"Everyone here blasts their English music and has no clue what the songs are saying!"

Hola mi familia!

Que paso?! So this week was wayyy better than the first. I think I was just a tad overwhelmed the first week, which should be expected with moving to another country where you don't speak the language. This past week we taught so many lessons and I have already seen the little miracles that we are blessed with on a daily basis. Each day was honestly so long but looking back, it does not feel like a week has gone by. I now understand why people say that missions are so fast. I'm sure that once I speak the language, time will be even faster.

Some funny things that have been on my mind recently. Do the people here know what the English words on their clothing says? I mean, barely anyone even speaks English, and when their shirt says "Free Hugs" do they know what they are soliciting? I have yet to see anything with Spanish writing on it! Same with music. I was expecting to hear some type of Shakira/Enrique Iglesias/ Ricky Martin/ Becky G, but no! Everyone here blasts their English music and has no clue what the songs are saying. Hermana Perez and I were teaching a lesson and the 7 year old girl there was on her tablet playing videos in English. Out of nowhere the video screamed the F-word and no one even flinched but me! I was appalled. I had to realize that in Spanish that doesn't mean anything. They have no clue.

Also, I think its funny that here it rains everyday! I mean BUCKETS of water, and yet when I go to take a shower or go to the bathroom there is no water! However, in California we have no rain and I could always count on water from the faucet, LOL! Hermana Perez and I were helping our investigator move houses and during cleaning, the water went out. Luckily it was pouring. We took a huge pot outside and filled it in minutes for us to finish cleaning with. My companion said that in Mexico she has similar experiences. We are so blessed back home. OH WHAT I WOULD GIVE FOR A HOT SHOWER, haha!

I am learning to love the food here. Its so good! Beans and rice for every meal is definitely not a bad thing. However, I've been really wanting pizza recently. Hopefully my companion and I will go soon! I realized the other day, when we went to buy a few snacks, that everything is sold in personal size packages. I bought Oreos expecting a full tray of Oreos. Nope. I got 12 individual packages. It's because otherwise, the bugs will get the food! The flies are everywhere its crazy! Even worse, unfortunately Hermana Geurts and Mungua had 5 cockroaches in their kitchen last night. I really don't want that to happen to us...

This past week was such a mental struggle for me. At times, I was really exhausted from the language and feeling like I couldn't do anything. It is so easy to get down on myself but I know that everything gets better a day at a time. I need to learn patience, haha! However, on Saturday I went to my first baptism in the mission. Hermana Geurts and Mungua's investigator and the husband of a member were getting baptized. I was instantly reminded why I'm here and why I want so badly to be here! Those people were so happy and the family whose dad was getting baptized were SO happy. I was reminded of my family. Yes I miss you all more than you know but I think that is such a motivation. That cheesy saying is so true. "Missionaries leave their families for a short time, so that others can be with their families for eternity." I cried and had a desire to go talk to anyone I could no matter how bad my Spanish was. There are so many people that need this gospel in their lives!

Mom! I miss you! I don't think I'll stop missing you for the next 68 weeks! We sang "Family's Can Be Together Forever" yesterday in Sacrament Meeting, and I cried... I couldn't keep it together. I don't want to be sad. I try to listen to the EFY songs to lift my spirits in that regard, and it does help some. I talk to my companion and at times I feel like a sucky missionary because I miss home and I get discouraged because of the language. I pray every day for help. I think that in 2 months when I know the language better, I will be wayyyy better. I try to keep an eternal perspective. Other people have done this, its definitely not impossible! I just need patience with myself...I don't doubt that in a year I will be laughing at how I felt right now:)

I love you all so so so much. Thank you for every prayer. 68 more weeks!

Pura Vida!
Hermana Zerilli