Mom note: I didn't ask her any questions this week because my letter to her was too full of info I didn't have time to think of more, so she's on her own this week.
Alrighty. I'm not sure where to empezar sin preguntas de mi mamá. Pero, I will try. (trataré)
First off, let me just give an overview of my feelings about the CCM, porque I feel like that is a necessity.
I
really do love it here. The weather is perfect and it's so open and
doesn't feel at all like a prison, Jesus prison or otherwise. (Hermana
Haws' dad calls the MTC Jesus prison.)
Then,
I have got the best maestros of all time. Hermano Villalobos just
returned from his mission in May, I believe. He served in the Culiacan
mission, if I remember correctly. He just turned 22 and our elders
frequently speak to him about how eternal marriage is a prerequisite to
get into the celestial kingdom. Yesterday he told us all about his date
on Saturday--it didn't happen. So he told us about how he dated this
girl before the mission and then the rest of the story up til now. He
told us that she is different now than then and so is he. He kind of
described it, in the most humble way possible, that he grew so much
spiritually on his mission and now they're on different levels with
regard to that.
And it's so cool to think about how that's gonna be true
for me probably. I mean, I thought I was spiritual before I left, but
now I think I wasn't hardly at all. If I don't grow a lot on my mission
then I must be doing something wrong.
And
then there's adorable Hermana Velázquez. She told us that while we're
away from home and our mothers, she will be our momma. Oh man. She's
great. She's cute and tiny and sassy. When she and Jensen get going at
it, it is quite the sight to see/hear. Also, she is not exempt from the
marriage counsel. There was one day when we walked into class and she
was crying. She told us how that day she had seen this guy she had been
dating seriously--and engaged--and then he broke it off just before the
marriage. At least, we think that's what she said. We can't be sure
because our spanish is más o menos. But now she's dating this guy that
works/used to work here, Hermano Solomon. They are adorable together.
They are three to five years apart (I can't remember what age Hermana
Velázquez has), and she's older. We're not sure if that's weird in
Mexican/LDS culture but we don't want to offend her or anything so we
haven't asked. Either way, I hope it works out. We told her we expect
pictures when it happens. I say when because our understanding is that
Solomon is going to be speaking with el padre de Hermana Velázquez in a
week or so.....so, cross your fingers that it all works out. Though I'm
sure it will. She deserves it.
Then
we have some teachers that come in and help out periodically during the
day. And it changes from day to day. There Hermano Sanchez who Bronson
calls his "brother from another mother", and there is no better way to
describe him. He's like the Mexican version of our ginger Bronson. He's
awesome. SO funny. There's also Hermano Peréz, who is 21. He served in
Panama, though i can't remember when he got back. He told me yesterday
"you know a lot of spanish words." I'm hoping that's a good thing--now
if only I could put them to better use. Also, he is honestly probably
the most attractive Mexicano I have ever seen. Just as a side note. Then
Hermana Arnaud. She is the most adorable little thing of all time. She
served in St. George and her English is muy bien. The elderes keep
trying to hook up her and Hno Villalobos, but she says that they're just
friends. They grew up in the same ward and one of them dated a sibling
of the other, so I believe it. The elderes don't, and they are very
persistent. Plus, Hna Arnaud has a boyfriend. Anyway. We see some other
teachers too on occasion but I don't know much about them. Half the time
we don't even know their names....ah well. Suffice it to say that we've
got the best set of teachers/supporters in el CCM.
Then
there's the food. It's usually honestly really good. A veces, I choose
to just eat cereal, but I'm trying to be better at trying new things. Ah
well. For the first two or three weeks, the food did some scary things
to my digestive system, but now it's all good in the hood. (Todo está
bien en el vecindario. Though don't quote me on that.) My favorite by
far is the tacos duranos/floutas. They're delicious. Tuesday is pizza
for dinner, from Costco. Every week, it is heaven sent. Whoever decided
that deserves a prize of some kind....today for breakfast we had pan
francés. Oh boy. Probably the best French toast I've ever had....mm.
Yes.
My
dearest friend Hannah asked me about my living conditions, so I should
probably clarify about that. I live like an average human being in
America, I believe. We have tile for floors and the bathrooms are
generally not bug infested and the casas are made of bricks. It's
probably a really sweet deal actually. Our bunk beds are really short so
I've hit my head on the top bunk a few times, but not hard enough to do
any damage. Honestly, if I wasn't going crazy, I could live here
forever. Amo la ciudad de México.
Próximo. ¿Qué pasó esta semana? No estoy segura.... No mucha, pienso.
Obvio,
conferencía general. Santa vaca. Ésta fue muy bien, ¿no? mm. Loved it.
The afternoon sessions were my favoritas. Also, got to watch the women's
conferencía durante la sesión del sacerdocio. Oh boy. That was
fantastic. At the beginning, before we started the video, Hermana Pratt
told us something along the lines of "I don't know if it's because we're
women, but we get to have musical numbers and videos and fun stuff,
unlike the Priesthood session." Boy was she right. Those Korean primary
kids were straight up adorable. And then the video of women all over the
world, bearing testimony of the temple? Mm, yes. I was very glad to be
able to understand the Spanish ones without the subtitles--more or less.
Very happy about that. I still can't get all the natives say
(especially when they don't slow it down for us greenies...) but I think
I'll get there.
However,
I should mention that I don't feel like I've learned much Spanish here.
What I have learned is how to understand Spanish. My speaking
capabilities have improved only slightly, and my written is about the
same, but I understand so much more. That I think is the reason that the
CCM is fantastic for learning Spanish. You get so much more Spanish
immersión than you would at Provo. But, that's just me.
Side
note: I was looking at the photos on this computer I'm using and guess
who i found! Annika Jaccard! Oh baby. I miss her dearly, but I'm sure
she's killing it in Washington. As Jensen would put it, she's givin'
them heaven.
Okay,
so my favorite quote from conference was this, from Jörg Klebingat:
"Acknowledge and face your weaknesses, but don't be immobilized by them
because some of them will be your companions until you depart this
life." So good.
I think
his talk was my favorite. Maybe, I dunno. It's hard to escoger. His I
loved because it was so straightforward and so true. Hermana Capps
enjoyed that he talked about physical wellness. haha
Also,
in case you're wondering, we all cheered, sort of, when they announced
the first speaker to talk in spanish. Unfortunately, because we were
watching the conferencía itself in English, we did have a translator, so
no español, for us. But it was still awesome. I'm hoping that I can
watch them when I get back and be able to understand it all....what a
cool opportunity.
Something
weird/cool/odd that happened this week was after the tarde sesión de
domingo. One distrito en nuestra zona left yesterday and two of them
came into our room with ties tied around their heads, and holding an
umbrella. They made us go, one at a time, into there aula after being
"cleansed" by standing under the umbrella. Anyway, so basically what
happened what we inherited this book that records the "travails" of
distritos en zona 5. Along with this nasty girl's sweater that Olsen was
supposed to wear yesterday--he was sick so didn't wear it much. Anyway,
this book is so funny. Everyone has written in it with the language of
scriptures, talking about their time in the CCM. We're all gonna write
something for it too. Jensen's got his all drafted. I died, reading it.
I'm working on mine. Hermana Powell thinks that Jensen and I will write
the best ones. Can't say I disagree, to be honest. Bronson told me he's
probably gonna need me to edit his and I told him I love correcting
people. (in a joking manner, mind you.) I love editing...
Oh,
we got travel plans. Sort of. If you're traveling to "oosa" haha you
find out legit travel plans 24 hours before leaving...so all we know is
that our bus leaves at 2:30 am. Fun fun fun! On Sunday night/monday
morning. So we're planning on not sleep Sunday night and just staying
awake, chatting. We may end up chillin in our aula all together but we
may end up just us hermanas en nuestra casa. We'll see.
Our
devocional on martes was of Elder Bednar. I swear, all these
devocionales we see from MTCs are fantastic. The apostoles are just so
funny when not in conferencia. We figure it probably has to do with the
fact that conference is watched by members and non members alike,
whereas MTC devocionales are just missioneros. Basically it was about
taking notes. I tried a new method of notes for conference, but it
didn't last. I did try to focus less on quotes and more on what I was
feeling though. Mamá, if I don't get a chance to obtain my own copy of
the conferencía ensign, will you send me copy? I'm not sure when it'll
be out so I may be able to get my own in Illinois, but we'll see. I'll
keep you posted.
Wednesday
for TRC we ended up joining with the "new" district and we taught each
other. The chica I was with was, I think, a little overwhelmed by my
Spanish. Not trying to brag, but she seems confused much of the tiempo. I
taught first and I think she got freaked out when she taught. Afterward
when she asked if I had any constructive criticism, I told her just to
trust her gut. She knows more spanish than she gives herself credit for.
I think we all do, but that's just me. So that was kind of a fun
"training" moment for me.
We
had FHE yesterday. Just two of us distritos left. So we ate Chokis and
played Big Buddha. Oh man. It was so funny. Took us forever to be able
to do it, but it was fun all the same. Hermana Powell wants to teach us
this game called Bunny Bunny which is really similar. I'm excited. I
told them about Hua too. We were hoping to play today during P day but
we'll see about that. We're running out of tiempo....
Wow, I guess nothing really happened this week.... I can't think of anything else.
Well, I guess today stuff happened.
La madre de Hermana Haws sent Krispy Kreme donuts so we ate donuts as a distrito.
We
went on a walk around the outskirts of campus and took photos. (I'm way
back at the end of this photo....not sure why Capps and I didn't stand
at the same tree. I guess we just don't love each other at all.) [that
was sarcasm, p.s.] (also, I'm so awkward.)
I
figured out there are some cool effects things on my camera....that was
nifty. The elderes y Hermana Powell y yo got haircuts today. Hna Powell
y yo just got trims. All the boys looks so sharp now. They think it's
too short, but they've got a week before they get to Nicaragua; it'll
grow.
Yup,
that's all I got. Sorry. Here are some photos too, I guess. I've been
messing with the file size, so I dunno what they'll all be/how many I
can get in one email. We'll see I guess.
Well,
next time you hear from me I'll be back in the States, in the lovely if
freezing state of Illinois. Pray that I don't freeze and have to be
shipped to the mission home as an ice cube.
Thank
you so much to everyone for all the love and support. I feel the
prayers every day. There are moments when I wouldn't be able to go on
without them. ...okay, maybe that's a tad melodramatic, but I do
appreciate all the prayers. Love you all.
Con Todo Mi Amor,
Hermana DeBuck
Us, on our walk.
One morning. Man, we look tired. But mamá, look at my cabello. Is so curly... (:
I stole Bronson's name tag without him knowing during Sunday school
before conferencía en domingo. So we wore each other's gafets all day.
awkward selfie...
donut selfie with my comp. we are soooo adorable...
selfie in the mirror. I have no idea what these things are but they
still freak me out when I see something that doesn't match the
background out of the corner of my eye... I can't explain it, but it's
odd.
selfie with the mexican flag.
Man, you'd think I actually liked selfies, but YOSO (you only serve once....)
take one of this flower with an effect
take two
take three
the elderes with their spiffy new hair cuts
these weird lego hand looking things just outside the wall... we have no idea what they are. Can anyone enlighten us?
hay muchos arboles with rojo x's on them...they look like they've been marked for destruction...
take four of that round with that flower.
