One week! We did it!
This
week was hard, it was really hard and ridiculously long- but it was
also one of the best weeks I have ever had. The CCM is such an
interesting but wonderful place. I have never been so fully immersed
into something before in my life, and it can be overwhelming. However,
this is the work of the Lord, and I can not imagine anything I would
rather be immersed in. I love it here. I love the people, I love the
language, and I love the weather. Okay, that was a lie. I haven't stopped
sweating since I got here. It is so hot, and so so humid. I am sure I
will adjust to it with time. The Lord and the Holy Ghost are so near to
this place. I have felt the spirit so strongly this past week as I have
learned how to better serve the Lord and his children. I know that God
is watching over his children, and he is watching over me.
The drive to the CCM from the airport was such a surreal experience. It was 6 AM
and the city was so alive! People are crazy drivers here, it is like
nothing I have ever seen. Arriving at the CCM was fun, everyone is so
good to us here. President Morris and his wife are some of the sweetest,
most faithful people ever. I have been shocked at how well the language
is coming overall. I have been very blessed regarding how I have
adjusted to everything here in the CCM. I know things will continue to
improve as I continue to trust in my Heavenly Father and do all that I
can. It has been important for me to realize that the Gift of Tongues is
like any other gift from the Lord. We have to do all that we can first,
and then he fills in the rest. As I have remembered that and also that I
can not do any of this without the help of my Savior, I have been very
blessed.
My companions are Hermana Ashton and
Hermana Speth. I am in a trio! We are having so much fun. We are the
only North American sisters here who won't be staying in Guatemala for
our missions. Hermana Ashton is going to El Salvador, San Salvador East
along with four other Elders in our district. Hermana Speth is going to
Honduras, Comayaguela- she is the only person here going to her mission,
and I am the only one going to mine. We think there will be some
Latinos here in two weeks who will be going with us. There are four other girls who I live with, so I will give you a brief summary of each.
Hermana
Ashton-- Her first name is Joy and she is the epitome of just that. One
of the most selfless and sweetest people I have ever met.
Hermana
Speth-- She is hilarious and we have become great friends. We get along
great, but I have realized that being with anyone 24 hours a day can
sometimes be hard. We don't always see eye to eye but we work through
things quickly. She gets upset with me when I cry about missing my
family, and I get a little frustrated when she curses anytime something
goes wrong. Its all good though. Growing pains.
Hermana -- Super nice girl with such a great heart. She has a watch with a
calculator and has us ask her math problems to "keep her sane.." We all
deal with things in our own way.
Hermana -- Listens to Beyonces Spanish songs in the morning and justifies
it because Beyonce is "part of her religion" The Latina sisters don't
appreciate it, we all don't know what to do.
Hermana -- Says really cute, compassionate things like, " I don't mean to
make you all feel inferior with how good I am at Spanish, I just think I
am being more blessed." Yeah, no. She has taken 6 years of Spanish. She
has good intentions, some people are just interesting when they, you
know, speak.
Hermana -- Calls the men in her life names like "HBK- Hot Babe Keith" or " No Hope Nicolas." She wakes me up at 3 AM
when she can't sleep. She has convinced herself that the gunshots we hear at
night are the people of Guatemala practicing a play about the
Revolutionary War for the 4th of July. No one has the heart to tell her that they don't celebrate that here.
There is never a dull moment.
Two pieces of bad news.. I can't send any pictures from the CCM. I am so sorry! I promise that I will send lots of pictures in 5 weeks.
My face is worth the wait, I am sure. Haha. I also can not receive or
send letters.. The mailing system in Guatemala has been shut down and
they do not know when it will open again. I am afraid that the letters
that have been sent I will never receive. I am devastated and so sorry. I
wish I would have known sooner.
I have had a
wonderful week, and I hope that you all have too. I bore my testimony in Spanish during Sacrament meeting. It was simple, mostly testifying that
Jesus Christ is our Savior, and that through him all things are
possible. I know that to be true. I know that it is true at home in the
United States, and I know it is true in this crazy, beautiful, foreign
country of Guatemala.
I love you all very much,
Hermana Houston
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