Hey family!
Wow, what a great email this week! Thanks for keeping me updated on everything thats going on at home. I am jealous you are getting snow! haha it definitely wont be doing that here anytime soon. The days are still super hot. My watch tan line continues to get darker. I am getting used to the humidity though! I haven't had to use lotion or chap stick since I got here, so that is nice. Dad, I can't believe you bought a car and Emma I am excited for you to get to drive the sequoia to school. I love that car, plus it could probably drive to the school by itself!
So yes, I am down to my last week here at the CCM. It is sooo bittersweet. I have reallly grown to love this place. It has taken me about 5 weeks, but I have learned so much and grown as a person and a missionary. We leave for our missions next Tuesday. That means I wont be writing you next Wednesday. I dont know if my mission president will have me send a quick email at all next week, or you may just have to wait until the next Monday. I am not sure, but p-days will be on Monday after this week. I cant believe I will be in the field! We saw more Lima Norte missionaries at the temple today. It makes me so excited to join them. I love the Lima temple. I hope we get to go some day as a family.
Ok so stories for this week!
Because the Latinos are only here for two weeks, there is a "welcome to the mtc" kick off this week. During this kick off they have some missionaries do a demonstration of a first lesson. Well guess what? Hermana Beatty and I were chosen to teach! That means we would have to teach about a 20 min lesson in front of about 50 new Latino missionaries. I about peed myself when they asked us if we would demonstrate but of course we said yes and I am so glad we did. It was such an amazing experience. They had us do it in the auditorium up on the stage. That means we got head mics and everything. i can testify that the gift of tongues is real. The spirit really did guide our words, and also I was able to think of scriptures to share. I didn't know where they were in an English BOM let alone the BOM in Spanish, so I know it was only through the Spirit that was possible. If we do all we can do be obedient and try our best, the Lord will always help us.
So on friday, hermana beatty and i got to go to the dentist! One of her fillings broke so we got to go on a little fieldtrip outside the CCM! haha. Any chance we get to leave the CCM is like a miracle because we feel like we are stuck in a prison some days. But the dentist was very nice and actually did a great job. He is a member and speaks English. It still wasn't quite up to American standards (his work office) but for being in Peru, they really do find us the best treatment here. That is one thing i have loved about the CCM, they really do strive to take the best care of us.
So because the Latinos are only here for two weeks, the ones that are leaving with us are finally here. We met a hermana who is going to Lima Norte! She is from Argentina and is super nice. Talking to the Latina sisters really helps my spanish. They are so patient and loving, and I just pray I have a trainer who is patient with me. haha.
I don't know if I told you this already, but on Saturday I get to go out teaching with the missionaries here in Lima South mission! They will assign me with a sister missionary and I will leave and teach with her for about 5 hours on saturday. I am so nervous, but really excited to have my first experience really teaching people. I have learned over these past 5 weeks that I am not here to teach lessons, but to teach people. My teacher Hermano Bejar stressed that point a lot. Because if we try to only focus on the lessons, the Spirit can't tell us what to teach the people. We have to be constantly praying and studying so that we can be an instrument for what the Spirit wants to teach our investigators.
We had a fireside last night and my district got to sing. We sang the "Army of Helaman" in Spanish. it was so beautiful. I already love that song, and being able to sing it in Spanish was very powerful. Also the other day when we had some free time I sat down and played the piano. Because we have a lot of piano players in our district I haven't really had the chance to play much. So when people heard me playing they were very shocked. haha. So word is out that I play piano. Mom would you mind adding to the package you send me that arrangement of "If You Could Hie to Kolob" that I love?
During the temple today I really felt the prayers you guys have been saying for me. It was a very cool experience. I look back at how scared and nervous I was my first week here and I know the only way I have been able to overcome my homesickness is through your support and prayers, and a lot of hard work.
During my first week here, one of the hermanas who has already left gave me a quote. I would like to share it with you:
"At times there appears to be no light at the tunnels end-no dawn to break the nights darkness...if you find yourself in such a situation, I plead with you to turn to our heavenly father in faith. He will lift you and guide you. He will not always take your afflictions from you, but he will comfort and lead you with love through whatever storm you face.
I love you guys!
Hermana Vernon
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| CCM District |
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| Lima Peru Temple |
