Well, I'm still alive :) Wednesday is my P-day and Temple day, fyi. The CCM (MTC) has been a very wonderful, challenging, and fun experience so far. THANK YOU ALL so much for your prayers and your letters to me, I know I'm being uplifted by you all, even from afar. I love you all so mucho!
So after we said our goodbyes at the curb I was whisked off with all the other newbies through the MTC's main campus, where we got all of our study supplies, gospel materials en espanol, apartment keys, etc. Then a huge (and actually quite comfortable) bus took all of the Spanish-speaking missionaries to the West Campus, which is at BYU's Wyview housing. We only had time to dump our stuff in the apartment before walking to class across the street, where I met my new district. And then--SPANISH.
Our teacher, Hermano Norton, teaches the language and missionary teaching principles only in Spanish, except for a few words to clarify. It's so awesome. It's hard and fun at the same time. Rosetta Stone definitely helped me at least become familiar with what the language was like, but I think I've learned more here in a week than I have in the summer. And yes, we do already teach in our mission language. AHHHHHHHHHH! It's crazy, I am so terrible, but if you're humble, do your preparation, and have the Spirit, you can somehow muddle through. Seriously, the Spirit is so important. I know this is God's work because in no other thing have I felt the need for the Spirit more.
My first companion, Elder Murphy, was and is such an awesome person. Very humble and also has a good start on the language. We in the district are all super sad that he had to go home temporarily for medical issues. But we pray that he'll be able to come back out as soon as possible. So now I'm in a trio with the other two Elders in my apartment. Their names are Elder Donelley (from Alabama) and Elder Ward (from SLC). They are fantastic, very friendly, and great examples to me. I'm truly blessed to have them.
Other interesting things about the CCM:
The food is good. We have exercise activities in large inflatable buildings, used because of the recent influx of missionaries. If your name-tag somehow gets crooked, it's because "someone's thinking about you" :). Devotionals on Sunday and Tuesday are amazing. Sunday we heard from Jenny Oaks Baker and her family, and they played some amazingly spiritual musical numbers to go along with her talk. Afterwards we watched a recorded MTC devotional by Elder Bednar called "The Character of Christ". Seriously, go find it and watch it if you can. It will change the way you think and work every day. I've seen so many friends here, including Hermana Bowler. It's been wonderful.
I forgot my camera at the classroom, so I'll have to send pictures next week. I'll try to answer everybody's personal emails today. I am blessed with so many! Thank you again for your love and support. I love you all.
Yo se que el evangelio de Jesucristo es verdadero. Yo se que el Libro de Mormón es la palabra de Dios. Jose Smith fue un profeta de Dios en estos últimos dias. Y Jesucristo es el Salvador de el mundo--nuestro Salvador. Mediante Su expiación, familias puede ser eterna.
Te amo ustedes todos!
Elder Blake
No comments:
Post a Comment