What an incredible adventure it has been these last few weeks. So I've got only 3 more weeks at the CCM after this and have heard rumors of much more allowed time to email in the field which I am GREATLY looking forward to because the greatest achievements of a member of the church will be within the walls of their own home. Entonces I need to send emails home in order to do missionary work for my family and friends as well. I hope you've seen some blessings in your life from my constant prayers for all of you. I CONSTANTLY am reminded of each and every one of you, the love and kindness you've shown me, and so much more. Your individual problems are in my mind and prayers daily... seeing as I say somewhere around 15 of those a day now. The days and weeks are long looking back on them (it feels like I've been here 3 meses not semanas). Spanglish is my first language now so.... sorry but not sorry about those words haha.
Random facts of these past few weeks: The CCM is kept pretty clean and protected. The most common saying among the missionaries down here is ¿¡Qué en el mundo!? The food almost EVERY day contains some combination of rice, chicken or beef, TONS of bread, and cold veggies with occasional fruits. But for those of you that know me very well.... I still love my bread. My schedule is pretty much wake up at 630, pray and get ready, go to breakfast around 715, personal study from 8 to 9, class from 9 to lunch at 1230, working on a language computer program called TALL for an hour, additional language study for half an hour, preparing for physical activity, and then phy. act. for an hour which has been a 20 or 30 minute workout with a few guys in my district and pretty much soccer every day for this past week and I'm managing to actually get stronger and have a ton of fun, then prepare for more class, class from 445 to 615, dinner at 615, class from 7-pm, planning until 930, getting ready for bed, talking to people, and writing in my journal until 1030 and then sleeping. SUPER busy and we learn grammar, teaching skills, new verbs, and actually do role playing teaching with a new investigator (our teacher acting like someone they know) about 5 times a week as a companionship for 20 minutes ALL in Spanish.
I had an INCREDIBLE experience this week teaching one of our investigators named Blanca who is actually our teacher Hermana Sandra Oliveros. It's very tough to try to really desire planning and preparing for someone that isn't a real investigator but my companion and I really buckled down and got ready for this important lesson with Blanca as a Catholic wondering why she needs to pray to know that the B.o.M. is true when she just feels that the she believes the bible is true when she reads it. WE taught an amazing lesson and brought the spirit in which climaxed when Blanca said her first prayer in 3 lessons to KNOW that the BoM is true. For whatever reason, Elder Smith and I agreed with her when she asked if she could just open to a random scripture right after she prayed to receive her answer of the truth like she had down in the past for comfort with scriptures from the bible..... Oh my wow.... she opened to Alma 31:38.... a comforting scripture almost IDENTICAL to a scripture she had described comforting her as a child in the Bible. Elder Smith, Hermana Oliveros (Blanca), and I all received yet another witness by the holy ghost and this scripture of the truth of the Book of Mormon. The truth of the Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion.... If you feel like your testimony is wavering or you just need a spiritual boost I HIGHLY recommend rereading Moroni 10:3-5 and preparing yourself sufficiently spiritually for the incredible experience that comes from asking if the Book of Mormon is true.
My companion Elder Smith got called to be the district leader this past week :) We have become MUCH closer friends and a stronger companionship this week.
Always remember that you are a representative of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and you never know who´s watching because for whatever reason a random Latino (they are on a 2 week training session schedule so we´ll see three sets of them by the end of this) by the name of Elder Ccesa has taken to me this past week and we're best friends now. He had me write in English in the front of his Book of Mormon and I'm going to help him consecrate oil in English tonight and he's going to help me do it in Spanish. The Latinos seem to laugh at everything and are very loving, they are just a blast to be around and destroy at soccer. You never know the impact you can have on others.
I love you all and I'd like to finish by baring my testimony in Spanish. Yo sé que esta iglesia es la solamente verdedera iglesia del mundo. Yo sé que Jesucristo es mi Salvador y el Salvador de todas la gente. Él ama nosotros con todo Su corazón y mediante Su Expiación.... nosotros podemos limpio otra vez. Yo amo este Evangelio y todos de ustedes..... en el nombre de Jesucristo, amen. More next week. :)
My companion Elder Smith got called to be the district leader this past week :) We have become MUCH closer friends and a stronger companionship this week.
Always remember that you are a representative of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and you never know who´s watching because for whatever reason a random Latino (they are on a 2 week training session schedule so we´ll see three sets of them by the end of this) by the name of Elder Ccesa has taken to me this past week and we're best friends now. He had me write in English in the front of his Book of Mormon and I'm going to help him consecrate oil in English tonight and he's going to help me do it in Spanish. The Latinos seem to laugh at everything and are very loving, they are just a blast to be around and destroy at soccer. You never know the impact you can have on others.
I love you all and I'd like to finish by baring my testimony in Spanish. Yo sé que esta iglesia es la solamente verdedera iglesia del mundo. Yo sé que Jesucristo es mi Salvador y el Salvador de todas la gente. Él ama nosotros con todo Su corazón y mediante Su Expiación.... nosotros podemos limpio otra vez. Yo amo este Evangelio y todos de ustedes..... en el nombre de Jesucristo, amen. More next week. :)
Sincerely,
Elder Van Horne
C.C.M.
Iron work outside the CCM (for mom)
One of the taller buses we ride on with actually plenty of room
Our walk to Tottus one of the grocery stores
Let me know if there is somethin in particular you want a pic of! Love you all!
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