Hey everyone,
This week was a ton of
fun. On Tuesday night, Elder Quentin L. Cook spoke to us. I really like
and appreciate how every apostle that speaks to us strengthens our confidence
as missionaries. Elder Cook spoke about how we are ready, how we are
capable, and how we are chosen. He dispelled our fears, and told us that
WE are the message before we even teach our lessons. We need to attract
people with our good attitude and smiles. He told us to "attract
Bee's with Honey, and not with vinegar". Just the stuff my district
needed to hear after a long week of mental strain, as we continue to study the
Khmae language.
Elder Christensen and I
taught quite a few lessons this week including a 45-minute one on
Saturday. Two weeks ago I would have never thought that I could teach
someone in the Khmae language for forty-five minutes. Yet somehow we
pulled it off. The spirit played a huge role in that lesson. We
taught a Returned missionary named Blake. We focused on receiving
revelations through the Book of Mormon, and then spoke a little bit about Father's
day. Elder Christensen got a little emotional as we were comparing
Heavenly Father and our earthly fathers, the Spirit was pretty strong.
I consider my first week
as district leader pretty successful. I got do interviews with all the
senior companions and its great to hear how everyone is progressing in their
conversion. Our district is by far the closest district and we have a lot
of great missionaries who are gonna change lives in Cambodia. We are on
the second half of our stay at the MTC, and leave for Cambodia in about a
month. On Wednesday we got chosen to host again for the new
missionaries. I hosted 3 going to west campus (Spanish speaking) and one
who will stay here at main campus.
This week was probably by
far the most fun out of any week so far. Since the British elders left
for Hong Kong today, we had a lot of zone-fun before they left. Elder
Christensen and I were honored to receive a ton of pass-downs from the older
guys that were leaving. We got pretty close with these guys and they
chose us to receive the MTC "wealth". "Pass downs"
are basically items not normal to the MTC dorms, including: Toasters, nerf
guns, seat cushions, memory-foam bed cushions, super random items, and
other cool stuff you can't get here. For instance, Elder Medley's kites
will be a pass down to the next elders that come into the MTC. We did a
ton of stuff this week I'll never forget, spiritually and just plain fun.
We were pretty sad that
the British elders were leaving today, I really liked those guys. One of
them actually stayed because he had knee surgery, so we didn't completely lose
them. The new Cantonese-speaking elders and sisters replacing those that
left will be arriving on Wednesday. We're excited to have them.
As of this evening, our
teachers will only write in the Cambodian script on the white board. So
no Romanized, no English translation... Just straight Khmer characters.
It’s going to be a stretch as we slowly get better and better at reading.
Our teachers do this because they love us and they want us to be as well
prepared as possible by the end of our stay here. I really enjoy speaking
the language. It’s refreshing, and half the time I don't even recognize
I'm speaking a foreign language. It’s getting pretty natural and the
words come pretty easy for me.
There are a few
missionaries FROM Thailand and Cambodia here. We talk to them all the
time in their native languages. I've picked up a bit of Thai so I mess
around with this little Thai elder, the guy's gotta be like 85 lbs. He’s
hilarious. His name is Elder Lualai. Every time I see him we start
reeling off in Thai / Khmae to each other. Stuff like "ahh lueng!'
and "aboppaboe" and "Yuk dai maikte!". I think I
speak more Thai than the new Thai elders in our zone that have been here for a
week.
This is the week when all
the new Mission Presidents come to get trained. We've been told that all
12 apostles will be on campus throughout the week. Maybe we will see themJ
Our zone will be passing
the sacrament to the new mission presidents, general authorities, and other
representatives from Salt Lake this Sunday. I'm kind of excited for that.
I'm learning so much
here, I feel the Spirit all throughout the day, multiple times. This is a
good place, but I can't wait for Cambodia. The elders I meet everyday are
amazing and I learn so much from them. Most nights of the week, different
elders we are close to, tell their "story". How they came to be
missionaries, and what they faced to get here. I've been so humbled by
these stories. I have some truly remarkable people in my zone and
district. I know from them that the Lord saves his finest soldiers for
the toughest battles. Some of these guys have had trials and challenges
placed in their lives that I doubt I could have handled. It’s the
overcoming of these trials that really impresses me. I know that Heavenly
Father has a plan for everyone, and that he prepares some of his greatest
servants in the furnace of affliction. These elders are chosen servants
for sure.
Thanks everyone for the
Dear Elders and letters. I'm working hard and feeling little bits of
success and blessings along the way. Quentin L. Cook blessed us in the
conclusion of his talk; he told us that as a result of our efforts, everyone we
knew, family, friends, and loved ones would be blessed heavily. I want
that for my family, friends, and everyone that I love. So I'm going to
keep working hard and trust Elder Cook and the Lord.
I love you all,
Elder Jake Zierenberg
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