Week 3 in the CCM

Thank you so much for thinking of sending me a package...I cant wait to get those pictures! Well, it is a wonderful atmosphere to be in, because we are so immersed in Spanish because our teachers are native speakers! My two morning class teachers only speak Spanish and speak very little English...so my district and I are getting more used to listening to Spanish, as long as it is related to the Gospel. It has been really hard for my district lately, I can see it in their bn

a nod to Abbey Road (but no bare feet)

 faces. The Elders don't really break down, but you can kind of see their frustration in their eyes. We are all very tired. We are one of the only few districts who have 3 investigators a day. It really stretches us, because we have 6 hours of classes everyday and we feel like we have barely anytime for our own personal study and companionship study. Hermana Ball and Hermana Spencer had on separate occasions to leave class because they were so stressed out. Hermana Ball had an upset stomach and started puking and ran to the bathroom. (On a more positive note, our teachers said that we were more effective missionaries then their Latin missionaries, I think it is because we empathize,listen, and ask more questions instead of just teaching.) It is stressful, don't get me wrong, but it is a good stress for me. The language isn't as hard for me as it is for other people, but I think the part that is most difficult for me is learning to work with a companion and being with them 24 hours a day. Sometimes I wish that I could do the lesson by myself! I know that is unreasonable and selfish, but I didn't realize how introverted I was back at home and when it came to homework or school, I mostly would work by myself. But, I know that the Lord is helping me become more patient!

Even though I am having very little frustration with the language, I did have one minor set back this week. We were on the 4th lesson of our investigator Julia. She has been progressing along very well and she's eager to learn! She's eager to have her own testimony, but her boyfriend, Carlos (who is an inactive member of the church) will not pray with her about the things we have been teaching her, he will not read the Book of Mormon with her, and he doesn't want to marry her in the temple. At the moment, when we were teaching her about the law of chastity and Temple marriage, she said Carlos

At the Mexico City Temple

does not want any of these things. I really wanted to help her, I just didn't know how and so I said something that was not my place to say. I gave her the opinion of Rachel, not the opinion of the spirit. I said that maybe Carlos is the right thing for you. I said that this gospel isn't only meant to help your relationship with Carlos, but your relationship with the Lord. The Gospel is for you. Then, about 30 minutes later, we had an evaluation from our teacher who was Julia and for the most part we have been doing really well, but what I said was probably not the best idea. Immediately I felt so guilty and I started to cry. I felt so terrible for saying what I said, because it is not the place of a missionary to say those kind of things to investigators. I knew that it wasn't real, but it was one of those moments where all guilt that I have ever felt for doing anything wrong went strait to my shoulders. I sincerely wanted to help this woman, but it wasn't my place to give her an ultimatum, even though I wasn't trying to. The next day,we had another lesson and Julia told us that she didn't think she loved Carlos anymore because he wasn't willing to help her. At that moment, I knew that I had been right, but I was wrong for saying it. She needed to come to that conclusion herself. I realized that missionaries are meant to serve, love, and teach...but there needs to be a balance of things. I repented and I am grateful that I learned this in the MTC.

I am also grateful for my experience at PVCC. I realize now why I felt so good about going there, it was to prepare me for this moment! I learned a lot about myself, I learned about how to live away from my family, I learned to rely on the Lord, I learned to stand my ground even when I stand alone. I now have an experience I can relate with others and I know what stress is! I am so grateful for the stress that I went through at PVCC, because it prepared me for the stress of my mission. I am grateful for the work I had to do to get here, my heart is in the right place and I want to apply everything that I am going to teach my investigators!

Also, some really wonderful news...2 days before our district leaves...The CCM is going to be dedicated! Two of the Seventy are going to be there to speak along with ELDER OAKS! We are so blessed and lucky to be apart of this, and it is going to be a great way to end our experience of the MTC and start our missions! I have always wanted to meet one of the Brethren!

So I hope that everything is okay back at home and I am so excited for the package! ¡Hasta Luego!

Hermana Arnold