Week 2

What is up in the real world? It is crazy to think I have been here for two weeks already. I absolutely love it here. It is so much fun, and I am learning so much! My Spanish is coming along quickly, but I think I will have a long way to go before anyone other than my teachers can understand me. Oh well.

This week we had to say goodbye to our "Father District" from our zone as they all headed out to the field. That was hard, but I know they are all going to do amazing. We took a bunch of pictures so here they are........

We got a new district this week, and we have just met them once but they all seem super cool. And most of them are going back to the states, so I am not the only one now! 

Other than that this has been a pretty good week. Last P-day after e-mailing we got to go and play tennis, so that was a whole lot of fun! It is a tough tie between P-days and Sundays for the best days of the week. 

Other than that I don't have a whole lot to report. It has been a pretty routine week around here. About as routine as it can get at the CCM. Lots of classes, lots of studying, and of course lots of fun. Gym time is one of the best parts of the day. And of course, our zone has come up with every way possible to make even the dullest things fun.

I know there isn't a lot to write about this week, but it has been truly amazing. I have lots of pictures to prove it. :)

I am loving all of the opportunities I have and people I have gotten to meet here at the CCM. I know this is exactly where I need to be right now, and I can see God's hand in my life as I set out to do his work. There is no way I could do this without him. 

From sun up...

Until sun down, we never stop!

Enjoy all of the pictures, and I hope to actually remember my notes next week when we come to e-mail. That way I can remember more of what to say. Oops!

Lots of love

Hermana Miller

The only acceptable things to buy at the Tienda:Pino Jumex, Rancheritos, and Pixi Stix!

Week one at the CCM

What is up everybody!

The night we arrived

I officially made it through my first week at the CCM. It is awesome here! However, now nearly as warm as I had hoped it would be. All those sweaters that my mom mocked me for packing are now coming in super handy.

I should start by saying that my companion is Hermana Eyre, and she is from Utah, as is 95% of the English speakers at the CCM. No joke. But she is amazing. She spoke fluent French before she got here, so the Spanish is pretty hard for her, but she is dedicated, and she pushes me to be a better missionary and person (which has included getting out of bed at 5:30 in the morning to go running, which to anyone who knows me, it is not an easy thing to do.) We get along really well, and I couldn't have asked for a better first companion. We share a room with the other two girls in our district, Hermana Welch and Hermana Te'o (And before the questions start coming in, yes Mantai Te'o is her brother.)

Hermana Eyre being, well, Hermana Eyre

Our district is super and we are getting to know each other really fast. The vast amount of time that we spend locked in our classroom makes sure of that. Our zone is super awesome too. We do TONS of stuff together, and they are all super fun. 

Mom asked what our daily schedule was like, so I figured I would tell you about that.

6:30--Wake up

7:00--Personal study in our classrooms

8:00--Breakfast

8:30--Language with Hermano Munoz

9:30--Fundamentals of teaching (pretty much more Spanish)

10:30--Coaching (Basically individualized Spanish)

11:40--Gym Time (Aka King of the court volleyball with my zone)

1:00--Lunch 

1:30--Tienda Time (Although not an officially sanctioned part of the day, it is a crucial and important ritual of zone 10, and is the only way to survive the next hour which is...)

1:45--TALL (Spanish computer grammar)

2:45--Teach Arturo (he is our first "investigator" and we have to teach him completely in Spanish, seeing as he doesn't speak any English. I am very grateful for my previous Spanish knowledge.)

3:15--More studying (Hermana Eyre and I take this crucial period of the day to sit out in "Zona Rosa" and study a lot, and possibly get a little bit of sun tanning done at the same time. It is a double win.)

6:30--Dinner

7:15--Personal and district study

9:20--Sing Hymns and Night time prayers with our zone

9:30--Casa time! (Crash for the night, write in our journals and get in to bed as soon as possible)

10:30--Lights out (I should take the time to mention that I am ALWAYS fast asleep by the time this rolls around. Sometimes even before 10.)

Our Casa

Our room (my bunk is on the right, top)

Still haven't managed to fall out of bed. It is an accomplishment.

Anyway, I don't know how many ways I can say I love it here. The food, however, is mildly to moderately questionable, but I have learned that a Nutella and Banana sandwich and/or a bowl of cereal will at least get you through to the next meal. I have also learned that true joy is walking into the comedor, and seeing a stack of Costco pizzas.

The comedor

My district and zone are amazing. That is the only way I can describe it. We are always together (seriously, always) have tienda time, our own secret TALL lab to which you may or may not have to have a secret knock to get in to, teaching everyone to break/cut their apples with their bare hands (yes I can do this, pictures to come next week), and SweaterScarfSaturdays. There is always something to look forward around here when it comes to my zone.

Hermana Gamble and me...                  This is more like it. 

One really cool thing: I didn't know that the CCM has not been dedicated yet. But anyway, on February 9th, some general authorities are coming down from Salt Lake to dedicate it! (Rumors are Elder Holland, but nothing has been confirmed on that front.) It will be so cool to get to be here for that though. I also got selected to sing in a choir that is performing at the dedication, and have been able to be practicing with them throughout the week. I am so excited!

Fun connections of the week: I got to see Hermana Kandice Palmer who lived above me last ear in Wyview. She left Tuesdayfor Baton Rouge, but it was nice to see a familiar face, especially when I thought I knew no one here. Also, Hermana Gamble from my zone lives right across the street from Bishop Christensen from my ward this year. Her companion is Hemana Jones, who, incidentally has eaten at, and loves, Oklahoma Joe's, and therefore wins my favorite person of the week award.

Sorry that is so much, but it has been such an exciting and fun week here at the CCM! Me gusta el CCM, and can't wait to see what else will happen over the next 5 weeks!

It's always a beautiful day in La Ciudad de México

Today

A wonderful view of the city

These are the fire hydrants.

I hate these sinks. I didn't know it was possible to hate sinks, but I hate these sinks. You have to put your hand on the little bar thing and push it to get the water to get out of the sink. So strange

Earthquake circles. Whenever the sirens go off, you run to one of these. That way you are guaranteed that no buildings will fall on you. Comforting, I know.

I could get used to this.

I'm here!

Hello! I am here! I have gotten my name tag and gotten a little bit of my orientation. Fun story, I was slightly worried about my flight to Dallas, just being the only missionary, but right after I sat down a kid (like 6 years old) sat down next to me with a BYU hat, and it was nice to get to talk to him and his family. He told me how excited he was to be a missionary one day, and it was just the cutest thing ever. Met up with about 15 other missionaries in Dallas and we all faced customs together. No one that we met up with once we are here in Mexico City can speak any Spanish, so I have kind of gotten to be the mediator. The guys that picked us up didn't really speak any English, so that is fun. Putting my Spanish to the test right off the bat. My companions name is Sister Eyre, but she is not here yet. I will meet her in a bit. Other than that everything was quite uneventful. I get to play the piano tomorrow so wish me luck. I love all of the people I am here with, and we had quite the ride over here. I have never seen driving quite like this. I will e-mail again on p-day. Still don't know when that is. I will have to tell you more about it once I know more. I am so grateful for all of the prayers and thoughts from everyone, and can't wait to have more to tell. On a side note, this keyboard is driving me nuts. Nothing is where it should be. Silly Mexico. Anyway, talk to you soon. Now it is just dinner and bed, the two things I want more than anything right now. 

Love you bunches.

Miss you lots

Hermana Miller

Peace Out Kansas

Hello Everyone! Courtney here! I am headed out in about an hour to get set apart as a full time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I leave in the morning for the Mexico City MTC to being learning Spanish and training to be a missionary. I am so excited for the adventure ahead of me.

From now on, my mom or brother will be keeping this blog updated once a week with my weekly e-mails and photos. It will be a great way to be able to see all of the crazy adventures I will be having in Mexico City and California.

If you want to get ahold of me, check out the contact me page over on the left! I will be in the MTC until February 24th, and then head on my way to Ventura.

I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve. I know without a shadow of a doubt that this is exactly what I am supposed to be doing with my life right now, and I can not wait to see what is in store for me.

I won't always do this, but I thought I would share with you all my testimony and beliefs now before I leave, and once again when I come home. If anything, it will be a wonderful way for me and others to see how much I will grow in this next year and a half. Hopefully it will give insight to many of you of why I decided to serve a mission as well.

I would like to begin by saying that I know that God lives, that he is my Heavenly Father, and that I know that his son Jesus Christ came to this earth so that we can all be saved through him. I am beyond grateful for this immeasurable gift, and want to share it with all the world. I know that, just as there were prophets of old who were appointed to receive revelation, there are prophets again on the earth today who lead and guide us. I believe that Thomas S. Monson is the true prophet of God on earth today. I am grateful to have been born to a loving, wonderful, and sometimes downright wacky family, and know that through the gospel we can be a Family forever, and live together for eternity. I believe that the Book of Mormon is a true book, and as its full title says, is Another Testament of Jesus Christ, a book that works hand in hand with the bible to show that Christ is truly the son of god. I am grateful for the knowledge that we are all children of our Father in Heaven, and that he loves and cares for us all, and listens to and answers our prayers.

I am so grateful for all of the love and support that has been poured down on me during my preparations for my mission, and can't wait to be able to tell all of you about all I am getting to do.

See you all in 18 months!

(Soon to be Hermana) Courtney Miller