MTC Week 3

The older group of Thai's left for Thailand on Monday night so our zone just shrunk in half. Bitter sweet. They definitely had a celebration that night with party poppers and the whole lot of it. Turns out it was against the white mission handbook. No comment as I may befall the same path.

In week 3, our district had the apparently rare opportunity to "host." These are the meet and greeters of the new missionaries dropped off at the MTC every Wednesday. That has actually been a really neat experience. We have been selected to do so again tomorrow. Fun fact-the folks we "hosted" are leaving the MTC before we do. Lucky them. However, I love Thai so it's okay. We started learning script by the way. The squiggles and lines. I can't believe I'll be reading out of the Book of Mormon in Thai in just a few short moments.

In terms of spiritual sustenance, General Conference has been wonderful. Although I would share my favorite quotes, stories, and parables, I have left my journal in my dorm room so most of it will be out of my recollection. I feel that I more than anybody else needs a journal for how I simply cannot remember things. But for now, my favorite shared quote will be "Boys Be Ambitious." Ambitious in Christ. To be anxiously engaged in the work! In matters of missionary work, the more ambitious and engaged you are, the more enjoyable your time in the work becomes.

To matters of the heart, I feel that my most spiritual week has been that of week 3. Although I do not feel the details of the event that allowed it to be so should be shared so openly, it was by the obedience of five Elders to the subtle but sure promptings of the Holy Ghost, that two Elders were able to feel comfort in the work and purpose of the next two years of their lives. We reflected upon the small but consecutive and or numerous string of miracles that took place that night. I am a witness that the Lord looks out for those that strive to complete His work. He knows the desires of your heart and the weaknesses contained within it. However, by your faith in Him he will magnify your talents and strengths.

A Thai teacher shared the story with the talents last night. He made a comment I had never considered, this comment being that some of us have received more talents than others. However, it is possible for us to magnify and expand our talents. As C.S. Lewis points out, there is no parable or example that perfectly reflects its truth but for purposes of helping us understand the truth, it can be useful. With this train of thought, I think that we are like chess pieces. The Lord gives us talents and it helps us determine the type of chess piece we are. We don't have to settle in being a pawn although many in the world seem to be content in being so. There is nothing wrong with being a simple pawn but what happens when you make your way across the board? You may attain a level of glory no lowly pawn would have ever imagined possible to befall them!(Reference: "The Weight of Glory") Such is the power of the atonement. What is interesting in this thought is that we do not become knights, bishops, or queens for ourselves. We strive to become better to better serve the will of the King. The will of God. Every blessing given to us is not meant to enrich our own lives. Its primary purpose is to enrich the lives of others. It is by consequence of doing so that our own lives are enriched.

It is beginning to sink in as to what I have gotten myself into. I could not be more excited.

MTC Week 2

I love my life.  I'm sorry for this weeks weekly update. I couldn't organize my thoughts effectively, so each paragraph is a random memory or thought throughout the week.

Although I have now been in the MTC for about 2 weeks, it has felt like several months. Luckily, I love it here. There are very few places on this Earth where every single action can be in similitude with the spirit.

So the funniest thing that has happened this week despite our many miscommunications in Thai is probably when one of the Elders recognized me from the "Press Forward" music video. One of The Elders played it on the big screen and watched it with the entire zone. It was rather a moment of embarrassment but it was more funny than anything else. Ever since, I have been jokingly referred to as a celebrity.

So my first investigator became my teacher which was a surprise for all of us learning Thai. Both of my Thai teachers have such wonderful testimonies. I feel like I'm steadily progressing in the language. I have definitely been seeing how the Lord has qualified me for this work. 

In all honesty, the greatest challenge at the MTC has and still is the food. I miss Mom and Dad's cooking. Although I may walk through the valley of the shadow of death (lack of proper food), I will have pure bliss once I reach Thailand. Every other Elder seems just fine....for now. I do have to give it to the MTC for their chocolate cake though. Wow.   

Have I ever mentioned that I am on the top floor in the dorms? My classroom is also on the top floor. I suppose they found it necessary to build up and or tone my thigh muscles. No elevators for me for the next 7 weeks.

To the matters of the heart, the realization of week 2 is that one of the destructive weapons the adversary uses is that of forgetfulness. I think the reason of its great destructiveness is because it causes us to become ungrateful. To this end, it can derail testimonies and cause us to forget what we have felt and known to be true in the past. Although it is a simple truth, I think that we are all guilty of it at some point in our lives. Furthermore, I think the simple truths are what get us the most. This being the reason that the fundamentals in the gospel are so important. C.S. Lewis talks of how whether you are an atheist or a Christian, you still have to continually feed one or the other to stay firm in your beliefs. Otherwise, you will sway and dwindle in unbelief regardless of your beliefs.

One thing I am glad I learned here and not out on the field is how we as missionaries should treat investigators. My companion and I taught our mock investigator and put her on the fast track of extending a baptism. We were so caught up in extending the invitation that we didn't really invite her to Christ. We told her about Him but there wasn't enough depth to it for her to begin understanding who He is. As representatives of Jesus Christ or as missionaries, we are literally preparing to go to Thailand in His place. I realize now that we should do what He would do. The gospel was never forced upon anyone in the Earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. It was instead "offered." An interesting example one of my Thai teachers showed was how the gospel is a cake. If we throw it at our investigator it isn't very appealing. Should we show it to them, and explain how they can take a part of it by just desiring to, they themselves find a desire within themselves to come towards Christ.

Anyways, I learn something new everyday. I absolutely love the MTC!

2016 Mutual Theme: Press Forward

MTC Week 1

My first week in the MTC has been extraordinary. I am a true believer that your attitude plays a great part in your success in life. I've met people that absolutely love the MTC, and its opposite being people who are tired of it. I fortunately fall into the category of those who love it. I wake up at 6:00 every morning and retire at 10:30. The entire day is packed with learning the language of Thai and learning Gospel Doctrine. Physically, the MTC isn't very difficult as we just sit in class all day(Other than 1hr of exercise time). Mentally, it has been a trial all on its own. I feel like a genius one hour, and feel like an inadequate child way over his head the next.

You see, while in class I feel like I'm grasping and truly understanding the concepts. However, on day three, we were thrown into a pit of fiery as we had to teach our first mock investigator Jami. She wouldn't help us out at all in English as she "couldn't" speak English. My companion tried to say "Do you understand?" but messed up one of the tones. The result in his error was "Do you stab heart?" It was one of the funniest exchanges. She also said a sentence with a word which sounded like "Bible." My companion and I assumed just so. However, what she really said was "pay bood" which means "go to church." She may have been asking us how she could go to church. She was surely interested in going to church. All we said was "Dii Maag" which means "Very good" and then dropped her question simply moving on with the lesson. It was a disaster upon reflection. Fortunately, relying and putting my faith in the Lord has made all the difference in how we reflect upon our mistakes.

My companion Elder Feller has been a great influence to me. He is diligent in reading and studying his flashcards and staying exactly obedient. That is probably another key principle taught in the MTC. Exact obedience. We share a room with four people. Elder Feller, Elder Brown, Elder Libey, and myself. Elder Brown is our District Leader. He really does all he can to magnify his calling. I feel so blessed to have so many who make me want to become greater. Elder Libey is his companion. We always tease him about his lover back at home. We keep on telling him, your success is our success so it has been nice having a lover in Indiana too. He won't give us her email though. It's been so fun to grow together as Elder's. Teasing and joking(Appropriately) around tends to speed up the process.

Exercise time which is only one hour a day has been my one hour where I don't have to think so hard. Being competitive by nature, I have had to be very careful in my mentality when we play soccer because one of the great rules in the MTC is that there is no competition. We literally don't keep score and I'm okay with that, but my competitive nature and pride is being slowly stifled out of me. It's been a good experience. We recently watched Elder Bednar's talk entitled, "The Character of Christ." My MTC experience has in large part being about turning outwards opposed to in. To turn away from the natural man. To serve and love despite fighting through adversity. To care for the needs of others before our own. It's definitely easier said than done as I don't really feel like I'm in adversity at the moment.

After day 3, the days have gone by so quickly. I stopped counting already and in my current mental state, I refuse to strain my brain to count the few days it has been since I have entered the MTC.  

I am so happy to be here. I really am. I'm grateful for the large influence all of you have played in allowing me to be in the position I am in now. In my faith and in my confidence. As requested by some, my MTC mailing address is:

Elder Christian Seiya Miyagi
NOV16  THAI-BAN
2005 N 900 E Unit 179
Provo UT 84602

phom pen phayaan wa phrayeesukhrid rag raw.