(sent Tuesday 3/13/2012 1:03pm)
Greetings family!
Well another week has come and gone. I'm starting to see the truth of the phrase "days are like weeks, weeks are like days." Sunday is an especially nice time to reflect on what has happened the past week. I didn't have time to read the blog post last week so I just. I love it. Thank you (ah gkoon). :)
So to start off I played the special musical number in the fireside on Sunday this week. I was asked by Elder Hansen in my branch (going to Ohio Columbus English speaking) to accompany him. I saw the music on Thursday, auditioned on Friday, and played Sunday night. It was crazy but people enjoyed it and I was glad for the oppurtunity. The song was "Everywhere I Go." It has a great message especially for missionaries. Also on Sunday I played the special musical number in Sacrament meeting. I practically sightread it but I just absolutely love playing any chance I get. It was "Nearer My God to Thee" which was appropriate with the topic that Sunday being the Atonement. The way talks work is everybody prepares a 5 minute talk (which will help us when we're out in the field) and on Sunday the Branch President picks two *lucky* missionaries. I was not picked, fortunately. I enjoy playing piano much more than giving a talk.
For the special musical number in the fireside, Sisters are required to wear a jacket (like blazer). I didn't bring one so I borrowed one from Sister Vom whom I absolutely love. She is HILARIOUS, always makes us laugh but also has such a strong testimony and spirit. Anyway I loved the jacket because it was kind of loose fitting and reminded me of the 90s. Instant love. I wore it with my blue knit dress and they made a good combo. Which brings to the topic of clothes (this is not a complaint) ... I've worn everything I brought at least once already so the sooner those other items of clothing could be sent I would be eternally grateful. Please! Oh also I'd like my Zac Posen shirt sent to me (with some kind of undershirt). Funny story about that. My companion Sister Burrell wore a shirt which reminded me of the Zac Posen shirt and I didn't have any paper to write on so I wrote it on my arm so I'd remember to write you guys about it. (That's a lot of writes) Well I woke up the next morning with "Zac Posen" in ink on my forehead! I don't know how it got there when I saw sleeping. I wrote it high up on my arm, like elbow height. I think people could learn a lot about themselves if they watched themselves sleep so it got me thinking ... How did it end up on my forehead?!?! I must sleep pretty crazy.
As part of Sunday, the sisters get to watch "Music and the Spoken Word." I know you guys have church then but it's a connection we can have even when we're in completely different places. I especially liked the topic of it last Sunday. It was about parents being an example to their children so I'd just like to take this oppurtunity and thank you, Mom and Dad, for the tremendous examples you have been throughout my whole life but also in serving your missions. I'm the person I am today thanks to you. By the way Clay Christiansen's Organ solo was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! I think he used every keyboard on the Organ. So cool!
I've been telling you about our first investiagator Hrol Moon and he commited to be baptized on what I think was our fifth meeting! (Even though he's a practice investigator there was such a spirit in the room and we grew to love him. We were so happy when he said "yes" to being baptized) Then it turned out that he was our teacher (look kruu). So we didn't get a baptism which the date coincidentally picked was Mom's birthday that also happens to be on a Saturday. Now we have two teachers teaching us regularly, look kruu Hawkins and look kruu Merril (funny fact, in Cambodia they say it like "mariel" which means one dollar).
I got the wonderful package yesterday and absolutely LOVED IT!!!!!! I ate 8 cupcakes when I got home this morning from the temple (we go in the morning as part of P day) in addition to the many many that I ate last night. I've been sharing too and the sisters love them. I didn't know the flavors at first so when I bit into one that I thought was vanilla and it turned out to be lemon I was stoked! and then flourless chocolate and strawberry filling ones ... DELICIOUS!!! Thank you so much for the pictures! It made me feel like I was part of the celebrations. The picture of Laura's learners permit made me scream when I first saw it. I have to get used to Laura and Brad being 15 and 17 now. Weird! Give the dogs my love. Muah! (a kiss from me)
The craziest thing of all though is .... I CAN READ CAMBODIAN SCRIPT!!! I understand the letters, subconsonants and vowels and how you read them. It's crazy but makes sense. The district compared it to learning math. Once you get it, it just clicks. As part of our teaching with our second investigator we're learning to read Ether 12:41 in Cambodian. So cool!
In conclusion I'd just like to talk about the special spirit that surrounds me here in the MTC. My Branch President says it makes it possible for us to learn ALL things. I feel the spirit all the time and I love it. It makes doing the work here easier. I just like to add my personal testimony that I know the Gospel is what brings us true and lasting happiness and makes it possible for families to be together forever. Joseph Smith DID restore the true church to the earth and Thomas S. Monson is a prophet today. The Book of Mormon is the word of God.
I love you all! (Khnom Sralign Puak Bahng)
Sister Emily Strobell
PS. Goodbye is Jem Riab Lia/Lia Sun :)
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