Week Cinco (somehow I lost a week in my posts)

Hola everyone!

This week is my 5th week here at the CCM and so much has happened. I feel like yesterday was last P-day. The weeks are flying by and it's amazing to think as of Saturday I'll have been here for a month. This week I learned my mission is the second smallest mission in Mexico, but in my very small area I have over 3 million people. I also learned my favorite teacher here at the CCM Hermano Hernandez lives in my mission!! (: I'm starting to develop a love for the amazingly loving and humble people of Mexico. This last Monday the amazing latina girls that were living in my casa with me left for their missions. I miss them dearly and couldn't believe how different the house feels when they're gone. I can't wait till I can leave and find more latinos to love. This Monday we also had two of my favorite elders report to their missions back in the states. Elder Nielson and Elder Brimley. They're going to be great missionaries and change so many lives. I love all the amazing people I've met here at the CCM. So many new life long friends. Our generation as were called have already started planning a CCM reunion after the mission in Disneyland! (:

As far as things happening here, I play lots and lots of volleyball with the natives and the Americanos. my and my companion are like best friends these days and even say the same things at the same time, sometimes in Spanish! CRAZY! I can officially speak in full sentences and can use the right verb tenses most of the time. I spoke solo español for an entire day the other day and learned I know way more than I thought. It's amazing to think when I got here all I could say was "I am a banana" (thank you Ashton). I can honestly say the gift of tongues is amazing and very real. I've been spending more time studying in la escrituras more than ever before and have really come to love Jose Smith historia. I know that Jose Smith was un profeta with all mi corozon. and am mucho agracido por mi testimonio of such things.

I love the CCM and am so grateful for the amazing experiences I'm having every day. Since week one we've been teaching leccions with "investigators" who are really our teachers. This last week we had a leccion with Betty. In this leccion we told Betty about the importance of baptism and the holy ghost. we weren't expecting her to accept our invitation to baptism, but through our broken Spanish we asked her anyways and were very surprised to hear her respond with "si". the spirit was so strong during that leccion. I can't even put it into words. The next day our teacher hermana Domingo told us in that leccion Betty felt the spirit but not only Betty was inspired. She as hermana Domingo had a question and we were about to help inspire her to read the book of Mormon for the answer which she did receive.  The lord works in mysterious way and I'm so grateful to be in tune enough to help our teacher. I can officially bare my testimony in Spanish and pray and I'm starting to leer el libro de Mormon in español. (: I'm also fluent in Spanglish. 

I miss all you guys so much and promise I'll keep you updated! 

con mucho amor!

-Hermana Stark

Week Tres (3)

This week went by so fast! I cant believe its pday already. The day are just flying by and its so fun! I'm getting to know more and more Spanish. I cant believe I've been out for almost a month mommy! I bet things are crazy boring without me around to keep you company. Things are crazy here, it's officially hurricane season so there's a ton of rain everyday, its amazing! Also I'm understanding more and more Spanish. Thank you for sending me that email from Parker. I kinda really needed to here that. This last week we got new zone members and they're super funny. We do a lot of laughing and singing Disney songs together. Elder Arnold of the seventy's came to speak to us this last Sunday and I got to hear him not only in a devotional but he spoke in my sacrament meeting too. I got to meet him and talk to him, he was super nice and very spiritual. It was incredible to hear him talking about going home from a mission with no regrets.

This week I wasn't getting any sleep, from Sunday to yesterday I was running on about 10 hours of sleep and I couldn't function. The language wasn't making sense, I couldn't focus and it was rough. So yesterday I went to my branch president and asked him to give me a blessing. He and my favorite teacher Hernandez gave me a blessing so I would have the strength to make it through yesterday evening and sleep well last night. The blessing worked. It was amazing how quickly I was able to feel a difference yesterday. I never really my access the priesthood at home and I'm going to change that. This experience helped me to gain a true testimony of the power of the priesthood. 

Thank you for the update on my account. I'm trying not to spend to much but the math is confusing. It's like 15.35 pesos to one American dollar. By the way, SUPERHEROES ARE HUGE IN MEXICO! I get stopped by Latinos all the time who are like"Tony Stark?" its way funny. The chips here have avengers trading cards inside and the yummy juice drinks have collectible cans and lids! (: im kinda the coolest. anyways that's all to report this week. I love you tons and bunches! 

If you could have a little mini email from Schylar and Ashton in my next email that would be amazing. I'd love to hear from them. 

love you! - Livi

Freinds at CCM (MTC)

Week Two

My zone leaders left this last week which is so sad! but I got a lot of pictures for you before they did. in my district. I have Hermana Child, me, Lauder and Mcintosh, and Elder Payne (from the consulate) and Hancock. I love them all. I haven't met a single person serving in my mission which is lame but it'll be ok. Everyone in my district got here the same day as me. My companion is from southern Cali and then moved to Washington before her mission. The gift of tongues is real. that's all I have to say about the language, I'm still not good but the Lord is blessing me everyday that I try really hard. conjugations are starting to make sense and I'm learning escrituas and new vocab every day! :) as far as people I've heard from, you Kozmo and Conner and Mckay :) so not many but enough to look forward to email time.

This week I had the opportunity to listen to president Holland speak to us. (live video broadcast). it was amazing mommy. I started off the week really frustrated and upset about Spanish and with my companion. but we worked through things and now we're like best friends! Our whole district is getting closer everyday. I love my teachers here too, they're so nice, Hernandez is definitely my favorite. he's really helpful. I've been working out too. A LOT. don't tell Brenton but I love the burning awful pain :p it's like the best stress reliever here at the CCM (MTC). and mom you're gonna be so jelly! I eat fresh fruit every single day! It's amazing, I learned how to eat a fresh mango like a Mexican! and they're sooooo sweet here! It's incredible, also the pineapples and apples and bananas every day! :) I eat so healthy! most of the time that is, Nutella has become a love and corn tortillas. and ice cream every now and again. I also forgot to tell you last week I met Elder Bednar! He came here to speak! it was incredible!!  I've decided you're gonna have to send me some fiber one bars and some mac n cheese :) can someone say care package? Anyways I'm having so much fun here and I love everyone so much, I miss you so much!

Pictures from Hermana Stark.

Olivia, Week one at MTC!

Hi mommy,

Hahaha I freaking miss you! this week has been crazy! I'm still sucking it up at Spanish but I know more than I did before hand. I'm gonna attach some pics of my amazing companion. my district and my zone. This week has been so much fun mommy! and today we took a field trip to the temple. Turns out I could work at the visitor center for part of my mission. I'll also be here for the dedication when it opens later this year. #excited. anyways I love the people in my casa and I love all the people here. Also so my mission doesn't go outside the city at all. Its like the smallest mission here in Mexico as far as area goes. I have like 3 million people though. and I'm technically in my mission right now. I love the weather. how are things back home? 

I believe the hahaha is referring to the fact I told Olivia I wanted her home on Friday for our Costco run and lunch in my email to her. (then she could go back) They really need to figure out a way to ease moms into this mission stuff.  I guess they know what's best but this cold turkey from your kid/friend can be really tough!   We miss having her here but all made it though the first week okay.