Madeline in Cambodia: Awesome Week--June 28, 2016 MTC

Hello family and friends!

So first let me tell you about my first few minutes in the MTC. Right as I got out of the car to be dropped off, I see Sister Frogley (Alleigh Frogley, aka Afrog). She was my host and showed me around the MTC. For those of you that don't know... Sister Frogley was my best friend in kindergarten. I remember the first time I talked to her. I said, "Will you be my friend?" she said "Yes.” So my first friend in kindergarten was my first friend in the MTC. Oh and by the way, the day I came to the MTC 750 missionaries also arrived. It's a happening place!

So there are two Cambodian districts. In my district we have 12 people, 3 sisters and 9 elders. 3 of those elders are going to Long Beach, California speaking Cambodian. The rest of us are going to Cambodia. I'm kind of in a make shift trio with Sister Winters and Sister Benson. Sister Benson's companion, Sister Stevens, is going to Indonesia so for most of the day Sister Benson is with us. Sister Winters is the best. She is honestly probably the most faithful person I have ever met. That's great for me because sometimes I just think that this whole "mission to Cambodia" is impossible. We have a great time. We're pretty similar. She is a great influence on me to work harder and be better. I love my district. All the Elders and Sisters are all so sweet and hilarious. We probably have too much fun. Also I absolutely love my zone. We have the biggest zone at the MTC. We have Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesia, Cambodian, Mong, Malay Elders and Sisters. We're pretty tight with the Vietnamese Elders. They monitor the official members of the zone. I'll explain... to officially be a member of the zone you have to "one bite" something. So you have to eat something of pretty impressive size in one bite. Sister Christensen ate a taco bell soft taco. I ate a banana. Elder Stacey ate two huge cookies and Elder Gardener (a Long Beach Elder in my district) ate a STEAK! A whole steak that was probably the size of my hand. Yeah... we have fun. You sometimes have to get creative to have fun in the MTC.

Right as I got to class, my neakruu (teacher) just started talking at us in Khmer. The language is hard. I so badly just want to understand and speak so we can teach our investigator but I know it will come with time. For these first days we're just learning the romanized version of Khmer, so not the ramen noodle looking characters yet. It's still really hard to try and memorize all these words and pronounce them. The romanized alphabet means p=b, c=j, backwards c=a, line through the u=oo, upside down e=eh, k=g... anyways it's just hard. I've been working hard and praying the most I ever have in my whole entire life so it's coming along. Want to learn how to say "missionary"? "neakscphsaaysaasnaa" It's crazy. It’s my favorite word to say. It sounds like "naygsoapsighsawsnaa". It's so fun.

The MTC is so fun right now because I literally see all of my friends every day (new ones and old ones). When we first got to the MTC, we had a welcome devotional and of course Elder Paskett was singing the special musical number. Haha just like old times. Also Sister Baker lives on my floor just like in Taylor Hall. That's been such a sweet blessing. I see Elder Cleverly, Ludwig, Paskett, Fear, Dahl and Sister Baker, Clingo, Callis and a whole lot of other people mostly every day.

Also another great moment was on Saturday. We had to drop off Sister Stevens at her class. All four of us have to go because of the trio situation. Right as we walked out of the building we see a couple of men walking by so we instinctively bow and say "Cumriabsua!" And lo and behold it was Elder Quentin L. Cook. He bowed right back, smiled, and said "Cumriabsua!" After he passed we all just kind of froze and then freaked out! So awesome! This week because of the mission presidents all of the members of the 12 have been somewhere on MTC campus. It's a fun time to be here at the MTC!

So we have an investigator named Bccn Thuan. We've taught him three lessons now. The first lesson was okay. The second was to be honest absolutely terrible. Okay maybe not that bad but pretty close. But our third lesson was so so good. We still did not speak perfect Khmer but we had the Spirit. I could feel it. Instead of being focused on the language or what I was going to say next, I just prayed for love for Bccn Thuan and listened. It was great! I said the opening prayer without my notes and it was really such a sweet feeling. I'm sure I didn't say anything right but I felt so close to my preahvobeidda sua (Heavenly Father) as I prayed in Khmer. It really was such a sweet experience that I will always remember.

Also MTC choir is the best. The song we sang was called "Hurrah for Israel." As I heard the title I immediately thought of Kolipoki saying "Hurrah, Hurrah for Israel". The choir director then explained its meaning. He said that the first two missionaries said that as they were leaving their families to serve the Lord. I guess that's why Elder Groberg was saying that to Feki? Is that who he says it too? Hmmm I don't know. Anyways Elder Groberg was then speaking at a prison and one of the workers wrote this song and had the prisoners sing it to Elder Groberg. I thought that was extremely cool to have kind of a connection to the song. And also the choir is amazing. We had around 950 missionaries singing in it this last Sunday.

On Sunday, we had the most amazing devotional. Afterwards we get to watch movies or talks. Sister Winters and I stayed for Elder Bednar's talk "Character of Christ." I truly believe that that was the most inspiring, motivational, best talk I have ever heard. He talks about how whenever we turn in, Christ turns out. So when we think "woe is me" or "this sucks", Christ turns out and helps. Oh it was so so so good. Please go look it up! Watch a little bit a day or all of it! It's so so good! I really think it changed by mission.

I have grown so much these past couple days. I can not believe it. Though the days are hard, tiring, and mentally exhausting, I have felt the power of the Spirit helping me along. I have prayed so much I can't even comprehend. Because really that's all I have. I can not do this alone. So I'm talking to my Heavenly Father constantly. Prayer is my best friend. And I love praying in Khmer. It's that much more special.

I think that's it. Anyways thank you so so much. I think about you a lot. But I’m doing okay homesick wise. It's hard but I love it. Thank you for your prayers and love. Khnom srlcn krom krusuaa robch khnom ( I love my family)

DEAR FUTURE MISSIONARIES:
Do not feel bad if the first couple days of the MTC are extremely hard and kind of terrible. Sometimes in class when my teacher would be speaking Khmer I just thought "there is no way I can do this for 18 months" or "what in the world did I get myself in to?" Do not feel bad! Everyone will tell you to just "make it to Sunday." When people told me I thought "oh yeah... okay..." BUT IT IS TRUE. MAKE IT TO SUNDAY. I love the MTC now. I love my district. I love learning Khmer even though it's hard and I'm not the best. I love the Spirit that is here. I love teaching (attempting). It's great! Do not be scared!!