What a Week!!--November 27th

This week has been a weird one for sure but that just means next week will be even better! I won't go into detail because it's not my story to tell but this week most of the elders in my zone got in some pretty big trouble. Because of that we've spent a lot of time trying to deal with that haha. We are hoping they will be able to leave the MTC with everyone else early Tuesday morning but we most likely won't know till Monday night. 

So as you may imagine this week has been really horrible for our district and I'm just so ready to head to the field haha We did have a Thanksgiving dinner which was fun! Its the only food that didn't give one of us food poisoning so I am most grateful for that hahaha it's the little things. Me and my companions got a whole bunch of snacks and had our own little Thanksgiving feast and it was actually so fun! 

Lastly, we went to the temple today which took most of our pday, (hence the reason my mom is sending this for me later) But it was so worth it! It's so pretty there and it's such an amazing opportunity to be in the house of the Lord. I did a family name which I was excited about! The session was all in Spanish again but I could pick out more words and the best part is the spirit is the same in every language so no matter where you are or the language you speak I know the Holy Ghost can help lead, comfort, and guide you. 

Well, that's about it for this week! Crazy to think the next email will be from Washington! Send prayers my way because I'm kinda nervous, but also so excited for the next adventure! Thanks for all your love, support, and emails! It truly means so much to me!! Never forget how loved you are by me and most importantly by our Heavenly Father!

Foosball Champs

Thanksgiving

My bestie, Hermana Smith

Visitors Center

Temple

I need a bigger bag!

1 Month--November 19th

Hola!! I have officially been a missionary for one month, which is actually bizarre to think about! It feels like I've done this my whole life and simultaneously one hour haha This week has been awesome, much better than last week! I feel like I have finally noticed a difference in my Spanish, not anywhere near fluent but definitely better! I can sometimes understand what native speakers say if they say it nice and slow haha It's kind of cool to think how one month ago I couldn't even pray in Spanish and now I can pray in Spanish without a script and even bear my testimony. It shows how the Lord really does multiply your efforts and he wants us to be successful. Even though it is so hard sometimes and Spanish is so hard I can feel the Lord strengthening me. 

This week has been a lot of the same old same old, lots of teaching lessons, devotions, and even more learning. We did get to do service this week though! We gardened with the nicest man ever, his name was Juan. He was so grateful for our help even though I feel like we didn't do much haha The people here are so kind and just so happy to be here! It has really been a great example to me because sometimes it's easy to focus on the bad things and forget there are so many good things too. 

Other than that the only exciting thing this week was that I almost died. I was eating my dinner bowl of cereal when I took a huge bite and someone made me laugh and immediately started choking and there was literally no airflow. I fully thought I was going to die and all I could hear was oh my gosh she is turning purple, someone help! And everyone just stared at me and right as Wolfington got up to give me the Heimlich I finally could breathe again haha I'm so happy I didn't die over a bowl of frosted flakes. 

Anyways, this week has been better and I can't believe I only have one more week! It's so crazy but I'm so excited for Washington. I miss you all so much and pray for you everyday! Thanks for all of your love, support, and emails! Best support system a girl could ask for! Love you all so much! - Hermana Hadlock

Vivo en México--November 12th

Today is my very first pday in Mexico, and what a week it has been! I feel like so much has happened and I don't even know where to start! First, being in person is so fun and so different from being online! The CCM is so beautiful and I love it here. All the people here are so sweet and act so happy to be listening to me butchering Spanish. Honestly the first few days we didn't speak tons but we have since recommit to speak as much Spanish as possible even if we are terrible. Each day I learn a little bit more and I'm excited to see where I will be in like 6 months. My district is so fun and we have a good time together. We have learned to just laugh off all of our mistakes and of course we have to make fun of each other a little bit once we have healed from the embarrassment lol The food here is kinda sketchy sometimes (most of the time) but they do have Costco pizza on Tuesday so that makes everything better. And they have cereal so I eat that for roughly every meal besides pizza. 

Today we went to the temple which was incredible. It was so beautiful and so peaceful there, I already want to go back. During the drive there I realized just how locked down we are here in the compound, I forget life is still going on everywhere else hahaha I guess not everyone learns about the church in a foreign language everyday for 10+ hours, how lame Anyways, I think that is all for this week! Thank you so much for all your prayers, emails, and for taking care of my family while I am gone! Have the best week ever and never forget how loved you are! - Hermana Hadlock

To Mexico We Go--November 1st

Holy smokes! I feel like time while you’re in the MTC is not even real and I’m sure it will feel like that in the field too haha This week has absolutely flown by and it has been a good one! I think that this week has felt so much better because I have really learned to rely on the Lord and not so much on myself. It can be so hard to not put expectations on yourself or be completely discouraged when life doesn’t follow your timeline or go the way you think it should but I keep being reminded that God’s plan is greater than mine could ever be! He has a plan for me and for you and as long as we have faith in him and rely on him when times are hard then we will be strengthened and receive all the blessings that God has in store for us. Looking back on my first day at the MTC I can already see so many differences. 

My Spanish has already improved and even though I can only say very simple phrases it’s cool because I could not do that last week! (It’s the little things people!) I have also seen such a change in our district! We have gotten so close and I can honestly say that we have learned to love each other as Christ would. Everyone is so much more confident because we know that even though our Spanish might be bad or we don’t know what to say that we have 7 other people cheering us on. I think we've learned to just laugh things off when last week I would’ve wanted to cry of embarrassment haha All that just to say that I am so excited to go to Mexico!! I leave early Tuesday morning and I’m so excited to meet all of my new best friends in person and see if they actually look like they do on zoom or if they’re just really good at using the zoom features to make themselves look better HAHA One sad thing though about going in person is that on zoom we use the frog reaction🐸 as a signal for " I have no idea what they just asked me please help" and then everyone signals back a frog in solidarity, which we cannot do in person. That is the best part of zoom in my opinion, it makes me laugh but unfortunately they have started calling me Hermana Rana (Sister frog) so idk if I am really gonna miss that part. 

Anyways! I hope you all have an amazing week but if it isn't do not forget that God knows you and is aware of your situation! He wants to help you and as long as you rely on and have faith in him you will feel of his love and strength. As always, please send any prayer requests my way! Love you so much and can't wait to talk to you next week from Mexico! - Hermana Hadlock

First Week--October 24th

Hola!! I have officially survived my first week in the HMTC! It has been such a rollercoaster this week, but overall it has been amazing! I have such an amazing district that I already love so much which is crazy because we haven't met in real life yet. There are eight of us in my district, 5 hermanas and 3 elderes. Which is fun because we have 2 trios and I think having a small district has made us all get really close way fast. I am way excited to join them in Mexico on the 2nd! My companions Hermana Smith and Hermana Morgan are the absolute best! They have so much patience with me as I struggle to learn Spanish and are so encouraging! I know that God knew that I would need them while I was in the MTC. Because honestly it has been pretty challenging for me this week. I know that I have the Gift of Tongues but it is hard not to wish that it would manifest in me just being fluent in Spanish already but I know that will come with time and effort. Sometimes I sit in class or sit in a workshop and it is all in Spanish and I want to pretend I have bad wifi and turn off my camera and cry hahaha But it is so weird because even though I understand like 5% of what they are saying I can truly feel the Spirit testifying that what they are saying is true. 

I had my farewell today and it was amazing! It was so good to see everyone I love gather together to show their support and love for me. I am so incredibly blessed to have such amazing people in my life. It brings a lot of strength knowing I have people rooting for me. I love you all so much and appreciate your prayers even more. I know that with time I will be able to speak Spanish better and I know that the Lord will make all our weak things strong unto him if we humble ourselves before him and have faith in him. (Ether 12:27) I hope you all are doing well and if there are any prayer requests my companions and I would love to pray for you! Love you all with my whole heart but never forget God loves you more! - Hermana Hadlock