Elder Takeuchi: : 2nd Week of the Best Two Years

I've heard many accounts of missionaries' experiences at the MTC.. Some said they were good, others said they didn't like it. I absolutely love it. It gets draining to have 14 hour days, but I'm sure it's nothing compared to being in the field. I love what I'm doing for the purpose that I'm doing.

I was blessed with a great companion. Elder Beebe hails from Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. He's 18 years old, and graduated high school early to serve a mission. He has his "little kid moments" (like when he doesn't want to lift) but he's a great companion. We have this weird spiritual connection that even we get freaked out with. The Lord has blessed me with him so we can be positive influences to each other. I really hope I get the chance to serve with him in Thailand.

My teachers (Khruu in Thai) are just so amazing. They loved their missions, and they're doing their very best to prepare us for the real deal. They make us role play as investigators, and it's pretty difficult at times, but it's so worth the struggle.

I also learned a few new things about my mission. The Thailand Mission covers Thailand, Laos, and peaceful parts of Burma. I heard there are about 84 pairs of missionaries in Thailand. The few chosen ones MIGHT get to serve in Laos as well.. HOW AWESOME IS THAT!! LAOS!! There are currently 4 pairs of missionaries serving in Laos. There are no missionaries currently in Burma because of political unrest. Our teacher also told us that we'll be learning some Cambodian and Laos in the field, and that they're all pretty similar so it'll be pretty easy to learn. I was so pumped when I heard this!!

The language experience here is crazy.. We started practicing teaching from the second day of being here. We learned how to bear our testimony by the third day, and able to pray in Thai by the fifth day. Simple conversation in Thai is where we're at right now.. Our teachers emphasize SYL a lot.. (Speak your language) We try to speak Thai as much as we can.

I'll write another entry about the district later on!

Alma 58:10-11

Therefore we did pour out our souls in prayer to God, that he would strengthen us and deliver us out of the hands of our enemies, yea, and also give us strength that we might retain our cities, and our lands, and our possessions, for he support of our people. Yea, and it came to pass that the Lord our God did visit us with assurances that he would deliver us; yea, insomuch that he did speak peace to our souls, and did grant unto us great faith, and did cause us that we should hope for our deliverance in him.

This is during the war that Helaman and his army fought against the Lamanties. Helaman and his troops had very little manpower and rations. They noticed the Lamanite army growing numerous by the day, gaining much reinforcements. Helaman expected the Nephites would send more support and reinforcements to be able to counter against the Lamanites... But when the reinforcements arrived, the rations and additional manpower were very little. So little that it seemed impossible to defeat the grand Lamanite army. Their civilization was at risk of depletion!! It would have been so easy to complain, and cry that God has forsaken them to be defeated by their enemies.. But instead of complaining, Helaman and his army poured out their soul to God. To ask for His help, because they had FAITH that the Lord God would deliver them.

AND THEY WERE!!

Elder Takeuchi