Half way done at the CCM! I cant really remember where I left off from last week, so forgive me if i repeat myself. Last week we were able to go to the temple again for Pday and it was in Spanish, so it was definitely a new experience. Then we washed and dryed our clothes, and "ironed" our clothes as well. By ironing i mean not, and just going outside to play some more soccer. No one really seems to notice. Then we got our new investigators for the week. Our new investigator is named Alessia and she is a lot more difficult to teach. Throughout the week, I found that it was very hard to teach her and to feel the spirit. However, with some more practice and a lot of prayer, our lessons went amazing. During the first few lessons, I felt like my tongue was twisted and I couldnt speak. But near the end of our time with her, I found that I could speak much better. We really improved and by the 3rd lesson, we had committed her to baptism as well. However, I still need a tooon of practice.
For physical activity, Ive obviously been playing soccer. Me and another Elder, Elder Sprunt love playing with the latinos because were really the only ones who can keep up with them. Unfortunately, I didnt get to play with Elder Gardiner this week, we could have really used him on our team. Anyways, I lost a cross bar challenge to Elder Sprunt and had to buy him and Inca Cola but luckily its way cheap. Ill just have to win the next one. My district also had a ping pong tourney which was really fun, the latinos are amazing at ping pong as well!
Weve been learning a lot about some of the basic spanish lessons. Such as "tener + que" and "necesitar + que" and a bunch of other stuff + que. These lessons always go by super slow. I know some of the other Elders need the lesson, but I just find myself dozing off because I learned this so long ago. However, I always try to practice and help the other elders understand the concept. I love seeing their progress with spanish and seeing my own progress with spanish.
Lately, ive been trying harder to read my scriptures in spanish. Its so hard but I just gotta keep trying. In the scitptures, they use something called the "vosotros" form which is really only used in Spain and so ive never learned it. Often times, it can be frustrating while reading because its always in vosotros. But im happy when I can understand a verse and get the majority of the words correct.
While the food is amazing, its finally starting to hurt my stomach. For a few days, my stomach was really hurting, but ive adjusted what I eat and it really helps. Also, Elder Thompson, in my district, broke the toast record haha. He ate 35 pieces of bread! I love toast, but im fine with a couple pieces.
Something else that ive discovered is that if you leave Physical activity like 3 minutes early, you dont have to wait in line for a shower and you can get ready super quick. Ive even had time to take a couple 20 minutes naps and theyre amazing. I guess i should be studying in that time, but a nap is too tempting.
My new goal for the CCM is to read 3 chapters of the BoM, D&C, and New Testament in English and Spanish every day. Theres so much doctrine to teach and im trying my best to try and be well rounded. But theres so much to do haha. I also have to prepare my weekly talk and im also in charge of this weeks Preisthood lesson. Im teaching on the Book of Mormon so it should be a good lesson. I hope so!
Throughout the week, we continued to use our language learning program called TALL. Ive tried learning about 10 phrases a day and 30 words a day which isnt too much but its manageable. Also been really focusing on grammar, especially the past form because I find that to be the most difficult. We also had to take a test on the gospel the other day. I only got a 66% haha but theres always room for improvement! Everyone else was getting like 90% and I was just over there with my 66% haha.
Something that my companion told me that really made me happy this week had to do with my language. He is fluent, I am not. But he told me that im very good at spanish. He noticed how often times, I hold myself back and dont use the language to my full potential. It really comforted me because sometimes im scared to say somthing dumb or a word that I dont know the meaning of, but I just need to speak. The spirit will do the rest.
For physical activity, Ive obviously been playing soccer. Me and another Elder, Elder Sprunt love playing with the latinos because were really the only ones who can keep up with them. Unfortunately, I didnt get to play with Elder Gardiner this week, we could have really used him on our team. Anyways, I lost a cross bar challenge to Elder Sprunt and had to buy him and Inca Cola but luckily its way cheap. Ill just have to win the next one. My district also had a ping pong tourney which was really fun, the latinos are amazing at ping pong as well!
Weve been learning a lot about some of the basic spanish lessons. Such as "tener + que" and "necesitar + que" and a bunch of other stuff + que. These lessons always go by super slow. I know some of the other Elders need the lesson, but I just find myself dozing off because I learned this so long ago. However, I always try to practice and help the other elders understand the concept. I love seeing their progress with spanish and seeing my own progress with spanish.
Lately, ive been trying harder to read my scriptures in spanish. Its so hard but I just gotta keep trying. In the scitptures, they use something called the "vosotros" form which is really only used in Spain and so ive never learned it. Often times, it can be frustrating while reading because its always in vosotros. But im happy when I can understand a verse and get the majority of the words correct.
While the food is amazing, its finally starting to hurt my stomach. For a few days, my stomach was really hurting, but ive adjusted what I eat and it really helps. Also, Elder Thompson, in my district, broke the toast record haha. He ate 35 pieces of bread! I love toast, but im fine with a couple pieces.
Something else that ive discovered is that if you leave Physical activity like 3 minutes early, you dont have to wait in line for a shower and you can get ready super quick. Ive even had time to take a couple 20 minutes naps and theyre amazing. I guess i should be studying in that time, but a nap is too tempting.
My new goal for the CCM is to read 3 chapters of the BoM, D&C, and New Testament in English and Spanish every day. Theres so much doctrine to teach and im trying my best to try and be well rounded. But theres so much to do haha. I also have to prepare my weekly talk and im also in charge of this weeks Preisthood lesson. Im teaching on the Book of Mormon so it should be a good lesson. I hope so!
Throughout the week, we continued to use our language learning program called TALL. Ive tried learning about 10 phrases a day and 30 words a day which isnt too much but its manageable. Also been really focusing on grammar, especially the past form because I find that to be the most difficult. We also had to take a test on the gospel the other day. I only got a 66% haha but theres always room for improvement! Everyone else was getting like 90% and I was just over there with my 66% haha.
Something that my companion told me that really made me happy this week had to do with my language. He is fluent, I am not. But he told me that im very good at spanish. He noticed how often times, I hold myself back and dont use the language to my full potential. It really comforted me because sometimes im scared to say somthing dumb or a word that I dont know the meaning of, but I just need to speak. The spirit will do the rest.
On Saturday, we started our fast for the next Sunday. It was really hard to fast because im always really hungry when the next meal comes around. But it was so nice to eat dinner that night, everyone was so hungry! Also, that Sunday afternoon, the "avancados" or "avocados" is what we call them, all bore their testimonies. The avancados had been here for three weeks longer than us and just finished their stay at the CCM. They all left for their missions last night and i am going to miss the so much. Some of them were awesome and I made some really good friends with a few of them. Alos, President Moore gave the best Restoration lesson of all time. He went into so much detail and it strengthened my testimony so much. Really everything that has ever happened was prophesied and all the events prove that we are the true church. His lesson was amazing. Then we got to watch a movie about Joseph Smith. It was also amazing. Im so thankful for him as a prophet and everything he did for us. Lastly, we watched a devotional by Bednar and it was aaalllssooo amazing. One of the best talks that I have ever heard. The general message was dont worry about everything. Just do your best and the lord will bless you. Anyways, another great week at the CCM, I miss you guys so much and pray for you everyday!!!
