Suasdei!!!

Hello, everyone!

 

It's so hard to believe that I've been here for about 5 weeks, almost 6! That means I'm almost halfway through my MTC stay! On the one hand, it feels like I've been here for FOREVER, but on the other hand, it feels like I just got here! Colton's right - "two years is not that long". I mean, it is, but it's going to FLY by.

 

I have so much more to learn, but I've learned SO MUCH since being here. It really surprises me - I know that it's truly a miracle! This language is difficult, but the Lord helps me learn every step of the way. I'm glad you liked the video I sent of me speaking Khmae, and then singing "I am a Child of God" in Khmae - if you can believe it, I've gotten better and faster since even then. In those videos I'm speaking kind of slowly, but now, with the things I really know, I can rattle them off pretty fast! Also, I've memorized ALL of the characters!!! I know the entire Cambodian alphabet - it's the largest alphabet in the world. 33 consonants, 32 subconsonants, 26 vowels (that each have two sounds, depending on which consonant or subconsonant is before it), and 14 independent vowels that all do their own thing. It's insane. I can READ now, though! Very very slowly, but at least I can do it! I may not understand a lot of it, but still. I'm reading the Book of Mormon in Khmae, and I only get through a verse or two every day, but hey, practice makes perfect! I'm SO excited. This language is so cool. It's difficult, but I love it!

 

I love being able to go to the temple every week on P-day. It's so great to be able to worship in the House of the Lord with the elders and sisters I'm serving with.

 

A district of 5 elders and 4 sisters arrived this last week - they're all going to Boston!!! The elders live on our floor, and the sisters have gym time with us. I was so excited to meet all of them. Granted, I won't get to the mission until a month after they do, but still! 

 

You know how you always hear of those silly language mistakes missionaries make? We've already had one in our district, and it's pretty good! Elder Fisher and Elder Kaufman were teaching one of their investigators about the Restoration, and Elder Fisher was trying to say "In 1820, Joseph Smith..." etc etc. The word for "thousand" in Khmae is "poan", and the word for chicken is "moan". Written out, the number 1820 would read "muaypoan prambeiruoy mphei" in romanized - Elder Fisher said "muaymoan prambeiruoy mphei". So in the context, he said, "In the year one chicken eight hundred and twenty..." They came back from their lesson laughing so hard, and he told us all. It was so great!

 

One of our teachers, Bro. Grodfey, had his last day with us on Saturday. I know I speak for everyone in our district when I say that we miss him so much already! We love all of our teachers, but there was something really special about Bro. Godfrey. He truly radiated the love of the Savior, and you could feel the love that both Bro. Godfrey and Jesus Christ have for us as he taught and encouraged us.

 

Sis. Burton and Sis. Resendes left this morning for Taiwan - they're the two Mandarin-speaking sisters that I've gotten to be good friends with. I'm so sad to see them leave, but I know they'll do well, and I plan to write them. Speaking of Mandarin...yes, I've been picking up words here and there, but I can now say the entire phrase for "I am a child of God" - literally translated as "I am God's child". I'll have to record it for you or something!

 

I had a sort of realization yesterday - we were learning about how investigators can receive revelation through church attendance in class last night, and it really hit me that I've been taking church for granted my whole life. It was sort of just something I did on Sundays, and then whatever. I mean I always wanted to go, and the sacrament was important to me, but I never fully realized how important going to church actually is. I'll never make that mistake again!

 

This week, all the new mission presidents and international MTC presidents arrived - I hear that typically an apostle comes to speak at their devotional, which is going to be tonight for all of us! I'm excited to see who's coming! Also, this is the MTC's 50th anniversary, so they're having a celebration thing for it! Nobody knows who's coming yet, but a member of the First Presidency is supposed to be coming. That's later this month. I'm so excited that I get to be here for that!

 

Ok, I'm WAAAAYYY over my allotted email time, I need to go. Much love to you all! sok sabbay!!!

 

Elder DeLong