them, having in mind that they would soon be gone. There was quite a "confab" as to where they were going to go, but the Landons did not…
The climate in Bangkok was hard on the Landons, causing their blood pressure to decrease. Kenneth comments that even today if he were to go back to Bangkok he would lose about one pound a day until he levels off at about 130 pounds after about twenty…
The Landons rode the train to the Nakhon Sri Tamarat station, where they planned to serve for three years. Margaret describes details about the train and the trip, how they met Dr. McDaniel from Nakhon Sri Tamarat, and their arrival in the town. They…
Margaret describes their arrival in Nakon Sri Tamarat, how the missionaries welcomed them, and tells about the history behind the name of the town. The Landons describe the city, its religious culture, and the beginning of the desire of the Siamese…
Kenneth tells of shipping his car to Nakhon and the terrible burning he experienced because of the heat. Margaret managed to drive safely and recalls the only time he nearly had an accident.
Margaret tells about the move from Nakhon to Trang. She remembers the old cars they rode in. She describes the land, the homes, and the people they first met. she worked to improve the look of the house they lived in and recall the enormous and…
Peggy was still a baby when she had a near death experience with a king cobra. Kenneth tells how one day he was coming back home from church when he noticed Peggy laying in front of the house, with a king cobra rearing up, getting ready to strike.…
Kenneth went on a tour with Paul Fuller while Margaret and baby Peggy went to Nong Khae where there was some sort of resort hotel and stayed in a cottage owned by the mission. Margaret tells the story behind the property. Kenneth tells also the story…
Margaret and Kenneth tell the story of a group of lepers who found a king cobra asleep (it had just enjoyed a full meal and was digesting). The lepers got a heavy box and forked sticks and coordinated their action to take the snake by surprise and…
Kenneth tells how Mr. Snyder suddenly died in Nakhon from a stroke. Kenneth and Dr. McDaniels made the coffin and shipped the body to Bangkok where it was burried. The Landons remember Mrs. Snyder as a bitter woman and how she failed to crush…
Margaret reads about Kaw Su Chiang, a Chinese immigrant who became extremely successful, having started from insignificant beginnings. He lived to be 96 after a very successful career. His son Phya Ratsida was more interesting for Margaret (Margaret…
Kenneth and Margaret once had the whole church over to their home "for a frolic." They had a fun time playing American games with the Siamese. They intended to do that often, but were not able to do so the way the Dunlaps did: a frolic at every full…
Kenneth describes how the Landons learned to use durian (which the Siamese called "the king of the fruits") in ice cream. It was a delicious fruit though it smelled terribly awful. Both Kenneth and Margaret comment on their living conditions in…
The Thai servants would fill the children with all kinds of superstitions. Margaret and Kenneth remember the lasting influence of these supperstitions on two children, their own Peggy and another missionary child. Margaret hired a second generation…
Ma Pawm and Ah Sim came to the Landons very poor and not so nice looking. Margaret taught both of them many things and they greatly improved. Ma Pawm was fond of Kenneth and even more so of Carol when she was born. There was a lot of work to do, and…
The Tin Dredge was a huge boat built on dry ground before being moved to the sea. Kenneth and Margaret describe the fascinating process of moving the boat to sea. It was used to carry the tin, and several people with different expertise were working…
Margaret tells of the day they left Phuket and their visit to Phangnga, where there was a cave with a temple inside. Kenneth recalls war stories associated with the area and tells of his visit to one particular island. It was eerie. He tells of his…
Margaret recalls her first date in college, with Alexander Gale. It was very trying, because Alex didn't know how to talk. She tells of social times at Wheaton, when her mother would invite students over to her house, or they would go over to the…