Letter #6 - "I'm Leaving For Chile on Monday!" 12.10.2014
My time in the CCM has come to a close. It was an absolute blast living in this little missionary community. I am so excited for you Jessica. Don't you even worry about anything in the CCM it is a great place, there is nothing to worry for here.
I leave the CCM on Monday at 4 pm. Then my flight to Santiago Chile is at 7 pm. I am not sure if I get to email you again before I leave.
Things stay the same for the most part in the CCM we just study Spanish and the Gospel of Jesus Christ all of the time. I believe that I have learned more here in 6 weeks than I did in 3 years of High School.
The Feeling Before Going into the Mission Field
Before I even knew it, my time was up here. Then the realization set in that no one will speak English to me anymore, which is a bit scary. But our Branch President talked to us on Sunday and just said don't worry about the field until you are there or you will be wasting time worrying instead of learning Spanish which will help you there. So that's what I've been doing. The only thing I am honestly worried about is packing without you all and without a luggage scale. But it'll all work out. I'm so happy that's my only worry right now.
This week we were studying teaching skills. Our teacher told each companionship to study different parts in Preach My Gospel. He told me and my companion to study Listening. I immediately became so so sad. Because it talks about how if you do not listen to the needs of the investigators then you can't be an effective teacher. The hardest part is understanding Spanish for me. I was sad because I realized that I can't listen to my investigator and see their needs when I can't understand what they are saying. I asked our teacher, Hermano Cardenas, "What can I do if I do not understand Spanish?" He said, "What happens in the story of David and Goliath?" I said, "David Beats Goliath." Then he said, "What is David's tool to beat Goliath?" I said, "His stones?"
Then he had me turn to 1 Samuel 17:45 which reads "Then said David to the Philistine Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield; but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied."
It was exactly what I needed to hear, because I am a representative of Jesus Christ. I can teach his Gospel in English, but he knew that I could do it in Spanish, too.
The same goes for you Jessica.
So, i guess I've been knocking on the door for all of our lessons in a way that is equivalent to flipping someone off in Latin culture.... so yeah I've been doing that everyday without knowing it. Glad our teacher finally told us though...
I got some of these little wonders here in the CCM and they are amazing you stick them over whatever verse it says to and then you can find that verse again. I know they sell them at deseret book. Jess i recommend them!
During gym time last week a few funny things happened. We were all in our gym clothes juggling a soccer ball together when a few elders in their missionary clothes were walking by and an elder in our group yelled Elders! and waved. Then I yelled LOOK ITS THE MISSIONARIES... so excited.
Sometimes we forget we are missionaries.
Then we played a game with juggling where after 5 hits you throw it at someone to get them out. An elder was walking by and hermana Jakob accidentally nailed him in the gut it was so funny. So much pain involved.
We played soccer and beach volleyball almost all morning today with our district. I'm trying to learn how to spike. My companion is giving me singing lessons because she is almost a professional I believe. I don't know if she can help my cause though. People have taught me all kind of skills here, like how to split an apple in half with my hands and how to make bird calls. It's quite the learning environment here.
We try to sit with the Latinas a lot. The other day they were talking with us and trying to teach us how to say peanut butter. The word starts with caca and Hermana Jakob said it so loud that all the Latins around looked at us, oh it was funny. I told them all of the different embarrassing things we've been doing in Spanish & they loved it. Especially the one when me and Hermana Jakob were singing a hymn and instead of saying pecados which is sin she belted out pescados. Its so fun to make these mistakes it is the best part of the CCM.
We had to say goodbye to the district who came a week before us in our zone this week. I'll send you a bunch of pictures of all of us. I love them so much. They are all serving in Mexico Cancun and Merida.
Kendra, I have an invention Idea for you make a clear sticker kind of thing for your scriptures that you can write on then one day you can take it off if you need . lol, or just use sticky notes.
I know I said I wouldn't do this but I am. I will translate though too. I want to see in the future how it's improved.
Mí testimonio es la razón yo estoy aquí. En el CCM yo crece mucho. Yo se que vive mí Señor. El Expiacion de Jesucristo tiene tres cosas que son muy importante para mí. Primero el poder a cambia personas. Segundo comfordado no se la palabra en español, pero esta ayuda me en mi vida mucho. Ultima El expiacion darme la abilidad a servir una mision en una differente Páis. Yo se que el Espiritu Santo es verdad. Yo siento le aquí cada dia. Yo se que soy representante de Jesucristo y que esta obra es la mas importante que otros en el mundo oy. Estoy muy agradecido por mí familia. Esta iglesia bendice las familias. En el nombre de Jesucristo Amen.
My testimony is the reason I am here. In the CCM I grew a lot. I know that Lord lives. The atonement of Jesus Christ has three thing that are very important for me. I know the grammer was wrong there but whateva. First the power to change people. Second comfort, I don't know the word in Spanish but this helps me in my life a lot. Last the atonement gives me the ability to serve a mission in a different country. I know the Holy Ghost is real. I feel it here every day. I know that I am a representative of Jesus Christ and this work is the most important that others in the world today. I am grateful for my family. This Church blesses families. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
The Spanish is a struggle but one day.
The next time I email you I may be in Chile. Scary stuff. Thank you family for fasting for me. Your support means the world to me and thank you for the letters. I will keep sending a bunch to you every p- day in hopes one will get to you. Oh, I did see the Christmas Devotional. I've never felt the spirit so strong at a Christmas Devotional in my life. I was wondering if you were all watching it.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY this past week Whitney!! I'm sorry i didn't tell you beforehand. Feliz cumpleaños a tí.
First of all... I'm going to follow up, because I learned to follow up this week.
For my family members, I want to receive an email telling which challenges of these you did
Kneeling for one prayer a day
Reading the introduction to Jesus the Christ, who is going to read it with me?
There were more but i don't have time to check what others let me know
This week will you all say one prayer together every night? I know it is a struggle but I'm checking up next week. if you can't keep my commitments then who will. lol guilt trip. Please pray for me to learn the scriptures better and to have a patient kind trainer who is a native.
This is what they say here when you sneeze it means health.
Scripture: Mosiah 2:21 in the Book of Mormon
Have a wonderful week. You're all in my prayers. Have a marvelous Christmas season!