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| Riding the Klong Monster |
"I love coming to email, so that I can tell you about all the adventures I'm having! They aren't really big, but they are still great. It feels like time is going really slowly at the present, but when you look back it's gone by fast. I still don't feel like an experienced missionary, but I'm sure I'll be there soon. Usually during the lessons, I'm just trying to follow where the lesson is going, so when Elder Johnson hands it over to me to teach, I know what comes next. I do the best I can and then Elder Johnson will make sure to explain what I said more clearly to them. I say the prayers because the Thai people like to hear me pray because it is so simple and they get a laugh out of it. haha Now that I know Matt is coming, I have been trying really hard to get the language down. I contribute more and more every day. I just need the confidence to take the reins before Elder Johnson gives them to me. English class is super fun because I can speak English and we make it fun with jokes and always being upbeat and happy. It's funny to hear the Thai people not speak English well because then I can get payback for all the times they make fun of my Thai. We really do teach and because it is the advanced class, they like to learn by having conversations."
"Some missionaries whom I've met in this area are: Elder Campbell, Elder Creer, Elder Haughton, Elder Wheeler, Sister Orchard, and Sister Slough. They are all great and super cool."
"We had Zone Conference on Tuesday. It was a long day. I had to prepare a talk on faith in miracles to give to Sister Senior. She said it was good, so that went well. Then during the conference, I had to stand up in front of the whole zone and say the missionary purpose in Thai. I got up and struggled a little, but got through it and was so relieved. Right when I was about to relax and sit down, everyone stood up! I thought maybe they were all going to start chanting something in Thai to me about passing the test and becoming a real Thai missionary. haha However, what I was suppose to do was lead everyone in the missionary purpose like the Pledge of Allegiance. I think they did that to me on purpose just to pull a prank. haha I didn't know what was suppose to happen and it was funny. Then during lunch break, Sister Senior asked everyone who was having their first Zone Conference to stand. There was about 8 of us. One by one, she asked us a question and when we would answer, we'd get a piece of candy and sit down. Everyone got really easy questions. Then it was my turn and she asked the hardest questions like, "What does the white bible say about dedicating homes?" and "What prophet said this in the Preach My Gospel?" They were so hard that even the Elders who have been here awhile said that they didn't know! I was up forever and couldn't answer one question and Sister Senior would ask another and another that I didn't know. Everyone was just laughing and even President Senior! He finally looked at me and said, "Elder Smith, What is your favorite color?" I looked at him and answered, "I don't have one!" Everyone about died laughing and he gave me a candy, so I could finally sit down. I guess people now know who Elder Smith is. Don't worry about it making me look bad. I talked to President Senior about it and he said it was so funny and all the missionaries just loved it. That was my first experience at my first Zone Conference. haha"
"We had Zone Conference on Tuesday. It was a long day. I had to prepare a talk on faith in miracles to give to Sister Senior. She said it was good, so that went well. Then during the conference, I had to stand up in front of the whole zone and say the missionary purpose in Thai. I got up and struggled a little, but got through it and was so relieved. Right when I was about to relax and sit down, everyone stood up! I thought maybe they were all going to start chanting something in Thai to me about passing the test and becoming a real Thai missionary. haha However, what I was suppose to do was lead everyone in the missionary purpose like the Pledge of Allegiance. I think they did that to me on purpose just to pull a prank. haha I didn't know what was suppose to happen and it was funny. Then during lunch break, Sister Senior asked everyone who was having their first Zone Conference to stand. There was about 8 of us. One by one, she asked us a question and when we would answer, we'd get a piece of candy and sit down. Everyone got really easy questions. Then it was my turn and she asked the hardest questions like, "What does the white bible say about dedicating homes?" and "What prophet said this in the Preach My Gospel?" They were so hard that even the Elders who have been here awhile said that they didn't know! I was up forever and couldn't answer one question and Sister Senior would ask another and another that I didn't know. Everyone was just laughing and even President Senior! He finally looked at me and said, "Elder Smith, What is your favorite color?" I looked at him and answered, "I don't have one!" Everyone about died laughing and he gave me a candy, so I could finally sit down. I guess people now know who Elder Smith is. Don't worry about it making me look bad. I talked to President Senior about it and he said it was so funny and all the missionaries just loved it. That was my first experience at my first Zone Conference. haha"
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| Elders Passey and Smith with Sister Ewe |
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| Game Night! |
"We taught a lot of lessons on the street this week and 3 people seem promising. One has agreed to come to sports day. I went on switch offs with Elder Creer and it was crazy. We taught so many lessons, plus we gave one of their investigators a blessing and I annointed the oil in Thai. Also, we rode bikes everywhere and I had to use Elder Campbell's, so let's just say that I had a wedgie all day Friday. haha He is so tall! We talked to so many people and Elder Creer said that he was impressed that I am not scared to go up and just talk to people. He said that most Greenies are very shy at first, so that made me feel good."
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| The view from the dining room. |
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| The washer machine. Clothes are hang dry. |
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| Elder Smith's bed is unmade as usual! |
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| The dressing closet |
"Sunday, I got to teach the Sunday school class for about 5 minutes because the teacher asked me to. I talked about Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost, and everyone said that they were impressed because I don't speak the Thai language well, but I taught in the language of the Spirit. I may not have been able to say everything perfectly, but I was able to say what needed to be said, so that everyone could understand my testimony and feel the spirit that was with me."
"Well that was all this week. I can't wait to experience what other adventures that will come my way. I love you all so much!"
Elder Jacob Smith
