Excellent Week in the MTC

Cumriabsua Krom Kruasa nun mitpheak!

Hello! It was another great week at the MTC. I honestly can't even remember what happened this week but it sure was a happy, ordinary, busy week. Friday was our monthaversary! One month down... one to go! I'm 1/18 of the way done! We celebrated with confetti poppers and lots of chocolate. With the three other sisters in our room we have about a whole 50 pound suitcase full of food. haha we love it. On the day we hit our month mark, the Indonesian and Malay districts in our zone got their flight plans. They're only here for 6 weeks. I'm not going to lie, it kind of hurt seeing their flight plans but I'm so excited for them! I love my zone so much. We are all so close. Also Sister Winters and I have quite a talent of becoming great friends with people right before they leave. First the Vietnamese Elders and now the Indonesians. Oh well. 

Our investigators are doing great... well kind of. Our teachers role play as investigators from their mission. We have three right now, Bcng Van, Neakming Ranni, Om Tom. We taught Om Tom (Lookruu Garlick) for the first time this week. He's the sweetest man. You can tell by what Lookruu Garlick says and does that the real Om Tom in Cambodia is beyond sweet. You can also tell that he's very very poor but he has such a sweet simple spirit. I love it. Funny story while teaching Bcng Van... We were supposed to teach him on Friday but the Elders before us took way too long so Van said he didn't have time. So because we are persistent and excited missionaries we decided to "call" him on Saturday (this was Sister Winter's idea). So we "called" Van (Lookruu Sorenson). He was standing on the other side of the door, I raised my hand to my face like a phone and let me tell you I owned that phone call. So i guess I'm better at Khmer phone calls than English ones :) 

TRC was awesome as always. We taught two returned missionaries, Jacob (Yacob) and Mitch (Mit). I actually read some of Mitch's blog before I left so that was funny. Anyways we taught them about charity. We asked them about times where they've seen charity. Both of them mentioned their missions. I just had this strong impression to tell them that they can feel that same love from their mission here. All we need to do is ask with a sincere heart. The Spirit was so strong. You could see in their eyes and in the way they talked that they love the people of Cambodia. When I say love I mean truly, with all their heart, love! It was so sweet. It made me so excited to have a part of that sweet love for those sweet people. TRC also gives me hope that I will be able to learn this language.  Such a sweet day. 

Sundays are the best as always. I'm sad to say that our Branch President has been moved to the Filipino branch (dang Filipinos). So our new president is our first counselor, President Moon. He was actually the mission president in Cambodia before my mission president now. Such a tender mercy. In honor of the Pioneers, we had a special devotional from the Nashville Tribute band. The MTC choir (mainly the whole MTC) had the privilege of singing with them. It was one of those moments were afterwards you feel like you can do anything. Ugh so good!!

So yes it was kind of a boring, kind of an awesome week! That's usually how it goes here. OH! can i just tell you that Khmer is the cutest language. Let me give some examples: "kaapraecetcua" means conversion. prae=turn, cet=heart, cua= believe. So it literally translates to turn heart and believe. So sweet. Also "cet l'cc" means kind. translates to good heart. Though khmer is squiggly and incredibly inefficient, it's the sweetest language there is.

Thank you for all the love! 

Sister Mortell

 How to write "Mortell"

 The Cambodian sisters and Sister Penrod

 The sisters in our zone

 Idaho girls!

 English TRCs took over our classroom so we were banished to the little prison room.

Oh well..

 only at the MTC

 A dear friend ran into Maddy and sent these pictures. (Thanks Abbey!)

Delightful Week at the MTC

Tau krom kruasa nun mitpheak hoob baay hauy ruu nuo?

Hello family and friends! The MTC is packed! Right as a whole load of people left, another group came. Right now there are around 2,400 missionaries in the MTC. The choir is around 1,400. It's so awesome. Anyways this week went by super fast until of course P Day Eve. Let's see..

On Saturday we had our TRC. It stands for "Teaching Recent Converts" so mainly we just teach returned missionaries and this cute little Cambodian lady, Om Meak. Om Meak is probably the tiniest, most adorable lady I have ever met. We were having a lesson on prayer and how we have the ability to speak to our Heavenly Father about anything. Whether it's about school, family, loneliness, stress, questions, doubts, Heavenly Father wants to hear everything! So as we were teaching Om Meak, we asked her to share an experience. She began telling her story. From what we understood, during the Khmer Rouge her family fled to Thailand. Her husband was taken and she's never seen him since. She said she prays every night to be able to see him again. I know she will. These people amaze me and I haven't even met them yet. Another thing that truly amazed me about the Khmer people I learned in our grammar class. We were learning different greetings and phrases. One of the phrases is "Tau bccn broh hoob baay hauy ruu nuo?" This literally translates to "Have you had any rice yet?" This phrase started during the Khmer Rouge in the concentration camps. Because they were only fed small amounts water and rice, if someone hadn't eaten any rice yet they would give their rice to the one in need. Ever since that time the saying has evolved into a common greeting. Isn't that the sweetest most tender thing you've ever heard? Cambodians amaze me!

Our investigator (our teacher) lessons are getting better every day. We now have three investigators. I think for the first time, I truly felt the Spirit while I was teaching. Yesterday we were teaching neakming Ranni and even though the lesson didn't go as planned and she's so so stubborn there were a few sentences I said that just felt so right. They were simple and in broken Khmer but I looked into her eyes and spoke from my cet (heart) and I just felt so peaceful. It's so amazing!

So Sunday was a very special, awesome, sweet day. Like always but especially this Sunday. Every Sunday morning we prepare talks about a specific topic. The branch president then picks at random two missionaries to speak. The topic this Sunday was The Book of Mormon. Kind of a huge topic, right? But for some reason I couldn't help thinking about the Character of Christ (that talk from Elder Bednar, go look it up right now and watch it!) So for my "talk" I started studying his talk and finding places in the Book of Mormon where people show the Character of Christ. Anyways then at the devotional, President Burgess announced, "We've decided to watch the Character of Christ instead of having a speaker." And with that announcement I was like "WOOH" cause I love that talk. His talk is the perfect amount of a slap in the face and motivation. So we watched the Character of Christ. I was pumped that I had studied it that very morning. After the video was over, through the door comes Elder Bednar!!! WOAH! With 2,400 other missionaries I had the privilege of listening to an apostle! For about an hour and a half we just had a question and answer session. He talked about how the Character of Christ and charity is not something we practice and develop. Charity possesses us. It becomes our natural spiritual instinct. Many of my questions that weren't asked were answered. When he left, a sea of missionaries stood. I couldn't help but think "tarry a little longer".

Thank you all so much for the prayers, love and support. I am so thankful to love and serve my Heavenly Father and Savior. 

Love,
Sister Mortell

 Cleaning the showers--rubber boots, gloves and goggles. Dorky and all!

 Personal study was a bit rough this week. Also during study outside, we can usually hear the BYU bells. It stings a little bit.

 When you're studying and eating lunch so you write the word craun (a lot) in Cambodian.

 In the lovely laundry room with our Cambodia shirts :)

 What it looks like when we teach our investigators--shoes off and sitting on the floor.

Cherished Week at the MTC

Cumriabsua Family and Friends!

So it was a really good week in the MTC. I'm starting to really love it here. This week went by so fast. It's so hard to even comprehend "time" in the MTC. Some hours (usually before dinner) feel like hours and hours. Some days feel so long. The weeks are short. I half can't believe I've been here for 3 weeks and half can't imagine being here for 9 weeks. But I do really love the MTC. So funny story... Sister Stevens, Benson, Winters and I were walking down the stairs to go back to our residence. On the second step I totally biffed it and did this whole majestic twirl and then landed and slid all the way down the stairs. Keep in mind while this was all happening I was holding a package. After several maneuvers the package remained intact and untouched. It was actually the longest 30 seconds of my life. Somehow I didn't get hurt though I just literally could not stop falling. It was kind of like the first five minutes of Hot Rod. Anyways Sister Winters was just lying on the floor laughing while Sister Benson and Sister Stevens were frantically trying to help me stop. Anyways we had a good laugh. 

On Saturday we had our first TRC. You prepare two twenty minute lessons in Khmer and teach them to members (mostly returned missionaries). Everyone was so scared and warned us of how horrible TRC is but it was the best!! We talked to two returned sister missionaries. We knew our Khmer and had a great conversation and lesson. Our second lesson was so so so fun! We talked with this cute, tiny old Cambodian lady, Om Meak. She was so sweet. She is so faithful and sweet. She just kept on saying "scmrah" (samrah), which means beautiful. So TRC is awesome and kind of scary but mostly awesome. 

As for the language... it's coming! I finally memorized basic core. Basic core is about 340 gospel and common Khmer words. So that was a proud moment of mine this week. Also we've started learning the script. Right now we're just trying to memorize what the consonants and sub-consonants look like. I love it so much. Studying the script gives me an excuse to do some drawing and doodling. Khmer is so fun. Also Khmer literally only has three verb tenses! Hallelujah!

Sunday was so amazing. Sacrament meeting was bittersweet though. We said goodbye to about half of our zone. The two old Thai districts and Vietnamese district left on Monday. So on Sunday they sang "Come Thou Font" in Thai and Vietnamese. Music really does bring the Spirit. It's especially so sweet to sing and teach in our mission language. I'm going to miss the Vietnamese Elders a lot. They were some of our best friends. I'm so thankful for the people I have met here. They have changed my life for the past three weeks and had made such an influence for the next 18 months. 

So yesterday night was.. interesting. After class and planning the other Cambodian District leader came into our room. He was very serious and looked disappointed. He said something like, "I just received a letter from President Penrod. It says 'To all Cambodia Phnom Penh Mission: Because of civil unrest in Cambodia, Sister Missionaries have been asked to prolong their stay in the MTC for 3 weeks.'" My heart literally sank. And my eyes began to water. My first thought was sadness for the people of Cambodia. My second thought was "I can't go to Cambodia for 9 weeks now??" and then my third thought was, "wait, why is this 18 year old district leader telling us this?" My third thought was right. Yep, it was a prank. HOW MEAN IS THAT? I was literally crying. They all felt really bad. But mostly just for me because the other Sisters automatically thought it was a lie. I guess I'm just gullible. But I’m actually really grateful that they pranked us. For the past couple weeks I've been scared out of my pants (skirt) to go to Cambodia. I'm so worried I won't be able to love the people, teach the people, learn the language, etc. but my first instinct when they said we wouldn't be able to go to Cambodia was love for the people. My first thought was love for the Khmer people. And my second was disappointment that I wouldn't be able to go love and serve them. So although I'm scared, I am so excited. I am thankful for immature, 18 year old Elders that made me realize that. 

I am so thankful for the MTC. My testimony and love for this gospel has already reached levels I'd never dream. I've especially appreciated the amazing, precious gift of prayer. Heavenly Father wants us to talk to Him. He loves us so much. If we ask, He will give. I know that if you ask with faith, you will be able to feel the peace, joy and love that Heavenly Father so desperately wants us to feel. I love my Heavenly Father. 

Much love,
Sister Mortell

 Maddy, Rachel and Julia (Taylor Hall friends) 

 Cami and Maddy (repping Vienna Woods Ward)

 At the zone tree on Sunday with our Vietnamese Elder friends

 Our cute classroom

 learning Khmer script

 340 ish flashcards for basic core--finished! (also notice the inspiring Roger Federer quotes)

Blessed Week--July 5, 2016 MTC

CUMRIABSUA Friends and Family!!!

It was quite a week this week. The MTC is funny because you can literally be having the worst time thinking everything is a lost cause and "what the heck am I doing for 18 months?" and then you hear a devotional or have some laughs with your district and it all turns around. This Saturday was way fun because we had a special Fourth of July Devotional thing. The speaker talked about the history of freedom and how the Restoration was made possible through that freedom. I'm going to be honest we were all so tired so it was pretty hard to stay awake. But then after the devotional we got to go to the parking lot of the MTC and watch the Stadium of Fire fireworks!! We were awake after that. We just had a great time singing, laughing, eating our random care packages with our zone. 

So let's see... Cambodian is still super hard. But I think I'm doing better on not being frustrated. Sometimes it seems impossible to ever be able to understand this language but it's coming. I just need to remember that two weeks ago I knew nothing. I love our branch and zone because since we're all here for 9 weeks we all just have become best of friends. Our zone is literally the best! Well actually the Thai people kind of stick together but we're really close friends with the Vietnamese Elders. They are honestly the best people I've ever met! They have such inspiring stories and backgrounds. 

Sometimes I think "What in the world am I doing? this is crazy!" But my fears are slowly disappearing into excitement. There's this quote "The more you learn about the Atonement, the more you'll want to share it." That is so true.

Gym time is seriously the best. Ally, you'll be proud of me... FOUR SQUARE was intense. Elder Lasswell and I have a continuing feud of cherry bombs and spin throws. It's pretty fun. We also run, play volleyball, soccer, baseball, and frisbee. And if we're really tired sometimes we just lay on the grass and play "scissors, paper, rock." That's what Elder Ray calls it (Vietnamese Elder) because he's from Australia. That's also an ongoing feud. I always lose. 

So we finished teaching our investigator, Bccg Thuan, and the next day he became our teacher. He's such a great teacher but whenever we see him all the anxiety from our previous lessons just come back and we forget all the Khmer we learned. Haha but it's super great. Tomorrow we have two new investigators to teach. AH. But it will be pretty great. It's exciting because now we don't have to use a script or write down everything we say. We can teach very simple, broken Khmer but it just feels so great. If I understand even just one question out of ten and can respond in somewhat logical Khmer, I am so happy. It's slow but it's coming. I have learned so much here at the MTC. Sometimes I think my mind will never hold all this information but somehow there's room.  I've learned so much about the gospel, myself, Heavenly Father, the Atonement, Cambodia, Khmer, missionary work and on and on. These past two weeks have really been amazing.

On Thursdays we do service. (“Mean Girls” quote. side note: we quote songs and movies all the time because that's our source of entertainment other than the "Testaments" on Sundays). We cleaned toilets like nobody's business. It was honestly so much fun. Sister Winters and I just broke out into song of all the Disney movies we could ever think of. I thought I would never be one of "those missionaries" but yes, yes I am. 

The 4th of July was so so fun! All around the MTC every missionary had somehow created a missionary outfit from all different assortments of clothing. We played baseball during gym time with the Cambodians and Vietnamese. It seemed appropriate for America's Birthday. We ate cheeseburgers for lunch and had creamery Graham Canyon for dessert. AND our lessons were cancelled that we were sadly really terribly not prepared for. It was a good day. 

Sundays are the best days at the MTC. They are still busy but seriously just so amazing. Sundays give me strength and energy for the week to come. We also get to walk to the temple every Sunday. Our zone has a tree and we just lay under it and talk. It's truly amazing. Also this Sunday was probably the best Sacrament meeting I've ever been to. It was fast and testimony meeting and all of the testimonies were about the Atonement. It was so extremely special to partake of the Sacrament, and then to listen and feel the Spirit of all the Elders' and Sisters' testimonies. My love and appreciation for my Savior, Jesus Christ, has grown to levels I never knew they could be. And I know that through these next 18 months they will grow even more. I love my Savior. I love Him so much. I am so thankful for His mercy, love, kindness, selflessness, example and friendship. Whenever I get stressed out I just remember Him and why I'm here. I'm here because I love Him.  

Thank you all for the love and letters!

Sister Mortell

 my cute companions

 I thought this was so funny. This was the MTC's excuse for missionaries to watch fireworks, haha.

 our cute neakruu

 The Cambodians and the French. (My cousin, Elder Teuscher and my friend from BYU, Elder Graff) 

Watching the fireworks with our favorite Vietnamese Elders.

 Our Cambodian District

 Our zone tree

 SISTER HANSEN! in our usual nightgowns and Rachel uncle shirt--just like Taylor Hall.

 Elder Cluff

Our 4th of July Celebration