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
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
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