Sawaddii Khrab Khrccp Khrua khong phom! (hello -polite- family of me)
Thanks again to all who have sent letters. It's very difficult to reply to everyone separately as you might imagine.
Today I report another TRC experience for the week. It is something similar to last weeks experience, teaching only in Thai. Except this week was much better. Elder Bryner and I prepared the best we could with the time allotted. We were ready enough to not use notes at all but rather speaking from our hearts the message we have come to share with the people in Thailand. Externally our message was much smoother than before. Internally is what truly matters though. The Spirit was there in the room and as we joined together in testimony and I could see once more on their faces that they, the investigators, felt it also.
I hope each day that we will work hard and efficient enough to come before the Lord and report our work as our best. Also during this experience the younger Thai group that came in had the opportunity of watching us, all fourteen of them. Yes, that's gargantuan. (don't hate because I can't spell... you too Justin.)
I had no Idea that the departure devotional was even recorded. That's very nice of president and sister Boone to send it to you. Did it have the whole devotional on it? When was that anyway, I need a hair cut again. :p
If there's anything you want to send me then it is best to send it now. The slowest method of delivery to Thailand takes six weeks to get there. I thought that three days was bad enough. :)
As of yesterday I have four weeks left at the MTC. I'm sooooo happy. Three weeks is nothing. All the English Elders stay here for only three weeks. I've seen three come and go already not to mention several others in between. I'm glad that Brother Trahsdahl has been asking about my progress. It was his stories of his Mission that I first heard of Thailand. I thought what an awesome mission that would be. Several years later... Here I am about to go. So watch out.:)
Keep working out Justin and Jared... because I will crush you when I get home. I'll be able to bench a baby elephant real soon.
Love Elder Lilly
Sep 30, 2008
Sep 23, 2008
Email 9-23-08
Dear Family,
It's P-day again! Tomorrow the New Thai Missionaries will arrive... excellent. We made this great plan to great them. I have no Idea if we will actually try it, but the thought is worthy. We found that one of our Elders can fit inside another Elders Travelling Bag. So we thought to bust out the Old Orange dot that marks a new missionary and have one of our Missionaries pretend to be new and smuggle in his friend into the MTC via the Bag. Hahahaha! With a bit of acting skill, and some well placed cameras with recording abilities, it would make for a memorable evening. Like I said the thought is funny... we would never really... right? Anyway.
Since it's faster to write by typing I'll take the liberty of telling you now of My Latest T.R.C experience. This last week was our first Thai only discussion. The TRC is about the Pinnacle of the week, it's the closest thing to real missionary work and it is a marker for what you've learned and are prepared for in the Mission Field. Therefore (future missionaries take note) the Key to succeeding here, besides having the spirit that every missionary depends upon to teach, is preparing everything based off of the TRC from the start of the week; All the way from right after we go to the TRC which is on Saturday and start planning for the week up to the next TRC. I focus the vocab I learn during the week, the phrases I learn, and the lessons I teach based on the TRC from the beginning. I want to be so prepared with the language and my knowledge of the gospel in English that I can focus my teaching while I'm in the TRC teaching investigators based upon the investigators needs. Based on their needs is sort of a phrase that is commonly used here, yet it makes sense. God's love for his children is so great, he knows all of his creations. He teaches them personally through the spirit. As all of us have different strengths and weaknesses, different bodies and thoughts, different personalities, we all need to be taught based on our Needs; our own level.
I heard the conversion story of one of the Members from the quorum of the seventies' wife. During which I could see how God was able to help her through a sweet old lady in a place far far from her home. His wife wasn't a very social person and she liked to travel. She never wanted to get too close to people because then she would form an attachment and want to stay, and she never wanted to stay. Eventually she wanted to go to America. Yet through this Old lady who had lost all but one of her children as they were being born, who was happy and hopeful and had bright blue eyes and red hair like the Child that his wife was helping as she made some money for her travels in the hospital she Personally was able to be brought to the gospel.
Well I'm out of time but I love your letters and I am receiving them. It's quite hard to find time here. Because I'm busy busy working. Love ya.
It's P-day again! Tomorrow the New Thai Missionaries will arrive... excellent. We made this great plan to great them. I have no Idea if we will actually try it, but the thought is worthy. We found that one of our Elders can fit inside another Elders Travelling Bag. So we thought to bust out the Old Orange dot that marks a new missionary and have one of our Missionaries pretend to be new and smuggle in his friend into the MTC via the Bag. Hahahaha! With a bit of acting skill, and some well placed cameras with recording abilities, it would make for a memorable evening. Like I said the thought is funny... we would never really... right? Anyway.
Since it's faster to write by typing I'll take the liberty of telling you now of My Latest T.R.C experience. This last week was our first Thai only discussion. The TRC is about the Pinnacle of the week, it's the closest thing to real missionary work and it is a marker for what you've learned and are prepared for in the Mission Field. Therefore (future missionaries take note) the Key to succeeding here, besides having the spirit that every missionary depends upon to teach, is preparing everything based off of the TRC from the start of the week; All the way from right after we go to the TRC which is on Saturday and start planning for the week up to the next TRC. I focus the vocab I learn during the week, the phrases I learn, and the lessons I teach based on the TRC from the beginning. I want to be so prepared with the language and my knowledge of the gospel in English that I can focus my teaching while I'm in the TRC teaching investigators based upon the investigators needs. Based on their needs is sort of a phrase that is commonly used here, yet it makes sense. God's love for his children is so great, he knows all of his creations. He teaches them personally through the spirit. As all of us have different strengths and weaknesses, different bodies and thoughts, different personalities, we all need to be taught based on our Needs; our own level.
I heard the conversion story of one of the Members from the quorum of the seventies' wife. During which I could see how God was able to help her through a sweet old lady in a place far far from her home. His wife wasn't a very social person and she liked to travel. She never wanted to get too close to people because then she would form an attachment and want to stay, and she never wanted to stay. Eventually she wanted to go to America. Yet through this Old lady who had lost all but one of her children as they were being born, who was happy and hopeful and had bright blue eyes and red hair like the Child that his wife was helping as she made some money for her travels in the hospital she Personally was able to be brought to the gospel.
Well I'm out of time but I love your letters and I am receiving them. It's quite hard to find time here. Because I'm busy busy working. Love ya.
Sep 16, 2008
Email 9-16-08
Dear Family,
Thank you for your letters as usual. I was having a letter famine when suddenly I get pictures in the mail! Yay. I ended up using those pictures for the TRC teaching; which teaching the whole week revolves around. I was able to show the picture of my family and talk about it with the investigators in Thai. The experience was actually quite amazing. It was the last time that I'll be teaching in English. The spirit filled the room and I could see as we taught the Sister's composure change as we answered her many difficult questions such as If we were created in God's image then why do we look different? (she was Thai), why can't I drink a little bit of wine when it is good for you?, etc. As it turns out these were her real concerns and questions that she asked the missionaries. I feel like she was moved in someway by the spirit, and I felt great as we left the room. Now the challenge is to be able to speak Thai for the same amount of time and teach the lesson with the spirit. Yet I feel that the Spirit almost has the opportunity to be stronger as long as I do everything in my part to learn the language because I'm even more dependent on the Lords help, and through him can weak things be made strong. Thai is certainly a weakness for me right now. Not that I'm not learning so much so fast!
Opposite to that experience was one where a simple matter of throwing a ball around at night escalated into a mini feud. I was astonished at how easily these Brethren were aroused against each other and how great the matter became so fast. I could see so clearly how we have opposition in all things and how when Satan's Power found it's way in it came at full force. Our potential is so great here as Missionaries. We are called from the Prophet of God to represent Jesus Christ. The adversity to match this potential is great. We were able to resolve the situation and calm things down. One Elder managed to break his hand in frustration hitting it against the door. It sounds really silly doesn't it? Well it is, but it's real.
Nevertheless I am doing really well. This last week has been the most productive week so far, I think. My companion and I have worked out an effective system and now were getting a lot more vocabulary memorized and using them throughout the day. And now we are the PhiiThays (older Thai people). Next week the younger Thai group will come in and we will help them where we can. There's a sort of approved tradition among the Thailand Elders that involves initiation into PhiiThay-ism. We had to "trust" the Phiithays as they compelled us into the bathroom with our toothbrushes out. They stuck some haggard looking brown... stuff onto our toothbrushes while we closed our eyes. Then we began brushing and opened our eyes. It reminded me of brushing my teeth with herbal shoe shine. It turned out to be Thai tooth paste! It was fun.
As for the socks I don't know where they disappeared to. But you could send me some new ones if needed and maybe some goods, like hmm cookies and cream, and goods, eh?
I have more to say but can't Later!
Hopefully I can send you some pictures.
Love,
Elder Lilly
Thank you for your letters as usual. I was having a letter famine when suddenly I get pictures in the mail! Yay. I ended up using those pictures for the TRC teaching; which teaching the whole week revolves around. I was able to show the picture of my family and talk about it with the investigators in Thai. The experience was actually quite amazing. It was the last time that I'll be teaching in English. The spirit filled the room and I could see as we taught the Sister's composure change as we answered her many difficult questions such as If we were created in God's image then why do we look different? (she was Thai), why can't I drink a little bit of wine when it is good for you?, etc. As it turns out these were her real concerns and questions that she asked the missionaries. I feel like she was moved in someway by the spirit, and I felt great as we left the room. Now the challenge is to be able to speak Thai for the same amount of time and teach the lesson with the spirit. Yet I feel that the Spirit almost has the opportunity to be stronger as long as I do everything in my part to learn the language because I'm even more dependent on the Lords help, and through him can weak things be made strong. Thai is certainly a weakness for me right now. Not that I'm not learning so much so fast!
Opposite to that experience was one where a simple matter of throwing a ball around at night escalated into a mini feud. I was astonished at how easily these Brethren were aroused against each other and how great the matter became so fast. I could see so clearly how we have opposition in all things and how when Satan's Power found it's way in it came at full force. Our potential is so great here as Missionaries. We are called from the Prophet of God to represent Jesus Christ. The adversity to match this potential is great. We were able to resolve the situation and calm things down. One Elder managed to break his hand in frustration hitting it against the door. It sounds really silly doesn't it? Well it is, but it's real.
Nevertheless I am doing really well. This last week has been the most productive week so far, I think. My companion and I have worked out an effective system and now were getting a lot more vocabulary memorized and using them throughout the day. And now we are the PhiiThays (older Thai people). Next week the younger Thai group will come in and we will help them where we can. There's a sort of approved tradition among the Thailand Elders that involves initiation into PhiiThay-ism. We had to "trust" the Phiithays as they compelled us into the bathroom with our toothbrushes out. They stuck some haggard looking brown... stuff onto our toothbrushes while we closed our eyes. Then we began brushing and opened our eyes. It reminded me of brushing my teeth with herbal shoe shine. It turned out to be Thai tooth paste! It was fun.
As for the socks I don't know where they disappeared to. But you could send me some new ones if needed and maybe some goods, like hmm cookies and cream, and goods, eh?
I have more to say but can't Later!
Hopefully I can send you some pictures.
Love,
Elder Lilly
Sep 14, 2008
Sep 9, 2008
Email 9-9-08
Dear Family and everyone else who is awesome,
Just so you know I have not yet received any mail from you guys today therefore the only response I have received from my lengthy snail mail has been from Mom so far from yesterday. Go Mom!
So, here's the news from the MTC. The older Thai people or PiiThays are leaving on Monday which makes us, the noo(ng)Thays the new PiiThays. In other words in about six to eight days all of the Missionaries who have been here for three months are leaving and my district and I will be the oldest of the missionaries on the grounds. Yesterday and and from now onward we are speaking in Thai Only in class. I love it actually. It's a very intimidating task. We have to write down all of the words that we didn't know yet on paper and then make sure we know them for the next day (not that this is required it's simply smart). I am super excited. Last week I said that script was a puzzle and very difficult to read. Well, it still is by it's very nature, but I've been able to find patters to help my companion memorize the vowel clusters and the tone rules. Now we are singing hymns from Script books instead of Romanized books. Yes, it's a bit painful because the song ends up sounding... much less like a song. But we are getting faster. One of my goals, which we set weekly and review daily, secretly, was to get my companion better at script than I. But then the principle applies and I end up learning while I teach. Such is the Irony. Nevertheless he will be better than I was when I started and whereas before he was confused, now he too is excited about script. I'm glad!
Last month (kee hee hee it has been a month), a group of Thai Elders and I decided to practice singing an arrangement of lead kindly light. It was a great experience putting my musical talent to the hammer. Even though we're losing our basses on Monday which is too soon to perform before a crowd, the experience was quite worth it. The sacrifice is a bit of study and lunch time. Losing study time is no fun, nor a small ordeal in my mind. Basically backwards from past experiences. I think one of the reasons can be applied to the scripture Moses 1:39. This is MY work and My glory. Missionary work is God's work. I have no doubts. I'm here to do God's work therefore it became My work as well. Another interesting idea is that God the greatest of all suffered temptations all of his life. It can't be any different for us. There is no other way to change your spirit, your heart, your soul, in this life than to over come trials.
Anyway, it would be nice if you sent me say 12 more pairs of socks. I bought 24 and brought twelve. May Dii (not good).
Love you all,
Elder Lilly
Just so you know I have not yet received any mail from you guys today therefore the only response I have received from my lengthy snail mail has been from Mom so far from yesterday. Go Mom!
So, here's the news from the MTC. The older Thai people or PiiThays are leaving on Monday which makes us, the noo(ng)Thays the new PiiThays. In other words in about six to eight days all of the Missionaries who have been here for three months are leaving and my district and I will be the oldest of the missionaries on the grounds. Yesterday and and from now onward we are speaking in Thai Only in class. I love it actually. It's a very intimidating task. We have to write down all of the words that we didn't know yet on paper and then make sure we know them for the next day (not that this is required it's simply smart). I am super excited. Last week I said that script was a puzzle and very difficult to read. Well, it still is by it's very nature, but I've been able to find patters to help my companion memorize the vowel clusters and the tone rules. Now we are singing hymns from Script books instead of Romanized books. Yes, it's a bit painful because the song ends up sounding... much less like a song. But we are getting faster. One of my goals, which we set weekly and review daily, secretly, was to get my companion better at script than I. But then the principle applies and I end up learning while I teach. Such is the Irony. Nevertheless he will be better than I was when I started and whereas before he was confused, now he too is excited about script. I'm glad!
Last month (kee hee hee it has been a month), a group of Thai Elders and I decided to practice singing an arrangement of lead kindly light. It was a great experience putting my musical talent to the hammer. Even though we're losing our basses on Monday which is too soon to perform before a crowd, the experience was quite worth it. The sacrifice is a bit of study and lunch time. Losing study time is no fun, nor a small ordeal in my mind. Basically backwards from past experiences. I think one of the reasons can be applied to the scripture Moses 1:39. This is MY work and My glory. Missionary work is God's work. I have no doubts. I'm here to do God's work therefore it became My work as well. Another interesting idea is that God the greatest of all suffered temptations all of his life. It can't be any different for us. There is no other way to change your spirit, your heart, your soul, in this life than to over come trials.
Anyway, it would be nice if you sent me say 12 more pairs of socks. I bought 24 and brought twelve. May Dii (not good).
Love you all,
Elder Lilly
Sep 2, 2008
Email 9-2-08
Thanks for the letters Mike and Dad! I'm sorry about your leg Mike, ouch. Unfortunately your letters weren't sent to me like they normally would be because the Mail system and the Stores all closed on Labor day. I hope you guys enjoyed Labor day because it was pretty worthless over hear other than knowing that you might be having a good time away from school and the like. Needless to say the computers here are gimped as far as options go and the letters didn't want to print. No worries because my snail mail is in fact actually coming to you and you can expect word from me in about three days.
I am doing well here. We rotated teachers because of school and my new teacher Brother Parker, who is very nice, likes to only write in script. And I spent half an hour translating a couple sentences of it because it's kind of a puzzle sometimes. I can't wait to be familiar with the puzzle so that I can actually read it. But GTG!
Love,
Elder Lilly
I am doing well here. We rotated teachers because of school and my new teacher Brother Parker, who is very nice, likes to only write in script. And I spent half an hour translating a couple sentences of it because it's kind of a puzzle sometimes. I can't wait to be familiar with the puzzle so that I can actually read it. But GTG!
Love,
Elder Lilly
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