CLICK HERE to Watch Elder Tyson Mendez's Farewell Video

ONE MONTH AT THE MTC WEEK 4!!!

Hey family and friends, hope you are all doing well and having a great week! This week here at the MTC has been a decent week, its had its ups and downs like everything does. Last Sunday Elder Cook from the Quorum of the 12 Apostles came and spoke to us, it was awesome. After that me and my district went back and had a long discussion about what we learned and things that we wanted to share, it was super spiritual and had me in tears.

This week we started speaking only Spanish to eachother, well at least we are supposed too. Its hard cause im limited in what I can say, but we learn so many new things everyday here. Not only about spanish and the gospel, but also about being the best person you can be. Today is P-Day and we only have four hours to do what we want to today, and then we are going to the Mexico City temple at 12. Its crazy that next week is my last week here, time has flown by here, don´t get me wrong the days are super long, but looking back its gone bye quick. Im ready to get out to the field, but im not ready at the same time. I doubt ill be fluent by next week, but im sure I will be soon once im immersed in the language. Overall its been a good week, sorry this email is shorter, but im going to try to respond to as many of you as I can today(:

Ether 12: 27 ¨And if men come unto me I will show them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.¨ 

Stay strong everyone, we are all going to have to face trials in our lives, and we are going to get knocked down every now and then, but through faith in Christ we can be picked back up and make strong! Love you guys talk to you all again next week(:   

Tyson's Third Week in the Mexico MTC

Hey Family and Friends,

This week has been a really long week because they moved my P-Day a day back, which doesn't seem like much, but out here it is. Yesterday was St. Patrick´s Day so me and my companions all wore green ties. It started off as a really good day, I got my first package from my mom and it was Krispy Kreme donuts and they were delicious. Right after I picked up my package we walked back to our house, went into my room and to my surprise there was a bird flying at me haha! Idk how it got into our room since all the windows have screens on them, but it was pretty crazy. The bird ended up hurting itself because it kept flying into the walls so we just picked it up and put it outside. It pooped and peed on Elder Arellano´s sheets though!

Later last night me and Elder Arellano got into an argument with our other companion Elder McBride. It was so dumb but we all worked it out, its just been really hard having three companions especially when one of them always wants to do different things during gym time then you. Haha ive been working out everyday and staying somewhat in shape, but its been hard when they serve dessert at every meal.

My spanish has really improved, I still have a long ways to go but im making good progress. Im a little upset my MEXICAN dad never taught me spanish jk love you dad(:

Thank you all again for the constant letters and support, I read them all and they really make my day so thanks. There is this one girl in my district that has a really strong personality that I have a hard time getting along with, but ive done my best to be nice to her and she finally said something nice to me the other day! she said ¨Out of all the people at the MTC you are by far the most fit¨ I was so caught off guard, but it goes to show that if you´re nice no matter how mad people make you, usually they will come around. Today I finally met someone who is also going to Torreon on his mission, he is Latino and he is super cool, its nice to know im not the only one going to Torreon, because for a while I wasn´t sure if my mission was a real mission since I haven´t met anyone going there until now. Anyways this week has been great, and im stoked to get out the field soon, talk to you all again next week(:

Tyson Week 2 in the Mexico City MTC

Hola family and friends,

thank you all for sendig your letter and sharing your experiences at home with me. It makes my day to hear how you are all doing. If I havent gotten back to you, just know its cause they only give me an hour to email each week, but i love you all.

   To answer some of your questions as to what its like here, its 90 acres and has a 20 ft. wall with barbwire fence around it, which at times can make it feel like a prison lol. Im busy all day learning spanish, studying doctrine, teaching lessons, small gym time, and eating. There is little to no down time. My bed is too small and my feet hang over the edge. Its really pretty in the MTC and they have their own well separate from the city so we have clean water. Mexico City is pretty in its own way, but its the farthest thing from home. There are constantly "Fireworks" going off. That's probably why they built the wall so they can protect us from the "fireworks."

 

   This Week has been crazy, one of the Elders in my room went home because he was homesick, now his companion joined into my companionship, which has been a really hard adjustment. Learning spanish has been difficult and can get really frustrating at times, but im progressing. This week i bore my testimony in spanish, it was rough, but I did my best. 2 days ago there was a fire on the hill next to us, It was crazy to see! Luckily they put it out before it did damage to the homes. Im trying to cut back on how much I eat, i am getting bigger and stronger, but Im trying to stay in shape.

 

This week one of my teachers pulled me and my companion aside and said "I was told to ask you guys to stop flirting with the sisters, I know you guys haven't been, but you aren't normal missionaries." Me and my comp started laughing so hard because we never flirt. The sisters always come us and talk to us, we are just nice and I guess its considered flirting. I explained to him how I already have the best of them back at home (Sam), but it was pretty funny!

 

Overall its been a long but good week here, and im having fun! Please continue sending me emails and pics, I will try to get back to all of you, have a good week!

 

Love,

Elder Mendez

Tyson's First Week at the Mexico City MTC

This week has been a crazy week in my life. It has been the most mentally challenging week ever, but im really starting to like it here. When I first got here I was so homesick it was unbelievable, and all I could think about was home. As I have made new friends and been working hard its been a lot better. After I got off of the plane in Mexico I met up with a bunch of other missionaries in the airport. One of them was super cool, me and him became instant friends and we got to talking about how we were worried we would get weird companions, but long story short we ended up being each others companions. His name is Elder Arellano, he's super cool, he likes to lift, play sports, and he's crazy like me lol. His best friend is Amon T. from beyond 5 oddly enough. Me and him lift everyday and play basketball, and we help push each other to work hard in getting the language down! Its been crazy here, our schedules are full 24\7 and we don't have any down time.

   The language has been hard and can get frustrating at times, but I'm progressing. I've already written a talk in Spanish and taught 5 lessons to an "investigator" in Spanish. All of the Latinos here call me elder superman because they think I have big muscles, and they want me to audition to be in the next movie lol, I don't see it, but it makes me laugh. One of the Latinas here tell me I'm a "pretty man" haha and it reminds me of my farewell talk.

 

Time has been going by so slow cause the first couple days we didn't get any gym time, and I have been waiting forever to talk to all of my family and friends. I miss you all so much, but I know what I'm doing is the right thing! Today we went to the Mexico City temple and it was absolutely beautiful, and a great experience. The drivers here are crazy and its a lot more unorganized and dirty then America which is going to take some getting used to. But its beautiful in its own way. I just got my first MTC haircut, and it actually turned out ok, I don't think the Mexican lady that cut it actually ever went to a hair school, but she did alright. The food here is really good, but really unhealthy and I eat a lot and its showing unfortunately. 

 

  Overall this week had been pretty good besides the first half, but I've already seen so much growth spiritually, mentally, and a tad physically(; Anyways I miss you all, and look forward to seeing pictures from home and how you are all doing.

 

I can read all of your emails at any time if you send them to letter@mtcmexicocarepackage.com and put Elder Mendez 13C in the subject line. they will print off your emails and give them to me everyday so I can read them before hand and have more time to reply, but still send them to this email too so I have them.

Talk to you all next week!!!(: