Hola!
I honestly don´t know where to start! SO much has happened in the past week! We said goodbye to the MTC and headed off to Veracruz! It was kind of sad to leave the MTC and all the fantastic Missionaries and Teachers that are there but I honestly was just so ready and excited to get to Mexico! Although the road to Veracruz was not an easy one. We woke up early on Monday - 3:30 to leave at 4:30 for the airport. When we got there we checked out bags and everything just find but the difficulties started in security. Hermana Jensen, and I as well as the other missionaries made it through just fine but Hermana Ledek never came through - I started to get worried and then an airport employee came over and told us that Hermana Ledek had fainted or passed out just before going through security, I started freaking out! I was so worried about her and we looked over and saw her laying on the ground with a bunch of airport paramedics around. They allowed me to go over and be with her since I was her companion and I knew she was okay but the security and paramedics were really worried about her and sent her to the Hospital. Thus began a crazy day! I went with her to the hospital but in doing so we both missed our flight to Denver. We were in the Hospital for a few hours and then rushed back to the airport to try and make it on a plane going to Houston that would catch us up with our travel group. We endured more troubles there because the travel lady that we talked to booked us for the wrong day so we got put on the top of the waiting list but we weren't able to go. So then we got to wait in the airport to see if we could make it on the 3:00 flight to Houston - but they were four seats overbooked on a tiny plane so 6 people would have had to not show up for us to be able to go to Houston and make it in time for our flight to Veracruz. I was praying SO hard! We called and were told that if we didn't make it on this flight that we would have to go back to the MTC for a few days - which was NOT what we wanted! As we sat and waited to see if we could make it on the flight I prayed specifically that the Airport worker who was taking tickets would be our miracle that we needed and he was. The flight was full except for 1 seat and when we walked up he asked what our story was and we told him about our crazy day and he said "Don't worry - I'll get you both on this flight" I have NO idea what he did - he went on the plane and some other guy came out with him but It was such a testament to me that even though Satan didn't want Hermana Ledek and I to get to Veracruz that Heavenly Father did and that he truly answers our prayers. It turned out to be SUCH a blessing too because on the flight to Houston I sat by a man - Rami who I was able to become friends with and I was able to share my testimony with and I also gave him a Book of Mormon. I am so grateful for that opportunity I had to share the gospel with him and it was the first time that I really FELT like a missionary.
Veracruz is AMAZING! It is SO beautiful. I cannot even believe how blessed I am to serve here in such a beautiful place with the most humble and loving people. I honestly cannot believe how loving and caring the people here are. My companion is Hermana Acevedo from Peru and she speaks NO english so it's been quite the adventure trying to understand each other. In just a week though we have made so much progress and I feel like I can understand almost everything she says. And I have grown so much too - I probably have learned more here in one week than I did in nearly all my MTC time haha We are serving in Costa Verde which is right near the coast and it is so beautiful. It's been really hot for me but everyone here is cold so it makes me worried for the hot days to come haha We have the best investigators. We have many with baptismal dates and so many who are progressing with each lesson. The first night we went to Nahum's home who is getting baptized on sunday. It was so amazing! The spirit was so strong and we were able to teach other members of his family who came to church yesterday!
I'm also so lucky to have the opportunity to learn humility as well - Me and my companion live in the tiniest apartment and it was filthy when we moved in. I also had my first experience showering with a bucket...It's been a great opportunity to learn to be a little more humble like the people I'm serving here.
We have taught and contacted so many - the people here are so receptive. On wednesday we met Roberto and his neighbor Guadalupe - From the start they were both so receptive! Guadalupe is 16 and she has a friend who is LDS so she was really excited to learn more. And Roberto is a cute little old man who is so ready for the gospel. After our first lesson with him he grabbed our hands and said "Do you feel that?" The spirit was so strong and he recognized it but he also was so hesitant. He used to preach for a different religion that we don't need church to be saved so that was really hard for him but he felt the spirit and wanted to feel it more. He came to church and we were SO excited to see him! He stayed for all three meetings and then went to a baptismal service with us after. He still doesn't quite see the importance of it but he accepted to come back with us next week and he is always so excited to meet with us.
Next week we should have the baptism of Nahum and Hugo as well as Emanuel who is 8 and part of a part member family. And Silvia as well. I LOVE the people. I LOVE the area! I learn so much spanish everyday and I honestly love the language. I have an AMAZING companion and I am just so excited to be here!
I hope everyone has a fantastic week! I'll try and send pictures next week!
Hermana Terry
I honestly don´t know where to start! SO much has happened in the past week! We said goodbye to the MTC and headed off to Veracruz! It was kind of sad to leave the MTC and all the fantastic Missionaries and Teachers that are there but I honestly was just so ready and excited to get to Mexico! Although the road to Veracruz was not an easy one. We woke up early on Monday - 3:30 to leave at 4:30 for the airport. When we got there we checked out bags and everything just find but the difficulties started in security. Hermana Jensen, and I as well as the other missionaries made it through just fine but Hermana Ledek never came through - I started to get worried and then an airport employee came over and told us that Hermana Ledek had fainted or passed out just before going through security, I started freaking out! I was so worried about her and we looked over and saw her laying on the ground with a bunch of airport paramedics around. They allowed me to go over and be with her since I was her companion and I knew she was okay but the security and paramedics were really worried about her and sent her to the Hospital. Thus began a crazy day! I went with her to the hospital but in doing so we both missed our flight to Denver. We were in the Hospital for a few hours and then rushed back to the airport to try and make it on a plane going to Houston that would catch us up with our travel group. We endured more troubles there because the travel lady that we talked to booked us for the wrong day so we got put on the top of the waiting list but we weren't able to go. So then we got to wait in the airport to see if we could make it on the 3:00 flight to Houston - but they were four seats overbooked on a tiny plane so 6 people would have had to not show up for us to be able to go to Houston and make it in time for our flight to Veracruz. I was praying SO hard! We called and were told that if we didn't make it on this flight that we would have to go back to the MTC for a few days - which was NOT what we wanted! As we sat and waited to see if we could make it on the flight I prayed specifically that the Airport worker who was taking tickets would be our miracle that we needed and he was. The flight was full except for 1 seat and when we walked up he asked what our story was and we told him about our crazy day and he said "Don't worry - I'll get you both on this flight" I have NO idea what he did - he went on the plane and some other guy came out with him but It was such a testament to me that even though Satan didn't want Hermana Ledek and I to get to Veracruz that Heavenly Father did and that he truly answers our prayers. It turned out to be SUCH a blessing too because on the flight to Houston I sat by a man - Rami who I was able to become friends with and I was able to share my testimony with and I also gave him a Book of Mormon. I am so grateful for that opportunity I had to share the gospel with him and it was the first time that I really FELT like a missionary.
Veracruz is AMAZING! It is SO beautiful. I cannot even believe how blessed I am to serve here in such a beautiful place with the most humble and loving people. I honestly cannot believe how loving and caring the people here are. My companion is Hermana Acevedo from Peru and she speaks NO english so it's been quite the adventure trying to understand each other. In just a week though we have made so much progress and I feel like I can understand almost everything she says. And I have grown so much too - I probably have learned more here in one week than I did in nearly all my MTC time haha We are serving in Costa Verde which is right near the coast and it is so beautiful. It's been really hot for me but everyone here is cold so it makes me worried for the hot days to come haha We have the best investigators. We have many with baptismal dates and so many who are progressing with each lesson. The first night we went to Nahum's home who is getting baptized on sunday. It was so amazing! The spirit was so strong and we were able to teach other members of his family who came to church yesterday!
I'm also so lucky to have the opportunity to learn humility as well - Me and my companion live in the tiniest apartment and it was filthy when we moved in. I also had my first experience showering with a bucket...It's been a great opportunity to learn to be a little more humble like the people I'm serving here.
We have taught and contacted so many - the people here are so receptive. On wednesday we met Roberto and his neighbor Guadalupe - From the start they were both so receptive! Guadalupe is 16 and she has a friend who is LDS so she was really excited to learn more. And Roberto is a cute little old man who is so ready for the gospel. After our first lesson with him he grabbed our hands and said "Do you feel that?" The spirit was so strong and he recognized it but he also was so hesitant. He used to preach for a different religion that we don't need church to be saved so that was really hard for him but he felt the spirit and wanted to feel it more. He came to church and we were SO excited to see him! He stayed for all three meetings and then went to a baptismal service with us after. He still doesn't quite see the importance of it but he accepted to come back with us next week and he is always so excited to meet with us.
Next week we should have the baptism of Nahum and Hugo as well as Emanuel who is 8 and part of a part member family. And Silvia as well. I LOVE the people. I LOVE the area! I learn so much spanish everyday and I honestly love the language. I have an AMAZING companion and I am just so excited to be here!
I hope everyone has a fantastic week! I'll try and send pictures next week!
Hermana Terry