HOLA MI FAMILIA Y MIS AMIGOS
Semana de tres en el CCM. It is most excellent here! Gracias again for all the wonderful emails, dearelders, and letters. I didnt get hardly any ones addresses before I left, so if you WANT to write me youll have to go first...jaja lo siento! Also, the keyboard Im typing on is programmed for Spanish words...and its driving me crazy that I cant put apostrophes in the words, and I cant find a way to change that, so excuse the bad grammer. Spanish is messing all my English up. My journal is complete Spanglish right now. I feel bad for whoever wants to read it one day...super confusing Im sure(smiley face...yeah...this keyboard wont let me do that either) So, like I said this last week has been GREAT. Not only are we having fun as a district, but the girls and I are spending more time with our branch, and its great. The other Elders and Sisters are amazing examples to me and its been so fun. Man, I cant seem to get enough study time. It seems like thats all we do, but I wish I had more. Im learning so much about how to be a better teacher, and doing that all en español! My teachers are so great. Hermana Powell is so patient. I was super frustrated with the language yesterday, and she helped me so much and gave me a big hug after class. My other teacher Hermano Taulitina is seriously the happiest-funniest guy here. He makes Spanish and teaching so much fun, and challenges our district more than anyone. I dont think Ive ever loved learning so much before in my life. I think its amazing how merciful the Lord is and how real He is in our lives even if we dont realize it. Man, this gosepl is SO COOL!
You know what else is cool?? Preach my Gospel. I had read it before I came here, but didnt really internalize what it meant to me and how helpful it is. Seriously...even if you never want to share the gospel with others, its still so helpful. Im learning the coolest things from the scriptures. You want to know the thoughts of God? STUDY THE SCRIPTURES. They are the best.
Im so excited for Sunday. Yeah for Easter!!!! Its probably the happiest holiday, because its all about Christs Expiacion and how we can be happy because of it. A general authority is going to come this Sunday and speak to us...it might be one of the twelve! Also, on Sunday the LARGEST sacrament meeting in the world will take place. Normally we all have little branches here, but the entire MTC is combined for the blessing and passing of the sacrament. Isnt that neat? Im so excited, and so happy to be a part of this work. Nothing beats serving others...for real! Last Sunday was splendid. During the free time in the evening mi compañera, branch, and I watched a talk that Elder Bednar gave to the MTC a couple years ago titled Characteristics of Christ. I dont think you can really read or listen to MTC talks unless you actually come to the MTC, pero try looking it up...it seriously changed my life. Jesus Christ is so amazing. Ill never completely understand His glory, but I sure do want to be more like him since I listened to that talk. Mi compañera and I were like...wow...mind blown. haha. Also, last Sunday I was called to be coordinating sister over my branch. Its basically a zone leader only over the girls, or so I was told. Jaja, anyway the zone leaders y I had a meeting with the new district of Elders and Sisters yesterday. I wanted to laugh so hard because they had that really confused-mind blown face I had on my first day in the MTC. I showed the four new sisters their residence hall and went over some stuff with them. But mostly got to know them and they are so sweet and powerful.
We have our service project(cleaning the chapel) every Tuesday morning. Ricky Cooper is in our group for that. He went to SHHS as well! He was a grade younger than me, so Hannah(my cousin) and anyone else might know him. Amanda Tipton lived right next door to me in the residence halls and she left on Monday(sad face) I saw Courtney King like 3 times last week!! Oh man, I dont think weve ever been so excited to see each other! She was only here a week though, because she already knows Spanish, so shes already in Spain...yeah...my gringa friend knows Spanish better than I do. Totes embarrassing(that totes=totally, and it was mostly a shout out for anyone who knows Harvard Sailing Team and for mi Hermana Chelsea) So yeah, the MTC is SUPER crowded right now, and Im always running into people I know.
I think the funniest thing is gym time. I never knew four square could be so intense. He had what I thought would be a friendly childhood activity with my district and then the boys got so competitive over it and I was laughing uncontrollably for the entire hour of gym. Yeah...its so fun!
The best thing(like Ive said before) is still all the learning. We had our first TRC teaching last Friday and it was an awesome experience. My companion and I taught 2 volunteers and it was definately a learning experience for me. Hma. G(my companion) hated it at first, because it was so awkward for her. Shes right though when she says it wouldnt be awkward if we could just use ENGLISH! Jaja, I thought the volunteers were really nice though, and taught me a lot. Were so lucky to have the Holy Ghost as a gift. This work is impossible without him, and I dont think Ive ever been more happy to know that the Lord loves me enough to want His spirit with me ALWAYS! What a blessing. Make sure to thank the Lord in your prayers. Theres a power in gratitude. I hope you all have a fantastic Easter. I would love to hear from you all! Love you all!
Love,
Hermana Draya Salcido