Saawadii krap family

Hows life at home. Thank you for all your letters. It brightens my day every time I get one.
First I want to answer some questions. Jen, before you have Nate buy a DVD burner I think my computer has one. You are welcome to use it until I return. Oh and when is the radio program played? I can listen to that in the MTC through the internet. Last Jen I don't remember what I said concerning the "new Thai". I may have been talking about the alphabet. Around that time we started learning the Thai script and stopped using Romanized Thai writing. Other than that I really don't remember what I was talking about.

Okay. So this week has been full of excitement. First Elder Brown's and my roommates left for the field this morning, leaving room for the new Nung Thais. We're crossing our fingers and hope they get assigned to our room.
On Saturday our task in the TRC was to have a meal with a former investigator and to teach them the first lesson, all in Thai. Because of the recent mission president change, many of the RMs from Thailand have made a pilgrimage to Provo to welcome them home. Many of them also volunteered in the TRC for us. We only had two "investigators" in our room but some had four or five to work with.
As we started the first task we were shown several food items and talked a little about whether we liked them or not. Then I shared a scripture with them I choose 1 Nephi 3:7. I applied the scripture that if we are willing to do what the Lord has asked of us then he will provide a way for us to do what he asked. That proved true for me and Elder Brown in the next part of the task.
After a few minuets of planning, we returned to teach the first lesson. It was amazing and the spirit was really strong. Although we could not say everything that we wanted to say the way we wanted to say it. We were able to communicate every idea that we wanted to. It truly showed us how the Lord will help us in Thailand.
Well after we were finished we were waiting for our instructor to direct us where to go. A Sister informed us of something that we had never noticed before. On each letter and package that we receive, they place our departure date so that they can sort it better. The date use to be 0817 but she noticed that the last few days it said 0810. So according to the packages we were leaving a week early. At first we paid little thought. but at dinner the sisters in our district paid a visit to the travel office and confirmed it. We are leaving a week earlier then planned.
We think it is because our mission president has a conference in Hong Kong the week that we were originally planned to leave so they bumped us up a week....... Oh Boy.
I am way excited. and scared to death.
Another thing mom remember that I was complaining of shin splints the last little while. Well they still haven't gone away. so because I'm leaving in less than a month, I decided to get them looked at. The athletic trainer that I looked at after poking around my leg a little. guessed that it was because my arches in the feet were falling. We're going to try some stuff here like icing and taping my arches everyday at gym. He suggested that I need to get some arch support. He also warned me not to settle for DR. Schulls stuff but to get something a little more pricey. I'll be talking to him more about it. but he told me to write home for some. and to get arch supports not just inserts is what he said.
Other than that I need some other things in the next package if that is alright. First I opened the second SD card that we bought for the camera and discovered that it was the wrong size so if you could find the right size I'll send you some photos and videos I think that you will enjoy. :)
Last I discovered something in the last week with mesh garments. When it gets hot they rub then chafe then slowly grade away your skin. So being myself I thought what's going to happen in Thailand. I think the solution to this problem is to get drylex garment bottoms so if its not too much of a burden would you send 8 or so pairs.

Well my time is running out. I'm sending home some pictures that I hope you enjoy.

love you
Elder Brandon J Holt
searching for those lost in the darkness

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6th week in the MTC

Sawaadii khrap (not crap)

How is everyone at home? I enjoyed getting your mail over the weekend. Because of the 4th of July, the mail room was closed Friday and Saturday. But all is well, I have received your letters and mom I got the care package. Thank you.
Well, Saturday was an interesting day. We,the missionaries, were all afraid that we would not be able to celebrate the 4th. We were wrong. As we walked into the cafeteria for breakfast, we noticed something different. There were people who were dressed up in pioneer clothes. They were actors taking the part of many famous people. Like George Washington, John Adams, and the 4th president of Mexico. What do they have in common you may ask. Well after the completion of the Saint George temple, they all appeared to Wilford Woodruff and ask him to do their temple work.
Well the rest of the day was pretty normal until the night. At 7 we were all excused from class to go to a devotional. It was about the founding fathers and the reformers and also about the Saint George temple experience.
After the meeting we all when out to see fireworks go off over the Stadium of Fire. I took several videos and photos with my camera that I might send home next week with the SD card.
I was way excited to hear about Richard's papers being turned in. I want to hear as soon as you know where he is going. As well as Elisabeth Garrett.
Well the older district, our Phii Thais, left for Thailand yesterday and they should be getting there tomorrow. lol. Its strange because now we are the Phii Thais and we get Nung Thais next Wednesday.
Our district has started playing a game to help us to learn Thai better. It's called Khon samsaak, or Mr. samsaak. One missionary is chosen by our instructor and no one knows who it is. It's that missionary's goal to speak as much Thai as possible. The next class we have the district try to guess who it is. Then another mr. samsaak is chosen.
It sounds like you have had an enjoyable weekend. I did. By the way I forgot to ask last email. I need Johnathan Hale's address. He sent me a letter a few weeks ago and I haven't been able to reply because the return address is wrong on the letter.
Also I Think you can find a CPR pocket mask is what it is called in a drug store ..... maybe. It is just a small plastic sheet that can fold up and be placed in a wallet so that its portable. It helps prevent vomit from entering the person doing the CPR's mouth.
The temple opened up this week. Did I say I cleaned it last week..... well I did. I never knew the Provo temple had such a bug problem. Anyway it was nice to go back today. I think I really will miss the temple when I am in Thailand. I think I've gone almost every week since I have been endowed.
Last week's task went ok I was able to understand our investigator a little bit more. Next week task is to teach the 1st lesson in Thai. Elder Brown has it down pretty well. I'm coming along. I taught a very rough lesson the other day in Thai. Anyhow after that we get to have a meal with the "Investigator" that's all in Thai too.
One of the things that I have enjoyed and not enjoyed at the same time is the RC. Referral Center. I don't know if I have ever talked about the RC. Well when someone orders something from the church weather over the phone or the internet, they give us their number. Its then our job in the RC to call them and do everything possible short of threatning them to get the missionarys to the home. Some times we get the chance to make multiple phone calls. Elder Brown and I are keeping a touch base on several people its really exciting to teach them lessons over the phone. Also something Elder Brown and I do on Sundays is chat on mormon. org. we sometimes get hard questions but in the end we always are able to answer the question asked.... unless its a bible basher then we just let them chat to themselves.

My time is about up
I love you all
Elder Brandon Holt.
searching for those lost in the darkness.

PS what is the blog website?

Week 4 MTC

Dear Family

Thanks for all of the letters that you have sent. Every one really brightens my day. Well I made it through another week at the MTC. we are now on week 4. I can still speak English, but our district decided to have a English fast on Thursday. That's going to be a really quiet day. I know enough to tell my companion that I'm hungry or I have to to go the bathroom, oh and I can pray and bear my testimony but other than that.... let's just say it's going to be an interesting experience.

Hey Connor that's too bad about your game. I had a few of those that rained out. Have you noticed that I seems to rain every single day. Well that's how it is down here at the MTC. Maybe the Lord is getting us ready for Thailand. I'm glad you are enjoying my room and stuff take care of it. New Wii games huh, sounds like fun, I love Zelda, that was the one game that i never had the chance to play. Oh by the way I have an Email. :)

Mom Elder brown is from Salt Lake. He went to Skyline High School and went to BYU for a year. It seems that most of the elders did.
We have firesides every Sunday and Tuesday nights. The Sunday night fireside are reserved for the MTC presidency, but Tuesday nights are all about the General Authorities. I forgot to tell you. The first Tuesday night fireside I went to Elder Bednar talked. He addressed I think one of the most concerning things to new missionaries. How do we tell the difference between the spirit's prompting and our own thoughts? His answer was very simple and straight for ward. and he pretty much yelled it as us as he said it. His answer was this "Don't Worry about it. Be a good boy and a good girl, follow the mission rules, and follow all of the commandments and press forward. If you are doing these things every good thought in your head will have been inspired by the holy spirit."He then gave several experiences through his life and from his own mission.
I can't wait to talk to you in Thai. I think I'll give you call from one of the airports on the way to Thailand. Thai definitely sounds like an Asian language.
So I got my first Dear John today. ha ha It wasn't really one I wasn't expecting. It came with an invitation to the wedding. Two of my good friends that I met at Desert Star are getting married next week.

Thanks for the scripture thought I plan to look it up as soon as I get time today.

I love you all.

Your luugchaay(son), phiichaay (older brother) nungchaay(younger brother and friend.

Elder Brandon Holt
searching for those lost in the darkness

Week 5 at the MTC

sawaadii family

Hows the home life? hows chip the super dog? did you get the seconded email that I sent last week with the question on it. If you did could you answer it if not oh well.
It has been a great week here at the MTC. The mission presidents came on Wednesday and left Sunday for their missions. Several of the days we had all 15 higher General Authorities here with us. Although we were not able to see any of them except at certain times because they didn't want any of them to get sick.
They split the lunch room by a divider in which we could not see the other side. We decided that there must be a being from the other side of the veil talking to them.
Are normal devotionals that are on Tuesdays was moved to Friday. Elder Brown and I, as well as many other missionaries skipped dinner in order to get good seats. we waited in line for two hours. The rumor was that there was an apostle speaking. we got a lot more then that.
Trying to get into the assembly hall is much like trying to get into Walmart on Black Friday. everyone runs and pushes and shoves. I don't think anyone has been trampled to death yet. After Elder Brown and I found each other and got into seats, the mission presidents walked in. To every ones surprise so did Elder Cook, Followed by Elder Oaks, followed by Elder Bednar, then Elder Perry, then Elder Christofferson, Anderson , and last but not least our speaker for the night Elder Holland.
He gave an amazing fireside in which he talked about how missionaries should not be going two by two but three by three with the third member of the Godhead. It was great.
In the RC or Referral Center where people call in to request information about the church, Elder Brown has had some very successful phone calls. He had the chance to call back several people with me and talk to them. First we talk to two ladies named Polly and Debra. They sound like they have had a really hard life. The two of them are searching for truth and a very faithful people. We are trying to get the missionaries to them as fast as we can but in the mean time we we'll keep in touch with them and teach them the lesson over the phone. We also talked to a man named brain. He used to be baptize but after seeing his preacher cheat on his wife he knew his religion was not true. his wife has been reading the BofM and we are hoping the missionaries are going to get to them soon as well.
The Fourth of July is coming up next week. We are all crossing our finger that the president will change our schedule and we'll do something to celebrate our countries freedom.
Oh I forgot to talk about our English fast. So the morning was very quite. we all struggled to talk at all and to understand each other. I think how ever that we learned a lot. Be the afternoon we had resorted to English. We all agreed that the English fast helped a lot but that all day was too much. So to salve the problem we are going to take the several hours during different days to have English fast rather then all day. It helps a lot. Starting next week our classes will be in 100 percent Thai. I can't wait. :).
Last night during the hours that we had set a a side to not speak any English something occurred to me. I was understanding almost everything the teacher was saying. after looking up the word for finally. I told Brother Saakha, that I think I was finally understanding Thai. And I did it all in Thai.
I am also beginning to comprehend the Thai writings. I read out of the children's hymn book every day. Its fun and Connor I'll send you your name in Thai as soon as I can.

Ok got to go
I love you

Elder Brandon Holt
Searching in the Darkness for those who are lost