Provo MTC Week 5

Sawatdee Kha!!!

Well, this week went by so fast. It's been wonderful! 

1/18 months down! hahahaha But we still have about a month here in the MTC! I can't believe it has been that fast/slow. Mai ruu (I don’t know) the feeling of wanting to leave/stay here in the MTC changes everyday. Sometimes you're stressed, sometimes you feel like it's a routine. But for the most times, I’m so happy for this opportunity. I've been learning so much and been meeting so many great people!  Sidtee rag MTC mag! (I love the MTC so much) It's kinda a comfortable place though... so surely, we need to adjust in Thailand!!!

Last Tuesday, I ran out of time so I wasn't able to email that much hehehehe we had so many errands to run. But this Pday is more chill. We went to the temple this morning, then I’m emailing right now while doing the laundry then choir later and devotional tonight. I love Tuesdays! 

Speaking of Choir! Elder Guttierez, who is currently in Manila MTC, told me he saw me singing in the devotional broadcast with Elder Bednar. Hahahaha, that is so cool! I was tempted to look at the screen pero di pwede hehehe I'm not sure who's coming tonight though but we'll sing "Sweet Hour of Prayer". 

Btw, I gained weight this week!!! And I blame the weighing scale because it's in pounds! hahahaha I can finally say that I have adjusted to their food here! I have stopped snacking at night. Because I know tataba ako sa Thailand dahil masarap daw pagkain!!!

Alright, I want to give you some update on our investigator!!!  Phii/Sidtee Arm wants to be baptized next month! That made my week! I know it's not in real life because it's just our teacher (acting) but it motivates me! Our investigator is really sweet and even though we can’t understand her (sometimes or maybe a lot of times... hahaha), we can feel her desire to know more of the Savior Jesus Christ. Also, Phii/Sidtee Bo, another investigator, finally came to church! So happy for her! (Also our teacher, acting) She works on Sundays so it was hard for her to attend church. But we know that God would bless her even more if she'll keep the Sabbath day holy! I'll give you updates on our fake investigators hehehe but really, it’s more on how we become more effective instruments/teachers. I know we don’t know so much Thai yet... but I have confidence in God that He'll help me along the way. Just like my Older Brother who's fluent in the Indonesian Language. Just like all other missionaries. The Gift of Tongues is real!

So, Last Sunday I gave a talk in our Sacrament meeting. (They call people on the spot). I was so confident that I won’t be called! hahahaha I was the opening prayer so I was expecting I won’t give a talk.... but they called me as one of the speakers! hahaha that was so unexpected. The topic was about baptism. So I shared how baptism is a "sacred step" in entering the Kingdom of God.

Yesterday, we had our last IN-Person TRC lessons with some members of the church. I'm gonna miss the volunteers so much! Next week, we'll have Skype TRC with native speakers hahahaha! I can imagine myself saying: Mai Kawcay (I don't understand) Sidtee Kawcay niinoy (I understand a little) or Phuud iig nooy day may ka? (Will you pls repeat?)

hahaha! just kidding! I know Thai speakers speaks so fast! hahaha We have this sister friend who's from Thailand and going to serve in Japan and she always helps us. We love talking to her!

So back to our TRC lesson... we were so inspired to teach about the Temple. We see it every day from the MTC but we haven't really taught about it yet. For this TRC lesson, we were with Brother Brown (Senior missionary), Brother Powers (Returned Missionary), and sister Pheem who just got back from her mission. They all served in Thailand. TRCs are pure Thai Lessons. We loved how strong the spirit was in our lessons. We shared how important the temple is to focus more on Christ and to view life with an eternal perspective. When we go to the temple, we have one foot on earth and one foot in heaven. We are literally in the House of the Lord. It is a house of learning, and a house of prayer. The temple gives me a lot of comfort while I'm away from my family. I know that I'll leave them for 18 months to be with them for eternity. Brother Brown shared that his child died young and the temple gives him so much comfort. The Lord assures him that He'll be with his family someday. As long as we'll strive to keep our covenants with Him. 

The temple is the House of the Lord and that we should always strive to visit the temple regularly. Here, in Utah, there are so many temples. They are so blessed to have a temple nearby. In Asia, some would need to travel for hours and sometimes to another country just to visit the temple. It's truly a test of faith. And I’m grateful for the times my family would strive to visit the temple together. It's something that I miss. 

We also shared Doctrine and Covenants 88:119: "Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God.”

In Thailand, there's no temple yet. But it has been announced that they will have a temple soon. So I won't be visiting a temple for the next 16 months. But, according to the verse we shared, we can always feel the presence of God as long as we organize ourselves. Our own houses can be of God as long as we establish a house of prayer, of faith, of order, of learning, and of love. My family isn't perfect but I salute my mama and papa for teaching us to build a house of God. Although we have shortcomings, they never stopped teaching us that. :) We aren't perfect. But the Lord assures us that we have a divine potential as long as we'll follow Jesus Christ. I'm so grateful to be one of the missionaries who will be instruments in preparing the people of Thailand for their temple.

That is why my challenge for you this week is to strive to visit the temple! Or establish a House of God even in our own houses! :) Love one another!

This week, I am missing my family so much. But when I got home from the temple, I felt really comforted that He will always be with them. #hihi

I love you all so much! Sidtee Rag Khun Mag Kha!

Rag,

Sidtee Gagarin ❤