06/06/22 Last Day in CCM (MTC - Missionary Training Center, Mexico)

Tonight at 5pm I will be leaving the mtc and heading to the airport in Mexico city! From there I will have an 8 or flight overnight and land at 6:25am in santiago. I then have a 3 hour layover and a 2 hour flight into antofagasta, where I will land at 11:20am. 

The last few days here have been interesting. The Lord has a way of preparing us for things we're apprehensive about... the Lord is preparing me to leave here by making the conditions kinda terrible. A brief example: last night we had a devotional, and after the devo we had planned to say goodbye to our elders because they were leaving the next morning super early. So after the devo we waited near where all the senior missionaries were... and they told us to go home... we started heading that way and then we saw our elders heading home (similar direction) and started waving goodbye to them.... but then one of the senior missionaries chewed us out and told us we had all week to say goodbye and to stop waving... and then he followed us all the way home until we were in our casa.... I would understand if it was after curfew, but it wasn't even 9 yet! It made us pretty mad... 

Other parts of saying goodbye have been sad. Last night we had our last mini house devo, and as the mamita de casa, I have had the unique chance to get to know all of these girls really well. It was really hard thinking about how I may never see a lot of them ever again. Its amazing how much God gives us a capacity to love people so much that we have known for so little time. I'm amazed by all the things these girls have overcome and grown through to get here. Not even to mention how strong the spirit is when they speak. 

I think my comp is so done with me and honestly, same. At the end of the day we are just very different people and have very different opinions on things... she has told me multiple times that she's not even a little bit sad to leave this place and the people who are here. She literally doesn't even care. This whole time we've had this ongoing argument of the importance of bonding with the girls in our casa, with our district, with our zone, etc. and she is so convinced that because she's probably never gonna see them again it doesn't matter so what's the point. And I am of the opinion that just because something isn't permanent, doesn't mean it's not important. There are so many blessings that can come from trying a little harder and you just never know when you're gonna see someone again. Maybe it won't be anytime soon, but you just never know. If you post this please omit this paragraph. 

On the one hand I'm so sad to go, but at the same time if I had to stay here another week I think I would simply perish. 

My baggage is somehow lighter than when I came here, in spite of having added 15 lbs of learning material to my bag. 

I talked to some people about things I was struggling with (like senior missionary people) and they gave me an audiobook to listen to which has been pretty good. It is about setting boundaries and the difference between being nice/letting others walk all over you. It's been helpful in creating a slightly more pleasant environment for me. 

I don't really know what we're supposed to do here today. We dont have class but it's not really a P day so it's kinda confusing. I have like 8 hours to fill that I don't know what to do with. I think we're going to go to the store and buy plane snacks (we have like 60 pesos on our little cards, or about $3usd which goes a long way here), and I might try and get a priesthood blessing, although people might be too busy for that. We will probably also actually get some study time in and a nap. 

I'm really excited to be traveling but also really anxious. I hope everything with my baggage and stuff goes smoothly, and I hope my Spanish is good enough that we can successfully get through security and everything. As far as I know it's just me and elder wall going to antofa and as I was looking through pictures on Facebook of previous new groups of missionaries... they're all like 90% elders, or all elders, so while there may be other (probably latino) elders, it's likely I'm the only new Hermana. Lucky me (haha)! Most of all I hope I will be able to make friends and understand others and teach people. I am unbelievably excited to talk to people about the most important thing in my life: the gospel, life and covenants associated with our Savior Jesus Christ. 

Okay well it's not even p day so I'll end this email lol. Love you guys so much, I pray for you all every day and I can't wait to tell you more about my adventures in the mission field!!! 

xoxo hermana griffin