Email end of week 2 beginning of week 3

Everything is great here! Earlier we did district on district volleyball in the gym and it was super fun! It doesn’t rain here a ton but it does at least once a week. It’s really nice to fall asleep to the rain. 

My companion is from Monticello, Utah. He is going to the Cuidad Mexico West Mission so we're practically in his mission at the CCM.

We usually sit in a classroom for 12 hours a day and learn spanish and gospel stuff. Oh my gosh since I got here whenever I do personal study in the scriptures I understand them so much more because the spirit is so strong here. We get up at 6:30 and go to bed at 10:30. maybe even a little before because we are so tired. Every Sunday we watch a church movie and his week was The Restoration and it was so good! This week we're watching meet the Mormons I think so I'm super excited for that.

I'm not really homesick anymore which is good and our lessons are starting to flow better. It was cool yesterday we had to teach real members and we taught this little old lady named Carmen and she was really nice! We were teaching on faith in Christ and I taught the story of how Zeezrom wanted Alma and Amulek to heal him and they asked if he had faith in Christ he would be healed. Long story short that was the best spanish I’ve ever spoken. As I taught words were put into my mouth and it was amazing! Oh and that story is in Alma 15.

We had a pretty bad lesson earlier this week so I was little down but after the lesson yesterday I'm feeling a lot better and I have a lot of friends and I think my favorite thing is getting home and writing in my journal and reading my patriarchal blessing.


Alma: Chapter 15
Alma and Amulek go to Sidom and establish a church—Alma heals Zeezrom, who joins the Church—Many are baptized, and the Church prospers—Alma and Amulek go to Zarahemla. About 81 B.C.

1 And it came to pass that Alma and Amulek were commanded to depart out of that city; and they departed, and came out even into the land of Sidom; and behold, there they found all the people who had departed out of the land of Ammonihah, who had been cast out and stoned, because they believed in the words of Alma.

2 And they related unto them all that had happened unto their wives and children, and also concerning themselves, and of their power of deliverance.

3 And also Zeezrom lay sick at Sidom, with a burning fever, which was caused by the great tribulations of his mind on account of his wickedness, for he supposed that Alma and Amulek were no more; and he supposed that they had been slain because of his iniquity. And this great sin, and his many other sins, did harrow up his mind until it did become exceedingly sore, having no deliverance; therefore he began to be scorched with a burning heat.

4 Now, when he heard that Alma and Amulek were in the land of Sidom, his heart began to take courage; and he sent a message immediately unto them, desiring them to come unto him.

5 And it came to pass that they went immediately, obeying the message which he had sent unto them; and they went in unto the house unto Zeezrom; and they found him upon his bed, sick, being very low with a burning fever; and his mind also was exceedingly sore because of his iniquities; and when he saw them he stretched forth his hand, and besought them that they would heal him.

6 And it came to pass that Alma said unto him, taking him by the hand: Believest thou in the power of Christ unto salvation?

7 And he answered and said: Yea, I believe all the words that thou hast taught.

8 And Alma said: If thou believest in the redemption of Christ thou canst be healed.

9 And he said: Yea, I believe according to thy words.

10 And then Alma cried unto the Lord, saying: O Lord our God, have mercy on this man, and heal him according to his faith which is in Christ.

11 And when Alma had said these words, Zeezrom leaped upon his feet, and began to walk; and this was done to the great astonishment of all the people; and the knowledge of this went forth throughout all the land of Sidom.

12 And Alma baptized Zeezrom unto the Lord; and he began from that time forth to preach unto the people.

13 And Alma established a church in the land of Sidom, and consecrated priests and teachers in the land, to baptize unto the Lord whosoever were desirous to be baptized.

14 And it came to pass that they were many; for they did flock in from all the region round about Sidom, and were baptized.

Mexico City Temple

This week has been such a faith builder and my testimony has grown so much. Right from the start we learned of the gift of tongues and how as we work hard and struggle to learn the language we will be blessed with knowledge and know what to say. I have already seen that here. Elder Brewer and I have made a habit of talking to some Latino Elders every day and they’ve become some of our best friends here! They’re always so willing to help us and I know they are great missionaries.

So last Thursday (2nd day at CCM)  we had to teach for the first time. IN SPANISH. It was so stressful and hard and we bombed it so hard. We got some background info on the investigator (one of our teachers) and we wanted to teach the plan of salvation to her, but we didn’t really have a great plan, aaaand we don’t speak spanish. It was tough and we came out really discouraged and were down for the rest of the night until we had comp study and planning and me and Elder Brewer talked about how we're feeling about everything and felt a little bit better.

Sundays here are fantastic! it is a lot of meetings throughout the day, but we don’t have to learn or study or memorize stuff. This Sunday was especially good for me because I had my first real revelation here. It was during sacrament meeting and after I had taken the bread I decided to give a prayer of thanks. As I was praying I said I was grateful for the homesickness. It was almost like I didn’t say it. I kept praying and then realized that I was grateful for those feelings because it shows me how much of a sacrifice I’m making to be here and how much more meaningful it is for me to be here. I don’t know if that makes sense but it does to me. 

Monday was a roller coaster. I was feeling really unconfident about my Spanish and was kinda down about everything. we went to plan our lessons and I was feeling really discouraged and overwhelmed and I didn’t think we were getting through to our investigator. My companion saw this and tried to cheer me up. I prayed myself before we went in and said the opening prayer in our lesson and right there everything changed. I felt the spirit so strongly and literally had words put into my mouth as I taught. we weren’t planning on it but we asked our investigator Amelia if she wanted to be baptized and she said yes!!! it was such a great reassurance to me that Heavenly Father answers personal prayers and knows my needs.

the days are starting to go by really fast here and I’m excited to hear about how everyone else is doing! love you all!

CCM Arrival

Arrival to Mexico City and the CCM (Mexico Training Center)


Hello friends and family!!! Oh my gosh I don’t even know where to begin these last 9 days have been crazy! So when I got to my terminal and was alone I sat down and looked around and saw some other missionaries sitting there too! I was so excited because I wasn’t alone after all! (I apologize for the grammar and spelling but these are Spanish computers and keyboards and it’s kinda hard to use) Anyway we all talked for a bit then boarded the plane. That plane ride was only about 3 1/2 hours but it felt like foreeeeveeer. The plane was small and felt really rickety and I think being nervous made it feel longer I don’t know. When we landed it was pouring rain and we had to go through customs, get our bags checked, stuff like that. I had to sign more visa stuff when we got to the van that picked us up. There were about 5 other missionaries on the van with us so we had 12 total. the drive to the ccm was INSANE. Mexican roads are so hectic and stressful I don’t know how we we didn’t see, cause, or be in an accident in the 30 minutes it took to get there. so we finally get to the ccm, we unloaded our stuff, went in and got our badges and packets with our schedule for the next six weeks and other papers. after we did some orientation we had dinner and went straight to a devotional. Every Tuesday we have a devotional, either a broadcast from Provo or an area authority speaks. Last Tuesday David A Bednar spoke and it was fantastic! He spoke about enduring to the end and how God and Jesus Christ know us each individually. We then went home to unpack and sleep

The Casita

Bathroom in the house

Bathroom in our house

I sleep on the top bunk

My closet is on the right side

Laundry room in the house

Two of my roommates Elder Brewer and Elder Ailing

We live in houses with five rooms per house. We can have up to 20 Elders in our house.  We currently have 16 Elders. So in my room it’s me and my companion, Elder Brewer, and two other Elders. Elder Tidbits, who was on my flight and Elder Ailing. I love these Elders so much we always goof around and joke with each other (when its appropriate) and we're all in the same district. Our district is made up of 4 Elders and 4 Hermanas(sisters) the sisters names are Hermanas Black, Blake, McGee, and Olson. They’re all super hilarious hahaha. I love my district.

 The CCM

My Zone

Roommates Elder Ailing, Elder Tidbits, Me, Elder Brewer

Elder Johnson and Elder Brewer