"Well as you probably already know.., I am freaking out about how close I am to leaving! This week has been just filled with review and lots of preparation stuff. This will be the last email from the MTC that you will get from me. It actually makes me so happy because I'm so ready to leave here. However, I am extremely grateful to be able to come here instead of going straight to Thailand because I would have had such a hard time trying to learn the language and how to teach effectively. I'm super busy every day and we always have something to do because they want us to finish strong. I have a lot to get ready and to do before we leave. I'm having a blast this week because we feel like the kids on top because we have been here so long. haha"
"I'm a little worried that I'm going to forget something important. On Thursday, we had to teach our investigator Doug and it didn't go too well. We were probably struggling because we were all so out of it after p-day. Anyways that got me real down about the language and I was having trouble thinking that I wasn't ready for Thailand yet. I had to decide that everything will be alright as long as I have the Lord by my side. I got on my knees and said a prayer of thanks only and my day got a lot better. Also, I was able to call home that day, so it was really great."
"Saturday was fantastic! We taught a girl named Jessica in TRC about how to receive revelation through prayer. We used 2 Nephi 32 and we just rocked the lesson! We were connecting really well and our lesson was on fire. I could actually understand a lot of what she was saying, which made me feel good. At the end of the lesson, we were talking in Thai and she was telling us how well we were doing with the language. I looked at her and said, "phom phayaayaam" (I try) haha. We all laughed so hard and then started talking about how excited we were to go to Thailand. We talked about the work and of all the things we'll be able to do in Thailand. It was such a confidence booster after the past couple days. Afterwards, we had planning study and I realized that me and Elder Vance can get a lot done when we can just sit down and plan. We had great planning study. Also my district told me that I say, "n such" a lot while I talk and it's so true! haha I need to work on that. I don't even know why I say it sometimes."
"Sunday was hard because it was fast Sunday and I was so hungry the entire time. I even heard my stomach say, "I hate you right now!" We had a two hour devotional and oh my goodness, it was so long! We went back to the classroom and watched a bunch of funny movies on the LDS website, the Joseph Smith movie, and Johnny Lingo. It was really nice to just relax and not have to worry about anything. Later that evening, we had another devotional by Jenny Oaks Baker! I know you know her. She is a violinist and the daughter of Dallin H. Oaks, so that was cool. She talked and played the violin and it was really fun to watch and listen to her. After that we went and watched Mountain of the Lord. It was great and I think I was in a better mood after I ate. haha oh well!"
"Monday we had class and had to teach Phii Joe for the last time. The lesson went fantastic and we were able to get him to go to church! That was the goal that we had set, so way to go Elder Smith! We know that it wouldn't have been possible if we didn't have the Lord on our side. Also, it was Brother Olsen's half birthday, so we blew up a bunch of rubber gloves and gave him some of our snacks that we had from our room and wrote him a letter. It was really funny to watch him open it and just laugh. It was a good day."
"Tuesday was a little weird because we had an activity where Brother Thrap told us a story in Thai, that I couldn't even understand any of, and then afterwards we had to tell him what it was about. Wouldn't you know, he chose me and I really didn't know anything he was talking about. I got through it, but it was really tough. I think that Satan is trying to get me to stop, so that I don't go to Thailand. Well it didn't work because I have the power of God on my side and his son Jesus Christ who through him all things are possible! Get thee hence!! haha I'm super excited to go to Thailand and I cannot wait to finally meet my first convert! yeah!!"
"I miss you all so much and I really want to get those pictures from you because I need to see your faces! I love you all so dearly and can't wait until I can finally call and talk to all of you!"
Elder Jacob Smith
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| Elder Smith finds Elder Sylvester! (Czech Republic Mission) |
