Cameron's letter

Cameron’s letter February 6 2012

I didn't get a new companion it was just divisions Lujan was with the DL and I was with the comp of the dl for 2 days. I'm still with Lujan but transfers are tomorrow and I am leaving La Providencia. I'm really excited to leave with Lujan in has been for but 2 cycles is enough im glad to leave. So this morning I packed all my stuff and cleaned the house and tomorrow we all--the whole district is going to the Reunión de Cambio. Anyways Tamal de fresa is just cornmeal and I don't know it doesn't have any jam or meat the cornmeal just kind of tastes like strawberry its delicious I think the mix it all together before.

We hit up burger king one time nada mas. it was really kind of a disappointment I forgot how much better Mexican food is then American food. But we eat from street vendors a ton       the tacos are delicious and so are the tamales and tortas. a torta is just bread but you can order a torta with meat and avocado and tomato and they are probably one of the best things I have ever eaten.

 

 

Do you find there are a lot of people who want to speak English to you?

 

-ya everybody wants to learn English so they can move to the United States and get a better job. But they don't understand that it’s better to do it legally. Then again I know one guy who is waiting on his visa for 6 months. Unfortunately Mexicans normally lack a little patience so they always want to do things now and as fast as they can. That's just one thing I have noticed. Oh ya lots of people try to talk but I have only had one real conversation with one guy who pulled over just to talk to me he grew up in the United States-- moved there when he was 9 and leaned English it was pretty good hardly any mistakes. But they always have terrible mouths--they love to curse and think that you will think it’s funny but it’s really not.

 

Do you feel a little resentment towards Americans by Mexicans?  How much US culture (sports, music and clothing) is prevalent there?

 

Everybody loves the United States you can tell. but not everyone will admit it. It’s like the Lakers everybody wants Kobe or Lebron on their team but nobody will admit it. Lots of people have this never ending dream of moving out of the country-- my thoughts are like this. You should be grateful for what you have and build the kingdom where you live. That’s what the manual for bishops says. Oh ya then there are other people like this one guy who I think he is a little messed up in the head. and maybe homosexual. I'm not quite sure but he has an obsession with people from the United States and hugs every single one he sees. Saturday he came to our baptism and gave Lujan a handshake and me a hug like he hasn't seen me in 100 years. Honestly he really freaks me out. Then he said some other things about me to members which are kind of inappropriate. so I won’t tell you them! Just another reason I'm glad to be going and there is hardly a chance I will see him again.

 

Music is big some people like the American sports. More or less its prevalent.

 

Did you get your birthday video?-yea it was hilarious!!

 

What is the mission email policy?  Can people other than family email you?

 

I'm not sure on that it was against the rules in the MTC so I'm not sure. I just asked Lujan he says no.

 

What one piece of advice would you give to Elder Finnegan before he departs?

 

Patience (is that how you spell that? the ability to wait-patience.)-this is one thing I'm learning a lot of. Spence was pretty good at before. But it takes a lot of this with a trainer that wants to do everything himself. I want to be independent that’s how I’ve been my whole life so letting somebody guide me whether it’s new thing or it’s not new is surprisingly hard. Really I think I already gave some good advice before. Really some days it’s just “endure to the end” and some days I really enjoy it. Honestly the first 2 months of my mission where an absolute horror. You don’t realize it while you’re in it.

i actually enjoyed it. But looking back from where I am now to where I was when I got here life is so much better. You’re so lost it’s really like putting a fishbowl on your head and walking around-- you can’t hear anything and you can’t put in to words what you want. it’s really frustrating. Oh Spencer pray every night for a good trainer. Either way you probably won’t like him. But hopefully the lord will bless you with one that’s not terrible. I have heard bad stories ha-ha.

 

I don’t know how to explain the mission. It’s one thing that is really hard to understand before you experience it. Everybody says the same thing."It’s really hard" the truth is that’s true. But it’s difficult because you are put with one person who you don’t even know then asked to go and ask people to change their lives completely and do it with a smile on your face and be humble. Honestly from a nonmembers point of it’s pretty much crazy. But everyday I think this is kind of crazy and I should be sad because I’m away from my family in a different country where everybody speaks a different language then me.

Then there are a thousand other reasons I should be sad. But the truth of it is I’m not sad these days are great.  Honestly I’m usually always happy. And I don’t know why. Every day is like a miracle. I wake up-- exercise (usually a pretty weak exercise but I’m not training for the Olympics!-Jim Gaffigan)-- take a shower, eat basically nothing, Study the scriptures which is  one thing I honestly didn’t like to do very much before the mission. It is still an experience that I will remember forever. Was I scared to leave. Ya I was. But there is really nothing to be afraid of. Gather faith and do what the lord has asked you. Plus us men signed up for this the day we where ordained a deacon. It’s a priesthood duty that’s what Doctrine and Covenants says. Maybe that’s a little harsh but the Lord has provided a way to complete all the commandments. Also a way to success in this life we just need to trust in him and give him what he asks and everything will be fine, woe unto those who put their trust in the arm of the flesh. I think that’s a scripture too.

 

Ok this week really quick we had a miracle baptism. it was a reference from another area they were going to church over in a different ward and wants to get her daughter baptized. She’s 9 so we simply directed her to her actual church that she should be going to and taught her daughter and baptized her. Is it a little sketchy....ya but  technically it’s not against the rules because she is 9 the bishop of our ward was a little misinformed so he took us into his office and really started talking to us strongly about this. I mean really strongly. But we got it all cleared up and it’s alright. It also gave me a chance to ask the bishop where the home teachers are? They are basically nonexistent here in México. kind of sad. The problem is there are too many inactives. Each priesthood holder and there companion would have about 20 members to visit. A we got it cleared up and it was great. I had to memorize the name before. Mexicans have 4 names so its kind of hard but it was Bethel Joelynn Ocadiz Muñoz I still remember it.

Anyway this week was pretty fun next week I will be with a new companion in a different area.

 

 

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