I promised myself I wouldn't send long emails but I guess this first week is going to be a long email so enjoy the journey!
On Wednesday, something happened that has never happened at the CCM before! My shuttle was late from the airport and as we pulled into the parking lot, the president and his wife were parking their car! Perfect timing right? We met them and the president opened the doors for us new missionaries and welcomed us. His wife took one of my suitcases inside for me (because me plus suitcases means struggles) and they went on their way.
So there are 10 people in my district. 4 Elders and 6 hermanas. My companion is Hermama Wentz and we are both serving in DC! She is a sweetie. I love my district! They are all going to be great missionaries. Also, look out for an hermama Browne in early July because she is serving in Nampa, Idaho! She is from Hawaii (hermana with the dark hair in picture). The Branch presidency is great. The first counselor is from Venezuela and his wife is from Chile and they love to help us with our Spanish. The language is coming slowly but I have learned an incredible amount since last Wednesday. I have a lot of work to do but patience is key.
The people in my zone are all amazing. There has been a lot of crazy this week in our zone. Both missions in Nicaragua closed on Monday so 4 of the missionaries in the zone are being reassigned and so will a good handful of the missionaries coming to the CCM today. We are getting 14 new sisters and 8 elders today! All spanish! So funny/terrifying story: 5 of the Elders almost got sent home on Sunday (their last Sunday before the mission) here for jumping in the elevator. The elevators here will stop if people jump and they tell all the new missionaries this when they come to the CCM. It was fast Sunday and these 5 Elders were going down to dinner when the elevator stopped because of some jumping going on haha. They were stuck in there for 2 hours, missed dinner and were rescued through the top of the elevator just in time to be called out during the devotional to chat with the president. Moral of the story: don't jump in the elevator because you will miss dinner on fast Sunday and get a talking to from the mission president. Luckily all the elders are still going to be going to serve.
Aside from the crazy, this week has been so amazing! We have had so many devotionals and great speakers come because its is mission president training season. This week Sherri Dew came and spoke to us about the missionary work and its growth in the latter days and last night Elder Gerrit W. Gong spoke to us about the divine revelation that goes into assigning calls and our purpose of bringing souls unto Christ. The CCM also went baptist for a hot second during the Be One devotional on June 1st which was such a cool devotional.
My companion Hermana Wentz and I have been teaching our first investigator since day 3 and its going well. Yes, they really do have you teach in your mission language on day 3, and yes it is the hardest thing ever but the spirit is the real teacher. I know the language will come in time. My companion has 4 years of Spanish behind her so we are still working out how to work well together as we teach but we are making progress.
Today I had the opportunity to go to the temple for an endownment session! It was a great session. I cried for a good hour of it before receiving the answers that I needed to get through this next week. First time crying since coming out to the mission and it was actually suprisingly productive! I know that missions can be hard at times but they are so worth it! I have never felt so close to my Savior in my entire life. I feel like he is walking side by side with me at times and there is so much peace it overwhelms my soul with hope and love. I know that there are people in Washington DC that I need to meet, but there are also people in DC that need to meet me to change my life and help me grow. I know that Spanish is the language that I need to learn at this time to help with the work. It is the hardest thing about the mission so far, and I know there will be many more tears while learning it, but the mission is not about me. It is about God's children who have yet to come unto him. I testify that these are the days that the Lord is gathering Israel. He is at the head of this church. He is the one we are meant to follow to return back home to our Heavenly Father.
I love you all!
-Hermana Barthlome
Sister Shandrie Barthlome
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