"I want everyone to find JOY in this life."

09/05/13 Sawadii kha! Sabaydii may?

Well, this week has been very interesting. I can't believe how fast time flies. I sometimes can't remember what I did all week. I guess that's why they make us write in our journals. Anyhow, I have been trying to work hard and make goals for each day. Before I got to the MTC, I was never great at planning and writing goals for the week or day but I am slowly getting better at it and making better progress. It really helps me to be better focused than I ever have before. 

I am really enjoying my teachers here in the MTC. I have three that switch off and teach. Brother Burgess was my first teacher and I love him to death. He's always smiling and cracking jokes. Whenever you make a mistake in the language he kind of laughs but you never feel stupid around him. He's just really great and patient. (and certainly makes learning the language a lot more entertaining) Brother Todd was our "investigator" in the beginning but now he teaches us. He's really serious and a little awkward in the way he acts. I have had to get used to him but I found that he truly does care for us and wants to do anything to help us reach our goals. His testimony has certainly driven me to want to do even better. Brother Shippley is really really quiet. He's like... reverent in the way he acts and talks. I had to get used to him as well. But, in time, I have started to like him as a teacher. He's super patient and strives to get us to be more focused on the language and the spirit. He complimented me the other day. He said, "Sister Carter, I like the way you talk in Thai. You are able to express things in such a unique way. Every time I speak Thai, I always feel like I'm boring someone." I felt really awesome to say the least. Thai isn't the best of languages to express emotions when you are limited to tones. 

The Elders in my zone and district are absolutely hilarious. They're immature at times but they sure make the MTC really entertaining. At lunch, they all like to "ball hard" and try to aim a crumpled up napkin into someone else's cup. It turns into a napkin flying zone. It's kind of bad... but hilarious too. We all like to play 4-square and it gets pretty intense! Whenever someone misses the ball we joke and say, "May may may, may wanii!" (no no no, not today) haha! It's just so funny. And most importantly, they can all get very serious and spiritual when the time calls for it. They're all so smart. The Sisters in my zone are all really great. We're all just very relaxed and there's no drama. The Sisters in the other district in my zone are in a tri companionship and they work wonderfully together! No one is left out or feeling less of a missionary than the other. We all just work to help each other out. I really am blessed. 

Last night we had Elder Davis F. Evans of the 70 spoke to us last night. He was really good. The thing that really struck out to me is when he said, "The doctrine of Christ is an expression of Love". And it's so true! Everything that this Church does is out of love and spirit of the Lord. I just can't express how much I love that. Because without Love... where would we all be? We are all social creatures, and we cannot survive in this world without the most fundamental emotion as love. It's the one thing that can pierce the most hardest of hearts. And without it, my testimony will simply fall flat to the people I teach in Thailand. 

I know that this gospel is true. If I haven't said it before, I am saying it now and I will continue to say it. I know that our Father in Heaven loves us and he Hears and answers all of our prayers in HIS time. Christ was born upon this Earth and he loved, and healed all. He atoned for our sins and He wants us so badly to open the door when he knocks. I know this all to be true. I could say it in Thai but I doubt that many of you would understand. Maybe next time. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

I love you all. I hope that you are all doing great. I think about you and I pray that all my loved ones will be happy. I want everyone to find joy in this life. And that's why I am on this mission. I need to spread His truth to those people in Thailand. It is my responsibility now. It is my honor. 

I love you!

Love, 

Sister Carter

All of us modeling our new "tinkerbell" slippers and headbands that Sister Peterson's dad sent us all. (Left to Right) Me, Sister Peterson, Sister Maughan, and Sister Her (my companion)

 Sister Her and I with the tree that smells like orange cream soda! Haha! Don't ask me how they knew this... (yes, we smelled the tree and looked like dorks while doing it!)

 My desk in my classroom with most of my study material that I use everyday! I got a LOT of books!

My classroom from the front

  My 3 versions of Preach my Gospel. The one on the right is in Thai Script, and then English, and Romanized Thai (so I can actually read it! haha!)

 Open Book of Mormon in Thai Script and the Thai Bible is in the back.  






Class with my desk in the far right corner

 The Elders love drawing this "zen face", it makes me laugh! At the top it says "cay yen yen" which means "Calm down". It's just great!

  My Sisters "studying" in the classroom. (Left to Right) Sister Her, Sister Peterson, and Sister Maughan

 Picture of what my residence hall door looks like. Other sisters had decorated it this way before we arrived. It's pretty cool! (Triforce ftw!)