Week 4

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Saryn Moline <saryn.moline@myldsmail.net>
Date: Thu, Sep 17, 2015 at 3:43 PM
Subject: VIVE LA MEXICO
To: Lauralea Moline <lauralea.m@gmail.com>, Timothy Moline <timmoline@gmail.com>

MY FAMILYYYYY specifically Momma and Dad.

First off MATT IS PREGNANT!!!??!  That is sooo awesome I am so happy for them!!! If it is a girl they should name it Saryn Jun. 

But yes, I see Elder Warr ALL the time.  We are always talking and have become good friends!! He is one amazing elder.  Always so positive and friendly to everyone he meets.  I will send a pic of us i took today! 

That is so fun that you saw Brittany while she was there!! Also Mom, I am so proud of you going running every morning!!! There is a Doctor here that is serving a mission with his wife.  Hermana Benioni and I see her every morning without fail in the gym as we walk to personal study in our classroom.  She has such motivation and reminds me of you!! haha 

THIS week has flown by!! Probably the fastest week I have had so far!!  This week was full of amazing spiritual experiences and many many learning moments. 

This past Monday the district just above us in our zone left the CCM.  Which means that District 13A (Trece ´´Ah´´) is the oldest district in our zone. WOOHOO.  Which also means we are the next to leave.  Only 1 and a half more weeks! I CANNOT wait to go back to the states.  I have more American pride now more than ever.  However, I firmly believe that the native Mexican people here are far more kind, humble, and genuine than any other culture I have had the privilege to get to know. They are so easy to love.  I want to have the kind of hearts they have!! 

Speaking of which, the re-dedication for the Mexico City Mexico temple was this past Sunday.  We did not attend but watched a live broadcast of it here in our Auditorium.  It was an "extention of the temple" and it truly did feel like it.  The Spirit was so very strong.  President Henry B. Erying spoke and gave the dedicatory prayer. and Elder Holland too was there and spoke.  Both talks were full of amazing things.  

Some of my favorite things that were said were: All the pure in heard who come to the temple will see God in their lives. Temples are places to feel the glor and waht it will feel like when we are in the presence of our Heavenly Father.  They are places to 1. Feel gratitude 2. Experience the light of understanding 3. Feel the love of God.  Elder Holland said that it is a special place that every time we go we can recommit to follow the Savior and his teachings.  He also bore his testimony in Spanish.  It was one of the most beautiful testimonies I have ever heard.  His Spanish was not amazing in any sense and sounded super white.  But he got choked up and I couldnt help but also get choked up.  It made me realize that it doesn't matter how well I know the conjugations or grammar.  As long as I testify with my whole heart, the Spirit will be felt.  And that is all that matters.  It was so good!! 

We also found out that day that our district was chosen to attend a session at the temple on our Pday!! We left early early early this morning and got on a bus with 2 other districts.  Other zones/districts went other days but we were the only bus that went today.  It was soooo amazing and special.. I am so grateful we had that opportunity to feel the new amazing spirit in the temple that was so recently dedicated.  

Hermano Hernandez is one of our two teachers for our district at the CCM (it is pronounced Ce Ce emaye, with the ´´e´´ sounding like the e in eggs) sorry if that didnt make sense haha. 

But anyways Hermano Hernandez is a beast. He knows very little English but is one of the most spiritual, knowledgeable, inspired people I have ever met. He knows like EVERYTHING about the scriptures.  Our Elders just gravitate toward him because he is so amazing and goes so deep in the gospel.  Sadly, his school schedule changed and can no longer teach us at our usual time so we might be getting a brand new teacher for the last week we are here.  It's so sad because we have all become so close with him.  He has literally taught us everything we know and he knows us so well.. Some of the elders even shed a tear or two when we were told this!! so sad!! 

Oh and real quick! It was Mexican Independance day this past Tuesday!! We had real Mexican delicious food that was amazing. The comedor was all decorated with mexican flags!  In the night there was soo much partying going on outside the CCM that it was hard to fall asleep at night because of the fireworks and Mexican music that was playing so loud!!!  I would have been annoyed but I just love the patriotism they have and the music was so fun to listen to because we haven't been able to listen to any music since we have been here!! haha It was great.

but anywayyyssss I love you so much momma!! I really do miss you and Dad so very much but then again I love it here so much.  It will be so sad when I have to leave!! I love you all. Thank you so much for your support and love. You are my motivation and strength!

I am grateful to live in a day and age that we are able to have temple and worship and have a prophet on the earth where we can receive light and truth.  In one of our special devotionals we watched an amazing talk by David A Bednar.  Probably the best talk i have ever heard in my life. Sadly it was given at the MTC in Provo 2013 on Christmas so I won't be able to ever print it off but maybe I can find it someday.  It was about putting off the natural man (Mosiah 3:19) through the Atonement of Christ the Lord,  how losing yourself in the service of others you will find yourself but you won't be looking.  And how we must turn outward like Christ.  Christ was always turned outward in love and compassion to others when we would naturally turn inward and sooo much more.  I could go on and on.  I hope to obtain some of the attributes of Christ, maybe not perfectly but the best that I can. He is the perfect example. 

SURE LOVE YOU MOLINES ROCK MISSIONARIES RULEEEEE especially me.

love you,

Hermana Moline

Week 3

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Saryn Moline <saryn.moline@myldsmail.net>
Date: Thu, Sep 10, 2015 at 1:32 PM
Subject: 
To: Lauralea Moline <lauralea.m@gmail.com>, Timothy Moline <timmoline@gmail.com>

And another one bites the dust!!! What is lifeee!! This week went by sooo quick for me!

This is Week 4 but technically I have been here for 3 weeks from yesterday.  Life here is like a dream!! They are not kidding when the days go by slow but the weeks go by like seconds. This past week was so full!!

I only have 2 and a half more weeks till i am out in Alabama! It's weird to think there is more to mission life than being in the CCM even though we talk about it allll the time. 

First things first... In Mexico they have like  A MILLION mesquitos.  I am literally getting eaten alive every day of my life.  We sleep with all the windows and doors shut, but somehow there are always mosquitos in our casa.  I wake up with bites all over my arms and hands even on my fingers, but está bien.  I just keep thinking to myself, things could be way worse, there could be giant moth things the size of birds just flying around all the time.  OH WAIT MEXICO HAS THOSE TOO.  I kid you not!  Here in Mexico things are a bit different.  Their moths are not little and don't bother you. They are like the size of  a small bird.  I honestly have never looked at one close enough to have known it was a giant moth because I just scream for my life and run away. But that is what i have been told they are. When iI first saw one I thought it was a legit bat. One actually got into the Auditorum where we have our Special Devotionals and was flying up and down the isles.  Scariest thing of my lifeeeeee.

Also once a week here in Mexico it smells like dead fish everywhere.  I am not sure why but its an awful smell that is only on Tuesdays. So weird hahaha

One thing I do love about Mexico is the beauty.. It is so pretty here!! And the weather is always top notch which i did not expect.  Almost every evening around 6pm it starts raining and the smell of rain is just a beautiful thing. Big huge drops just like Texas. I love it!

Okay now onto the funniest thing of the week.  This week we are continuing to teach our ¨¨investigator¨ Mario.  Who is really our Teacher hermano Hernandez.   This past Monday, Hermana Benioni and I were teaching him about baptism and the importance of it! The last lesson we had we invited him to be baptized and he said yes so we thought we would explain a bit more on baptism.   Towards the end of our lesson I was going to share a wonderful scripture about baptism in the book of mormon.  Alma 7:14-15 .  it is one of my favorite scriptures on baptism.  I look it up in my español scriptures (which everyone was given at the beginning of the CCM) and had him read it.  At the end of him reading it he had a big  smile on his face, and I thought ¨He totally gets it!!!!! He gets it!!¨ I was so excited.  

After our lesson was over Hermano Hernandez comes into our classroom and asked me what the scripture was that I shared with him..I explained the reference, and He said. ¨Hermana, that was not the scripture you shared with me.¨ as he is trying not to burst out laughing.  Sooooo apparently I wasn't paying attention when he was reading the scripture because I had him read Alma 14:14 which is a scripture about the burning of saints in the fire and brimstone or something....Hahaha it was soooooo funny and I was so embarrassed,  but I am so grateful he is my teacher and not an actual investigato!!!!!  está bien!!

The CCM is so wonderful though. So many resources and so much learning is going on here.  The teachers are so nice here and so helpful and inspired.  One of my favorite things of the week is Sundays,  On Sundays we have a special devotional, as well as on Tuesdays.  These devotionals are always so spiritually uplifting and wonderful.  This past Sunday Devotional we watched a talk given by Elder Richard G. Scott at the Provo MTC a few years ago.  It was on Communication with our Heavenly Father.  But what I got out of it was the faith we need to have in our Heavenly Father.  To ask in faith means to ask in confidence.  It made me think of Nephi in the Book of Mormon,  How he expressed faith and refused to be discouraged.  He recieved guidance and power because he had confidence in God.  He did not wait passively, he did not murmur, he acted. 

During my studies I have been studying about exceeding Faith.  I  have read Ether chapter 12, 3 times this week.  It is SO GOOD.  Every time I read it I feel the spirit.  I would mark every single verse.  It is so powerful.  After reading in Ether I realized that there is so much more that I can give to my Heavenly Father. There is so much more I can submit unto Him, so much more I can give.  I want to give Him my whole self and all that is in me.  I want to have exceeding faith in Him always.

 I have learned so much here but one thing I know to be true is that in order to receive blessings and what we desire from the Lord, we much be exactly obedient to His word.  We cannot pick and choose what commandments we want to obey or what apostle we want to follow.  This is His gospel and we must obey it to its fullest.   

I love what Dad said in his email to me   ¨¨When we don’t allow humility and gratitude in our hearts, or reflection - we have difficulty seeing the Lords hand in our lives¨¨  this is so true.  

I know this gospel is true, I know my Savior lives. It is easy to be here and feel the spirit and have such a strong desire to do our best, but i also know that my mission does not end when I get home.  This is a time for Him to mold me and help me the best person i can be, not just the best missionary  I can be. 

I love you all!!! I am so gratefull to have such an amazing family and support system at home.  I love you soo much and know that I am blessed beyond what I deserve.

Sure love ya!! Molines rock!! and Missionaries rule!!

love,

Hermana syringe moline

1. Elder McLane and I!! he has the same gym time as us and its so fun to see him all around here!

2.  We pass this little guy everyday to go to class. 

3. The city at night!

4. 

5.Hermana Price in the middle.  she left last week from our zone to go to Las Vegas West.  One of the sweetest girls i have ever met! cutest southern accent from Tennessee

6.All the missionaries in our district going to Alablama.  me, Hermana Benioni, Elder Causey, and Elder Perrault.  Some pretty solid elders

7. 

8.This morning we went on a walk around the CCM! So beautiful

Week 2

From: Saryn Moline
Date: Thu, Sep 3, 2015 at 12:53 PM

A few more things I wanted to tell yall but forgot in the big email.  First.  Anytime you want to send a letter or just a package or anything.  Look at Missionary MX.  Its a company that is literally down the street from the CCM.  Its like Dear Elder but better or something.  I get the letter that day and can read it.  Also packages are always nice:)))) and i get them like the day after you send it! Otherwise it would take ages to get a regular letter or package.  

Also for my scripture...I think I will go with Alma 29:9-10 

Thank you Dad so much for getting that Bike thing all worked out. You are the best and I love you!! I am so glad I do not have to memorize lessons.  It is DRILLED into us here that we are teaching members not lessons but maybe it would be nice to have them memorized.. but maybe in english rather than spanish haaha

On Thu, Sep 3, 2015 at 12:44 PM, Saryn Moline <> wrote:

This week has flown by!!! But at the same time i feel as though I have been here for 2 years rather than 2 weeks.  

Dad, yes there are only 500 missionaries here right now but at one time we did have over 1000 here but that was before I came here.  I like having a small amount of missionaries here! 

A typical day here is sooo busy.  We barely have time to breath but I seriously love it because we learn SO MUCH and fell the spirit every step of the way.

Technically our Disctrict is in week 3 here and week 3 is supposed to be the peak of all the learning here in regards to the language.  I still feel very inadequate with the spanish but I need to give myself a break because I have literally learned sooooooo much, I didnt know a lick of spanish coming out here and i can already testify and pray and semi hold a conversation with some of the workers here. I have become friends with some of the workers here at the cafeteria or the Comedor as we call it. All the natives are sooooo nice and friendly and know we all stink at spanish but love to talk to us anyways.  ANYWAYS.  a typical day: We wake up around 6ish and go to personal study in our classroom with our disctrict. we can study whatever we want at this time. So I usually read the Book of Mormon and PMG.  Then we have Breakfast at 8am.  After breakfast we go back to our classroom and have 3 hours with out maestro, Hermano Trejo,  Trejo is 21 and went on his mission to Chihuahua.  He is THE BEST. we all love him.  during those 3 hours we have language study, Coaching( how to be a better teacher), and Progessing investigator. Progressing investigato is when we teach our ¨´investigators´ we teach two investigators.  One is Franklin! Whos is played by Hermano Trejo and the other is Mario who is played by our other maestro Hermano Hernandez.  I would go into detail but its not super important. WhAT is important is that Hermana Benioni ROCKED at teaching Franklin and Marion this week.  We dont have to use our notes anymore. Just an outline of what we want to say in english so that we have to transalate  on the spot.  The spirit is so strong!! Even when I dont fully understand what they are saying to us hahahaha

After that we usually have gym and then lunch.  i always play volleyball and it is literally the best everrrrrr it is so fun. i love it.  After lunch we go back to class for Additional Study time on our own then we have TALL.  TALL is a computer program designed to help missionaries with grammar and stuff in spanish.  I seriously dont know what it is but every time I walk into our TALL lab I immediately start falling asleep.. iTS AWFUL.   Everyone hates it but it sometimes can really help. but i get so tired the second I start it haha 

After TALL we have another 3 hours with our other maestro Hermano Hernandez.  He is the BOMB:  but literally speaks spanish faster than most of the natives.  Hes like a freaking motor.  I listen to him speak and im like...´that aint the language their teaching me...´just like in RM hahaha its awful but its better this way cause we will get more used to it and over time we will understand him. He is also a wonderful teacher and is just a spiritual giant.. Then we have dinner and then language study on our own and additional study together as a District.  

Every Tuesday we have a Special Devotional that is sometimes broadcasted from the MTC in Provo.  This week it was Elder Dallin H. Oakes.  His message was simple yet powerful. Some of my favorite things he said were: 

 ¨The more you invest the greater the return.´it made me think that I can do so much more than I am doing now.  I can invest so much more of myself.  Because our God is a multiplier of works.  The more I do. The more He can do with me.  Another thing was he quoted Ezra Taft Benson in PMG saying that ´ Without the Spirit you will be unsuccssful regardless of talent or skill.´ That really made me think of the language.  Yes it is hard and yes we are struggling but THE SPIRIT is the teacher.  No matter how much spanish I know, i am not  the teacher.  Also, that we must be like Paul and ´´Dwell in Christ´going along with the investment and the return. 

It was so humbling to look around and see all of us Elders and Hermanas during that devotional. We are kids. We are punk kids and yet we are responsible for so much.  Salvation is on the line and so much faith is put into us.  Faith of God.  And if He has faith in us.  We should never feel inadequate or that we cannot do this.  For if God is with us, Who can be against us?  For we are called of God.  And if we are called of God, we have nothing to lose.  

I LOve you all soooooo much!!!!!! I LOVE what i am doing.  I LOVE my Savior so very much, And I cant help but love the people of Alabama soooo much. 

Thank you all for your love and support, it means so much to me

}Hermana Molioni

Sorry that was so long but I can tell you that ever day, every hour, every second. The spirit is here.