THAILAND

AHHH!!! I finally made it!!!! It was the LONGEST 3 days of travel EVER and basically just skipped tuesday all together b/c of the time change, but I made it!!! WOOO!!! So let's see, i will give a brief summary and then explain: So I have been sent to what is called the "furnace" (and rightly so), I had to take an extra 8 hour train ride after about 24 hours on a plane, I don't understand a single thing that has been said, I have been chased by a dog, the pedal on my bike fell off the first day, there are little critters everywhere, we got lost in town for a while and had no clue where to go and i have gotten poured on by rain while riding my bike..... and i have LOVED every second of it!!! It has been probably the hardest week of my life so far but it has also been very humbling and exciting! "The furnace" is Pitsunolok (i have no clue how to actually spell it) but it is in the center of Thailand if i have been told correctly... i don't have a map so i have no clue! haha but it is HOTTTTT!!! but it is fun! Me and my trainer (Sister Maxwell, from Arizona) have just opened the area for sisters and it has been closed for sisters for about 20 years! So it's pretty exciting, I think they are preparing for some big changes here b/c we now have 2 elders, 2 sisters and and senior couple!! So i am predicting some BIG changes here soon.... they told us that this is the only area that has been open for over 40 years and still doesn't have an actually church building (we just have rented space) so that a big goal for us. And the reason they don't have a church building is b/c i can count the number of priesthood members on my hand! They just have a ton of sister but no priesthood, and they need to have at least 15 priesthood holders to be eligible to get a building, so that's our goal! But the Branch is very nice. It's funny b/c they don't really know what to do with sister missionaries here b/c they haven't had them in so long. The Branch president had to ask what we do and stuff, so that was kind of funny, they are shocked that we do the same stuff as the elders and that we have to ride bikes and such, he was asking if we just like hang out at the church building all day and wait for people to come.. so kind of funny, but it has been great! We got to see 2 baptisms already!!! YAY! One was an 8 year old boy and the other was an older woman who seems just great! Even though i can't understand her, she just seems so interested and engaged all the time so that's awesome!! We also have 2 more baptisms this next week!! Another 8 year old and then a girl about my age, so it's super exciting!!! As for new investigators we already have 5!! so it's super exciting, for just getting here and not knowing where anything is or who anyone is so it's starting off great! 2 of them are some older women w/ kids and they met the elders at english class and then 2 teenage girls also that met at english class.. they are going to be a little tricky b/c apparently both of their parents are against Christianity, so hopefully we will still be able to teach them!! if not then hopefully in a few years they will still be interested. One of them seems sooo excited about it but it's her parents that are extremely against it. Her name is Meow. She is soo cute!! and she even helped us jag (pass out) some flyers for english class! So we'll see! and then our other investigator, Pat just lives across the street from us, she is 24 and has studied a little about Christianity and seems pretty receptive! YAY!! so now we just need to work on finding some priesthood members so that we can really get the church booming here!! Also another bit of fun news, i ran into my MTC teacher, Brother Chiu! He is here on vacation and came to visit the members b/c he served in this area as well, so that was kind of fun to see a familiar face! Ok so now i am going to back track a bit.. the first day! So we got to do a "Dan Jones" experience, so basically i had to go out and talk to people and place a Book of Mormon! SO intimidating, but it was actually kind of fun! It's so funny b/c i pretty much have to repeat myself at least 2 times for people to comprehend that I am speaking Thai to them... they kind of just look at me and laugh the first time i say something, and my trainer says that is absolutely normal! They are just astounded that we would learn the language, and basically think we are a bunch of silly "farangs" (white people). But after they get over the initial shock they tend to open up a little more, so that's good! But ya i was actually able to give out 2 Books of Mormon, not bad for a first day right? But don't worry I got humbled later this week! haha But ya then after that activity we went back to President Smiths for dinner and such, and we got to meet the other ELEVEN natives coming into the mission with us! So that was fun, then i got the best sleep ever! haha Day 2 is a blurr! we found out our trainers and where we are going and then we got to do some waiting for our train that didn't leave until later that night. But I did get to explore some of Bangkok so that was fun! We went to the mall there and it was HUUUGGGEE!! it has like 10 stories and ya it's just huge, i'm sure Terry knows what I am talking about. But that was fun, we went to this little paper shop and it is soo funny to see their translations to english, don't worry i will be sending some stuff home for you to see! Well, that's about it in a very unclear, unorganized manner that's my week! I hope everything is going well with everyone at home! (just an fyi it takes about 3 weeks for letters each way) But ya I'm doing great and super excited to get some work going! Love you all! Love, Sister Itri

LEAVING

AHHHH!!!!! I finally made it!!!!! Can you believe it?!?!! But I am soooo excited to be leaving! i leave in 1 hour!!! AHHHH!!!!! But ya so I will be calling tonight probably around 6:30ish from the airport so have you phone with you and charged mom! but this last week has been sooo good!! I got to hear my SIXTH apostle last tuesday! Elder L. Tom Perry came and spoke. it was really good, he talked about the priesthood and such. Other than that, this last week has just been gettting ready to go and saying goodbyes and such! I loved the MTC so much but i am definitly ready to finally get to Thailand and serve real investigators!!! My teachers predicted that I would either go to Bangkok or Chang Mai for my first area, either of which sound amazing, and let's be real, anywhere in Thailand is going to be awesome! But i am sooo excited to finally get there! Well this is just going to be a short email since i will be calling in just a couple hours!! I love you all and can't wait to talk to you!! Love, Sister Itri

Week 10

Oh my heavens it is already almost time for me to go!!!! Only 6 days left!!!! AHHHH!!!!! I am sooo excited It is going to be amazing!!! First off Happy Mothers day! Hope it was a good one! But this week was yet again another awesome week at the MTC! It started off last Tuesday night with our FIFTH apostle coming Elder D. Todd Christofferson. It was such a great talk! His wife started and talked about loving others and that we must show love to everyone and such, it was soo good! Then Elder Christofferson talked about The Doctrine of Christ. I realized we are starting to have a pattern of topics in here with the apostles, because Elder Nelson talked about the Doctrine as well! but they both simplified it so nicely and outlined what the Doctrine of Christ truley is! This week we also had the opportunity to have lunch with President Brown (The MTC president) He was very nice and we talked about Elder Christofferson's talk and some other stuff. But that was pretty cool. He also told us that it was very rare to have the opportunity to see 5 apostles, and that they are lucky if they can get one apostle a month here. So I feel so blessed to have had that opportunity (and our district is hoping to even it out and have a 6th one tonight.... even though it is very unlikely it would be awesome!!) TRAVEL PLANS!!!!! We got our travel plans this week and I am soooo excited!!! We leave next Monday So that means be expecting a phone call on Monday night!! I am going to try and call at the Salt lake airport somewhere between 5:30 and 8:00 i would guess... it depends how long it takes to get through security and everything... but be expecting a call! I also might be able to call from LA as well and we get there at 9 20 CA time so 10:20 here... so we'll see! But since i didn't get to call on MOther's day this will be my only call until Christmas! Also that means i won't be emailing next week either I don't think. This week they inconviently made us change buildings for our last week, still not quite sure why but it's all good! Our new building is not new at all.... we have moved to chalkboards and brick walls... ask Jason about it.. it's noooo fun!! I'm slightly bitter b/c they just moved all the english districts to a brand new building and they aren't even here for 3 weeks and they move the 12 weekers to a run down building! Ha but i only have to endure it for a week so it's all good! Other fun news! In the new English District we got this week one of the Elders is the son of a member of my Bishopric at the Elms! Elder Flygare is his name, but ya it's fun to have someone i kind of know! haha I also talked to and Elder who i believe is BYU's newest basketball recruit, Elder Chatman... He was really nice, he is going to Tawain and is in the same districts as one of my friends, Elder Relyea going to Taiwan also. But I have seen him play some BBall in gym and i am pretty excited to see our team in 2 Years!! He is sooo goood!!! From what I heard from other people (he didn't tell me this) but He was asked to come on his mission a little early so that he could be back to play for BYU.. not sure if it's true, but still pretty cool! I still cannot believe this is my last week in the MTC!! It seems like i have been here forever, yet at the same time it seems like i just got here!! But I am sooo excited to get to Thailand and begin teaching the people there!!! I have learned so much here in the MTC and now i will finally get to put it to use!! In just this short time my testimony has grown soo much and I know with out a doubt this is the True Chruch!! Jesus Christ is our Savior and through him we can have eternal life! I can't wait to share this message with the Thai people and share my testimony with them! The church is true. Love you all! Can't wait to talk to you on Monday! (Speaking of talking.... Is Linkin just a jabber mouth yet?!!) Hope everything is good and that the girls had fun in Florida!! Love you รัก ฃิสเตอร์ ีตรี (Love, Sister Itri)

Week 9

Ok, well it was another typical week here at the MTC, are you surprised yet? haha But it was fun! Here is what me and my companion do for entertainment, we write songs. So I hope you enjoy it too! It is to the tune of "When Will My Life Begin," from Tangled, so Dani, I expect you will know the tune very well! haha When Will My Mission Begin? 6:30 A.M. the usual morning line up Start on the floor and pray to our Heavenly Being Polish, and dress, do make-up and then we'll work out Change again and by then it's like 7:15! So I'll read a verse or maybe 2 or 3 I'll add a few new words to my Vocabulary And I'll teach Praghad and dom and I'll basically Just Wonder, When will my Mission Begin?? Then after lunch it's teaching, tall and reading Personal time, a little devo and gym! visiting, district study comp inventory Then I'll Stress, maybe rest, take a break, Go Protest! Then I'll speak some Thai if I have time to spare I'll Cram my head some more, I'm sure there's room up there And i'll learn and speak and teach it all in Thai Stuck in the same place i've always been. And I'll keep wonderin, and wonderin, and wonderin, and wonderin, When will my Mission begin?? 3 Long Months, the training will end, Just like they do on a 12 week program What is it like, out there in Thailand? Now that I'm trained, The Church might just let me go! So, as you can see, even the little things become very entertaining here in the MTC, especially the longer you've been here, the stupider the thing, the more entertaining it is! haha Saturday was an interesting day, my companion was sick so we had to stay in the residence hall all day, which I thought would be great, and such a nice break from teaching and class and stuff, but I was wrong.. it was soooo boring and all I could do was study and i just had to stay inside with my comp all day and ya, it wasn't all that fun! haha but she is doing better now so that's good... and I'll let Jason tell you how he made a fool of himself then too... hahaha On sunday we had some fun visitors as we were walking to the temple... there were some old men protesting with crosses and stuff, they were here last week as well... don't really understand the concept of protesting here in Provo, but hey, to each their own right? But they were nice i guess.. Me and my companion walked up to the corner and they said "let's sing a nice song for these lovely sisters," and then they proceded to sing some song about a prodigal child or something like that... it was interesting. ha and then we were talking to our Elders and apparently when they went up, they started saying stuff, like "you know Jesus loves you and is the only way to salvation," and "oh ya we are Jewish' So that was kind of interesting, b/c the first part we already know obviously but they said they were Jewish which doesn't make sense b/c Jews (or at least the Judiasm I was taught about) don't believe that Christ has come yet. So that was interesting, but the Mission President talked to us about it and said basically just ignore them and don't even aknowledge that they are there. On a more spiritual note, you should all watch the Joseph Smith Movie again if you have time, I have watched it 3 times since being here, and every time I can just feel the spirit so strong and it just is so amazing to see the sacrifices that the early saints made and it makes a year and a half mission seem like nothing at all and ya I don't think i'd watched in in like 3 or 4 years before coming here and it really is just such a great movie to remind us of all the things that Joseph Smith did and for the amazing sacrifices that were made so that we could have this gospel in our lives! I know that this is the true church and i cannot wait to get to Thailand and teach it to the people there (13 days and 4 hours until we leave, in case you were wondering... but who's counting?? ha) But yes watch it again if you haven't seen it in a while!! :) Other than that, I hope things are going well at home, it sounds like all the girls are in Florida with my Linkin, and new NEPHEW!!!!! (thanks to Jason telling me) Congratualtions Jon and Dani! I can't wait to meet him! now I don't have to call him baby Topanga!! :) But hope everything is good! Love you all!!! Love, Sister Itri

Week 8

Hello Family! AHH!!! It's finally winding down!!!! in exactly 20 days from right now I will be sitting on a plane to Thailand!!!!!!! I cannot even believe it!! But this week has been another good one!! There was one day i got frustrated with the language, b/c our books have been wrong and there are a bunch of new translations and every word i learned for a lesson was wrong! So that was kind of annoying, but i'm over it now! haha This week I get to add another apostle to the list i've seen here in the MTC!! Russell M. Nelson came last Tuesday and it was soo good!! he talked about doctine vs. doctrines, how doctrines are bad, such as the doctrines of man, etc, and it's the doctrine of Christ: only one, never changing, etc. it was really good though!! Also on sunday i went and watched one of the old devotionals from Elder Bednar on the character of Christ and it was AMMAAZZIIINNNGG!!!! Like seriously LIFE CHANGING!! I loved it! It really just talked about not what Christ did, but who he was, and the ways that we should strive to be like him!! I don't think i could adequately cover all the amazingness that was said in that talk and it really helped build my testimony in Christ and all that he did for us and just the kind of person he was. I honestly don't think i've heard a more inspirational talk!! Julia and Jason, if you can get access to it, you should definitly watch it, its just one of the MTC devotionals, so i don't think you will be able to find it online or anything, but i think teachers here might be able to! But ya super great messages this week! I loved it!! A bit of random news.... I ran into an Elder Wade this week... as in Ken's son Max! It was suupper werid, I was just walking out of the computers and saying hi to the elders and then i hear a "hey, I know you... is your mom Jill?" and i said yeah and then he was said "my dad's ken!" hahaha then i saw his badge and it all clicked!!! CRAZY!! small world, but i guess he is going to St. George Spanish Speaking, so that's pretty cool. But ya random tidbit for the week! This week we also learned about the king of Thailand and how once he dies (which apparently is probably pretty soon) there will most likely be a big revolt in Thailand, b/c apparently ppl don't like his son who is next in line for the throne or something like that so who knows what that means for missionaries!?!? It will be interesting to see how that all plays out! Im just hoping none of it happens for a year and a half, hahaha. This week the English district in our zone left, i was pretty sad, they had 4 sisters and they were so fun to have around! but i am super excited for them, they are going to be such great missionaries! Well, that's about it! Hope everything is goin well at home... still haven't heard from Jon, Dani, and James yet (hint, hint) I only have THREE weeks left here in the MTC, so get on it! hahaha I love you all! Love, Sister Itri

Week 7

Another good week at the MTC!! It is finally winding down though! In one month from yesterday I will be off to Thailand!!! CRAZY!! But as for things this week, nothing too exciting... We did meet our new mission president, even though we weren't suppose to apparently! We saw a couple in the cafeteria and one of the elders was like, "i wonder if that's our mission president" just jokin of course, but then we made him get up and check and it turns out it was! except when he was talking the elder asked so what are you doing here and the mission president was like, "im not at liberty to say, (sawatdii khrap which is hello in thai)" so that's how we found out he was our mission president! He seems way nice and his wife as well, they are both very young so it should be pretty awesome! On sunday i had the opportunity to say the closing prayer in devotional so that was kind of cool, i've never said a prayer in front of 2000 people before! haha but the devotional was really good, The speaker was brother allen and he's like the coordinating missionary person or something like that. But he just talked about how satan will try and tear us down, especially in the MTC by the little things like discouragment and doubt and such, it was really good! We got our nong thais this week which has been fun! i think i already mentioned i knew one of them already, sister Carter and apparently she knows Elise Babbel, she is in her home ward, so that is kind of cool! Small world! haha and the other sister is sister Hassan, she's from Fruit Heights and she graduated with Julia I guess, so that's pretty awesome, and i graduated with her sister. So it's been lots of fun getting to know them! This week in Relief Society, Ann Dibb spoke to us so that was pretty cool, she just told a bunch of stories about President Monson and stuff but it was fun to hear from her. My teacher was saying that she was the closest thing to a general authority that came while he was in the MTC, so i thought that was pretty funny, b/c now i'm at 3 apostles and now her. haha Yesterday I got kind of a cool opportunity to help out an international sister. It was a sister who had just gotten here from Cambodia and didn't have a coordinating sister in her zone so they asked me to help her out yesterday and get her settled in! She was super nice, her name is Sister Set and she will be serving in the LA visitors center, she speaks a little bit of English already so that was helpful, but apparently she comes from a mixed religion family. Her mom is LDS and her dad is Muslim so her and one of her sisters is LDS and both served missions and then her younger sister is Muslim. I can't imagine how hard that situation would be, but how awesome is it that she is serving a mission! But ya, that was a fun experience to help her out a bit, she got to go through the temple for the first time today and take out her endowments, it was soo amazing to see how excited she was, the temple really is soo amazing!! Other than that it was a pretty basic week! How's everyone at home doing? How was graduation and everything for Jason and Dan?? I'm gonna assume that is why i haven't recieved any letters from anyone this week?? hahaha Speaking of, Jon, Dani and James you are all slacking!!!! I see jason and julia so they have an excuse and j.dee has emailed me, but NOTHING from you 3!! So I expect to hear something soon! Shoot I even got a letter from Lisa (Itri) before my own siblings! hahaha But I hope that everything is going well, especially with little Linkin and baby Topanga :) Love you all! Love, Sister Itri