Thursday 27 November 2014

Week 3 in the CCM (MTC)

Hola!

THANK YOU for the package!  I received it yesterday and I am so grateful!  When I saw the bag of popcorn I whooped for joy!  I'm going to share it with my District or room-mates today. 

On Saturday, we had our very first TRC.  That´s when volunteers from the local area come to the campus and we practice teaching and talking with them!  I was super nervous because I wasn't sure what to expect.  We had prepared something to teach but I knew that there would be a good chance that we would end up doing something else.  Turns out, the people we talked to were 2 kids that were touring the campus!  They were SO cute!  One was Santiago and the other was Juan I'm pretty sure.  I'm not too definite on their names because they spoke really fast.  Both were wearing  "Futuro Misionero" badges.  We decided to have a Q and A with them because they wanted to know what it was like to be a missionary.  This experience helped me realize that we need to teach the gospel with the simplicity of a child.  

The language is coming along! I'm feel a lot more comfortable with it and Hermana Pemberton and I try to speak Spanish as much as we can. I realized this week that we should never apologize for our Spanish.  We're all learning a new language and no one expects us to be perfect!  

For the Service project yesterday, we set up Christmas trees and decorations all around the campus.  I was kinda sad that I was going to miss the family tradition of decorating the Christmas tree but I here, I was able to complete the family tradition with my new family!  
While we were setting up some garland, one of the Hermanas started singing "Silent Night." I jumped in with the Alto and a couple Elders struck up the Base and Tenor.  It sounded like Mo-Tab (Mormon Tabernacle Choir) in the reception hall! It was a great bonding experience.  


Scripture of the week:
Do you ever feel like you need direction in you're life?  You need answers to questions but you don't know where to find them?  

James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given  him.

Sanitago 1:5- Y si alguno vosotros tiene falta de Sabidurá, Pídala a Dios, quien da a abudantemente, y sin reproche, y le sera dada.

(sorry if there were any typos. I had to write that from memory)

Word of the Week:
The word of the week (or phrase) is "Estoy agradecido(a)" because this week is American thanksgiving.  It means "I am thankful.

Yo sé que el Libro de Mormon es verdad.  Yo sé que a Dios nos ama.  Él es nuestro Padre Celestial.  Yo sé que Jesucristo es el Salvador.  Este conocimiento me ayuda a superar desafíos porque yo sé que Jesucristo me ensene.  Estoy agradecida por la opportunidad aprender a la CCM y por mi llamamiento misional.  Amo a Dios y no puedo esperar para ayudar a su pueblo.

You might want to google translate that :)


P.S. Sorry if I don't email you back.  We only have about an hour each week to email. 

Wednesday 19 November 2014

Week 2- The land of OZ

Mi amigos y familia,

Thank you for sending the pictures!  It meant a lot to me.  To be honest I haven't been home sick. I guess I was ready to start this new chapter of my life.  But, when I saw the family pictures, I did start to tear up a little.  I miss being able to talk to you guys every day. 

It's great to hear of all the missionary experiences you've been having Dad!  I'm proud of you!  It can be quite scary to talk to strangers.  I think the CCM is breaking me of that fear though.  (referring to his sharing his beliefs with some people at the gym)

I'm glad you're alive Caleb!  I was biting my nails as I was reading your email!  Angels were truly looking after you guys! (referring to his stuck in snow adventures in Bracebridge)
I'm sorry if I didn't wave to you one last time at the airport.  I - a] didn't hear you and b] was trying really hard not to cry in front of hundreds of people!  Thank you all who came to the airport to say goodbye.  I love you all so much!

Now I'll get to telling you about my week.

Holy Cow! Where has it gone?  My zone leader was right when he said, "The days go by as weeks and the weeks go by as days." We're almost halfway through our duration in the CCM


The CCM (Missionary training center in Mexico)

The living quarters are really nice here.  It's kinda like a gated community.  In each house there are 4 bedrooms that house 4 girls.  We have our own laundry machines and dryers.  One thing I really wish I knew before I came here is that you need to bring dryer sheets!  They don't sell them at the store here.
  
I feel really safe in the CCM.  The workers here are so nice and there's a 12 foot fence around the whole community.  No one gets in or out unless you go through the front gates.  

Kate, you asked me if we had earthquake safety zones.  It's true.  There are green circles painted onto the ground outside of the buildings.  If they ever sound an alarm, we have to meet at the closest circle.  

The campus store is called La "Tienda"  I thought it meant store in Spanish but while I was reading the Book of Mormon in Spanish, I discovered that it really means "tent." They have a whole wall dedicated to what are called "Chokis." They're kinda like chips-a-hoy but way better.  And the juice here is muy bueno!

The Elders here are so sweet!  My Companion was getting really sick from the food so Elder Wabel, from the other district, gave her a bunch of American food his mom sent him.  I love how everyone looks after each other!  

At sacrament meeting we meet as a zone.  Everyone is required to write a talk on the topic of the week.  Then the branch president can call anyone up at anytime to share their talk.  It's like playing Russian Roulette! Last Sunday, guess who had to give a talk?  Yours truly.  It was one of the most terrifying things I've had to do so far!  I felt like my progression of the language was not as good as it should have been.  I feel like the branch president was inspired though. I really needed that opportunity to boost my confidence.  After the talk, everyone said that I spoke beautiful Spanish.  Apparently, my accent is pretty good.  

Everyone here is so petite and short!  Not just the Latinos but some of the other Sisters too.  Sometimes I feel like Dorothy in Munchkin Land!  Like when I shook our new investigator's hand.  Mine completely engulfed hers! 

I love it here! The weather is beautiful!  The people are friendly and the Spirit is so strong!

Most Spiritual Experience

I think the most spiritual experience I had this week was during the Sunday devotional.  They play devotionals that were given at the Provo MTC.  The one we watched was a Christmas Devotional from about 2 years ago that was given by Elder Bednar.  Oh. My. Goodness.  It was the best talk I have EVER heard!  I will admit, last week I was having a hard time.  I was frustrated with myself because I felt like I wasn't improving as well as I should.  I became, I guess, self centered.  

In the talk, Elder Bednar said that we need to stop thinking about ourselves.  His exact words were "get over yourself! This isn't about you." It made me realize that I was thinking too much about myself.  I wanted what I wanted, and I wanted it right away!  I couldn't think like that. I needed to stop.  This mission is not about me or what I want. 
Since this hearing this talk, I've worked to put my wants out of the equation and think only of others.  I feel a lot more free and happy!
Elder Bednar talked about the "Character of Christ" and how we need to develop them.  He said "Your work is more about who you are and what you are rather than what you say." That helped me realize that it doesn't matter if I can't speak the language very well.  My example and how I act is more important.



Favourite Scripture of the Week

Moroni 7:33 - And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me. 



Word of the Week

I've decided to challenge you all to remember a Spanish word a week!  This week's word is hablar, or to speak, because I'm learning to speak Spanish and now you are too! :]



I love you all!  Thank you for you're emails and letters. I'm sorry if I don't respond to all of them.  I'll try my best!



Love, 

Hermana Jakob


P.S. You can send me snail mail for free while I'm at the CCM via dearelder.com or packages through missionarypackagemx.com.  You can't send packages any other way the the CCM.











Wednesday 12 November 2014

My First Week Over!

Well, I made it! Everyone here says that If you make it through your first week you're golden!  I'll admit it was very hard the first 2 days.  The teachers right off the bat started talking in full Spanish and told us that we would be teaching our first investigator the next day.  Talk about intimidating! But I now know that the gift of tongues is very real! I can understand what people are saying even though I have a very limited Spanish vocabulary.  When I teach the lessons, a word that I heard maybe once, pops into my mind.

Our first lesson with our investigator Diego went pretty well!  We started off by getting to know him a little better and get a feel for his religious background.  The second lesson was AMAZING! We taught him the Restoration and challenged him to read the Book of Mormon and pray to know if our message was true.  I sang "Search, Ponder and Pray" and he started to tear up!  The spirit was so strong!  We felt ecstatic!

On the other hand, the lesson we taught yesterday was terrible.  It was a truly humbling experience. The Spirit wasn't present. We couldn't piece a single sentence together and when he spoke, we couldn't understand what he said. I think God was teaching us a lesson.  We can't do this work without him.  We have to focus on the needs of our investigators and give all the glory to our Heavenly Father.

I had an interesting experience this week.  My cold became worse a couple days after I arrived.  I couldn't sleep, eat, breath or concentrate so I asked my District leader if he would give me a blessing. The blessing strengthened my testimony of the power of priesthood.

I love our district.  They're like family.  They can be goofy at times, as boys can be, but they are role models to me. They're all Americans so we like to make fun of each other.

My companion is Hermana Pemberton. Yes, she is the one from the blog! (BTW in case you are interested her blog address is: http://southamericasister.com/ )  I laughed out loud when I read Dad's description of her.  She asked what was funny and I told her how ironic it was that my parents know of one person at the CCM (mexican missionary training center) and it happened to be my companion.

Hermana Pemberton is honestly the best companion anyone could ask for.  Her and I are a lot alike in work ethic, our view on life and in our love for the Lord.  She is my support and I really admire and love her!




The teachers are amazing! I admire their spirit and skill in teaching the gospel.  They also only teach in Spanish.   One day I hope to be like them.

The Sunday devotionals are great!  They pipe them in from Provo so we get to hear the Apostles talk to us.

The CCM is BEAUTIFUL! It's nestled between three mountains.  Little concrete houses are built right into the side of the mountains.  In the morning,  the mist rolls around the tops and makes it look all ethereal like.  It's a lot colder than I thought it would be down here.  In the mornings, you need a jacket to keep warm.  The food is pretty good!  The majority of the food is Mexican with a little bit of American mixed in! I eat tortillas, hot sauce, beans and rice every day! The fresh fruit is delicious!  I can't eat enough papaya.  Fortunately, I haven't been sick from the food.  I think it could be because we eat so much Mexican inspired stuff at home

BTW!! There is a super awesome website called missionarypackagemx.com you can send me letters and they'll get to me in about 24 hours instead of 10+ days. AAANNDD you have the option of sending a box of Krispie Cream doughnuts :}  

Thank you for your prayers.  I have felt their strength.

Until next week!

Friday 7 November 2014

I Made It!

Hello everyone!

I don't have much time but I just wanted you to know that I made it to the MTC safe and sound!  Boy do I feel like fish out of water! Despite all that, I'm going to work my hardest to learn the language.  It's strange, I can't speak it but I understand most of what they say.  
I met a very nice man on the plane to Detroit.  I had the opportunity to share share with him what I'll be doing for the next 18 months.  I shared a little bit about the gospel to him but I didn't manage to place the Book of Mormon mom gave me.  That's ok! I'll sure I'll share a bunch of them in the next couple of months.  
I met 5 other missionaries at the Detroit airport.  One is from Alaska! he's going to have fun with the heat!

Well, my time is running out.  My Pday is Wed. so I'll be writing you every week at that time.

here is my address:
:
Hermana Jakob
Dec. 16 2014 [Branch 11- District D ]
Carretera Tenayuca-Chalmita #828
Colonia Zona Escolar, Gustavo A. Madero
07230 Mexico, Distrito Federal
Mexico

The estimated departure date for your missionary is Dec. 16 2014. The use of the
above address on all correspondence will greatly facilitate delivery to your missionary
at the MTC. Please don't send packages.

Bound for Mexico City MTC


Leaving Toronto Airport bound for Mexico City MTC

Bye Bye Family!




One last family trip to Nauvoo before I leave on my mission :)


Got My Mission Call, Finally!

finally came in.... apparently it was sent to the Cayman Islands before getting to Canada. This delayed my call by 2 weeks and WOW I am leaving in 3 weeks!?!  How am I going to get everything ready in time?