The good
The bad
The awkward
The awesome
So this is the second full week down in the CCM, with three more to go. I dont really know my emotions are with learning a new language. One minute I am bored staring at dictionaries and Spanish homework and the next I have a epiphany and completely understand a concept of the Spanish language.
One miracle I witnessed this week was the power of the priesthood. Sunday morning Hermana Marlowe, another sister in District 13A, woke up with a sickness I have never seen before. She was shaking, sweating, crying, and her tongue was black! We ran to the classroom to find our zone leaders and they quickly rushed back to our casa to help. Elder Kimball and Sok gave her the most beautiful blessing I have ever heard. Before it began I looked at the two 18 year old boys. However, they did not look like little boys, they were righteous elders who hold the priesthood. I started to cry thinking about my own brother who soon will be on a mission. He will be doing the same work, blessing not only the lives of his investigators, but everyone he comes in contact with whether it is in Sweden, Provo, or even in the airport.
That night we watched a devotional given by Elder David A. Bednar. He talked about Christ like attributes. He talked about the natural man and how we as mortals naturally want everything to work out in our favor. Reading Mosiah 3:19, he compared the natural man to the cookie monster. "I want cookies NOW!" And then recalling the night of before the crucifixion, he pointed out that there were so many times that Christ could have felt bad for himself, but instead he turned outward to help others rather than focusing on himself. (Mathew 4:2-12) In order to becore more like Christ, we must loose ourselves in the service of others, and that is when we will find the best versions of ourselves.
Also, he taught that gaining a testimony is not a final destination. We must be working constantly on conversion. Our first convert should be ourselves on our missions.
We went to the temple this morning, and although we couldnt go inside, the spirit was so powerful. We took a tour of the visitors center and got to watch a video about the importance of families (The same one my family and I watched in Independence, Missouri right before I left for Mexico.) It is so comforting to know that wherever I am in the world that the gospel is the same. The Church of Jesus Christ is not a new faith started in the United States. It is the restored gospel that Jesus Christ established when he was on the earth. I am so grateful to be apart of it and have the opportunity to share it with others.
Enjoy the fireworks for me! barbecue some ribs and eat some watermelon for me. I will be dressed in stars and stripes tomorrow.
Con amor,
Hermana Hemmingsen.
- The doors to the classroom are open all day, everyday and there are no bugs. getting some of that sweet mexico air
- We have taught 10 lessons in Spanish and feel confident with speaking.
- One of the elders in my district has the voice of an angel. Its like having our own little personal radio.
- Sunday Devotional (see below)
The bad
- The Mexico City Temple is closed for construction. NOO!
- Everyone in the CCM is getting a intestinal virus, but I have stayed strong so far.
- I liked the rain at first, but walking in small rivers at night is no bueno.
- They dont have any gluten free food here besides fruit. I am sick of it.
- Missing my beautiful moms birthday.
- Realizing that I wont be in The States to celebrate my favorite holiday. I LOVE THE FORTH OF JULY. Merica.
- Shoutout to the Webb side of the family. I wish I could be there at the family reunion with all of you. Take pictures of my dad synchronize-swimming, ok? Ride ATVs and paintball for me. I love you all so much.
The awkward
- Getting smacked in the face with a volleyball during an intense game.
- Playing sand volleyball ankle deep in water.
- The elders talking for 1.5 hours about how much they miss American food.
- Instead of bells on Catholic churches here, they have canons. So Sunday Hermana Rupp and I thought we were in a war zone.
- Realizing that I told everyone my email was [email protected] when it is REALLY [email protected]
- We arent allowed to shake hands because of the virus so we just touch elbows.
The awesome
- Watching the talk by Elder Bednar given to the Provo MTC a few Christmases ago. It was on Christlike attributes. I want to be a better sister, daughter, friend, cousin, neighbor, missionary, person because of it.
- Watching Because of Him in class. (https://www.lds.org/youth/video/because-of-him?lang=eng)
- Watching Mountains to Climb. We can do all things through Christ. (https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2013-01-003-mountains-to-climb)
- Witnessing the power of the Priesthood. (see below)
- Our first investigator is now our Spanish teacher!
- and Sundays.
So this is the second full week down in the CCM, with three more to go. I dont really know my emotions are with learning a new language. One minute I am bored staring at dictionaries and Spanish homework and the next I have a epiphany and completely understand a concept of the Spanish language.
One miracle I witnessed this week was the power of the priesthood. Sunday morning Hermana Marlowe, another sister in District 13A, woke up with a sickness I have never seen before. She was shaking, sweating, crying, and her tongue was black! We ran to the classroom to find our zone leaders and they quickly rushed back to our casa to help. Elder Kimball and Sok gave her the most beautiful blessing I have ever heard. Before it began I looked at the two 18 year old boys. However, they did not look like little boys, they were righteous elders who hold the priesthood. I started to cry thinking about my own brother who soon will be on a mission. He will be doing the same work, blessing not only the lives of his investigators, but everyone he comes in contact with whether it is in Sweden, Provo, or even in the airport.
That night we watched a devotional given by Elder David A. Bednar. He talked about Christ like attributes. He talked about the natural man and how we as mortals naturally want everything to work out in our favor. Reading Mosiah 3:19, he compared the natural man to the cookie monster. "I want cookies NOW!" And then recalling the night of before the crucifixion, he pointed out that there were so many times that Christ could have felt bad for himself, but instead he turned outward to help others rather than focusing on himself. (Mathew 4:2-12) In order to becore more like Christ, we must loose ourselves in the service of others, and that is when we will find the best versions of ourselves.
Also, he taught that gaining a testimony is not a final destination. We must be working constantly on conversion. Our first convert should be ourselves on our missions.
We went to the temple this morning, and although we couldnt go inside, the spirit was so powerful. We took a tour of the visitors center and got to watch a video about the importance of families (The same one my family and I watched in Independence, Missouri right before I left for Mexico.) It is so comforting to know that wherever I am in the world that the gospel is the same. The Church of Jesus Christ is not a new faith started in the United States. It is the restored gospel that Jesus Christ established when he was on the earth. I am so grateful to be apart of it and have the opportunity to share it with others.
Enjoy the fireworks for me! barbecue some ribs and eat some watermelon for me. I will be dressed in stars and stripes tomorrow.
Con amor,
Hermana Hemmingsen.
hermana Rupp, Marlowe, and Fitzgerald in front of the Mexico City Temple.