9/27/22 Week 6 1/2: Last days in Mexico MTC

 

9/22/22 Week 6: Viva Costco Pizza!

 Hola friends and family!

This last week has been amazing, hopefully I can fit it all in one email!

First, last Friday was Mexico Independence Day, they celebrate pretty much the same way we celebrate the 4th of July, so you can only imagine what it would be like in a city of 22 million people. The climax of the holiday is Thursday at midnight, the CCM president showed a video of the main ceremony that the President of Mexico does, it gave me goosebumps. He gives a short speech and then shouts things to honor the history of Mexico with the phrase "VIVA"(which means "long live") in between. 

The CCM president wanted us to be able to experience this great cultural event in some fashion, so he organized a celebration in the gymnasium. On Friday night all missionaries (nearly 1000 total) packed into the gym. He announced that we were celebrating Mexico but also the independence and religious freedom of all other countries because they had been prepared by the Lord to be able to receive his restored gospel. It was an amazing experience, we shouted "VIVA" for each country. The one for the United States was the loudest:).

On Monday I experienced hopefully the biggest earthquake of my life! We actually had an earthquake drill scheduled for 12:19pm that afternoon. The drill came and went like normal. My companion and I went to eat lunch, and as we were walking out of the cafeteria, we heard the siren again! There was a lot of confusion since we had just gotten finished with the dril about 35 minutes prior, also there wasn't any apparent distortion of the ground. There were CCM staff members driving around yelling for people to get to the safe zones so we did just that. Turns out it was a 7.4 magnitude quake! 

This morning there was another earthquake at 1:30. I was woken up by the sounds of people slamming doors and running around. We still don't know much about this one except that it was smaller and even though we were hurrying, by the time we got to the safety zone we were safe to go back inside. 

As for more context for the email subject. I have always like the food the serve in the cafeteria whatever day it is, but Tuesday nights are always the very best. It's the closest thing we have to a home cooked meal so it's pretty sacred around here haha. This week my district decided to go for the CCM record which was 76 slices(without  crust). We performed well and between the 12 of us ate 89 slices. 

It is so crazy this is my last P-day in the CCM/Mexico! The weeks have flown by but I absolutely cannot wait to get to Missouri! I get goosebumps thinking about it. These last two weeks, I have made so many friends while playing basketball during exercise time. Most of them started the CCM earlier then me and are now in their assignments. Having that comradery has been so cool, being a missionary is the best!

"Pues ya no temaís, y escudo seré, que soy vuestro Dios y socorro tendréis"

"Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,

For I am thy God and will still give thee aid."

Hynm 85: How Firm a Foundation 

Elder Kovacs

9/15/22 Week 5: Adios Masks, Hola Restroom!

 Hola Everybody!

Wow, time flies when you're in the Lord's work! It is crazy to think that two weeks ago I had just gotten to Mexico and felt like I had no idea what was going on and struggled to learn Spanish. Now, at least I know what's going on but still struggle to learn Spanish. I will say that I have learned so much since beginning CCM. My companion and I taught a lesson to our teacher who pretended to be an investigator. We had some hiccups but it went great overall! It is cool to see how our ability to plan lessons based on the spirit and the needs of the individual. 

Something amazing happened last week! The government has required the use of masks while indoors for over a year due to covid. Last week on Tuesday there was an unplanned devocional for all missionaries. We all knew something was up when the CCM president said that there wasn't going to be an opening prayer because he knew that there would probably a lot of applause that would drive the spirit away. When he announced that we no longer needed to wear masks, there was a standing ovation. 

During the first week here in Mexico, almost all of the missionaries here got sick from the food. Somehow I dodged that bullet. However, Monday morning it hit me. For two days I felt absolutely terrible. Luckily after a trip to the doctor's office I got some medication and began feel better soon after. 

This last Tuesday 350 more missionaries got here! It is pretty crazy because that is almost triple the size of my group. It's kind of funny to see the wide-eyed missionaries walking around because I was makes me feel older and cooler. 

There are a lot of missionaries from Utah here and so many people from my district who have several friends that they see all the time. Coming from Washington I don't know as many people on missions especially in the Mexico MTC. It almost makes being here feel more foreign. Yesterday, I was playing basketball and across the gym I saw Elder Ethan Hurley who I know from school/church. It was so fun to see him! It was great to see a familiar face but also I was hopefully able to ease the stress and homesickness of another Elder.

Love you guys!

Elder Kovacs

Pictures:

- The CCM at night

- My companion Elder Hanks and I with El Libro de Mormon

- A district  picture with our Substitute teacher Hermano Majia

9/8/22 Weeks 3/4: First Week (10 Days) in Mexico! - MTC

Hola everyone!

It has been a little while since my last email and so much has happened! First of all, I am now in the Mexico MTC or the Centro De Capacitación Misional(CCM)! It is pretty much much in the middle of Mexico City which has right around 22 million people. Mexico City lives up to the saying, "The city never sleeps". Throughout the day there is the normal hustle and bustle, but at night the sounds mainly consist of occasional explosions accompanied by police or ambulance sirens. It makes me glad that I am safe within the 90 acre CCM property. 

My district is the same as it was online so it was a little weird meeting people for the first time even though I had been going to online classes with them everyday for two weeks. I love my district, it has been great to be in-person because the spirit is stronger and I feel like we have been able to help each other learn much better, especially when it comes to espanol.

We have classes and study time basically all day everyday except for Sunday and Thursday, which is my P-Day. Last Sunday was one of my favorite days so far! It was a nice break from classes(which are great too) and we had several very spiritual meetings to go to throughout the day. I have curch at 9:00am with my branch. Each branch has about 50 missionaries. We were told before to always have a five minute talk prepared because they call people to speak during the meeting, like right before you are supposed to speak. The best part is, it needs to be "solo espanol" or only spanish and no english. Last Sunday was fast Sunday so it was a fast and testimony meeting. It was great to hear the testimonies of some of the missionaries in my branch. I shared my testimony too! I spoke about how the CCM is difficult and learning Spanish is hard, but if it was easy it wouldn't be worth it.

On Tuesday, we watched a live devotional by Elder Uchtdorf from the Provo MTC. It was so cool to think that it was being streamed to all MTCs across the world! When the camera was panning to the audience I saw my best friend Elder Ben Peterson! That was one of the highlights of MTC experience so far!

My skills as a missionary and in Spanish have improved so much and I am so excited for everything I have yet to learn!

 "Padre Celestial, dime, ̮¿estás ahí?

¿Y escuchas siempre cada oración?

Creo que ̮el cielo muy cerca ̮está,

pues lo siento cuando ̮empiezo a orar."

"Heavenly Father, are you really there?

And do you hear and answer ev’ry child’s prayer?

Some say that heaven is far away,

But I feel it close around me as I pray."

Elder Kovacs