August 4, 2016
Hey Everyone:
Just finished my first (full) day at the MTC. Language
classes are hard but it is exciting to learn a new language, even if it seems
overwhelming at first. The days here feel longer than most and seem to stretch
on forever, but hopefully that changes soon. I found out that I am going to be
in the MTC for 9 weeks! (It used to be 12 for Mandarin and Thai speaking
missionaries, but it was changed sometime in the previous years). Classes are
kind of boring right now, and I don't really like travelling with a companion
at all times, which isn't his fault. Elder King is a cool guy but I like to
have some time alone to myself. I have learned a lot in the Thai language
today, and tomorrow I will be teaching my first "investigator"
tomorrow... in Thai, so that should be interesting.
Hope the family hasn't fallen apart while I'm gone, see you
in 829 days,
Elder Latimer (the third one)
August 9, 2016
Hey Everyone:
Yeah things are pretty busy over here. Teaching the
investigators is weird because I can't really speak Thai yet and everything we
say comes out of the English to Thai lesson book, and sounds very broken. It
doesn't bother me too much though because I have been told by other
missionaries that all of the language investigators are already members of the
church, or go to BYU, so they already know a decent amount about the church.
I think my companion is from Utah but I am not sure from
where, I haven't really asked, and from what I've heard from my teachers, the
days get faster the more you learn the language because you'll spend less time
cramming down words and meaning, and more time actually practicing what you've
learned. The P-Thais (the group of Thai speakers 5 weeks ahead of us) speak it
pretty well so at 6 weeks in. It's comforting to know that I should be able to
do the same. On my schedule it says that my P-Day is every Tuesday, but I think
that it may be subject to change, so I'll know for sure if it is going to be
consistent in the next 2 weeks.
All the best
Elder Latimer
August 16, 2016
Hey Everyone,
Learning Thai is moving slowly, but I'm making progress. We
have just started learning script and have been told that we should be able to
read the Book of Mormon and the Bible in Thai, towards the end of our stay in
the MTC. I've already asked Mom if she could get me a Thai bible, so that I can
challenge myself to start reading Thai script. I'd buy one here, but the Church
can't sell them since they have been manufactured by the Thai Bible Society in
Thailand. I'm hoping that about halfway through my stay in Thailand, I'll get
transferred to Laos so that I could learn both Thai and Laotian, which I've
heard is easy, since both languages are very similar. And then when I get back
I might try to learn Cambodian since the language is also very similar! Once I
get to college, I may try to pick up Mandarin, simply because the language
sounds super cool, and I'm jealous to hear all the people from Taiwan speak it.
Time moves slow in the MTC, but it's probably for the best
since I'll need all the time in the world to learn Thai before I leave to
Thailand!
I've heard about Jake and sent him an email. Hopefully he
gets betters, and I'm glad to hear that Josh and Lettie are doing well.
Our district is not too big, there's about 16 of us between
the two new Thai districts, and once the Older Thai group leaves, we'll be even
smaller. But it's all good because at least I don't have to worry about
learning a bunch of names.
I think I'll stay with that scripture for my plaque. I like
it well enough. And on a side note, I found my recommend, it was tucked away in
one of my suit pockets along with some old receipts.
There's not really anything interesting going on in the MTC,
but if something interesting does happen, I'll be sure to email you. I should
get a lot of interesting stories once I get to Thailand though!
Best of wishes,
Elder Latimer
