I would say these two weeks have flown by, but I'm not gonna lie I feel like I've already been here for years at times! I've just done so much, and learned so much it seems crazy to think I was just at home two weeks ago. Its like I'm in this crazy time-warp here. Sometimes it seems never ending and then other times it really does go by fast. Ha but overall I really do love it here. And it helps that I have such an amazing district.
At the beginning of this week, on Monday, was my compañera's birthday! So as a district we had planned a surprise party for her on Sunday, after dinner our Branch President was going to bring by a cake. And it was my job to get her out of our class room for about twenty minutes. So I came up with the excuse that I forgot my "quote book" because our district leader had asked me to give a devotional later that night. (Brilliant I know...or so I thought) So we leave the classroom, and I tried to be as sneaky as I could, I even asked if we could take the long way so we could see some new sights....So right as we are about to go back into the classroom I got so giddy I'm sure my Hermana Davidson thought I was nuts, and I'm sure I was giving her the weirdest smile. We open the door and all of the Elders are just sitting in there studying. I thought to myself that they were the worst at surprise parties! Then Elder Clarke (our district leader) asks me if I can talk with him in the hall. He then tells me that they decided to not have the party that night since its was fast Sunday, and that we were going to do it Monday. Oh. I was so mad. haha not really, but I was just like, "Really? Why couldn't you have told me that earlier!?" haha So I felt like a jerk since the whole day since I acted like it was no big deal that it was her birthday. But the next day we ended up having her surprise party, which meant I had to keep the secret for another whole day! It was hard for me. So it all worked out. But the best part about this story was that because of my "excuse" to go get my quote book, Elder Clarke REALLY made me give a 15 min. devotional to the whole district so Hermana Davidson wouldn't get suspicious... so that was great.
But real talk. I do love my district. We are all super close, and we laugh ALL the time. Sometimes we get in trouble;) I am so grateful for them. They make this experience that much better for me. As a district we made the goal to try to finish the Book of Mormon before we leave, and I'm already half way through. Its been the fastest I have ever been able to read the Book of Mormon, and I'm loving every second of it, I can't put it down! My district makes fun of me because I just zone out and get so into reading that they have to yell at me to tell me to stop! I know without a doubt that the Book of Mormon is true. I have found out for myself, and it is my most favorite thing to read!
So just something I thought I would share... here in Mexico City, it is predominately catholic. Which means they celebrate the Day of the Saints. Which is when they dedicate a day to the Saints in their church. And by doing so they like to light, what I guess you can call fireworks, in honor of them. Which is great. But the only problem is because they have so many Saints... EVERYDAY sounds like we are being bombed! Sometimes I feel like I'm constantly on edge here, at least 3 times a day we hear this super loud BOOM! And without fail it scares me every time. I just know that by accident its going to make me say something that I really shouldn't.... so far I've been good though;)
But on a good note my Spanish is coming along! Not as fast as I would like it, but I just have to keep reminding myself that I've only been here for two weeks. One thing that I keep messing up on is the word "Pecado" which means "sin". So naturally I keep saying "Pescado" which means fish. Definitely not the same thing.
Its kind of a confidence-booster to see all of the "newbies" coming in on Wednesdays. And we get to pretend to be the wise mature missionaries and assure them that this place is great:) This last week I saw a familiar face and I just screamed! It was a girl who I used to coach at Timp View! So that just made me feel even more old. But it was good seeing someone I knew! When I was coaching her I remember she wanted to go on a mission right when she graduated, and she was called to Florida and came here to the Mexico CCM.
This last week has definitely been an emotional roller-coaster for me. I've experienced such spiritual highs, and heard such amazing devotionals! One was from Elder Richard G. Scott, who talked about our communication with God. And how amazing that is! We all get to talk to our Heavenly Father and he WANTS to hear from us! And how prayer is a supernal gift, and we should treat it as such. A supreme being loves us perfectly. Perfectly. And never abandons us. I know He loves us. And that he wants to hear from us!!
"The object of prayer is not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves and for others the blessings that God is already willing to grant but that are made conditional on our asking for them." (Bible Dictionary: Prayer) Just ask! And if you have perfect faith He will bless us with it! Pray always!! God is real. I know that with all my heart!
But with these spiritual highs comes the lows. I was having a really hard time after one of our lessons with an investigator that didn't go well at all. The spirit wasn't there and we weren't prepared at all. I don't know what happened but I just broke down. I was sitting in our classroom and tears just started rolling down my face. I felt so frustrated with myself and scared that I wouldn't be able to do this. My companion is such a sweet heart and was there for me, but the Elders definitely did not know what to do with themselves! Haha it was kind of funny, I could tell I definitely made them all uncomfortable. But bless their hearts, they were so sweet to me. I'm grateful now for that experience because it made me step up, and work harder. Because after that lesson, we went into another lesson with a separate investigator and it was defiantly one of the best ones I have ever had. After it was over she came up to us just to tell us how powerful it was, and that in all of her working with the missionaries she had never felt such a powerful lesson. I guess I needed to have that experience to step up. I later came upon this wonderful scripture, "..for perfect love casteth out all fear." (Moroni 8:16) Do you really love Christ? With all your heart and soul? Then have no fear!! Have faith. Step up, and always remember. Remember what has been done for you, and remember why you are here, and ALWAYS remember you are perfectly loved.
I love you all! And think about you always! You are in my prayers!
Until next week!
Hermana Lamb
p.s Happy Halloween last week! We were so busy here we almost forgot! So Hermana Davidson and I decided to switch name tags for the day.. we thought we were funny. But no one noticed. So I hope you all had a better Halloween then we did! With lots of American candy! Because honestly, nothing is better then American candy... just remember how lucky you all are.
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