Working Hard and Worn Out

Dear Mom, 

 

                                                       5am on P Day is too early

                                           My District. My companion is third from the left

No I did not get the letter, but Hermana Hall did. Although it may seem sacreligous, if you paste a picture of the virgin of guadalupe on the front, it will get to it's destination quicker and without tamperment. Hooray for the Utes winning! That made my P-day that much more amazing. My Spanish is slowly getting better, but I hate the grammar rules. It makes my head hurt just thinking about it. My companion's name is Elder Jones, he is the young man who is standing with me by the Mexico City Temple plaque thing. He's great, he doesn't like that I run, but we compromise with basketball instead.

 

We went to the temple again today, so that means a couple more pictures for you guys. We went at 8:00 am, so me and my companion got up at around 5 am to get laundry done so we could play ball and so I could do a quick workout too. Probably wasn't worth it though, I feel like a walking zombie. But on a positive note, my laundry is done. It rains here pretty much everyday at about 6 pm. It stinks, I'm glad we got waterproof shoes I'll tell you that much. The studying is making my head hurt so much. We are in a classroom for about 16 hours a day, except Tuesday's and Sunday's, and it's so hard. But I'm learning so much at the same time. It's kind of a love hate situation.

 

I'm glad to hear you're doing ok and that Alesia did good on her song. I know how she feels when someone speaks fluent Spanish, but hey, I actually was able to speak with a worker here at the MTC with ease and share some gospel principles. I can understand bits and pieces of the temple sessions now. I feel like the Lord has blessed me so much. I love you guys, I miss you all so much. Don't be mean to each other and help as much as you guys can.

 

Sincerely,

 

Elder Medina

Mexico Temple Trip, Hurricane? and Independance Day

                                   Our view from the scary bus ride

                                             Balloons anyone?

                                                 Mexico Temple

                                     Independence Day Celebration

                                             I love this culture!

                                               Mexico Temple

Hi mom!

Yes my luggage made it safely to Mexico. I love it here! Besides my digestive system never being the same, my companion is so great! Oh man, the Mexico City Temple was the greatest thing that has happened here! I was so happy when I went there. I've always wanted to go and actually getting the oppurtunity to actually sit inside the temple and go through a session in Spanish was amazing! With my growing spanish skills, I was able to understand bits and pieces, the great thing was that some of the temple workers gave the missionaries who wanted them, headsets to hear the session in English. I eventually got sick of it and just went all Spanish. Which by the way was about ten minutes or so. And you were right, the old movie was cheesy, I like the new one better.

The storm? Meh, it rains here every day, so I didn't even know about it. It rains pretty much everyday at like 6 pm. I said earlier that I'm getting better with Spanish, but I'm still scraping the bottom of the barrell. It's so tough to learn this language, so many conjugations, so many meanings for one word! Speaking of witch, there is an Elder I know. He's one of my friends here, his name is Elder Taylor. He said Buenos Dias to a maintenence worker. The  worker then asked how he was doing, Elder Taylor replied with Muy Bueno. The worker gave him a funny look and walked away looking a bit disturbed. So Elder Taylor was kinda confused, so he asked one of the native teachers that is helping us learn spanish and he busted up laughing at him! It turns out, muy bueno means I'm Sexy, in Spanish to the natives here. His face was soooo red and he said, oh my, I'm so sorry for that worker. Me, I'm just trying to get into the groove that I need to talk in Spanish more often. But I'm working at it more.

I've grown to love my district here. We all have so much fun with each other, in fact today at around 4 we are going to play some sand volleyball. Before that, another couple of Elders from my district and a new one are going to go run a 400m the hard way and maybe a 400m, 300m, 200m, 100m workout.

I'm so glad that you are doing better from your surgery. I know you told me not to worry, but I still do. I wish I could help you out. But all I can do right now is do all that I can here. And I know that the Lord will help you. I love you mom. I love all of you guys (family). I hope all of you guys are helping each other out and being good to others as well.

Sincerely,

Elder Medina

Ok, here is some pictures. There is a couple that looks like you're looking out a window and sitting almost two inches away from the dump truck to the left...... We were...... Scariest ride on a bus in my life.......

Oh yeah, the natives here, the Mexicans. Told me, even though I was born in America, I was now on of them. A mexican as well, we had the independence day celebration and gave the Grita. Ask dad, he should know what that is.

First Week, Picture Overload and Poop

                                                              Spanish Hymn Books

                                                                       MTC Store

                                                      Laundry Rooms at the CCM

                                                                   Busy Schedule

It´s all pretty good on this front. I was a little homesick on friday but I´m all good now. My companion´s name is Elder Cardon Jones. And yes I do know Hermana Hall ( we have to go by spanish in pretty much everything). No, I did not see Cameron here, I was a little bummed about that. My companion saw his best friend from high school. We have this thing called TALL that helps us learn Spanish and all of that good stuff. I was so pumped when P-Day hit. I am so happy even doing my laundry is fun right now. The reason being, I meet some other elders and we played ping-pong while we waited. The food is alright I guess, I got diarreah on Friday and am now mostly recovered from it. Dad, you should appreciate this, I haven't had a comfortable poop since then and even since I got here! But I'm having a blast! I love it here, I did see Lexi and we took a NORMAL picture and mom, she said she would try to send it to you. I already have had the chance to teach an "investigator". My spanish is so much better than what I started out as. I can now say a FULL prayer in spanish now! I absolutely love my District and my companion, he reminds me of my friend Shay.

     Olivia, ICE YOUR SHIN!!!!!!!! You aren't going to get better unless you do that. Tell the team I'm sorry I didn't say bye and make sure you guys do your full run. Other than that I love you.

     Emilio, my main man, how's the presidential thing going? I hope you're alright buddy. Don't be afraid to help everyone.

     Alesia, my singing little sister, as much as your piano playing and singing annoyed me at sometimes. I'm itching to hear some music right now.......

     Diego, my cute little brother of epic proportions. I miss you so badly buddy. You be good for mommy and daddy ok!

     I love you all. I miss you all, and I hope that all of you are ok. As much as I love it here and all the great stuff that's going on right now, I wish I could give all of you a big hug. Here is some pictures I've taken. Next week I'll have some pictures of the Mexico City Temple! I CANNOT wait to go! I'm going this afternoon, I only have the morning to send stuff.

 

I Made it Here!

Hey everybody! I made it here just fine! Yes mom I did follow your instructions and asked people for help. You wouldn't believe how many other missionaries and sister missionaries are here as well! I miss you guys already and I am missing a normal keyboard.... I love  you all so much. Diego you be good for mommy. Olivia smile and I hope you do great in your race today! Emilio you be a good president for your school. Alesia sing for everyone and mom dad I love you guys so much. Thank you for helping me prepare to get here. I love you guys!

--

~Elder Medina~

Bitter Sweet

Departure Date- Sept 3, 2013 such a sad and happy day