Hello Family! - First email from Provo MTC

Hello, everyone! Or should I say Sawadhii Kha!

This week has been crazy.  Like literally insane.  The days feel like years and I feel like I've been here for an eternity already! Ah well.  So, what's first? (I made a list so I wouldn't forget. :)

-Language!-  It's crazy.  We already know so much! I think we are even learning script within the next week or so! I'm excited about it, mainly because we have so many materials they gave us that are only in script.  We literally received so many books! And they're expensive (and heavy)!  We got brand new scriptures in Thai so I'm glad to get to be able to actually read them and find certain books/chapters/verses without having to count pages!

   We already know how to pray, bear testimony, extend and make promises about commitments, and follow up on commitments.  That's the basic run down of what we have learned, but really it is amazing to see what we have learned in this week alone!  We are learning script super soon!

- Happy Father's Day! Sunday was kind of an emotional day.  All the Phii Thai Sisters (the ones who have been here almost the entire 9 weeks! They have 12 more days left and get their travel plans within a week!) kept telling us to just make it to Sunday and it would all be okay.  I guess I didn't realize how hard the days leading up to Sunday had been until Sunday came!  It was amazing to hear all the answers to my prayers and consolation for my fears in those meetings.  We pretty much just cried.  A lot.  Not because we are homesick, although being Father's Day and not even remembering until we went on the lds.org website to watch a few Mormon Messages videos (I highly suggest one called Earthly Father, Heavenly Father. That one got me!) , but probably because we were so thankful for the spiritual upliftment after an extremely hard couple days.  Also, I know for me at least that because I didn't cry when I was stressed, I cried a ton when I was happy.  If that makes sense. :)  Anyways, Happy Father's day to everyone!

- We taught our investigators starting Friday and we have taught 4 time total.  All in Thai! IT'S CRAZY!  We have just learned to strive to invite the spirit and we know that as long as the Holy Ghost is there, even if all our words are pronounced wrong,  Nike (our investigator) will know the truth of the mangled Thai words we speak. :)

- There is a worldwide missionary broadcast on Sunday that a ton of missionaries are singing in!  You should all watch it and maybe I'll get some FaceTime!  If I'm lucky I won't...but I know y'all would love to see me! :)

- One thing I learned this past week:  The importance of the missionary badge.  It doesn't have my first name on it, it has Christ's name on it.  This is His church and His work.  Every day I put on His name on my shoulder, and I promise to do my best to be a disciple of Him.  Additionally, He is always there with me.  He is my first companion.  His name is born on my shoulder, it is always in front of me and there are no paths that I walk without Him being there first.  :)

- My companion is Sister Bentley and she's from Kaysvile.  I think I wrote more about her in the letter i already sent, but I honestly can't remember.  So if you have any questions about her just ask!

- Also, please write me letters! I only get emails once a week, but paper mail and DearElder Letters are given to us daily. :)

Well my time is almost up, but I promise to be more organized next week!

Love you all,

Sister Norrell

P.s.  We are trying to figure out how to upload pictures, so you might get some and you might not. :)

NOTE from Mom:  To send letters to Amber via DearElder is free while she is at the MTC and the delivery is quick!  Once she goes to Thailand there is a small fee. 

Here is Amber's address at the Provo MTC  (and where she will be until Aug 14, 2013)

Sister Amber Ruth Norrell
AUG14 THAI-BAN
2009 N 900 E Unit 132
Provo UT 84602

Here is the address of the mission home in Thailand -

Sister Amber Ruth Norrell
Thailand Bangkok Mission
1645/6 New Phetchburi Road
Makkasan, Ratchathewi
Bangkok 10400
THAILAND