Hey Everyone!
How's everyone doing?
It feels like I just had p-day but here we go again. It was another pretty good
week especially my b-day. First I'll just try and go day by day, so let’s start
with after last p-day. First Elder Keller and I had a lesson teaching Bro.
Olsen about the plan of salvation and just totally knocked it out of the park.
He was so into it and wanting to learn more and loved how we showed we cared
for him. Then we found out some bad news. Brother Phan our other teacher got
fired for not scheduling for a sub one day while he was on his honeymoon :(
pretty sad. He was so awesome and it stinks to have to see him go. We all sent
him an email to him last week but he didn't respond. So we really don't know
how he is doing.
So, we have like this
chip clip where we like to stick it on each other’s shirts and see how long we
can get them not to notice it is on them and it’s just been an ongoing game
with the Elders in our district. Then, I took it to a whole nother level and
clipped Bro. Olsen and everyone in the class was laughing so hard because of
what I did; he couldn't teach and Sister Jackson ended up telling him it was on
him, but still it was pretty legendary.
On to Thursday, we now have Bro. Thrap who is our new teacher
replacing Bro. Phan who is actually also way awesome so at least we got someone
new that we all really like. I got to be the investigator for demonstrating
teaching in front of the class again which was pretty fun. I love being an
investigator because you can just be whoever you want! Then we had class with
Bro. Ols and he is so cool pretty much gave us an awesome shoutout for being so
good; if you can believe that. While the Sisters taught him, Elder Smith
and Vance taught Elder Keller and I as investigators. After that we read the
BoM as a class and we read Alma 48 and it is just way fun to all read it
together and share thoughts and learn and feel the spirit together.
Thursday was
pretty good Bro. Olsen was sick from eating leftovers from Costa Vida and we
were like no wonder because you chose Vida or Cafe Rio…Rookie Mistake. We
learned how to share scriptures more effectively in our lesson which has been a
huge help so far. Bro. Booth went to dinner with us again on Friday and was subbing for Bro. Thrap and we learned
some new language stuff and culture which is always awesome.
Elder Crump and I have
been making it a goal to stretch out every night so we can get better at
sitting criss-cross-applesauce since we find that when sitting on the floor for
lessons we can't walk after because it hurts so bad, it's a work in progress.
We can't Asian squat yet either without holding onto something or destroying
our knees so we are still figuring that one out.
Saturday was
TRC and we had a sub Bro. Shipley. We have officially had every single Thai
teacher here, which is pretty cool we've experienced all of them. We had TRC
and we taught these 2 RM's but I can't remember their names. It was so
cool it was our first 40 minute TRC lesson. I don't know why but length of
lessons has never been a problem. We can just go forever. It's partly because
our Thai is horrible ha-ha and we take forever to spit things out but still
it's really coming along. After our awesome lesson Bro Booth started helping us
memorize that First vision in Thai and after yesterday I officially have half
of it down. We will finish it by Saturday.
As for Sunday we got released, me as DL and the ZL’s; so now
my Sundays will be more relaxed which is nice no more meetings ha-ha. Elder
Keller is the new DL. Then we had Priesthood Meeting and Elder Keller and I
taught for 10 minutes about the atonement to our whole zone which was pretty
cool. Crazy to do those things in English now. Then at the devotional we had
the most awesome experience. Sister Jackson in our district also had 2 twin
sisters that are younger than her in the MTC; they just left in the last 2 days,
but the musical number for the whole MTC was performed by them! They played the
one song from 17 Miracles and they did such an amazing job. Crazy to have three
sisters together on missions in the MTC at the same time. Be hard to handle as
parents, I'd think. We watched the “Character of Christ” by Bednar again. If
you haven't watched that yet, check it out!
So Monday I bought Jesus the Christ and will start
reading that. It seems pretty awesome and I just bought it one my MTC card
since I had like 20+ dollars I decided I should start using it. We had some
deeper doctrinal questions during class on Monday and everyone in our district was really into
it but Elder Smith and me. We are pretty easy going when it comes to that stuff
because we just feel like it doesn't matter and we don't have a problem wondering
about it. I love Elder Smith he is so funny!
I also went to the
Health Clinic to figure out my tooth and she’s calls you on the phone Mom while
I am sitting right there and I could hear your voice, which was way cool! I was
sitting with Elder Crump and he said to me just yell, Hi Mom ha-ha, but I
didn't. I got a dentist appointment the next day at 9:45. This leads into Tuesday which was my B-day! So first we had class at 8
where Elder Keller and I taught Bro. Thrap and we taught him the plan of salvation
and it went way well just like Bro. Olsen’s lesson which was sweet. Then it was
time to go to the dentist. Lets gooo…going to the real world which was way
sweet seeing real people ha-ha. We went into the dentist office and real music
was playing and I was like this is the greatest thing ever, but if they numb my
mouth or say I can't eat I'm going to be, lit! Luckily I didn't have to get my
mouth numbed or any restrictions from eating so I was pretty stoked about that.
I was a nice get away to be honest. My tooth is all good now, just my retainer
is a little weird but it will fix itself I'm pretty sure.
I decided to switch it
up from playing b-ball in gym and played some volleyball. I've still got it,
that's all I got to say. Those Jr. High days are paying off ha-ha. I was having
a blast because I was the only one jumping up, throwing down some spikes which
was sweet! Except my shoulder is a bit sore ha-ha. Then we had our Devo which
was alright, but we had a review after and I came up with the coolest analogy
about missionary work and basketball so I'll tell you the general gist of it.
So you have 5 players on the court and only 1 sub. You've got Heavenly Father,
Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, BoM, and you. You've got you're one sub, your
companion. You've got the Godhead and the BoM that never get tired and whenever
you get tired you can sub out with your companion to get so rest and jump back
in the game. I compared it to playing a game where you teach your lessons and
score points by how things go and like committing them to baptism it is like
hitting a three pointer going into half time ha-ha. Then you are like playing
with Satan and trying to score more points than he does to finally win the
game. You also have all your friends and family, who are your fans, cheering
you on the whole way. Also, all the teachers over the years are your coaches
who have been preparing you for this your whole life. I thought it was cool, but
that pretty much it.
Tell
Grandma Watkins and Grandma Berlin, thanks for the packages the zucchini bread
and cake so awesome! You guys are the greatest. Also tell everyone thanks for
the birthday wishes especially Grandpa Watkins. I wish I could write you all
but I just don't have time. Elder Crump gave me a card which was way awesome and hilarious. He's
such a great friend.
Elder Smith got me the greatest birthday gift ever. So
ever since we got here I'd make sister jokes every once and while just to
tease Elder Smith so he goes ahead and tells his mom to tell his sister Tori to
write me a birthday letter ha-ha. Honestly the funniest most creative letter
ever. I read it out loud in our room and we were all dying of laughter it was
so funny! So shoutout to Tori for giving us a great laugh and something we will
always remember. She also gave me some candy and money which is so funny I
don't know why, but I'm not complaining, it was pretty awesome. She's a nice
sister to help out Elder Smith. Elder Smith and I are creating some hilarious
memories especially with our late night chats because we can't fall asleep, but
everyone else does, so we just talk, which is way awesome. I love Elder Smith
and his family is pretty sweet, so I thank all of them! That was really about
it for this week. Feels like this is a way long letter so enjoy!
Love Elder Watkins
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