Hola familia y amigas!!
My fingers feel like frozen fudge pops and I think Im nervous sweating
but I have been looking forward to this all week!!! There is a timer
ticking down which is super unnerving. I made a list of bullet points
to write home about but they all seem so unimportant now. The most
important thing I want to say is I LOVE YOU ALL. This week has given
me a little bit (we are so busy) of thinking time and I am so grateful
for all of you. The Lord truly does put people into our lives. I’ll
try not to sound too churchy or use Spanish but it’s hard when that’s
all you’re doing 24/7.
We got to the CCM (MTC) around 2 or 3 in the morning last Wednesday.
It was crazy. I love the girls in my group (district). My companion
knows SO MUCH about the scriptures. She is super nice and such a good
example to me. Also a really good soccer player so I have fun running
laps and watching her be sporty haha. I go to sleep at 10:30 and wake
up at 6:30 every day. I don’t actually feel that tired most of the
time.
When I got my name tag I almost started crying because it was just so
cool. One out of the ordinary thing that happened was on Monday when
we took a little excursion to the Interpol. There weren’t a ton of
visible bullet holes but all the cars across the street had slashed
tires so that was fun and new. They checked my teeth and took a
million fingerprints and asked if I had any scars or tattoos. Just in
case I get kidnapped ;)
Last night we had a devotional and at the beginning they showed this
slide of all the converts from a mission in Mexico. It was so powerful
to see so many families and people dressed in white. I cant wait to
meet the people in Arequipa. So many of the Latina Hermanas (sisters)
have told me how beautiful Arequipa is. There is one other sister and
4 elders going there here at the CCM.
I have learned so much Spanish. I think I took 5-6 years of Spanish
before coming here which has helped me a lot. The gift of tongues is
so real. There are elders in my district who have never taken any
Spanish and when you hear them pray in Spanish the spirit is so strong
because there is no other way that they would know Spanish except with
the Holy Ghost.
The food here is bomb. I think my brain is made of arroz y pollo but
its so yummy. They filter the water here twice and they gave us super
filter water bottles for when we leave for our separate missions. It
is pretty chilly here but my cardigans are real troopers. Lima is so
beautiful. It is surrounded by mountains but you cant really see them
because it looks like chubby clouds are sitting on the mountains all
the time. So the air is usually gray/white which is beautiful to me.
I have learned how to pray, bear my testimony, share a scripture,
teach multiple lessons, extend invitations and so much more. Our
teachers are so nice and so funny. They always laugh at our American
phrases and we all have a good time in class.
I don’t think I've ever “almost cried” so many times consecutively. Im
not homesick because I don{t have time to be but everyone thinks my
little sisters are so cute and I agree. I only have an hour to email
every week so Im SO SO sorry if I don’t have time to email everyone
but know that you are in my prayers. I feel so much pure joy here.
Small things make me laugh and smile (surprise haha) and I love the
hard work. Love you all.
--
Sister Madeline Christensen
