The Gospel, Book of Mormon, and Burritos : The MTC is GREAT!

Week 1

The MTC

New Missionaries

Ok,

So much has been happening here that ill just start from the beginning! Once I got through airport security, it was easy to find the rest of the Elders and Sisters that would be going to the Mexico MTC. Our flight boarded and I sat next to an Elder that will be serving in Wichita Kansas, learning Spanish in the CCM (MTC in Spanish). It was a long flight, I spent some money on a chicken wrap and tried to get some sleep. When we landed, there was a huge line to get through immigration; it was really humid and smelled bad. It took about two and a half hours to get our bags and hop on a bus that would take us to the CCM. We had so much luggage that we had to put suite cases in the back so some Elders had to stand. One large suite case and one medium suite case is the way to travel! The trip through town was an eye opener! Their traffic system is very interesting, most get around on bikes or buses and some have cars. There is graffiti everywhere! After the 30 minute bus ride, we pulled up to the MTC in the rain.

The campus has high concrete and metal fencing around the border with barbed wire in some places. We had orientations, health checkups, and email time. They serve Mexican food three times a day here, everyone smells horrible... After dinner we were taken to our casas and we moved our belongings into closets. It was hard to get to sleep the first four nights, its a tough transition. Sirens go off day and night, Independence day was almost a week ago, you can hear their music often as well. We have personal study, companion study, language classes, and gospel classes every day, except Sunday. We also teach an ¨investigator¨ in Spanish in the evenings, his name is Luis. We found his picture as a missionary on the wall in the building we have our classes in. It helps a lot to be able to talk with him. On Sunday's we are all suppose to prepare a talk for sacrament. You don't know who it will be until the meeting begins. I had to opportunity to give the talk I prepared! They all have to be given in Spanish, I was afraid I did terrible with pronunciation, but a member of the CCM presidency gave me thumbs up after the meeting. My companion is Elder Ross Cazier, he is from St. George. He's been struggling a lot with the change but the spirit is teaching both of us. With all our district has been learning, its like taking a drink from a fire hydrant.

We can receive packages and letters here somehow, I would really love that! Everyone is saying they are sent through missionarypackagemx.com. Look that up online! The booster shot I need was from 2009, they recommend having one in the past 5 years. The immunization won't cost anything, the church takes very good care of us. The doctor here is from Sandy, so I'm in good hands. One hour goes quick, I wish I had more time to email!

Love,

Elder Brayden George