This last week was crazy. I ate refried beans twice a day, since I´ve been here. The food is really good, and the water is safe to drink in the CCM. When I first got here, it was overwhelming. My teacher, Hermano De Santiago, would speak mostly Spanish and occasionally clarify with English. Most of the staff here can speak English. I really like Hermano De Santiago and my other teachers, Hermana Domiguez and Hermano Salvador. My Spanish has improved a lot, since I´ve been here. Though in my first lesson with the investigator, I told he could be forgiven for his fish instead of being forgiven for his sins. Pescado is fish and pecado is sin. Hermana Palmer, my companion, and I just said goodbye to our investigator. His name was Ricardo, and he was so faithful; I was really impressed with how readily he would commit to living the commandments. He is preparing to be baptized now, and he wants his girlfriend/fiancee to start taking lessons. It was kind of frustrating to try to teach him in Spanish, especially in the beginning, because I knew what he was saying, and I knew what I wanted to say, just not how to say it in Spanish. It turns out that he spoke better English than my teachers, and my teachers speak pretty good English.
Sorry if I say something weird or if anything is spelled wrong, I think in Spanglish now and nothing looks right since the computer is set up with a Spanish keyboard. Since I´ve been here, I´ve received confirmation after confirmation that this is where I need to be and I´m doing what I need to be doing. While it has been hard, I wouldn´t trade this experience for the world. The first time my district, the group of missionaries that I have classes with, prayed as a group, Elder Howell said the prayer in Spanish, and I felt the Spirit so strong. Last night, the Hermanas from the other district in my branch came into my classroom, and we all prayed together and shared our favorite scriptures. It was the strongest I´ve ever felt the Spirit here. Elder Marvyn B. Arnold came on Sunday and gave an amazing devotional. He talked about how to go home without regrets. I seriously teared up about 15 times, while he and his wife talked. I´ve actually been tearing up a lot here, basically whenever I feel the Spirit or recognize a tender mercy.
Everyone here is super happy though, even the janitors. They always smile and "Hola Hermanas!" when we walk by. My district is awesome. There are two hermana companionships and one elder companionship. The hermanas in the other companionship are Hermana Bates, Hermana Carter, and Hermana McDonald. The elders are Elder Howell and Elder Kesling. Elder Howell is the district leader, and so far he is doing a good job with that.
Today we went to the Visitors´ Center for the temple in here in Mexico City. It was so good. We watched a video about families, and it reminded me of how awesome my family is. Then we went to a little store close by, and I got a bigger messager bag for about $10 US Dollars. It´s pretty nice too. The first time I went to the store here at CCM to get tennis shoes because I left mine at home I almost had a heart attack because the shoes were $580, and I forgot that it was in pesos and not US Dollars.
It´s been hard but so amazing to be here. I still don´t fully believe it. I´ve met two people from my mission already here. I can´t wait to get out there and meet the people of Reynosa. I know it´s what I´m supposed to do. I know that the gospel is true, and it has truly blessed my life.
Until next week! I love all of you!
Hermana Stevenson
Sorry if I say something weird or if anything is spelled wrong, I think in Spanglish now and nothing looks right since the computer is set up with a Spanish keyboard. Since I´ve been here, I´ve received confirmation after confirmation that this is where I need to be and I´m doing what I need to be doing. While it has been hard, I wouldn´t trade this experience for the world. The first time my district, the group of missionaries that I have classes with, prayed as a group, Elder Howell said the prayer in Spanish, and I felt the Spirit so strong. Last night, the Hermanas from the other district in my branch came into my classroom, and we all prayed together and shared our favorite scriptures. It was the strongest I´ve ever felt the Spirit here. Elder Marvyn B. Arnold came on Sunday and gave an amazing devotional. He talked about how to go home without regrets. I seriously teared up about 15 times, while he and his wife talked. I´ve actually been tearing up a lot here, basically whenever I feel the Spirit or recognize a tender mercy.
Everyone here is super happy though, even the janitors. They always smile and "Hola Hermanas!" when we walk by. My district is awesome. There are two hermana companionships and one elder companionship. The hermanas in the other companionship are Hermana Bates, Hermana Carter, and Hermana McDonald. The elders are Elder Howell and Elder Kesling. Elder Howell is the district leader, and so far he is doing a good job with that.
Today we went to the Visitors´ Center for the temple in here in Mexico City. It was so good. We watched a video about families, and it reminded me of how awesome my family is. Then we went to a little store close by, and I got a bigger messager bag for about $10 US Dollars. It´s pretty nice too. The first time I went to the store here at CCM to get tennis shoes because I left mine at home I almost had a heart attack because the shoes were $580, and I forgot that it was in pesos and not US Dollars.
It´s been hard but so amazing to be here. I still don´t fully believe it. I´ve met two people from my mission already here. I can´t wait to get out there and meet the people of Reynosa. I know it´s what I´m supposed to do. I know that the gospel is true, and it has truly blessed my life.
Until next week! I love all of you!
Hermana Stevenson