PRIMERO SEMANA

¡Hola! 

Este semana fue muy bién! This week has been amazing! I have learned so much, and I've only been here a week! I can't believe it. 

Earlier this week, we had a broadcast devotional with Elder M. Russell Ballard. He spoke at the MTC in Provo, and it was broadcast to many other MTCs. He talked about what he wished he had known when he was on his mission. Some of the points were 
1. To realize you do not know very much, but can get to know a lot.

2. Live in such a way that when the Lord asks you to do something, you are ready and can say "Here am I, send me"

3. Get as much education as you can. What you learn on your mission will help with everything else you have to do in life.

4. Get more in depth with the scriptures

5. Life is a process of setting goals.

6. Stay close to your families. Let them know what is happening. Let them live your mission with you.

7. Every soul is precious to our Father in Heaven.

8. Prayer. Find time to pour your heart out in personal, sacred, prayer.

9. Interview yourself. Are you doing everything you can to build the Kingdom of God? Do the best you can every single day of your mission. Let the powers of Heaven fall upon you.

One of his last statements that stuck with me was this: "You're going on His errand. He loves you. He'll watch over you."

Here in México, it is not the MTC, but is the CCM (pronounced se se emme), and stands for Centro de Capatación Misional.  Everyone here is so nice. The food is great, the weather is always nice... 

Mi compañera es Hermana Singer. She is from Houston, TX. Our roommates are Hermana Cook, from Orange County, CA and Hermana Hogge, from Kaysville, UT. They are so wonderful! I am so blessed to be able to work with these wonderful Hermanas. 

In our district, there are 6 Hermanas and 6 Elders. They are all so amazing! They are the best. Their testimonies strengthen mine everyday.

Ok, so it is totally cliché to hear missionaries say that Sunday is the best day... but I am going to say it anyway. SUNDAYS ARE THE BEST! Seriously though. The Spirit is so strong everyday of the week, but Sundays it is even more so! Sacrament Meeting was all in Spanish... which was pretty awesome. During the week, everyone in the ward is given the topic for the upcoming Sacrament meeting, and everyone writes a talk, and then on Sunday in Sacrament meeting, the Branch Presidency picks who will give their talk. I did not talk this last Sunday, and this coming Sunday is Fast Sunday, and then it is General Conference... So, maybe in a couple weeks, I will speak :)

This week, we taught our first "Investigator".. He will be our night teacher when we are done teaching him... but it is amazing. The lessons feel real. The Spirit is there. He asks us questions about certain aspects of the gospel, and we are able to answer them. It is such a special experience.

Today, we had two General Authorities come and speak to us. Elder Stephen B. Allen (Managing Director of the Church's Missionary Department) and Elder David F. Evans (Member of the 1st quorum of the 70, and also the Executive Director of the Church's Missionary Department)

Both of them gave such amazing talks. Elder Allen spoke about how our objectives as missionaries is more that Find, Teach, and Baptize. It should be Find, Teach, Baptize, and  Retain or Reactivate. Our focus should not only be baptism. It should also be on them making it to the temple and making those special covenants with our Heavenly Father.

He also said, "Be careful to listen to the right voice. The Holy Ghost will tell you all things which ye must do, but the Adversary will also talk to you. Only he will tell you that you can't do this. That you aren't strong enough, or smart enough, and that you should go home. DON'T LISTEN! You were called of God to serve this mission. He knows you can do this. Always remember that you will never regret going on your mission."

When he said this, it hit me so strongly. I have had doubts about whether or not I can do this, but his (Elder Allen's) witness and testimony builds my own testimony that I am here for a reason. God knows me, and knows what challenges I need to face in this life. I know that there are people in San Antonio, waiting for me to teach them.

I love you all so much. Thank you for all of your support!!

See you next week, TTFN!

Love, Hermana Dean