Hola!

Hola mi familia! I miss and love you all so much, but I know I'm where I'm supposed to be! I arrived at the MTC around 8 o'clock last night and we were all exhausted. On the flight to Atlanta Hermana Sanchez and I sat next to a man on his way home to Alabama named Bobo Jackson. He was an extremely sweet older man with a deep southern accent. He knows the bible like the back of his hand and spoke to us about it for the majority of the flight. Towards the end of the flight, he told us that we have many more years left than he does and that we should spend those years sharing what we know with people. He was not a member, but he told us that every time he has had interaction with LDS missionaries, he's been able to tell that there is something special about them. Even though he did not have the fullness of the gospel, he had the Spirit with him. We were so blessed to be able to sit by him.

We just finished going through orientation and I am definitely going to learn Spanish by immersion. For the most part, they only speak Spanish to us (which made orientation interesting) I'm understanding it fairly well because they're speaking slowly and being very patient with us all. The dorms that we're living in are fairly nice, and I have a feeling we'll be missing their 'luxury' once we get to Panama. Also, the food here is wonderful. So much fruit!

Mexico City is beautiful! It was pouring rain when we got here last night and I thought the temperature was perfect, but all of the natives were freezing (it was about 75 degrees). We're entering the rainy season, so it pretty much pours every afternoon. The MTC is right next to the temple, so that was the first thing we got to see. That was a wonderful way to be welcomed into the city, and it felt like all the craziness of the streets was left behind us. It's such a radiant building and I'm hoping we get a chance to go while we're here.

I am in a companionship with 2 other sisters. Hermana Sanchez is almst 20 and from Taylorsville. Her dad is from Mexico, but she doesn't know any Spanish because they didn't speak it much in the home. Hermana Bennett is 19 and from Idaho Falls. I'm the youngest one of the group. We are also the only English-speaking sisters going to Panama. The latino sisters arrived this morning, but we haven't gotten much of a chance to meet them, then there's also the issue of the language barrier. I guess it's a good thing that the Spirit is a universal language. I think there are also 6 English-speaking elders that are going with us. We all got to know each other pretty well on the plane and we were able to find some cool connections between us all.

I was studying the love of God most recently. One of the key attributes of Christ was His complete selflessness and His love for people; that is what allowed Him to touch so many lives. Also, in Alma 20, King Lamoni's heart was changed once he saw the love of God in Ammon, that's what made the difference. I think that's what missionary work is all about. We can reach people by serving them and teaching them the love and joy that they can feel when they live the gospel and make personal covenants with God. We've been so blessed to have the knowledge that we do and the truth that we have sets us apart from the rest of the world. I'm looking forward to sharing it with others. The more the merrier!

I don't have much else to say yet because it's all still fairly new to me, but I can feel that there is a sacred Spirit in this building and with these people. The MTC president and his wife are wonderful and so kind. We're in good hands.

I love you all more than I could possibly express and I'm grateful for each of you!

Go forward with faith,

Hermana Falslev (: