WE WENT TO THE TEMPLE THIS MORNING :) WE DIDN'T GET TO DO A SESSION BECAUSE IT IS BEING REMODELED, BUT WE GOT TO GO TO THE VISITORS CENTER AND ALL AROUND!
Wednesday:
Emailing home last week was super stressful. We hardly have anytime to read and send out emails, so i didn’t really get to read or respond to anyone! I am so sorry! But, Hermana Tolman and I think we have a better game plan for this week! Our first p day was so nice. WE played 2 rounds of speed with the elders... I won them both :) Then we played volleyball. No one know what they are doing and it is hard for me to watch! haha But, we actually got some rallies going and I blocked a few of the elders. Our lesson with Isaac later that day was by far the best one yet. I decided beforehand to have as much confidence in myself as possible. Even if i didn’t think I knew how to answer him in spanish I tried. I know that the Lord helped me. Also, we got him to commit to baptism!
Thursday:
On our way to lunch, Elder Jone (whose wife taught Griffin and went to high school with Necia’s kids) stopped Hermana Tolman and I to ask how we were doing. Hermana Tolman said that we were good, but, a little discouraged about the language. HE told us that when he was in the MTC he REALLY struggled learning Spanish, but, 3 months into his mission it all clicked and he excelled. He said while in the MTC he compared himself to everyone, which is exactly what we do, and it really got him down. He told us not to worry, we have only been here 2 weeks and that it may take time. He said, byt, we WILL learn in the Lords time. It reminded me of what you said mom! I am so grateful for people who act on the Holy Ghosts prompting! I am so grateful for his kind reassurance! Our lesson with Isaac went well on Thursday. On Wednesday he showed us an origami penguin his girlfriend made him. So, I made him an origami crane to give to his novia! hahaha Hermana Tolman and I thought it was pretty funny! Also, funny story! When we were in class later that night I was waiting for Hermana Tolman who was in the bathroom. 2 of the Latino elders were walking past and one of them stopped and said to me "you are so big!" hahahahah! I know that he meant “tall”, but still! WE were laughing so hard the rest of the night.
Friday:
I woke up and said to Hermana Tolman "This is gonna be a good day" and I was right! We had El Libro de Mormon study with Hermana Montoya to start off the day. Even if we are reading a verse that says "And it came to pass that the Nephites did pursue the Amilicites all that day, and did slay them with much slaughter, insomuch that there were slain of the Amlicites twelve thousand five hundred thirty and two souls; and there were slain of the Nephites five hundred sixty and two souls" she is able to draw the most beautiful connection to our lives and our mission! It really is amazing! haha! We also went outside to do our studying by a palm tree. There were these birds in there that were in a full on brawl. One if the elders ran over to break up the fight. But, one of the birds didn’t fly away. That is when we noticed that one of its wings had been skewered by a palm tree leaf! The elder had to grab the bird and slide the leaf off. Then it flew away! We are pretty sure that is died in the tropical wilderness of the CCM. Today we found out that Isaac (our fake investigator) is our new night teacher! Who better to help us become better missionaries that our first investigator! HE is a convert to the church, just got off his mission and is one of the SWEETEST people I have ever meet! HE told Hermana Tolman and I that he actually gave the crane to his girlfriend! hahaha! Funny story! During our companionship prayer on Friday I tried to pray for us to plan better, but, what I actually said was please help us to plan women!!!
Saturday:
I was SO tired! I could not physically walk faster than a snail! But, it was still a fantastic day! I really feel like I learned a lot. Things are starting to click! We had a sub for our night class and he was AWESOME! I have never meet anyone so funny, such a good teacher and so filled with the spirit. First, he taught stress management; a MUCH needed lesson! Hermana Tolman and I both stress out WAY toooo much! The problem is that when both of us are stressing out so much that there is no one to calm us down! haha! We watched a video about stress and uncle LYLE was on the video!! haha! Then we went over language. He taught with such gusto, I was awake and ready to learn the entire time! At the end of class he bore his testimony and I started to tear up! this point really stuck out to me... "It is impossible to learn a language in 6 weeks and that is not why you are here. You are here to receive the gift of tongues"
Sunday:
You are constantly surrounded by the Spirit here that you kinda become numb to it if that makes sense. Then sunday rolls around and it hits you HARD! We had the most amazing devotional tonight! By far my favorite talk ever given! It was from Elder Bednar 3 years ago on Christmas day. He talked about the character of Christ, turning outward when the natural man would turn in. I am not even gonna try to tell you about it because there is no possible way to do it justice. So, just try to look it up. But I know that if I am able to take on the characteristics of Christ, and turn outward instead of in, that I will be able to grow as a missionary. It is important to study the language and know the doctrine, but, trying to become like Christ and have him in your countenance is the most important thing I can do as a missionary. Just when I made the goal to turn outward when the natural man inside of me wants to turn in, I got sick. They have told us there is a virus going around and I got it :( It is hard to serve and do all you can for others when you are sick, because you just want to help yourself. Elder BEdnar gave the example of Christ atoning for our sins. 3 of his apostles fell asleep , 1 betrayed him, he bleed from every pore! Yet, when one of the men who came to take him had his ear cut off by Peter, Christ took the time to heal him. He turned out when he had every right to turn in.
After the devotional it started to rain something fierce! I know that I have told you about the rain before, but times what I told you by 10! I have never experienced anything like it! Even with our umbrellas and rain coats we were SOAKED! We had to go back to class and by the time we got there, we looked like we had just gotten out of the shower! The rain had soaked all the way through the elders suit coats, white shirts and ruined a few ties!
Monday:
Today we taught our new investigator who is our morning teacher. Her name is Violeta. Hermana Tolman and I made a goal to only take a few notes in English. Other than that, we just tried to speak in espanol. Without reading anything, I think we did pretty darn well. There were a few times when I was a little lost and I took a while to answer, but it was a huge step forward from just reading a script that we tool straight out of our books.
Tuesday:
We were sitting in class when we noticed that one of the elders was gone. We walked outside to find him tending to a bird had slammed into the door. The birds here are cray cray! IT was laying there panting and looking like it was gonna die any second. The same elder who saved the bird earlier in the week picked him up. We decided to name him Xavier and Then we all started to pet him! Probably not the best idea to pet a wild bird, but it was SO much fun! We tried to nurse him back to health and then took him out to the field by our classroom. We checked on him throughout the day because he couldn’t fly.
Random Stuff:
My district is great! I love the Hermanas, especially Hermana Powell! We have grown super close! All of the elders in our district are going to Chile and the Hermanas are going to Virginia. So, I am the odd duck in the group! Hermana Tolman is driving me crazy during workouts! We have been using those spin bikes and she thinks that she is our instructor - haha! She yells "push it ladies" an d "feel the burn" We were doing an ab workout as well and she seriously taught us how to do a crunch! I HAVE NEVER DONE A CRUNCH CORRECTLY BEFORE!!! Also, I told you about my new found love for mangos last week. But, they are so hard to eat! I was eating one at lunch the ohter day and I had to use about 10 napkins to clean up the mess! I saw a latino woman and she only needed 1 napkin for 2 mangoes! So, my goals while in the MTC are to 1. Develop the character of Christ and 2. Eat a mango like a latino :)
In almost every devotional the idea of Christ strengthening us has been addressed. Philippines 4:13, Alma 26:12 Mosiah 24:14 and 15. These are all AMAZING scriptures! I have been gone 2 weeks already! That means I am one third done with my time in the MTC! When i am done with the MTC I will be one eighteenth done with my mission! The time is going by TOO fast! I hope and pray I am making the most of it. I can already see myself changing for the better and I cant wait to teach others! I never thought I would be able to gain enough confidence to teach others in english, let alone Spanish! But, I am already growing and being strengthened to do so. I KNOW the book of mormon is the word of God! I KNOW that through the power and help of God, Joseph Smith translated it. I KNOW that if I live by its teaching I can return to live with my father in HEaven and spend eternity with my family!
I LOVE YOU GUYS MORE THAN I LOVE PAUL MILLSAP! I miss you, but, no offense, I would rather miss you guys and be a missionary that be with you and not get this opportunity!
Love,
Lennon!!!
p.sp sorry fo rall the spelling mistakes! I am so rushed :)
Here are more pics from the week:
1. Bus ride to temple.
2. Sunset.
3. Mexico City street life.
4. Everything is in bloom.
5. Time to be homesick, but I'm not :)
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