I am super lucky!! The preparation day
for my zone is Saturday!!! So yeah we totally lucked out getting to
email home so soon and having a little break from studies today.
I absolutely love it here so far! Our schedule is really busy and it already feels like I have been here for a really long time!
Wednesday
was great!! The other missionary on my flight was also going to Mexico!
Saltillo I think. He is from Moses Lake and knows Mitch from EFY. His name
is Elder Earl I think.... yeah that sounds right :) Lunch with the
cousins was super fun! I am so glad I got to see them all for a little
bit before going into the MTC.
I am in the west
MTC so its about a 5 minute bus ride from the main campus and we only go
over there on Sundays and Tuesday night for devotional. In the west
campus we are all Spanish missionaries so everyone greets each other in
Spanish and a lot of us try to speak in Spanish all the time. Elder
James Olsen was my host when I got to the west MTC. He showed me around
and carried my luggage up 3 flights of stairs to my apartment. What a
good friend. It was fun to see a familiar face.
On this campus we
have apartments rather than dorms which is SUPER nice. I sent you some
pictures of our empty apartment. We don't use the kitchen or the couches
really. We rarely are in our apartment but its nice to have so much
space.
My companion is Hermana Jones!!! She is AWESOME. We actually met
on facebook through a sister missionary group and have been messaging
the past several months so it felt like we already knew each other. We
get along great and work hard together. My district is all Hermanas. 6
girls and no Elders! Its so great. We have the best teacher too. He's
very animated and encouraging. We sing and pray together as a zone in
Spanish every night. 
Thursday night
we met our Branch Presidency and had interviews with our President. We
talked for about 30 seconds and he asked me to be the Sister Training
District Leader. Usually there is a Sister Training Leader per district
and an Elder as a District Leader but since my district is all Sisters, I
am both. He talked about all my responsibilities super quick and then
said he wished he could have me for 18 months but 6 weeks will do. I was
totally shocked a little overwhelmed, but I am SO excited to serve the
girls in my district and am trying my best to fill their every need. I
truly love each of them very much. They are all from various areas in
Utah and all super determined and smart. I made it in an intermediate
language district so we jumped right in with the Spanish. All the other
districts in our zone are beginning so they are always telling us that
we are the new district that is way more advanced than them already. I
don't know about that... but I/we have learned a lot in the past few
days. I am so amazed by how much our district has improved.
I am
running out of time soon but I am doing great! I am working hard and
love the whole atmosphere of the MTC. Yesterday my companion and I
taught our first lesson in Spanish and it actually went alright. It is
definitely tough with the language barrier but it is incredible how much
the Spirit can help you remember words and help you know what to say in
the moment. It was an awesome experience. This morning we got to go to
the Provo Temple too! I love the temple.
I thought
the MTC would be a time for simply studying Spanish and the gospel.I am
learning quickly that this work is much more. It is more about learning
to love those around you as Christ would and teaching according to the
Spirit. I am trying so hard to serve the girls in my district and know
how I can meet their every needs and help them feel loved and
encouraged. I am trying to turn my thoughts completely outward and
remove any form of pride. I hope everything is going well back home! I
love you all and yes Mom I got all of your dear elders and I love hearing
from you everyday!! It makes my day. :) One of my jobs is to pick up
the district mail but we don't get to open it until 9:30.
I know that this gospel is true and am
loving every minute I get to spend being a missionary and serving
others. There is nothing greater than being a missionary!!
Con amor,
Hermana Rhoten
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