Week 8 - The Fire in the Darkness!

Hey everyone! How are all of you? What is the weather like wherever you are? 

This week has been a little crazy! I have been adjusting to the mission life in the field and meeting new people and learning more Spanish! (I have also been trying to eat the right amount of food, but that is harder done than said when there are all these wonderful torillas, if you know what I mean.)

We had my first zone conference this week. To prepare we all had to write five minute talks about this oddly difficult topic, but no one told me about it because I don't have my iPad yet until the night before, so I couldn't write my talk until we were driving to the Zone Conference. In the conference only two missionaries out of the whole zone were randomly chosen to speak, and it was the companion that had a certain topic inside the companionship. And I HAD TO GIVE THE TALK. But I promise that God blesses us! He turned my scribbly bullet points into a really good talk about defending the sanctity of the family as I was saying it. And now everyone in my zone knows who I am now, so that's good too. :)

We had my dear friend named Paty get baptized this weekend! It was a beautiful service that my companions and I sang at 😕 Afterwards we had a fireside with President Mortensen (the mission president) that ended up being in the dark because the power in the church went out. That meant that the AC didn't work, but it was so neat when he held up his iPad and said that the scriptures are one of the greatest sources of light in this world, and his iPad with his scriptures on it was this huge bright light in the darkness. I know that this is true! When I am need an answer to a question or need peace the scriptures illuminate the way. The word of God is powerful and I promise that it changes lives. My favorite scripture (one of them right now) is Alma 29:9 in the Book of Mormon if anyone wants to look it up (you can find it on google too). 

I have been thinking a lot about happiness this week. I have learned that happiness is not a function of our circumstances, but it is a choice that we need to make every day. I am happy. I am happy not because it is hot out, or because I have two awesome companions, or because I am excited to see all of you one day again. I am happy because I know through the opportunity to make covenants with God in this gospel I share every day I can be changed, whole, and complete. I know that my weaknesses and my flaws can be made up, that every hard thing, every challenge I face, every despair I will feel can be swallowed up in the joy that comes from the Savior. I know that He lives just like you and I do. I know that one day I will see His face. I know that He is making a diamond of the coal which is me, and that although it is difficult every step of the journey and every moment in the heat of the refiner's fire is worth it. 

I love you all to the sun and back, (all 93 million miles of it) and I know that our God does too. 

-Hermana McCurdy

 And the bonus picture from I don't know who….

Thank you Random people!!

Week 7 - Hello Texas!!

Hola mi familia! 

    Hello from the United States! I have so much I could say that I hardly know what to say! My final week at the CCM was so fun! Lots of pictures, a bit of spoiling (and curdling too if you know what I mean), and it was also a little sad. I had to say goodbye to all of my friends and my district as we were all going our seperate ways. Sunday night after the MTC video we ended our run with a slideshow of pictures of the departing missionaries, and then the Elder in my district who is learning how to conduct finished his training by conducting the closing hymn in front of 500 missionaries. I'm not exactly sure how to describe that experience, but it was magnificent. WE had a testimony meeting with all the departing missionaries and my district elected me to go up and bear my testimony and represent them. I was so honored and it was a really cool experience. Then it was time for goodbyes, which I won't really go into because y'all know how bad I am at last words. The next three days were a kind of torture as this Hermama McCurdy watched her new little family leave one by one until I was the only one left. Then with the other Elders going to my mission we got in a big van and didn't look back. 

    On the plane I flew over the Gulf Coast which was so pretty! I will totally miss Mexico and many things about it. I sat next to this lady who has a novelic romance with a marine in Africa. She was so nice! Also there was a french speaking family on the plane that I talked to in French which was so cool! Who knew that I would use my french in Mexico!? After making friends with two adorable little girls named Michelle and Camille in customs, we found ourselves with the 27 other missionaries (5 sSpanish speaking) who came from the Provo MTC. The next morning we met up with our trainers. A trainer is a missionary who is more experienced and who knows how to do things, helps and teaches you, and in my case acts as my Spanish teacher! I got super lucky in the trainer department as I have not just one, but two! Hermana Jorgensen is my "mom". She has been on her mission for 7 months and is super nice! My "Tia" (or Aunt) is Hermana Sumison, who has been on her mission for 13 months. She is super funny, plays softball, and her Spanish is great. Then they sent me out into the world to go teach about what makes me happiest in the world: the Gospel, and these are my observations:

1. Hispanic people usually don't know where Connecticut is and I have to tell them that I'm from New York City. 

2. I love Spanish food. 

3. One day I plan on mastering tortilla making. 

4. I apparently have a "beautiful accent"

This week has also been interesting for other reasons. I ate a booger flavored jelly bean on a dare. It was honestly awful but what worries me most is if this is the first step in becoming like Elder Martin. My experience has also increased! This saturday we had a baptism for two beautiful kids named Brandon and Kimberly. They asked me to say the closing prayer at their baptism and I was really nervous but it went good I think. But the Spanish is really coming a long super well! I love to learn it! And I am so grateful for this opportunity to learn it! Sometimes I step back and remember that I am on a grand adventure learning Spanish and helping people change their lives in Texas and I can't keep from smiling from how lucky I am. We were teaching this little old lady about the priesthood this week and I was pondering in my heart about how I wished that the Savior was there because he knew how to teach her perfectly! And then I remembered a scripture from Matthew 18, which says, "From where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them." I know that the Savior has called me to serve the people of Texas! I know that it is him that I represent. I know that he is with me in his lessons and that he is using me as his instrument in bringing about the miracles in the lives of his children. My joy is full and I think my favorite part of the gospel is that the Lord keeps giving me a bigger cup. 

I love all of you and hope that you are having a wonder full week! My address is 16350 Ella Blvd, Apt 816, Houston, TX 77090, and I would love to get mail if that's not too much trouble. 

All my love, 

-Hermana McCurdy

These are my pictures from this week. I made friends with a cute little snake that was sitting on my chair, my food, the family with two kids that got baptized, and me and my dear companions. I love you guys!

-Hermana McCurdy

Week 6 - In transit

Sorry I didn't call you. We had a small amount of time and I would have had to purchase a calling card in Mexico and then the phone was in Spanish, and then they moved our gate at the last minute all the way across the airport, and although I had all of those excuses I do know what it is like to sit there and wait and hope all day and fantasize a little bit and for it not to happen, so I am sorry for that mumz. But it also would have been to difficult for me to hang up and I knew that it was just the best decision.

My first indication she made it to the US safely was a text and pictures from another Elder's mother:

She said her son just returned from (this mission) and they were back with him to visit.  This was taken at the baptism of Kimberly and Brandon.  She said they all seem happy and are doing wonderful!  I told her she was the first news I had that Madison had made it back into the US.  To which she replied, "I'm glad your mind is at ease now that you know she made it safely!  She was asked to bear her testimony and did such a great job!  She also said the closing prayer at the baptism and participated in singing "Families Can Be Together Forever" in Spanish wither her companions.  It was such a great baptismal service!"  She was an answer to my unuttered plea to know Madison was safe.

Week 5 - Almost back to the states

Hi guys! How are all of you! I hope that you are doing well and you are healthy and are getting excited for school to come back around! 

I got a package this week! It WAS AWESOME. Mail is seriously a blessing! My district has developed a soap opera and it is a little more funny than it should be! We have been playing volleyball a lot lately (no sprained fingers, don't worry) but I have gotten a tan! This week I coached a volleyball team, which was actually super fun haha. I've spent so much time watching it, it was funny when I understood I could help coach people! I also jump served for the first time this week! I was so happy I almost fell over into the sand. Most of all I was surprised at how natural it felt. Perhaps deep deep deep deep down in my genetics there are actually volleyball genes. Oh! And Hermana Fuller and I beat out Elder Orgill in a game of ninja this week! It took our entire district five weeks to do it, but finally Hermana Fuller and I triumphed! In nuestra casa my bed is right next to the window, and I can see the mountains that surround the city. My window has a perfect view of one mountain with a radio tower that blinks at night on the top of it, and if I squint my eyes and use my imagination it looks like the Eiffel tower and for a moment I'm in France and not Mexico. Then I remember that I am glad to be here and the thought that the Eiffel Tower could be in Mexico makes me chuckle. 

Speaking of countries, I will be returning to the Estados Unidos on Wednesday and will be going to Houston! I am excited to get out into the field and meet people and practice my Spanish! 

I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn and to grow here in Mexico. I am excited that the Lord has called me to walk in his shoes for the next 17 months. Yo se que JesuCristo es mi Salvador y Redentor. Estoy agradecido por mi mission y sabo que Padre Celestial llamo me servir por El. El camino es su camino. Yo se que el Evangelio de JesuCristo es como puedemos estar feliz, y que la Iglesia de JesuCristo de los Santos de Los Ultimos Dias es verdad. 

Sorry for the broken Spanish, but I felt that it was important to say. I love you guys and hope that you have an excellent week! I hope all is going well. Peace out my friends! 

-Hermana Madison McCurdy

Real enchiladas