Yo Hablo Español

I am not sure why I would entitle this blog post Yo Hablo Español, because I really truly don´t. Pero, I true so I guess that is enough for now. My days here at the MTC have basically just consisted of study and learning, which is great because I was sure sad when I graduated from college and thought I wouldn´t get to do that anymore. At least I haven´t lost my sarcasm. Or my ability to spell. (I found a spell check)

Life here at the MTC is pretty easy, since basically all decisions have already been made for use. We have a very detailed schedule laying out what we should be doing with basically each hour of the day. You would thing life wouldn´t be stressful at all, but it turns out I manage to get pretty stressed out on a regular basis. A lot of people say that they regret not taking some Spanish before coming here, but I can honestly say that I don´t. I love French and am so happy that I chose to study that language over Spanish. I think my French background has definitely helped me with learning Spanish, but it is still super stressful. The other day we had a stress management class, because apparently it is pretty common for individuals to get stressed out here at the MTC, however, I just came away from it way more stressed than I was before. I find it works best not to think about the fact that in three weeks I will be out in the field teaching lessons in Spanish.

I have been enjoying my time here though. I have met so many great and wonderful people. It is always great when you make a connection with someone and learn that you both know the same person. My district is totally awesome and we have lots of fun together, which turns out to be a kind of bad thing when we should probably be studying and not talking. 

If you were planning on sending me a letter, I would not recommend sending any to the Mexico MTC, it turns out the mail like I have said in my other posts is like the slowest thing on earth, and people are barely getting letters that were sent not even a week after I left. I should be getting to Chicago around September 16th and I feel that mail in the US should go a lot faster! I would be more than ecstatic to hear from anyone and I promise I will so write you back, so there is that!

I miss everyone, but I know that I am where I am supposed to be.

With Love!

Hermana Peterson aka Ashley P! 

La Barra de Hierro, es La Parabala de Dios

Por favor and gracias.

Look guys, I really do know some Spanish. Okay let’s be honest I had to look most of that up, but still it is progress! I know a lot of Spanish, but at the same time I know absolutely no Spanish. Mostly, if you want to talk about the gospel I have your back, but if you want to talk about anything else I become real lost. Anyways for those of us that don´t know Spanish, the title of this post translates to The Iron Rod is the Word of God, which is so true.

Now why would I choose this title for my post? Great question! On Tuesday we had one of the most amazing devotionals ever! The area President I believe Hermano Johnson and his wife Hermana Johnson came and spoke to us. He basically based his whole talk off of the first vision, and spoke about the four groups in Lehi´s dream. Mostly he really focus on the need that we all have to hold strong to the Iron Rod in our lives. The Iron Rod consists of things like the bible, the Book of Mormon, general conference talks, the Ensign, New Era, Friend, and other similar items. In Lehi´s dream it is only those who continually hold fast to the rod that get to the tree of life and recognize their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The doctrine of Jesus Christ is made up of five parts, faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, baptism, repentance, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. I think we often overlook the part about enduring to the end. Baptism does not save us, repentance does not save us, receiving the Holy Ghost does not save us, it is when we endure to the end that we are saved.

This devotional really emphasized to me the importance of continually reading the scriptures. Herman Johnson promised that if we read from the Book of Mormon every day we will not fall away from the church. I truly believe and testify in the truth of this. Some of the hardest times in my life have been when I turn away from God and stop reading His words. The comfort and peace that reading from the scriptures brings is truly amazing. I hope that we can all try a little harder to make daily scripture study a daily part of our lives. Now I was no expert at this before I left on my mission, but an hour of personal study everyday gives you a lot of time to read from the scriptures. I am trying to make studying habits now that will stay with me in the future. Also if anyone has not read Our Search for Happiness, by Elder Ballard I highly recommend it.

Things here at the MTC are going really well. I know that as I put the work in I will be blessed. Also let me just say that the mail in Mexico may just be the slowest thing ever!! People just barely started getting letters that were sent back on like the Seventh of August. I still haven´t received any mail, which is super sad but I have faith that some will come. I probably wouldn´t mail anything to me here at the Mexico MTC after the beginning of September, because it would probably never make it to me. I am sure the mail will be much faster when I am in Chicago though.

If there is one thing I wish I would have brought with me, it is pictures. I am definitely craving pictures of my friends and family at this point. So if you do write me please send pictures with it!! I would seriously be the happiest missionary in the whole MTC! Nope make that the whole world!! These pictures can be of anything your pet cat, you, you and me, the mountains, the ducks at first dam, taco bell, I mean seriously I would be happy with anything. Maybe pictures of your favorite memory of us doing something, I think you get the idea.

I think the second week was a little harder than the first week, but I am staying strong. I know this church is truly and that we are all children of a heavenly father who loves and cares for us. Our brother Jesus Christ suffered for each and everyone one of us separately so that we can return and live with him again.

Hermana Ashley P!!

Yo, Nefi!

Okay so you are probably wondering why I titled this post Yo, Nefi! Well that answer if very simple, it is how the Book of Mormon starts out in Spanish! Is that not the coolest thing ever! I seriously almost died when my companion, Hermana Moore, and I started reading the Book of Mormon together in Spanish and I read those words. I am pretty sure that just based on the fact that the scriptures start Yo, Nefi we can conclude that the church is true! I mean seriously how awesome is that! So whenever I am having a down day here in the MTC I just think about how the scriptures start with Yo, Nefi! It´s pretty awesome!

So I have been at the Mexico MTC here for a little over a week and I seriously love it! Everyone says that the MTC is super hard, but I really haven´t thought it´s been that bad. I mean yes I have may moments and there are been a few tears shed but for the most part it is seriously awesome! I live in the same casa as Hermana Moore my companion who is super awesome love her to death! She is going to Bakersfield, CA and then Hermana Scott and Johnson who will both be serving in Panama. When we are have a down day we count on each other to lift each other up.

The decision to serve a mission wasn´t an easy decision, but everyday I am so grateful for the decision that I made! My love for the gospel is growing everyday and I can´t wait to get out in the field and start serving the people of Chicago! Hopefully, when that time does come my Spanish will be a little bit better than it is now. Like the second day we were expected to give a 20 minute lesson in Spanish! The first lesson I went in with everything written down, but my lesson last night I seriously had like  three scriptures written on the piece of paper. It worked out okay. It´s pretty impressive the amount of Spanish I can already speak. I think my companion really loves it when I break out the French! But boy am I so grateful for the fact that I have some language background and know what is going on somewhat.

Today, we were able to go to the Mexico City, Mexico temple! Wow, what an awesome experience that was. I was hoping that it might be in English, but no of course it was in Spanish! I didn´t understand a whole lot of it, but hey it was still pretty awesome! The temple was so beautiful! It is seriously one of my goals to go to all of the temples one day! One day it will happen!

I miss all my friends and hope that maybe some of them want to send me a letter or something! That would seriously make my day!

I know that this church is true and that Christ is our Savior and Redeemer and that through him our sins can be forgiven us and we can be washed cleaned. I know that families are eternal and that with God´s help anything is possible. There is no way this many missionaries could be learning other languages without divine assistance!

Hermana Peterson!