Hola familia y amigos!
Esta semana es solo Español para mi distrito. Aunque, por mi familia y mis amigos yo hablaré inglis. De nada.
I think this is my last email I'll send before I go to Chile, that is weird to think. Before starting my mission I didn't register in my head that I would be in Mexico for 5 and a half weeks. But now it is hard to register that I will be in Chile in 8ish days.
This week I have felt the power of el don de lenguas. It has been amazing. As I said earlier this week has been only speaking in Spanish. I've found that I actually know more than I initially thought. Anytime someone would speak to me in english, my mind would translate the words I knew into Spanish. I didn't have to think about it and consciously translate the words that were familiar to me. Y when speaking I didn't have to consciously think about the correct conjugation (meaning I didn't have to have to think it through if it was you or me or us or them; and if it was in the pretirite, future, imperfect, present, present subjunctive, etc tenses). I know that was the Holy Ghost helping me learn Spanish. I have also been able to memorize things faster. The gift of tongues is real. I have witnessed it and experienced it. I just have to live worthy of the Holy Ghost to always have His companionship.
Things are cleared up with my companion. I was in a study skills office class by myself to memorize something. (My companion had already memorized most of it and told me it would waste his time to come with me. So he just waited outside working on something else which was chill.) Anyways before we started off, the maestra, Hermana Jensen, asked me how I was doing. I responded with a casual bien, pero she saw right through me and asked how I was really doing and how me and my comp were doing. I believe she was led by God to ask me specifically how my relationship with my comp was. So I told her what was going on, and we spent the next 35 min talking about this. She told me very valuable advice. She said "I know you have a kind heart and confronting people goes against your nature. But I need you to understand that you cannot let anyone, I repeat, anyone snuff your growth and demolish your confidence. The Lord called you to speak Spanish with the people of Chile. They need you Elder, they need you to speak Spanish to them. You cannot let one person unknowingly halt your growth." She then told me a very personal story that she made me promise not to tell anyone, so I won't. She hasn't even told her children. But in broad terms with little detail to honour my promise, someone heavily discouraged someone very close to her, and it effected not just them, but her and many others. It took decades for them to finally get it out of their head. That is the power of discouragement everyone. Once it weeds it's way into your mind, your brain will believe it as fact. And that is hard to tear out. So I encourage and plead with each of you: do not say or do anything to discourage or bring anyone down. Instead, lift each other up as Christ did. Christ always took the time to stop and talk to someone in need, He always had a ready smile and a positive attitude. Build up people don't tear them down. If you do that people will notice and then they will want to build you up! So please, be aware of your words, actions and even your thoughts towards others.
My district has gotten into sand volleyball recently. It is very fun! The missionary handbook says to not play competitively... maybe this is something we need to work on haha. Just kidding we aren't overly competitive to the point where we start throwing hands over a bad call. Only to the point where we get excited if we are winning and get motivated if we are losing.
If anyone is curious what normal day at the ccm looks like here you go.
- Wake up at 6:15
- Workout till 6:30
- Shower and get ready for the day
- 7am breakfast
- 7:30-8am finish up breakfast and make your way to personal study
- Personal study from 8-9
- Spanish class from 9-12
- Lunch from 12-12:30
- Companion study/language study from 12:45-2:15
- Get ready for gym time from 2:15-2:30
- Gym time from 2:30-3:45
- Get ready for class from 3:45-4:10
- Afternoon class (originally a gospel class but now it is a spanish class) from 4:20-5:15
- Dinner from 5:15-5:45
- Go back to same class from 5:45-9
- Go to casa and have a house devotional from 9-9:30/9:45
- Then write in your journal and get ready for bed
- Lights out at 10:30
Question of the week: What have you done this week to build someone up?
Hope everyone is doing fantastic!
Elder Spencer
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