First Week of Azteca Leon

*****(sidenote:   The first paragraph is her response to just finding out that her younger brother, Preston, had just started school at Southern Virginia University, where Miranda was attending before her mission.  It was a big surprise--she had no idea, and we got her good!!  Haha!  Couldn't resist sharing with everyone her reaction with all of you.)

Oh my flipping goodness where do I begin?   Um ok... PRESTON!!!!!!  I literally started crying!  That's so flipping awesome!!!!!!  I'M DYING!!!!  I CANT EVEN!!  I told everyone in English and they didn't understand.  So I tried in Spanish and failed epically!  So nobody knows, but I DO-- so that doesn't even matter!!!!  I am just in shock to say the least.  He left just like that??....He is in flipping Virginia right now!  So jealous...kinda....but for reals- I cant even!  This will be the start of something great, I just know it.  You know, I was praying for him the other night because I realized that I can't be worrying about him anymore. So I wanted some kind of comfort, and I got this really positive feeling that he would be alright.  And then I get this email and I am like what?!! THIS IS CRAZY!!!  It's awesome though and he is going to love it so much!  I don't personally know his roommate, Jackson Franco, but I believe he is the younger brother of a friend of mine.  Should be fine if Lucy and Nicole recommended him!  I'm so excited for him! 
      My p-days are on Mondays now.  Not sure when the regular time of day I will be emailing though.  Today was kind of crazy.  So I guess it's time for a report of my crazy first week in mexico!    
       So it's my first week.  Leaving the CCM was super sad, and I'm pretty sure was the only female who didn't cry. I was pretty sad about leaving the people I met, but super excited to get to work nonetheless.  Um, Where to begin?  To be honest, the first couple days were crazy and super super overwhelming.  I was just like, "I cant do this!"  But everyone is super nice.   I met President Mejorada and his wife.  They are super awesome and so funny! I got to talk with alot of Latinos and Latinas on the trip to Queretaro.  We sang hymns in Spanish, and had a very broken conversation on my end.   The first night and second day were rough because it was just non stop Spanish.  I understood maybe 15-20 percent.  It was like drowning!  But, all the Latinos are super nice and very patient with me, so that's good.  It's just hard not understanding!  Then when you do understand, you can't reply! So the first couple days all I did was answer basic questions, like "where are you from" and say "si" and "hola". Other than that I was mute.   But, it definitely got better as I gained a little more confidence in myself.  Oh totally forgot my  first area is Leon, Azteca!!!!   I think the specific area is called Malinalco...not quite sure.  It's a little ghetto, and it rains every day.  One day it started flooding!  I was soaked to the bone!  But it was fun.  OH! And Leon is 3 hours from Queretaro.  It's awesome.   And my compañera is Hermana Sanchez.  I am her 3rd American companion, so she knows what she's doing.  She is super sweet and I love her.  She hardly speaks a word of English, and I hardly can put together a sentence in Spanish, so we carry around dictionaries to communicate.  Its interesting.  But, I have learned alot.   I have met so many new people here, its insane. Mainly I just say my little blurb about myself then listen, lol.  We have lots of investigators right now, at least 20, so our days are jam packed.  
     My first day (or second, can't remember) I had to invite someone to baptism.  Her name is Citlali and she said yes!  She's getting baptized on October 17th.  Since then we haven't had another date set, but we have quite a few progressing investigators who we are asking this week.  Its crazy.  But a good start to my mission!  She is super sweet, and loves the church.  She gets so emotional- its adorable.  She will be a top notch member.  Everyone is super nice.  I get made fun of alot though for my language skills! lol! l I guess I would make fun of me too... it's pretty bad.  But I'm learning.  I can't wait for the day that I understand and can actually say what I want to say and have it make sense.  That's definitely the most difficult part as of now, is that I don't understand much and I can't speak very well.  But, I guess everything comes with time.  Other than that we have a lot of menos activos (less actives) that we are visiting, so it's been fun and very busy.  At the end of each day we are exhausted!       So, lets see what else.  Oh, so I am living in Leon in this house/ apartment type thing.  At first when I went in I thought it was a garage-lol.  Buts it's decently nice.  We don't have windows, AT ALL, and only 2 light bulbs work. So sometimes that can be a struggle. haha  But compared to some of our investigators, we have it sooooo nice! A lot of people here live in very humble circumstances, but they are still so happy and willing to give us their food. Sometimes without us even visiting they will just drop off food.  It's been very humbling for me to be here.  But, I really am enjoying myself here and I have had a lot of really good food!!!!!!  I have yet to get sick, so that's always a plus!  
     I have definitely learned a lot.  Obedience and trusting in the lord.  Also, that if I ever want to do anything, I need to constantly have a good attitude, and work as hard as I can.  It's by far the hardest thing I have ever done and I'm sure as I continue on my mission, my challenges will change.  Right now, its primarily the language, but eventually that will leave and it will be something else, more so probably.  But, I know that through the Lord I can accomplish everything.  So I'm not worried.  Nervous, excited, and anxious, but  not worried.  So overall, I love it here in Mexico.  It's super different, that's for sure.  And I can't understand a thing!  But it's awesome.  I hope everything goes well back at home!  Keep me updated!  I love you all!!!!!!                                                                                                                                Hermana Sever

 P.S.  Sorry I don't have pictures.  I forgot my chord!!! I'll send a ton next week!  Oh!  The buses here are crazy!!  We mainly walk or travel by bus, and the buses are possibly scarier than any roller coaster I have ever been on.  haha Today we got to go to the heart of Leon and tour and stuff.  It was really pretty!  Very different though from the area I am in! So yea I probably forgot I ton, but I don't have a lot of time today because we got home late.