1 - First Week in the CCM

 

Well, it's been a crazy week. This is easily the hardest thing I have ever done. But I'm already the district leader. It's not very hard but it's just a little more pressure that I really don't want right now but it's not like I get to choose really. 

The CCM is crazy. All of the city around us looks like something off Call of Duty, it's all run down and broken. But the shops are all outside, hardly any are indoors. But we are surrounded by giant walls and armed guards that are there 24 hours a day. We joke that the only way to get out of here is to go to your mission, go home, or go to the hospital. But it's really pretty out here. We live in little houses called casas, of course. But there are a bunch of missionaries in each casa. Me and my companion share a room with a guy from Mexico and a guy from Panama. They are hilarious! We are up till like 11 every night just laughing. Mexico is about 70 degrees every day and Panama is up in the 90`s! It's so hot! It's pretty here though. I will send you a few pictures in a minute.

But learning Spanish is hard. People only speak Spanish in Mexico! We got an investigator on our 3rd day here to teach that only speaks Spanish. My companion knows no Spanish at all so I try my best to keep the lessons going. But I'm trying to not get upset. It's crazy how much I have felt the spirit down here. 

On the computers one of the backgrounds is a picture of the farm in Monticello!

But tell C.H. to email me. But I miss you guys like crazy. The only problem is every minute of every day is planned here. It's hard to get used to. Sometimes I wish I could be at home and just lay there. But I love you and I'll talk to you next week.

 

First Letter from Jake!

Well I'm in the MTC. The plane ride was okay I guess, I had window seats so I was happy about that. But we had a group of 18 missionaries by the time we got into Mexico. Customs went okay but they searched all our bags. They looked at my boxes of contact lenses like it was something they had never seen before! And one other kid in our group had an electric toothbrush go off when it was getting searched, so that was pretty funny. And one of the sisters left her passport on the plane in Mexico so we haven't seen her since then. The people drive like crazy, but you already know that.

There is a lot going on in my head, but I just keep telling myself there is no going back now! I have my name tag. But the MTC is 90 acres. It's HUGE! But we do get to live in those houses just so you know. I'm not really sure what to say as of right now, it's scary but not too scary. I hope you guys haven't cried too much, because at the airport I was the only one not crying because that would have just made it worse. 

Make sure to tell everyone that I love them, especially Booga. It's tough for her because she actually started liking me. haha  But on the way here, the pilot said it was 45 degrees. That was the biggest lie I've heard all day! I'm sweatin' up a storm out here! 

The MTC is gorgeous, it's surrounded by palm trees and these weird trees that have purple flowers growing on them. They are the prettiest purple you have ever seen! We were the first group of missionaries to arrive today so I have to wait for my companion. I've already made a few friends, there are some pretty cool guys here and almost all of them are taller than me! It stinks! But the group I came with, it's only me and one sister that are going to Panama. 

I'm just ready to go to bed though, I'm beyond exhausted. And I got a snack on the plane, it had some cheese in it. It was stinkin' good cheese! 

I love you and I can't wait to hear from you. Tell Marcus and dad I love them too. Keep it real, Home Slice.

And He's Off!

 

Last night at home, spending time with friends and family.

 

These two have been brothers since they were barely out of diapers, so it just seemed right that Chris was his first 'companion' once he was set apart as an elder.

 

The final family shot before he leaves!

 

Sibling love.

 

 The Bros.

 

We're going to miss him!

 

:)

 

Going....

 

Going....

 

Still going....

 

And gone. And this is where my heart broke in two.  We will miss Jake so much but we know he is where he needs to be. He will be an amazing missionary and will 

help so many people. Only 730 days!

We love you, Jake!

Jake's Mission Farewell, February 9, 2014

Jake did such a great job on his talk for his mission farewell. He will make such a great missionary. We were so thankful that so many of his friends and family came to support him and wish him the best on this adventure!