PIONEER DAY
Haha what a day. So for the Fourth of July the MTC let us stay up and watch the fireworks but we still had a spiritual fireside and everything about freedom. Considering the 24th is more of an LDS holiday I thought we would have a super spiritual speaker and really focus on the people who sacrificed so many years ago...hahaha I was wrong. We basically had a concert, on Sunday, so the only reason it wasn't a concert was because we weren't allowed to clap. A band called the Nashville Tribute Band came and the MTC choir sang back-up. It was one of the weirdest experiences of my life haha. (Oh! And the choir beat the record of most people singing at the MTC, we hit 1500 missionaries on Sunday) Anyway the songs were not hymns so it was so weird since I haven't heard a real song in a month, but lots of people knew them and let me tell you, they got into it. Haha anyway I am so grateful for my ancestors and the sacrifices they made, I'm sure they would have enjoyed our little rock concert too;) But the closing song they sang was called "The Hardest Thing I Ever Loved to Do" and it was all about his mission. Ah. I loved it, it brought SUCH a spirit. Look it up!
CALLINGS
So, we showed up to church on Sunday and President Bertasso (of the MTC) was sitting on the stand! Then it turned out he was releasing our branch president! We were shocked for two reasons.
1- they have been in the same branch for 4 years and this is the first time they are being moved (with 3 months left)
2- they moved them at our half way point
It was so sad, but they gave incredible talks about the importance of missions and it brought a tangible spirit, I will miss them but they told us they would come visit before we leave!
PS. I played in church on Sunday and afterwards President Bertasso tracked me down after we left and told me I had to play at a devotional! Haha it was kind of creepy but it was extremely kind of him! Anyway so I guess I will most definitely be playing soon.
Also Elder Oakes and Flygare are our new Zone Leaders! Haha we are giving them such a hard time (AKA making talking to them using royal Thai words instead of normal people words)
And our new District Leader is Elder Tuttle (who is Elder Brooke's comp) so it just switched, kind of funny
LESSONS
Our companionship was INCREDIBLE this week! Honestly we did so so so good. We had our very first lesson where we all had even parts and it was so powerful! You never realize what a spirit teaching with unity brings unless it has been missing!
Also our teachers want us to 'get an investigator from Buddhist to baptism' so our very first 'baptism' is this Saturday. Sister Jo's baptismal interview is Friday (and she really has one and they will fail us so we are praying she understood everything) It is so wonderful to actually feel like you can communicate and teach things. We had our first commandments lesson yesterday complete with visuals of the Word of Wisdom and skittles to teach Tithing so we are most definitely 'geing maag' (like a boss in Thai)
THAI
I am almost half way done memorizing the First Vision in Thai! I am getting better everyday but my reading isn't progressing as fast as I would like it too. Also I feel like I can talk your ear off about the gospel, but if you mention anything else I freeze.
For example, there are about 5-8 Kon-Thai's at the MTC right now! And whenever I see them I say "hello! How are you" and that is pushing the limits of my conversational Thai. Haha I am terrified to head to fly out (even though it is in 4 weeks) but I have lots more time for studying and praying.
FUNNY
Haha we had many language blunders this week. These are all from people in my district so I'll just say them
Sister Jo: How old is Pres Monson?
Oakes: He is Pepsi. (sounds very similar to 80's)
Robinson mixed up "hell" and "cute"...yeah you can see how that ended up
Nixon: Yes your drugs will be waiting for you in heaven. (mixed up 'drug' and 'grandma', what is it with that word that makes it so hard to remember?? haha)
I love the MTC so much!
EXPLAIN SUBJECT
On Saturday night Sister Painter gave such a powerful lesson. As in we left and everyone was crying except for 2 Elders.
She showed us this video of a stake conference in Thailand then just started talking. It got me so so excited! The people were SO happy and so humble and literally gave up everything to join this church. She basically told us that right now it seems hard to imagine the future in Thailand, but that is exactly what we should think of everyday. I sit in a desk for 11 hours praying and studying and it is all so I can communicate with people on the other side of the world. I am doing this for them. No one deserves to live in this world without the hope that the gospel brings. So that is why I am doing this, that is my 'vision'.
At the end of the lesson Elder Hanks said such a powerful prayer (in Thai) and ended with "And we are grateful that we get to preach Thy gospel in Thailand" Honestly that sums up this week for me, and will most likely sum up my entire mission.
And I am so grateful that I get to learn here 27/7 for 9 weeks. It is truly a blessing. I challenge you all to 'Enjoy the Journey' that God is sending you on, because I promise you decide if you laugh through life or complain! I love you all, have a wonderful week!
Love
Sister Hammon
Practicing numbers!
We wore red for our month mark...I know, I know, district goals.
Also Sister Painter and Brother Terrel (our half teacher) randomly wore red too
so how cute
Tuttle tuttle tuttle selfie
Haha everyday Sister Nixon cleans the board so it is spotless and
one day she came in to find this and it was so funny! Then she looks at me and
said "I can't leave it there" and she erased it right after I took
this, haha
Poppers to celebrate our month mark!!! (thank you mom :)
OKAY. So the 'Miracle Bottle' is the bottle that I flipped the
first time and it has stayed up on the shelf all month. It was our month mark
so everyone told me I had to relive my glory days, I stood back AND FLIPPED IT
ONTO THE SHELF. I will say it again and again..it's a gift.
Marissa from BYU!!
How cute are these Thai's?! Ah I love them already.
Week 5!
Last picture with Sister Penrod
They switched places
My beautiful visual for teaching Word of Wisdom
Thank you dear mother for sending yummy syrup to replace the cafeteria syrup.
District group picture
Us using the poppers to celebrate our one month mark!! Haha right
after we started smelling and realized that we might be setting off the fire
alarm SO we pulled out every fan we had, but it was so fun!
Elders...Hansen and Kartchner, Hanks and Andersen, Brooke and
Tuttle
No comments:
Post a Comment