Coming into focus

HOLA FAMILIA!!

How are you all? I hope that this week was great. I loved hearing the news about Daniel becoming el capitan! That is maybe the coolest thing Ive heard all week. I am so proud of you and totally wish I could see you tear it up out there! Take lots of pictures please and send them all to me!!!

 

Something funny to start off the email this week, we were informed a few days ago that we are no longer allowed to say "Hola" to people in or outside of the CCM.  Like, every single person in the world says hola. Its literally the only word in Spanish that I knew before I came here (okay not literally). But honestly, people in China probably say Hola. It makes sense I guess, because Its pretty informal, but when I heard that I just laughed out loud. The easiest, simplest word...and we cant say it. Oh well, its not a big deal. Just one of those things.

 

Anyway, so this week was great!! Not much happens in the CCM. I don{t think I ever gave you a run down of my schedule, but this is the basic day as a missionary-

Wake up at 6.30 sharp. Pray.

Get ready for the day.

Breakfast at 7.

Personal study until 8.30 ish.

8.30-Language study

9.45-Teaching techniques

11.-Teaching our investigator (its our teacher, but he pretends to be an investigator that he taught on his mission...its the most real type of situation we can get in the CCM. Its really pretty real too, which is awesome. Its fun, but its hard, just like it would be for a missionary out in the field.)

12.30 LUNCH

1.30-4.00 Personal study, language study. This is the time in the day that we get to focus on what we think is important. No teachers, we just study what we want to, its really nice.

4 - physical activity. Its like gym class in elementary school. We all get so hyper and just run around after being cooped up inside all day. On Tuesday we had a huge ultimate Frisbee tournament and it was so fun! Good times happen in our hour of physical activity.

5.30- practice teaching again (with our evening teacher)

6.30 dinner

7,15-9.00 language mixed with teaching skills, we usually end up doing role play teaching with other missionaries

9.20 - every night we have time set aside to eat fruit in the cafeteria. Its so funny to me. I think part of it (as gross as this is) is to help regulate our bathroom cycle, if you know what I mean. Seriously, all we eat is rice and potatoes and bread. So, why not eat an orange at 9 pm? You know?

 

So that is what every single day looks like pretty much. Except for Sunday...lots of church that day. We are still Mormons after all. And lots and lots of personal study. and P day is different too of course.

 

Today has been a great day so far. We went to the temple, then explored the city like we normally do. We always take the bus, which is the craziest part of my week by far. I think Ive told you a little bit about the buses, but they are honestly INSANE. they just pull over anywhere, theres a person hanging out the door screaming things about where the bus is going, and people get on and off it while its still moving. And I know Ive mentioned the crazy drivers. They just do whatever they want! It blows my mind. Today, we were waiting forever on the curb for a bus to drive by, then one pulls up and its filled to the brim with people, but they have it in their minds that they can squeeze a million people in there. So half of us get on, and they just randomly drive away and leave half of our group behind! luckily my companion made it on the bus, but one of the elders' companion didnt get on. It was just weird that they took off, and definitely weird that he wasnt with his companion. It all worked out though. Peru is crazy.

 

So I wanted to tell you about an experience I have been having. It happens every day, and its so hard to explain. Let me give some background -

when you become a missionary, you spend that entire 18 months or 24 months teaching people about the gospel every day. That part is obvious. Every day, you are working to bring other people to Christ, and to help other people along their way in the gospel. Its all about other people, thats the key word. Which is good. Youre supposed to legitimately "forget yourself and get to work." From day one, we have been taught to forget ourselves, and learn to dedicate your life at this time to the welfare of Gods children. Obviously you have needs to be met, but you know what I mean. Missionaries are meant to be selfless; totally and completely selfless. So I have been trying to figure out what exactly this means to me. For me to lose myself...what does that entail exactly? I need to be less sarcastic (good news, I cant speak Spanish so that one will be easy). I need to be less focused on my own problems (Does my hair look good? Dang I could really use some chocolate right now, etc.) But does losing myself mean that I need to laugh more quietly? Or that I need to change something about my personality? It took me a little while to figure out, and I know I have so much more to learn, but this is the temporary conclusion I have come to..

I dont need to change who I am. I still get to be Hermana (Michelle) Scott, but I need to let my focus be on the work I have before me, and the people that I will be teaching. God made me who I am for a reason. I have plenty of things that I can improve on- my punctuality, for example. Thats just one of 100 million things that could change. But right now, I need to just give myself over completely to the Lord and to this work.

Does any of that make sense?

Well, the past few days I have felt really weird. Its hard to explain...but I just havent felt normal. I would be so attentive in class, so attentive in my personal study, but all the times in between I felt like I was in a fog. I wasnt super loud and obnoxious at all of the meals like I usually am, and I was just a little more quiet. Its so hard to explain....but basically, I have been feeling like I am truly getting lost in this work. I used to dread teaching our investigators/teachers because I would always be nervous about what to say, but now I just cant wait for our next chance to teach. I can feel myself getting more absorbed into the real reasons for why I am here on a mission. Its crazy. I know that I am ready to get into the field. Sometimes I feel really panicky because of the language, and thinking about my first Latina companion scares the poop out of me, but I know that I have done what I need to do to prepare and I know that I am ready.

 

I am out of time, but I just want you to know that I love you all so much. Thank you so much for the emails, for keeping me connected to my sweet home in beautiful CO. Im jealous of the wonderful weather youre having, its still winter here so its cloudy a lot, but it has actually been beautiful and sunny the past few days. A little miracle!!

I love you and I pray for you and I hope that you are all doing well. I cant tell you enough how much I love you. I have to go,but in just 7 short days Il be telling you about my life as a REAL MISSIONARY!!!

 

Con todo el amor en el mundo,

Hermana Scott