Hello, world! So my next email you'll see is going to be sent from Thailand! It's SOOO weird that I'm finally about to go! And on that note, I'm sorry to say but I'm not going to be sending out too many letters this week due to packing, etc... But real quick, I just want to tell you all some cool things before I really head out Monday evening. But before ALL that, I want to thank you again for your support. Your love is as tangible as anything you can hold in your hand. I hold that love in my heart as I try to serve the Lord. Wow that was gushy... But I'm totally being truthful - thank you so much. :)
So I'm glad I got to sing in the choir during the Saturday Afternoon Session [of Conference]! The power of music is so cool. For instance, after the last talk on Saturday, people started to get up and leave?! I mean who does that?! I was bummed because we prepared the most incredible song about the Prophet Joseph, and people were walking out on our message. But we kept singing and singing until the hushed key of Bb blossomed into a vibrant D major as the sisters took their turn testifying. Then I looked out into the audience. No one was moving in the aisles - no one was IN the aisles! But everyone had sat perfectly still in reverence and awe from the exuberant emotion of 500 missionaries singing about their beloved prophet. Then the key was swallowed up in the majestic Gb major, 7-part final verse. But then, even the people who left could be seen gathered in the back standing in reverence of this awe-inspiring work. The music dedicated to Joseph Smith literally stopped thousands in their tracks. The Spirit that filled the whole room was a last "Amen" to all the seers prophets and revelators that lifted up their voices that day - an Amen I can never forget.
But a little more on the not-so-spiritual side, I did see Elder Archie [David Archuletta](can't spell his name) a few times, he IS a first tenor, and no, I have not nor will not get any pictures with him - with new missionaries coming in every week and seeing him, I’d rather be a help to him and leave him alone - although he very nice, respectful, and humble. Also very short. Kudos to Elder Jared Andersen who stood by his side the whole time who's not a whit behind spiritually from Elder Arch. ;)
In closing, I also want to mention our travel plans: - Leave SLC: 8:10p; Arrive LAX 9:20p; Leave LAX: 11:50; Arrive Hong Kong: 5:40 (you can try the math, but that's
really a 14 hr flight. Yiam! aka Awesome!) Leave Hong Kong: 5:55; Arrive Bangkok: 10:35!
So that's pretty much it for now. Thai is coming, although we're learning still: Like when I told my investigator about the 'Procreative Kingdom" on accident. But progression is cool - like last Saturday night when I totally didn't realize that I was saying my prayer in Thai until half way through! The Lord does love us and his missionaries!
So I'm glad I got to sing in the choir during the Saturday Afternoon Session [of Conference]! The power of music is so cool. For instance, after the last talk on Saturday, people started to get up and leave?! I mean who does that?! I was bummed because we prepared the most incredible song about the Prophet Joseph, and people were walking out on our message. But we kept singing and singing until the hushed key of Bb blossomed into a vibrant D major as the sisters took their turn testifying. Then I looked out into the audience. No one was moving in the aisles - no one was IN the aisles! But everyone had sat perfectly still in reverence and awe from the exuberant emotion of 500 missionaries singing about their beloved prophet. Then the key was swallowed up in the majestic Gb major, 7-part final verse. But then, even the people who left could be seen gathered in the back standing in reverence of this awe-inspiring work. The music dedicated to Joseph Smith literally stopped thousands in their tracks. The Spirit that filled the whole room was a last "Amen" to all the seers prophets and revelators that lifted up their voices that day - an Amen I can never forget.
But a little more on the not-so-spiritual side, I did see Elder Archie [David Archuletta](can't spell his name) a few times, he IS a first tenor, and no, I have not nor will not get any pictures with him - with new missionaries coming in every week and seeing him, I’d rather be a help to him and leave him alone - although he very nice, respectful, and humble. Also very short. Kudos to Elder Jared Andersen who stood by his side the whole time who's not a whit behind spiritually from Elder Arch. ;)
In closing, I also want to mention our travel plans: - Leave SLC: 8:10p; Arrive LAX 9:20p; Leave LAX: 11:50; Arrive Hong Kong: 5:40 (you can try the math, but that's
really a 14 hr flight. Yiam! aka Awesome!) Leave Hong Kong: 5:55; Arrive Bangkok: 10:35!
So that's pretty much it for now. Thai is coming, although we're learning still: Like when I told my investigator about the 'Procreative Kingdom" on accident. But progression is cool - like last Saturday night when I totally didn't realize that I was saying my prayer in Thai until half way through! The Lord does love us and his missionaries!
