In
answer to your questions, mi compañera es fantasticó! We get along
great and she even used to swim too, though she also played water polo
and did gymnastics. Yup, I already love her. (Her name is Hermana Capps
and she's from Apple Valley, CA. I've never heard of the place, but
maybe you have. She's also 21 and graduated this last spring semester
from BYU-I in exercise science--she wants to go into dietetics.) I
really like her. Also, we're both going to Chicago West so that's pretty
awesome.
So far the
language is pretty great. Mi compañera tells me that I ought to be in
the intermediate class (we're in the beginning class) but I like our
distrito. I help out the elders y las hermanas with pronunciation and
conjugation and grammar. I told them I'm sorry if I'm being a
know-it-all, and their response was "Well you are!" But they appreciate
my help, so I feel better about that. Side note, our teachers are
Hermano Villalobos and Hermana Pérez. Hmo. Villalobos must've recently
returned from his mission because one of our hermanas has a friend that
was on the same mission as Hmo. Villalobos and her friend only got back
in May, I think. So that is pretty cool. I do feel like most of our
class has been review for me (other than the Gospel vocab) but it's
okay. It's a really good review for me and I'm sure it'll come in handy.
Our
first full day they gave us basically credit cards with pesos on them
(120) and we hermanas get 120 más cada semana. So I don't think I'll
need real pesos, though they are very pretty. There hasn't been anything
I've needed (wait, I kind of lied. I need you to send me my slip(s).
Think you could get those to Josh in some sort of wrapping that won't
embarrass him? They're in my closet on the shelves built into the left
side. Should be easy to find....I think I have two or three. I won't
need the longest one though. None of my skirts are that long....) and
I'm planning on getting a shirt that says "CCM" on it--because everyone
who goes to México needs proof that they went, right? Yeah. Also, there
are these sweet scripture cases en la tienda but they're 480 pesos....so
we'll see if I end up having enough.
Also,
for sure the México Ciudad templo is closed for the duration of my stay
in this city. But we do get to visit the visitors center with our
distrito sometime before we leave.
Yes,
my luggage did make it so I haven't been wearing the same three
clothing items for a week. It was fine. I've included a picture of all
of us on the plane from Dallas to México. (Hopefully. Sounds like
MyLDSMail kinda sucks with sending pictures...)
And
I LOVE the food here. Although it might be doing weird things to/in my
digestive tract, it tastes delicious. So far, my favorite thing they've
served is called tacos duranos (?). They were basically taquitos, but
then we dipped them in crema de poblano (I have no idea what that is)
and it was delicious.... The most random thing we've eaten was this one
day for breakfast we had refried black beans and mozzarella cheese baked
onto a piece of bread.....ya. Our zone líderes told us that one morning
they served peaches and hotdogs. On the same plate. So there are some
weird things....yesterday was American food all day though--we had
hamburgers for lunch and corn dogs for dinner. Tonight is pizza night
and our líderes de zona told us it is THE best. So that's something to
look forward to.
I'm also
gonna try to include a picture of our district, and hopefully next week
I can get a picture of our zone from Hermana Powell. En Domingo, we all
decided that we would wear orange on Lunes, so we all matched all day.
There were so many comments about it....but it was great. I'll include
the picture we took.
Uh, what else is there....? I'm not really sure what to tell you, so you should keep asking questions.
Oh,
these are the names of those in mi distrito: En la pictura, us hermanas
from left to right are Hermana Powell, me, Hermana Capps, and Hermana
Haws. Other than Hma Capps and I, our entire distrito is going to
Nicaragua. Same mission even. Then, los elderes, from left to right, are
Elder Ruiz, Elder Jensen, Elder Bronson, Elder Hoffman, Elder Olsen
(nuestro líder de distrito), y Elder Bradbeer. I think I've got the best
distrito of all time. Seriamente. They're fantastic. We have a blast
every day. The first couple días, we were quiet but then we all opened
up and now we get hardly any real studying done....which is slightly
irritating, but está bien.
Uh,
oh, here's a picture of me on Domingo. I tried looking nice--but my
hair is already driving me nuts. I've gotta figure something out. What
would you do if I just chopped it off and came home with a pixie cut?
Just curious. Because the thought has repetamente crossed my mind, and
I've seriously considered it...
I'm
not sure how many more photos will fit in this email, (if these will
all fit even) so I think I'm gonna end this and try sending the rest of
my photos in another email. Or multiple emails, as the case may be.
Oh,
momma, will you photo copy the short hand Grandma took from my setting
apart and send it to me? I meant to get that before I left but....that
didn't happen.
If I think of anything else to say before my time is up, I'll let you know as I send these pictures.
Con Mucho Amor,
Hermana DeBuck
P.S. Psych. You get one picture per email.... Lo siento.
Road from the airport to la CCM en este bús. (People en México Ciudad drive like maniacs......)
Us four hermanas share a sala together--and a distrito. So far, it is working out great.
Lechita. What about this is NOT cute? Nada, I tell you. Nada. I mean, look at la vaca....
Mexican Independence day is next Monday. And there will be a celebración! In the meantime, we had this jello stuff. It tasted like a car air freshener, but it looked cool...also, the comedor is all decorated for the holiday. I'm hoping to get a picture before they take it all down.... próxima semana.
Also, if you wouldn't mind, would you find my soccer sweats and send them with Josh as well? I believe they are in my yellow swim bag. If not.....then somewhere in/on the shelves in my closet, or up overhead. Sorry, I'm not more positive on that.
There's me. En Domingo. Looking all awkward. Sorry Momma.....but hey, at least I took a picture with my tag.
Hermana Powell and I. Eating our ice cream sandwiches. Seriamente, some
of la comida they serve here es delicioso....this was definitely one of
them. In case you couldn't tell..
Our distrito, all dressed en naranja. (I'm wearing Hermana Powell's
shirt...) Aren't we adorable? Also, sorry the descripción of quién es
quién is in the first email....but ya. Here we are!
Our distrito líder and his companion (Elder Olsen and Elder Ruiz). Oh
my. When the other districts in our zone came and introduced themselves,
one was insane. But Elder Heart/Hart leaned over and told me to wait,
that our distrito will be like their's soon. I didn't really believe
him....but now I do.
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Us four Hermanas, pointing to our missions.... yeah. There wasn't much
room for the elderes, plus Elder Jensen wasn't feeling good. So we were
short two elderes.
Hma Capps and I, pointing to Chicago West. In case it wasn't obvious.
Just me. Aren't I (insert adjective here)?
And this is our street. Sorry, I don't have a picture of just our
casa.... próxima semana, I will. Esperamente. It's purple. We're casa
numero 16..
Just remembered! On Sunday, since it was Fast Sunday, we fasted Saturday
dinner and then breakfast. (I was famished by the time lunch rolled
around....I never get enough to eat because I eat so slow! Curses....)
During sacrament meeting, which was just with our branch, and it was
only in Spanish, (this sentence will drive me nuts but I'm trying to
move on), and they had told us previously that all of us needed to have
testimonios ready because there would be time for everyone to go--of
course that didn't happen. However, four of us from our distrito all got
up. Hma Haws, Elder Olsen, me, and Elder Hoffman. I was kind of
surprised at the number of missionaries from other districts that still
wrote down their testimonios. Granted, there were only two, maybe three,
but still. It surprised me. I bore mine without writing anything down,
but, like I told my distrito, I bore my testimonio en español at my
farewell, so I've had some practice. I wasn't planning on saying
anything though. I could feel the spirit the whole meeting, but I
thought to myself, "No, I don't need to get up and say anything. It's
fine." Next thing I know my heart is literally pounding and I can feel
it throughout my entire cuerpo. So I thought again, "Okay, okay! I'll do
it..." So I did. Apparently that is the best way for the Lord to get my
atención. I didn't even feel like anything I said was great, but ah
well. I could hardly look at the audience (can't remember the right
english word) because Elder Dahl, one of our zona líderes was smiling
like a maniac. He is awesome. His district leaves next week or week
after next but we are already gonna miss them. It must be next week,
because contemplating next Sunday....no bien. (Sunday we say goodbye
formally to all those who leave the next couple of days. We sing God Be
With You Til We Meet Again, which isn't my favorite song at all, but it
is beautiful en español. Although, all of the himnos are beautiful en
español.
Okay. I think that's everything I've got time for.
Love you lots!
- Hermana DeBuck
Also, mi compañera is still emailing, so here are some more picturas I
just took. There's this little model map thing of the campus. I took a
picture of the side of the campus with all the buildings (the other side
has a track and soccer fields and whatnot), then a close up of our
casa.
Also, in case you're
wondering, the weather here is perfect. I think it's supposed to be the
rainy season, but while it does rain every day it's usually not for very
long. It's usually warm without being hot, and it cools off nicely.
I
wish I had a picture of the mountain next to us (there are actually
mountains!) because there's a white letter B painted on it and it
reminds me of our G, plus you can see all the cute little casas on the
mountain, in all their bright colors. (The B was for the CCM before it
was the CCM. I don't remember what the school was called but there's "B
de A" on a bunch of things, so I know that has to do with it. When it
was a school, every year the students would hike the mountain and paint
the rocks so you could see the B really well, but not it's the CCM and
we don't get to do that.
They
did tell us how many acres the campus is (I wanna say it was like 200
maybe 2000 acres. I honestly don't know how big an acre is....) and that
we have I think half as many missionaries as there are in the Provo
MTC. So, kinda, sucks for them. Plus, if we want, we can take chairs
outside and have our meetings or study time on the grass or wherever we
want really. Missionaries in Provo aren't allowed even to contemplate
taking chairs outside. Really, everything is just super chill here. It's
great.
I will say, these
keyboards are super weird. I'm gonna get used to these and then get
back to the states and have to relearn American keyboards. These ones
here are nice for accents and stuff though. American keyboards, not so
much.
Oh, I was supposed
to tell you this: if you get the hankering to send a package, you can do
so through this website. I believe it's missionarypackagemx.com.
Yeah, almost positive. 99% sure that is correct. Not like I'm saying I
need a package, but should you so desire, it is possible. For example,
you could even somehow send Krispy Kreme donuts through this site.
(Krispy Kremes are Hermano Villalobos' favorite pastel. Learned that the
first día de clases cuando we all introduced ourselves.) But, right now
the main thing is that I get a slip. I could buy one at la tienda, but I
don't want to buy another. And I'd rather just have you somehow get
that to me through Josh....haha if he's got room in his
suitcase(s)....I'm hoping. It wouldn't be such a big deal but it's a CCM
rule: we're supposed to wear slips with everything.....so I have kinda
been breaking that rule for the past week. Except we didn't find out
until Friday I think, so......yeah. I'm sorry. I'm a sinner. But I will
repent and then begin wearing a slip for the next five week. Holy cow.
Five weeks! Crazy, right....? In no time, I'm sure, we'll be back in the
States and in Illinois.
Well, mi compañera is all ready so I better sign off.
Love you again!
Con Mucho Amor,
Su Hija Amorosa,
Hermana DeBuck
Here's our casa. Sort of.
Lastly, here's one more picture of mi compañera y yo.
At
lunch just now, we ate some crazy stuff....I was gagging. We tried this
fruit the natives call guayaba, I think, and the center/pit thing is
super big so I got some of the seeds in my mouth.....ugh. Disgusting.
And we tried some jugo stuff that tasted like tea, I guess. (I wouldn't
know from experience but mi compañera has accidentally had it.) And then
this jello stuff. The top looked kind of like flan but the bottom was
that weird car freshener tasting stuff, plus some "goodies" stuck in
there (walnut, cherry, etc.). I did try cauliflower the other day in
some soup and I liked it. I've also tried zucchini that was delicious,
and super soft. And I try not to pick out onions and things but when
there are chunks of onions/tomatoes....can't do it.
Well,
I was hoping you'd have gotten this by now, but I guess not. So I'll
here back from you next week! Hope work is going well.
Love, Hermana DeBuck
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