Como te va todo?!
First off, I just want to say this week I am MOST grateful for prayer, it's been the most effective way to feel close to mi padre celestial. I am obviously super overwhelmed and trying so hard to get into this schedule, learn the language and trying to feel the Spirit, and being patient with my companions, etc. I feel like my favorite moments of the day are when I can try to talk into my Heavenly Father in Spanglish. We've been challenged, as of Day 1 to pray in Spanish, but I've found, I've gott throw in some English to make it real for me!!
Today we have a half of a Preparation to do laundry and write home! However, we don't get to attend the temple until next week. Mi companeras es Hermana Maxwell, es de Glendell, Utah y mi companera Hermana Roderick es de Pleasant Grove. Hermana Roderick and I have a mtuual friend, so I actually emailed her before the Mission. Hermana Maxwell is going to serve in Barcelon and Hermana Roderick and I are going to Malaga. So it's been what, 3 days? Sort of feels like forever, we're super tired, but we're having a super great time!
The first day after we sort of settled in we got to attend a couple workshops. We got to sit in the "living room" of 3 different people who were meeting with the missionaries for the first time. So the probably, 60 of us, sort of sat in and got to lead the lesson along, the investigator would directly ask questions to one of us new missionaries. Or if we had a question or something we wanted to say to them we could raise our hand. This was one of the most spiritual experiences thus far, we had a teacher who would stop during our visit at certain points to sort of coach us along, encourage us to be real, listen to the Spirit, etc. It was so neat. (P.S. just as a side note, our first investigator was Debbie Richan, acting as Barbara, I don't know if kim, cam or Em would remember but she's the awesome Storytelling Festival lady who lives in Provo and she's super animated and funny, she had this New Jersey accent during our lesson and it was so real). One thing I learned in there is the importance of listening in the moment, not planning ahead what I would want to say if the investigator said this or that.
Everything about our schedule in the MTC, just as I was warned, is GO Go Go!! I was having a really hard time until last night to get all ready for bed, pray with my companeras and what not in order to make time to write in my journal thoroughly, which is important to me. So, Cammie will be very happy to know that i am already learning the gift of brevity and how to summarize my thoughts and feelings QUICKLY!!!
So my companions and I have had SO much fun during our gym time, we love to play basketball with the Elders. Hermana Maxwell played in high school and she's tall too, so we guard each other in the post and show the Elders how to play of course. I've been able to see so many familiar faces in the MTC, Elder Salmon, Elder Keith Moore, Hermana Catherine Beck, Nora, Nila, Koni, Sister Rich presented me with my name tag on the first day and the biggest hug ever, lets see, lots of old co-workers in the cafeteria, Elder Braden Hall, and I don't want to forget anyone.. Ha, but it's been so nice! I love my companions, we're still trying to figure out how to leave the apartment with out forgetting stuff and returning back twice, working hard to be on time for everything and trying to stay alive during our language study.
We were introduced to our first progressing investigator, Manuel, two days ago and he just put together a video presentation that explained a bit of his religious background and that he was searching for peace in his life. And then Hermana Larson, our teacher told us that we would have to teach him our first lesson, the very next day, in Spanish. Keep in mind, Manuel himself doesn't speak a lick of English (or so he pretends.. ) and this was like our 3rd day as missionaries. So my companions and I did our very best to prepare a lesson outline, and what we would say, pray, testify of in Spanish. Problem was it turned into a script and we didn't leave lots of room for what Manuel might ask us and apparently he didn't get the script or "memo" beforehand, because he didn't get most of what we said. Haha we tried SO hard to communicate, Cammie is probably going to be the only person who can empathize with me, but you know about our disease of giggling fits and thee most inappropriate times?
Well, I was taking a turn during the lesson to explain that God sent us to Earth so we can gain experience and become like Him, and that this life is the time to prepare to meet God, etc. Well I stumbled on a couple of the bigger words and Manuel's like, "Como?!" "What??" I tried a couple more times on this one phrase, nothing! So I was so frustrated, confused, nervous myself that i just shaking with laughter, I couldn't get it together for a good 10 seconds which is FOREVER when my companions and Manuel look at me like I'm insane. Hermana Maxwell told me later that night that she thought I was crying, awkward for me. Ha, but I think what we gained most from this experience was unity and strength as a companionship, we suffered through this embarrassment and frustration together and I just feel like this is so incredibly motivating to dive in and learn this language so I can actually speak and teach.
My Branch Pres Hansen promised me that if I obey each rule exactly and work my hardest I can qualify for the Gift of Tongues, but only through this diligence and obedience. I am so excited, I want to do this. I know that if I can figure this out I will be able to share my testimony and be effective. I am so happy to be here, it is way hard and having to do everything at the pace of companions and not just my own way, it's super hard but I'm learning patience and humility! I love you guys, my next P day is Friday, just saying!
love,
Hermana Nelson
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