"I really am glad for this
chance to be thrown in with the native Spanish speakers. It’s going to happen at some point, and it
might as well happen now. I really have
thought—several times—that this is the place where I would most like to be
right now."
Aug-17-2011
Querida familia,
I’m in Guatemala!
The MTC (CCM) is great. I’m glad
I got to go to Provo, but I’m also really glad I get to be here. The trip down here wasn’t too crazy. We all survived! I’m not sure if I told you this but they fed
us breakfast and then had us go to bed.
Every 3 weeks new missionaries arrive at the MTC. The Latinos only stay 3 weeks and the people
from Provo –here referred to as Nortes -- stay for 6. So, approx. 25 new Nortes came with me, and
probably about 50 Latinos. Also in the CCM are about 35 Nortes who have
been here for about 4 weeks now.
Everyone has 2 companions: a Norte
and a Latino. 6 Norte Hermanas came – my
trio and a trio bound for Panama. My
companion is Hra. Wilkinson (going to Panama) from Vancouver, Washington. She’s pretty nice. I still get to see Hra Murray y Hra Neighbor
a lot. I miss them! Hra Wilkinson actually reminds me of myself
in quite a few ways. One time I stepped
out in the Hallway as she was coming out of the bathroom (we were facing each
other) and I thought I was looking in a mirror for a second. She is about my height. My companera Latina is Hra. Sanchez. She’s from Honduras. In my room there are 6—Hras. Periz,
Velasquez, Sanchez, Sierra, Wilkinson, y Tew.
Since
we don’t have General Authorities or other cool people immediately available
for devotionals, we watch videos of past MTC devotionals. Last night we watched Elder Holland from last
August. It was muy bien. He talked about how much he, the first
presidency, and the 12 apostles love missionaries. He told us this is a big job – a huge work –
and we need to take it seriously. He
told us we can have fun – most missionaries know how to have fun – he usually
doesn’t need to give classes on that.
Our
branch meets in a chapel that is kind of near the temple. There are two
branches –I’m in branch B! Our branch is
about half native and half Norte. They
do the same thing as Provo. Everyone
prepares a talk and then they announce the speakers during the meeting. So, I got to talk again! It was pouring rain through most of Sacrament
Meeting. The thunderstorms are fantastic.
Mom –
I’m teaching English. They use an ESL
program developed by BYU, and we work one-on-one with our Latina
companion. So that’s fun, I guess. I’ve only done it once. My companion told me that she took a test
entirely in English and got a 99 or a 100 on it, but she never actually spoke
English or learned to speak English. So
we started at the beginning of the book – a dialogue with the Bishop. All I have to do is say the words and let her
repeat them. Some rough ones: pleased and great. However, she got Bishop! That’s a hard one. Another one of my roommates, Hra Perez likes
to speak English, but she doesn’t know much.
Someone just taught her to say I have a cough. So, she said that a lot in a great
accent. Hra Sierra knows English really
well and she helps me think of words to say in Spanish.
Today
is clean your room, strip and remake your bed, clean your Aula (classroom)
write our letters, and go to the temple day.
It’s 10:30 and I have written our Elders in Provo, started a letter to
Katelyn Sneed, and this letter.
Hermanas
Neighbor and Murray (they are still companions) are in a different district, but we do
everything at the same time. During gym
I talk to them and at devotionals and other meetings. Hra Wilikinson and I have been contacting
people in the MTC. We contacted Hra
Neighbor and 2 latino Elders. That is
fun. But we need to do more of
that. We practiced teaching 2 elders
from our district as well.
I
only get mail on Thursday. I guess the
DE get here about a week after you send them?
I don’t know. But ya’ll should
write me! I hope to get some mail
tomorrow. They didn’t tell me until I
arrived that we only use pouch to send things out of Guatemala – you can’t send
things to Guatemala. I don’t understand
why. But that’s the way it is. It is so beautiful here! There are huge trees and the mountains are
covered with green and some houses. The
MTC has begonias, roses, cannas, hibiscus, impatiens, and hydrangeas? I have no idea. If you look at a picture of the CCM, my room
is on the third floor…the window furthest to the right. When I go down the stairs I see the
temple. The street we live on is very
busy. There was a big crash about an
hour ago. Also, at night we hear lots of
sirens. Every morning we have to make
our bed, and every 4th night, we clean the bathroom. We are busy.
On Sunday we had meetings including 2 video devotionals. For Sunday school we meet with a counselor in
the branch and he chooses someone to give the lesson, so once again, you and
your companion learn whether or not you’re teaching about 3 minutes before you
do. It’s good. For RS, you find out the day before if
and what you are teaching. Everyone here is pretty nice. I wish I could understand the Latinos
better. Hra Sanchez is seriously the
hardest person for me to understand. I
can understand everyone better than her.
But she is good to me. I know the
language will come eventually. I love
you all a lot. Thanks for your letters
and prayers and thoughts. [drawing of a heart]
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