Hola fellow people from Gig Harbor and surrounding areas,
This past week has been crazy; it feels like it’s been a
month since I left last week. Mexico City is crazy, it’s not as hot as I
expected it to be here, usually a nice 70 degrees and a brisk 55 in the
mornings. I absolutely love it here; the CCM (MTC) is amazing. I’m going to tell
you about each day so far.
Week 1:
Wednesday: was a lot of waiting
I woke up at 2:00 in the morning to get to the airport for
my flight at 5 am. It was hard saying goodbye to my family. For my first meal
as an elder I had Wendy’s for breakfast. The first flight to phoenix was 3
hours long. I was trying to sleep but there was a little dog behind me that
wouldn't stop whimpering, which was really annoying. I got to phoenix and found
another elder (forgot his name) at the gate, it was just us till I realized we
were at the wrong gate. We rushed over to the right gate and found like 7 other
elders and 1 sister. The second flight was just a bit longer than the first and
I was too anxious to sleep. We got to the Mexico City airport and found at
least 40 elders and a couple of sisters there. I passed through customs and
immigration's easy. All of us missionaries gathered for like 40 minutes
waiting. We got on a bus and headed to the CCM. Traffic in Mexico City is
crazy, at all hours of the day. And the drivers are crazy too. There really are
no rules on the road. Motorcycles dodge in and out of traffic, but the average
speed is only like 40 mph. We arrived at the CCM and watched a video. We then
went to dinner. Its crazy how many missionaries there are here. After dinner I
met my companion, his name is Elder Weaver, it was really awkward that night. We
got to our Casa and unpacked and fell strait asleep. Such a long day.
Thursday:Pday is Thursday but not today
Thursday was by far the hardest day for me. We got up at
6:30 and had personal study. We went to class and I was just blown away. It was
like I was being thrown into the middle of a 3rd year language class. I
understood no spanish. My companion was like a translator for me having taken 4
years of spanish himself. So that whole lesson just went right over my head. Two
other people in my district are on my same level. We went to an orientation
with all the new missionaries, and me and my companion forgot our suit coats,
it was an honest mistake, but president Pratt pointed it out in front of
everyone anyways. We sang the hymns in spanish which is fun but kind of weird.
The food here is amazing, lunch was great. In the evening we met our branch
president, Presidante Alvarado, he’s chill and super nice. I offered to give
the closing prayer in Spanish (with a cheat sheet of course). Apparently I have
a french accent, weird. That day I learned that things don´t come easy and it
takes a lot of hard work and patience. Scripture of the day: 2nd Nephi 20:2
Friday:
Today was super hard bust went faster than Thursday. Elder weaver and I started teaching our first companion today. It went terribly. I
understood nothing she said and when I read my part I pronounced a bunch of
stuff wrong. I have begun to learn some spanish words today. We had gym time
and we played some basketball. They have a really nice indoor court but it’s
under renovation. It was nice to have a break from sitting all day. We met our
zone today, we all introduced ourselves, then they introduced themselves . They
were hilarious. One group did a skit from hot rod,” my name is Elder... And I
like to party,” that part. Another, Elder fisher spoke in a really small voice
showed us a special talent (slap dance thing) and did a back flip. They are all
really cool. I’m trying to rely on the lord for support in my spanish cause I’m
way behind.
Saturday: is not like Saturday
We had the same schedule on Saturday, no breaks. We taught
our investigator for the second time today, it went much better than yesterday
but I still didn’t get what she was saying. I did pick up a few spanish words
though. We went over 1st Nephi 1:1 with our district and I really felt the
spirit as we discussed Nephi and his words. We had our first devotional today. It
was awesome; it was a bunch of native dances surrounding Christ’s birth. I am
really happy here and can see it in myself.
Sunday:
My first Sunday here was really relaxed, well not that much
but more than the other days. We had priesthood, then sacrament. In sacrament
the elders and hermannas give the talks. There are only like 30 people in my
branch so a 1 in 5 chance of getting called to give a talk. One of the
districts is leaving to the field tomorrow so they all bore their testimonies.
Elder Decker said “How far do you thing heaven is?... Then it must take a long
time for blessings to get here.” That really comforted me.
Monday through Wednesday:
We entered our normal schedule; we spend 8.5 hours in the
class room. I can see my spanish getting better. Our district is really getting
close; we are all comfortable with each other. I can talk to Elder Weaver about
anything. We committed our investigator to baptism, turns out she’s a mormon
teacher at the CCM.
Thursday
Today is Pday, the real Saturday, it’s a really relaxed day,
don’t have to wear missionary clothes. Get to email and exercise as much as I
want.
Miss you All,
Love Elder Pugmire
The Beautiful CCM MTC
Elder Weaver and I
It is really beautiful here.
