Hey everyone! I made it to week
two, which is actually week 3 here at the CCM. Where to begin... It is so great
here. The Spanish is hard and frustrating at times, but it is coming along
well. I can actually have conversations with our Latino roommates. Speaking of
roommates, we actually just got a new set. The Latinos are on a two week cycle.
Our old roommates were awesome; we would just sit and talk with them at night.
We would teach them English and they would help us with Spanish. Our new
roommates seem pretty cool as well.
So some other things.
We've already had to give 2 blessing to people in my district because of a
stomach virus going around, but nothing too serious. One of the things that
kinda bugs me about the CCM is that we can’t listen to music. Super lame but
I'll live. I've found myself missing music so much. Serious withdraws. Also, I broke the screen to my camera like the second day I
was here haha. It was in my shoulder bag, and I pulled it out to take a picture
and the screen was cracked and just white. But it still takes pictures! I just
have to point and shoot haha. So if some of my pictures come out a little
skewed, know you know why!
Now to answer some
questions. Me and Elder Spencer are going to Guadalajara. Elder Andriese and
Anderson are going to Monterrey West, and Elder Drew and Walch are going to
Cancun. There is also a trio of Hermanas in my district, one going to each of
our missions. Hermana Allen, Yerkes, and Falk respectively. Sleep is ok. The
beds aren’t all that bad, it’s just the cars, dogs, and "fireworks"
going on outside that make it a little hard to fall asleep. For our gym time, me
and my companion usually play soccer in the fenced in basketball court outside.
I suck very
much, but it is a blast. The food here is pretty good. Usually they have a native
dish and an American dish for every meal. But most of the food here is good.
Sometimes you don’t want to know what it is, but mostly good stuff. Occasionally,
like this week, the food gets the better of you and you end up having study
session in the bathroom because some of the elders can’t leave it... But it is
great here!
So we've had a few
awesome experiences this last week. Last Wednesday, Elder Christofferson came
and talked to us. But I'll talk about that in a little bit. Yesterday, we heard
a live broadcasting from the Provo MTC by Elder Oaks. Two Apostles in one week;
what a blessing. Elder Oaks message was good. He talked much about the need of
the Spirit in teaching, and living in general. It was very good. We also heard
from The CCM Director. He is this super young guy, probably only like 28. But
he talked about missionary work, and a lot of his own mission. He also talked
of the Spirit and relying on God. He retold a short story that one of the
apostles told in one of the last general conferences. It really connected with
me. It goes "Come to the edge, he said. I cannot, I'll fall. Come to the
edge, he said. I cannot, I'll fall. Come to the edge, he said. I came to the
edge. He pushed me and I flew." This is so true, because with the Spirit,
we can do so much more than we could ever realize. I've realized that many
times here.
So on to Elder
Christofferson. He talked about missionary work most of the time, but my
favorite part was at the end when he opened it up to question and answers. One
Hermana stood and asked him about the scripture when Jesus was on the cross.
This is when he is finishing the Atonement at Calvary. He says "My God, My
God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Elder Christofferson then proceeded to
give the most amazing testimony of Christ. It was as though he was best friends
with Jesus, and I knew that he was a special witness of Christ. The things he
said and the way he said them, made me feel the most amount of gratitude and
love I've ever felt for Christ. I especially loved one thing he said. It was
the reason that Christ uttered the words "Why hast thou forsaken me?"
When he was in the Garden of Gethsemane, he asked if there was any other way to
do what he was about to do, that was how great the trial was that he would have
to endure. Christ, the man who was perfect, the closest person to God to have
ever lived on this earth, asked for another way. How great was his suffering.
In the Garden he was even visited by an angel to strengthen him. But the real
punch comes later on the cross. He had not yet finished. When on the cross, he
still had to suffer for us, but this time, at the end, had had to do it alone.
He had no angels to strengthen him. So much that he did not have the Spirit of
God with him. He was utterly and completely alone. He experienced our pains and
sins alone. When Elder Christofferson paused at this point to catch his
composure, I'm pretty sure I was crying. I've never felt so terrible for the
things I've done in my life. But then he commented this. Christ had to suffer
completely alone. But we will never have to. We will always have help. Whether
that be friends, family, or the Spirit, we will never be alone to bear our
trials. Christ suffered so that we could always have the Spirit with us. I have
never felt more gratitude for something or someone before. Simply writing this
is making me tear up. I better understand now why we'll never be able to be
fully grateful for Christ. It was amazing to hear Christofferson say it,
because it seemed like Christ had told him about it personally. The Spirit that
can be felt here is amazing.
I’m loving it here. It
is soo hard, trying to do everything that needs to be done, but it is so worth
it here. My district is amazing. I have the coolest teachers ever. I have the
opportunity to learn about and teach the most amazing message that has ever
been comprehended on this earth. What a blessing to bring the knowledge ,
peace, hope, happiness to others. Writing this sounds so cheesy because it’s a
total missionary message, but it’s true. This is the most amazing thing ever.
The feeling of the Spirit is unlike anything I've ever been able to feel. I
love it so much. And I'm surrounded by the best examples I've ever met.
I just want to take a
moment to thank you all. Family and Friend. Thank you for taking the time to
hear about me, but also thank you for your prayers and blessings. I have
definitely felt them. I could not be here with the attitude I do and the amount
I've learned without all of you. I love you all so much, and I hope you all are
feeling as wonderful as I have been. I love you all so much! Untill next week.
Apparently there is a stomach virus going around,
but I'm surviving haha!
Well since I've been
sick, I’m trying to take it easy. But the enchiladas and stuff are pretty good.
Tuesday nights are Costco pizza night, so that’s nice haha. Every once in a
while we get Tyson Peppered Chicken. That’s a real great one! The weather is
pretty good. Not too hot, and the temp is perfect at night. It doesn’t vary at
all here. It’s about the same every day. The last two days have rained quite a
bit. It rains most days, but sometimes it doesn't.
Getting letters is one of my favorite things in
the world. The actual physical letter is so much better than having to wait
till pday to read something I'll only get to read once. I love you guys so
much!!!!!
Elder Kaden Quinn
Picture 6 - And this is a moth some elders found on their
window. it was huge, but it’s not the biggest we've seen. They get huge!!! Make sure Jared Yates sees
this picture please :)
