Ty's first week in the field

Presidente y Hma. Greer

Hi Family,

I made it to Xalapa last Monday and now I am in my first area which is Misantla, Veracruz, MX.

I love my companion and we get along well. His name is Elder Herrera and to me I think of him as Mario. I told this to Brendan already but I said that if I were to give him a red hat and a mustache I could either make millions or be sued for copyright purposes.

We eat with the members Every Single Day. Pretty much, if we don’t eat with a member we don’t eat....until today. We went shopping and stocked up on food. My lovely, real American food. The food here is good, but its sooo different. We have tortillas with every meal and they are always freshly made. They are different though. They aren’t the white flour tortillas and they are kind of like corn tortillas. I have learned to love them because we eat pretty much once a day. I now love limes, tortillas, rice, beans, soup, and a lot of spicy stuff. I think mom prepared me when I was in the womb for my mission because it has grown on me pretty fast.

They have to pay for toilet paper in public places. 

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for teaching me how to deep clean. When I first got here the place was disgusting. I was surprised that people would live in such a sty. I literally cleaned that mess out of the place today. The ways I coped with the filth throughout the week is because when I was in the shower, I would look around and say, "Monday... You’re mine."

I love the work, I have already developed a love for all the members and investigators I’ve met. I’ve been learning a lot, and I had my first commitment to baptism on Thursday. It was sooooo cool. We were originally looking to contact an inactive member and we ended up teaching her sister. I knew that she had been prepared by the Lord because of the desire to know of the truth. I understand the language with the doctrine pretty well and I feel comfortable when I bare my testimony because the words just seem to flow. Regular language is difficult though. I can understand quite a bit but normal conversation is difficult.

They have my packages but I don’t get them until December 16. So just a little longer and I can send more pictures.

I seek the spirit wherever I go and I seek out every opportunity. I believe my first challenge was this week. Friday night I started to get sick, Saturday it got worse, and Sunday I felt terrible. On top of that, we started a 24 hour fast midday on Saturday. I worked through it and did all I could to focus on the work. It’s funny, I was talking to my companion and I told him that I knew that it was a test. We continued throughout the day and he kept suggesting that we go home but I did not want to because I wanted to keep working. I focused on diligence and endurance and forgetting about my problems. We ended up finding two more investigators last night. Ivonne and Jaime. Brother and Sister. They committed to baptism and we have a date set in January. I know that if we push through our problems we will be blessed. I went to bed last night and said my personal prayers. During my prayer, I explained how I had recognized my trial and I conquered it. I asked that he would take this sickness away from me. I had a headache, sore throat, my eyes were sunken and my nose was plugged, and then I just felt all around weak. My body was a wreck. I went to bed still feeling terrible and when I woke up this morning I was completely fine. J

We don’t really know our exact address because our area is weird. There are street names and everything but we don’t know ours. I am in Misantla, Veracruz. Look up where the church is located and we are across the street. There should be some big garage and a small road leading into an alley way looking thing right next to it on the left. If you can go into street view, go into the alley way and there should be a white gate. That gate leads into our apartment.

Talk to you next week….Love you,

Ty

Ty's last week in the MTC

Hi Family!

I´m still in the MTC but I leave for my mission area on Monday. It’s a 6 hour drive.... At least I´ll be able to study and read. I have gotten to love reading.

 There was an Elder that had appendicitis last week, one of the guys in my house said a "Specific prayer" asking that if it was the Lords will, the guy would go into surgery at 1 o clock on Tuesday, everything would be fine, and he would return home safely on Friday. He said this prayer Monday morning and then told us about it. Midday on Tuesday a man from the hospital came into our class to give us an update on him, he said that he would be going into surgery in an hour and would probably return the next day. It was noon when he told us this. He went into surgery at 1 and came out fine. His process of recovery was normal, and the doctor said he could probably return the next day. His recovery was taking longer than the doctor had expected, he then ended up returning safely on Friday. Prayers are real, I know they influence our lives when we just ask sincerely.

Oh! We watched a devotional that was recorded at the Provo MTC and sent to all the MTCs through the world. It was by Neil L Anderson and it was great. I bought a smaller journal to record all of my spiritual experiences in. I call them my Small Plates, and I call my regular Journal full of my day’s experiences in the mission my Large Plates. I think it’s pretty funny and all the guys in my room think it’s a good idea and we all get a good laugh at what I call them. When they were announcing the program at the devotional, I didn´t hear what he said but he said that some sister from West Jordan would be giving the closing prayer, my companion leaned over and asked if I knew her because she was from West Jordan but I didn’t know because I couldn’t hear. At the end of the devotional I looked to see who it was and I knew who she was!!!! It was Meghan Rollins. (Parker Rollins sister) I explained how she had been in most of my classes throughout elementary school and then in some in high school! I thought that it was really cool and that you should share this experience with her Dad.

Talk to you next week…Love you

Ty

Hi Family,

I love and miss you guys too. I don’t have a whole lot more time to email so I will try and cram as much as I can in. Everything is good and I´m continuing to work hard. I strive to feel the spirit and the Book of Mormon is awesome. There are so many cool stories and I´ve been reading my missionary library as well. Jesus the Christ is mind blowing and True to the Faith has so much information on doctrinal things that I have had questions about. I have enjoyed reading a lot more and it’s been great. My Spanish is coming great, too.

Elder Putnam is actually in another District but he is in my zone. I went yesterday to keep him company and he´s doing better. (Elder Putnam just had his appendix removed and the Elders have been taking turns staying with him in the hospital.) The work is good and my stomach is good. I´ve shared a lot of stories with my companion and my District. We’re all pretty closely knit. I haven´t listened to my iPod because they don´t let us listen to them in the MTC. I can once I get out but that’s all I know. I need another USB cord that can plug into my camera and the speaker. I just used the speaker cord for the camera and it worked fine. I can´t find it anywhere.

I have a new favorite scripture. Alma 26:22. Read it and apply it to yourself. Take out the words ¨he that¨ and ït shall¨ and replace he that with your name and it shall with the word you. It is my favorite scripture. I’ve been reading my patriarchal blessing a lot more and it’s been a blessing. I look forward to more great opportunities. You should read mine and take it literally. It’s mind blowing.

I have to go but I wish you all luck in your endeavors.  Pray for good dreams.  I do every night and I always enjoy them.  Stay safe and healthy.  I love you all.

Ty

Hi Family,

I have been reading my Patriarchal blessing A LOT more and things are coming more clearly to me. It is mind blowing. I want to live worthily already but by continuing to read it makes me want to be perfect. Even though there may be quite a bit of symbolism in it, I take everything literally so that I live my life according to receiving the blessings. I encourage you to read your patriarchal blessing.

Not much has happened around here that’s new. There have been a lot of gun shots just outside the CCM and Policia sirens follow shortly after. We just study study study and the days just fly by. I’ve been reading Jesus the Christ on my own time in the mornings and nights and its really good. During the day if I have time, I read the true to the faith book. It’s really good and I´ve really gotten into it. Did you know that when a church is divided into Stakes (Welby stake for example), it’s in reference to the prophet Isaiah when he said the church of the last days will be like a tent and supported by stakes?

I did get your package and I've been eating it sparingly ;) I wanted to save my package for Halloween, but we started our Sunday fast right after lunch on Halloween. My companion and I got sad, and the candy was staring at us the whole time during our fast... Even though I enjoyed my time fasting, and didn't feel that hungry. The candy still looked REALLY gooooood :)))) I haven't taken really any pictures this week because there isn't much to capture. I can't find my camera cord anywhere but I'm still continuing to look for it. Oh! I just remembered what we did for Halloween. One of the guys in my room Elder Stewart, and I had a costume. He got on top of my shoulders and he put on my trench coat. We walked into breakfast with it on and everyone loved it. Everybody wanted pictures and even our Mission Presidents second counselor thought it was hilarious. We combined our name tags so it said, Elder Koontzwart. I have a picture and I’ll send it as soon as I can. It’s rained quite a bit here and I've been getting great use out of the trench coat. People love it. They say I pull it off quite well. 

Love, Ty

Halloween Treats!

I sent Ty a treat for Halloween.  It was delivered the day before so hopefully it was a sweet surprise. I also hope he shared with his district.  :)

Mexico City Temple/Gave his first Priesthood blessing/Gave his first haircut

Note: Ty and I were able to email back and forth a little today and he confessed that last week's email was a little bit of a prank.  He assured me that his English is perfectly in tact.
What a STINKER!

Ty at the Mexico City Temple Visitor's Center

Hi Family!
  
I hope Amy had a good time with her party, she looks like she had a lot of fun. I cut a guys hair this week! He loved it. Then I cut mine and I love it. I look pretty fresh and I can easily say that I´m a pretty good barber ;) I miss you guys a lot and hope you don't make too big of a mess of my room :) 

Note - We moved my treadmill into his room :)

    Also.... A request for some cookies on Christmas is in order... and I wouldn't be too upset if I got another care package because that last one was a very pleasant surprise.. The food here is alright...  . We have a gym here but they only have two 45lb plates so I normally hog them... I've been staying healthy as much as I can. I floss every morning, brush my teeth, gargle with mouth wash, and do my hair. It's a cycle. Oh and THEY MADE US MOVE HOUSES. The storm did hit us the other night and there was a lot of water. But, they moved us because they thought it was going to flood. We had to pack up all our stuff and move down the street. 

    We have gym time everyday and cage soccer is awesome. Its sooooo much fun. its probably my second favorite sport now. Oh and don't tell Amy yet, just show her the picture once I send it.. But I FOUND MEOW. 

Note - Meow was the nickname of Amy's Counselor at her Oakcrest Girls Camp over the Summer.  She is going to a Texas Spanish speaking mission so she was sent to the Mexico MTC.  Picture below..

Ty and Hermana Homer "Meow"

   I have constantly been striving to feel the spirit. I gave my first blessing on Sunday, we were talking about priesthood ordinances and my companion said he had a blood clot in his arm that he would like to receive a blessing for because he´s getting worried about it. He sat on the chair and another Elder anointed the oil on his head. Then I gave the blessing. I felt so blessed because I thought the branch president was going to give him the blessing. As I was sitting in my chair, I kept getting this feeling that when he was going to be blessed, he needed to be blessed with comfort with the gift of tongues. He´s been struggling a little bit with the language but while I was sitting there I was trying to figure out how I could get the branch president to include that in his blessing. Then the branch president asked me to give the blessing and the spirit overcame me. It was such a privledge to be able to give my companion a blessing, and to receive the revelation of what needed to be said.

   I am constantly thanking Heavenly Father for all the spiritual opportunities that I have and the talks that I can listen to. We recently had a member of the 70 and his wife come and speak to us last night at the devotional. He had great experiences and carried the spirit with him. The sacrament meetings here are great and very spiritual as well.

Love you, miss you,

Ty

Ty's District in front of the CCM (MTC)

Ty gave his first haircut to one of the other Elders in his district, and to himself.  Lookin good!

Ty and his companion at the Mexico City Temple

Ty and his District at the Mexico City Temple

1st P-Day!

Wednesdays will be my favorite day of the week for the next 5 weeks.  It's P-day!!!  This mama needed some pictures of her boy BAD!  Here is a letter for your Spanglish enjoyment.  They speak only Spanish in class so he is having a hard time speaking English....even after only one week  :)


Hello Family!

The MTC is great. Since its in mexico its called the CCM (Centro de Capacitacion Misional). I've had tons of great experiences and I've been having a lot of fun. There are so many people here that they divide us up into zones, then into individual districts. There are 8 people in my district (4 sets of companions) and then pretty much everyone in my zone plays sports. We have about an hour of gym time everyday and we are always playing anywhere from volleyball, soccer, basketball, etc. The first day when I got here I was kinda out of it. Not really missing home or homesick, but I just felt this empty feeling. I didn't know why I was feeling this way until later that day right before dinner we had a meeting where there were a couple of investigators (people looking to join the church) that came and were asking us questions about what we know, and we had shared experiences and our testimonies about how the Gospel had touched our lives. At that moment, I had a complete feeling of comfort come over me, as I bore

He could not wait to wear one of these.  

my testimony to these two wonderful people. It reminded me why I was here and what my mission was and what I needed to accomplish. Ever since then, I have always been happy and have always felt the spirit as I go about my meetings and classes. Even though it's only been a week, its been pretty hard to type this message in English. I have learned so much and there are some words I have to think about, and retype so that they are English. Yo missíon es invitár las personas a venír a Cristo al ayudarlas a que recibán el Evangelio restaurado, mediante la fe en Jesucristo y Su Expiación, el arrepentimiento, el bautismo, la recepción del don del Espiritu Santo y perseverar hasta el fín. There are so many personas who help us cada dia con nuestro español. All ustedes do es talk to nos en Español. At this point I've just given up trying por escribo en Ingles. Amo everyone. The food es muy bueno y mi compañero es grandioso. enseñamos an investigatore, el nombre es Ramiro. nosotros enseñá on nuestro primerá diá. I miss you all, es dificil trabaja pero es worth it. I love you all. You all have been a great impact in mi vivé. We hear gun shots cada noches, policia sirens, pero barking, y personas screaming. es bueno though...

I am really thinking about what I say now. sometimes I have to ask others what certain words in English are pero i´m doing my best. I have learned soooooooooo muuuuuuuch. del don de llenguas es verdad. I haven´t been homesick. I love mi compañero, we get along grandioso. es fun hablar en Español y escribar en it. The food is quite different pero es bueno. Los chips tortilla eres muuuuuuuuuuy bueno. So crisp, so flavorful.  I miss you. Love Ty.

Ty and his companion Elder Jackson

Ty and his companion Elder Jackson

Elders in his district

He got the top bunk (I recognize the blanket)

There is the "Greenie" package I sent him on the floor.

Rear view of his classroom

Hermanas!

I think this might be the outside of his dorm.  I like how he pulled his jacket to the side so we can easily see his badge  ;)