To answer your questions, yes Cam's Spanish is amazing, yes I'm super jealous of his Spanish haha. He probably speaks some of the best Spanish here. It's mostly because of his brothers and the Spanish speaking missions they served... not fair.
When I call the CCM a prison, it's just a joke. We just kind of joke about it because there are so many similarities but only 2 diferences. I don't really mean it. Don't worry, I love it here but I do love getting out of here too!
The similarities between the CCM and a carcel (jail) and then the differences.
Okay so last p-day was amazing. Me and Elder Lee finally got to open up and we talked a lot when we were waiting for our laundry. Yes, we have our differences but it's good just to laugh and not care.
We FINALLY got out of the CCM and it was so great! We went to the temple and it's really pretty. It's a small temple but it was great. They did the session in English but a certain part in Spanish. It was so fun to do! I bought a mini Spanish hymn book at the distribution center and it's so cool.
Outside of the CCM. The CCM is the white-ish building. It's all behind the block wall.
The beautiful Lima Peru temple
On Thursday I had a hard morning and just was frusrated because I felt like I don't know much gospel etc. but I just needed to trust in myself and focus on my faith and pray and it would come. Johan (our fake investigator) died too today which was sad because we just commited him to baptism.
On Friday it got hard. This was my worst day and I broke completely. I would question the stories in the scriptures and would think "what if they're just stories.." but that was dumb of me and was just Satan working on me. I was super quiet the whole day (after P.E. time) and was just bugged and was mad that I had to tell Elder Lee that I had to go places and he had to follow me everywhere and the language was hard and I was just holding back tears the whole time. It was bad... but when we went up to our room that night the people in my District noticed I wasn't myself and told Cam. So Cam came and got me and he asked me what was up. I broke. I started crying and saying how hard everything was. He told me that it's toatlly normal and that it's just Satan working on me. Satan knows what I'm about to do and wouldn't be doing this if he didn't think I would go do amazing things. Cam told me that the first convert on my mission is me and to focus on my testimony first and the language will come. He shared with me 2 Nephi 2:11, which talks about opposition in all things, and told me if I'm having a bad day now, that my good days will be twice as good. He also shared with me D&C 31 and it was PERFECT. Just everything in there hit what I had been doubting and needing, especially verse 13!
Everyone was just good to me that night and all my friends came and said goodnight and they loved me and it would be okay. It was really good! The next day was amazing! I just decided I would bounce back and that I wouldn't have a day like that again.
Me and Elder Rottweiler (perro grande - Big dog) had our breakdowns Friday together and everyone else had theirs Saturday haha, but it was good because I was able to help them, especially our District Leader, Elder Olsen. I was able to give him the same advice Cam gave me and it really helped him. The rest of the day was good after that and we all had a super good day leading into Sunday and then had a super spiritual Sunday. It was amazing.
Monday we finally got outside of the walls for real haha. We went to interpol at 5:15 in the morning which wasn't fun, it being so early, but was still good to get out! (Mom: The only thing I can find on "Interpol" is that it's an Internationl police type thing. I'm guessing it has to do with things or with their visas that the missionaries need to do to be in the country.)
There was a guy from Venezuela there who was 20 years old and he started talking to me and luckily he spoke some English. He started telling me why he was here then told me about the pretty girls from Venezuela. I had to laugh and tell him why I was here. He thought that was cool and we talked more about other things! Eventually I got up the courage to get a pass - along - card from the hermanas (sister missionaries) and give it to him. It was my first time giving out one of those cards and I loved it. It was a picture of Jesus when he was resurrected. The guy was so happy! I told him if he wanted to know more about me and why I'm here to go to mormon.org on the back of the card and he could get a free CD too. I bore him my testimony and he was so grateful! When he left, he gave all the missionaries a hand shake but when he got to me, he gave me like a bro hug and told me muchas gracias. It was a great feeling and I'm glad I acted on it!
I've realized I'm not that good at soccer and that all the Latinos are amazing. Oh and the ice cream here is amazing! I work out everynight because I'm terified of getting fat from it! And the candy is also amazing. Oh and I don't remember if I told you guys but the Inka Kola here isn't that good. It's because it's 0 calories and the one outside the walls is a lot better! (Inka Kola is a drink common in Peru.)
I also started D&C from the begining and I'm loving it. I'm in section 13 now and it's so great! My favorite is D&C 8 versiculo (verse)10, the part where it says without faith you can do nothing, therefore ask in faith. It really helped me and will help me in the future! Oh and Dad I was reading Mosiah 4 the other day and just thought about you! It's an amazing chapter, especially 16 mediante (through) 30.
Anyway I love you all! Still not missing you yet.... Put Philippians 4:13 at the end of my email, thanks! I love reading the scriptures and wish I wouldv'e figured that out earlier.
Elder Rokovitz
Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Me and Cammy (Elder Bates) traded ties. We are also doing our mission signs. Cam = Lima West, Cory = Trujillo South.
