Prestos, todos prestos!

Hola Hola Hola!!!

¿¡Can you believe it?! I am already a month into my mission!¡ And what a LONG but BEAUTIFUL month it has been! I´m just going to come out and say it. This week was really really hard. BUT it is over and I think my last week and a half here at the CCM is going to be wonderful!

 

So this last week here in Mexico City they have had this thing called a "fairia" which is essentially a fair. But the Mexicans are partiers and like their parties to last ALL night long! Their favorite way to celebrate is with fireworks which we hear all day-always. This week was special with the fiar because we get to hear them all NIGHT too! Our casa is right next to the wall that divides us from the rest of the city and it literally sounds like cannons are exploding on top of our house. They have a firework "finale" every 30 mins in the night. Which means every night we are awoken every 30 mins to the sound of cannons going off above are heads for about 5 mins. Last night was the first night I slept through all of them..which means I am getting to be a pretty heavy sleeper! There have been some pretty sleepy missionaries here at the CCM this last week! Thankfully the fair ends friday! We are all excited for semi quiet nights! Day of the Dead is also coming up soon though...which should be fun! We are hoping they bring some of these bottlerockets INSIDE the CCM!

 

Two difficult events happened this week that really humbled us. The first was..well Ill give you some background about it first. Our teacher plays one of our investigators that we have been teaching for three weeks now. We all thought it was going great...he is pretty easy to teach. Then our other teacher showed us a video of the investigator talking about us. He doesnt speak hardly any english but made the video in english for us to make sure we really understood. Esesntially it was him talking about how his lessons were terrible bala bla bla with phrases inserted like "worst missionaries ever" "horrible lessons" "they dont care about me or their message". I dont think he meant for it to be as harsh as it was but since his english is so rough...it came out harsh! It was towards our whole district and when it was over...you could just feel the pain and utter discouragement in the room. We thought we had been doing good! Long story short everyone cried for awhile and was ready to just go home. Fast forward a bit and the teacher who made the video came and tried to smooth over what happened. I guess we were supposed to see it the first week to humble us or something. And it wasnt supposed to be that harsh and was just supposed to encourage us a bit. He felt really bad...especially since most everyone was crying. He tried to explain he really didnt feel that way but his boss made everyone make a encouraging viedo for ther missionaries. Its an interesting way of encouraging us.....but its all over now!

 We have had some huge thunderstorms this week! So much lightning we were all trapped in the comedor again. Thats always fun! We stand on the tables and sing "the wise man built his house about a rock". We have also decided as a district its time to leave english behind. So any time someone says a english word they have to drink a glass of horchata mixed with hot sauce-the ultimate punishment.

 

I had my district write happy birthday letters to Emily. Some of the elders got really into it. One is even writing a song for her as I type!

 

I saw a pretty bis spider in the bathroom the other day and told my teacher about it. He was horrified that I did not kill it and told me that it is going to grow bigger! And there are a lot of fatal spiders here that people die from all the time! He imitated one biting me, me having a seizure of sorts and then dying "10 mins later". Something I wish I was aware of before. We are all even more terrified now of the spiders (is that even possible?). Last night someone woke us up claiming to have seen one and we all went around screaming and jumping on everything. It was probably amusing to watch- but we really need to start sleeping through the night!

 

So in a nutshell this week had lots of tears, lots of bonding time,  lots of singing in the rain, lots of screaming and lots of learning and growing experiences! I am super EXCITED to get to Chile in just 11 days!

 

I will be sad to leave my district though. They are the best! I love all of them to death!! My companion is awesome! She is so much fun and we have become such great friends! She sings with me all day long and loves chocolate and food even  more than I do!! She also loves doing my hair which is great....since thats like my least favorite thing in the world! Oh, I dont think I ever mentioned it but she is cooming to concepcion too! And her spanish has skyrocketed this week which is awesome!! Lessons are so much easier when Im not the only one talking!

 

Mom- can you forward me some mission emails every week?. I want to read Carli Stones...you can find them on her blog. Just look up hermana carli stone on google. Also I havent gotten one of Kianas emails in awhile. And Alissa Mitchells emails...you can find those on her blog (google "prancing moose blog") also I think I have her address wrong. So while on her blog find the right one please. And Kyle Tracys emails...and theres more but I cant remember right now.

 

OH! Also my leg is totally fine! Swelling is gone and you cant even see where it bit me!

 

So to end with my quote for the week..

"We must learn to become creators of circumstances and not creatures of them."- Ballard

 

I hope everyone has a great week! Listen to some music for me!

LOVE and miss you ALL!

Love- your favorite missionary,

Hermana Orchard

 

 

pictures:

me and all my study materials that I love!!

My best friend- my spanish hymn book. :)

Me with my CCM bus!

Me and my companion studying.  And the four of us in front of the temple

Me with the elders during their nap time

Me with my 3 companions

Me with Emily's letter

 

Me with Caleb's letter

Me with Anna's letter

Me and "chokis". The closest thing we get to cookies here. We buy them at the tienda. It is basically chips ahoy and everyone goes crazy over them.

Temple trip with me and my companions

 

Week 3: Ohhhhhhh we´re halfway there... (Oct 16, 2013)

Hola from the land of endless lightning!

 

This week has been interesting...and different. But before I get into that- any letters not sent by tonight please send straight on down to Chile! And also the mail system here is not the most reliable...we only get about 60% of our mail. So if you dont here back from me assume I didnt get it! :)

 

To answer some questions...

My health is wonderful! I feel perfect (except for the constant exhaustion). I never eat dairy but do have some gluten...not much but some. The food does make me sick sometimes..but it makes everyone sick. So its all good.

YES we do everything in spanish...including singing.

Sorry you are on crutches mom! Thats no fun! Hopefully whatever it is heals soon!

Tell Emily the heart monitor is FUN! haha not really but hopefully she doesnt have to wear it too long. I am happy you are starting seminary Emily! Jene Hallam is a wonderful lady and will be a great teacher! And how lucky you are to have Jacob stay with you the whole time too!

Enjoy homeschooling Anna! Make sure to really get into it in all its glory. Go on long walks, read for at least 5 hours a day and go outside and write poems about flowers or something. If you do it right it will be wonderful! I have never regretted one bit being homeschooled!

Good work with the family missionary effort! I think you should hold family missionary council! Just a thought...

 

OKAY!

I think I shall deem this the most exhausting week of my life! I have found myself falling asleep EVERYWHERE! I´ll wake up with my head on the cafeteria table, sitting at my desk or even standing in the shower! I think my eyes have gained a few pounds or something and they just CANNOT stay open (today included haha). I think just being tired has contributed to this weeks craziness and rough-tumble....ness.

 

So some funny stories..

My teaching skills seemed to have regressed this week. My companion still does not like to speak during lessons so I am on my own to make mistakes. We had a new investigator (who is really my teacher)  this week. We were teaching him about the Book of Mormon and I wanted him to read Moroni´s promise at the end. Since the scriptures are in spanish and I dont really know what I am reading I give them the scripture and show them where to read....anyways. So I handed him the scriptures thinking I was having him read Moroni 10:3-5. But I really had him read a chapter before where it talks about the lamanites raping the woman and then killing and eating them or something. Its really violent and awful. And thats what he read. He was a bit confused and definietly had something to say about it after hahahahhaha oh it was funny. Hopefully I dont make that mistake again!

 Also during one lesson this week I had planned to sing "Soy un hijo de Dios" with a new investigator. I finally convinced my companion to sing along with me. Then we started singing...and we all started on different notes and rythems and such. It sounded horrible. And I started laughing. Like a lot. Until the point that I was crying. And then I was sobbing and then laughing again. All the while my companion sang quietly along and glared at me. Oh my haha THAT is what no sleep and too much studying does to you! and THAT is why we practice teaching on our teachers first . Somehow I got through the rest of that lesson to a very scared teacher. Oh I forgot to mention. Our district was chosen to have our lessons recorded or something to show at the Provo MTC. So if you see a video of me laughing and crying through a lesson...enjoy it. You´re welcome.

 

Church is quite the experience here. They like to call everyone to do stuff right on the spot. Our leaders also dont speak any english. They get up there at the beginning of sacrament meeting and say so and so is going to sing, pray, lead, talk etc. And sometimes I cant even understand what they are saying so its "what am I supposed to do??" This sunday was my lucky day to be the star of the show! I got surprised with the opportunity to give a talk. Normally this would be fine but in spanish...its not as fun. I also got to sing alone a hymn I had never heard of...in spanish. Oh it was an adventure for sure!

 

I had a rather strange occurance with a bug bite this week. Something bit my leg-im still not sure what- and it inserted a fair amount of something or other. I went to the doctor about it a few days ago because it is making my entire leg swell and hurt. To the point that I can barely walk. So I am on some pretty strong drug things to try and take care of it. Im sure it´ll be fine. I just hope all the spiders in the world disappear sometime soon!

 

Anna, a funny little tidbit about my district. We are district 9 and are always playing the game "what are the odds". Ha- do you get it? It took me three weeks to put it together.

 

Sunday nights are always fun here! Missionaries leave monday morning so we all sing "God be with you til we meet again" really loud in spanish. Towards the end it turns into a chant. Hastaaaaa vaaaaaaaAAAAA Hasta Vaa! Some of my favorite people left this week so that was sad! The CCM is just not the same without them.

 

Our night teacher is the funniest guy. He is super nice and just all around awesome! He says he is going to sneak us in some tacos soon. He was trying to motivate us last night because we all had a rough week and were a bit discouraged. He said that sometimes in life God makes us walk, sometimes we get to ride a bike but for 2 years on our missions we get to drive a lamborghini (?). I know that is true! There is definitely someone greater than ourselves behind this work and carrying us along. Its undeniable. And good...because we cannot do this by ourselves! At all.

 

One of our investigators has needed some inspiration and love lately. I know our teachers are so inspired in the roles they play as investigators. They know the weaknesses we need to teach and learn for ourselves. I was researching scriptures for our investigator on God´s love and care for him. Maybe I was feeling a little unloved and uncared for this week but God took the time to teach me His infinite love and endless detailed care for all of his children-including me! And I am grateful for that. And the wonderful teachers here and opportunity to learn through teaching!

 

I am getting really excitd to get to Chile and teach real people! Although after this weeks lessons I feel a bit unprepared as well.

I am so thankful for my amazing district and roommates. Especially Hermana Turner who is just the best! She has not missed a night singing to me in spanish and will patiently teach me endless grammar.

It really is amazing how much we learn and grow here every single day!  This is an inspired place and I wish I could build a permanent house here! (and fumigate all the spiders our of it!)

 

I´ll leave you with my quote for the week.

"Gaze upward, look inward, reach outward, and press forward!"

 

Until next time!

 

-Hermana Orchard

 

 

P.S. Does anyone know the story about the missionary who was killed in Mexico last week?

 

Love Notes at the CCM! - Oct 9, 2013

Hola Familia!!

 I just got an email from BYU saying I was accepted to the ComD program! So that is exciting..I actually have some classes to take when I get home. :)

Christmas has officially hit the CCM! Maybe its the constant fireworks or the fact that they keep serving ginger infused pineapple drinks....whatever it is it is here!! We are constantly leaving Santa marks everywhere and singing Christmas carols all day long! The one we have been singing today is "White Christmas". We all get really into it. Not sure how the sunny skys and chirping birds feel about our early Christmas...but its great!

Wow! It feels like I have been here forever! I honestly cannot believe that is has only been two weeks!

The CCM is so beautiful. I absolutely love it here! In the morning the sun struggles through thick fog to shine its beautiful face on us and it is so gorgeous! The mountains are beautiful! The trees are beautiful! The green singing birds are SO loud!! At night the house lights twinkle down at us from the mountains. I am convinced there is not a more peaceful or beautiful place in all the world! Endless gunshots included.

Today has been a lovely pday. I sat on my bed and wrote letters as we passed around our stash of chocolate. Then I took a beautiful nap (as naps are always beautiful). We went on a lovely walk along a stream and through these huge palm trees with really long branches and ate some creme puffs the size of our faces!

I know it sounds like I eat really unhealthy here but I actually dont! The food has not been as good this week...as in they keep serving really weird foods like animal intestines and stuff. So mostly I have been eating fruit this week...and rice. Oh! We did discover a wonderful concoction of orange mango juice and horchata! It tastes like an orange cremsicle! Lovely...

The CCM is close to heaven I think...a slightly stressful heaven where I am always utterly exhausted but heaven nonetheless!!

Last night we had a huge thunderstorm that came out of no where! We were all in the comedor eating dinner when it hit. So we had to stay there for an extra hour. We made good use of the time though eating bowls of nutella mixed with pineapple and singing christmas songs while it sounded like the thunder was bulldozing the building. It was fun.

Back to the food...one night last week we ate a stranger than normal dinner. The next day we were all sick. Like the whole CCM. We had to stay in our beds all day (which was actually really nice). They told us we all had the flu but Im pretty sure it was food poisoning. Whatever it was it only lasted a day. I have been more careful about what I eat here after that.

OH! Tuesday night is pizza night...not sure how they found it but we get COSTCO pizza!! The greatest thing on earth! I am giddy the whole day in anticipation! Except they pour this weird green salsa all over it...but its still pizza!!

Bugs have taken over our casa. More of cochroaches. They crawl around and are our bed buddies at night. Something likes to eat me every night. I wake up with bites evetywhere....people say they are spider bites but I have hope that no spiders are crawling over me in the night!! Our casa was just fumigated and we came home to find SOO many dead bugs. It was like a graveyard. I didnt know there could be that many bugs in the WORLD let alone in our room! It was crunch crunch crunch whereever we walked. ewwwwww. I just close my eyes and pretend they are not there.

My companion is great! We had some troubles at first but now we get along beautifully! She has the cutest southern accent and is a cosmetologist. She really wants to give me a pixie cut and dye my hair bleach blonde..haha we shall see. She is also 21 and has been to about every country in the world.

The CCM is not the most organized place. I cant count how many times we have shown up to class only to have our teacher missing or something. Luckily my district is so great and we have so much fun! And work...we do get some work done too. But sitting in a classroom ALL day moves some of us to delusion. We spent a little too long yesterday trying to teach me how to beat box and whistle. Why is whistling so hard?  There is always laughter! So much laughing. I dont think I have laughed this much in my life. I think I have the funniest group of people here on the planet. That or we are all just so exhausted that everything is cry-laugh worthy. ps the word for "cool" in spansh is "sauve"...which is such a funny word! We try to incorporate it into all our conversations.....sauve.....(swaa-vay)

We are teaching three investigators now. We normally teach about 2 or 3 lessons a day. We are slowly inporving our teaching tecniques and our ability to communicate in spanish. Our first investigator was SO funny! His name was Jorge and his big problem was that he had a 13 year old son who was bad. He always talked about how his son is always drinking and smoking and whatever. One day we were talking about the plan of salvation or soemthing and brought up satan. He said "oh yes..satan...my son is like satan". ?? haha what? We were like...did he just call his son satan?! It is so hard to not laugh during his lessons sometimes. He really had fun with his character. Then one day his "son" came to the lesson too...who is 13..but he looked about 25. He walked in with his arms around 2 girls. It was probably the funniest moment of my life.

I really do love teaching so much! It is so great and wonderful! It is hard though too...especially since my spanish is still so limited. But during lessons I seem to be able to speak more than normal. I am always trying to incorporate music into everything...so I have started sining a hymn in each lesson. The investigaotrs love it and nothing brings the spirit faster than music! Plus they all have messages which they can understand because it is real spanish and not just me throwing out whatver words come to mind in a weird hashed up order. My companion still cant speak any spanish and doesnt really like to talk during the lessons. So its solo time for me! I just sing..its great. One day I didnt sing and at the end of the lesson our investigator said "you didnt sing! You cant leave until you sing!!" haha

One day I heard the violin playing and it made me wish I had brought mine, I miss my violin!

One thing that I do to help me with spanish is write nice notes to people in spanish and I hand them out all over (well only to sisters). Its fun!! Speaking of notes we have some elders here that are a little too friendly. One in particular will run from 100 feet away to open the door for me or shake my hand or soemthing. He also recently left a love note on my desk...and then on my porch. I am trying to figure out how to best handle this situation since obviously that is a no-no here.

The BEST part of this week was definitely general conference!°! We were all so excited for it for many reasons...one of them being they played it in english! And for 8 hours we didnt have to translate in our brains! We got to the auditorium for it an hour and a half early thinking we would get front row seats...but it was already packed! We were all so excited! When it started we all stood and clapped and cheered! On sunday the earthquake sirens kept going off and the power going out. So we had to evacuate the building multiple times and stand in the blue circles. So we missed most of the first session...I did get to hear all of Elder Scotts talk though which was my hope!!

I was thinking...exactly one year ago is when they made the age change...I remember when they announced it and the shock and change of plans that was! haha I would never has guessed that this time the very year later I would be in mexico eating cow intestines and sleeping with cochroaches. Life is funny sometimes.

I loved how confernece was all about missionary work! It just reminded me that this thing I am doing here is SO important! And being a part of it is such a privledge! I never really fully understood what it is this is----being a representative of Jesus Christ. Is there anything more amazing, wonderful, inspiring, honoring, humbling and great as that? I was a little sad last week that I couldnt be there for Jacobs homecoming or the fall trees or anything....but then I was reminded that Christ was willing to die for OUR sins..am I not willing to spend a short 18 months in the work of salvation?? THIS is realy life! As Elder Holland reminded us last night...this is as close to real life as we are ever going to get!

Okay- some great stories our branch president told us sunday.I have to share.

This is a story of how my branch president met his wife. His voice sounds just like King Julian from Madagascar which made it 100x better!  He was branch president at the time and single. The stake president called him and told him he wanted him to become a bishop. He said "but I am not married...I cannot be bishop". The stake president said "I know...thats why we are giving you two months to find a wife...or we will pick someone from the stake for you to marry". So he went around his branch looking for someone to marry. A new girl moved into his ward and he decided he wanted to marry her. He intordced himself as the branch president and then told her he wanted to marry her. He proceeded to write her a 12 FOOT long letter of love. We thought he was kidding when he said foot but then he came on stage with his wife and together they unraveled the 12 foot long letter!It was pretty funny.

He told some other great stories too which I will have to tell some other time!

I want to leave you all with one of my favorite quotes "People are wonderful. Each one of them has a story, each something to give, each knows something interesting, something that can make your life richer." And each is a child of GOD and our brother or sister! So let us love them all and help everyone on their pathway home!

I know He Lives! I love being a missionary and am so grateful for this opportunity! I am convinced there is nothing better!

I love you all and hope that everyone has a wonderful week!

Con amor,

Hermana Orchard