Week 4 - In the CCM

Week 4!

2 weeks left til I go to El Salvador everyone! I can't wait. I'm having so much fun in the CCM but every time we go outside I want to jump on a bus and run away. I'm trying to work on exact obedience haha.

Sooo this week, what happened...everyday just gets better. My district and the other district that came the same time as us have so much fun together! We are practicing "Come Thou Fount" to sing at our last devotional before we leave. We're like the mini motab (Mormon Tabernacle) choir, the elders sing so well.

I miss singing so much. I don't remember if I talked about this last time, but after deportes (sports) every night some of us hermanas have singing sessions in the showers because they're all right next to each other haha. It sounds so legit, I can't even...man I just love music. It fills my soul with the spirit faster than almost anything.

Sundays are so good here! Yesterday was a great day for me. I was thinking how we have to be spiritually fed in order to spiritually feed others. They taught us about how to teach with the Book of Mormon and gain a personal conversion of it before we teach others.

Que mas. The rain has been CRAZY! You don't know a rainstorm until you come to Guatemala and I heard El Salvador gets way worse. We walked outside for a second and I was soaked. The rain is just so gordo (fat). But it's also sooo beautiful. Our teachers have some ridiculous stories about their missions in the rain...can't waiiiitt.

Oh, also something super great that happened this week...I taught the law of chastity on the spot. My comp and I were planning on teaching E, our investigator, about keeping the Sabbath day holy but then he kept talking about how his crazy girlfriend wanted to move in with him so we had no choice but to talk about it. It's awkward enough in English let alone trying to explain it in Spanish. Our teacher thought it was funny...I will one day. Haha but it actually wasn't that bad. I was just taken by surprise so it was awk. First time I've ever blushed I think haha.

The latinas are leaving again this week and then we'll get new ones. I miss them already. That's the worst part about being here for 6 weeks. All the latinas come and go after 2 weeks and we become best friends and then suddenly they're gone. Its' so triste (sad). But todo esta bien (all is well). Some of the latina hermanas told me I was coqueta this week and they didn't know the english word for it so I asked my teacher what it meant and he said it meant flirty and I was so confused so when I told them they said it didn't translate as flirty with boys but like cute and girly so I don't hate the word anymore haha.

Okay, as always I have a million language mistakes that were comico (funny) this week. This is my favorite one:

Talking to Hermana Aranda and Hermana Torres

Yo (Me): "Si me encanta cuando mi tío me hace croquetas" (Yeah I love when my uncle makes me croquettes)

Hermana Torres: Cracking up "Le gusta con leche tambien?" (Do you like it with milk too?)

Yo: "Nooo por que?" (Nooo why?)

Hermana Torres: "Dije dogfood, Hermana" (You just said dogfood, Hermana)

Yo: "Oh..." (of course I did...) (I just looked it up and croquetas is a colloquial term for dog food in Central America, but it does actually mean croquettes too! Haha still hilarious, poor Nicki.)

Alright guys, my times up. I love spanish. I love my Savior Jesus Christ. I love the prophet Thomas S. Monson and I love this evangelio con todo mi corazon (I love this Gospel with all my heart). 

Adios!

Con amor, 

Hermana Infanzon

P.S.- FELIZ CUMPLEANOS MI QUERIDA KYRA TE AMOOOOO!!!!!!!!! (HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY DEAR KYRA I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!)

Week 3 - In the CCM

BUENOS DIAS FAMILIA Y AMIGOS

So today marks the halfway point from my time in the MTC here. Whaaaaaa?

I totally can't believe it's already/only been 3 weeks. Some forewarning for you misioneros futura, every hour you change from feeling like the time is flying to feeling like you've been sitting in that one spot for an eternity.

NO CHISTE (no joke).

Okkkkkk so my week has been excelente! I really really reallyyyy love talking in Spanish. The Latinas here are so funny. We are always making jokes in Spanish. They tell me I'm really sassy and the people in Central America will like it. Also, when I told them I was part Cubana, they said I was full Latina in the premortal life but my tribulation on earth was to come down as a white girl and find my Latina side again hahahaha. So hilarious.

Also, I love this one companionship, Hermana Torres and Hermana Aranda. They're from Mexico and both going to Honduras. They are the best. I told them they can visit me in Philly after the mission and they told me to live with them in Mexico soooo. BIG PLANS.

What elseee. The food here gets better everyday. I'm so spoiled. Also, confession time. I've developed an ice cream addiction. There's this one kind of ice cream here that is sooo good. I try NOT to have it every meal buuut...don't be surprised if I leave here 30 pounds heavier. Lo siento, no lo siento (sorry, not sorry). Us oldies here (like 50 new nortes came last week) have deportes (sports) at night! It is so fun! I am getting better at volleyball cuz I play for like an hour everyday. Obsesseddd. I have lots of bruises from it too. They're my battle wounds. I'm proud.

Devotionals here have been amazing! There was one on diligence that got me pumped for the work, one on the Atonement that had me bawling from start to finish, and one with the area president on how to be an effective missionary. He basically said just love the people. Just like Uncle Mark was telling me about.

Hermana Foster and I are really improving on our teaching. If I could give any advice to a missionary not in the field yet, it would be to get to know the scriptures and preach my gospel well in your OWN language. And then you can work on the translation. But memorize scripture masteries and be familiar with the lessons. Also, bring visuals for them if you can. I wish I had brought some! Ok bien.

So the CCM here is under DRASTIC construction so it can fit more missionaries and be even more beautiful than it already is. So we've been class-less for a week. UNTIL they gave us the most gorgeous place ever to study! My district walks across the street everyday to where the temple is. They have this Spanish looking home that the church owns for people visiting the temple to stay at. It has a huge garden in the backyard and our classroom is this dining room with all windows that overlooks the garden and the hills in the background. I am in love with it. I wish I could take pictures :( but I will remember how it looks in my mind forever. It's literally paradise. Well, next to the temple. That's heaven on earth. I have gone 3 times since I've been here! I can't believe how lucky we are. I've had some really humbling and joyful experiences here in this temple that I will never forget. It's been a huge blessing in my life here.

Guatemala is beautifu and the most amazing thing happened last week. WE LEFT THE CCM. Don't get me wrong, I love this place, but I have only seen so little of Guatemala because we're locked in toda dia, cada dia (all day, every day). It's fine really, but going to the city was so legit. It got me pumped for the field! There are so many old fashioned buildings around here, I love it.

Ok so part of the fun of learning a new language is making ridiculous mistakes. I've had a few this week. My favorites are:

• During almuerzo (lunch) I was telling the new latinas that they feed us a lot here but instead I said they eat us a lot. They got a good laugh out of that.
• We were singing "Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel" in class the other day and Hermana Foster was conducting. In spanish, it's called "Pon el Hombro a la Lid", but my companion kept saying "hombre", which translates to "put your man to the wheel". My teacher and I were the only ones that heard it and were laughing so much. Whatever. It means the same thing really.
• And then yesterday this one Latina asked us if we knew where her companion was, and I tried to say maybe she's in your room. Room in Spanish is "cuarto". I said "cuerpo". So she thought I insulted her and said, I don't know, maybe she's in your body. I was so confused at her face at first until I realized what I said and then we laughed a lot. Ohhhh me.

SHOUTOUTS!

Amanda! You're going to Venezuela in October??? That's so legit! Spanish speakers heyyyy. I'm waaay beyond excited for you. You're awesome Hermana Rawlins :)

Cathy, thank you for writing me! Isn't it awesome that Hermana Foster and I are companions? Total work of God. I can't believe you're leaving for Argentina so soon! Have muchoooo fun! Heck, this is the plan of HAPPINESS we're teaching after all, right?

Lil Payne, my mom told me you're having a baby! Felicidades (congratulations)! You totally helped prepare me for my mission by your example on yours. Thanks brother!

Kyra, one of my favoriteee hermanas here lives in your mission. Her name is Hannah Merrill. Be on the lookout for her family while you're there cuz she's awesome!

I love you guys. Keep reading the Book of Mormon. It's the word of God and it can answer all our questions. Also, the Atonement is the most amazing gift we have ever recieved, use it everyday.

LOVE YOU ALL! Til next week!

Con amor, 

Hermana Infanzon

Week 2 - In the CCM

Holaaa

  

Still scatterbrained. My bad. I don't have much time so this will be corta (short). Lo siento (sorry).

It has been another great week here in the CCM! There have pretty much been all ups.

My district gets funnier everyday.

The best laugh I had was this joke, it was a you-had-to-be-there joke, but I laughed forever about it because of the delivery, ya know?

Hermano Chen: What are some things we notice happen to us when we start to feel stress?

Elder Wyatt: My hair line recedes and I start balding like crazy fast.

Elder Warnick: Hey...sometimes it's genetic.

It was the timing ok?! Oh and obviously Elder Warnick is balding. That helps to know too.

We joke a lot together but have had some amazing spiritual experiences too. We feel the spirit the most when we make goals together as a district and accomplish them. It's an amazing feeling. Oh it was a sad day though last friday when one of our elders, Elder Reynolds went home. He was awesome but got really quiet the second week and then he wrote us this amaaazing letter and told us he had to work on some things before he could serve a worthy mission. Miss that guy but I know he's doing the right thing.

Ok I'm also hecka triste (sad) because my favorite latinas are leaving wednesday morning! Since they're already fluent they only have 2 weeks here. It breaks my heart to see them leave. My latina roommates, Hermana Cerrato and Hermana Perez, made me laugh so much. They also helped me with my Spanish like a lot! But I'm excited for them to go serve. They're going to the Guatemala north mission. The latinas here are great. Wednesday we're gonna get new latinas and nortes. It'll be nice to not be the newbies anymore.

It's seriously true what they say. The days feel like weeks and the weeks feel like days. Can't believe I've already had 2 weeks here.

I love this gospel. I love the Lord soooo much. He has been with me every step of my whole life. He's with all of us. The sooner we realize it, the happier our lives can be. He IS the only way to true happiness. He died for us and suffered for our sins. I am forever grateful for Jesus Christ and His Atonement.

I'm working on diligence this week as a Christlike attribute because I want to be a more efficient missionary. The thing about this place is that you work sooo hard but you realize every day, hour, and minute you could work harder. Especially for the Lord. I love the Book of Mormon. Please please please open it and read it and let it bless your life. It's a sure fact formula for happiness and guidance in your life! I know it's true (Alma 37:3-4, 9-10) and I encourage anyone reading this right now to start today to dedicate yourself to the study of this book. It will ABSOLUTELY bring you closer to Christ. I know it.

I love you all. Thank you for the love and emails. I feel the strength from your prayers everyday. You guys are amazing.

Con amor, 
Hermana Infanzon

Week 1 - In the CCM

Ok! Here goes nothing! I have like 20 mins to write this so excuse the scattered thoughts and 2 year old spelling.  Also, I speak Spanglish now so that could be a problem too. (Ehem, I tediously fixed every spelling mistake and translated for you all. You're welcome. -Casey) I almost speak Spanish, jk I don't. But seriously the language is coming along so well! I love speaking Spanish, it's a beautiful language and so fun to use. I talk in Spanish probably 80% of the time right now. I'm so lucky I had the background knowledge of the language because I can understand the latinas better and joke around with them since I almost understand what they say. I can get away with being a latina...until I open my mouth, then they know I'm a norte! That's what they call the north americans haha.

Pues (well), only 5 of us who came were hermanas (sisters) so surprisingly I'm surrounded by muchas elders. It's fun though. They're great guys. Day 1 felt like a week. My trip here was fun. I talked to someone on every flight:

Flight 1: G. Probably about 43, business guy, nice. Thought I was crazy for leaving my fam for 18 months.

Flight 2: D. 30 yr old producer from L.A. who made me sing to him and told me when I get back he'll record me in his studio!

Flight 3: Sin nombre (no name) (jk I just can't remember it) 47 yr old dad of 3 daughters who he said I reminded him of. My favorite guy cuz he treated me like a daughter. We talked through the whole night about families. His dad is dying in Guatemala and that's why he was coming here. I gave him a Book of Mormon. Totally not mad that I got no sleep, it was worth it.

Got to Guatemala (there were 25 of us from LAX to GUA) and we rode a bus to the CCM (missionary training center). Took a 2 hr nap. DIVIIINE. Got to work!

Typical day:

Workout (Hermana Foster is my personal trainer. She's the best!)

Desayuno (breakfast)

Personal study

Companion study

Language study

Grammar class

PMG (Preach My Gospel) class

Lunch

We sing a hymn. (Hermano Chen's voice is like an angel)

More class

More class

More studying

Dinner

More class

More studying

Devotional

Teach A (A is an actual investigator, not a missionary acting as one!)

Oracion con las hermanas (Prayer with the sister missionaries)

Study

Bed

SURPRISINGLY. I AM ALL ABOUT THIS LIFE.

SAD NEWS! We can't use our cameras here! I only have a pic of me and my companion on day 1 and a pic of the whole CCM hermanas. Lo siento (sorry) mom.

Sooo my companion is legit. Her name is Hermana Foster. She's from Cali and shes 6 ft 3. She's alto (tall) in height and spirit. Hermana Foster makes me work hecka hard and if I'm being honest I'd probably hate it before the mission but now I can see the importance of what I'm doing and how little time there is to do it, so I'm like, let's hit the grind hermana! We are the only hermanas in our district, District Josue. We have 8 elders almost all from utah (typs) and I love them all. We had this awesome testimony meeting like the 4th day we were together so I'd say we're all pretty close now. Of course, sometimes they get out of hand cuz they're 18 and 19 but esta bien (it's all good). We have a lot of fun together and are sometimes in the classroom for 4 hours at a time. Sounds crazy but I'm learning about the gospel so I have no complaints.

My teacher is so great! His name is Hermano Chen (no he's not Asian, I asked on day 1.) He's from Guatemala but he just got back from serving in El Salvador San Salvador a month ago! 1-2 of us are going there and 1-2 are staying in Guatemala. He gives us great advice for the mission, like what to and not to eat, how to involve the miembros (members) (it's really important, so do it for us misioneros) and he tells us to be personally converted before we teach so I've had probably a million spiritual experiences here as I've taken that advice. My favorite thing so far has been getting closer to the spirit! I can FINALLY recognize the Holy Ghost more as I teach and study and ponder the scriptures.

NO WAIT. My favorite thing that has happened here so far has been teaching A! SHE IS THE BEST. She's our first investigator and she works in el comedor (the dining room) here. She's Catholic but has an LDS friend and wanted to learn why we were so happy all the time and don't drink coffee, etc. (she's a real investigator guys and it's the last day we teach her. Then we have to teach our teacher who will pretend to be an investigator, laaaame). So A has changed my life in like a day because she has made me so happy teaching her. Oh and this might be a nice detail, but me and Hermana Foster invited her to be baptized and she said YES! It was the best feeling ever! Our whole district teaches her back to back and we were last night and the elders invited her first but she said she'd think about it and then we hermanas swooped in and Hermana Foster bore the sickest testimony I have ever heard and I think the Holy Ghost slapped her in the face and she said yes. She's a little scared but we told her we will be there with her every step of the way.

Ok so if this is what bringing one soul to the Gospel feels like, imagine the joy when you shall bring many souls unto me. That scripture? Can't think of it right now, Casey will you find it? Gracias. (Got it. De nada, hermana)

Puessss (welllll), I will tell you about the area here. It's gorgeous, we live in the city but the tropical trees make it feel like the jungle. The houses are pretty and the people are REALLY NICE. Every time we go outside (which isn't often. Freeeedom!) Todos las personas say buenos dias (everyone says good morning)! AND GIVE YOU A SMILE THAT WILL MAKE YOUR HEART MELT. Also, they're all really short.which makes them even more precious and makes my heart melt more. I already love the people in Central America. SO MUCH. Like maybe too much. I hope I don't scare them. They all love Hermana Foster because she's so tall compared to them.

Que mas (what else)? Oh yeah, the food is gourmet! I had not expected to love it so much. I may be a little biased cuz A makes the menus and she's like a top chef (I'm gonna get a her a slot on Food Network when I get home) BUT SERIOUSLY. The food is awesome. They feed us some norte food and some central american. It's a lot though so my companion and I usually split it because you have to eat EVERYTHING off the plate. It's rude not to.

SHOUT OUTS!

MATT: You are so awesome. I understand more than ever the blessings you have secured for yourself by making this covenant with Heavenly Father. He loves you so much and is so happy with your decision. I love you too! Keep on keepin on! Every. Thing. Is worth it.

KYRA: AHHH! COLORADO SPRINGS?!?! It's perfect. You're perfect. You look hot in your picture (can I say that?) and when are you going? I am ecstatic for you.

ESTEVEZ GIRLS: If you are reading this, there is this Dominican girl who is just like you, Hermana Mack. She is the funniest person in the world. I told her all about you guys.

JOY: I am so happy Isaiah is ok. You are the most beautiful family and I miss you guys!  Tell your fam I say hi!

Who wants to hear some funny stories??? There have been lots! Maybe they won't translate as funny as I'd think, but they made me cry of laughter entonces... 

Funny story uno: Our district was practicing bearing our testimonies in Spanish and Hermana Foster was goin hard with hers, almost had me in tears, y entonces (and then) ...she said Jesus Cristo es el solo lago. She meant to say He was the only way but said He was the only lake! Hahahaha...it was one of those quiet moments where you can't laugh so it's even funnier.

This one maestro (teacher) is probably the funniest guy I've ever met. He has ADD so he was translating a devotional and kept playing with the mic so it sounded all muffled and the nortes were trying so hard not to laugh. Another one of those moments.

Our district leader Elder Sant is the best. He was trying to say he took a girl on a date to the carnival once but he said cannibal instead. I was rofl (this translation is for you dad, "rolling on the floor laughing") for days.

Ok my time expires in dos minutos so I love you all! I love being a missionary, it's a joy different from any other I've felt and I'll talk to you luego!

Con amor,

Hermana Infanzon

Introducing Sister Nicki Infanzon!

Hello all, this is Nicki's older sister Casey! I just wanted to give a little introduction to this blog and (although most of you probably know her already) a little introduction to my best friend Nicki:

Nicki has always been very strong willed, one of our dad's nicknames for her was 'imp' and I think all you need for proof of that is this adorable picture.

As Nicki has grown and matured, her strong will has become less annoying cute and more impressive. The moment she heard the announcement about the missionary age change, she decided she was going to serve! After completing her paperwork and waiting diligently by the mailbox, she received her call. She said that when she saw "You are assigned to labor in the El Salvador, San Salvador mission" she thought 'that's the place!' and over the next few months, she grew to love the people she would soon be meeting.

To the people of El Salvador, you are about to meet this imp and I know you will love her as much as I do! Her strong will is now an eye single to the glory of God and God's glory is "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." 

¡Buena suerte a mi hermana, Nicki! Que puede ayudar a nuestro Padre Celestial en Su trabajo y llevar muchas almas a Él.

Some info about how this blog will work:

• The blog will be updated every Wednesday
• The posts will be a copy of Nicki's weekly emails
• The easiest way to reach her is through email but bear in mind, she only gets a short amount of time, once a week to write everyone! So "snail mail" is also a good way to go if you'd like a longer reply. 
• You can find her current address here, I'll update it as she moves around
• More info to come on how to send packages once I find out!