Wednesday, September 14, 2016

The Name Game

Sept 13, 2016

     The first part is for the family and should be read in order to anyone who wants to hear it.

     *Dad:  Lub Paub Tsaig (chin) or "round jaw of knowledge", is what it directly translates to, which is hilarious. Anyways, dad Im so thankful that you're my pop, and you taught me how to work hard.   Just get it done, and not do dumb things...some people out here could learn a thing or two from ya.

     *Mom:  Tau koob hmoov tus niam (blessed mother).  Jeez Louise, people need to learn hygiene. Thank you so much for that. And thanks for teaching me to love learning.  Others are miserable, but i think its super fun.

     *Derek:  Ib qis taub (short one). ha! shrinkie.

     *Naomi:  Ib nrog peev xwm ( one with talent). Listen some sisters here are like, "oh i might want to run, maybe do elliptical or a very friendly game of volleyball". Just work out guy...thanks for not being afraid to push me around a time or two. And for just being so independent. And thanks for the camera, the pictures are hilarious.

     *Greg:  Raws plab txiv neej (diarrhea man). THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MAKING ME DO CHOIR!  Holy cow. Not only did I have a great time, get to know cool people, and go to cool places, but Hmong has 8 tones, which when a native speaker talks its hard to distinguish.  But its basically like each word is a note and singing helped get me ready.

     *Hannah:  Ntev ib (long one).  Happy 20, good work. There's a lightskin here named Elder Glaesner, who's a bit taller than me. He's from Luxembourg, and has a sweet accent. He's hilarious, and you would love him.

     *Trevor:  Tus neeg ua yeeb yam uas hnav khaub ncaws joj loj thiab pleev plhu phem phem (clown).  Happy 17.  I want to hear that dad had to buy an ice cream store to keep up with the goals you score. Do ya homework, and say 'Hi' to Mrs O'brien. You're a good kid, keep it up dude.

     *Moriah:  Rog ib (fat one). Jk, but eat food, play uno, and rap on.

     *Xander:  Quav (feces).  hahaha!  I learned the word for poop.   Do good in school, and no girls yet.

     *Isabelle:  Nrov saub (loud voice).   Sing on baby!  Middleschool must be fun. Learn what you can. Do ya homework, and stay away from the computer.  There's people here who honestly cannot cope without technology...learn to live without it.

     *Lavinia: Lloj pob tw  (large butt).  heh!  I need you to make 100 shots a day. That's the only way you get better, by practicing.  Keep up the german, that's cool.

     Derek: I love you man.  Thanks for being such a good example and serving a mission.  And thanks for cutting ya mop man!


     This week we got to hear from 2 apostles.  And today we here from another one. D.  Todd Christofferson, last Tueday,  M Russell Ballard,  Sunday, and who knows today. 

     Work here is great. I know the language is hard, but with practice, and the lord, it starts to come a little easier. 

     We "baptised" our first investigator.  And we started teaching another. Every day is pretty similar, but its crazy to think it's been 2 weeks. 

     Elder Williams left yesterday.  Let me tell a bit about him. He's about 5' 5" and hilarious. He's from Samoa, and speaks 3 languages. He learned Malay for his mission, so that's 4.  The first time I met him he farted, and looked over slowly at me with a blank expression.   Then he said "I bettah go check my pants", in his Samoan accent.  It was hilarious!  He's so childish, even his voice. I love it. 

 Can tell which one is Elder Williams? These are the Malays who left yesterday. Wednesday there are 16 new Thai and Cambodian Elders coming into our zone.


     I  get 3 "big" meals a day, and money on a card to buy extra food, if I want,  so I'm good.  Other elders get sent food and they just stockpile it, so when they leave they have mounds to give away.  

     I workout all day, everyday.  Like when I learn Hmong, and study the gospel, I have to workout to keep myself awake. My companions made me get up at 5:30 to do laundry, which was completly unnecessary. Its kinda like, every 5-10 minutes I'll do push ups or something to stay awake. Plus I have a pull up bar right outside my room--ohhh yeaahhhh! 

     Like i said, we heard from 2, soon to be 3, apostles in the first 2 weeks.  That's gotta be a record.  Plus, we got 7 more weeks to go.  It's great!   The spirit is so strong here, kinda wish i could've come earlier, but also not, because waking up early in the morning womps. 

     I don't want to leave the mtc, because I have so much to learn, but at the same time I can't wait to leave to go teach, and bring the gospel to the world. 

     Which did you know there are Hmong people in France?  And the U.S. really did the hmongs dirty.  They asked the Hmongs to fight with them, then when communism spread to Laos, the U.S. hightailed it out, leaving the Hmongs to prevent the Viets from getting to Thailand...which they did...all by themselves.   After the war, Vietnam issued a "kill all" order for the Hmongs, and even though they eventually retracted it, Hmongs are still, to this day, being hunted down and killed.  

     Which is why we aren't sending missionaries, that speak Hmong, over there. As recently as, 2007 the U.S. was still bringing Hmong refugees to the U.S., so it's not like it was a one time thing 40 years ago.   There are super new native Hmongs to teach. 

     Anyways I'm also writing a rap, because my companion hates poop, and thinks it's really gross and inappropriate.  I'm going to help him be comfortable with poop.

   This week was great thanks for the letters and packages every one it brightens my day. 

No comments:

Post a Comment