This is my last email from the MTC! We're in the endgame now. My MTC experience has been a good experience, no matter how unbelievably long it feels like I've been in here haha. This was a super fun week and we're so pumped to head out to Thailand! We got our Nong Thais this week, and our flight plans! We head from SLC, to Seattle, to Seoul, and finally Bangkok! So pumped!
ภาษาไทย (Thai language)
Speaking Thai is so fun, you guys. I highly recommend it. In class we've been having so many opportunities to speak Thai and it's been starting to get more and more comfortable. Apparently the Nong Thais know me as the best speaker of the Pi Thais. I don't know who decided that or who's been spreading false doctrine, but none of us are very good at Thai yet, so don't believe everything you hear. My ku, Elder Yang's dad listens to a lot of Thai music. So we may have gotten to enjoy a little Thai culture before we get into Thailand. And it rocks. We've been helping the Nong Thais learn a little bit, too. It's really cool to see where we used to be and where we are now. There is a Thai sister here at the MTC that I had a chance to talk to before one of the devotionals. We mostly talked about what I'm excited to see and do in Thailand. Which mostly included Thai food and 7-Eleven, haha. But yeah, I had a whole conversation with a konthai in person. Not to flex, but maybe a little.
ผู้สนใจ (Interested Person)
We got to teach another konthai this week, her name is Sister Bloom. We talked to her about her conversion story and what the gospel means to her. And we can understand what she's saying! Who would've thought? It's so much fun to be able to communicate with someone that a couple week ago wouldn't make any sense to me. We also had another chance to teach Brother Nok. Before we could even ask him how he's been doing he said, "Elders! I have a christian friend and she told me that it's Christmas time and told me all about it! I want to know all about Christmas!" We were so happy to share with him. We told him what Christmas was and why we celebrate it. We shared with him the part of the Christ Child video with the wise men, and he was gripped. We also shared some scriptures with him and it was amazing to see him finally understand Jesus Christ and what He means for Brother Nok. When we shared our testimonies with him, the spirit was so strong. We got him to commit to sharing his testimony with those around him. I'm so pumped to hear how it goes!
โดยอำนาจของพระผู้เป็นเจ้า (By the power of God)...UNO!
The MTC is pretty funny sometimes and just decides to close down the gym for whatever reason. On Tuesday, Elder Yang and I headed to the gym early in the freezing cold morning to find out that the gym was closed. But that's when Sister Beus stuck her head out of T2 and called us in. The Japanese were having an underground game of Uno. So that's how we spent our gym time. Then on Friday, they did it again. Gym closed. So we got the gang back together. It's not quite underground poker or shooting craps, but it does make me feel like a gangster. I won both games of Uno that we played that day. The odds were at least one Japanese speaker would win a game, seeing that I was the only Thai speaker at the table. But I guess the Thailand Bangkok Mission really is the best in the world.
อร่อยที่สุดในสามโลก (The most delicious of the three worlds)
I'll set the stage for you. 4 starving Thai Elders. One sister who lives nearby. The very existence of In-N-Out Burger. Get the picture? After the Tuesday devotional, we returned to our residence hall with a plan in place. One Elder who will remain nameless has a sister who was willing to bring us In-N-Out. We graciously accepted. We decided the drop point, waited until she was in position, and booked it outside, grabbed that bag of double doubles, and returned safely with the contraband. Let me tell you, that burger was the tastiest thing I've had since I came into the MTC. One of the counsellors in the branch presidency decided to visit us that night. When he saw our burgers he said, "They didn't even bring you fries?" It was the best.
IT'S JESUS
I just wanted to share a little bit about Jesus Christ this week. It's almost Christmas, and I'm going to be spending it in Thailand. I'm lucky enough to not be distracted by all of the stuff that takes away from Christ. We get to spend all of our time sharing the joy of our Savior. I've really enjoyed Alma 38:9 and Helaman 14:8 this week. They share truths about our Savior way better than I could on my own. I'm so grateful for his sacrifice. Before I came into the MTC, I had some questions about him. Maybe you do too. I didn't know how someone who died so long ago really mattered to me now in my life. What I've learned is that everything he did is everything for my life. He's the light of the world. He's the way back to our Father in Heaven. Through Jesus Christ, we can have eternal happiness. I am so grateful for Him.
LAST THINGS LAST
-apparently BYU beat UCLA, but lost to Utah in basketball. So I'm not sure how I'm feeling about that.
-Da Jesus Book has been the comic relief that we desperately needed. Bless Hawaiian Pigeon.
-Thai word of the week: เขา kao, he/she. Be careful who you refer to in Thai, because you might accidentally call someone a cow and owe them chocolate.
-We get our name tags in Thai this week! Apparently we're not allowed to wear them outside of class until we get into Thailand... but we'll see how that goes haha.
-I love you all. You're the greatest (yes, you!) and Jesus loves you. If I could send Hershey's kisses to you all, I would. Because apparently that's how we do things in the MTC.
Elder Barrett
1. No heist is complete without a photo shoot
2. Squad Eats
3. I drew pictures of our teachers and I'm very proud of them.
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