FELIZ MEXICOANO DIAS DE INDECENCIA!

Is it really only Tuesday?! I feel like I've been here for centuries. It's everything I'd hoped it'd be but also much harder than I ever expected it to be. 

So we got here on Wednesday about 2pm and went through some MTC orientations. I could not have been more excited to put on the nametag. It's funny cause you think about being a missionary and it seems almost like you'll be another person, then you put on your tag and nothing changes. I'm still exactly the same (for example, I have to try really hard not to impersonate 'Miranda sings' on the daily). 

My companion is fabulous, she's such a dear. Her name is Hermana P, she's from LA going to Quito North, Ecuador. She is so smart! I have so much to learn from her. Her Spanish is awesome and her spirit is even greater. We've been through the same ups and downs together and can always relate. 

My roommates are also amazeballs! One actually went to Snow College with me! Her name is Hermana Y, she's incredible and also a beautiful Spanish speaker. Her companion's name is Hermana F, she's such a sweetheart. They're going to Virginia. I seriously have such a blast with these girls, I'm so lucky!

 My district is cool too. It's us four girls and 6 more guy's. Everyday we get to know them better, I also have lots to learn from them! A few of them are going to Chile! One in my actual mission! I have yet to meet a girl going to my mission though! 

On Thursday we had billions of meetings! One after the other about the CCM and how to be a missionary. I was getting pretty worried about the whole Spanish thing and suddenly one of the speakers said "you are not here to learn Spanish, you are here to prepare to be a missionary. Spanish is just one of the tools." It was just what I needed to hear. 

On Friday we had our first day of classes. Our teacher is great, he just got home from his mission in Mexico, his name is Hermano V. He's very intimidating and he ONLY talks in Spanish. So it's a daily struggle to keep up. Everyone I've talked to hear has learned Spanish at some point in the life so it's frustrating to feel like I'm a step behind (no lie, I'm the worst in my class), but I just have to remember ´There is more to excel at than just Spanish´ and I can do it as long as I try everyday! We also gave our first lesson solo en ESPAÑOL! It was terrifying!! There are five companionship's in our district and my companion and I had to go first! So we had much less time to prepare but we gathered our small Spanish thoughts and did it. Our "investigator" is Jorge and he is an alcoholic and has tried to quit many times. We had our first lesson on premortal life, prayer, and Gods love for us. I'm sure it was terrible, but more room for improvement right!? Since then we've given two more lessons. Currently he is praying everyday, reading the Book of Mormon and he's not drinking! Which is awesome because it's a big drinking holiday today and yesterday (he's not real p.s. he's a member in real life) but still it's cool okay. 

The weekend was going terrible, I was discouraged and stressed and tired. People always say your mission will be the hardest thing you do but you never understand what that means until you get out here. I always thought ´well, I'll just try harder, study harder and get better´ but the frustrating thing is, that, the real key is to be patient with yourself!! A couple of times I  doubted whether or not I could do this and if this call was right for me. I was always on the verge of tears. But the LORD gave me this call. He needs me here, he needs me to speak Spanish. And I need Him to be able to speak Spanish. It's like this eternal round of reliance and love #sotender.

a bunch of "pick-me-up" notes that my family hid in my luggage! I'm still finding them! 

 Sunday was just the break we needed from this madness of Spanish. After morning study we had Relief Society, which was great! Then more studying, then another MTC orientation, then meetings with our branch president (who's awesome btw) then Sacrament meeting. Each week we have to prepare a five minute talk in Spanish on a specific topic (this week was faith) and be prepared to share it because they don't announce it until after the sacrament!! and they announce it in Spanish, sooo listen up! haha this week after the first half of speakers went, el presidente got up to announce the second half of the speakers and we heard HERMANA P. He said her name last so we weren't sure if she was saying the prayer or speaking so we just waited and crossed our fingers. Suddenly the time was up and we thought she had to guess what it would be, the pianist got up to play the closing hymn and we drew a sigh of relief. Come to find out she was suppose to speak!! We died laughing. 

Later that night we had a devotional, then we were able to watch The Testaments! I love those movies. Every hymn, every prayer, every word was just what I needed and by the end of the movie all of my roommates and I were soaked in tears! (first time crying, are you proud of me of what) Afterward we met as a district to share thoughts, a few of us bore our testimonies and it was beautiful. It's funny, you can spend lots of time with people in class but until you hear their testimonies you don't know what they're all about! I have so much more respect and appreciation for those boys.

Monday was bomb diggity. It was so nice to start of well rested from the incredible Sunday we had. Everyone always told us "it sucks the first few days but if you can hold out til Sunday you'll be fine, if you can hold out til p-day you're golden!" It's soooo true!!! on Monday Hermano V told us we could only speak in Español!!  Honestly at first I was pretty up set, I thought it wasn't fair! I wanted to say "you haven't even taught me how to form a sentence yet!" But it's pushed me to ask questions and always use my dictionary (they really do give you tons of books, and they are life itself. I love my books.) 

Yesterday was also the eve of their independence day, which is a huge deal!! So after dinner we were able to relax and celebrate! Some dancers performed a Spanish ballet for us with their cute hankies and big bright dresses. Afterward we had a flag ceremony and we sang the Mexican National Anthem that we've been practicing. I'm so Mexican now!

All in all. It truly is the hardest thing in the world. Yet I love it more than life. My testimony is rock solid, try to destroy it Satan, you can't.

Amor,

Hermana Meacham!


Bonus info... 

to answer some of your questions,

I love Mexican food. forewarning you, I will gain weight. Their food's also way weird. They have like tamales for breakfast and their desserts are the strangest thing you've every seen. Like balls of coconut or baby pots, full of jam and leaves. que en el mundo?

yes all the worker are Mexican, i think they're all members.

It is warm but cool enough for a cardi everyday. It does rain almost every single day for at least an hour. Some times it comes down crazy hard. p.s i wish i would have brought more pjs/workout clothes.

I do miss you all so much. but I'm doing well actually. We stay so busy I don't even have a second to be too sad.

Yes I am praying in Spanish! In class, with my companion and alone. I still don't know a ton of vocab so its kinda Spanglish but its all good. I can also bear my testimony is Spanish!...kinda. I'm praying for every family member and my friends. I hope your all doing well.

p.s now I know why Weston always made spelling mistakes! (Mom here,  I've been correcting them for the post, maybe I shouldn't, it's kinda funny)I have zero time to email and no time to look what I'm typing. The 

Spanish in my head is throwing me off.

also mom, would you post the link on my facebook to my blog so my friends can see the link? and maybe in the sister missionary page "many are called but few are sister" too. if not nbd. Thank you so much for doing that.

p.s. yes brady you can drive my car (;

love you all.

SISTER MEACHAM & SISTER MEACHAM

My cute cousin Kim!!! she sent me cookies!