I Love Being a Missionary!

HOLA MI FAMILIA Y AMIGOS.

OH MY GOSH. THIS IS INSANE!! I've already been at the MTC for an entire 8 days. And I absolutely love it. Seriously have never felt the spirit more in my entire life. I honestly have no idea where to begin, but I guess I'll start on my flight from Vegas.

WEDNESDAY- So right as I left my family at security, who could have guessed that another Elder from the South Pointe ward was returning home on the same flight. So that helped a ton with the nerves and we talked during the wait. Then, we met up with two other missionaries going to the CCM also and felt good that I'd have some buddies to Mexico. Little did I know what was going to be waiting for me at the SLC MTC. THERE WERE 46 MISSIONARIES waiting for the flight to Ciudad de Mexico. Everyone was rushed with excitement and withing minutes, I had tons of friends. The flight was a breeze. An Elder named Elder Johnson actually placed a Book of Mormon on the flight to a Mexican girl. Let's just say we were all a little intimidated. But we landed and easily got through customs. When I got my baggage, low and behold, a wheel on one of my suitcases broke... so that was fun. But no matter. It was about a 45 minute drive to the CCM and driving in Mexico is a rollercoaster of anxiety. Everyone drives so close and fast. BUT WE FINALLY ARRIVED AT THE CCM and everyone was so stoked. Right when we walked in, a bunch of hermanas ran up and hugged us saying we were in their branch and we washed our hands, immediately ate at the Comedor, and then got situated in nuestras casas. My companion is A JOY. Her name is Hermana Van Rompaey and she is from New Mexico and she is also going to Puebla. We are the only ones in the CCM going.

THURSDAY - Waking up was easier than I thought and we got French Toast for breakfast. THEN we met our district. OH my gosh how much I love my district . There's two hermanas, me and Hermana Van Rompaey and six elders. And they are already like brothers to me. They include Elder Riggs, Elder Yekey going to Mexico City South, Elder Plowman {yes Elder Tyler Plowman from BYU}, Elder Smith, Elder Johnson {same elder who placed the BOM} and Elder Sheppert all going to Merida Mexico. Our maestro or teacher is Hermano Martinez. Just imagine Mario from Super Mario and thats him. We just talked and learned some easy Spanish and immediately had a meeting with the \mission president and I was asked to play Llamado a servir on the piano in front of everyone. Yes, I have already been called as the CCM choir pianist. Greattttttt. We then had more classes and more classes. AND I LOVE IT. THE SPIRIT IS PRESENT EVERY CLASS UGH. Food here is amazing. LIKE BOMB. Then we had interviews with our branch presidency and Elder Johnson and Elder Sheppert were called as our district leaders. Surprise surprise. I love them hahah.

FRIDAY- another thing you should know about it here, is that it is gorgeous. It rains every afternoon and is perfect 70 degree weather in the morning. So it rained a lot today and it was so peaceful with studying. We also had gym time today and we Elder Johnson and Elder SHeppert and me and my companion played basketball. FUN. then.... I taught my first lesson in spanish to an investigator. Holy CRAP. I was nervous beyond belief. I was reading directly from Precidad mi Evangelio but the spirit was still there and he committed to pray to know that God was his Heavenly Father. Afterwards we met as a district to set goals for the week and realized how much we bond and honestly see each other as family.

SATURDAY - So today I got to know the other hermanas in my zone and HERMANA LEE IS LIKE A LONG LOST SISTER. I love her. She's so cute. Ugh. Apparently it's a thing to pick an elder to write after the CCM so she was deciding on that. SO silly but funny. During class I also said my first prayer in Spanish without help and everyone was shocked. It was amazing. I honestly already love this language so much. Elder Johnson and I got to discuss families in spanish too because he helps so much with the language. Then we had gym time after class and all the hermanas played sand volleyball. FUNNEST GAME ever. Everyone was just laughing and having a great time. HAD OUR SECOND lesson with Luis our investigator and he COMMITTED TO READING THE BOOK OF MORMON and I was also able to understand him wayyyy more than before. so that was a blessing. Ugh I'm so excited for him. Then after, our district got to know each other more and talked about our favorite movies and just bonded for an hour before it was time to return home. Can''t say it enough, I love them so much.

SUNDAY - was amazing. It's nice because everyone get's to speak English on Sunday so we can focus on the spirit. And the spirit grew so much that day. All stress of learning the language was gone and everyone just loved and cherished the word of God all day. It was AWESOME. We watched Elder Holland's safety for the soul talk and everyone was overwhelmed withe the spirit in tears. IT was beautiful. Then our district meeting we talked about planting the spirit in other's hearts which bonded us even more. Then sacrament meeting was in Spanish. Guess what, I have to give a talk this Sunday completely in spanish on faith. Nervous and excited but the Lord will help. Then we had a worthiness meeting and were interviewed again for worthiness. Turns out my branch president who speaks little english believes I have a boyfriend and demanded I Dear John him immediately.... so imaginary boyfriend, I'm dear john-ing you. Sorry. hahahah The district got a kick out of it. Then we had a video devotional from Elder Holland on missionary work. I truly love that man. Inspired messages every time. Then we got to watch and LDS movie on the Book of Mormon. Kinda old but it was about Parley Pratt and I loved it. Then we met as a district one last time and sang El Espiritu de Dios together. I almost cried but we all prayed and honestly I had the best Sunday of my entire life.

MONDAY- Today I memorized Moroni 10- 4 and 5 in Spanish and that has helped a ton. We also had a health and stress management class which threw off our schedule for studying for our investigator but it was good. Then our gym time our district decided to play volleyball together. I have never laughed harder in my entire life. We played with only head and legs and it was a joy. hahaha DINNER WAS ALPASTOR tacos and I DIED. SO good. BUtttt this is where the day kinda hit a bump. So in our lesson with Luis today, he said he didn't have faith in Christ and didn't believe what we were telling him was possible. I got teary eyed during the lesson because I just hurt because he wasnt accepting the gospel. I didn't know what we did wrong. But we asked him to continue to pray and read the scriptures so that he would feel the Holy Ghost. Luckily, he agreed to that. I went home in tears unhappy about it and wishing it could have gone to plan because we were planning to commit him to baptism. I felt inadequate. But luckily, my mother bought me a nice reminder saying, "forget yourself, and go to work."this work is not about me. It is about INVITING those to come unto Christ. It's not always gonna go your way. You must have patience and really understand how your investigator feels and find what he needs and can handle at one time. But with that, I am so excited to continue lessons with Luis. Praying our next lesson will work out well.

TUESDAY- I woke up humbled from my experience. All i wanted to do was help Luis and search the word of God to find him answers and help to find faith. AND I DID. It was like advanced google was at my fingertips IN the book of mormon. All things Luis needed just easily appeared to me. I truly was greatful for the spirit's help in that moment. Hermano Martinez made us do head, shoulders, knees, and toes to wake us up. SO fun. In class, he taught us that we should be focused on investigators following Christ. Not necessarily demanding him to be baptized. But in time bringing him to that step. DIVINE teaching. I love Hermano Martinez. We roleplayed that situation with different members in our district and it helped so much. THEN IT WAS PIZZA NIGHT AT THE CCM. We get costco pizza and never has pizza tasted so good. THen after dinner, the Elders and I had one of the best moments ever. I started humming 'THe lion sleeps tonight' on the way to class and then Elder Sheppert and Elder Johnson started doing the 'uhwhimaways' and Elder Smith and Elder PLowman came in with the scream.. Sure enough it was filmed hahah I don't know who specifically has it but I'll get it at some point. It was a truly memorable moment. Then in gym time, the hermanas in the CCM want me to teach them fitness routines that I have hahahah so now we workout together everyday and it's awesome. Then we had our Tuesday night devotional and a member of the area of the seventy, Elder Toris, came and talked about missionary work and defining us as missionaries. Then Elder Johnson held a district meeting after the devotional and inspired us with the spirit on the devotional. Honestly felt like he was the coach of the football team. We were on fire with the spirit. It was awesome. We sang Battle Hymn of the Republic together. Solid day.

WEDNESDAY- THIS WAS MY FAVORITE DAY. Hermano Martinez made us do Head Shoulders Knees and Toes again in SPANISH and that made it ten times funnier. While we were studying later in class however, he demanded in his spanish accent 'GRAB YOUR CHAIRS AND GO OUTSIDE NOW."and there we had the most spiritual discussion about the Book of Mormon and it was amazing. We ate lunch really fast today because D. TODD CHRISTOFFERSON of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles came to the CCM to give a special devotional that hasnt happened in 26 years. IT was a divine message and i was lucky enough to be selected of the five missionaries in the whole CCM to ask him a question about what those who are struggling with faith in Christ should do and what should we as missionaries do about it." He replied that ' There is nothing you can do than what you are already doing and that is serve the Lord. As you continue to serve, you will be blessed and those blessings can be directed to family and friends and those who are struggling. Do not think you would make a difference by returning home. They have to find that connection with God. Do not get in the middle of it. Pray for them mightily. Fast for them. It is their decision to find God. All you can do is hope they choose to seek it. Thank you, Hermana Creer, for that divine question."it was hard not to break down in tears from the overwhelming spirit I recieved from that answer. It was amazing hearing an apostle of the Lord give a direct answer. He had to leave immediately and didnt have time to say goodbye apparently....but my district was blessed enough to have the coincidence to see him again. In our service project after the devotional, all we have to do is welcome the new missionaries coming into the CCM. I saw Carly Goff and some other friends from BYU come in and it was amazing. BUt right before they all got there, sure enough D. Todd Christofferson walked through the front entrance and personally shook our hands and thanked me again for my question. IT WAS AMAZZING. Then after our service activity, we had our lesson with Luis. I have never prayed more for the spirit to be present. I hoped so bad that Luis would feel the spirit. AND HE DID. At the beginning of the lesson he said he prayed a lot after what we had said before, and he read all of FIRST NEPHI in the BOM and after reading a lot on faith from my studying, i asked him to be baptized.... AND HE ACCEPTED. He's getting baptized September 22. OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH I AM SO HAPPY FOR HIM. Turns out our whole district had success with their investigators and we just celebrated by singing hymns and reminiscing about life. UGH it was such a blessed day.

THURSDAY- So we got up bright and early today BECAUSE WE GOT TO GO THE TEMPLE!!!! the open house was only this week for us and we were blessed enough to be able to go. IT IS BEAUTIFUL. The whole ride there we sang hymns in Spanish and it was so so so so amazing. Every room is gorgeous and you truly can feel the spirit present there everywhere. I absolutely missed the temple and am so excited to say that yes we get to go the rededication and I have to play piano at it for the choir in front of HENRY B EYRING at the redidcation. I am so nervous, excited, blessed, ecstatic and just CANT WAIT. and now I got email time... so for all those wondering my P DAY is thursday and I'll normally be on between the hours of 1-3 here in Mexico. The district and I are going to go play volleyball soon and we have another lesson with Luis tonight. AND I JUST CANT WAIT FOR EVERYTHING TO HAPPEN HERE. ​Hermana Van Rompaey and I after the open house at the Mexico City temple.It truly is an amazing experience. I STRONGLY tell all those who are considering a mission, DO IT. just do it. It has already brought me so much happiness in a week and I have made life long friends. It truly is a blessing and I love every second of it. PICtures will come in a separate email.I miss you all so much! PLEASE email. I'd love to hear from all of you.The Church is true. And I will never deny it. --

Con mi amor infinito,

Hermana Abigail Creer