WEEK 3 - MTC - JULY 25, 2017

Sawadii khap!

Week 3 has gone even faster than week 2 and all the days are blending together! I have a hard time finding things to write in my journal because everything is the same hahaha. But that's one of the great things about the gospel is the repetition. Line upon line, precept upon precept. 

Nah I don't need my pin, just save it for when I get back!

I'm for sure closest with Elder Jorgensen from Provo High. It's been awesome getting to talk to him about football and he always knows how to give a joke that help relieve stress. He's also great at doing voice impersonations.

Our district is great and we've all gotten really close. Yesterday was Elder Ellsworth's birthday so once everyone was back at the residence we all sang happy birthday to him and shared the cake balls that you sent. Then everyone said that eating the cake balls were like eating gold and they hoped there are some in heaven hahah. 

Our Sunday devotional was from a former mission president and his wife and they and their family sang for about 90% of the devotional. Their son looked like he was not happy to be singing and like he was forced to be there. A little uncomfortable but funny too!

Our teachers are awesome! We have Brother Sugihara, Brother Tirrel, Sister Kaumanoey (For sure didn't spell that right but I don't know how to spell it) Also I don't know what happened but know I'm typing in italics. We also have Sister Smith. Brother Sugihara is so awesome. He teaches us Thai culture and tells us cool stories and everyone loves him. Brother Tirrel is almost a twin of Tyrel Maughan and they have similar names so that was funny. Sister Kaumanoey is Thai and was our first "Investigator" It's been weird adjusting to her being our teacher and us not struggling to teach her a lesson in Thai. Sister Smith got home from her mission just a few months ago and she's cool.

I play basketball whenever I can! Yesterday was awesome because Elder Scheffner and I were on the same team. He's become a legend at the MTC because of how good he is at basketball. Everyone turns and watches when he has the ball and I'm good with chilling in the corner waiting for a kick out 3. My companion broke the MTC wall-sit record yesterday too! HE sat for 16 minutes strait! Our whole district was so excited for him. He's been waiting to share the story of how he prayed and was able to do it so I'm excited to hear that.

One bad thing from this week was the chicken sandwiches, that I said were my favorite, they turned against me! We had them yesterday and then I felt sick all night. Oh well.

One thing that made me happy this week was singing pioneer songs yesterday in class and thinking of my pioneer ancestors and the sacrifice they made. Also, on Sunday, Elder Nielson and I had a few extra minutes so we went and did some family history stuff. I tried looking for names and couldn't find any but I enjoyed looking at the memories and things from my ancestors.

Yesterday we taught a member in Thai and I said a full sentence without stuttering or hesitating and he understood what I was saying! I promptly followed up with a sentence that made no sense but it was awesome to feel like I was actually speaking Thai fluently even for a second. It's been hard not being able to teach the way I want to but I'm getting better at bearing my testimony in Thai.

This week we switched to the Thai script which is the crazy characters and such. It's been hard memorizing the symbols but I have all of the consonants down and some of the vowels. I've started reading the Book of Mormon in Thai but have only finished 1 Nephi chapter 1 verse 1 because it takes so long to read but I'm working on it! It's fun to read in Thai. It feels like solving a puzzle.   

I'm good with the one towel and I don't think I'll need a jacket! Also, I think I'm good on shoes too. 

The treats have been absolutely awesome! We have a whole stash and on Sundays and "P-day eve" we eat the chips and salsa! It's so much fun. Elder Nielson refuses to eat any sugar or chips but I'll keep working on him. All the other Elders love the treats and especially love Sister Borg so keep them coming! 

I love hearing from home. I'm glad to see the water balloon tradition was carried on even after the greatest water balloon catcher has taken a brief break. Just one more Pioneer Day and the legend will return ;) 

Yesterday the older Thai district of Missionaries left for Thailand. They were super excited and sang "God be With you Till we Meet Again" in Thai to us before they left. It was really cool and I have to say I'm a little jealous that they're going to Thailand now but my time will come! Also we were bugged because we didn't get their old room which is double the size of ours and has pictures and things on the wall. We'll probably survive though I guess.

This week I've been studying charity a lot. Charity is a huge component of missionary work. We always hear that if we don't love the people then we won't be able to serve them. I've been a little worried about not being able to speak to the people or teach them the things that they need to hear but I read in Moroni 8:16 which says "perfect love casteth out all fear" If I can just love the Thai people and my Savior as perfectly as I can then my fear will disappear. I've been feeling that a a lot lately. I feel like God doesn't need someone in Thailand who can speak the language perfectly or someone who is going to teach the doctrine perfectly. He needs someone to go there and just love the people and show them that this gospel brings happiness and I hope I can do that. It's similar to the talk from Elder Holland about the Savior and His apostles called "The First Great Commandment" Here's a short piece of it:

Jesus responded (and here again I acknowledge my nonscriptural elaboration), perhaps saying something like: “Then Peter, why are you here? Why are we back on this same shore, by these same nets, having this same conversation? Wasn’t it obvious then and isn’t it obvious now that if I want fish, I can get fish? What I need, Peter, are disciples—and I need them forever. I need someone to feed my sheep and save my lambs. I need someone to preach my gospel and defend my faith. I need someone who loves me, truly, truly loves me, and loves what our Father in Heaven has commissioned me to do. Ours is not a feeble message. It is not a fleeting task. It is not hapless; it is not hopeless; it is not to be consigned to the ash heap of history. It is the work of Almighty God, and it is to change the world. So, Peter, for the second and presumably the last time, I am asking you to leave all this and to go teach and testify, labor and serve loyally until the day in which they will do to you exactly what they did to me.”

I'm excited to share in the work of the Almighty God! This gospel is true. Have a great week everybody. Miss you all!

-Elder Borg

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Our treat stash

Letters from home

The name of our "investigator"

Hayden with Elder Nielson and Elder Butterfield, a friend from home, going to the Florida Jacksonville Mission

WEEK 2 - MTC - JULY 18, 2017

Wow! Week 2 felt just as long as week 1, but I'm pushing on! It kinda feels like we just relive the same day over and over again, but I'm learning a lot! We've had a few lessons with our investigator named "Faa". At least we thought she was an investigator. Turns out, she is one of our teachers which blew all of our minds. She was quite the actress!

Tell the Scheffners sorry, I wasn't able to be a host when Mike came in. I don't know how it works, but I never heard anything about it so, I wasn't able to help when Elder Scheffner got here. I’ll try to for the upcoming weeks. 

Glasses are great, no problems. I've worn them around all day today and been fine. Yes, Elder English is in the other district and he's awesome! His room is right next to ours so I talk to him a lot. He's a great guy and will be a great missionary!

Yeah, we see the other Thai district at night and on Sundays for sacrament meetings. I got randomly called on to give a talk last week in sacrament meeting. Like they chose me during the meeting, so that was fun. It went well actually, and everyone told me I did great so that was good.

Yes, all the other district is going to Thailand too -  22 of us total!

Thai common core is coming along. We're transitioning to script, which is the actual symbols, so this week should be interesting. 

Nope, our classroom is not in the new buildings and we are not super happy about it. We have a tiny classroom with 11 large elders squeezed inside plus a teacher. Maybe we'll get moved there soon, I'll keep you updated.

Some cool stuff has happened this week. We got to hear the MTC President and his wife speak to us. They talked about how they were both converts and baptized by missionaries. Awesome to see the effects of missionary work. Yesterday I got to help go through the tours of the MTC and that was fun. It was great to talk to people from "the outside world" and it was also cool to finally get to see all of the new buildings and see how the Lord is hastening His work. 

The scripture that has helped me the most this week is Mark 9:24. "Yea Lord I believe, help thou mine unbelief." I kinda feel like the Lord is tearing me down in order to rebuild me into something else. These weeks have been hard but I trust the process and know that the Savior knows better than I do what's the best for me.

We do a small district scripture study every night and that has been awesome for a few reasons:

1. It's nice to read and talk about the gospel in English.

2. Great way to end the day.

3. Reminds me of scripture study at the Cox's house back home.

4. Brings us closer together as a district. There's some seriously amazing Elders out here and they're going to do some special things.

My companion organized a special musical number for our district to sing in sacrament which turned out awesome, or yiam jung looey in Thai. We sang "Brightly Beams our Fathers Mercy" and you know I killed the base part. :) Tell Uncle Steve that I finally got to sing it in sacrament meeting! We had been practicing that song in our Priest quorum for a few months but never sang it in sacrament like we had planned to.

My roommates looove all the packages. It's fun to get back and have a treat before we go to bed. They all say how much they love Sister Borg!

On Sunday we all watch church movies in the classrooms and all the rooms were full except for the Music and the Spoken Word: Canada Special so we enjoyed a half hour of Canadian music sung by MoTab. It reminded me of Mom and her stirring rendition of "O, Canada". I prefer her version over the original. ;)

Wow, the saying is true, "The weeks feel like days and the days feel like weeks" I'm plugging along and keeping my spirits up. I love hearing from all of you! Sorry if I don't reply. I only have a limited time to write e-mails. The DearElder thing is spectacular. I got 7 letters yesterday which was such a great boost! I smiled the whole time while reading them. The Borg trip to Yellowstone sounded awesome. Maybe we can go again in a few years! 

I'm so excited to get to Thailand! I feel like horses at the start of a race, ready to burst out of the gate! 

I miss you all every day! Thanks for all the support and prayers. I know I couldn't do this on my own.

Love you all!

-Elder Borg​​

District 7E at the Provo Temple

Learning the Thai tones. Thai flag, courtesy of Mom! 

WEEK 1 - LIFE AT THE MTC - JULY 11, 2017

Swasdi kah family!

Wow! This has been the longest, hardest week of my life, so I guess the mission is "doing its worst to me" so I shall do my worst to the mission ;) (Count of Monte Cristo reference!) Thai is so hard and very stressful, but I can't help but be excited to one day be able to speak it fluently. I love to teach and it's so hard for me not to be able to convey what I want to say effectively, but I know I'll get there eventually. Our second day here we taught a lesson with an investigator all in Thai. You can imagine that it went not very great at all,  but it's cool to try to speak with the limited amounts of Thai we know. I've been loving all the packages and letters and everything you've all been sending so keep them coming! Thank you!

The missionaries in my district are Elder Nielson (My companion), Elder McDonald, Elder Ellsworth, Elder Byers, Elder Jorgenson, Elder Ference, Elder Ridd, Elder Todd, Elder Pool, and Elder Peterson.  Elder Jorgenson was the QB at Provo last year and Elder Byers was a linebacker at Orem, so it was cool to make the connection that we had all played each other several times the last few years and now we are on the same team! I love my district and look forward to getting to know all of them better.

​From the left, Elder Peterson, Elder Ferrence, Elder Todd, Elder Ridd, Elder Pool, Elder Byers, Elder Ellsworth, Elder McDonald, Elder Jorgenson, me, Elder Nielson.​

 My companion is from VIRGINIA. Whooda thunk? I bet mom is freaking out right now. Pembroke, Virginia, so not very close to C-Ville,  but still cool.

Elder Nielson is an interesting guy. It's taken some getting used to with having a companion by your side at all times but I think we work well together. Elder Nielson enjoys ponderizing, computer science, studying talks, singing, studying scriptures, and drinking lots and lots of water. He is always in a spiritual mindset, which is something I can probably work on and hopefully he can help me improve. 

There are 6 of us in my room Me and Elder Nielson, Elder Byers and Elder Jorgenson, and Elder McDonald and Elder Ellsworth.

I've seen Elder Cox several times, I've seen Elder Hulme a few times and a few Sisters from CCHS. I see them mostly at meals. It's fun to see familiar faces.

My favorite thing I've done is playing basketball and soccer and our Sunday night devotional was super good! I encourage you guys to watch the "Character of Christ" talk by Elder Bednar. 
Life changing.

The hardest thing I've done has been memorizing 3 Nephi 5:13 in Thai. It took a lot of study, but I got it down. We have to have the missionary purpose memorized by tomorrow and the entire Thai basic core memorized by Saturday! I'd sure love your prayers for help with that.

Thai is hard but getting better. I can introduce myself and say a prayer and talk a little about Christ and that's about it! We usually use a script when we teach and say as much as we can without it.

Yes, Mom, we were a tiny bit close when we were trying to learn the Thai sounds, but we've been learning the romanized version of Thai, which is the sounds spelled out in English, and in a few weeks we'll move to the Thai script.

I've enjoyed all the food here, but the chicken sandwiches were probably the best. The cafeteria is awesome and it's all you can eat so that's great!

We wake up at 6:30, then shower and get ready for the day, then we plan the day out, then go to breakfast, then we either have class or study time, then exercise usually, then we have lunch, then class, then study time, then class or study time. So lots of class and studying!

I played bball in gym and did pretty well! We played 3 on 3 and me, Elder Jorgenson, and Elder Ellsworth dominated. We won all but one game! Nobody was pushing me around. Ha ha! :)

I think I'm good on shirts, but if you could send a pair of sweatpants that would be great. We have a service morning and we have to wear pants for that. Khapkhunkah!

Yes, we sang in the choir and it was sooo cool! That was for sure one of the highlights of the week. 

I absolutely loved the packages and the notes from all of you in my binder. It made me tear up for a second. My district loved the cookies, Mom, but how could they not? At lunch yesterday Elder Jorgenson said, "Shall we not go forth in so great a cause?" and it made me think of Dad because he always says that. I'm so excited to be going forth in such a great cause!

Elder Bednar's talk was probably the spiritual highlight of the week. It talked about how the Savior was always turning outward even in his times of greatest sorrow and despair. I know I can look to serve others better and in that way I can become more like the savior. I've been reading in 1 Nephi and I've loved seeing how faithful Nephi has been even with all the hardships his family has been going through. He just put his head down and went to work when things get hard. I am going to strive to be more like that on my mission.

I miss you all like crazy and pray for you ever day. I love hearing the updates from home. I couldn't get the wi-fi on my camera to work so here's a few pictures I've been taking. Do you think you could send a hard drive or something I can save my pictures on so I don't lose them? Khapkhunkahp!

Owen, I would love it if you sent me a card trick! That would be so cool! Can't wait to have my mind blown when I get home!

Curtis, keep taking care of Malcolm and please be safe while you drive. Let me know how the Chick-fil-a interview goes!

Daren, keep me updated on the Jazz, BYU and the Saints and keep practicing your hoops and football so we can beat Curtis and Owen when I get home! We owe them one ;)

A theme for me this week has been diligence. I've been trying to work hard and be diligent in my studies but I need a lot of work. At the end of these two years I plan on being a very diligent worker and closer to Christ.

Shall we not go forth in so great a cause?

Love you all!

-Elder Borg

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