September 15, 2015

¡Por fin!

I have more than two minutes to write which is nice! I have been loving the CCM. There are two groups here - the latinos who are here for two weeks, and the north americans who are here for 6 weeks. I ended up getting my companion switched the second day so I am now with Hna. Keeler from Arizona, but we are in the Latino group. We are the only americans there so it is 100% spanish. The gift of tongues is so real! I have been incredibly blessed with understanding and I get basically everything they say and I am having more trouble speaking, but it is coming along. We room with Latinas that don´t speak any Enlgish so all we speak is Spanish. In fact, I am co-ordinadora of the Latina group and when we had a meeting with the President´s wife and the North American sister leaders, I was able to translate for the two groups. As a leader I don´t actually do much, and I know that it is just in the CCM and it´s not "real" but I still am a little overwhelmed. I had to intervierw the hermanas in my rama to see how they were doing and they just went off and I was thinking "I want to help you but I just have no idea what you´re saying!" I also had to give a spiritual thought, play the hymns(because none of the Latinos know how), and prepare a talk for Sunday. Stressful to say the least. The latinas are the sweetest people ever though. They are like a little clique and I was nervous to be in the group but they have really taken me under their wing. They help me with my spanish and I teach them English phrases. They love "see you later!" They call me Hna. Apellido Chistoso because they can't say Fitzpatrick. They reallly struggle with it. They also say I look like someone named Gabriel from a series Shina or something like that so you will have to look that up and send me a picture. And in the city, we had to go immigration ( becasue in Peru they make you a legal resident instead of give you a passport) (also it was the craziest bus ride I have ever been on in my life!! So much honking, so few rules), they just stared at me and my blue eyes. I especially stick out in the picture of my district. I love my district! The Elders are all latinos and all converts and they have so much excitement to share the gospel. It is really inspiring. All of the latinos actually. They don´t have enough garments, they don´t have enough clothes sometimes but they have scriptures marked with their favorite ones and a love for the Lord and a desire to serve Him. I love them. The CCM is really nice, we live right above our classes and they have a nice soccer field and volleyball nets outside. They also have little fake houses where we teach our fake investigators (our teachers). I hate doing that because neither me nor my companion speak super great, and she is worse than I am. So lessons are rough, but we always have the Spirit there so it goes ok. We eat really good food. My favorite is every morning we have avena that´s like really milky cream of wheat and tuna, the fruit from cactus. My favorite fruit has been granadía. It´s the most alien thing I have seen in my life and I feel like I am eating the things that they shoot out of the guns in Lilo & Stich, but it's so good. Most of the other food is variations on chicken and rice, always rice, and potatoes. And all we drink is fruit juice. I am peeing 90% fruit juice at this point. Sorry this isn't very structured but I just have so many thoughts flowing right now. And I can't send photos yet sorry! And in the CCM you can only take photos on P Day so I don´t have that many right now. Today we went to the temple in Lima and it was beautiful! The last time I will go to the temple for a year and a half. Whenever anyone hears I´m going to Iquitos they go ohhh do you have an adventurous spirit, it´s hot there, and they eat weird stuff. Without fail those three things. I´m excited to finally be a real missionary because the CCM is a weird place. The people here for 6 weeks look like they are losing their minds. I can´t believe I am Hna. Fitzpatrick. It feels odd to say that but I love it. I am a representative of Christ. I feel so different here. I thought things would annoy me and I would maybe be a little annoyed here, and yes I am tired (so tired! had to get up at 5:00 today!) and yes I get frustrated with the language, but I have never been so happy in my life. I feel like one of those annoyingly positive people that loves everything to the point where it seems ridiculous. I love everything here. I love everthing about being a missionary. I love Peru. I already have such a love for the people. When we were walking on the street everyone smiled, the trucks passing by honked horns and people are just kind. I love it. But most of all I love my Heavenly Father. I am so grateful for this opportunity to show and share my love for Him with other people. I leave for Iquitos on Tuesday so I don´t know when I talk to you next. I love you all so much and miss you. I show people my little photo book all the time and they show me theirs, but everyone knows my family is the best. Sorry that was so long and twisted. I will try to make it more organized next time. Love you!

Next stop Iquitos!

Hna. Fitzparick