Dani Arrived in Panama Today 6-25-2013

  Danielle, arrived in Panama today.  The new arrivals made a trip to the Panama Temple. The Mission President maintains a blog and posts pictures from time to time.

The link is below.
http://www.panamamission2010-2013.blogspot.com/

MTC Photo

Dani is in the yellow, almost in the middle twords the right, and on the second row.

Almost to Panama.

I only have 6 days left in the CCM, I can't believe my time here has almost come to an end! I am so grateful to have had the chance to come to Mexico with these 18 other American missionaries. We've made history and we've had experiences that nobody else will ever have. This truly has been a remarkable opportunity. I love the people that I have met here with all of my heart. In the last five weeks I have been taken out of my comfort zone in every possible meaning of the term, but I have grown in incredible ways because of it. I know that this is only the beginning and that I still have so much more to learn as I move on to Panamá. Nathan warned me that everytime I got comfortable I should expect change because the Lord does not want us in our comfort zones. We learn the most when we are outside of our comfort zones. It is then that we are truly humbled and must rely on the Lord. It is then that we become teachable and the Lord can provide us with pieces of our full potential.

Most of our appointments are just instructors who take on the roles of 'investigators'. We also have TRC, which is when voluteers (usually members) come to the CCM to meet with the missionaries. This gives us a chance to speak with native speakers in a real-life situation. We always learn a lot from these experiences. Usually we just teach individuals, but a couple of days ago we were able to teach a family of four. I loved teaching them. Talking with them reaffirmed to me that this gospel is true in any language, in any country.

We've also been given the rare opportunity to teach a real investigator. Our instructor's friend is not a member and has been coming for a couple of weeks. His name is Itzvan. He believes that truth is inside each of us and we don't necessarily need to attend a church or have organized religion. He is also quite fond of marijuana and hallucinogens. All of the American companionships have been able to teach him. At the end of one of the lessons last week, he mentioned to our instructor that he felt something amazing that he didn't think he had ever felt before. Our instructor explained that he was feeling the Holy Ghost, like he had been taught. He expressed that he wants to be baptized! Teaching Itzvan has been an incredible experience. I have felt such a love for him even though I don't know him very well. I've been blessed to feel a little bit of how God loves His children. I was praying in preparation for our lesson with him last week when I received the distinct impression that God had been calling Itzvan's name. God is calling Itzvan to return to Him and wants nothing more. I could feel that same desire that God feels for His children to return. Unfortunately, we later found out that Itzvan was not going to make it to our appointment because he had overslept. My heart broke, and again I was able tot receive a glimpse into the way our Heavenly Father feels towards His children. It's amazing the love we're able to feel towards our investigators, there's nothing like it. I know something very good is about to happen with Itzvan and that's why there is an added measure of opposition. Thankfully, I also know that the will of God will be accomplished, despite opposition.

It rains quite a bit here, but last Wednesday we had the rainstorm of all rainstorms. It poured buckets for about 6 straight hours. We were walking through about 2-3 inches of water on our way to dinner. I loved it! There's something about watching such an awe-inspiring storm that brings a smile to my face. It was breath-taking. I have more of those kind of storms to look forward to in Panamá.

We get to go to the temple for the last time today. The Mexico City temple is beautiful and we've been very blessed to have the opportunity to go every week. It's been just one of the innumerable tender mercies that I receive every day here.

One last thought . . . we watched a devotional by Elder Richard G. Scott on Sunday. At the end of His testimony he shared something that really hit me. He said, "I know Jesus Christ lives BECAUSE I love Him." I'm not sure why that thought hit me as hard as it did, but I was grateful for it. Just a thought to ponder for the week :)

I hope you are all doing well and I love you all more than words can express!

Go foward with faith,

Hermana Falslev

Suprise!

My P-Day got changed to Tuesday this week because all of the American missionaries got to go on a trip to Teotihuacán, Pyramid of the Sun today. Teotihuacán has the ruins of an ancient civilization (the city was in it's prime in about 800 AD, if I remember correctly from a class I took in high school) We just barely got back and it was AMAZING! The temples there are beautiful and the symbolism of everything there is mind-blowing. As you know, I love that kind of stuff, so I was grinning from ear to ear the entire time. Even though the prime of this civilization was during the Great Apostacy, it was built before the death of Christ, while the truth was still on the earth. The structure of and the ceremonies performed in these temples were extremely similar to what we have today. Some of the carvings even allude to the garment and very specific things about the endowment session. I won't go into detail, but I was amazed. It will definitely be a highlight of my mission. We also climbed to the top of the Pyramid of the Sun....so many stairs....steep stairs. It was a breathtaking experience though. I learned so much and it only added to me love of culture, especially ancient cultures. I felt like I was walking around in Book of Mormom times. Ahh, I'm still giddy about the opportunity we had to go! I have lots of pictures and if I ever figure out a way to get my pictures on the computer I'd love to send you some. Also, this trip meant that I got to wear jeans....which was glorious!

Another reason I loved this trip was because I got a chance to get outside of the temple square boundaries. I often have to remind myself that I'm in Mexico City because I don't get to see much outside of the gate. Well, I got to see Mexico City today and it was a very humbling experience. We are so blessed! I don't think I could explain some of the sights that I saw on our way out of the city, but they will forever be engrained in my mind. Absolute and extreme poverty, and I'm even in a nicer part of the city. The people I saw and the houses that I saw them living in made me so incredibly grateful to my Father in Heaven for all that I have. I love the people here with all my heart though. I've met some of the kindest hearted people while I've been here, and I love them all.

So, I'm in a companionship of three. My companions are both wonderful, but struggle a little with the language, and have come to rely on me during our appointments with our 'investigators'. Because of this, during our last appointment, they wanted my companions to teach by themselves to see how they did. I was supposed to watch the recording from the camera that is in the room and evaluate the lesson. I wasn't sure how I felt about this at first, but I think it was beneficial for us all. My companions became more confident with their Spanish and realized that they can take on bigger roles during our lessons. I'm very happy about this because I was beginning to feel a bit stressed because I was taking on the majority of the workload. I'll be grateful for their input.

I've learned so much about my responsibility to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord this week. On Sunday I was asked to give a short talk. I had prepared some thoughts about the Doctrine of Christ, the theme for the entire meeting. About 5 minutes before I was supposed to speak I was impressed to center what I said around 3 Nephi 12:16. I wasn't sure why I needed to share this, but if I've learned anything in my life it's that you never ignore a prompting from the Lord. I only had 4 minutes to speak, so I simply shared the scripture and a few of my thoughts about it. Nothing out of the ordinary happened, I sat down and the meeting continued. Later that night, right before going back to the dorms, one of the elders from my district, Elder Kipp, came up and thanked me so sincerely for sharing what I did. He told me that he knows it was specifically meant for him. He shook my hand and thanked me for following the Spirit. There are few things that bring more joy than knowing that somebody received the help that they needed because the Lord could use you as an instrument in his hands.

I had a similar experience last night (Monday). Elder Cochran, another elder from my district, and I are very similar and get along extremely well. We've become very good friends. Last night we were both having a difficult time after our lessons. While the rest of our district was talking and getting ready to go to the dormitories, I noticed that Elder Cochran was having a rough time over at his desk. I decided to share one of my favorite scriptures with him. I found it right before leaving and it has helped me a lot. We've talked a lot and I knew that this scripture was PERFECT for him too. I didn't realize that this passage of scripture started out by addressing 'Thomas'. Thomas is Elder Cochran's first name. It is as if this scripture was written specifically for him. He read it and I could see the light come back into his face. He looked at me and told me that he wanted nothing more than to hug me, but unfortunately mission rules forbid it. He gave me a very hearty handshake though. I know that the thought I had to share that scripture was directly from the Lord, and I'm grateful that I followed the prompting and was able to brighten someone's day.

I am quickly running out of time, but I also encourage you guys to listen to Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's January 11 2011 Provo MTC devotional. We watched it on sunday and he blew me away yet again with the power that he has when he speaks. Also, I spent a lot of time studying John 15 this week alongside 'The Challenge to Become' by Dallin H. Oaks.

Also, thank you so much for the package! The instructor came into our classroom with it and my heart leaped when I found out it was for me. It's the smallest of the Lord's tender mercies that brighten my day the most.

Family, I love you all SO much! I'm sure I'm forgetting something in this letter, but I guess I'll just have to include it next time. I'm hoping to be able to send you pictures next week as well. You're all amazing and wonderful examples to me!

Much love!!

Go forward with faith!

Hermana Falslev

Halfway There!

How are you all doing?! I love hearing about your weeks! I'm glad to hear that Alyssa's tryouts went well and I hope she loves the new league. Also, I hope Nathan's birthday was wonderful!

Well, I'm officially halfway through my time here at the CCM. I'm loving my time here, but I'm looking forward to finally getting to Panama and not sitting in classes all day. Also, I'm really going to miss the missionaries in my district. I have no doubt this group of 19 missionaries were sent here for a reason, we have all become best friends. We already have our reunion planned for when the elders get home.

There are some amazing storms here that put the ones in Utah to shame. The other night there was an awe-inspiring storm. One end of the sky was the most beautiful blue I've ever seen, while the other side had huge storm clouds with a thunder/lightning storm going on behind them. Eventually the clouds made it over the temple grounds and we were in the middle of the storm. It started out hailing like crazy, then it turned into buckets of rain. Amongst all of this chaos a rainbow was directly over teh temple. It was beautiful and brought a giant grin to my face. It's truly humbling and amazing to witness a storm like that. It's wonderful to think that a God who has the power to create that still takes the time to help us with so many seemingly insignificant small things.

The Spanish is coming. I'm able to have a decent conversation now...usually. I have to frequently remind myself that learning a language is a process (a long one that I'm trying to complete in a mere 6 weeks). My perfectionist tendencies are being tested. It is a beautiful language though, and I love it. Here's some food for thought: The way a prayer is said in Spanish is a little different than when it's said in English. An English prayer generally uses pretty formal, respective language. When you say a prayer in Spanish, it is still respectful, but you're supposed to use the informal conjugations -- like your talking to your best friend. I think that is a beautiful concept.

Earlier this week, I was studying in Alma 41. In this chapter we learn that being without God is a state contrary to the nature of happiness. We also learn that a resurrection or restoration means to bring back again or return to an original state. When we are resurrected, we will return to live with God, our Heavenly Father, which is our natural state. Also, that means that if we are with God, we are in a state of happiness. Happiness must also be our natural state. That means it is in our nature to be happy! I think that's why we get so happy when we feel the spirit, it's natural. I love that idea!

I also thought a lot about the Atonement this week. Christ felt everything I feel...everything. He even feels my pain when I stub my little toe, which is possibly the most painful thing known to mankind. He also understand how I feel when I stray off of the right path. He suffered for all of it. That made me want to be a little bit more careful about walking a little straighter --physically and spiritually.

On Tuesday we were blessed to have a devotional with the area president, Elder Daniel L. Johnson. I learned so much from that meeting and don't have time to share it all, but one thing really stood out to me. He explained that thereis only one way to love, and that is through service. When you forget yourself and think more of others, love naturally follows. As a missionary, I have been called to SERVE. I've been called to set apart all of myself and learn how to love. I'm the Lord's missionary and He loves perfectly, so I need to do my best to love perfectly as well.

It's time for lunch, then we're going to the temple, which is one of my favorite parts of the week. I'm sorry my letters are always so scatter-brained. I feel like I have a lifetime to tell you all about in such a short amount of time. Do you guys have any questions about anything?

Family, I love you all so very much! I think about you often and how blessed I am to have you. Much love to you all!

Go forward with faith,

Hermana Falslev

Week 2- a little extra

I'm so pleased to hear that you are all doing well! It sounds like you guys have had some awesome experiences lately. Dad, thank you for sharing the experience you had in the temple with me, I know that the work done in the temple and family history work in general is so important. We don't really get to work on family history here, but we do get to go to the temple every week and it's always a wonderful experience. Alyssa, good luck at your soccer try-outs and I'm glad you're about to get a break from school. You're amazing! Mom, that's so cool that you could find connections with your ancestors like that. One thing I've learned while out here is that we are all connected in some way or another, and it's really cool to find those little connections. I am in the old Mexico CCM right now and will remain here the entire time. We are the first and last American missionaries to be here in this MTC, so it is a pretty cool opportunity. We will probably be helping them move into the new MTC because they will be making the move right after we leave for the field. Also, I sent a letter for the family, but I don't know when it'll arrive. If it doesn't arrive before Friday, HAPPY BIRTHDAY NATHAN! I hope you are all doing wonderfully and I love hearing about all that you're doing.

Oh man, I don't even know where to start. I've learned so much! I feel like I have a lifetime to tell you about in such a small amount of time. My thoughts may be a little scattered, but I'll do my best...

We got a visit from Elder Christofferson last week. That was an amazing devotional. It's a rare experience that you get to be in such a small setting with an Apostle. He spoke about missionary work, which taught me a lot, but the amazing part came when he began to bear his testimony and witness of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He changed, his entire demeanor changed, you could see it in his countenance. It was one of the most powerful testimonies of Christ that I have ever heard. At that moment, the Spirit bore witness to me that what he was saying was and is true.

The language is coming. I definitely feel like I've progressed, but we all still have a long way to go. Since I've been praying and bearing testimony in Spanish, my expressions have become much more simple. At first it kind of bothered me that I wasn't able to express all of my thoughts as well as I wanted to, but I've really come to appreciate the simplicity of it. Although, it is very simple and child-like, these prayers are some of the most powerful prayers I've ever said. I've realized that all I really have to offer to the Lord is my will. I can choose to serve Him whole-heartedly. This is a very humbling experience, and I have had to learn to rely wholly upon the Lord. I couldn't do this without the grace of God. Grace is a divine, enabling power that is meant to be used in this life, not just on judgement day. The Lord's grace allows us to do what we cannot do by ourselves. Because our Heavenly Father loves us, it is available to all of us. As I've studied the Atonement this week, I have come to realize the key role that His grace plays. Nobody has sunk so low that they are beyond the power of the Atonement. Through our Savior, Jesus Christ, we are made complete.

The Latino missionaries that come through the CCM only stay for 2 weeks. My companions and I become very good friends with two from the last group, Hermanas Juarez and Perez. It was amazing how close we came in such a small amount of time. Hermana Perez and I became especially close. Her and I are both very certain that we knew eachother well before this life. It was an honor and a blessing to become friends with her and I hope you all can meet her some day. I'm surrounded by remarkable people here. I'm here with 18 other American missionaries and we are already like a family here. They are wonderful and I love them all so much!

It's been interesting to see my personal study change. At home, whenever I studied the scriptures or prayed it was almost always for myself. While I've been here it is almost always for somebody else. I study to know what to teach my 'investigators', I pray for my 'investigators' and companions. This work is about selflessness, and it's wonderful!

This is a beautiful city. We don't really get a chance to go out of the boundaries of the CCM, but the little glimpses that I do get are beautiful. The people are humble and so friendly. A mariachi band is almost alwyas playing right outside the gate and it's fun to listen to them play and sing. Also, it rains here every evening....like a lot. It takes less than a minute to get from my classroom to my dorm and I still manage to get completely soaked. I love it though because it clears the smog (there is a level of smog here that I didn't even believe possible) and then you can see bright blue sky and the most beautiful clouds. God has certainly created a beautiful world for us!

Sometimes I have to remind myself that I'm in Mexico City. It is definitely a foreign experience. Everything about this experience has put me out of my comfort zone, but I think that's a good thing. Also, all of the American missionaries may have overestimated our ability to handle the food here. Our stomachs are struggling to adjust, but on the bright side, hopefully I will have a stomach of steel by the time I get home. The temple is the one thing that doesn't feel completely foreign to me. Even though we do the sessions in Spanish, it feels the same. As soon as I walked into the temple last week I felt a familiar feeling of comfort and peace. I know that the temple is the House of the Lord and that it is a place to receive direction and to feel of His love for us.

I don't have much time left, but I'm going to try to attach some pictures for you guys. I want you all to know how much I love you. You are an incredible family and I'm so blessed to have you all. Jesus Christ came to this earth and lived a perfect life then died for us so that we can return to live with God and our families again. That is the good news of this gospel, I'm grateful for that truth and I'm excited to share it.

Go forward with faith!

Hermana Falslev (: