Oh Mexico! 12/30/13

So. Here we are again, another Pday. How much do I love these days?? Seriously. Not much has been happening here in our lovely little zone. We are literally 4 streets by 4 streets. The smallest area in the WORLD. Like, what? Are you kidding me? This week has been difficult because everyone is gone on vacation. We are in pretty early every night. Our mission has a new rule. You HAVE to be in your house by 9. It´s too dangerous to be out and about. GREAT.

The food is NAST. Im literally losing so much weight being here. But now muscle.. we go to gym in the morning and Hernandez and I just talk or sleep. Lazy Americans... So great to talk to you all on Christmas. I basically died after and just cried. We had a party at Presidents house the next day. Way fun. 

Hernandez was pretty sure she was going home this week, then she got a blessing... priesthood power is REAL. I am so happy she is staying. She is such a good person (and she knows english..) I spoke again yesterday in Sacrament. They are SO funny in making me speak every week. President Hall was there. The nicest guy. I cant wait for you all to meet him.

Okay.. the moment Ive been trying to avoid... I dont think Im going to Utah State anymore.. I know that was the game plan, but things change, right? So.. dont hate me.. but Im pretty sure I need to go to BYU. I know. Typical missionary. But really. Since the day I got into the MTC, BYU has been on my mind. I think that is the game plan as of right now. Look at me, changing my life one day at a time. 

Really, i dont have that much news this week! im going to be super horrible and not send pictures again. Last week we didnt have time, this week we dont have sim card slots. WHAT. Ugh. I know. Next week, okay? So sorry!!! I have so many great pictures to send you. The Mexicans are all so serious here so they love my funny faces. There is one elder (I LOVE HIM) and he takes so many pictures with me. They are ugly and I love it! 

Remember how I never drank soda. Almost everyday here.. so bad. But its that or go without liquid for hours. So not good. Coca Cola is my bff right now. 

SOCCER EVERY MONDAY. Holy cow, they think Im like Alex Morgan or something. Really, I am pretty sure I am not good, but they love that Im the only white girl that can kick a ball. I play a lot. They all fight for me to be on their team. Especially my bud, Elder Piña. He is the one that takes ugly pictures with me. Seriously. BEST BUDS HERE. He helps with my spanish and I help with the english. Love it. OH! Today we rode a camioneta to Chedraui, the store. Literally, it was SO full of people, we were hanging on for dear life in the doorway. Bienvenido a Mexico!!!  

Its super gross here. I use hand sanitizer all the time. And we Americans are so lazy, Hernandez and I are paying to have our clothes washed right now.. hahaha too silly. So we get 1450 pesos at the beginning of the month.. I still have cash from the 700 I got two weeks ago. I am SO great with money here! 

All in all, the mission is hard. I love my zone and the members here. They take really good care of me even if I dont understand everything. I´ve had a cold since the day I got here, but its fine. Dayquil to the rescue. WOO! 

Love you all. Go to church. Read the scriptures. Say your prayers. Remember that God loves you and Christ gave all for you. This is the true church. Even when people try to shut us down, we know its true. We can feel it. I can feel it. I love you all. Stay safe and have a good New Year! 

Hermana Courtney Hamilton

Poco a poco, and Tender mercies 12/23/13

Wait, what? Im in Mexico? Are you kidding me? So our flight was great. We had 10 minutes to make our flight from Arizona to Mexico. Almost missed it. HOLLA. It was stressful. We went straight to our presidents house and holy hannah it is beautiful. I love President Hall SO much. Honestly, I dont know how I have been so blessed. Monday night I went contacting with some sisters. My spanish is rough but its whatevs. So McCulloch, Hernandez, and I stayed the night with some sisters. Super weird. Everything is different. We had breakfast with the president tuesday then training. My comp is Hna. Alvarez. She is from Mexico and she is 26 years old! WHAT!!! Seriously. Shes pretty tight. Speaks no english, so my spanish is all I use. As we were leaving the presidents house after training, JACLYN SHOWED UP! She came and surprised me! I started crying my eyes out. Seriously, best friends for life. I love that girl. We live in a little apartment with two rooms, a kitchen, a living room, and a bathroom. Really, it{s not as nice as it sounds. But it could be worse.

The members think I am hilarious because I always make jokes about how bad my spanish is. They all call me werra, which means white girl. ALL THE TIME. Its hermana werra here. (Im sure you spell it differently, I just don{t know how). Food is rough. There is some stuff that I love, then others that I physically cannot eat. So nasty. The churros are good.. so thats a plus. We eat one meal a day. One. SO. If anyone wants to send me the following foods, feel free too. I will add the new address at the end. Food to send - Ritz Crackers, Chewy granola bars, mints, anything chocolate that wont melt. chocolate is rough here. really, I would appreciate ANYTHING. Top ramen, popcorn. Anything. I love you all so much. Keep my poor stomach in mind. JK. But really. 

Its really poor here. Dogs everywhere in the street, broken down cars, no washing machines (washing my clothes today.. wow. So grateful for our washing machines.) Im teaching english to a ton of little kids. Plus im starting an english class for the city on january 7th. So pumped. It will be way fun! Hna. Hernandez is in my zone and lives four streets away from me. we go to the gym every morning, and see our zone almost every day. we have the coolest elders. My friend Hna. Gregory lives right above us, so I see her everyday also. Tender Mercies. The Lord knows me way too well. The spanish is so hard. I can barely understand our lessons, so I just sit there, looking dumb. Its frustrating. They all keep saying Poco a Poco, which means little by little, it will come. Hopefully, right?

So I totally broke down yesterday. I put up my family picture wall, basically a shrine to all of you, especially Grace. Went to church, was asked to bear my testimony in Sacrament, nerve racking, didn{t understand a word of what happened. Literally had tears in my eyes all day. As we were leaving, I heard Hna Hernandez yell for me. Yup. I lost it and just started balling my eyes out. I ran and hugged her and just cried and cried and cried. As I was crying, I looked up and who was there?? PRESIDENT HALL. WHAT??? Yeah, they decided randomly to drive 30 minutes to come to a random ward. TENDER MERCY. So president hall grabbed me and gave me the biggest hug (Coolest president ever. He has his own rules) and gave me a kiss on the forehead and told me he loved me. AH. So what I needed. Literally, the Lord knows me SO well and was looking out for me. Ive started to learn how tough this is going to be. I am learning to put all my trust in the Lord. I do my part, and He fills in the best. Being here is so humbling. I will never complain about cold water, doing laundry, or not having something yummy to eat for dinner. 

I love this gospel. As hard as this is being here and not knowing the language or why I was sent to Mexico, i love it. I love the people, I love the people in my zone, and I love the Lord. My invitation for all of you is to think about what you love this Christmas week. Remember all that you have and WHY you have it. 

Im so grateful for you all. I will be Facetiming you on Moms phone on Wednesday. I would assume sometime around noon my time, So i dont know when that it for you. just all be together, okay? Have a phenomenal Christmas. Remember Christ, our Savior, and what He has done for you.

I'm going to Mexico?! 12/12/13

Okay. So much has happened and I'm freaking out on time right now. Typical P-day. So after I emailed last week, we went to class and started talking about getting our travel plans. Friday night, we went as a district to go and get our mail...

OUR TRAVEL PLANS WERE IN THERE. WHAT?! We basically freaked out and were crying we were so happy. It was awesome. This whole "Mexico" thing is really happening. AH. So after being SO excited about our plans, we had to teach our investigator, Sara. We went in with a lesson plan, but once we started talking to her, we knew we had to change. I showed her Alma 36:3, one of my favorites, and helped her to know that even though she is going through so much, she is still loved and the Lord will always be there for her. It was the most spiritual lesson we have had yet. Afterwards, Hma. Captain (our investigator) said that she felt the spirit so much and she knew that we were following the promptings of the Lord. Well... if that's not a compliment, I don't know what is. SCORE. 

This week has been so emotional. Between saying goodbye to our teachers, finishing everything, starting our packing (mom you will be proud.. my suitcases look AWESOME), cleaning the apartment, anything you can think of. It's been weird. Tuesday night we had a devotional with Quentin Cook. WHAT?! 3 apostles since we have arrived? That's unheard of! So cool for us though!

Okay. So to tell you all about my knee:

I couldn't really walk Saturday, Sunday, or Monday, So I had to go to Main Campus and see a doctor. Low and behold, my IT band syndrome started kicking up again. Just in a new spot. I was so frustrated. So they sent me to physical therapy (they billed you... hope that was okay!!) The therapist was way chill, gave me the same run down as usual. I'm pretty used to it after 3 years. All is well though. I am still heading to Mexico! Before the devotional, I totally slipped on ice and wrecked my knee even more. All cut up and such. So the right side of my body is kind of losing it. It's fine. Sort of. 

Thank you SO much for the package! It was exactly what I needed!!! My district loves the O'Henry bars, mom. Basically the whole zone knows to come and ask me for treats. They think you're the coolest mom ever. I agree, of course. :) Thank you for the tree!!! TOO CUTE! Same with the stocking! The whole entire package was just PERFECT! Don't you fret. I'm making room in my suitcases to take all of my food. You know me... Hermana Hamilton + Food = a happy missionary. The thread was helpful! I've been helping the elders sew EVERYTHING. Did I tell you that last week? I'm the best dang pants hemmer this MTC has ever seen. Literally. They look GOOD. 

I love you all so much and I can't wait to hear from you on Monday! I will be calling way early. My guess would be like 6:30. AHH! MEXICO!! Everyone be prepared to tell me quick stories! 

I love you all so much and I'm so grateful to have such an amazing family! This church is just TOO true. I have learned that God knows me INDIVIDUALLY. He cares about me and what I'm going through. How cool is that? I've learned that through the atonement, anything is possible. Even when you feel like you'll never be able to speak to a native, the Savior knows how you feel and can help. I've never felt the spirit so strongly before. This is the Lord's work and I'm blessed to be here and to have the opportunity to serve. 

Hugs and Kisses! Talk to you all on Monday!

Hermana Lillian Fish-Fry

P.S. everyone loves my nicknames.. shortney, lillian, fish fry. It's a constant joke in our zone.

So I left the state for awhile... 12/5/13

You might be questioning what I mean by that. WELL. I GOT MY VISA!!

WUT WUT. WUT. WUT. WUT WUT.

Monday afternoon, Hna. McCulloch and I got letters saying we were flying to Vegas Tuesday morning to get our visas. How did we get SO lucky. Everyone complains when they have to fly to Vegas because it apparently sucks. Butttttt we had SO much fun! We got to eat real food, talk to real people, and see the outside world! So crazy. McCulloch and I basically took the lead and made sure everyone was where they needed to be. A super nice lady bought us breakfast at like 6 in the morning, and that night when we got home a returned missionary bought us hot chocolate from Starbucks! How lucky am I to be a missionary? We all know how much I love food. :) 

The MTC is so great. Really. I love it here. Our little district never wants to leave each other. We are seriously family. The elders leave on Monday so we will have the smallest district in the zone. SO SAD. But we got a new district of just elders and they rock. They already talk to us SO much. Way cool. You missed it. We just freaked out because we got an email from one of our friends that just left for Mexico. We freaked out. TOOOOO CUTE.

I was sitting in class last night and I was just on the verge of tears. I don't feel like I'm improving at all. With spanish OR teaching. My teacher looked at me and said, "Hermana. Stop it. You can't see it, but you're just as good as people that have been in the field for months." He's pretty straight forward with me. Every time I start feeling like this, he knows what to say. Such a good guy. Then we taught another teacher, Hermana Captain, but not as an investigator. As herself. It was really neat to get to know her and find out what SHE needed as a real person. She was having trouble with her faith in God and Christ. She felt like they didn't love her and she was alone. I related to her SO much. We connected a ton and I was able to help her out. She said that a lot of what we talked about hit her really hard. Once I get to Mexico, I know that there will be people that I can relate to and help. THAT'S what I'm excited for. 

Companionships are hard. But we are working at it little by little every day. This is why I didn't get married right out of high school. Seriously. 

PARENTALS. I will be mailing that box back next week sometime. Currently using it to decide what I'm taking to mexico with me and what I'm leaving behind. If you could send me a new pair of black tights, I would be SO grateful. Mine ripped last week. Killer calf muscles, ya know? 

Te amo! I love you all and I miss you like crazy! Thanks so much for the letters and the packages! I got more pictures from the Facers and CRIED again. Too cute. This work is SO true. I know that we are all sent to this Earth to do something amazing. I know that my district is supposed to be my district for a reason. I'm supposed to have these certain teachers, because they can help me. As hard as this language is, it will come. Through prayer, and faith in the Atonement and Christ, I know it will come. 

Love love love love love you so much! 

Remember!!!

The church is true.

The book is blue.

And God loves you. 

-Hermana Courtney Lyn Hamilton

SO MANY EMOTIONS 11/29/13

Family!! SO SO SO sorry I didn't get to email yesterday! We were at Main Campus all day and so we didn't get a p-day. We've had to move stuff around this week so we could still do laundry and email.

Okay. So since everyone is asking about Thanksgiving, I will speak on that first. SO CHILL. We got to sleep in until 6:15, which was HEAVEN. Then we went to breakfast with the whole West Campus in our cafeteria. We then jumped on buses and headed up to the Main Campus where we had a devotional. Russell M. Nelson spoke. That's right, I've seen two apostales since coming here. How lucky am I?! It was a great talk and I didn't fall asleep. Normally, I'm out in the first 10 minutes. So I'm improving, slowly but surely. After the devotional, we went to our "Home Room" on Main campus. Can I just say we are SO blessed to be on West Campus? Everyone is so much nicer here and speaks the same language. No barriers. Everyone on main is GRUMPY and they hate it there. We hung out in our home room for an hour or so, in which we all sat and talked about home, our missions, our family's, and everything in between. I bet you can't guess who I talked with most? Yup. The elders. I tend to like them better than some of the sisters. But hey, that's been me since I was little. It's fine. We had Thanksgiving Lunch in the Main cafeteria, and it was MAYHEM. So many people. We weren't used to it. My cute district all sat together and had "family prayer" then went around and said what we were grateful for. TOO CUTE. We went to a Skit, Music, Singing, thing afterwards. BORING. Really. I gotta learn how to sing. I'm so tone deaf, it's not even funny. We did a service project last night. We filled bags with soup products (350 thousand) and are sending them to school of less privileged children. It was AMAZING. I loved it. We finished the night by watching Ephraim's Rescue. Seriously... I just can't do pioneer movies. I appreciate the pioneers so much, but the movies are WAY too cheesy. Oh well, what can ya do. We had to walk home after that (30 minute walk) then got to bed at 11. LATE.

So other happenings: 

All of our friends left on their missions. They all flew out Sunday night and Monday morning. I'm not going to lie, I cried saying goodbye to most of them. There are some that I'm definitely going to keep in touch with. So Saturday night, McCulloch and I knew we needed to get a blessing. Spanish is killing me. Fryer and Hafen, the zone leaders at the time, and McCulloch and I's best friends, were able to give us a blessing. It was so cool because we were their first ones. TENDER. I appreciate the priesthood SO much in my life. It's an amazing thing that we are so lucky to have. 

I'm trying SO hard to get along with my comp. We are so so so so so so so SO different. I don't think you guys understand.. So different. We are making it work, but we just don't agree on things. Her way is the ONLY way. Um... okay. Ask me how that's gone down thus far. Really though, it's a lesson that I need to learn. Being patient with someone I might not like, but need to love. I'm working on it. 

The hardest things about the MTC:

1. Being away from family. 

2. Spanish

3. Not being able to play soccer with the boys.

Really. They won't let me play with the boys because it's a contact sport and we aren't allowed to touch. So the rule makes sense and all, it's just frustrating. None of the girls play, so I sit and watch the boys play. Then at meals we all sit and talk about it. I miss it SO much. This last week, I've been thinking a lot about how grateful I am for soccer and all that it taught me. I'm tough because I had a tough coach. I'm strong because I know how to work out when I need to. And I run like NO ONE'S business. Seriously. If I can't play with the boys, I run for an hour straight. Such a good workout. But lonely, because no one wants to run with me. STORY OF MY LIFE. 

I miss you all SO much! Maaam, thanks so much for the ADIDAS socks! I love them! Everyone loves that I"m decked out in Adidas material during gym. So great. 

I love you all. I'm so grateful to be here right now. This is the true gospel. I know that even though this language is hard, through the Atonement, I will get the help I need. I've already seen huge improvements, as have my teachers. I had a heart to heart with Hermano Painter the other day and just cried and cried and cried. I feel like I struggle to feel the Spirit compared to others. ..that's my first problem. Comparison. But he sat and told me that I have such a great relationship with the Spirit and that I'm just in tune. That's why I serve and it's not a hard thing for me. That's why I do random good things and do them just because. It made me fee so much better. I know that this is where I'm supposed to be. I can't wait to get our flight plans and our visas. (Still nothing on that... we are starting to freak out). I love this gospel. So so so so so so so much. I wouldn't be who I am now without it. 

Love you all!! Remember who you are and what you stand for. The church is true and the book is blue!

Les Amo!!

11/21/13

Okay, first off...

THIRD THURSDAY THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, SAY WHAT?! Holy crap, time is flying by! The days are so long but feel so short. It's nuts! I'm up by 5:24 every single day, to class or gym by 7, breakfast at 8, class until 1, lunch, class until 6, dinner, class until 9:30, then home for planning and sleep! We literally sit in class allllllllll day long. SO MUCH STUDYING. I finished the Book Of Mormon again, and I'm half way through D&C now. My testimony of Joseph Smith has grown SO much this week! We have been teaching and learning a lot about the restoration and what it really is. Joseph Smith is a SAINT. I am so grateful for all that he did for us. We committed an investigator to baptism! We started teaching two new investigators that are a little more difficult. One of them, I can't understand. He has some speech impediment and it's hard to hear him. BLAH. 

So Spanish sucks. I can hear everything and understand it, I just can't speak. Don't ask me why! My brain just can't process it! I've had a few breakdowns here and there where I just cry and cry and cry. My roommates rock though. Can't wait to get to Mexico with them! Hma' Hernandez and McCulloch are fantastic. We get along so well. My comp and I? Not so much. I am trying to learn to love her, but it's so hard. We are so different from each other, so it's hard to find things to compare. She's awesome at Spanish, so there is a language barrier. Did I already tell you she's from Kansas? Anywho, that's where she is from.

My teachers are phenomenal. Hermano Saegars (our first investigator) told me that if I want extra Spanish lessons, he'd be willing to do one-on-one with me. Same with Painter and Heap. They are so great. 

I've been sick for a week and it has not been fun. Super coughy-sneezy-snotty-tired. All that jazz. Still trying to get over it. Maaam, we didn't pack me Dayquil. So Sad. Have no fear, I bought some. It was heavenly. OH! I GOT THE PACKAGE! I love you guys so much!! So does my district. They are all very grateful for the treats. They say thank you. (Yes, I'm learning how to share food. Probably one of the hardest things for me.) Everything was perfect and exactly what I needed! Thank you for the pictures. They couldn't have come at a better time! I got my glasses, btw. They are a little off center, but I can see! So that's a plus. We are losing two districts this weekend and I'm so so so sad. My best bud, Elder Orton, from the boys district is leaving. We have become SUCH good friends! I know.. leave it to me to befriend more guys than girls. I have a problem, okay? I know.. 

We just got back from the temple and we still have to do our laundry and clean the apartment. Hma. Nielsen (my comp) is so not organized or that clean. It's giving me anxiety. She's still super late to everything. More anxiety. And she is never quiet. If she's not singing, she is telling us the same two stories. It's a lot to take in.

All is well. I'm happy and loving life! I miss you all dearly! It was so nice to get a package from you and from the Facer clan as well! We have a Thankful Tom now hanging in our living room. My comps love it! Ang, you're a genius! Gracias! --see.. I can speak SOME spanish! I loved the letters from the Whitakers! I cried. Let's be honest.. I cry more than I should. Courtney the emotionless robot is no more! Mom, you should be proud!

I love love love love you all so much! I'm so grateful for a family that supports and loves me so much! I love this gospel with every part of my being. I know that I have a Savior who atoned for my pain, sin, everything! I still haven't had that feeling that Mexico is the right place for me. It will come though. 

Hugs and Kisses!!! Until next week, 

Hermana Hamilton

Another One Bites the Dust

Okay, I am referring to the week. Another one down. And I have absolutely no clue where it went. The weeks pass by SO fast here. I hit my 4 month mark next week. How crazy is that? Sometimes, it feels like an eternity here. But by the morning, I realize its been another week and I'm still alive. HALLELUAH. 

So I have never really fasted before. Really, EVER. But last week, we did. We needed work here in little Bene. I know its probably hard to imagine.. but really. Four streets by four streets is nuts. We just don't have much room to do anything. So we fasted. And it wasn't super hard. I fasted for a few different things, and did Hna Garzon, and together we fasted for help in this area. And what do you know? We have 20 new investigators!!! And we have baptismal dates!!!!!! I am so happy right now!!

 

Going to talk my compa up for a minute. We had a total moment the other night. We were talking about our investigators, and she looked at me and said, -Hermana... I dont want to leave Bene. We need to stay together for another transfer. You're the best companion I've had yet.- Aww!!! Really. We are such good friends. But it hasn't affected our work. When you become close with someone here, you start to get distracted. It becomes okay to be disobedient. But with our friendship, we have just become stronger in our work. We were up until midnight last night talking about how we can be more obedient. Its a great thing! We went to Chedraui today to buy food... probably one of the best parts of the week ALWAYS.

We left an appointment at 9:45 last night and still had to walk home, so I called President Hall. Its a rule to call after 9 if you're still in the streets. (We have to be home by 9 every night unless we have a lesson.) So I called him, and we were talking. He started speaking in Spanish to me, and went on to tell me that someone in my ward called him about me.. So of course, I started flipping out. OH President, I didn't do anything!! I'm sorry! What did I do?! And he went on to tell me that this person said they don't know how its possible, but my spanish has increased tremendously in the past 3 weeks. They said its a miracle. My heart just swelled. I can't see the improvement, but when the people I'm around do, it means so much to me. 

Christ lives. I know it with every part of my being. I know that He died for ME. Every time we read Luke 22:41-44, My testimony grows. Every time we teach the atonement, my heart rejoices because I have a Savior who lived and died for ME. ME. How did we become so lucky? God loved us so much, He sent his Only Begotten. Its a miracle. I will testify until the days end that this work is the greatest thing we could do. I get to invite others to come unto their Lord, Jesus Christ EVERY. DAY. When I tell people in the street that I am here for a year and a half to preach about Christ, they think I'm crazy. But its so worth it. I know that God has a plan for us. I know that if we live right, I get to be with my family for ETERNITY. How many people can say that? I keep a family picture with me everywhere I go. I show everyone. 1. Everyone here thinks that we are all siblings. So.. Parents.. Way to go. Lookin good and lookin young! 2. Everyone says we are really white... I agree. 3. I know that every time I talk about my siblings, and how I want to be an example for them, the Spirit testifies that I am doing the best I can. 

I hope you are all well. I hope you are all taking time to read and pray. If anything.. pray. I know He listens and I know he wants to hear about what youre feeling and thinking. He cares. He always has, and He always will. I love you. I love this gospel. I love the peole. The food is still nasty, but vale la pena. Its worth it. 

Con mucho amor, siempre

Su hija, 

Hermana Hamilton