Last Week of the CCM!!

Hola Familia and amigos!!!

 This is my last P-day at the CCM!!!!! How crazy is that??? I am so excited to get to Las Vegas this Wednesday! 5 whole days left!!!!

My companion and I lost Foosball last week! But we enthusiastically cheered everyone on at the Foosball World Cup Finals!!! Presidente Torres and his son ended up winning it all! It was so much fun to get together as a zone and have a great time!!

We took our last District 6D picture on Monday. We chose ´Merica as our color scheme. We are so patriotic, it is ridiculous! When the presidency sends the picture to me, I will forward it to y´all! 

I invited our investigator Luis to get baptized!!! In Spanish!!! My heart was racing and even though it is not real, it was an amazing experience for me!!! I am seriously so excited to invite REAL people to follow the example of Christ and be baptized by someone who possess the priesthood authority of God!!! 

I learned the importance and power of prayer this week. My companion was struggling, and I wasn´t sure what to do for her. I felt the spirit prompt me to offer a prayer on her behalf. As we knelt down to pray the Holy Ghost filled my mind with words that would help her! I felt so close to not only the Holy Ghost at that moment but also to my Heavenly Father! He knows us, and He helps us, even with the little things in our lives!!!

This week I participated in a "hot sauce off" against Elder Chambers. We "tied" but you all know, I am the spicy food queen. Poor elder was sweating bullets before we even started so we stuck a deal that if he finished we would call it a tie! Fun stuff!!!

Alma 34 is my favorite Book of Mormon chapter of the week! We learn about the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ, repentance, humility, and patience through afflictions (41)! I love the Book of Mormon! I feel so much love and appreciation for all the words that I get to read! I especially love reading about the amazing missionary work that so many of the prophets in the Book of Mormon did among the people! Inspiring!

This week I had an interview with the Branch President. I want to share what I learned from him, because I feel like it might help someone who is reading this. He told me that Satan wants you  to feel unworthy, he wants you to feel hopeless, he wants you to be miserable, and he does not want you to share the gospel. Satan cannot force us to listen to his awful words, he cannot force us to feel unworthy, it is OUR choice! You have a loving and merciful Father in Heaven! You have a loving Savior, who knows you, and who as provided the opportunity for you to be forgiven, and when you sincerely repent, Heavenly Father remembers them no more! Pray every day so you can conquer Satan! He is so NOT worth your happiness!

"Speak with power and authority. Go out there and ASTONISH somebody" -Holland Devotional

"Don´t lose the blessings the Lord can give your companionship because you´re not one in purpose. Work with the Lord as a companion!!¨" -Elder Reyes (Area 70 devotional)

I encourage yáll to read Alma 34, pray about it, and find out how the Atonement can be applied to your life every single day!!! Also, this Sunday is Fast Sunday! I hope you will prepare yourselves! I excited for the opporunity to fast! We got to teach the law of the fast to one of our other investigators this week, so the law of the fast is something that I have really come to love!!!!!!

I love you all!!!! Choose the right, I will write you from Las Vegas next week!!! Ahhh! So excited!

<3 Hermana Cordova

Week 4: CCM

 Second to last Email from Mexico!!!!

This week I had the opportunity to have two "solo español" days!!!! I was so blessed by my Heavenly Father!!! I was able to communicate and understand español throughout the day!!!! Yesterday I read a chapter in PMG/PME, in Español and I understood almost all of it!!!! I have fallen in love with this language, and I love learning it!!!

During one of our lessons this week I received a strong prompting from the Holy Ghost. We abandoned our original lesson, and we taught our investigator about the law of the fast. It was amazing, to not only teach it, but also commit him to fast with us next Sunday!!! I know that it is only through the Holy Ghost that we can teach, I am so grateful for his guidance!!!

Today is our zone "Foosball Word Cup", my companion and I are Team Australia!!!! We may or may not be totally awesome at foosball.... Also yesterday at gym I practiced riding a bike in a skirt. I´m a pro!!!!! ;)

Here are some inspiring notes from some of the meetings that I´ve attended this week:

• "Prepare and plan. You will be able to do this, remember, you are not alone. When you are struggling remember Nefi´s missionary affirmation "I will go. I will do." (1 Nefi 3:7) Hermana Brown Relief Society
• "Do not doubt what you have seen with spiritual eyes." "Don´t doubt the Lord´s power to give you something better!" Bishop Shawn Cates (CCM Coordinating Director)
• "Invite in the right way! Invite and teach EVERY child of God" "Go serve the Lord with all your hear, mind, and soul!" "Be able to say, "YES! I BELIEVE"" -Elder Arnulfo (1st Quorum of the 70)

I am so in love with the Book of Mormon!!!!!! I love the hour I have to study it for personal study every day!! This week I read in 2 Nefi, my favorite is the prophecy of Christ in capitulo 25. I believe in Christ, I love Him, and every day I try to be more like Him!! I know that He is our Savior, He knows each one of us, and He wants us to follow Him! I also read in Jacob, capitulo 5 is amazing. (41) "The Lord of the vineyard wept, and said unto the servant, "What could I have done more for my vineyard?"" I have the opportunity to work in His vineyard! I am so blessed to have been raised in the Gospel! I know it changes lives, I know it is true, and I know that the only way we can return to our Heavenly Father is through following the example of Christ. I hope to one day have the faith of the Brother of Jared (read Ether)!!! 

I love you all!!!!! This week try to read the story of the Brother of Jared in Ether! I just read it again, and I learned so much! I love his example of faith and dedication to the Lord! Pray every single day! The Lord wants to hear from you! He loves you! 

<3 Hermana Cordova

Week 3: CCM

Last week our service was delivering the water jugs around campus!!! I impressed the elders by using my super strong arm muscles, and carrying two at a time! What can I say, I work out! ;) Only because it´s required, but whatevs.

I am known by my compañera, as the Virus Queen. (2 in one week!!!!) I am seriously so grateful for blessings! Elder Walker, Elder Busan, and Elder Bunch gave me a blessing for the sick on Monday!!! I am so grateful! I was better by the next day!!! Priesthood blessings are amazing!!!!

Yesterday the Comedor served churros as long as my arm!!!!! They. Were. Amazing. Seriously!!!! Stef, you would have totally been jealous!

My Spanish is coming along. I taught most of a lesson without having to ask my companion to help me out!!! I also bore my testimony to one of our three investigators without messing up!!!!!! 

Today I rocked at Zone Sports Day. (Not to brag or anything...) Totally kidding. Although, I got to play tennis against some of the elders, and it was awesome!!! 

This week as been jam packed with español and learning more about the gospel!!! It has been so great!!!

Here are some awesome quotes from devotionals and relief society this week:

"We can feel joy in all trials, when we are His disciples" -Hermana Gill (R.S.)

"Get of the way-be ready and worthy to represent Him. This work is not about YOU!" -Elder Bednar (Devotional)

I love you all! I encourage you to pray every single day this week. Prayer has become so important in my life!!! Also read the Book of Mormon every single day, even if it is only for a few minutes. I have grown so much reading the Book of Mormon and praying about the things that I read!!! I promise that your testimony will be strengthened, and you will receive confirmation that the Book of Mormon is true. You will also come to know your Savior even more as you read this book!!!

I want to share a couple more spiritual things that I learned this past week.

"The Lord, whom, you represent and serve, knows you can do this. With His help and with His strength we can do this!!" - Elder Bednar

This week, I learned how to tell my companion that I love her. In a talk given by Jorge Salívar (Area 70), he said, "Learn to express love to your companion. It is an extension of your love for Christ". I said the three word phrase to my whole district that night as well. I have been blessed to make so many friends that are almost all going to Las Vegas with me!!! I know that these Elders and Hermana´s are going to be unstoppable forces of the Lord´s work!!!

""Hard" can be BETTER. It is worth it. If something is hard, you can make the decision to change your attitude." (Jorge Salívar)

"The Savior, Jesus Christ, should be reflected on your countenance". (Jorge Salívar)

This has been a great week for building up my testimony!!! The Lord is so involved in my life! I learn so much everything day! I love you all!!

<3 Hermana Cordova

Week 2: CCM

First off, I did my own laundry last week!!! Whuuut! It was exciting, and i also got a work out, trying to avoid the mouse that lives in our laundry room. (Mickey, as my compañera calls him).

I taught a lesson about faith and perfection through Christ, and I bore my testimony....I was able to speak without using my note cards, and I felt the Spirit so strong.

Three talks that had a huge impact on my life this week, come from the 2014 April General Conference. I encourage yáll to reread/listen to "Your Four Minutes", "Bear up their Burdens with ease" and "Love-The Essence of the Gospel".

The 4th of July was amazing. The comedor fed us traditional BBQ, apple pie, and CORN! Also I shared my calorie free, sugar free patriotic cookies of awesome with the four Hermanas! Thanks mom!

I have now official mastered not only the missionary purpose, but also the invitation for baptism AND the First Vision, ALL in Spanish!

I finished off my journal. I´ve written in this journal throughout my conversion. A quote from before I left for my mission, "The Lord has softened my hear, and strengthened my faith. My tiny testimony has taken roots in my heart, and I know that it is strong enough to endure the trials that I will face".

Fast Sunday brought miracles! I said the prayer in sacrament meeting AND I bore my testimony to the Branch. Some of the Hermana´s afterward told me that I spoke as fluently as a native as I bore my testimony about my Savior Jesus Christ!!! I also wrote an entire letter in Spanish to my Branch President. I feel the Lord helping me through this! I am so blessed and grateful.

Haz Lo Justo: Choose the right en Español!!! 

TRC-I got to teach an actual investigator! It was an amazing experience for both me and my companion. 

I have felt the spirit every single day. I also got to go to the Mexico City Visitors Center today! It was amazing!!!! It just reinforced my desire and excitement to go an serve!!

"You CANNOT go back. If you turn your back on Christ, you will break your Heavenly Father´s heart¨" -Jeffery R. Holland. I love this apostle of the Lord. His words speak to my heart. I know that this is God´s work. I know that this is HIS will. I cannot come home from my mission without doing EVERYTHING I can to bring His children to Christ. The Atonement is amazing, it is real, and I have felt the healing power of repentance. 

I hope that this week yáll will remember to follow Christ. Pray everyday! The Lord can and will help you, you just need to ask!!! I love you all!

Besos!

-Mucho Amo

Hermana Cordova <3

Week 1: CCM

Not going to lie. This week was HARD. My companion is so much better than me at Spanish. She is almost fluent, and I´ve felt frustrated and discouraged every time I have attempted to teach a lesson, because I don´t know how to communicate to him! Although it´s been hard it has been AMAZING. I have seen the Lord´s blessings, I have felt His love, and I have amazingly learned a few words in Spanish. Also I memorized the invitation to be baptized, and the missionary purpose, all in one week! During my personal study this week I have focused on strength! It is amazing that throughout the Book of Mormon, the Lord strengthens His servants, so that they can accomplish the things which He commands them to do. As you well know, I do not pick up Spanish easily. This week has taught me to rely on the Lord. As I have done my part by devoting almost all my time to practicing, and drilling myself on phrases, scriptures, and words, the Lord has strengthened me. Everyday my testimony grows as I rely on the Lord, my Heavenly Father has asked me to learn Spanish, and you know what, that is EXACTLY what I am going to do!!!! (Also I have been doing all of my prayers (out loud) in Spanish! And during the second to last lesson I taught, I was able to look my investigator (Ivan Ruiz) in the eye, and bear my testimony of the Atonement!) The blessings are great here man! ;)

I love my district, and my companion is superb! We have had so many funny moments, but the spiritual ones are the experiences that I want to remember most. We often have discussions before our class time ends (9:30pm), we all bear our testimonies, or we talk about the blessing that we have seen during the day! Our district leader, Elder Chambers, is so in tune with the Spirit, it is crazy. Our whole district, minus my compañera Hermana Mortensen (New Jersey, Morristown), will be serving in Las Vegas! Look out Las Vegas, there are 11 huge spiritual powerhouses coming your way!

One message that stood out to me this week was during the devotional on Sunday. It was a rebroadcast from the MTC (Provo) Christmas fireside a few years ago. In it, Elder Bednar used the phrase, ¨"GET OVER YOURSELF. This work is NOT about YOU!!!" This was the message the Lord was sending me, because I was internally complaining about all the things that I could not do or say (in Spanish). I am so grateful that the Lord keeps me in my place! 

Another theme this week, was the importance of being CONVERTED unto the Lord. I have heard it so many times here at the CCM!!!! Being truly converted in a process, and as I have focused on learning more about my Savior Jesus Christ, I feel my testimony grow even stronger, and taking root in my heart! The church is not perfect, the people are not perfect, but Christ is perfect, and through Him we can be perfected and become worthy to enter into the Kingdom on God. 

There are so many other things that I want to write, but time does not allow me to write too much more! :( Also I have a ton of pictures to share,  but again not enough time to upload them all. I promise that before I leave the CCM, I will upload them and send them to yáll! 

Mexico is beautiful, the mountains are breathtaking, and the best part about being here is seeing the Lord´s work progressing! I have met tons of missionaries, who will be serving the Lord around the world. The Lord knows us, and He called each one of these missionaries to serve His beloved children! I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve my Father in Heaven.

Here is my challenge for you this week. Read in the Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 10-15 (or more if you want). I´ve been studying the Christ´s ministry in the Americas. I´ve been reading English and Spanish side by side, and it makes it so powerful. My most favorite part is when Christ takes the time to bless all the children! I cannot imagine how truly powerful that most have been. My next favorite part, is when He kneels down to pray to Heavenly Father on behalf of the people. It is written that it was so amazing that the words could not be written down. 

I have a testimony of the Gospel. I know that Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. He loves us, He knows us, and He wants us to choose to follow Him. Remember to love one another, yet another lesson taught to me this week. I do not want to imagine going to the judgement bar and having to explain to my Heavenly Father that I could not follow one of the most simple commandments!!!! 

I love you all!!!! Please remember to pray for me! I always pray for you!!!!! I love you! Thank you so much for your love and support! I am seriously so blessed to have an amazing family and group of friends ever!!!

-Hermana Cordova <3