week 4

(Coree's taken over blog management duties, heads up...)

So Mexico. It's still an adventure. I can't believe I'm almost down to the last week here!!! LOCO! But I still love it and am trying to make the best of every minute I have. That being said, here are some of the Accomplishments of The Week:

- Districto Prancercising. Yes. Enserio. It occurred. Now, you may be asking, "Hermana LaBanc! How did you do it?!" The answer. I have no idea. But ALL of the Elders participated! 

District prancersizing!

- Dominating at volleyball. I must say. If business, teaching, becoming a vagabond, or the president 'fall through, professional volleyball player is in my future. Consider it official.

- Consuming copious amounts of tienda icecream. I regret nothing.

- Being assigned last minute to teach a lesson in Districto Sunday School and  finding a way to relate Alma 2 to setting goals on our missions. How do I do it? No se. (I do not know)

- Dancing in the rain with Hermana Phipps. It pours here randomly, so when it was on our P day, we made an event of it :}

- Waking up at 5:30am with Hermana Taylor to go running everyday!

- Cutting Hermana Blankinships bangs. Like the boss that I am

Anyways. The weeks are going so fast! But I love it here. We're learning so much from our teachers, especially the Spirit. I can't believe how present it is here in almost everything we do! And during lessons, it's incredible. You can literally be sitting with an investigator"and have no idea what to say next and just as if someone was sitting behind you, you can hear exactly what you need to say next to help your investigator!

ice cream.  lots and lots of ice cream.

Or, earlier this week I was at one of the devotionals by Elder Anderson of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles and I had this immediate prompting that I needed to share Alma 5 with one of our investigator, so I wrote it on my hand, and not even 10 mins later, Elder Anderson quoted like 5 versus from Alma 5! So many little promptings like that! It's amazing how much Heavenly Father is helping His missionaries, particularly though the Spirit in order to bring His children closer to Him. I love this work. Every minute of it is worth it. Even when it's hard and stressful and discouraging, the proceeding moments after those feelings are always accompanied by the love of God surrounding you and baring you up, telling you that you can do all the things which He has commanded and He will never make you do it alone. That's also one of the greatest feelings. You are, literally, never alone. I thought that would drive me crazy, but not for a moment. It's the greatest comfort, and a testimony to me that we were never meant to do this whole life thing by ourselves. Thank goodness!!

cutting Hermana Blankinship's bangs

So yeah. So good. I love it. Also!! Reading the scriptures here is so powerful! So many things are making sense and I'm making connections I've never made before and receive so much personal revelation about the things I need to know for our lessons and just for things I, personally needed to hear. New favorite Book of Mormon story, The record of Zeniff!! How he was a boss,but had a rotten kid, King Noah, who ruined everything Zeniff established by making it wicked, then Abinadi teaching King Noah and only Alma believing, then Abinadi being killed and Alma having to flee with those that believed what he taught, then the Lamanites coming to destroy the kingdom (as the wicked priests escape) but King Noahs awesome son Limhi saving the day be talking them out of it (although they got put in bondage instead), but then Alma and his people returning to the kingdom, baptizing Limhi (the son of the man who tried to kill him!!) and bring the entire city out of bondage and restoring righteousness!!! HOW IS THIS NOT A TV SERIES!! This is like the biblical version of Downton Abbey!!!

Yep. That's my rant for the week :}

week 3- Halfway in the CCM!

 Sarah's latest letter and photos posted by her Mom...

HALF WAY IN THE CCM!

I can't believe it! The phrase around here is "The weeks feel like days and the days feel like weeks." The longer you're here, the most truth there is to that.

So this week was the week of projects.

it's Ron Weasley!!

Project 1: Make a class pet. Then make a family for that pet. Then make a basket for the pet. Then make a hot air balloon to attach to the basket that we put the pet in so he could travel the world and preach the gospel to other class pets. Our class pet's name is Tiny Tim. He has a loving mother named Lafónda and a father named Chuck. Best use of additional study time

Project 2: Take pictures of the Harry Potter cast. Ronald Weasly was first on the list. *Picture attached below. That was an... interesting event. We stalked him though the line in the store and I eventually got up the nerve to ask him. ïs this because I look like Ron Weasley?"He asked. "Would it change your answer?"I inquired... "No.".... "This yes. That is exactly why I am asking for your  picture". The Harry Potter picture was of even greater awkwardness. You see. This élder is one of the more (most) popular because he was the star quarterback for BYU and is just the nicest guys ever so every girl wants a picture with him. So to avoid looking like I groupie we had to explain why we needed a picture with him.... We've come to find that telling people that you've cast the entire Harry Potter cast at the CCM and are now seeking pictures with all of them doesn't make you sound any less creepy. Nonetheless, WE ARE DETERMINED!

Project 3: Combat the eminent fate of weight gain. Prancercise classes are conducted daily from 11:45 to 12:30 by Hermana LaBanc. Changing lives while sculpting thighs. 

Project 4: Learn dat Espanol!!! We're crackin down on that gramatica like nobodies business. We have 3 hours of grammar lessons everyday, we plan lessons (in Spanish), we teach an investigator"for 20-40 mins entirely in Spanish every day, and teach real church members for 20-30 mins twice a week... and our teachers speak entirely in Spanish 24/7. It's intense.

Project 5: Become Spiritual Giants of the Gospel. This week we had some AMAZING devotionals. We watched a rebroadcast from Elder and Sister Bednar. Favorite quotes: "You're taking a spiritual casserole to the world"-Sis. Bednar; "We don't just sit down in a room before conference and say 'Ok, Elder Bednar and Elder Scott, you both talk about Testimony and Conversion..... and Elder Holland, light it up." But in general, Elder Bednar spoke about looking at doctrine and principles and apply them to our lives. (Totes saw Nick Clawson in the MTC choir!) Then we had another devotional by the Area President and his wife. Sister Johnson gave the sweetest talk and said "We all miss home. Because this isn't our home. Many people are far away from our Father in Heaven and you have the opportunity to show them that they don't have to be." That hit me so hard. I'm not one to get homesick but in that instance, I missed my Father  in Heaven so much and I can't wait for that reunion, but I also thought about all those who don't know they have someone waiting for them up there, and He wants them to live with Him again. President Johnson continued on that note and talked about our relationship with Heavenly Father. it really hadn't occurred to me that people don't consider God to be our Heavenly Father who loves us so dearly. We know that. We know that he hears us and wants to help us because he KNOWS us. He understands everything we feel and think and want to do but can't. Pres. Johnson then urged us, if we hadn't already to solidify our testimony of our Heavenly Father by truly talking to him and asking a few questions.
1. Are you really there?

2. Do you have a body of flesh and bone?

3. Do you know me?

4. Can you hear me?

5. Do you really love me?

It makes my soul tremble to think that I know the answers to these questions and I feel them in my bones when I pray and plead with my Heavenly Father, but so many people don't.

Being here opens your eyes so much to what you know and how indescribably happy it makes you, and the need there is to share it with others so they can have the opportunity to feel it too.

Running out of time so.

 

Phrases of the week"

Hna Phipps: Should I turn the alarm on loud or soft?

Me: It doesn't matter. It sounds like Satan punching me in the face either way.

Me (whilst praying): Please bless us with letters... whether they be from family... or strangers. We give you total creative liberties on Your answering.

Soul Touching Hymns:

Jesus Once of Humble Birth. I can't even!

I love the Lord (BYU Mens Choir) GO. LISTEN!

Week Two

We had the most amazing devotionals this week. One was on prayer, given by Elder Richard G. Scott. My favorite line was "To reach goals never before obtained, we must do things we've never before done."Additionally, he just encouraged us to communicate with our Father in Heaven. Have open conversations, interviews, times when you just pour out your feelings and thoughts freely, take all the time you need, and take time to listen. And realize that you can ask Him for anything. He'll always answer. Sometime with that calm reassurance that tell you yes. Sometimes with that stupor of thought that tells you no. But other times He waits... and waits... and waits. But it's always in wisdom. Sometimes, you're not ready for the answer, sometimes He's testing your, and sometimes you need to grow in your faith or patience or whatever else you need. EVERYTHING God does for us if for out ETERNAL benefit. That really stuck with me and changed my perspective about my relationship with Him. Afterwards, we sat down with our district and came to the conclusion that in some way, a point of Elder Scotts talk was a direct answer to our personal prayers.

We also had an awesome lesson in Sunday School. I learned that I need to more frequently ponder 2 questions: "What shall I (the Lord) prepare for you?"and "what shall I prepare you for?" In addition, someone made the proposition ïf you're seeing more weakness in yourself, maybe you're moving closer to god, and not farther from Him."Just think about that. In another devotional by M. Russell Ballard from Feb 26, 2012, he told us that we don't go to the MTC to learn the gospel. We already know the gospel, we're here to focus our efforts from preparing ourselves to preparing other's to come closer to Christ. Another thought/ idea that struck me was the line "You turned your life into God's hands"... think about that too. He also urged us to Ïgnite the reality with you that He lives, He breathes, He loves you... testify of it"! That was so powerful to me. I can't believe how lucky I am to be here. To have this opportunity and to walk with close to Christ. It's incredible. I know that the personal refining the Lord is beginning with me is a work that will bless my future family and life so greatly. And I've come to a greater appreciation for learning Spanish and the opportunity I have to be stripped of my eloquence and forced to fill whatever gaps I have with the Spirit. And trust me. There are a TON of gaps! I know that if it wasn't for the help of Christ and the Spirit, I wouldn't know half as much as I do!

So yeah. It's good. it's great. Challenging. Fun. Uplifting. Lots of feels.

PS. The Hermanas and Elders in our district are being overtaken with disease one...by...one. I have viable confidence that my years of cultivating my superior immune system will prove beneficial when I escape this plague. Wish me success!!

And so it begins...News from the Mexico MTC !! Mailing address corrected (send letters here until September 5 )

And so it begins. After 20 hours of travel (with no music or inflight movies mind you) from Okinawa to México City, I finally made it to the CCM (The Centre Capcitation Misional). It's so beautiful here! There's hills on either side with colourful house stacked half way up and at night they each have little lights sprinkled across. Anyways. I have my first companera! Her names Hermana Blankinship and she. is. amazing! We were made for eachother :´}
She's crazy and hyper and loves being here (as long as she can have her bread). Sidenote: Méxican bread. Yeah. It's a thing. An amazing thing. I also have two other casa campanera's, Hermana Phipps and Hermana Taylor. All of them are from Utah by the way. So that's always great when we introduce ourselves to new people and announce where we're from ;} But these Hermana´s are so amazing. So strong and wonderful to be around. And we all mesh perfectly. All day we find countless things to laugh about. But I can't say it's all laughing and joy and happiness. A lot of the times it is, I guess, but it is hard. It's overwhelming. And there's these moments when you look at your spanish books or listen to your teacher (who is only allowed to speak in spanish) or you're teaching your "investigator" (who doesn´t even know english) and you think.... this is a lot. You think, I'm not sure I can endure this for a year and a half more. But you know what, never before have I felt so humbled and so relient on Christ. It seems that every minute you're pleading for more help and understanding and patience. You deffinitely learn by fire here, but it's the greatest feeling. And I deffinitely have begun learning exactly how powerful prayer is. If you ask, you will receive.

So after 3 days of learning spanish, you're put with an "investigator" who only speaks spanish. You have to get to know them and teach them about the gospel.... for half an hour. After 3 days of spanish, I talked with a man about his family and his job and taught him how to pray and who Christ was, for half and hour. Entirely in spanish. I didn't do that. I read about the gift of tongues and the interpretation of tongues but I never KNEW it was real until I did that. And each day after that we continued to teach him and we taught him about the restoration of the Gospel of Christ and about the Atonement and repentance... all in spanish!! My companion and I walk out mezmorized.

Being here is like nothing else. I mean you have a companion that goes with you everywhere and you're always working with another person, but you also have the companionship of the Holy Ghost with you all the time. There's nothing to drive it away. No music. No television. No harsh language. No immodest clothing. No internet (other than email once a week). No world books or advertisements or anything. People walk around singing hymns or they sit out in the courtyard reading thier scriputres. You walk past these groves of trees and you see élders or Hermanas kneeling in prayer together. Where else in the world can you get 18-21 year old kids to do that?

It's incredible. I have such a testimony of the power of the Gospel and what it can do to people if they're willing to put forth the effort.

Anyways. Yes. It's unbelievable. I love it. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world.