Week Six.

 

I can't believe I’m on week six already.  Time is flying by so fast but I’m more anxious then ever to go to Thailand and share the gospel.  There is currently a Thai Sister here, going to the Temple Square Mission.  My district loves talking with her…in broken Thai and English.  LOL.  She is so sweet and the more I talk with her, the more I remember how much I love the Thai people.

 

We also taught a Thai  Sister in the TRC this week.  She is already a member but she is here for school and volunteers to help us practice our teaching skills and our language.  As we were heading to the TRC to teach, my companion told me to grab my hymn book (in Thai!) because she felt we should open with a song.  This isn't a common thing to do and I’m not the most secure about my voice, so  I definitely questioned the desire to open with a song.  When we went to teach Sister Ploy (isn’t that funny:  Marina’s foreign exchange student friend is named Ploy), told us that she loved singing.  It was here favorite hobby.  I instantly knew my amazing companion had received inspiration, that I was to self-conscious to receive.  We said, “That’s perfect!  We brought our hymn books and we wanted to open our lesson with a song.”  It brought the spirit to our lesson instantly.  When we were done singing, she told us that she hadn't brought a hymn book with her to the US and she really wanted one in Thai.  We explained where she could get one at the book store.

 

I love the gospel!  I love hymns!  In Thai, hymns translate to a “sung-prayers.”  We can learn so much from the lyrics of hymns.  Here at the MTC and on a mission, they have definitely taken on new meaning for me as "I Go Where the Lord Wants Me To Go" and to where I've been “Called To Serve" (I know that sounds cheesy but it is soooo true!).

I'm grateful for my experience here at the MTC and I’m looking forward to the next two and a half weeks of spiritually uplifting experiences and hard core Thai-language cramming!

 

Sister Marina Peterson 

Week five at the MTC!  Only three more to go!

This week has been crazy busy.  We are now playing investigators for other missionaries speaking Thai, so we’re teaching or being taught everyday now.  It's been such a good experience, because you get used to hearing your teachers speak Thai, but when you hear new people, it’s like starting from scratch.  You understand nothing. 

On Monday, Sister Maughan and I taught our progressing investigator Samaad.  We spent three days preparing for his lesson, learning new words for it, and practicing teaching each-other.  When Monday finally came, we went in there and our lesson went in a completely different direction.  At first, I was panicking, but then I could literally feel the spirit throwing phrases into my head.  It was the same for Sister Maughan.  By the end of our lesson, I invited Samaad to be baptized.  This was amazing, seeing how I had been trying to remember the baptismal invitation for our other "investigator" and I hadn't been able to say it all the way through, once before our unplanned lesson with Samaad.  Samaad and his wife both committed to baptism, which is so exciting for us! (Even though they are only pretend investigators.) 

As my MTC departure date is getting closer, I've been doubting my abilities.  This lesson really confirmed my testimony that it is not about me.  If I prepare and I'm obedient, the spirit will guide me, speak through me, and convert!

Speaking of leaving in three weeks, our teacher introduced a game to us, in order to get us speaking Thai more.  It's called “Pirate.”  In Thai, one of us gets picked and we have to speak 100 percent Thai for that day.  At the end of the day, we vote on who we think the “Pirate” is.  Meanwhile, the rest of us are all speaking as much Thai as possible so people think we are the “Pirate” and vote for us.  Sounds weird, but it's effective.  LOL Anyways, Tuesday was our first day basically speaking 100% Thai.  I learned that I have a extremely limited vocabulary in Thai, which is hard for me because I really like to talk.  J  What started out as a fun game quickly became my most challenging day at the MTC.  However, I was extremely happy when everyone in my district thought I was the “Pirate” even though I wasn’t. 

I am so excited for choir practice, just to sing in pasaa angrid (English).  Thankfully the game doesn't re-start till after our p-day is done so I get a break!  As challenging as speaking Thai all day, it’s extremely helpful.  By the end of the day I could tell a difference in my fluency and the fluency of my district.  My teachers were probably just happy we didn’t talk as much during class as we have in the past.  LOL.

Love Sister Peterson

September 11^th

So, it’s a for sure thing they want to have an all sisters choir in the Relief Society General Broadcast on the 28th.  They can only take 350 sisters, so it just depends how many want to be in choir and how they decide...i.e. If we have to audition.  I probably wont make it but we'll see.

Stories of the week:  I can't believe that it’s been a month since I got to the MTC!  A lot of the girls on our floor left this week and it got me really excited!  Sometimes it’s easy to forget I’m going to Thailand in a month to teach real people!

This week I've been focusing on teaching with the spirit and not just memorizing phrases in Thai.  It’s been rough and frustrating because making small talk and understanding people are not language skills I have yet.  Yet at the same time, I can see how much Thai I've learned in just one month and it’s more then I learned of German in 4 years.  I can read pretty fluently.  Now the tricky part is knowing the words I’m reading....because they don't use spaces in Thai Script.  I can't take much credit for it because I know me and my district have had the help of the Lord!

All three of the Sisters in my district have been sick, so I'm just waiting for my turn.  Crossing my fingers it never comes.  LOL   One of the Elders in my district got a package of Thai Peppers that his family had grown in honor of his mission. The Elders had a pepper eating contest (winner ate three) but the Sisters just tried one... Since everyone has colds, it helped clear out their sinuses, which was good.  They are probably the hottest things I've ever eaten.  My teacher said by the end of our missions we'll be able to eat like 10 of them.  I can't imagine that.  J  Logan would even have trouble eating them. 

Well this morning my district got to go to the Temple.   My Branch Presidents wife came with us, which was nice.  She is so nice!  She ate breakfast with us in the cafeteria as well. ( I think eating at the temple is my favorite thing.  It’s so nice to eat something besides MTC food.  Something that I realized today, I really miss talking with people older than me.  My teachers are all within five years of me and except for Sundays, and brief visits from our Branch Presidency wives, I don't really talk to many adults.  My companion and I jump at the chance to talk to Senior Missionaries when they eat in the cafeteria.  

I'll send you pepper eating photos and maybe a video if I can swing it later!

Love, 

Sister Peterson 

 

 

 

Us eating Thai prik (hot peppers).  Sooooo hot!!

Like cried instantly, followed by stomach issues.   :)

September 11^th 

A quick email reply:

I'm both tired and ready spiritually to serve...the excitement of the MTC is plateauing but my Branch President warned us and told us to mentally prepare for the "middle weeks."   That’s what I’ve done.  J   Evan the only one who writes me.  Elizabeth emailed me once the first week and Logan..... is Logan.  

I can't believe I’ve been in for a month and its already time for Katiemarie's Farewell!  I would love pictures!  Emily is leaving the MTC on Monday... I don't really see her much but I’m still sad.  L  I miss ya'all so much but I’m not really homesick.  I’m always busy, like you said in your letter. 

Also could you send me some jerky :) paeng maag! in Thai.  I'll send you another email with stories !

Love Sister Peterson

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

She got her jerky and other stuff.

P-day!  Sporting some gifts my Dad sent.

Third Hand Written Letter

…We had a devotional in the Marriott Center and I saw Jennifer on our way out.  Everything was so crazy because of the weather.  I couldn’t say Hi to her.  We got soaked walking back to the MTC.  I guess God is preparing us for Thailand.  J

We have service assignments that we do every week.  Ours is setting up chairs for the new missionary orientation which I’m happy about because other zones have to clean resident halls and bathrooms, etc.  I did that every morning for two years and glad for the break.  We just finished our and it doesn’t take us long.  I am grateful for that too.

Emily came in today.  My companion and I were sitting outside, writing letters while our laundry was going.  She came by on her way to her new companion and room.  She was happy to see me.  She looked just as overwhelmed as I felt on my first day.  J  We hugged and said hello then we parted ways.  I am sure we will see each other around the cafeteria.

I am praying for you.  Don’t worry…

Love Sister Peterson

p.s. My lesson plan is on the back. 

*** If you think I am going to try typing it you have another thing coming (Dale)