Dos

Hey everyone! I've finished week 2 of CCM (mtc) and I am having a great time. Last week seems so long ago because my days are filled with studying.

Spanish is muy bien, although sometimes it feels like I'm trying to drink from a fire hose. I had quite a few opportunities to teach people 10 minute lessons with my companion, Hermana Stewart. Yesterday I felt really good about our lesson. I could understand most of what the volunteer said, and I didn't freeze up like I did on Monday, a few times I had to ask my companion to talk because I couldn't figure out how to say what I wanted to say. I am definitely getting better, though. I can speak a lot better than last week! We've started to try and talk completely en Español in class. (but you can ask permission to speak in English)

I realize that I never mentioned where I was going in my first email, so sorry about that! I originally got called to the Santiago Chile West mission, but am temporarily reassigned to the Washington DC South mission. I'm so excited. I love the east because I lived in Pennsylvania when I was little. Fun fact: I was actually born in Falls Church, Virginia, which is in my mission!

Today my mom and I went to the Natural History Museum in Salt Lake and it was pretty cool. I love museums, I wish the museums in DC were in my mission, but alas... We also went to the Red Butte Gardens because it was really close, and it was beautiful. I loved the fragrance garden and the ponds and waterfalls. (I just wished there were some ducks there)

It's been really cold for the last few days and I have started to study wrapped in a blanket sitting in front of the space heater because my mom wouldn't turn on the heat because it's just the beginning of September and it will warm up but I'm in the basement and my toes are frozen... (the story may or may not have been exaggerated for effect, also I shouldn't be complaining because it's not snowing yet)

I was going through conference talks on youtube, and one really stood out to me. It was Raised in Hope by Chieko Okazaki. Here's the part that I loved. (It was given in the women's session, so I changed some of the words to apply to everyone)

"Oh friends, dearest friends, choose life even though the forces of death seem strong! Choose hope even though despair seems close! Choose to grow even though circumstances oppress you! Choose to learn even though you must struggle against your own ignorance and that of others! Choose to love, even though ours are days of violence and vengeance. Choose to forgive, to pray, to bless another’s life with simple kindness. Choose to build the people around you by lifting and strengthening one another with love, testimony, faith, and service. I promise that you will feel the abundant love of the Savior."





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