Well, I've survived thus far. Let me tell you though, this has been
the LONGEST week of my life! I don't even know where to start!
The
flight to Mexico was actually pretty packed with missionaries, but no
one else was actually from Arizona. They were all people who were
transfering from other places. Luckily I didn't even have to wait long
before I saw Elder Behning since we were on the same flight
together. Probably one of the strangest things was having to shake his
hand and call him "Elder" instead of giving him the desired giant
hug. On the plane, one of the hermanas (sisters) switched seats to let a
grandmother sit next to her family, so she ended up sitting next to
me. Her name is Hermana McIntyre, and I found out when we reached the
"CCM" (MTC) that she es mi compañera (companion)!
Mexico City itself it incrdibly crowded. All of these
houses are stacked on top of each other and going up the hillside. I
love that they are all painted these brilliant colors. However, I do NOT
love the traffic. They have very very different traffic laws here, and
I've never been so scared while in a bus before! The craziest part of
all though is that everyone is zooming in and out of each other and
cutting each other off but I haven't seen a single crash and almost no
one honks.
The first night at the CCM we were assigned our
comañeros and our casas then had the rest of the evening to ourselves. I
didn't realize what a mercy that was, because we've been going NON STOP
ever since. The first day signified the beginning of a flood of
español. We had our very first language class, and the instructors never
speak english unless they know that the class is completely lost. Even
then it almost never happens. We then had a big welcome meeting with
Presedente Pratt, our MTC president, and then a welcome from Hermana
Pratt explaning the rules for the hermanas. On that note, she is going
to let me borrow her sewing machine because several of my skirts are
much too long. Afterward, we had a teaching workshop where we found out
that were to start teaching a mock investigator on FRIDAY COMPLETELY IN
ESPAÑOL. I about had a heart attack!!!
Our typical schedule now goes as follows:
6:30 Wake up and prepare
7:00 Study time
7:30 Breakfast
8-9:00 Personal study time
9-12:00 Language study
12-12:30 additional study time
12:30 LUNCH!
1:35-2:30 Gym time
2:30-3 Transition time (meaning hit the showers)
3-6:00 Our district takes turns teaching Lenina, our "investigator"
6:00 DINNER!
6:45 T.A.L.L. (a computer program to help us learn grammer and more español)
7:45 More language study
9-9:30 Plan the next day with compañera
10:15 Quiet time
10:30 LIGHTS OUT
EVERY MINUTE OF THE DAY IS PLANNED.
I've
never been so tired and overwhelmed. I'll be completely honest, I've
had a lot of ups and downs this week. Friday morning started out fine,
but I was crying from frustration by the end of the day. It's incredibly
difficult and discouraging when 95% of what people are saying is flying
completely over your head. On that note, however, there have been some
incredible moments as well; As Hermana McIntyre and I were teaching
Lenina on Friday, nothing seemed to be getting accross to her. That's
when she told us that she didn't believe in Joseph Smith. Completely at a
loss, all I could do was just start bearing a very simple testimony in
VERY broken spanish of "José Smith", that I knew he was a true prophet
of God. My exact words were, "Yo sé que José Smith es verdadero, y yo
sé que José Smith es un profeta de Dios, en el nombre de Jesucristo,
Amén." With just those two sentences the spirit filled the room. It was
an amazing feeling, and I knew that I was on the right track in that
moment.
My hour of computer time is almost up. I love you all, and I'll write you next Tuesday!
With Love,
Hermana Jeppesen
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