Today Was Temple Day!

Temple Day  

 

Hey Everyone!

It´s been a pretty exhausting week! From Wednesday until Saturday, we were filled with language classes, doctrine classes, teaching classes, and devotionals. On Friday, we found out that we were going to do an endowment session at the México City Temple on Wednesday (Today). It had been closed for restoration for two years! We were so blessed to attend that session in Spanish! The México City temple is very special, It is one of the top 5 biggest temples in the world! It also has Angel Moroni holding the Book of Mormon on the top of the temple, there are only a few Temples with Angel Moroni holding the Book of Mormon on them. Our teacher also came with us to the temple, he is in some of the pictures. His name is Hermano Gomez. On Monday, a bunch of missionaries left from our zone including the Zone Leaders. We have about two districts in our zone right now, we get more tonight. Anyway, they had to call new zone leaders. They decided to call our District Leaders as zone leaders on Sunday so I was called as the District Leader!

Elder Cazier, Hermano Gómez, Elder George
Mexico City Temple

      

On Sunday, we had a class with the CCM President, President Tenorio. He is a very funny man, I highly suggest watching his 2007 conference address about Temples. I´ll link it below. On Monday we got to watch the broadcast of the funeral for Elder Scott. It was a great experience, we live in an interesting time. This weekend, we get to watch General Conference! Everyone here is looking forward to that. My companion is doing good, he is growing a lot! Our room was pretty freaked out after my sleep yelling/screaming. I´m out of time for now, ill keep the pictures coming! 

Elder Cazier and Elder George Mission Companions
Mexico City Temple

 

Watch this talk!

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/10/the-power-of-godliness-is-manifested-in-the-temples-of-god?lang=eng#watch=video

-Elder George   

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

Casa's the Missionaries live in.

Elder Cazier and Elder George, Companions

Elder George in front of the Mexico MTC

 

 

I Made It!

Arrived In Mexico City

 

 

Landed at the Benito Juarez International Airport, Mexico City.

 

Hola Familia,

I made it to the MTC! I had a super long flight and wait through immigration, the whole thing took about 5 hours to get to the MTC once we landed. It´s the rainy season here and has been non-stop since I got here. I have meet all the Elders that will be serving in Monterrey! I already have my companion and schedule. Its VERY safe here (in the MTC), apparently its been pretty crazy here because it is Independence Day. One thing that I need you to check on is the last time I got a booster shot. They reccomend in the past 5 years, that means I am due for another one. I can get it here at the clinic on campus. My P day is on Wednesday´s. P day is Picture day, ill send you some then. I don't get much time right now on the computer, but classes start tomorrow morning! 

Talk to you soon,

Elder George

Your Missionary's mailing addres is:

Elder George

26-10-2015 6A

Carretera Tenayuca-Chalmita #828

Colonia Zona Escolar, Gustavo A. Madero

07230 Mexico, Distrito Federal

Mexico

The estimated departure date for your missionary is 26-10-2015. The use of the

above address on all correspondence will greatly faciliate delivery to your missionary

at the MTC. Please don't send packages.

 

 

Missionaries leaving the airport to travel to the Mexico MTC



 





He's Off to the Mexico MTC! Salt Lake International Airport

"You Guy's Ready? Let's Go!"

 

 

 

Brayden was ready to start his two year adventure. He was the first one up in the morning getting ready, corralling the family to the car as 6:30 a.m. approached. His flight left at 10:05 a.m. He needed to be there 3 hours ahead for international flight. In our hurry getting out we neglected our last family prayer. Good thing it doesn't matter where we pray, just that we take the opportunity... In the car, at the airport worked out just great! This Elder was leading our family into the airport, he was so excited to go! We kept saying, Brayden, it's OK bud, we have time. We are three hours early here... He just kept on going and we followed... It was so Awesome and comforting to see a sea of missionaries at the airport. It was definitely Missionary Wednesday at the airport. You could see those that had arrived from the Provo MTC with there missionary badges on, they were in line for security, going with their group to board. Then there were many missionaries arriving from home, to go to their MTC abroad. Quite a sight. Brayden was beaming from ear to ear, we felt so excited for him.

 

Check in was a breeze! We only had to pay? the standard $40 for two bags. We knew one of the bags was over the weight limit which we were told would cost $200 extra.... when the attendant said... "that will be $70 extra for the bag." We smiled and said, no problem, we were planning on much more than that...

 

Saying goodbye for this Mom was so difficult, Brayden kept smiling, "It's going to be fine Mom, We Can Do This," he said. Okay Brayden, we can "do this, I know we can... I am so grateful for his strong spirit, his willingness to serve, for his determination, and ability to move forward. He was ready to go, he headed through the long line to security, with other missionaries on his same flight. We stood and watched. Airport staff, said "you can't block this area, people have to still walk through this area, you have said goodbye, you need to leave now." My first though was... well never mind what my first thought was, we walked over to the elevator and could stand out of the way to see him. We watched him go through security, and then we somnolently walked back to the car. One thing that Gary said on the way home, gave me comfort. "Jen, he made it so easy on us, he was comforting us, he really wanted this, he prepared himself and got ready... It's hard to be sad, when he did it willingly." Yes, I thought, I am really happy for this boy... He is doing what he has prepared and planned to do.





CALLED TO SERVE... Set Apart as a Missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Serving in the Mexico Monterrey East Mission...



A Missionary

 

President Bill Whitworth, Brayden, Bishop Mark Falkner

Tonight Brayden was set apart as a Missionary in Mexico Monterrey East Mission by our Stake President, Bishop, and Dad. As a family we had an opportunity to share our testimony and/or express words of encouragement to Brayden. It was a wonderful parting experience to share with Brayden. In attendance: Dad, Mom, Kelsey, Garett, Grandma Jo, and Uncle Neal.




Family Dinner

 

Our last dinner together as a family was Awesome. Grandma Jo requested Dad's homemade Spaghetti. We had to let her know that it was Brayden's choice for our last meal together for a time.  We were so happy to not have to disappoint her, because Brayden agreed... Dad's Homemade Spaghetti it was. Mom made Lemon Angel Delight... Yum!

Brayden, Kelsey, Dad, Garett, Grandma Jo,
Uncle Neal, and Mom (taking the picture).

 

Packed and Ready to Go!

 

Brayden has spent months getting ready for his mission. Mom helped him get packed the week before so that time could be spent with and as a family. After being set apart and having family dinner, we packed for the final time. We were surprised how long it took, so happy that we had planned ahead. We did send Dad to Walmart at 11:30 p.m. to get suitcase locks. We all went to bed at 12:00 Midnight.

Brayden.... 2 years, 2 suitcases "I'm Ready!"