Bienvenidos a la CCM

It has been one week but it has felt like a year. A good year, but a year nonetheless. My first night, I was given a badge, a handbook, a schedule, a room key, a set of scriptures in Spanish and a companion. I am officially a missionary for La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias. I arrived at the Centro de Capacitacion Misional on Wednesday evening where we were given our stuff, ate, and met out companions. 

My companion is Elder Uhi. He is a fine Tongan elder from Salt Lake. He is somewhat soft spoken, but has a very strong spirit about him. Ive enjoyed learning and teaching with him quite a lot. Turns out he knows his fair share of Spanish and he has a magnificent tenor voice! My other roommates in my casa are elders Carlson and Hendricks. Elder Hendricks is a fine gent from a small town in Arizona. Hes got an interesting sense of humor and a great knowledge of the gospel. Elder Carlson is older than most of the other elders at 22 and has been an amazing help to me as a leader. Oh, did I forget to mention that I was called as district leader this Sunday? Elder Carlson was originally the district leader, but was then called to be the zone leader when the older district went of to the field. I was then asked by our branch president, El Presidente Gomez, to be the leader of my district.

The first full day here was one of the longest days I have ever experienced. It involved countless lectures about mission rules and orientations as to what goes on here at the CCM. It was extremely overwhelming to say the least. Things got better the next day, although that was when I got my first investigator....in Spanish. Along with the Spanish study, we get to learn how to teach by, well, teaching. The days are filled with various classes, devotionals, and discussions, all leading up to the lesson at the end. We have 20 minutes to teach a lesson on what we think the investigator needs to hear in Spanish. It was a bit nerve racking it first, but I think Im getting used to the idea. All the Spanish I learned is coming back to me.

Here is a little bit about the CCM:

Contrary to what you've been told, the food here is great (I know, always thinking with my stomach, right). El Presidente Pratt is a bit brash sometimes, but Hes a really loving man with a great spirit. Our (my roommates and I) first one on one experience with him involved being five minutes early to a meeting: There were two hermanas in front of us and he said, "Hermanas, you're beautiful...but your late. Hurry up." Then, in reference to us: "Elders, youre ugly....and you're late. Get to class." Interesting fella...

The campus used to be a Church high school until it was turned into an MTC a year ago. Youll all see more pictures from around the campus next week, just believe me when I say its beautiful.

Each district is assigned to an instructor who will teach them Spanish and how to plan, study, and teach. My district is made up of a bunch of really awesome elders, but no Hermanas :( We will all be involved in a Christmas Choir festival on the 24th with the rest of our zone. Guess whos gonna be leading our choir!

 We had a Christmas program this Sunday called La Posadas. It was a traditional Mexican dance program in celebration of the birth of the Savior. It was probably one of the most fun things we've done here at the CCM.

 We have gym time each day and get to decide what to do. Mainly, our district has been involved in sand volleyball and cage soccer. All this physical activity is wearing me out but its a LOT of fun.

We got to go to the the visitors center for the Mexico City Temple today. The temple itself is closed, and not being able to do a session is the one legitimate regret I have so far.

The beds are less than stellar.

I´m excited to continue on this adventure and to lose myself in the work and service of the Lord. Every day is a huge spiritual experience and I'm growing every single day. I hope I'll be ready when the time comes to enter the field.

Estoy muy emocionada a Invitar a las Personas a Venir a Cristo y Ayudarlas a Recibir el Evangelio Restaurado Mientras la Fe en JesuCristo y su Espiacion, el Arripentimientos, el Bautismo, La Recepcion del Espiritu Santo, y Perserverar Hasta el Fin.

I love you all,

Elder Lambert.