MTC- week 7 The gift of tongues is so real and it's amazing! I know for a fact that I would not have been able to learn this language without it.

Sawadii Kha Khrccbkhrua! 

This week was another good week, they just go by so fast. Every day seems like a blur! Yep Lauren left this morning! She came and got me up around 2:30 and we just sat and talked until she left at 3:30. It was sad but it was such a blessing to have been able to see her as much as I did. 16 months will go by fast! I can't believe it's already almost April. I've already been out on my mission almost two months now. I feel like I just got here! We get our travel plans this Friday, I'm really excited but also really sad. It will be hard for me to leave here, however I'm so ready to get to Thailand to finally start preaching to some real investigators! And the food here is killing me. I try so hard not to complain about it but I'm dying! 

So this week our Nccn Thai's came and we got to show them around. It was pretty fun! It's nice to have more people in our zone again since so many of them left last week. It was fun to talk to the Nccn Thai's in Thai though and teach them our fun words. My teacher told me my Thai is getting really good, I was really excited to hear that! I'm able to read in script a lot easier without cheating. And get the tones which is pretty amazing because last week I did not understand how to translate the tones but I'm able to do it now. I was thinking about it last week, how much Thai I know now that I definitely did not know two months ago. The gift of tongues is so real and it's amazing! I know for a fact that I would not have been able to learn this language without it. I'm pretty sure I would've quit by now because it's seriously hard! It's the hardest language they teach here in the MTC so I'm amazed how easily we learn it. It's pretty miraculous! 

I'm really excited for this coming weekend! It's going to be a pretty chillax weekend because of conference, we're quite ready for the break. I'm excited though to listen to conference, it will probably be the first time ever that I actually sit down and listen because I won't have distraction. We didn't get to watch the Women's Conference though on Saturday, we're going to watch it during priesthood session though this Saturday! 

Well during one of our Devo's they told us that we should be sharing our experiences with our families and helping them as well come closer to Christ. So I want to throw out a challenge to you guys to read Moroni 7 (I love this chapter), but not just read it! Pick it apart and get a personal meaning out of it for you! I'd love to hear everything that you guys learned from it and how you can apply it to you (some other good ones are Hebrews 11 and Alma 32). I love you guys, I think about you all the time! Heavenly Father has been taking care of me and teaching me so much. I'm so grateful to be a disciple of Christ, I think it is one of the greatest things that I will do in this life. Not to mention the greatest privilege. I will always be His disciple though, even when I'm not wearing the tag. You don't have to be wearing the tag or have a mission call to be a missionary. Christ invites us all to share the gospel with others and live our faith to the fullest! I challenge you guys to do that every day! 

Anyways, I hope you guys have a good week! Rag khun ye!

 -Sidtee Carrillo

Name tags of all the Thai sisters

Enjoying a sunny day at the temple. 

This is the most sun we ever get.

I love this temple!

Sister Olsen's mom sent us mini cupcakes!  YUM!

MTC- week 6 I'm here because I want others to have what I have been given!

Sawadii Kha khrccbkhrua!! 

This week has been a very eventful week! Don R. Clark came for our Tuesday Devo, it was a really good talk. He was very blunt, I love speakers like that! Anyways he gave us ten points of truth on how to be the best missionaries we can be. The one that hit me the most was enjoying the journey, because I feel like a lot of times I just run through the motions and forget to slow down. I want to embrace every part of this so that is what I'm going to try hard to do! On Wednesday we got to host. That was weird! I literally feel like I just got here. I hosted a girl who was going to Florida Spanish Speaking. I showed her to her room and classroom and told her all the great things about the MTC. I loved it! It makes me feel really old though. The Cambodians, Hmongs, and Vietnamese speakers in our zone leave this week so we're going to be the oldest in our zone! Our zone is literally going to be split in half! We get new Nccn Thai's this week though, they're all boys. Us sisters were kind of bummed that we aren't getting any new sisters but we'll try and love the new elders just the same, haha! I think the only reason I don't want them to come is because I don't want them taking any of our teachers. I'm quite attached to all of them, haha!

Selfie Sunday with my Sisters!

Lauren also leaves next Monday. We've already cried about that. We were out in the hallway crying and sisters kept peeking their heads out to see if we were ok. It was funny! 

I'm gonna miss her!

Well last week I was praying a lot to know how to forget myself and be able to better serve my sisters and elders in my zone and just the MTC in general! Well the Lord answered my prayers and called me and Sister Johnson to be the new Sister Training Leaders. I'm really excited! I'm so excited for the opportunity I have to work with the Branch Presidency and the Zone leaders! We get to welcome all the nccn Thai's on Wednesday and show them around with the zone leaders. Again, I'm excited! I also get the great opportunity to help and serve all the sisters. I love all the girls in my zone but it was funny because as soon as I got called to the position, I all of a sudden got such a protective love over all of them. They also changed the way we do relief society in the MTC yesterday as well, so instead of all the sisters in the MTC meeting together, we're just going to meet in our branches. So me and Sister Johnson will also be leading relief society. I'm way excited! 

On Friday while we were doing personal study we saw two investigators (they just walk around the MTC) sitting at a table across from us and we decided to go and talk to them (despite being a little intimidated). We introduced ourselves and they told us their names Meribel and Mercedes. They are both from Mexico and I told them all about you dad! They said you should've taught me Spanish ;) They wanted to hear us speak Thai and teach them something so we taught them the first vision! One of us spoke in Thai while the other translated. They asked us questions and the one Meribel asked us  why were we here when we haven't seen God like Joseph Smith did and that we should be out partying like kids are suppose to (hahaha!). After I thought about it, I told her that I have so much faith in my Savior and Heavenly Father that I don't need to see them. I know what I have felt and the reason I am here is because I love Christ and Heavenly Father so much that I'm willing to give up 18 months of my life to try and give back what they have given to me. I'm here because I want others to have what I have been given! It was such a special moment! And since I have to speak in Thai all the time, I can never really bear my testimony exactly like that but I was grateful for that experience! Last week I kept getting frustrated because I felt like I knew absolutely nothing about the gospel because I can never answer the way I want in Thai. But that was such an assurance that the Lord heard me and some day I will be able to speak like that in Thai. That was a tender mercy from Heavenly Father! 

The language is still coming. We talk in Thai actually A LOT. It's amazing how much we have learned! I started to TRY and read the Book of Mormon in script. I read about a line that took me like 15 minutes and gave me a headache. But it's so fun to read, I can't wait for the day until I can read all of it! Plus the more I read in Thai, the faster I get and the more I understand the grammar concepts. I figured out slightly how to spell my name in Thai. There's a lot of different ways! It's really fun to write in, and it always looks sudyccd maag thii sud! Saturday was our last TRC, and today we skype for the first time to someone in Thailand. We're a little scared about that, but I'm excited to talk to a khon Thai (Thai person)! 

Well that's all I got, I just want you guys to know how much I love you guys! Heavenly Father comforts me every day and tells me you guys are being taken care of! I'm so grateful for that, and I hope that you guys are feeling the spirit as well! Strive to always keep it with you! Sidtee rag khun talccd! 

-Sister Carrillo 

Happy Birthday to Elder Roberts!

Our district just wouldn't be the same without him!

Happy St. Patricks day!

I am doing my leprechaun pose!

We take a lot of pictures together!

I love service day!  I never thought I'd love

cleaning so much

Me and Sister J.  I love my Khuu!

Wearing our Thai shirts

Sister Rhodes (Lauren's companion),

Lauren, me, and Sister Johnson

These turds stole my camera!

MTC- week 5 When do you ever get the chance to sing for an apostle of the Lord with hundreds of other fellow missionaries?

Hello khrccbkhrua! 

This week was a very eventful one! It seemed like a lot went wrong but also a lot was a blessing. My eyes got super irritated on Saturday (don't know why, probably from lack of sleep) and so I've had pretty nice dead and red looking eyes. I'm the only one that seems to notice hahaha.  Daylight savings seems to be hitting us all pretty well this week. We've all had a hard week. But we talked about it and Satan is going to try and throw everything he can at us to get us not to be here or go to Thailand. So I've laughed everything off when I feel like I'm going to cry. I finally broke down crying one night after class, I was just so spiritually and physically exhausted. Luckily I had Lauren right there with me to cry to. I'm so blessed to have her here with me, even if it's only for a little while!

But things have been getting better! I just have to take it one day at a time! 

It's been super warm here! We do our personal and companionship study outside now and it's the best thing ever. I ALWAYS fall asleep in the break between those two studies. We get like a fifteen minute break, so I put my head down and I'm literally out until someone in the district wakes me up. My brain needs it so bad! I'm amazed I can fall asleep that fast. 

My companion was so kind to take a

picture of me napping

Well you guys might have heard but Elder Cook came to devo last Tuesday. We were all pretty excited about that! We sang Praise to the Man in the choir at Devo. When do you ever get the chance to sing for an apostle of the Lord with hundreds of other fellow missionaries? NEVER. It was so awesome! By the way Mom, brother Egget is the choir director, we love him! He's so funny, I go to choir a lot just to listen to him. And sing! Anywho, Elder Cook talked about us and how each of our mission calls are not randomly picked (kinda like how we talked about Mom before I left). He said that our mission calls are completely guided by the spirit, they are revelation! I always love hearing that! I remember when I got my mission call it was so hard for me because it was not where I wanted to go. But the more I'm in the MTC and learning the language, the more I know that Thailand is the place for me. I have so much faith in the Lord and I have faith that He knows what's best for me and the people I serve. My faith in the gospel and my Savior has grown so much more since I've been here. My first step of faith was coming on a mission, a prompting that I acted upon. I'll be acting in faith for the rest of my mission and the more we act on faith, the more our faith grows. How awesome is that?! 

The language is going really good, I'm learning more and more everyday. Me and Sister Johnson had a whole entire conversation in Thai the other day without even realizing it. I've almost got the entire Thai alphabet done. We're learning how to read in it now. I can't wait until I can read and write in this language. We tried reading a chapter in the Book of Mormon in class in Thai and it took us about 10 minutes to read a sentence. But we'll get faster! Well I miss you all so much, I wish I had more time to write! Keep working hard sibs and always remember to keep striving the have the spirit in your life in every part of your day. Because with the spirit, you always have guidance! Sidtee rag khun! 

-Sister Carrillo 

We always have to take a silly one!

The zone sisters!

MTC- week 4 We have begun writing in Thai script and lemme tell you, I LOVE IT!

Sawad dii kha khrccbkhrua! 

This last week was such a good one! Thank you for all your fasts and prayers, they were definitely felt! I felt the spirit so strongly this week! We talked about the Gift of the Holy Ghost yesterday (that was our topic) and the power that the spirit holds. We truly are walking blindly through this life without the spirit. I have always thought to myself that I probably made myself promises in Heaven but how am I to remember those promises when I can't remember them. I don't need to remember them though, because the spirit leads me to the paths that I need to go and if I stay in tune with the spirit, I will be able to accomplish everything that I planned and Heavenly Father planned for me. That's also the great thing about a patriarchal blessing! I'm finally learning how to teach by the spirit though! We taught Phii Chaan about the plan of salvation on Thursday and I mentioned how we experience sorrow and pain here to learn but we also experience happiness and joy. Further on in the lesson we asked him if he understood and if he had any questions. He looked at me and said that he didn't understand why we have trials and why bad things happen. He asked us why we experience pain! Sidtee Johnson quickly found a scripture for him to read and while they were reading that, I thought of when I had asked myself that same question. I then remembered the scripture that has always helped me get through my pain and trials. When they finished I asked him to open up to D&C 121 and had him read the parts where Joseph Smith was in liberty jail and was asking God why they were suffering. I explained to Phii Chaan that Joseph Smith didn't understand why all these bad things were happening and when it would end. I then had him read the scriptures where the Lord tells Joseph that He is with him and that this was only a small part. And that if he would endure his trial well, the Lord would exalt him on high. I then told Phii Chaan that the Lord heard him, loved him and that He is always with him. The spirit was so strong in the room! It was the first time I had actually felt the words I was saying was true! He told me that he felt was I was saying was true and thanked me for answered his question. He said he felt good inside! I was so happy! Who knew that a scripture that had once helped me allowed me to help another. There is so much joy in bringing light to others confusion. That has been one of my favorite lessons. 

Well, we have begun writing in Thai script! And lemme tell you, I love it! I love writing in script, it's not easy but it's like a little puzzle that you have to put together. Plus, they have gorgeous writing, I can't wait until I can write like that someday. The language is coming a bit easier! Me and my khuu try and speak in it constantly to each other. Especially in class because one of my teachers is constantly telling us to SYL (speak your language). I'm learning more Thai so it's more fun to speak! 

We watched our Phii Thai's video of when they first got to Thailand. I'm so excited for them, and I'm getting more and more excited to go! But I'm enjoying being at the MTC, I really love it here! I discovered that Brianna will be on the floor right below me (that's where all the Japanese speaking people go). It's too bad she's not here! :( I saw Alison here at the MTC! She works in the cafeteria and she told me she put in her papers. That's so exciting for her!I'd love to hear from Kevin but I don't have any of his addresses. Could you send them to me por favor madre? :) 

So I did join choir and I love it! Our choir director is amazing, he has so many spiritual stories that he incorporates into the song. Last week we sang Be Still My Soul! I've always loved that song but it touched me so much when we sang it because that was exactly what my soul needed to hear. I needed my soul to just be calm and listen to the spirit. It was perfect! 

Yesterday was one of the best days ever! We took our temple walk, and we usually do it at 2:30 so it was nice and warm outside. Every time we walk to the temple I love looking at the mountains here, I always want to hike them though! They remind me of the time we climbed the Sawtooth mountains and I thought I was going to die, but it is one of my favorite memories! Also I finally got to watch the Testaments last night! They played it and I forgot how cheesy the romance was in it but hey it was still good. Everyone laughs in those parts because it's so awkward and it's the closest to romance we're gonna see in a long time! 

Today we did temple sealings, I really love doing that! It reminded me of the time when me and Taeli got sealed in the temple to Mom and Dad. I didn't quite understand how big of a blessing that day was and will bless me for the rest of eternity. I can't wait for the day when I no longer have to say goodbye to my family! And now I have the chance to bring that to the people of Thailand. I can't wait!

Well, I hope everything is good at home. I'm excited that Ryan's team won state, wish I



could've been there! Don't worry mom, I cry every time I hear from you guys too! I've become quite the baby here! I love you guys and I miss you! Choog dii!

-Sidtee Carrillo

 I Love this Temple!!

   

My classroom

I am obsessed with these mountains. 

(Ignore the guy in the background)

Me and Lolo wearing our mission shirts

Me and sister Hayes (from Rexburg)

I am so excited we get to go to Thailand together

She is going to Korea.  Everytime she sees me she tells me

she loves me.  I absolutely adore her!

Thailand here I come!

We looked cute today, so we had to take a picture

These are some of my favorite consonants to write in Thai.

Hi Daddy! I miss you so much! I speak Spanish all the time haha. During class I was trying to say what was important in Thai (I don't remember what we were talking about) and instead I started saying "Es muy importante" and I died laughing. My teacher told me no Spanish! haha. As I was reading your letter I was walking back to my residence and was almost crying. I'm pretty sure everyone thought I was a weirdo haha. I remember that day so well! It didn't feel real to me at all and I almost wanted to just turn around and go back home because I wasn't ready to let go of everything. But like you said, it was something that I'm meant to do. I had to keep reminding myself of before I left for Ecuador or college and I was terrified to leave home! But I loved those experiences and wouldn't have learned what I needed to learn had I stayed home. I dream about home all the time though! I sent you guys a letter about how I was talking in my sleep and woke everyone up telling them my dad was just here but he left. It was so funny haha! I wish you wouldn've been here! This is an experience though that I wouldn't trade for anything, I love being here and I thank Heavenly Father everyday that He is blessing you guys because of this. Because like I said, I told Heavenly Father before I put my papers in that if I went all I asked was that you guys be taken care of. And He has answered my prayers! I love you Daddio! Thank you for all that you have taught me and for pushing me to be better even if that means I have to be away from home for a while.

Bye, see ya later! ;) 

-Hermana Carrillo 

MTC - week 3 I'm so lucky to be a part of this work! I truly have the best calling in the church!

Sawadii Kha to my beautiful khrccbkhrua! 

Well this week has been a week. There was a lot of learning this week! I've been getting super frustrated with the language. Just because I feel like I don't know as much as my companion does so when we go and teach I definitely don't say as much because most of the time I can't understand what the heck she's saying! I was really upset on Saturday night and felt like I couldn't find anything in the scriptures to help me or make me feel like God was even listening to me. I accidentally turned to a page when I was trying to close my scriptures and the only reason I had noticed this scripture is because I had highlighted it a long time ago and for some reason it said "favorite scripture". I didn't even know this was my favorite scripture! Anyways it was D&C 6:36! After juicing it (Taeli will know what this means) I knew what my problem was. As soon as I walk into the room to teach, I completely doubt myself. I forget what my purpose is completely and only worry about trying to make sure my investigator understands me or just trying to get through the lesson. It's something I definitely need to work on but it was such a blessing for me to find that scripture especially during that time. And thanks Mom for that quote because that's something I really needed to hear right now! I now know what I need to work on now! 

I played the piano for the first time yesterday! Me and sister Johnson went into one of the piano rooms after dinner so she could take a nap and I could play. Almost my entire zone followed us in there! One of the Elders rapped his entire life story to one of the songs I was playing. It was so fun, I've missed playing the piano! Thank goodness I brought sheet music! We also had Mission Conference yesterday since it was fast Sunday. And Devo! I love any devotional type thing because the speakers are always so good! One of the speakers mentioned to not think of just right now and how hard it is to learn a language but to think of the generations we will bless whether it's from the people in Thailand or even my own family. It's so true though and it was exactly what I needed to hear again! 

Well Mom you read right about the MTC! You are studying a lot! Personal study is actually my favorite because I can just read the scriptures or conference talks. My scriptures are getting covered from me writing in them so much! I can't wait to show them to you! Me and Sister Johnson get up at 5:45 every morning to work out and I either go to the class or just go run and do workouts in between my runs. That time is super special to me! Sister Johnson likes getting up early thank goodness or else I'd feel really bad. I got a really good companion! We're different but that's almost what makes us such a great companionship because we cover each others weaknesses. I'm really grateful for her! The food here is eh. It looks like microwaved food to me. But I'm really picky! I love their Rice Crispie treats. That's what I have a hard time not eating!

I found a song Mom that I think you'd like! It's called Shanendoah (I think that's how you spell it?). I listen to the one that the MoTab sings. I thought of you when I was listening to it! I have a greater appreciation for church music now because it really does bring in the spirit so much. I now understand why you cry when you hear a really pretty song Mom because I always almost cry whenever we sing or I'm listening to music! I've had Abide With Me; Tis Ev'n Tide stuck in my head all day today! I usually am always singing Come thou fount though haha. 

I'm so excited for Brianna's mission call! She's going to be such a good missionary, I'm so sad that I'll barely miss her when she comes in! It truly is amazing how many missionaries there are. We watched the Joseph Smith movie last night and after almost crying a million times while watching it, I had the coolest realization. When it was over and everyone stood up and started clapping, I thought of Joseph Smith and how we are all here in the MTC right now because of him. What started out as a couple of members has now turned into thousands of members and missionaries going out to preach this gospel. I can just imagine what he thinks right now! All the suffering and persecution wasn't all for nothing because I have been so blessed because of the restoration that happened almost 200 years ago. I'm so lucky to be apart of this work! I truly have the best calling in the church! 

Our Phii Thai's left this morning so we all had to say goodbye to them last night. I didn't realize how upset I was about it until I actually had to say goodbye to them. MTC life is just not going to be the same! It's crazy because I've known them all just two weeks and I have such a sincere love for all of them! I started crying as soon as we got back to the room last night. Luckily Lauren was there! But I'll see them all in six weeks when we head to Thailand! Isn't that so crazy? I've already almost been here for 3 weeks! 

Well, I'm almost out of time. I just want to let you know how much I love you all and how I think of you guys everyday! I'm glad Aubrie isn't quitting violin, that is definitely one of my biggest regrets. And then she can teach me when I get back haha! Give the boys kisses for me, I miss "kissy time" with Carsey haha! I'm so excited about baby Gideon, tell Mike and Lindsey congrats from me! I'm so glad Dad's work is going good, that's such good news to hear! I always love hearing about home and how you guys are doing. Love you guys, choog dii! 

-Sister Carrillo 

"Le dooy amnaad khccn phrawinyaan bccrisud, thaan ca ruu khwamcin khccn thug rxan." 

Translation "And by the power of the Holy Ghost, you will know the truth of all things."

 The Thailand Peeps!

The Phii Thai's Celebrate Christmas on the 25th of every month. 

They passed this tradition on to us! 

They read us elf on the shelf and a Polynesian Santa came and visited. 

It was pretty awesome!

Our Bunk Beds!

I Love having my best friend here!!

Some of our Phii Thai Sisters

 Love these girls!

Our next door Phii Thai's.  I already miss them!

My District Sisters!

Some of my favorite People