WEEK 2: LIFE IS CRAZY (GOOD, BUSY...YOU NAME IT)

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HI FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!! 

Thank you for all of the emails, letters, and packages!! I was a little overwhelmed when I opened my inbox and I had 40+ emails, but I guess that is a good problem to have. I am going to share some tidbits from the week so stay tuned....

1. We have a LOT of class and studying....and it is AWESOME!!! We have 6 hours of class a day (spoken almost entirely in Thai), plus 5+ hours of other study time so we keep busy. Learning Thai is actually not really hard, but a little slow. Well, actually not that slow, it just feels slow because I have so much I want to say but my vocab limits me! We have taught many lessons in Thai and a LOT more are coming, and it is actually kind of amazing. Heavenly Father is most definitely helping us learn Thai because there is no way I could know as much as I do without Him right now. I just want to be fluent already because I don't want language to be the thing that prevents me from telling the entire world how AMAZING God is and to show them the ways He can bless their lives. I will get there eventually as I study diligently, but the wait is a little annoying sometimes. But I already am loving this beautiful language!!!

2. EXCITING NEWS!!!!!!!!! So they have a choir here that sings at devotionals, and it is huge - hundreds of people. I love singing in it! But I was also chosen to be a part of a special choir that will be singing for the dedication of the new MTC buildings here. It is around 20 to 30 people I think. It is such an AMAZING opportunity! There will be all sorts of general authorities here so I am super excited. Shout out to the Clarence High School Choral Department, a musical family, and Heavenly Father for blessing me with musical abilities that have prepared me for this awesome opportunity! 

3. PS we do more than just study! (sometimes, we even have fun *gasp*)  Four square is an essential part of any Showalter/Lahti family gathering. I have such great memories of playing four square with all of my cousins, the occasional uncle, and my siblings. So I was SUPER pumped to find out we can play four square here! But to my surprise they have some different rules here...like you have to let it bounce before you hit it. That threw me off a lot so I struggle a little (a lot) with that #prayforme We also play sand volleyball and that is SO much fun! I am not much of a volleyball player, but I have fun laughing around with my fellow Thai missionaries as we play together and relax a little between studying. I have SO much fun with the other missionaries going to Thailand! There are 12 of us: 4 girls, 8 guys. We have gotten really close as we spend a lot of time together, especially all the girls since we all live in the same room! We LOVE exercising together, laughing together, talking at night, snacking, going to class, going to the temple (temple=the best), etc....Life can be hard sometimes but we all struggle together which makes it better! We learned some funny Thai slang and have some funny inside jokes so life is great (just SUPER INSANELY busy). 

Being on a mission is the best. There is no greater honor than to serve as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I voluntarily gave up my phone, my car, my schooling (for 1.5 years), my family, my social life, my everything to be here with hundreds of other people my age who have made similar sacrifices. But the funny thing is it doesn't feel like a sacrifice at all. There is no place I would rather be and nothing I would rather be doing. I am so so so blessed every single day, and I know that Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ are literally with me every step of the way. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13). I have tried to follow the example of Jesus Christ and I have given up my former life so that I can devote 100% of my time to serving Him and the people of Thailand, who I will grow to love like family. AND IT IS THE BEST! Trust me. If you want to find similar joy in your life, develop a relationship with Jesus Christ and serve Him. That is how you find happiness, plain and simple. Any questions? Shoot me an email. I LOVE YOU ALL!

18 months doesn't seem like enough, so I have to make it count.

Sister Lahti

​​​​PS I clearly take no pics but I will try to get some from other missionaries!
Hmmm forgot what photos these are, but I know one is of my district plus one of my teachers (blonde in the middle), one is of a bunch of our tags in front of the temple, one is of a cute dog Sadie sent me (thanks for all for the package Aunt Shannon and for all of the awesome cards!!), one is of our Halloween decor (courtesy of Aunt Shannon who is the best)...







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