HI MOM!!!!!!!
I made it to the CCM and I am loving it here!! I have mucho to say, so sorry for the long letter.
The flight there was good. I didn´t cry at all in the airport. I think I was just too tired to really recognize what was going on, or I had drained out all of my tears the night before. But either way that was good. I slept for like all of both flights which felt nice. But I didn't meet up with anyone in Detroit, but when I got to Mexico City I found another Hermana, so we both could struggle together to find out ride to the ccm. But one funny thing when I got to Mexico city and was going through customs, the guy that was checking my passport asked how long I was there for, and I accidentally said 6 months instead of 6 weeks, and he was like do you have a Visa? but i said no, I didn't think I needed one. But then I realized what I had said and i said I was actually there for 6 weeks. and then he said that was good. but if i was gonna stay he said he would make an "error" in the system so that I could go to Mexico, so that was funny. I got peeps to help me out in Mexico. But we met up with the driver guy to take us to the ccm. On the walk to the car though there were some giant flower pots and i had to hold back some drug jokes, cause I thought that might not be appropriate... and then there was another sign that said something cost $420 pesos, and i had to hold back again... look at me being a good missionary! And then we were finally driving to the ccm, and the drive was CRAZY! like i thought driving to Philly was bad... not even close to this... there are like no lanes so cars just kinda go, and there are no rules and no stop signs and I thought we were gonna die. I couldn´t watch cause it stressed me out too much. But we made it there so that was good!!
When we got there it was only me and 4 other hermanas at the time, and we just had to wait for everyone else to come, so we were waiting around for like 2 hours. But then we finally left for dinner, and I was really excited fro dinner, cause like Mexican food. But no... we had pizza... it was a disappointment, but at that point any food was good. And after dinner we had a devotional and I tried hard not to fall asleep during. But then we finally got to go to bed. It was a long day, but I was ready to start and speak some Spanish!
The second day wasn´t actually too bad. like there was a long of Spanish but the teachers were good at using body language, so I actually felt not too bad. And i got a ton of compliments on my Spanish, so that was exciting. But that day we had a cool lesson on the gift of tongues, and how God will help us, but we still have to do our part. But during that lesson I had a cool experience. Like you always hear people talk about how you´ll love the people in your mission, but I didn't think that would happen for me. But then during this lesson I had an overwhelming feeling of love for them and I was excited to teach them and to learn a new language for them. So that was cool.
The third day they had us teach our first lesson in Spanish. that was kinda crazy... My compañera doesn't really speak much Spanish at all, so it was mostly me. It didn't go too bad, but it also wasn't great. It was cool that I was actually able to teach though and understand a bit. We have taught lessons every day since, and it has gotten a lot better. I love teaching in Spanish and it´s cool to see how much I have grown in my Spanish in even just a week. Like I am already talking way better than i did in school. But one cool experience with that was that one day I was walking to class and talking with my campañera, and then I was speaking Spanish, and I just said a sentence in Spanish without thinking and everything was conjugated right and it was awesome! that was proof to me of the gift of tongues. But i love learning Spanish and speaking Spanish and I can´t wait to learn more and slowly become fluent! But it is also way fun to talk to the Latinos at meal times and stuff. It´s fun to use Spanish, and they are really fun to be around. But overall the Spanish is going good.
The week wasn´t that bad I thought though. Like everyone says the first week in the mtc is rough, but I was fine with it. I also don´t get stressed a lot though. But everyone kept saying just make it to Sunday and it´ll be fine, and they were right. Sunday was great. It was just a day to not worry about classes and to just study the scriptures and feel the spirit, and it was great! I really enjoyed it.
But I have really loved it here! I love meeting new people and talking in Spanish and learning about the gospel and feeling the spirit everyday. I also haven´t been homesick really at all which is surprising for me. It´s not that I don´t miss you guys, cause I do. But I am just enjoying where I am and doing what I am doing. I love being here with other people who have the same goal and purpose as me. The only thing is that I just feel that there is not enough time in the day. We have a packed schedule of classes and devotionals every day, and on top of that we have to study the language and the gospel. It´s great to be busy, but sometimes I just wish I had more time to do things. But I know it will all work out! :)
But now for some random stuff.
First of all, the food. The first night was pizza like I said, but it´s been good after that. Lots of rice and beans, and I love it! they also had guac which was so good the first day, but they haven´t had it since... and the tortillas are so good!! But the best part probably has to be the fruit. It is SOOOOOO good. Like all of it. The pineapple is like straight from heaven. and the fruit juice too is amazing! But the funny thing is that you never really know what to expect. Cause sometime they´ll have normal mexicoan food and stuff, but then some other times there was like weird carrerols or corndogs. it´s all good, but it´s kinda funny. And breakfasts are also crazy. Like one time they had fried chicken for breakfast, and another time there was like a grilled cheese sandwich. It´s just funny. You never know what to expect.
Also, it is gorgeous here in Mexico. Like so pretty. and it´s kinda funny cause we´re like inside a campus with a wall surrounding us, so we´re just completely cut off from the city. But then you look up at the mountains and see the colorful houses, and you´re like wow. I´m in Mexico. And it´s kinda funny to just have such a different life from the people outside and we are only separated by a wall. it hasn´t been super hot, but it has rained every day. It´s rainy season. but its not too bad. It´s kinda funny thought because it will be so bright and sunny and beautiful, but then an hour later it will be pouring rain outside. Like so much. and this happens everyday, so we can at least expect it. But on Sunday there was a CRAZY storm. like it started pouring and the wind was insane and blowing everywhere. And then it started hailing for like 10 minutes. So that was crazy... And on the walk to our next thing I saw the hail on the ground and I just had to eat some. I haven´t had ice at all since I have been here. And the hail was SO GOOD, but I know that i shouldn´t, so I didn´t have any more...
And finally, my campañera and my district! I really like my compañera. we get along really well, which is good since I´m with her literally all the time. But it is just the two of us in our casa, so that´s nice we don´t have to share. She´s from Utah though, and going to Redlands, CA. But she´s fun! And then my district is also awesome! there are 10 of us, 2 sets of Elders, and 3 sets of hermanas. But we are all super close, and it feels like we've known each other forever, but it´s only been a little over a week. But even already we have so many inside jokes, and they are all just really fun to be around!
So I am loving it here! i´m having a great time! I miss you all!! But it was fun to hear about what everyone has going on. It´s gotta be nice to be done with school for everyone! And way to go Lilly on being the MVP!!! That´s awesome!! i loved seeing all those pictures though! you guys are all awesome and I love you all so much and I pray for you guys!!
Also, I forgot to say this but My compañera´s name is Hermana Jensen. She´s awesome
Love you so so much!!!
Kiley,
Hermana Atkinson
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