Thailand I may be coming for you

Another week in the MTC down. I've been here 7 weeks now. Man time flies by fast. We have 2 more weeks and a lot more to learn. We are grinding it out everyday and learning like crazy. It's been stressful not really knowing what's happening with our mission but it will all work out in the end. 

News update: So like I said, we don't know what is happening. We haven't really been informed and don't know where we are serving. We have received emails saying that people preparing will be reassigned or postponed but we are in the MTC now. Not too sure. We assume we will be reassigned but we have 2 more weeks here so we don't know. All I know is where ever I go I am suppose to go to. It would be pretty cool to serve in the states or somewhere for a little while to learn the gospel and the lessons better. Then I would get to Thailand after a couple transfers probably and my Thai would suck but I would figure it out. We will see what happens. I will most likely find out in the next week because we need to get our flight plans. That will tell us where we are serving and what's happening. 

On a more positive note, a new little Thai district just got here. They look so young, like babies. Most of them are older than I am but man, the MTC changes you somehow. Odd stuff happens here. I think the caffeine free Coke must make you older. Crazy how Coke does this to you. The baby Thai’s know so much already. They definitely are gonna pass me up in knowledge of this difficult language. That's ok. I am fine with that. 

Finally, I had my birthday this week. Happy Birthday me!  I am 19. I am old. Nothing big happened. We studied and had a TRC. Jae Hunt is a Thai monster. He speaks so fast and so many words nobody will ever understand. I don't suggest teaching him. He blows your mind and you just sit there lost and scared. It got better over time but it was a struggle. A great birthday present that's for sure. We told scary stories that night and I felt straight spooked. Scary stories are pretty scary. If you don't believe me try it. Tell scary stories. Good luck.

Ok not much else happened but I try to tell you what's important. I love you all and miss you all. Keep working hard and remember to rely on Christ. He loves you and always wants to help you. Keep that chin up. 

BYE. 

คอมพิวเตอร์

computer

แรงกดดัน

pressure

Elder Slavens

Trentbabe

I received In n Out this week. Shout out to Amy. If you know Alyssa Slavens and you know her aunt and it's your birthday. You are in luck.

This week there was a lot more construction and I loved it. It made my week. I would just sit there and stair. I forgot to study often and learned a lot about cement and how to make a sidewalk. 

It was a great week.

One of the sisters in my district is from the Philippines. She likes to draw. She drew me sleeping. 

Happy birthday me. 

The Thais. So many thais. So much language learning. So smart.

Dang Corona

Another week down and they just keep going faster. This week was a lot of hard work; lots of learning and studying and working. We focus a lot on memorizing phrases and words now and it is hard but the more you practice the better you get. In class we get to teach our teachers as if they were investigators and it is such an amazing experience. Even though I know it's my teacher, it always feels so real. I feel like they are learning and growing. It really helps me see how much I am improving. Each lesson I can say more and testify better. I am growing and improving each day. 

This week we had the opportunity to hear from Jeffrey R. Holland. It was an amazing experience. I got to sing in the choir and we sang Hope of Israel. It was very very powerful. If there is any way you can find this devotional online do it for the following reasons: 

1. You will hear an amazing talk about missionary work

2. You will hear an amazing choir and bonus,

3. I was on screen a lot while singing so you can see me. That's all. 

Also this week we learned that the Corona Virus has spread to Thailand. We don't know for sure what is happening but all of the missionaries serving there now can not leave their apartments. All people are locked inside and they may shut down the mission for a little. We heard we will be probably reassigned at least temporarily but we don’t know where to. I know whatever happens it’s part of God's plan. He knows what is best and knows how we can be better. I am excited to see what the future holds. I'm not too sure at this point. I was sad at first because I was excited for Thailand but I see it as a second mission. Whatever it is it’ll be a good adventure. 

We see lots of new missionaries come in to the MTC and leave while we’re still here slaving away. It is sad and makes us excited to get out of here. We have 3 more weeks and a lot more to learn. Let's hope we learn enough and are ready to serve. Again, no clue where I will be or what language I'll be speaking, but i'm ready for whatever is coming. Bring it on. 

That's all. Love you all and I will let you know if any news comes out about my future. Exciting! Love you bye bye. 

ฐานะปุโรหิต

Priesthood  

โจเซฟ สมิธ

Joseph Smith

Alma 7:11-13 Read. Ponder. Love.

Elder Slavens

Elder Slay

Trentbabe

Room did not smell the best. Now it smells like Angels.

The mashed potatoes here are just a ball. Do not recommend!

TRC party. We love learning and teaching Thai. That's for sure. 

1 month down 23 to go

This week went by mega fast. Weeks go by faster and faster and I learn more and more. I actually can somewhat speak now and can understand a lot more than I used to be able to, unfortunately just not in Thai, lol. I have officially been in the MTC for a month now. That went by very very fast. I really can’t believe it. It feels like I've been here for 6 hours, but no, Elder Slavens it’s been 4 weeks. Nice try. 

This week. . . .  let's see what I did.

We decided to set a random goal for each day and let me just say, nearly impossible.

Monday I tried to eat only fruit and water. Failed. 

Tuesday I did 300 push ups. Success.

Wednesday, let me take some time to discuss this day. The goal was to speak Thai and only Thai all day. Everyone else failed but I knew I could do it. Since I know almost no Thai, I just sat around all day quiet. No words. Nothing. So sad. I was so lonely. Life sucks without English. Success? (You decide).

Thursday try to read 12 verses of the Book of Mormon in Thai.  Fail. 

Friday give 30 compliments. Fail (how did I fail that one?)

So all in all not a great track record.

On a positive note, we taught our first Thai TRC this week (lesson with an outside investigator). It actually went so much better than we expected. We taught about Joseph Smith and the first vision. It was such a spiritual experience. It was amazing. We repeated ourselves a lot because we don't have a very extensive vocabulary but I learned so much and I know our investigator did too. We bragged about how good we were afterward. Everyone was pretty jealous. 

Not a ton happened this week. I want a funny story but I’ve got nothing. Usually I am laughing while writing my email but this week was a lot more work and a lot less play. Less construction, less broken elevators, no ladies rooms, but I still have my fort. I sleep like a baby every night. I look forward to getting in bed and having complete darkness. It makes me so happy.

We are learning a lot and are working hard. We have a month left in the MTC and a lot to learn. Let's hope I keep working hard and learn what I need to learn. Again, if anyone has a pill or food that makes you learn a language go ahead and send it. Thanks.

Peace out fans. See you next week. Enjoy life and don’t learn Thai. Its rough. BYE

Elder Slavens

Elder Slay

Fish Boy

โจเซฟ สมิธแปลพระคัมภีร์มอรมอนโดยอำนาจของพระผู้เป็นเจ้า 

Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon by the power of God. 

Happy Valentine's Day from us 2 to you Earth.

Prepping for hosting. Feeling fly, not too shy.

All I know is we are good at self timer mode. It's a beautiful thing. Technology.

This week on Keeping Up With the Elder Speaking Thai and Struggling Everyday

Good evening Earth. It's me. Elder Slavens. I speak fluent Thai and I don't remember English at all. English who. Kidding. Got you. Pranked. 

In reality I am working hard and am starting to finally get it. We got to teach our teachers but we haven't taught a real "investigator" yet. It's usually just members who say they aren't members and try to trick us. It won’t work on me. We are teaching someone next week so be ready for a good story. I can read Thai now very very slowly and am learning words and phrases. Tones are hard but the more I practice the better I get. I have been able to understand my teachers a lot better when they talk and pray and everything, but when they say, "Hey Elder Slavens, speak." I'm like, uhhh impossible. We were working on a book we called the Basic Core. This book had all of the basic phrases we would use that we needed to memorize. We just finished and we are now working on Intermediate Core. This calls for a lot more memorization and work. I need to memorize 4-5 phrases and 10 words for each topic in preach my gospel lessons. It is hard but since we have 6 hours of class a day, 1 hour of language study, then we speak all the Thai we know all day. It helps. 

This week I broke an elevator, thought I had tinnitus (when you can't hear out of an ear and you just hear ringing), I watched construction more than I studied, and made a fort. All true. 

Elevator- we had about 10 people in an elevator including people we didn't know when I forced the doors shut. Right as they closed the elevator dropped and stopped. Everyone soon realized the elevator broke. We then hear. "I am sorry, but we are experiencing technical difficulties." I sat down on the floor and said, “Aww bummer.” The people we didn't know soon started to punch the buttons and we then finally started moving. I laughed so hard when I realized I almost just killed us all. Sorry everyone. My bad. 

Ear- I woke up on Tuesday and I couldn't hear out of my right ear, I thought, “Well, that stinks.” I heard a ringing and came to the conclusion I would never hear again. I asked people and they were no help. The next morning I could hear so not sure what was up but I am happy to say my hearing is perfect. 

Construction- The MTC has been under crazy construction right by the building where we have class, studies, and everything. We study by the window and every time I look out they are doing some sort of construction. It is so distracting. I cheer every time. I love my study time, but I love construction more. 

Fort- I had a great idea to take 7 blankets and tuck them under the top bunk so I would have a nice fort. Best idea I've ever had. So dark, so cozy.  

I am really excited to get to Thailand but I still have 6 weeks until I get to leave. I am excited because there are 2 new Thai districts coming at the end of February. We will be able to teach them and help them. But in reality they may be helping me. Let's just hope someone creates a food you can eat that helps you learn a new language. Boy that would be nice. 

Here are some songs you may enjoy. I don't understand them but they make me feel like I'm meditating on a river. I hope you feel how I feel while listening to this music. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oV7t81aKlz4 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIpq33YHX4M

I have heard many of you enjoy my emails. I don't know what I am doing right but you are welcome. If anyone has suggestions on what I should talk about, just shoot me an email. 

I'm out of here. Peace out to all of you. I hope you have a great week, I love you all, miss you all, and I hope you don't break an elevator or get distracted by construction this week. I know how it feels. You'll be hearing from me in 7 days. Enjoy your time Elder Slavens free. BYE. 

Elder Slavens

เอ็ลเดอร์ สะเลเว็นส์   

#trentakesthailand

พระกิตติคุณของพระเยซูคริสต์เพิ่มความแข็งแกร่งให้ ครอบครัว  

The Gospel of Jesus Christ blesses families.

Read all of JSH and prepare for general conference

I am going to send a video of me speaking. If you make fun of me I will be sad. I hope you can all understand from this video that I am struggling but am slowly learning. Maybe one day I will look back and go wow I was pretty good. One day. 

 I told you I like construction. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do. Watch and you will be happy. 

Me and the men's room. My favorite room in the whole MTC. 

In other news my bestie boy Elder Isaac Hansen dropped into the MTC on Wednesday. 

I barely see him because the MTC is always go go go. Still love him.

We all pointed to our locations of serving. As you can see it's pretty concentrated in the little area we like to call 

South East Asia

Dream Job: Being Flat Stanley

Hello my family, friends, and fans. I hope you are all doing swell. You may be thinking, “Oh yes, Elder Slavens has been there for 3 weeks now, the language must be getting easier.” I would encourage you to think again. I learn every day how hard this language is. It destroys me mentally and physically. It hurts. The pain. The agony. 

On a positive note I know about 7 more words than I did last week. I'll get there slowly. I'm not scared, I just have to learn a language in 6 weeks or else nobody will understand me. Easy. 

The weeks are beginning to go by so much faster now which is happy and sad and I am happy to say I am getting used to waking up at 6:30. I have learned that waking up and jumping into the shower is the only way I can function. I shower and change into my fancy white shirt and tie then breakfast baby. Then it’s exercise and then shower again if i'm feeling like it. I love studying now. We study so hard every day but for some reason I still feel like we don't have enough time in the day. We are non-stop but then I get in bed and i'm like: 1. what did I do today, and 2. Wait what, where did this day go. That's basically me every night.

We are working hard and are doing everything we can to learn this language. Every day we study a topic in Preach My Gospel and discuss what we have found and learned in our reading. This helps us all learn and prepare for our missions. We then try to memorize two sentences in Thai each day before class. It's always a struggle, but I manage to do it. The moment I leave class, BOOM, it's gone. Sad. I'll get better I promise. I am learning so much and am basically perfect now. You can ask me anything about Thai, I'll know it. We learned to bargain this week and you know that will come in handy. Mom, you better be ready. I'm coming back with my suitcases packed full of JUNK. Enjoy. 

I will end with a story. Elder Wright and I were studying when we realized, “Oh, we need to use the ห้องอาบน้ำ (aka the bathroom or directly translated: closet water).” Either way, we went to the bathroom and walked in and looked to the right and realized there were no urinals. We said, “Hmm that's odd!” So we walked further back in the bathroom and again saw no urinals. I said, “Hey where are the urinals?” And then it hit us. We realized this was most likely not the men’s room. We yelled, “AHH, the ladies room!” and we ran. We were so scared. We made it outside safe and looked at the sign and it did in fact say: “Women’s”. It had the little woman figure and everything. We were in shock. We don't know if anyone was in there or if people saw us, but let me just say: If you don't see urinals at first, you should leave because it is most likely the women's room. You are welcome for the advice.

If anyone has an extra set of bagpipes, I would love them. My address is: 

Elder Trenton Slavens 0316 THA-BAN 2005 N 900 E #131 Provo, Utah 84602 

I was sitting writing this email when I heard a humming noise behind me. My first thought was, “Wow, who has bagpipes?” I soon realized it was the air conditioning. I would love to make my dream come true of becoming a bagpipe player if anyone wants to help me in my quest.

And now I say goodbye until next time. If you would like to contact me my email is: trentonslavens@missionary.org Thanks for tuning in. Enjoy my stories and images. See you next week. Well, you will see me. I wont see you cause it's mission time. 

This week’s Thai lesson:

หู    ear

หน้าผาก    forehead 

ฟัน    tooth 

เมื่อเรากลับใจอย่างจริงจัง เราจะทิ้งบาป

When we sincerely repent, we turn away from sin.  

Mosiah 24:14 

Elder Slavens

Elder Slay

Fish Boy

#trentakesthailand

                       I just am getting good at this selfie thing

 

   Me and the flag of the place where I am going to be speaking 

                   the language known as Thai. Yeah pretty cool. Oh and star wars. 

                        Me and Joseph Smith hanging out having a good time

                       Long live fish eye