I've arrived

Things They Don't Tell You You'll Sacrifice on the Mission:

-Your comfort zone. Okay. Maybe they warn you about this one a little bit, but they don't tell you that you'll have to teach a 56 year old man who has been living with his girlfriend for the past 8 years about the Law of Chastity... on an air plane... for 2 hours. By the way, that's how I started my mission in the field.

-Your tan lines. My feet are developing one of the most comical displays of bad tanning in the form of an awkward strap right across the top and my calves are beginning the awkward mid length skirt line. That'll be great.

-Your waist line. THE FOOD!! So. Good! My first meal. Empenadas. By the mountains! I can't even. Coree. Those will be at our bakery. But yeah, people just love to feed you. And they do. We also just had Dia de Espanidad. Which is basically a festival where people make the food of their home country and feed it to you. I don't know what Peru was doing, but it was a vat of purple goo and it tasted like Christmas :'} (the cinnamon part of Christmas).

- Your sense of humor. Seriously. Missionaries find the dumbest things hilarious! And you make Bible & Book of Mormon references like it's cool.

- Your cool factor. Whilst driving around, trying to find potentials and members, Hermana Hall (my new companera) compared each main battle in the Book of Mormon to the battle in Lord of the Rings.

- Your music. No Ben Howard or James Vincent McMorrow or Bon Iver. MoTab all day!! Woot woot! But I can't really say this one is a sacrifice. I truly have come to love hymns so deeply. Also! The Primary program was this Sunday and I must say, it's literally the same in every language. You have your cute kids, the ones that scream in the microphone, the ones that memorized all their lines, etc. And I still fight back tears when they sing, "I am a Child of God" or "Family Can Be Together Forever", and now, more than ever "Bring the World His Truth". SO powerful.

- Your fashion sense. I wake up in the morning and don't even think about if my shoes are going to match what I'm wearing :'{ Instead I think, "what will hide my obnoxious sweating in the freakishly hot and unexpected weather of California?"

- Your hair. I can't even remember the last time I got a good braid going -.-

- Your heart. Some days you come home and you feel one of the deepest kinds of sadness you'll ever feel in your life. You'll hear people life stories and how they don't have enough money to buy clothes or shoes, or enough food to feed their families, or even a home to go to at the end of the day. And you'll think about your bed, your clothes, your food, and how full your stomach was last night after 10 tacos and dessert... and you'll just feel horrible. And you begin to love people that you hardly know to the point that you would offer them the clothes off of your back in you could. And it gets even worse as you come to love these people and you want to help them so badly! And you KNOW the Gospel of Jesus Christ can help them more than anything, and they reject it. I couldn't have anticipated how sad this mission would make me feel until I actually got here and put my hands with my whole heart and soul into it.

 

But it's great. So much work. The people are great. My companion is great! She's from Idaho, (went to BYU-I.... Claro-.-). Also, She's Abby Erdelatz's doppelganger. Enserio. Same face. Different style of hair. But they both love dance and drama and music. It's scary. But so great :'}

 

Phrases of the Week:

Me: Getting married in the temple is like getting your bikes welded together. It's a tandem bike ride to the celestial kingdom.

 

Some Elder: What do you want to be when you grow up?

Me: It's a tie between being a mom and being happy.

Some Elder: Hmmmm.... tough choice.

New Address

California San Fernando Mission
Hermana Sarah E. LaBanc

 23504 Lyons Avenue, Suite 107
Santa Clarita, California 91321-2530

THE LAST WEEK!

Greetings :}

Well. It's finally that time.

LA ULTIMA SEMANA!!! THE LAST WEEK!

the hermanas in our district who left this week

 I finally understand "The days feel like weeks and the weeks feel like days."

But it's been a pretty tough week, in that we had to say goodbye to our teachers, Hermano Monroe and Hermana Camacho. We all shed a few tears, took some last minute awkward picture, shared words of wisdom and bid them farewell before they start back up at BYU. The greatest thing Hermano Monroe told me was, "It varies for everyone [how hard it will be after this], but you're one of those people who will always smile. Nothing will ever be too hard for someone like you." My favorite thing Hermana Camacho told me was "Growth should hurt a little, if not a lot." They were some of the greatest teachers I have had thus far. So much knowledge! And their testimonies are as solid as they come.

Other than that, the week was actually pretty great. We finished up teaching our "investigators", which went really well. Even though it's just us practicing our language and teaching skills, the feelings are so real and the Spirit is so strong at some parts that you forget it's just a person playing a role. I can't wait to go out and help real people with their problems.

the temple!

Let's see... we got to go to the temple today!!!! :DDD The Mexico City Temple is beautiful!! One of the coolest things is that the CCM is in the middle of what feels like the ghetto. Like, gunshots, cannons, car crashes, screeching dog fights, hundreds of houses stacked on top of each other... ghetto. And the temple is right in the middle of the city, so as you drive closer and closer to the temple you can watch as the humdrum of the world is at a constant, but the quality of the streets improves. The trees seems to be more green, there's less honking and yelling on the streets, it's just... great. I love that drive. Even if it is on a hot bus through crazy traffic and bumpy roads.

We also had some pretty legit devotionals this week. One was based around how we all spoke a universal language in Heaven and how we're here now teaching, and though we may not speak Spanish very well, we all have a vague knowledge of how it was before and when

The Elderes Casa Pet. Her name is Tiena LaFawn.
With her food. Which says "Feed me Twice a Day".
We also gave strict instructs to not feed her after
 midnight or give her baths ;}

we teach we're reminding others of how we once were and how we will forever be after this. Another one was on the Atonement of Jesus Christ and my take away from it was "The purpose of the gospel is to make bad men good, good men better and change human nature" David O. McKay. So good. I love that quote and the more people I meet the more I understand the truthfulness of it. Another devotional was by D. Todd Christofferson. My favorite thing he said was when he compared our missionary work with that of Paul and he said "If Paul could see us now he'd probably say 'You wimps! You have cellphones and the internet and cars and planes and trains. If I had had that I could have converted the world in 10 months!'" He went on with his thoughts and another thing I loved was when he said something along the lines of, God is so gracious to let us touch anything and help him in this work. This is the fine china. It's precious and pure and He's letting us put it in our hands and bring it unto others. So connect yourself to the Spirit. He will not let HIS work fall to the ground. Forget your words and use His. Testify in His name, siempre. Always. Lastly, we had a devotional by Elder Emr Villalabes. Adorable man. This thoughts were kind of everywhere, but some good ones were, "Everyone's life has a Zion's camp." Also,"God

in case you ever think Oki cars are beaters

didn't give us a Spirit of fear." I thought that was pretty solid. And "We are inviting and preparing teh people who will receive our Lord in His second Coming."That kinda hit me. People in the Bible and The Book of Mormon were prophesying hundreds of years before Christ's first coming, crying repentance unto the people like it was cool, and here I am. Relatively speaking, we're not very far from the second coming, and I'm number among those we are called to cry repentance and help other's be prepared. That's a pretty huge responsibility. But it's exactly how I want to be spending my time.

So my times almost up. Things are great. Having fun. 

Funny Phrases

Elder  Villalabes (in his adorably thick accent) "This teacher she had these little chocolates with two M's on them. Called something like M and M's. Do you know what those are?"

Hna B (sharing a story of how she scratched her name into someone else's car when she was 5) "She was pretty mad. Too bad HER name wasn't Emily."

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.