Madeline in Cambodia: 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