So this week has been good! It has flown by and I can't believe I am sitting here writing another e-mail. Good news, I have a companion!! She isn't in my district which means the only time I really do anything with her is in the morning, nights, and our activities on P-day. She is a week behind me and leaves to the Peru MTC in 2 weeks. She is great though, she is 5 foot and her name is Hermana Lazalde, I love her! We have a lot in common, both went to BYU and are both lactose intolerant- we automatically bonded when we found that out haha. We room with 4 other Hermanas, two from the states with Spanish heritage, one from El Salvador and the other from Mexico, they are so funny. We have funny conversations which means we don't get to bed on time, so now that is our residence goal, to go to bed! My new class has been really good for me, I have been learning a lot and have been very humbled. There was at one time 12 elders in our district, and then me....haha that was great. Now there is only 9, and I teach with two Elders when we teach investigators everyday. It is a good learning experience. They are all jealous of my English-Spanish conversion chart in the hymn book Grandpa gave me, so thank you Grandpa!! Also since there are 9 Elders in our room, with very little AC, it doesn't smell the greatest, I have great smelling lotion and hand sanitizer that every time I get out they want to use it ahah. Bali Mango is now their favorite scent, they would probably deny it outside the classroom, but I think it is great. It has been fun to get to know them and help each other stay focused. We have been practicing the breathing exercises I used to do all the time at school and singing a lot to stay focused and not get stressed, it makes them laugh and helps us to chill and relax when we are tired and stressed so that has been nice! Spanish is hard but as one of the Hermanas in my branch, and my teacher told me it is more important to know the doctrine and learn what the investigator needs then worrying about what to say to them next in Spanish. If you study the word and study the basic vocab, you will be able to focus on the investigator and the Holy Ghost will let you know what needs to be said at the right time- so amazing! A lot of the missionaries here worry about knowing everything and knowing the language super well, but if you think about it, we have 18-24 months to work on the language and work on knowing as much as we can to help other people. That realization has helped a lot too. Hermana Edwards came in yesterday and I got to talk to her and her companions which was really fun, it is fun giving advice and help them feel more comfortable, I was so appreciative when I had that two weeks ago! I have met 3 sisters who are going to Alabama now, so It is fun knowing I will see them in a couple of weeks. I have been having a lot of fun with the missionaries in the branch and trying to get to know them, it makes being away from home easier, because we are trying to make this our temporary home, we have a lot of fun during meals and study breaks and gym. Next week is the 50th anniversary of the MTC, there are rumors (oh the rumors) going around about who is coming......most likely someone very very important so that will be great! We are all really excited for that Devotional. The devotional and firesides here are the best, 3,000 missionaries singing all together, the spirit is amazing! I love it! I hope everything is going well at home or wherever you are. I think about all of you often and hope things are going well. Also, one great thing about the MTC, there is Skor cake here, every time they serve it I eat it, my companion and I always talk about how we look forward to eating that cake. I also think I am going through some Cafe Rio withdrawals, I guess that is what happens when you eat it practically once a week for the last, I don't know how long.
I am so grateful to be on this mission, it was hard moving districts at first but I am growing to love my new companion and district and branch more and more. One thing I realized about the mission it that there is a lot of change, and one of the speakers last week said welcome change! Change is what makes you grow and if you look at it in a positive way it will be a lot easier. Plus change helps you meet more people and have more experiences and grow so much! I hope I can grow to love change more and more in the next 18 months because it will happen a lot. I am grateful for my experience here and all it does to help growth in the gospel and character! I love the Savior and everything he has done for all of us, we watched the testaments last Sunday and I started crying, I do that a lot here. But the movies and music help bring the spirit so much, it is great. The Savior can help us through anything, if we ask, and are humble he will be there through it all. Make it a great week, I love you all!
Hermana Coleman
No comments:
Post a Comment