Mexico City CCM Photo Update

Theres No Place Like Home For The Holidays

Yes, that was the song that was playing in my mind when I woke up on Christmas morning. But before you all start thinking that I had a "Blue Christmas"  let me tell you it was a Christmas unlike any other I have exprienced so far and I am very grateful for the opportunity.
Elder Holland once said "On this Christmas I send my love to every missionary, every man or woman in the military, every student and every employee and traveler who won't "be home for Christmas" as the carol says. Keep your faith. Look for the good in your situation. Do something kind for someone. Seek Christ devoid of wrapping and tinsel. You will find that despite external circumstances Christmas -like the kingdom of God- 'is within you'(Luke 17:21)."
One of the CCM counselors here (who all our Elders nickname "Presidente Savaje" (President Savage) and is almost as bad cop as Dad) further said, "For the next 18 or 24 months, every day will be Christmas, because you will be giving the gift, and sharing the love of Christ every day... May you carry the Spirit of Christmas with you every day, and strive to be better, more obedient, and true disciples of Him."
This really hit home for me because my Christmas didn't really feel all that different than any other day here at the CCM... and not just because our Christmas breakfast was literally a ham and cheese sandwich. (the Elders were really upset about it until I told them they should go get a plate of eggs and make it an egg ham and cheese sandwich...) but back to the point, I think that my Christmas didn't feel like a normal Christmas because it's not normal... I'd like to think that I'm living Christmas every day.
That being said the CCM does try it's best to make it special, and I honestly love when Christmas falls on a Sunday. Christmas Church is the best, and CCM Christmas Church is no exception. For sacrament we combined probably 4 branches and the meeting consisted of reading the story of Christ's birth in Matthew 2 and Luke 1 & 2 and singing Christmas hymns in between. It was a really spiritual and uplifting meeting. We also attended a devotional broadcasted from Provo with Dallin H Oaks as the featured speaker it was really refreshing, 1- because I love apostles and 2- because it was in English. After the devotional, for lunch the cooks made honey baked ham, with mashed potatoes, some sort of cheese/flan cake and carrot soup, it was much better than breakfast and definitely got the Elders approval.
After lunch it was time to call families, ay ay ay that was tough!!!! It was so exciting, but I lost it almost immediately when dad picked up the phone. Oh and all my Spanish went out the window when they asked me to bear my testimony so I promise I can speak a little better than what they probably heard, but esta bien. They made sure to tell me that I have so much love, support, and prayers headed my way from Utah and I want to thank each and every one of you for them, I not only need that strength but I can also feel it. The blessings of God are so real, He is so good. I hope that all of us can look around and see the hand of God in our lives and feel the Savior's love for us each and every day. I know that Christ was born in a humble place that He lived a perfectly humble life, and He died in complete humility. I  also know that He lives again and that when He returns all the world will know of His greatness and majesty. That is why I am here, to help prepare the people of Knoxville for His coming.
Which reminds me!!!! I head out of here on January 3!!!! How crazy is that?! Time actually passed!!! Not going to lie there were times I doubted 6 weeks really would go by but here they are ticking away, and I'm going to Tennessee! I am the trip leader for me and two elders, which means I have to report to the reception office on Tuesday morning at 3:00 IN THE MORNING!!!! But wait it get's better: one of my companeras has to be there at 2:00 am... so long story short  I'll be up and at em' dark and early on Tuesday so think of me in your dreams as you sleep warm and cozy in your beds.... Oh well, I did sign up for this didn't I? BUT AY CARUMBA I AM SO EXCITED TO GET TO KNOXVILLE!!!!! On one hand it doesn't really seem real, it kind of seems like I'll live out my life here at the CCM.... which isn't true but it's a surreal feeling, almost like I'm leaving on a mission all over again. However as much as I am heartbroken at the prospect of leaving my beloved Districto 6B I am so excited to get to Knoxville in all its 23 degree Fahrenheit glory!!!
So wow, after ALL of that I still think there's "no place like home for the holidays" but the home I'm talking about is the home I have made here in Mexico. It is a new kind of home, surrounded by a new kind of family that I am so very grateful for.
Please remember I am so grateful for each of you back home home in Utah,
Best wishes and a Happy New Year to all!!!!!
Love,
Hermana Hall
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Hermana Hall

Daily email

If you would like to send an email that will be printed each day and delivered  to Mckenzie that day here is her address. They don't print and send on Saturday or Sunday

mpmletters@gmail.com

In the subject line put:
Sister McKenzie Hall January 3, 2017 Branch 6 District B


Her regular email is: hall.mckenzie@myldsmail.net

A DAY IN THE LIFE AT THE MEXICO CCM (ESTA BIEN)

6:10 Hermana Olsen's alarm goes off, she turns it off, I hit the lights then jump back up on my bed say my prayers, make my bed (while sitting on it because I'm too short to make it while standing:) then hop down open my twelve days of Christmas letter from Ryan and any package from mom
6:25 start getting ready for the day, normally I just leave my hair natural but lately I've been using some heat on it to see how much time it takes
7:00 when we should be heading out the door but instead have last minute accessory needs, or makeup fixes. Esta bien, because even still we make it to breakfast before all of the Elders... go figure that one, you know you're late when girls beat you to places
7:10 walk into the comedor immediately wash hands (they have sinks everywhere and require you to wash hands before and after meals which is a big blessing and should offer mothers around the world much comfort that their children are being taught to prevent colds;) Then I always say hola to my favorite worker and amiga Hermana Bique (the one that loves my bonita nadiz or cute nose) I always eat fruit for breakfast, (putting honey on honeydew is muy bien) then if what they're offering isn't pancakes or if it looks like it should be lunch instead of breakfast I'll go for cereal as my main bfast dish. FYI for my family the cereal choices are: Special K, Bran, Cheerios, Fruit Loops, Frosted Flakes, and Chocolate Frosted Flakes. I usually get either Cheerios or Special K, I haven't eaten any of the sugar cereals yet, maybe because I know they won't be the same, or I'm trying to eat something that will sustain me until lunch, because literally time is broken up by meals here
7:30 we are still around the table with our district telling stories and laughing until we realize we should probably get to personal study time and so we wash our hands and head to our classroom in the John Taylor building (you better believe every building is named after a prophet, my personal fav is GBH Gordon B Hinkley)
7:40 personal study, I have been focusing on PMG and I've also been learning a lot about diligence. I try to think about my investigators as I study which has been really cool and eye opening experience, learning in order to  strengthen not only my testimony but theirs as well
8:30 we have language study out of the famous rojo libres (red books) they are missionary based grammar lessons, it is a challenging and unique experience to learn a grammar skill and then immediately apply it in a spiritual setting, I'm getting used to it though, and it is slowly starting to stick
9:30 we teach one of our progressing investigators (our teacher) this has been such a growing experience for me, when I look back at where  my comps and my lessons started just a few weeks ago to where we are now, it's amazing the growth and the spirit that has come into our lessons. The gift of tongues and the goodness of God is oh so real
10:30 we have Book of Mormon study which I love oh so much when we can all circle up and share our testimonies and gain different perspectives about the same verses. I love my district so much, I have a testimony that my mission report date is just as inspired as my actual call, I know that I am meant to learn and grow with these Elders and Hermanas they are incredible adventures of faith, and laughter, oh my goodness they crack me up!
11:00 So there is this thing called coaching which is basically when the teacher gives us some study tips, and we make goals and talk about how far we still have to go and how close we are getting ot the actual field and all feel frustrated and pressured, but esta bien
12:00 ALMUERZO (LUNCH) lunch is the most emphasized meal of the day, it is the longest time slot and the biggest meal, no cereal is available but mucho amounts of salsa, and really yummy desserts are readily available
1:00 Language study again, but this time personal study, the teacher isn't there which makes it REALLY hard to focus and have self discipline after all the stories and laughs from lunch. All the elders get really depressed after lunch because for some reason it's at around this time that they all remember that they have girlfriends and that they miss them a lot, it's super exhausting to be around but esta bien.
2:10 GYM TIME oh how I love Gym time!!!! District volleyball is the best! Calf raises and squats challenges are the best! wearing pants is the best!!!!
3:00 we have 30 minutes to prepare and chill after gym which is super nice, I usually organize my closet and choose my outfit for the next day and then just breathe and talk with my comps
3:30 we have 30 minutes of "fundamentals study" which is in our "MTC Experience Book" basically they the underlying foundations or fundamentals of how to teach and what steps are neccessary for conversion
4:00 Daily planning, we copy down our schedule for the upcoming day in our planners, talk about our upcoming lessons, decide what our shower schedule is for that night (it's muy importante) and listen to even more stories from the elders
4:30 TALL, a language program on the computer designed by BYU, most people hate it, but I like it because it gives you individualized opportunity to learn what you think is best for you while being guided by an interactive program. And you use headphones with a mic on it like a drive-through worker so that's cool, I also like hearing myself talk and pronounce words so I know how to change and learn, esta bien
5:30 CENA (dinner) is usually pretty good but sometimes it looks like they put what we had for lunch with what we had for dinner the night before and when that happens I opt out for fruit and toast, or just a salad, or cereal, LONG LIVE cereal dinners!
6:30 go back to the classroom to teach progressing investigatos (teachers) again, our district is divided into two groups so if you taught in the morning you don't teach in the night and you study as companionships and vice versa
7:30 Language lesson again more grammar, more gospel, my brain gets more and more tired but esta bien
8:30 demonstrate teaching we are paired up and apply a new studying technique or we do these drills where they put a timer with three minutes on the TV  (we have a TV in the classroom that we watch episodes of "the district" and power points on) and then using the pamphlets which are so so cool by the way they convert me every time I read them... we have to teach an entire
lesson in three minutes to imitate street contacting
9:30 kneel and pray as a district and head on home laughing all the way
9:35 I usually run in and shower first, I have mastered the 7-9 minute shower and dress time esta bien
9:50 write in journal reread letters and open daily christmas advent calendar thought from mom and ornament from G&G
10:25 kneel and pray as a companionship brush teeth "try" to get to bed by 10:30 still working on that one
10:40 I pray for you all and count each one of you as my blessings thank you for your continued prayers on my behalf
Love you all to la Luna and back!!!!
Hermana Hall

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Hermana Hall

Remember Barrabus

During a devotional this week we watched "For This Reason I Was Born" it depicts the birth, ministry, Atonement, and Resurrection of the Savior. During the scene when Christ is brought before Pilot and the people decide to exchange Him for Barrabus, I was struck by the thought: "I wonder how it would feel to be Barrabus..." To know that Christ took your punishment for you, being completely innocent, and gave His life for you, a sinner, a rebel, and a robber. Then the thought came to me: "I am Barrabus" Christ took my punishment. He gave His life for me, I have at times been a rebel against His doctrine and His word, a robber of happiness in the lives of others, and a sinner with many weaknesses. But He knew and still knows that even though I am in no way perfect I am in all ways worth it. And so are each of us. We are all like Barrabus, we make mistakes and sin, but Christ has taken the punishment for each sin and each weakness, and each mistake. "He payed the debt He didn't owe, because we owed a debt we couldn't pay" -Unknown
And all we can give Him in return is a grateful heart and a willingness to follow in His footsteps. Elder Holland said: "the path to salvation goes through Gethsemane" Many times when we face hard things we experience maybe a few moments in Gethsemane, the key is remembering that we are not alone in our hurt, heartbreak, and sorrow, Christ suffered for us first, and He suffered completely alone so that we wouldn't have to. He knows we are worth it. We will always be worth it. And I am so grateful to Him for that trust and that perfect love. So this Christmas let us all remember He who suffered so deeply, so unnecessarily, for us. Let us remember that we are Barrabus' that we fall short, that we are weak, but that we can live with Him because He died for us. He lives, He loves us, and through Him and His light all will be made bright, all will be made well, and all will return.
Feliz Navidad everyone,
I love you, I love my Savior, I love my mission.
Please be safe, please have a wonderful holiday season and please know you are in my thoughts and prayers.
So much love,
Hermana Hall
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Hermana Hall

The Real Language to Learn

Ok so first off, I think I am a golden investigator. I become more and more converted each day. Especially when we practice teaching each other in broken Spanish, which it seems like we do a hundred times a day, probably not, but that is what it feels like. But when I am an investigator for another missionary I have a really hard time faking it and being noncommittal. I believe what they are telling me in our preschool level Spanish, and I feel that it is true. For example I had to be an investigator and tell an Elder what my needs were I told him: I'm confused at what my next step in life is, which actually is a real need, I had been/feel confused about this stage in my life and what the next 18 months will bring and the time after that. He looked at me like "really couldn't you just say you feel lonely and then I could just tell you that God loves you and is there always?" but this was a real need and I didn't want to give the standard scenario and receive a standard answer, so I didn't and we were both blessed. He proceeded to share a couple of scriptures with me and testify that I had a plan for me from a Heavenly Father who knows me and loves me. Then he left me with a scritpure to read for the week in Mosiah 4, verses 5-7, I began glancing at it as he was testifying and wrapping at his lesson and the words hit me like a ton of bricks, he finished and I looked up at him and said: "Elder that was a real need in my personal life and you gave me just what I needed to hear." His response was "well I'm glad you didn't tell me that before because I was way nervous, but that is the scripture you told me to use in my lesson last week..." and I said "no it's not I told you to use Alma 32" "he looked down at the highlighted verses and it was definitely not Alma 32" we both sat there and just let it sink in that the Spirit taught us both, the Spirit helped this Elder sincerely assist and help my need, and testified to me that though I have been "awakened to to a state of my nothingness..." if I put my trust in the Lord and am diligent in keeping his commandments and continue in the faith even unto the end of this life I will receive salvation. That is my plan and that has always been His plan, I just need to put my trust in Him... always... cada día.

Which reminds me, to wrap up this email let me just share a quick experience on putting your trust in the Lord, for those of you that know me you know that I'm really so very not theatrical and don't really sing, like ever... So hearing that I sang a duet and one verse solo, accapella (don't even know how to spell that which further proves my point:)  with one of my companeras might come to a shock to y'all. But I did, we sang Señor Te Necesito (I Need Thee Every Hour) in sacrament meeting in front of our branch made up of about 4 districts so probably 50 or so people... I wasn't super nervous because I felt like if I could somehow bear my testimony through my singing voice it wouldn't matter how it actually sounded... I also felt like that song was so applicable, it's always been my favorite and if I have ever needed Him it was when I was about to sing in front of loads of people. However what I did not expect was to feel as though my weakness in singing was made a strength... after singing we had some of our Elders in tears and people swarmed us afterward telling us what a good job we did. So many in fact that we auditioned "got the golden ticket to Hollywood" and again sang at the Tuesday devotional in front of THE ENTIRE CCM, 350 people ish. Ultimately I learned that Ether 12:27 is more and more true everyday I'm humbled and give the Lord my weaknesses and He is kind and loving and trusting enough to turn them into strengths. And in reference to the title the real language I'm learning is the language of the Spirit. One day I hope to be fluent in it. And Spanish, Spanish would be nice to be fluent in too.

Sending many prayers and much love and Navidad wishes from MeXicOXOXO!!!!

Hermana Hall

Address

If you would like to send an email that will be printed each day and delivered  to Mckenzie that day here is her address. They dont print and send on Saturday or Sunday

mpmletters@gmail.com

In the subject line put:
Sister McKenzie Hall January 3, 2017 Branch 6 District B


Her regular email is: hall.mckenzie@myldsmail.net

                                 December 9, 2016

FUN FACTS
Bueno bars and mango juice make for a bueno day (La tienda es mi amigo)
Temple trips are incredible, the bumpy bus ride not so much but other than that yes yes yes
sometimes the shower wont drain so you have to take the plunger in with you
every night we have a christmas thought thank you for the advent calendar mom
I FOUND HERMANA MCKEE!!!! (Ryan´s cousin)
there are steps into most buildings my comp found that out the hard way lets just say the door did hit her on the way out
also found a kid from efy Dillon Stone
Volleyball as a discrict is way too fun
Gym time is the absolute best Travajo Out!
I cut three inches off of my companions hair, AFTER she asked me to, don´t worry
we made one of the elders in our district a bib because he spills every day
The food is actually really good very mexican but very good
I love how they break up the weeks Sunday is a spiritual recharge then full day monday then tuesday the newbies come and we get pizza and a devo then wednesday is full day then thursday is pday then friday saturday are full and you´re back to sunday
The trees rain little leaves that actually kind of hurt when they hit you in the face when the wind picks up
I have unknown bruises on my knees, I´m claiming they´re from praying
when you swirl the sprite around you can see the sugar swirling up
when you have two companions you spend about 1/3 of your day in the baño

First Week in Mexico City CCM

Hermana Hall arrived on a Tuesday and was informed that her P-day would be Thursday. She was not able to take her first Thursday (Thanksgiving Day) P-day. Her family heard from her on Thursday December 1st.

November 22, 2016 Departure Day

Hermana Hall's flight left Salt Lake City at 10:05 A.M. Her family took her to the airport and bid farewell. A few tears were shed and her service has begun.
 

She was able to fly with a group of missionaries direct to Mexico City.


Her family heard from her late that evening that she had arrived safely.