6 meses!!!!

 my comp thought it was funny that I was eating the "morenito" cookies and she was eating the "guerita" ones

 Hola Todos!!

In 3 days I officially complete my first 6 months in the mission! I am thinking in Spanish, understand pretty much everything (with the exception of words, because my vocabulary is still quite limited, but growing every day), I gained weight, and am losing some of it (maybe a little slower than I put it on) and yes, I love Mexico. The people, the language, the food, I'm loving it all.  

I have come to find an intense appreciation for all I have been blessed with in my life, especially with this time I have here in Ciudad Juarez. I came with a slight fear for my life (due to the mistake that I made of Googling Ciudad Juarez) but this area and these people have changed my heart and have helped me become more of the person I want to be, though I still have a long way to go. Not every day has been easy, not every moment has been filled with joy, but I have experienced more joy than I previously knew existed. I have seen the joy of a heart made pure again through Christ, the joy of watching someone's eyes fill with hope as they begin to understand the true depth of the love of God and the incredible length of His reach. 

ate this fish...was a bit scared but I liked it!

 I had to speak in sacrament meeting this week, and you better believe I was terrified (which I know is ridiculous, seeing that I spend all day every day speaking to people about all this, but public speaking still freaks me out). The talk was only 5 minutes, to leave time for some converts to share their testimonies, but I was still nervous. But I did it! I spoke, without using my notes or reading, in Spanish, for 5 whole minutes, and afterwards a few members told me that they liked what I had said, which means they understood it!!! (at least I hope haha)

Me and Hermana Sanchez made crepes :)

One of my favorite experiences/moments this week was in a lesson with a man named Jose Alfredo. He is preparing to be baptized and we were teaching him about the law of tithing. As we taught we could see he had concerns. He began to tell us of all the things he was trying to do, saving up for a visa so he could see and live with his family, with the bills he was left to pay alone after his divorce and the death of his mother, among other things he needed to do. He asked us how it should be done, if this 10th was from what we were left with after our many bills and necessities, or before. 

I began to worry that he was going to tell us he couldn't do it, but continued to explain that the law of the tithes is that we give 10% of all of our increase to the Lord, and he stopped me and simply said, ok, so we put God first, and later everything else. We confirmed and he smiled and told us, "perfect, that's how I hoped it was. God should always come first." I hope some day we can all learn to see the commandments of God as Jose Alfredo sees them. 

Love and miss you all and hope you have a fantastic week!

Hermana Naatjes