Adios CCM

This is it!  The safety blanket is coming off!  No more pretend investigators, no more gym time, no more pre-cooked meals, and no more English!!!  In two days I walk onto a flight to San Diego, sit in a bus for two hours as we cross the border  (fingers crossed there's a cow munchin' on hay in the back), shake hands with my mission president, meet my most-likely native and only spanish speaking companion, and begin serving the people of Mexico.  "Hermana Lance, this is quite the adventure you are stepping into.  How do you feel about it?"  ...Response:  I have no idea.  A strange mixture of excitement and worry.  The two sort of cancel each other out so really I'm a blank slate. 

My main apprehension is meeting my new companion.  I'm about 100% certain that she will be native and not speak very much english.  Even though my spanish is far from fluent, I can do the basics and feel like I will be comfortable-ish in a teaching setting.  But when it comes to having to get to know, plan lessons, and become best friends with my trainer...all in spanish.  Wish me luck.  I'm excited because it will be great in helping me learn the language faster, but communication might be tough for a little while.

In the meantime, I'm still surrounded by amazing people that I will hate to leave.  For those who know me, I'm sure you're familiar with the fact that I'm not a great hugger.  I don't do it often because I've been told far too often that I am an awkward hugger....gee thanks.  It's something that I'm working on.  Anyways, due to this I thought the whole no hugging rule between guys and gals wouldn't phase me too much.  WRONG!!  I've come to love all the Elders in our zone so much, there all like my little brothers.  A bunch of crazy 18-yearolds that make me laugh so much!  It's going to be killer to have to say goodbye with just a handshake.  I wish they all were serving in the same mission as me.  Fingers crossed we can get a MTC reunion together when we all get back.

A horrible thing about having to wait until P-day before you can write anybody is that you forget everything you thought about saying during the week.  But I blame a lot of that on being in the MTC and having a rather uneventful, repetitive schedule each week.  I love the MTC, but it doesn't exactly make for the most entertaining stories.  I'll make up for it in pictures.  In the mean time, keep me in your prayers because I'm off to Tijuana!!!!

Gym pods.

Goodbye freezing weather.

MTC friends for life.