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 (:
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