2nd Week-Zone Leaders

It has been another great week at the CCM. We only go to the temple every other week and I believe the temple closes on January 5th so we should be able to go all three times. I am no longer in the dormitories.  With our dwindling numbers we all have moved into the Casas, or homes, they have here at the CCM.  They are generally used for the sister missionaries.  There are four of us in a room and there are four or five rooms in a casa. 

My companion and I were made Zone Leaders this Sunday, we only have two Districts right now, but we might get another this week or next. I already have pictures in front of the CCM sign, one with poinsettias and one without. 

We are only allowed to use our cameras on Preparation Day; and Preparation Day is so busy it gets hard. I have around 135 pictures on my camera right now. Just letting you know ahead of time: Christmas (Wednesday) will NOT be my Preparation Day.  It will be Thursday, the 26^th. It is getting hard to write in English because I try my best to write in Spanish. 

Can you give Grandma Dahl the address to the CCM?  Grandpa said she wants to write but it HAS TO BE before next Wednesday or I will not receive it because they do not forward mail and it takes three weeks to get here. Also, please don't forget to send my bike and mission papers to Washington DC.

Elder Dahl Apartment DA 202-3

Jan 1st, 2014; Branch 16 - District A

Carretera Tenayuca-Chalmita #828

Colonia Zona Escolar, Gustavo A. Madero

07230 Mexico, Distrito Federal

Mexico

Oh, and just so you know we have a weather widget on our computers when we do TALL (online language study - [Technology Assisted Language Learning]), and DC has been warmer than Roseville all week. I saw the moon for the first time here on the 5^th.  It is so pretty and was very skinny and reminded me of Grandma Winkler. Venus has been really bright down here. I also love the constellation Orion here because it is right above this large mountain with large radio towers on it so the red lights from the tower with the stars looks just awesome.

I hope you had the opportunity to watch the Christmas Devotional by the First Presidency this last Sunday.  It was really beautiful and I really felt the Holy Ghost present. We also watched an old devotional from Elder [Jeffrey R.] Holland this week about serving and it was very powerful. We watched Elder [Quentin L.] Cook and his wife [Mary] do a live devotional yesterday about Christmas and missionary service. Let me just say the devotionals here are just awesome, you feel the Holy Ghost so strong every time someone speaks.

Most of the main areas are now decorated with Christmas things. 

Nativity in front of the Comedor at the CCM Mexico (Mexico MTC)

And all over the city there are houses with Christmas lights blinking so fast you’d think you’d get seizures. We constantly hear what sounds like cannon fire, but it is just religious ceremonies praising their saints.  We probably hear several hundred a day. I have been missing you and all of the family. It is different being away from home, but the days go by so fast here.

Love you lots! (written 12/11/13)

Glossary of Terms (by Stacie Dahl (Mom)):

CCM – Centro de Capacitación Misional México which means Mexico Missionary Training Center (MTC)

Temple Closure - the México City México Temple will be closed for approximately 18 months beginning Monday, January 6, 2014, to accommodate an extensive renovation project. The temple will be rededicated following construction. 

Casa - Spanish for home

Zone Leaders - Zone and district leaders are responsible for gathering weekly statistics, assisting missionaries in their areas of responsibility, and general accountability to the mission president for the well-being and progress of the missionaries under their stewardship.

Preparation Day - Preparation day (or P Day as it is often referred to) is a missionary’s once a week chance to do big shopping trips, play sports, do laundry and write letters home to family and friends.

First Presidency - The man who has been an apostle the longest is the President of the Church, and by inspiration he selects two other apostles as counselors. These three function as the First Presidency, which is the highest governing body of the Church.
Apostle - special witnesses of Jesus Christ, called to teach and testify of Him throughout the world.