Pictures!!!! June 24, 2014

Arriving at Mexico City airport

 Bedroom and study all in one!

 CCM buildings

 palm trees!

 City behind the CCM

 Construction

 Morgan Sanford

 Sara at the CCM

 the Mexico City CCM is 90 acres. It used to be a private high school campus, recently converted to the Mexico City CCM in February 2014

 The big green spot where we go in case of earth quakes.

 District trip to the visitor's center at the Mexico City temple.  The temple is closed right now, so they just visited the grounds and visitor's center.

 What a cute girl!!!

 Last week it rained so hard it flooded in to the auditorium while the missionaries were in class. It's dark but you can still get the idea of how much water was pouring in.

 Water in the street.

 Sara's feet covered with water.

"Mmm...may​be" --So You're Telling me There's a Chance?! June 24, 2014

I heard those words, "mmm... maybe," when we asked our "investigator" to be baptized, and it was the best tal vez (maybe) I've ever heard. There's a chance! haha. I regret to say that I think that line is actually from dumb and dumber (which I have never seen) but somehow that came to my mind when she said maybe haha.

Some days are like roller coasters, and some days are like an entire amusement park, but the CCM is good. I'm getting a little restless already.

Today we got to go up to the temple visitors' center, so that was really awesome. They had a cool presentation about family life, and when we walked into the room with the crib and rocking chair I missed Adee and Taylee a bunch. The spirit was so strong on those grounds though. It was a much needed "recharging of the batteries." Even though the temple is closed right now.

Lauren and Erika, happy birthday last week!

Everyone needs to read the tiny little book called "The Power of Everyday Missionaries." Its really short and really great.

Some days it is hard to tell if Im making progress, and I just try my hardest to continue preparing. I feel the most important preparation happened before I even opened my call though. 

Even Christ had to prepare before He started His ministry. Have you ever fasted for 40 days? No you haven't. I know that because you're alive and reading this.

Although no one is capable of that same kind of preparation, it can be an indicator of how much effort should be put into preparing to serve the Lord. Im just glad that Im not the one who does the convincing, and the things that investigators learn and love are rarely the words coming out of a missionary's mouth. I hope I can bring the Spirit so He can bring the truth. 

The routine is so steady now that there isnt as much to say, but Im doing great and working hard. 

I love you all! I wish you could hear what the thunder is like here. Its like clockwork waiting for the rainstorm each night, and it is my favorite thing. 

xoxoxoxo

Hermana Coray

Here is Sara at the Mexico City MTC with her companion Hermana Sanford and the Elders in their district. They are all going to Vina at the same time.

It's the Bible, You get credit for trying, June 17,2014

I promise Im not doing this on purpose, but every week I just think of movie comparisons, and figure that everyone will enjoy them as much as I do. haha

You know that part of Pirates where those two stupid pirates are paddling their boat, and one of them is reading the bible, and the other one tells him that he should stop because he cant read? Thats how I feel trying to read\speak\understand Spanish. And every time Im staring at a page of words I dont understand I hear. ¨You know you cant read...¨And then I say to myself, Ït´s the Spanish Bible! You get credit for trying!¨¨

First of all, happy happy fathers day Dad! :) Last fathers day I was in San Francisco, this time Im in Mexico, and next year Ill be in Chile. Fathers Day 2016 is going to be a momentous occasion. Ill start thinking of something really special. I love you so very much, and I know i have the best dad in the world.

Also, I forgot to thank everyone for those adorable notes that you hid in all of my clothes, hairspray, books, socks... everywhere. I kept thinking I had found the last one, and then the next day there was always another one. So thank you so much! It made me so happy:)

Im so glad I brought not only the Hymns in Spanish, but the Childrens Songbook, too. Hna. Sanford and I use them when we teach our ¨discussions¨ because they bring the spirit and teach the gospel so simply. Thank mom:)

President Hnickley made a promise once, that if you read the Book of Mormon in your new language from beginning to end, then by the time you finished you would be fluent. Im only on page 70, but I can already see how that will be true. I calculated that I can be at least to page 310 by the time I leave the CCM. Halfway to fluent! 

For those of you who havent served missions in a foreign language, let me describe what its like to try and teach a lesson in a language youve been practicing for 1 and 1\2 days: Imagine a prison, and then dont change anything...

Kidding. Although, it is true. Now, Hna. Sanford and I can pretty much communicate anything we want to in a lesson, so that was only the first couple of times. Dont get me wrong, its still a matter of constant study and effort, but its coming quickly. 

I am definitely not here for the sake of learning Spanish. Everything else is so much more important, and the Spanish just comes as study everything else. 

Some of us wake up extra early to run a mile or two in the mornings, and it is great. (Our Pres. said we could). My stretching freaked my roommates out at first, but they had been warned, and now they are less shocked with every stretch. Haha. 

Our teachers are amazing, and so funny. I love learning from them.

The other day was really exciting because as we were watching a MTC broadcast from Provo with Elder Cook, (Elder Eric Mika gave the opening prayer) the auditorium started flooding. In a matter of minutes there was 6 inches of water at the lower parts of the auditorium. When we left and walked outside, the water in the ramp leading down to the auditorium was taller than me. Thats how much it rains! The thunderstorms are BEAUTIFUL.

Kristin, tell your dad that he was right about people in Latin America receiving answers through dreams. I didnt know how much I believed that when he told me, but now I see. I mean, not me. But a lot of the Latinos. 

Seriously, the birds. There is something in the water. So weve established that we have mockingjays here, but we also have tiny black peacock things, parrots, and then my personal favorite, the ones that sing like the giant blue bird from ¨for the birds¨. Its a great wake up call.

We have 8 Latina sisters living with us now, so thats super helpful, and they love us, so we have a ton of fun. 

If anyone runs across Baden Ballards mom! Tell her that her daughter found me, and I am taking good care of her. 

I have to safety pin my slips to keep them from falling, so that sould be an indicator of how much I like the food... haha. Dont worry, mom, I eat. They have good oatmeal, berries, STARFRUIT, fajitas, and I even like their enchiladas because they are really dry and spicy. No cheese or sour cream. Happy day. Some of the food is so interesting that Im perfectly content to let it remain a mystery to me. 

Tip for preparing missionaries: practice the piano. NOW. i mean it (that means YOU Steven and Jared). Develop every talent you have as much as you can, and I promise it will come in handy. Also, practice not being afraid to share those talents. 

Like I always told my students, when the time for performance has arrived, the time for preparation is past. In the words of the Lord, ïf ye are prepared, ye shall not fear.¨ DyC 38:30

My #1 idea for a happy life: be nice. If you cant say anything nice, then dont say anything at all.

(As I say to myself now, if you cant say anything in Spanish, dont say anything at all).

Also, if you are dying to write a letter, despite the much more efficient form of communication, email, then you can write one on dearelder.com and I will get it on the next P day. 

I dont know if it asks for it, but if you need it my district is 5. Or 5-C. 

Love you all with all my heart. I love the pictures:) Send some of the boys playing ball or the fam boating whenever you get time to go! 

Only 4 weeks till the real stuff starts! But I like this too:) 

Like the Hunger Games Without Violence

Family and Friends

Lets be honest, getting a mission call is kind of like the reaping in the Hunger Games. A little in reverse, but still. Everything here reminds me of Hunger Games! They piled all 30 of us missionaries that traveled together in the same big bus, and dropped us off in the sketchiest neighborhood of Mexico City. Left us just inside of the front gates to fend for ourselves. (I could hear the countdown) Luckily the CCM is a piece of paradise in the middle of the kill-zone. I didnt start making all of these connections until me and my companion, Hermana Sanford were walking behind a couple of sisters, and one of them did the Hunger Games whistle, and a huge echo of bird calls erupted around us and repeated it back. I kid you not. It was so surreal and kind of creepy. The next night we were sitting in our classroom, and like every thirty seconds or so a cannon would go off, and someone would, without fail, whistle the hunger games. Our branch president told us they were just celebrating something. So there you have it. The hunger games is real, and its in the middle of Mexico City. Notice, were also categorized into districts. Also, theres a dome of angels around us, so I wish one would send down a spare lightning bolt that would help me with Spanish. 

I have learned so much already. Our CCM mission president is funny and awesome, but also kind of dry and stern. I can never tell if he is smiling or scowling, so I just let myself think hes always smiling. 

Hermana Sanford is awesome. We rule the CCM together, and she is just perfect. Shes from Utah. We{re the only sisters in our district (6 elders), and we{re all going to Vina together! They are so young, but mature and amazing. We lucked out. 

Our CCM director and his family are my favorite. His wife is so pretty I don{t even know what to do. He gave an amazing devotional about remembering Lots wife, and not wasting time in the past, but looking towards a new calling in the present and future. I cant do his words justice. 

When we first got here our water was brown, but they fixed it quick. The CCM is HUGE. 90 acres. So is our gym. I love that we get an hour every day to exercise. 

Bugs. Everywhere! Not in our houses thank heavens, but oh goodness, the red beetles are ginormous and something else. Also, Have you ever listened to the words in La cucaracha? Me neither, but they cant be pleasant, and I am certain that those are the bugs God sent to Egypt as a plague. 

I am serving with the best people. Theres about 300 missionaries here now, and in 5 weeks we will be up to 900. Hastening the work much? 

The CCM food is... there, and mostly edible. They have good fruit...

Spanish is coming along really well. My two words of advice for anyone with a mission call is this (1) memorize your purpose in your new language (2) read the Book of Mormon in your new language. Youll be well on your way to being fluent. I promise, youll want to do that. (ATTENTION AMANDA)

I still feel like myself, and I cant wait to get out and teach real people instead of fake investigators. Its helpful though. I still know the gospel is true. Read Joseph Smith history, its only 75 verses and everyone has 5 minutes to spare. You will agree with me. 

I dont sleep well, theres bugs everywhere and brown water, and theres no apostrophe on this keyboard, but I dont care. none of that seems to matter to me. The weather is perfect. (not too hot, not too cold, and all you need is a light jacket). Except, no jacket. I  LOVE the birds and palm trees and the mountains. I am getting so much done. 

Oh, the first time I went to get in the shower, there was one of those huge red beetles, and, anyways, I had to move. Fast.

For the first couple of times teaching, we used a lot of notes, but by our third time we used hardly any, and taught the entire restoration in Spanish. It was so amazing to teach by the spirit. 

My favorite scripture has been Ether 12 4 Look it up:) 

Katie Horne, will you email me and tell me those three periods of time for your mission that you talked about, and also, will someone look up the quote by Elder Maxwell that has the words {Patience permits us to cling to our faith when...} I cant remember. I love you all so dearly! I miss you tons, but Im not homesick. I can say with my great grandma "I have my face turned towards Zion." 

Its not the time of my life yet, but it can be and it will be. Thank you for your prayers. Send any letters to:

Sister Sara Marie Coray

Chile Viña del Mar Mission

4 Norte 1112

Casilla 631

Viña del Mar, Valparaiso

Chile

Ill get them when I get there! 

Love you with all my heart!

Hermana Coray

Finally on her way!

Finally on her way! Tuesday, June 3 Sara was set apart as a missionary by President Haderly.  It was peaceful for all of us.  She is ready to do great things in Chile. We met Greg and Adri at Olive Garden in Idaho Falls for a big family dinner where Sara cuddled Adee and Taylee and said goodbye to the Duffins.  She checked in at the Idaho Falls airport and visited until it was time for her to be on her way.  Hugs all around, a few tears and off she goes. 

It was fun to track her flights on my phone and imagine her getting to the next leg of her trip.  It was a loooooong day and night and day.  But she has made it to the Mexico MTC.  Hooray! Look out Chile here she comes.

We'll see how this picture of her with her brothers sizes up when she gets back.

Sara's first email from the MTC in Mexico city. Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Sara's first email from the MTC in Mexico city. Wednesday, June 4, 2014

 

Im here in the MTC safe and sound:) All the flights went well, even though Ive only been able to sleep for a totaly of like two hours since yesterday mornng at 6:30 (Mostly in 5 minute naps). I get to go to bed really early tonight though at 7:00! Im all set, and everything was so well prepared to be easy through the airports. I traveled with about 25 other missionaries through the airport, so that was fun. I havent tried the food yet, so cross your fingers. Miss you already, but Im happy and ready to go to work. Everyone in the airport spoke to the other missionaries in English, but they assumed I was Mexican so its a good thing I practiced. Tell Andrew that they asked me to say a prayer in Spanish tomorrow because I already know how! Thanks to him! My P day will be on Tuesday while Im here, so Ill get to talk to you again in less than a week! Love you lots and lots!

xoxoxo

 

Love

Hermana Coray 

Getting ready to go! We spent lots of time playing together with our family.