Bienvenidos a Mexico City, Mexico

Hey guys... I’m alive! I’m here at the CCM (Centro de Capacitación Misional México) and I’ve been here for 11 days now! CCM is the Spanish translation for MTC (Missionary Training Center). This is where we are taught spanish and how to teach the gospel most effectively and how to bring the Holy Ghost into our lessons. The CCM is in the middle of México City, México. The campus here is beautiful and filled with the spirit. There are 1,000 missionary’s here currently and its an amazing sight to see. The campus here is beautiful and surrounded by 20 ft walls with barbed wire. I am very safe here and it is a beautiful city that we can see from inside. My first night here it was pretty hard to sleep because all you hear through the night is a bunch of loud noises from the police and cartels going at it. Plus at about 3:07 AM you hear over the wall from a megaphone "Tamales, Tamales, Tamales". Then during the day you hear and see fireworks. We have a saying here, "Fiestas a la mañana, cuerpos a la noche". But after 3 days you get used to it and laugh. México is an amazing place. 

My companion is Elder Quackenbush and he is a great guy. All of the Elders in my district are going to Puebla South, México Mission as well and they are great guys. Love them to death. I have been blessed to be able to see Elder Farley and be in the same zone as him. So I see him all the time at branch presidency meeting. I also have seen Elder Bailey, Elder Kimball, Elder Savage, and Hermana Edwards all good friends from BYU. 

My district has amazing teachers! My morning teacher is Hermano Mun. He´s a great teacher who knows a lot of funny phrases in English. He is a great guy and is always is helping us with the language and how to teach better. In the afternoon I have Hermana Sanchez and shes really sweet and has me improve my language significantly. 

My typical schedule: 

Wake up at 6.30

Gym time from 6:40 to 7:30

Breakfast at 8:00

Language/Gospel Study from 8:30 to 1:00 (Everything taught and shared here is in Spanish)

Lunch at 1:00

Language/Gospel Study from 1:45 to 7:15 

Personal Study of the Spanish Book of Mormon at 8:00

Companionship Study 8:30

Return to rooms at 9 

Lights out at 10:30

Soooo yah life is busy and a lot of work as a missionary. My companion and I have been working hard with the language and in teaching. I have been very blessed by God with the gift of tongues. For those of you who aren't familiar with this. We believe that God blesses his missionary's who are going to teach his gospel with the ability to speak and communicate with the locals in their native language. There are several examples of this in the scriptures. I have felt as I have been blessed with the Holy Ghost. That in my lessons I have felt God guide me in what to say. I would have never imagined what I would be able to say and do in spanish after only 11 days. God has blessed that I am now able to give talks in spanish, pray in spanish, bear my testimony in spanish, and teach entire lessons of the gospel in spanish. I know that God loves each and every one of us and will always provide a way for him to accomplish his work. As I have been here in the CCM I have felt of his love for each of us. I know we are his children and he wants to hear from us in prayer. 

I challenge each of you pray to God morning and night. I know that he loves you and he will answer your prayers. Please email me how this goes for you and how you feel after. 

I will try and end each email with a scripture from my study that I really liked. Sorry I forgot the reference for this.  

13 Yea, and that same God did establish his church among them; yea, and that same God hath called me by a holy calling, to preach the word unto this people, and hath given me much success, in the which my joy is full.

Tortilla Count: 16 

Best food I had here: Penguinos 

I would love to hear from you guys! If you have any questions or want to hear more stories just send me an email or text on Google hangouts. My pday is Fridays from 8am-5pm. 

Pictures: 

1. Elder Kimball 

2. Elder Bailey and Elder Quinn

3. Elder Farley

4. My District! With my companion on my left.