Hola!

 

Hola! 

There are a few new sounds I need to get used to at the MTC (CCM) in Mexico City, and while that includes dogs barking in the night, car chases, and the occasional fruit seller on a megaphone, it also includes “Hola!” Everywhere we go, other missionaries, the teachers, the workers, always exchange holas and buenas dias-es. It's been that way with my district too. We got here and now we've already decided to stick together. I am in a room with all the other girls in my district who I got to know a little over zoom but now we spend a lot of time together (or all of it in my companion’s case). 

To go back to the beginning of my CCM Adventure, our plane to Mexico City from Salk Lake stuffed with bright eyed missionaries refusing to look at their tv monitors, TCATS members (formerly known as the Tabernacle Choir) and their families, and native Mexicans just trying to get back to Mexico finally arrived at the Mexico City Airport. The missionaries filled two large buses and drove through the crowded streets of Mexico City, driving in tunnels, under buildings, and through crowded neighborhoods of people. I couldn't help but look for some Aztec ruins, or giant Olmec heads. I wanted to see something reminiscent of the past. Eventually in between the gray structures, we began to see bright colorful buildings littered across the mountain, surrounding the valley we drove through, and in the center was the Mexican MTC filled with palm trees, birds, new flowers, and bushes, and plenty of missionaries. 

While I may have accidentally called the missionaries who've been here for six weeks The Sixth Years, thankfully there haven't been any giant snakes, or semi attractive emo boys talking back to me from my journal. I also found out that the prefect... I mean... the STL on my floor took a class from my mom at BYU I. 

Classes have also been really educational. I did realize, though, that a Spanish class where the students only speak in Spanish is a lot like the game Chameleon, where you hear what the others said, say something based on their responses, and hope no one notices you didn't understand the question. It's kinda fun. 

Our Spanish teacher is really nice, and we end up laughing a lot in both of our classes. And our Preach My Gospel teacher is really good, and quite funny. She has figured out quite well how to make funny sound effects and faces when she can't remember things in English. 

A few nights ago the Hermanas in my district were able to sing together as a part of our House Devotional. (Can you see why I couldn’t help but think of Harry Potter?) We sang “Come Follow Me” and “Nearer My God to Thee.” The other Hermanas said we sounded really good together, and I couldn't help but question if I stood out. But as I went to bed that night, I thought about the song we had sung, and what it meant and I realized maybe that was the wrong question. A better question would have been, “How did I feel during the song?” or “What does the song mean to me?” 

This morning I was able to read the chapter in Genesis that inspired “Nearer My God to Thee,” and it got me thinking more about the gathering of Israel. In the scripture, it talks about how Jacob, who sleeps while lying on rock and dreams he sees God on a throne and angels descending to the earth. He hears God promise him that his descendants will go across the earth, and God says to him, “Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land.” Jacob wakes up and promises to worship God and realizes the place where he stands is the promised place, He consecrates the stone he was sleeping on. 

In the Book of Mormon, I noticed that Nephi reiterates this point that the gathering of Israel is how God can accomplish his purpose and bring us back to Him. Over and over in the scriptures God is trying to bring us back to Him. I love thinking of history and the past. The more I think about it the more I see that God's love is everywhere. 

From the time of Jacob to Nephi to now, our Heavenly Parents want us Home with Them, and they want us to want to be with Them. I love to look at the past, and to look at how it has affected our current culture, but I don't think I appreciated how much that applies to the Gospel as well. For centuries, people have been communing with God, trying to understand, learn, and preach. And their efforts are still with us. My companion was showing me scriptures from 2 Nephi about the promises that apply to us and I love how small history seems from that perspective. 

Those across time and culture have been trying to find how to feel God's love, and receive His blessings. I think physical historical landmarks can be gorgeous and wonderful, but I also think there's so much history in a culture, or in the way people talk to one another. and that's really sweet too. I think 

I'm starting to get used to saying “Hola” to everyone.

Hermana d'Evegnée