Hello from the MTC for the last time!!!!

Hello Everyone!
Hope everything is well.....

Said goodbye to our dear Cambodian, Vietnamese, and Hmong friends today!!! It's crazy!!!!

So Sis. Hirschi and I got selected to help teach the new missionaries that come in on Wednesday how to begin teaching an investigator! How nerve-wrecking!!!! It's like 400 missionaries! It's sooo memorable that first moment!
I'm scared because I haven't done lessons in English for a long time! It could be interesting....

Jenny Oaks Baker came and did the fireside on Sunday! It was soooooo good naturally! She is so cute! I loved hearing her speak and play!

So we were standing in the cafeteria the other night and a sister infront of us was like, "Oh, you're going to Thailand! That's such a safe place!" We asked where she was going and she said to Oakland, California. She said she is so scared for her life. She kept talking about how lucky we are because we don't need to worry about anything in Thailand. We were thinking, Oakland is not scary. I have many roommates from there and it is not scary. Thailand just a few weeks ago had a civil war. And that's safer than Oakland? I think she's psyching herself out!

Okay for the travel plans!!!! I leave on Sunday, July 18th at 9:30pm. Get into LA at about 10:32pm. Leave LA at 1:30am and get to Taiwan 5:50am on July 20th. Leave Taiwan at 8:40am and get into Thailand at 11:15am on July 20th.

So we just had our health and safety meeting. The doctor in charge has been in this position since Dad was on a mission! Crazy I know! Anyways, this meeting could make anyone a germaphobe. That's okay! I'm super excited! They give us this spray to spray down all of our clothes and furnishings. This spray kills bugs and spiders. So if any bug or spider touches a surface we sprayed, it instantly dies!!!! How amazing is that? I think dad needed some on his boy scout adventure. The doctor explained how he used some in South America not to long ago and sprayed a towel and put it at the bottom of the door because it had a crack on the bottom. The next morning he said that there was a huge pile of bugs outside of the door! hahaha! I'm excited! Then he told us about water purification and how he put a purification system in a water bottle and just finished putting one in a straw! so no matter where you go, you'll drink purified water!!!

This week I was called up to give a talk. I talked about plum blossoms and enduring to the end. I told a story of a girl who got severe chicken pox and sat in bed and watched the plum blossoms. One night there was a huge storm and the next morning most of the blossoms fell off. But then she noticed how many clung on through the storm. Just like the plum blossoms, when storms come our way, we need to cling on to the branches. Plum blossoms often bloom in winter and cling on until the beloved spring. Right now it may seem like a never ending storm or winter, but I promise if you cling on, spring will come. And in spring you'll grow into wonderful fruit!!!

Love you all!!!!

mail takes 2weeks to get to thailand.

em

More from Emily July 8, 2010

Emily's fruit and vegetable vocabulary pictionary

So we got a letter from Sis. Chambers, a piithay, about her second week in Thailand. It was great to hear about her adventures. It made us super excited for Thailand. She shared how she was at a member's house eating dinner when they all started pointing at her and laughing. She turned around and to her horror, there was a huge spider, bigger than her hand! Her companion informed her that she'll see bigger ones! Yikes!

She went to the mall with a bunch of sisters and got ice cream on P-day. I think Thailand has got something going there. They've combined my 3 favorite foods: ice cream on sticky rice served on a hotdog bun. hahaha! I've got to try that one!

Sunday was stressful for her cuz they had 13 investigators there! WOW!

She told about her experience teaching this lady who apparently in the middle of their lesson started chanting in Thai. Apparently she's a fortune teller. Interesting.....

Which reminds me of our lesson Sis. Noppamas gave us on beliefs in Thailand. Worshipping trees, animals, even license plates. She was trying to tell us what is in the Thai mind when we talk about religion. It helped me see how there is a lot of explanation involved! She also warned us of how much darkness is in Thailand. How it is crucial for us to always be paying attention to the spirit. Whenever it leaves, we need to leave quickly too! (Not to scare anyone.) It is always important to be following the guidance of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost will always keep you in places that you should be. Look for it's guidance everyday and you will surely be guided!

July 7 letter

So, I'm still getting better from my sickness... had a little step backwards this week where I have so much phlegm in my throat that I'm like constantly coughing and such. Went to the doctor and got a strep test (could've told you I didn't have that one) to which the nurse informed me that I have a strong tongue and only the elders have had strong tongues.... It came back negative (naturally). Doctor said it's a virus and he can't help me. So he gave me some medication to help clear it up and gave me permission to take naps! No, I haven't taken a nap. I'm much better now. It's still not gone, but it is so much better than it was. Funny thing was this last week our task was to talk about going to the doctor and discuss illnesses. I told everyone in class that I went on a fieldtrip to the Doctor's to practice my task. Wish that was it!

Well, for all you T-ville people out there: Emily Jewkes went off cheerfully this week really early in the morning! Sam Rose left yesterday in a very excited mood. He's actually been the most enthusiastic missionary I've seen here!

So many people have left this week! The Koreans are all gone! My whole dorm floor is like empty! It's crazy! Tomorrow I get the opporutnity of hosting the new sisters who come into the MTC. I just help them find their room, get checked in, get their books, and show them around! I'm super excited! It will be fun!!!

We've had lots of Japanese missionaries here lately because the MTC in Japan is closed for remodeling. Everytime I shower at night I feel like I'm in Asia already!!!

So on Sunday I was sitting waiting for the fireside to start when one of the MTC presidency members came up to me and said, "someday you'll be so happy that you look so young." hahaha! Okay....

4th of July was fun! They had a fireside about our founding fathers on the 3rd (so we couldn't listen to Carrie Underwood's concert going on outside) and then we got to go outside and watch the fireworks! That was fun! Apparently our branch president's daughters went to the Provo airport after her concert and got to meet her... Lucky!

So Sis. Noppamas informed me that I will probably end up teaching Chinese instead of English in Thailand.... That will be scary! I've never tried to teach a class before! Let alone Chinese!!!! Ahhhhh!!!! It would be so much fun though! \

I chopped my hair off today!!!!! It's like above my shoulders! Ya, it's pretty intense, but I like it! I'll send pics soon!

To all those who send me letters: thank you soooo much! Sorry that it takes me forever to write back! I'll have plenty of writing time on the airplane! Just to let you know, don't send me anymore mail until you get something from me in Thailand. I'd hate to miss your letters so for security, don't send till I'm situated in Thailand.Thanks!
Oh, Sis. Hirschi and I had a progressing investigator, but he couldn't do it anymore so I have officially experienced my first investigator that has fallen through. Sad day!!!!

Oh, Sis. Eyestone, one of the new sister Thai missionaries, is very athletic. She's on the BYU Women's basketball team! Anywho, her dad is on the olmpics committee and gets to go everywhere and commentate on some sports and such. Cool, right?

Well, Love you all! Thanks for your constant support! Can't believe I leave in less than two weeks! CRAZY!!!! All of the Vietnamese, Cambodians, and Hmong leave next week! (we do a lot with them)

Love you!

Em

Letter June 29, 2010

Anyways to finish my China story from last time.. So she joined the church and told her parents about the church. They are currently reading the Book of Mormon although she said no matter what they will probably never join the church because they work for the government..We expressed how lucky she was to even hear about the gospel in China.. She said she knows that but firmly believes that the Chinese government doesn't listen at look at everything like they said they do.. Who knows?

Mission Conference was actually disappointing because you didn't see anyone while they were here.. I only saw Elder Scott who was walking through the bookstore when I was there.. This Sunday I was quite involved in everything! For RS I had to sit on the stand and pray.. I thought to myself as I was sitting up there, this is nothing compared to the audience at BYU-Idaho.. Truly there was nothing intimidating about it! I did learn from this that I have been here too long.. Long enough when you are starting to become good friends with the MTC Presidency's wives (who are also the RS presidency).. Never smile and say hello because they'll ask you to do something later.. Then after that I had to sit on the stand again because Sis.. Hirshi was speaking in the big sacrament meeting.. This week there were only 3 sacrament meetings because of Missiion Conference.. 3 sacrament meetings with thousands of missionaries, you can do the math on how many were there.. Sis.. Jewkes was like, Wow, you just live up there or something! No worries, I didn't have to sit up there for the fireside though Sis.. Hirschi said that she could probably arrange something to change that.. I turned it down.. But hey, while I was up on the stand all I could think about was that I was sitting in the exact same chair Elder Holland sat in on Friday night! YAY!!!!

Anyways! Good news!!! Spread the word!!!!! This last Sunday we got a glimpse into the future of missionary work! It's super cool!!! On July 7th, the church is launching a new mormon.org site! On it you can create a profile where you can share your expereinces, testimony, etc.. It's really neat! they're letting all of us create a profile here too!!! So encourage everyone to create a profile!!! It's amazing! there's also cool videos on there that are really good that you should check out too!!!

Oh, I'm communicating in Laotian too! YAY! Okay, I can understand it, not speak it, but someday I will!!! I have a plan to learn Laotian and Cambodian while I'm in Thailand! Wouldn't that be amazing? Thailand is a very diverse country from asians all over the place.. Anywho...... I must be off but I just want to say thanks for all the letters and packages! I truly appreciate it!!!! Love you all!!!! Em Remember July 7th!!!!!! YAY!!!!

Letter June 22, 2010

Today I went to the enhancement program.. Pretty much they tell us that we need to look good because we are representing Christ.. Then they told us how to take care of our skin and then they gave us all makeovers!!! I now have in my possession $200 worth of makeup! It's really nice stuff! Apparently each month this company donates $10, 000 for this program! Crazy!

The TRC went really well! Don't know why I really take to the purchasing lessons the best, but I do!

This weekend is Mission Conference AKA lots of apostles and the like this week with many new mission presidents! Should be interesting!!!

In class we were sitting on our mats on the floor and reading the BofM in script.. I was reading when Sis.. Noppamas started laughing.. Apparently I said that the Nephites were all water buffalos.. Then we launched into the topic of animals in Thailand.. She told us all about how the monkeys will bite and steal your food and how during flood season there are water snakes and the crocidiles from the crocidile farms often get loose! Lots of fun! And the dogs chase after you on your bike! She had 10 chase her once! She said her least favorite thing is cockroaches.. She apparently prayed for them her whole mission so that she wouldn't be scared of them.. We love her!!!!

Quick story: During RS we always have a conversion spotlight.. This week we had a sister from Mainland China share her story.. She basically heard about BYU through an English teacher.. She contacted her and was told she was going on a mission but that she could talk to her dad about BYU.. While on the phone, her Dad told her about the church, etc.. Which is illegal, but hey! She said when she heard it it made sense.. She came, got baptized, etc.. now going to temple square for a mission.. She's going tomorrow! Anyways she is super lucky!

For Father's Day

In honor of Father's Day, Emily sent to Tony this version of the Primary song, "I'm So Glad When Daddy Comes Home" written in Thai.

Photos sent June 17th

Sister Emily Henderson at the MTC with her Thai hymnbook.

Sisters Henderson, Hirschi, Johnson, Jolley, and Naegle

The Thai District:

Elders Shipley, Hansen, Lyman, Chapman, Hardy, Leyva and Ahlstrom

Sisters Johnson, Naegle, Jolley, Hirschi, and Henderson

Sister Jolley, Sister Johnson

Sister Henderson, Sister Hirschi, and Sister Naegle

Sister Henderson, Sister Hirschi, Sister Naegle, Sister Jolley, and Sister Johnson

Sisters Jolley, Johnson, Naegle, Henderson, and Hirschi