March 4th - Still in the CCM
9 out of 10 days here are hard, but I'm already so grateful for it and I'm hoping I can do a good job and be proud of it all at the end. It has been really cool to have so much time in the scriptures and my appreciation for them has already grown so much. It's so true that if you want God to talk to you all you have to do is show him - by reading the scriptures and making an effort to listen. I also heard something cool: "God won't answer our prayers unless he knows we will act on the answer we receive." So...Think on that!
I guess I'll do the cliche thing and write my basic testimony in Spanish so that you have to translate it...haha: "Estoy muy agradecida por la oportunidad tengo ser una misionera. Se que el evangelio es verdadero y que el evangelio puede cambiar vidas. Ha cambiado mi vida para siempre. Creo que Jesuscristo es nuestro Salvador. La expiación es muy, muy poderosa y con la ayuda de Jesucriso, nosotros podemos suportar cualquir cosa, deficiencia, error, o pecado. Estoy muy agradecida por mi comprension del Plan de Salvacion. Nosotros podemos regresar y morar con Dios."
Translated:
I am very grateful for the opportunity I have be a missionary. I know that the gospel is true and that the Gospel can change lives. It has changed my life forever. I believe that Jesus Christ is our Savior. The atonement is very, very powerful and with the help of Jesus Christ, we can handle any thing, deficiency, error, or sin. I am very grateful for my understanding of the Plan of Salvation. We can return and dwell with God."
March 23rd -
FAMILY! I'm in Florida! It is definitely different from the CCM. I loved the CCM. I met so many cool people and was able to clear my head and really lose myself in what I needed to be doing. It was a cool experience and one that I'm really, really grateful for.
Florida - I'm in West Palm Beach and I'm in a Spanish ward so I'm glad I didn't start off English speaking and lose what little Spanish I gained. I'm going to learn to get used to more structure which is probably a good thing. I'm seeing some interesting perspectives and learning as I'm new. Hopefully I will learn the best way to do things and all will be well.
I for sure miss Sister Anderson. She was an AWESOME companion, but Sister McGrath is pretty cool and she will be a way good trainer. I'm going to have to learn how to have structure and be patient. It's a party.
There is a guy from Cuba that is waiting for 1st Presidency approval to get baptized but he is really excited and is a chill guy. He really misses the sister I replaced, really everyone misses her. Sister McGrath and Sister Lake taught two girls from Honduras that were baptized about two months ago. They are really strong because they investigated tons of churches and referred themselves to the missionaries. They have another roommate who was going to be baptized but backed out. She came to church yesterday though and said she is interested so we will have to see how that goes.
How is everyone? I really want to write everyone back because getting their letters is such a boost to my week. Please tell everyone that their support means more to me than I can adequately express. I literally am struggling with time to write. Please make sure my extended family, polo girls and others who have written know how much they mean to me. I so appreciate their thoughts and their prayers! Tell everyone I haven't forgotten them I just have zero time. I'm pretty sure there is a way to do this better. I'm going to figure it out but it may take some time.
We share an apartment with the STLs and they are super cool! They even drove us over to use the computer since we are out of miles and they had some errands to run this direction. We had a specialized training and took a picture of the North Zone. There are many of us in this shot but I'm forwarding it to you, Mom, to put on my blog.
How is everyone? I miss you SO MUCH! By the way, Dad, I printed out your e-mail because I loved your Nephi comparison. I look forward to those every week. I want to talk to you all so much but please know that the Skype call can only be 30 minutes. It will be a bittersweet day for sure! I always think of something I need to tell you but then forget when it is time to write. Again, I will have to figure out this whole correspondence thing one day a week a bit better.
Last thing - Make sure you are all praying and reading your scriptures. If you have questions, ask them but know that the gospel is important. Siblings...Mom and Dad are fantastic resources! If they don't know an answer, they will find it for you. Heavenly Father wants a relationship with us and so does Christ. I've already seen the difference the gospel makes in our lives. I love you all TONS and so does Heavenly Father! Make good choices and remember who you are!
Love,
Sister Bren Scadden