Feliz Navidad y Prospero Año Nuevo

Hola Familia!

I had such an amazing time talking to you guys through Skype yesterday. I feel extremely motivated and happy!!!

This whole week I had been praying that the computers that I and all other missionaries in the world were going to use would work for when we Skype our families on Christmas. Well I received an answer to my prayers! Right after I got done talking with you guys, the member whose house we were at to borrow her computer to Skype said that before Elder Noh and I had gotten there, she had been working on the computer for a while. The internet hadn't been working and she was super worried that we wouldn't be able to talk with our families for Christmas! She went on to say that as soon as she heard Elder Noh and I arriving to her house, the internet started working! It worked the whole time for both me and Elder Noh. To make things even crazier, we saw that the internet stopped working again right after we finished Skyping our families. We witnessed a real Christmas miracle yesterday.

I've been thinking a lot about the year 2016. 2016 was a big year for the Tucker Family. Some sad things happened but a lot of great things happened too! It makes me think that you really don't know what might happen to you in this life until it happens. So all we can really do is live life in the moment and try to be prepared for anything. Something that I'm learning on my mission is how to adapt to things quickly. Out here, you have a lot of time to think for yourself. You have to learn to self motivate and remember who you are so you can always be ready to find someone reading to accept your message, because it can literally be anybody. There´s so many things that I don't know right now, but I know that I will learn soon. Heavenly Father is always watching over us and preparing us in ways we may not understand right now, but in the end we will thank Him for everything. It´s like that talk by D. Todd Christofferson about the currant bush. I invite you guys to listen to that.

I´m so excited for 2017! For all of 2017 I will be in México preaching the Gospel that I am so blessed to have. I will learn and grow so much. I know that I will learn the language and that I will bring many people unto Christ this year.

Gracias por todo. Estoy muy agradecido por su amor y su apoyo. Yo puedo sentir sus oraciones cada dia. Recuerden quien ustedes son y quien ustedes pueden son si seguien Jesucristo y perseverar hasta el fin.


Sinceramente,
Elder Tucker

We went to La Playa Corelero today with all the other missionaries in the Pinotepa Districto and it was so sweet

The computers super slow today so thats all I have time to send, sorry. Until next week!

La Semana de Preparaciòn

¡Hola Familia!

Sorry that I couldn't write yesterday, but this week was another very busy, but great week. Wednesday we had a capacitaciòn interina in Cuernavaca which is training with everyone in my generation, or the missionaries who got to the mission the same time as me. And then yesterday, we had a conferencia navideña with all the misioneros in the Pinotepa y Acapulco zones. Presidente y Hermana Àvila truly are inspired and they love the missionaries. In this Christmas conference, we talked about the Christmas Initiative, watched videos that we made and that the Church made, and we had a White Elephant gift exchange! I got a new scripture case which is nice! Because of travel, Elder Noh and I only had a day and half in Jamiltepec, but I had so much fun this week talking with the other missionaries. My Spanish is getting a whole lot better.

Also this week, I opened my Christmas package from Mom. I was so surprised to see how much stuff she sent me! I felt like Christmas morning with all the candy and decorations and the little basketball hoop haha. I wish you could've seen Elder Noh's face when we found out that Mom had sent a bunch of stuff for him too! He was so happy, especially with the nice CTR ring.

I'm so happy right now! It actually feels like Christmas even though I,m not with the Fam. I loved all the emails I received this week! Glad to hear how things are going. Also, super pumped to Skype Sunday!

Remember to keep the Savior in your everyday life, especially at this time. He is the Light of the World. He is our Redeemer, our Brother, and our Friend and He is always there waiting for us to come unto Him.

Share His message!

¡Ilumina el Mundo!


Sinceramente,
Elder Tucker

Elder Noh and I with the Christmas Package from Mom

Sammy, the son of Presidente y Hermana Avila, and I at the Christmas conference

One of my favorite Elders in the mission, Elder Martinez and I at the Christmas conference

Me and the awesome Zone Leaders of Pinotepa

Chillin in Jami

Semana Cuatro en Jamiltepec

¡Hola Familia!

Another great week for me as a missionary!

To start, I wanna share a crazy experience we had this week:

So Elder Noh and I had just gotten home from a long day of missionary work when we heard a loud BOOM and the building started to shake! We ran out to our balcony and saw a bunch of people celebrating in the street. Fireworks! As we kept watching, a couple men ran out from the crowd to set up the next round in the street right outside our balcony. I grabbed my camera just in time and I'm not kidding when I say it was like a grenade went off hahaha! There was a bunch of parked cars in the street and all of their alarms started to go off! Then we heard a hailstorm of bits of the fireworks coming down on the roofs of cars and buildings and in the street. Unfortunately, I can't send the video, but something I learned is not to mess around with the fireworks in México. This month there has been a ton of celebrations and fireworks for Navidad and I guess the birthday of Mary too but idk.

We got a lot of new investigators this week! One in particular Elder Noh called "investigador de oro," or golden investigator, but we will see. Her name is Mariana. Also, we have this one investigator named Diana who is awesome. She has met with a bunch of other missionaries before but could never commit to baptism because she lives with her boyfriend who doesn't wanna get married. BUT this week we taught one lesson with her and her boyfriend José together for the first time about families and now they both wanna get married and baptized in two weeks!!! This just shows how the Lord prepares the people we teach before we even meet them and that prayers can be answered.

The Spanish is getting a lot better. I can contact people on my own now and people can understand me! The only problem is I'm still slow at understanding, but poco a poco, little by little. Oh and I never knew how hard it was gonna be to teach the Plan of Salvation. Wow, hahaha.

I spoke in sacrament meeting this week. It was only for about 7 minutes and I had it all written out, but it went really well and some members told me that it was good! I'm feeling really well mentally, spiritually, and physically. Whenever I feel discouraged or annoyed with myself, it's only for a short time. Elder Noh and I work really well together. No problems so far. I'm very grateful that I haven't had any of the problems that some missionaries have with bugs or sickness, and it actually really hasn't been that hot here. Or maybe I'm just getting used to it. The most interesting thing I ate this week was pig blood and I gotta say, not bad! Oh and something you should know about tortillas, they are not only a food, but a utensil and sometimes a napkin as well here in México. Also, there are these motorcycle riders called tortilleros. And if you stand out in the street anywhere in México and wait 5 minutes, a tortillero will come by and you can buy hot tortillas from him in the cooler on the back of his motorcycle.

Love you guys, hope you're having a good Christmas season and remembering Ilumina al Mundo! Send me Christmas cards! And keep sending me emails, por favor!


Love,
Elder Tucker, or Too-ked in México

Pics:

The huge catholic church in the middle of Jamiltepec, have I mentioned that so many people are Catholic here?

 Me with this cool tree in Jamiltepec that is growing on a wall somehowAdd caption

Semana Tres en el Campo

¡Hola Familia!

Another good week for me in La Gran Misión. These are exciting times! I just passed 2 months of being a missionary and it's almost Christmas. Which means I get to Skype home soon. Can't believe it's already that time!

We had a great zone conference in Acapulco this week! It was hard to understand, but I felt the spirit of the meeting and still learned a lot. I'm so thankful for Presidente y Hermana Ávila. I'm also grateful for this year's Christmas Initiative, Ilumina el Mundo, or Light the World. On mormon.org, there is a wonderful video and great ideas for us to do each day this Christmas Season. If you haven't yet, I invite you you check it out. Jesus Christ is the Light of the World and we can follow His example.

On our way back from the zone conference this week, our bus was stopped because of a strike in the road. I guess this isn't an uncommon occurrence in México. After a couple hours of waiting we just had to take our bags and walk for a while to a different bus. By then it was so late that we decided to stay the night with the Elders in Cuajinicuilapa. It wasn't until Thursday afternoon that Elder Noh and I got back to Jamiltepec so it was a short week in our area. Fortunately, Friday evening, we had a fantastic lesson with one of our investigators, Reynaldo. Hermano Reynaldo is un profesor. He's very smart and he is fluent in Spanish and Mixteco. He has a wife and son that we hope will join him in the missionary discussions soon. Elder Noh taught with great power and understanding like always and I did my best to add to the spirit of the lesson. I could tell Hermano Reynaldo felt the truth of our message and he accepted the invitation to be baptized! He also committed to continue studying the scriptures, praying, and attend church with us! Unfortunately, his brother-in-law was killed Saturday and he didn't come to church Sunday, but we still have a ton a hope for him.

I hope you all had a great fast Sunday yesterday because I sure did! I bore my testimony in sacrament meeting. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to fast because I know that we are blessed because of it.

This week I finally felt a little homesick because it can be so frustrating not understanding someone when you're trying as hard as you can. Easy to feel lonely. But I know so many other missionaries have gone through and are going through what I am going through right now, so that helps. It also makes me respect all the people I know that have served missions so much more. It's truly humbling. I know the language will come. I'm so excited for what's ahead!

I finally had tacos al pastor  this week in Acapulco and people weren't lying when they said they are some of the best food in the world! I also had armadillo in Cuajinicuilapa which was very good. And vuishi! Oh my gosh, this was very authentic to say the least and very tasty/crispy!

I love you all and hope you are having a great Christmas Season! This is a time to think of the Savior and what he has done for us. I have felt closer to Him now more than any other time in my life and it's wonderful.

No cambia, solo aprendí

Juan 8:12, Mateo 5:14-16


Love,
Elder Tucker

Pics of the week:

View in Jamiltepec

Tacos al pastor...I had about 12 of these

Viushi

The head of a pig getting prepped for viuishi

Elder Noh and I made some pancakes last night because I miss having Dad make me some every Sunday 

Semana Dos en el Campo

¡Hola Familia!

I´m emailing from a ciber in Acapulco right now because tomorrow we are having a multi zone conference! Cibers are internet cafes that we always email from by the way. Something I was not expecting before the mission is that I would be traveling this much!

Jamiltepec is green, hilly, and hot! It´s surrounded by mountains. The roads are okay but are mostly dirt leading up to peoples´ houses. I´ve rolled my ankle a couple times hahah but its all good.

The indigenous people of this part of Mexico are called Mistekos. They have their own language that is nothing like Spanish. There are a lot of Mistekos in Jamiltepec so people tell me that I need to learn to speak Misteko but I haven´t even learned how to speak Spanish yet. So far, I only can say Nikumichu which means Buenos Dias, Buenas Tardes, or Buenas Noches. Luckily, most Mistkeos speak Español tambien so I think I´m okay.

A typical day for me is wake up at 6.30 AM, get ready for the day, and have breakfast. 8 AM personal study, 9 AM companionship study, 10 AM language study, and 11 AM First 12 Weeks which is instruction and practice with my trainor Elder Noh to learn more about our mission and how to be better. After that we begin proselyting which is visiting investigators, less actives, and recent converts, and always contacting. We have Comida at a members house at 2 and then continue proselyting until it gets dark, around 6.30 or 7 PM. Sometimes a little later, but the mission rule is generally to be home when it gets dark. Once we get home, we do daily planning for tomorrow and then we have time to do whatever else we want to get done before bed at 10 PM. Since Elder Noh is the district leader, three nights a week, he talks to everyone in our district on the phone which keeps him really busy. Elder Noh is very obedient, hardworking, and patient. I´m so lucky to have him as my companion and my trainor. He is such a good example to me. I try to make the most of our schedule every day with a smile on my face. I want the light of Christ to shine through me to everyone.

Since I've got to Jamiltepec, we've had more success than normal, Elder Noh tells me. We've had 4 investigators accept the invitation to be baptized! As it turns out though, that´s pretty easy to do. In México, investigators need to attend church 5 times before they can be baptized which is very difficult.

A couple funny things of the week. So we had fish at a members house this week that looked like she had just caught and thrown straight into a frier. There were teeth, eyeballs, scales, and so many bones. I was not used to that so that was not one of my favorite meals hahaha. Also, during a lesson with an investigator this week, she started breastfeeding her child in front of us so that was weird.

Something spiritual. Yesterday we helped another one of investigators go to church, Juan Merino. Hermano Juan only has one leg and is in a wheel chair. So we showed up to his house an hour before church started and pushed him all the way there through about maybe a mile or two of dirt, rocks, and crappy hilly roads. Before I would've thought that I would hate having to do something like this but the whole time, I felt confirmation from the Lord that this is one of the reasons I am out here on a mission and how I've taken for granted the blessing I've had in my whole life of having an easy commute to church. I´m so thankful for the opportunity to have helped Juan get to church this week and I´m so thankful for my opportunity to serve a mission. I know it will help me grow and learn so much.

Other facts. 23 people showed up at church this week. I haven´t had a warm shower since the CCM but I don´t mind it too much because it´s hot here. And the Spanish is coming along slowly but surely! I've had to learn patience here more than any other time in my life. It´s so hard to understand sometimes. Oh, and Elder Noh and I pass the sacrament every week. TBT to deacons quorum lol.

¡Haz lo justo!


Love,
Elder Tucker

Pics of the week

View from the roof of our apartment! We also do laundry up here

El frente de La Casa de Oración

The chapel without the chairs set up

Today in Acapulco 

Mi Primera Semana en el Campo: Soy muy guero

¡Hola Familia!

What a week! Where to start? Hahaha to answer some questions, I'm not sure how many members are in the branch in Jamiltepec, but about 15 showed up at the Casa de Oración this week. The chapel is outside, but we have a roof, and we have a couple small indoor classrooms. Elder Noh and I are assigned to teach Sunday school every week for investigators and recent converts. We're also supposed to speak in sacrament meeting every second Sunday of the month. Elder Noh and I are the only missionaries in Jamiltepec, it's like that way for each companionship in our zone, everyone has their own area. Everyone in the mission always walks unless traveling far. There are around 140 missionaries in the Cuernavaca Mission. Our whole zone travels to Pinotepa every Monday for our district meetings, stays the night at the ZLs' apartment, and returns to our areas in the morning. So we don't get much of a P-day.

Anyway, Elder Noh and I taught 12 lessons this week. During lessons, I can pick up some of the things people are saying, but when they talk about things not church related, that's when I turn to Elder Noh because I don't understand a thing. The people in Jamiltepec speak so fast that Elder Noh tells me that even he has trouble understanding sometimes. I'm getting a lot better at teaching doctrine, bearing testimony, and asking questions. It's a work in progress.

The food here is so good! We have tortillas with every meal. Elder Noh and I make huevos y salchichas, eggs and sausages, every morning for breakfast. We have Comida with one of the sisters everyday around 2. This is always the last meal of the day. The members always make their food way less spicy than normal because they know I'm guero  Guero means white btw haha.

Well I guess time is getting cut short today, but know that I'm doing great and working hard! I'm so thankful for the members. I love you all and have a great Thanksgiving!


Love,
Elder Tucker

Only had time for 2 pics this week:
1- My awesome trainer and companion Elder Noh
2- Laundry

For Correspondence

Three ways to correspond with Elder Tucker

1.  Leave a comment in this blog.

2.  scott.tucker@myldsmail.net

3.  Elder Scott Jentry Tucker
Misión Mexico Cuernavaca
Avenida Francisco Leyva #109
Colonia Miguel Hidalgo
Cuernavaca 62040 Morelos
Mexico

For Correspondence

Three ways to correspond with Elder Tucker

1.  Leave a comment in this blog.

2.  scott.tucker@myldsmail.net

3.  Elder Scott Jentry Tucker
Misión Mexico Cuernavaca
Avenida Francisco Leyva #109
Colonia Miguel Hidalgo
Cuernavaca 62040 Morelos
Mexico

El Campo Misional: Jamiltepec, Oaxaca

¡Hola Familia!

I have a lot to say and not a whole lot of time to say it so I'll do my best. I have finally arrived in my first assigned area in the mission field, Jamiltepec!

After meeting mission President Ávila and his wife and receiving some training in Cuernavaca, I was assigned with Elder Noh from Yucatan. He is 19 years old and is the district leader. He also doesn't speak any English, but he is so patient and hardworking. I have already learned so much from him.

We then stayed a night in La Casa para Visitantes with 15 other missionaries, some of them new and some old.

Tuesday, we took a 4-hour bus ride to Acapulco and then a 6-hour bus ride to Pinotepa. Pinotepa is very hot and humid. The roads are very hilly and not very well maintained, but the people are so friendly! There we spent the next two nights at our zone leaders' house with our entire zone and the assistants to the president, 12 Elders in all. 9 out of the 12 were Latinos. I hear the mission is about half gringo-half latino but I'm not sure.

Wednesday, we received some training from the APs and went contacting and visiting less-active members as companionships. Contacting, by the way, is introducing yourself to random people on the street and trying to set up discussions with them. We actually found 3 new investigators my first day contacting. I'm so grateful for the people here because they are so easy to talk to and they listen to what we have to say. All of this was a great experience because although my Spanish isn't very good and I can't understand people, I felt like a missionary and that I am doing the Lord's work. The language will come soon enough.

Today after personal and companionship study, Elder Noh and I took another hour-long van ride to Jamiltepec. Jamiltepec is a smaller town than Pinotepa. There is no church building here, only what they call a Casa de Oración. I have to let you know more about that after Sunday. The weather is much cooler here and our apartment is very big and nice! Other than that, there's a lot more for me to find out.

I am completely immersed in the language, but I am honestly very happy. It's good work out here and I know they need me. Missions are very humbling work. I still need to get batteries for my camera but I will do that today.

¡Tengo gozo en mi alma hoy!

Love,
Elder Tucker

El Campo Misional: Jamiltepec, Oaxaca

¡Hola Familia!

I have a lot to say and not a whole lot of time to say it so I'll do my best. I have finally arrived in my first assigned area in the mission field, Jamiltepec!

After meeting mission President Ávila and his wife and receiving some training in Cuernavaca, I was assigned with Elder Noh from Yucatan. He is 19 years old and is the district leader. He also doesn't speak any English, but he is so patient and hardworking. I have already learned so much from him.

We then stayed a night in La Casa para Visitantes with 15 other missionaries, some of them new and some old.

Tuesday, we took a 4-hour bus ride to Acapulco and then a 6-hour bus ride to Pinotepa. Pinotepa is very hot and humid. The roads are very hilly and not very well maintained, but the people are so friendly! There we spent the next two nights at our zone leaders' house with our entire zone and the assistants to the president, 12 Elders in all. 9 out of the 12 were Latinos. I hear the mission is about half gringo-half latino but I'm not sure.

Wednesday, we received some training from the APs and went contacting and visiting less-active members as companionships. Contacting, by the way, is introducing yourself to random people on the street and trying to set up discussions with them. We actually found 3 new investigators my first day contacting. I'm so grateful for the people here because they are so easy to talk to and they listen to what we have to say. All of this was a great experience because although my Spanish isn't very good and I can't understand people, I felt like a missionary and that I am doing the Lord's work. The language will come soon enough.

Today after personal and companionship study, Elder Noh and I took another hour-long van ride to Jamiltepec. Jamiltepec is a smaller town than Pinotepa. There is no church building here, only what they call a Casa de Oración. I have to let you know more about that after Sunday. The weather is much cooler here and our apartment is very big and nice! Other than that, there's a lot more for me to find out.

I am completely immersed in the language, but I am honestly very happy. It's good work out here and I know they need me. Missions are very humbling work. I still need to get batteries for my camera but I will do that today.

¡Tengo gozo en mi alma hoy!

Love,
Elder Tucker

Arrived In Cuernavaca! Elder

November 14, 2016

Dear Mom and Dad,

I have arrived at the mission home in Cuernavaca safely. I met Presidente y Hermana Avila. It is crazy finally being out in the field, but I am so excited for what is in store! I will get assigned and meet my trainer soon and I will tell you everything next P-day!
Love,
Elder Tucker



November 14, 2016

Dear Tucker Family,

We are happy to let you know that your son has arrived safe and sound in the Mexico Cuernavaca Mission.  He has been assigned to serve in the Jamiltepec area in the Pinotepa Zone.  His trainer is Elder Noh. We are grateful to be able to serve with him in the work of the Lord.

This will be a time of much service and work that will bring growth and learning for your son.  We hope that his experience here will strengthen his testimony and prepare him to be a good husband, father and future leader in the church.  His experiences in the mission field will contribute to his development as a faithful and righteous servant of the Lord.

Your love and support will do much to lift and bless your missionary.  We hope you will write him regularly, encouraging him to do his best.

Together with this letter you will find a picture that was taken the first day that Elder Tucker was with Sister Ávila and me.  

We thank you for the love and support that you will give to your son throughout his mission.  This is the work of the Lord and each day we see evidence of that in the lives of our missionaries and those they teach.  We know your family will be greatly blessed because of your son’s righteous missionary service.

Sincerely,

President Hector Ávila Rosales

Elder Tucker with the new arrivals to the Cuernava Mission 

Elder Tucker with President and Sister Ávila

Scott's first assignment in Jamiltepec

Way, way down in the bottom of Mexico!  

Las Cosas Estoy Agredacido Por En El CCM

¡Hola Familia!

Another great week in the CCM! I leave for el campo de misional -mission field- Monday morning!!! I'm so excited to begin serving the people God called me to serve!

Also, can't believe Trump won the presidency! You'll have to let me know how that goes haha. But I had just heard about that news from other Elders right before I started emailing.

Anyway, I'd like to dedicate this email to the things I'm grateful for in the CCM:

Los Himnos - From the first day that I arrived at the CCM, I've loved singing Hymns in Spanish. It gives me hope in my language ability and helps me feel the Spirit. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is not an American religion. It is for every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.

Estudio Personal - Every morning after getting ready, we get to study the scriptures on our own for an hour. What I do during this time is read a verse in Spanish and then that same verse again in English and so on. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to start everyday like this. It really helps my Spanish and reading comprehension skills and I always find something inspiring or important.

Mis Compañeros - I'm so grateful to have been companions with Elder Stevens and Elder Contreras. They've been so fun and easy to get along with. They'll be great missionaries.

Los Maestros - My district's teachers, Hermano Martinez, Hermano Trejo, and Hermana Salazar have been so awesome. They've been so helpful and I can tell that they genuinely care about us. They all served missions as well.

Los Leaders - I'm so grateful for all my leaders in the CCM. From our district leader, to our branch president, to the MTC President and wife. They've given me tremendous direction and advice. This also reminds me that on Monday, MTC President Tenorio and his wife invited my companions and I over to their house in the CCM for apple pie and vanilla ice cream becuase Elder Contreras is related to them. It was so cool and nice for them to do that because most people don't even get to meet them I think. They've been here for almost 4 years. 18,000 missionaries have gone through since they've been here.

Organización - The landscaping, scheduling, and overall program here in the CCM is extremely organized and I've been very impressed.

Los Domingos - Sundays in the CCM are very powerful yet relaxing. No classes, just sacrament, sunday school with the district, Elder's quorum, and devotionals. Also, every Sunday night we get to watch a movie with all the missionaries in the CCM. Usually about an hour long and they're videos like The Restoration movie or past devotionals from apostles. One of the highlights of every week!

La Tienda - There's a little convenience store in the middle of the CCM where we are given 100 pesos every week to spend. All Mexican products.

El Templo - I've already told you how awesome this place is!

Pizza Tuesdays - Every Tuesday night, when all the new missionaries get here, we have Costco Pizza for dinner!

Gym Time - Cage soccer, volleyball, or basketball erryday!

Los Latinos - They are such fun, loving, and giving people. So grateful for that I am serving in a Latino mission.

I'm eternally grateful for the CCM. I've learned and grown so much! I know that Heavenly Father sent me here to prepare for my mission. Hope you're all doing well! I'm PUMPED for Cuernavaca!!!

¡A donde me mandes íre!

Love,

Elder Tucker

Unfortunately my camera died this week so I won't be able to share any more pictures until I get new batteries in Cuernavaca. :/

Semana Cuatro en el CCM

¡Hola Familia!

Happy Halloween and Felíz Dias de Los Muertos! Sorry I didn't respond to everyone's emails last week, I didn't have a ton of time. Anyway it was another good week in the CCM!

Saturday, we had our first TRC, which is when we teach a real lesson to some volunteers from outside the CCM. The volunteers can be anyone from members, to less actives, to real investigators. This time, my companions and I taught a 24 year-old man and 3 little chicos together. The boys weren't sons of the man or anything, but all of them were members. We taught them the importance of prayer and it went pretty well. One of the boys who was 9 kept participating and answering all of the questions haha! It was so nice to teach people who weren't pretending to be someone else and it was cute seeing kids again. We have our next TRC tomorrow!

Sunday, I spoke in reunión de sacramento. Every week, we are supposed to prepare a 5 minute talk in Spanish because on Sunday, the branch president calls four random people to get up and speak. I was so nervous and I could barely read my Spanish! Hahaha I spoke about Grandpa Tucker and how because of the Atonement I will be able to see him again. Overall it was a good experience!

Tuesday, we watched another live devotional broadcast from the Provo MTC! Russell M. Nelson, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and his wife spoke to us. So awesome, happy, and powerful. I'm so thankful for our amazing priesthood leaders who care so deeply for us.

Now something funny from the week. My companions and I taught some of the Latinos how to play "What are the Odds!" If you don't know what this game is, it's when you come up with a dare and ask someone "what are the odds you do that?" If they say 1 out of 10, for example, then someone else counts you two down and you both shout a number between 1 and 10. If it's the same number, then the person who got challenged has to do it. When we played with the Latinos, we were in the Comedor -cafeteria- so we filled a cup with peaches, cream, chili powder, mashed potatoes, and fruit loops and challenged them to what are the odds that they take a bite of it. The best part of it all was that we couldn't explain the game perfectly in Spanish so the Latinos thought that if two people said the same number, they both had to take a bite of this nasty concoction. One of them ended throwing up in a trash can hahahaha! But they loved the game so much! We're definitely they're favorite gringos.

Anyway, I'm still loving it here in the CCM. I promise I'm working hard too and not just messing around. I love being a being a missionary! I love hearing about what's going on back home too. Go Cubs!!!

¡Llamados a servir!

Love,

Elder Tucker

Here's some pictures of the week:

First- My companions and I with some of our Latinos amigos in el Comedor

Second- Some apple jack-o-laterns we carved in honor of Halloween

Third- A pic of me with my companions who were sleeping during a devotional

A pic of me with my companions who were sleeping during a devotional 

A nice snack we had on Saturday, fried crickets and lime.  Better than you'd expect!  

My companions and I with some of the Latinos amigos in el Comedor 

Some apple jack-o-lanterns we carved in honor of Halloween 

Semana Trés

Hola Familia!

I wanna start of things by saying HAPPY late BIRTHDAY MOM!!! I love you so much and I hope it was a great one! I miss you!

Wow, the weeks are going by faster and faster in the México MTC! I'm getting into good routines because everyday is so similar. I can't help thinking about leaving for Cuernavaca in two and a half weeks! So exciting, but it inspires me to work harder because I have a long way to go with the language.

My companions and I have continued to play cage soccer everyday for gym time and we're getting dang good! We rule the CCM when it comes to pick up games. All the Latinos here love us! I think it's because most of the other gringo missionaries are too scared to talk to them. But not Elders Stevens, Contreras, and I hahaha! We joke around with them so much.

This week, a member of my district, Elder Whitmore, was feeling really sick. So when he went to the enferma, they thought he might have appendicitis. So they sent him to the hospital in La Ciudad, the city, and sure enough, he did have it so he got his appendix removed that day! His companion stayed with him that night, but they next day, we began making switches between people in our district to stay with Elder Whitmore in the hospital. Elder Stevens stayed with him for the whole day and then I switched with him for the night. It was cool being out in the real world for a bit, plus I got like 10 hours of sleep on the couch in the hospital room! Hahaha it was much needed. Anyway, Elder Whitmore ended up staying in the hospital for less than 48 hours before returning to the CCM. He's one tough dude. I'm grateful that I've been lucky enough not to have anyhting like that happen to me yet!

Today for the first part of P-day, everyone serving in Mexico, including Latinos from countries other than México, had to go to Mexican immigration to verify our Visas. It was awesome because I finally got to see some of the nice parts of la Ciudad on the bus ride over! So many cool buildings, plazas, and musuems that I wanna visit! Anyway, Mexican Immigration was kind of like a nice DMV and it was cool to see how easily I could follow directions in Spanish. I ended up meeting a Dutch woman who spoke english with me. She asked who all the other people with me were and I told her that we are missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints-or Mormons. She then asked what major differences there were between the Catholic Chruch and our Church and she seemed so curious! So many thoughts raced into my mind but I remembered that we were told not to proselyte in government buildings so I couldn't getnto detail. It was a cool experience nontheless! Also, on the whole bus ride back to the CCM, I talked with a Peruvian, Elder Ascencio in Spanish. He's a convert of only a year to the Church! He and his sister are the only members in their family and he is only 18, but he is still out here sacrificing two years of his life to serve the Lord like me. He's such a great guy and he inspired me today.

I can feel the prayers of my loved ones everyday. I'm so grateful to have a family and so many friends that are members of the Church. I know that it is true.

Here are some pictures of the week:

Th beautiful Mexico City Temple 

Elder Contreras and I studying Spanish on the computers in the tall lab 

Another pic of me visiting the Mexico City Temple for the second time last P-day 

A pic of the hugest Mexico flag I've ever seen right outside the temple

Semana Dos

Hola Familia!

It's been another great week in the CCM! Something I forgot to mention last week:

Tuesday, October 11, we watched a live devotional broadcast from the Provo MTC! Elder David A. Bednar and his wife spoke about the importance of General Conference and how to take good notes. It was so awesome and inspiring!

Anyway, it's been a lot of the same thing everyday in the CCM. Waking up at 6:20 so my companions and I can be the first ones in the classroom for Personal Study in the morning, going to classes, speaking Spanish, and teaching lessons all day until we go to bed at 10:30. I've still been adjusting to being a missionary. I usually get pretty tired in the afternoon, but I'm still super happy and excited about being out here. I'm getting better at Spanish everyday. My companions and I continue to get along very well although they can be distracting at times. We speak with the Latinos as often as we can because we know that's the best practice and they're all so nice!

We played a lot of cage soccer this week! Cage soccer is on an outdoor basketball court that is surrounded by a cage link fence. We just play short pick up games. It's super fun! Elder Contreras, one of my companions played on the Real Salt Lake Academy before coming out here so he's the best one! Tuesday, we played with Latinos and it went about how you would expect. A bunch of white boys getting schooled by the guys that actually know what theyre doing, lol. Still a blast nonetheless.

Something I didn't know before coming here is the altitude in Mexico City. 7500 feet! I was wondering why I was running out of breath when I first got here! Hahaha

Elder Trendler left for Puebla this week. He seemed nervous but excited and hopeful! I know he's gonna do great things. Also, Elder John Paul Jones arrives in the CCM on Tuesday so that should be fun seing him!

Lastly, the Temple last week! We took a short bus ride to get there. It was so beautiful and really big and nice! All the American missionaries listened to the endowment session in English with headphones on, but we did the vail in Spanish. I'm so grateful for that experience, and we get to do it again today! There's no temple in the Cuernavaca mission so I probably won't get to go after the CCM.

I hope you're all doing okay! I'm gonna work extra hard this week!

¡Llamados a servir!

Adios,

Elder Tucker

My district studying in the classroom 

Elder John Trendler and Me

My companions and I with the care package Mom sent

My companions and I at the Mexico City Temple 

Mi Semana Primera in el CCM

Hola Familia!

So glad Im finally getting to email you guys! Excuse my typing these keyboards are a little different. Anyway, its been an incredible week in the CCM...Centro de Capicitacion de Misional Mexico. Mom I got your letter from MissionaryPackageMx! Its so awesome to hear from everyone!

Its been a lot of hard work in the CCM but I love it here. It feels like a really nice community college campus surrounded by walls in the middle of Mexico City. Probably because the CCM used to be kind of like a mormon high school until 2013. Im amazed at how organized everything is. When we got here we received a schedule of our entire stay in the CCM! I love my teachers my district my leaders and all the missionaries making the sacrifice to be out here!

The first day was a lot of orientation and welcoming and unpacking. I found out the CCM can hold 1200 misioneros. Mostly Americans but still a lot of Latinos. I saw a ton of my friends pretty quickly. Hermana Art Elder Trendler Elder Holt from Mesa and Elder Bullock who I met at BYU this summer. Theyre all awesome. I met my first companion Elder Witt from Utah and we got along very well instantly. Hes going Cuernavaca too! Hes a hard worker.

Every other day has been filled with classes and studying about becoming a better missionary and learning Spanish. I cant believe how much Ive learned already. I know how to bear my testimony and to pray and I know the missionary purpose the baptismal invitation the First Vision and Moronis Promise all in Spanish! We taught our first lesson to an investigator in Spanish on our thrid day! The investigator was actually just one of our language teachers. Sometimes Im really confident in my progress with the language and then other times Ill have a super humbling experience. But overall Im still super positive.

Sunday was powerful. After 5 incredibly long days it was nice to parttake of the sacrament hear the testimonies of other missionaries and feel the spirit. Unfortunately my companion Elder Witt decided had some prior sins he had to take care of so he met with the Branch President and other leaders and decided to go home on Tuesday. So I got moved into a trio with Elders Stevens from Washington and Contreras from Tuscon who are also serving in Cuernavaca. I feel like Ive known them all my life. They are so funny and so easy to get along with. We all like to sing songs that we miss from back home together. Elder Contreras knows the Funks btw. We live in a casa right now with 4 other trios haha.

I love being a missionary! Im adjusting very nicely I think. I havent got too homsick or stressed yet. Im so thankful for everyone that helped me prepare spiritually and with packing and all that because I feel completely prepared. I know that there will be plenty of ups and downs on the road ahead but thats what a missions all about. The Lord called me to be one of His servants.

The food is good here! We have gym time everyday so I usually play basketball or soccer which is a blast! Ive been doing pushups as much as I can but I can tell its gonna be a while before I can do as many as Dad LOL. The weather is beautiful. Chilly in the mornings and warm in the afternoons. Its rained a few times. We are going to the Mexico City temple today for P day! So excited. Thank you mom for sneaking notes from the fam and pictures in my bags. Im so grateful. 

I love you all!

Let us all press on!

Adios.

Elder Tucker

The wall of the CCM 

My first companion Elder Witt 

A map of Mexico and where each of us will be serving 

My trio of companions in front of the CCM