Mexico and Ice Cream and such...

Well I guess I am now 2 weeks in the field!! I am sorry I forgot to say a lot of things in my last letter but this week I was smart and wrote it all  down!

Well yes I am in Matamoros so literally 15 minutes away from the border which would be Brownsville, Texas and my ward is called Industrial I´m pretty sure and the ward rules and is way nice! Well last Pday I got to play some soccer with the other missionaries in Matamoros and some local kids and everyone here is really good as expected but what they didn´t expect is the UNEXPECTED! Good ole Elder McQuivey coming in and playing like a Mexican!! Hahah I talk a lot about the world cup with the people here so that´s always fun!

 I had my first inter exchange or whatever we call them intercambios and I was with Elder Solomon who went to Lone Peak I´m pretty sure and that was pretty alright. Actually it was a little rough since we literally speant the whole day walking and I didn´t really say anything in any of the lessons so it wasn´t like too exciting at all. But at the end of the day we did try the corn on the cob things as seen in Nacho Libre so it was all worth it!

 

Also there was a day we were just walking and we were like what are the odds we went into that store and got ice cream so we did and good ole Katy Perry´s "Wild One" came in and I just broke into song and dance and I wish I took a picture of the worker´s face! She was in pure shock and so embarrased for me but it was so worth it! And since I was dancing when she gave me the 2 scoop cone of ice cream I was going way too hard and both scoops fell to the floor and I was soo embarrased that i just got down picked it up in my hands and RAN right out of the store! And ya I did eat the side that didn´t touched the ground but I payed money for that thing so it was worth it!

Also short story. We saw a lady in front of some store that had decently long hair THAT SHE PUT GEL IN!! She turned her head and her whole hair same with her in one movement! It was so nasty!

I don´t know how me and this ward member got on the subject but we were talking about power puff girls and the intro song in English and in Spanish. English it´s sugar and spice and everything nice but in Spanish it´s Azucar, Flores , y Muchas Colores (Suger, Flowers, and a lot of colors) and that just made me laugh so hard it was unreal

Whenever it rains here the streets just instantly flood so that´s always fun.

And to all those people that say if you´re a missionary and you don´t talk you don´t eat...FALSE!! Completely false! Every single day for La Comida we get fed so much food I can´t even handle it and the fact that I´m not overweight yet is a miracle! The food here is so unhealthy and there is so much of it that it really frightens me! But I would like to thank the Woolley Family for preparing me for all this Mexican food everyday cause the meals are the same every Comida!

And for the Spanish. I´m am thoroughly convinced Spanish is just this huge inside joke with everybody here except for me and when I actually understand something everyone just looks at me like no you still aren´t in the joke.. It´s really sad but I´m getting there!

Remember that guy I talked about last week that was saying how cool it was I was fighting a language to share a message ya well he came to church with us and loved it so that was sweet! Along with 5 other investigaters so that´s cool! Also we taught the hardest lesson ever to this lady because her child we being absolutely ridiculous and obnoxious but through that hard hour long message we said through the Gospel you can find peace in your life and I´m pretty sure that one her over cause she now has a date to be baptized on the 25th of October (that was the first real lesson with her) so that was sweet!

Well I love and miss you all!

Love, Elder McQuivey

First Week

First Week!

Holy cow this has been quite the adjustment! We had all of our flights and made it down to Mexico City and hopped on a flight right over to Reynosa and all went well! We get picked up by the APs and the Mission President and drove to the church and stayed in the mission home for a night with 28 other missionaries so it was pretty packed!! Met a kid Elder Neidert from Riverton who is here who I actually recognized since we have a lot of mutual friends so that was cool! And there was an Elder Rawle who I recognized from a music video for the song Montana he made in high school so it was cool talking to him! 

The next morning I woke up at 530 cause somebody turned on the lights!!

(sorry I can´t go as in detail as I wanted cause I still want to send pictures)

But the address for letters and small packages is:

Abelardo Moraleo Mendez

Attn: Elder Tanner McQuivey

701 N. Int´l Blvd. Ste. 101-1511

Hidalgo, TX 78557

 

 

 

Elder Muhlestein and I

 

My companion is Elder Derek Muhlestein from good ole Riverton Utah so that´s sweet!! He graduated a year before I did and we kinda knew each other! But It is super hot down here all the time!! Food is: Tortillas, meat, beans, salsa every single day at 2 called La Comida. And I´ll just jump straight into a few stories.

 

First is we went to the Familia Muro´s house last night and they are the best! There are 2 sons Noe is 14 and Misael is 12 and they rule! They followed me on Instagram and found a picture of me at Homecoming of me and Allison then Noe clicked on Allison´s profile and accidentally liked one of her pictures and he freaked out about it and it was hilarious! So Jane if you see Allison at school ask her if some random Mexican kid liked one of her photos! They are way funny kids and even with my lack of communication with them we are still good friends!

 

Second is we went and visited a family we had heard about who are not members and the dad has a failing kidney. We went and taught the first lesson and had their son read something after I talked and the dad was so cool and said to his son "This kid is battling and fighting a language to bring you this message" and a bunch of stuff like that and after that one lesson the whole family said yes to baptism for the 18th of October so that was sweet so now we have 5 people committed to baptism on that date!

 

Sorry I have no time but Love and Miss you all!

 

Tressa and Matt: How is school going?? Sports? Teachers? Doing Mini silverline or cheer again??

 

 

Tanner made it to Reynosa!!

Hola Familia y Amigos!

Flight Plans

Hola ya'll!!

 

Well if you guys haven't heard about the flight plans I leave the MTC at 9 and my flight to Atlanta is at 1255 then I have a layover and leave to Mexico city at 7 or something then fly to Reynosa and get there by 6! My mom has the exact plans so if curious ask her!

 

Well the things I have to talk about.... First is Fast Sunday where we all get up and bear our testimonies in good ole espanol and that was pretty neat! Then at the devotional we got there early and some guy asked me to be one of the Ushers so I got to hold my hands up to show how many seats were open in the front so attention was on me and of course I make the job fun so I threw in a little dance with it, not the most reverent thing, but for sure got a lot of compliments of being the best usher ever so it's whatever!

Also my district and I all have weird similar interests like the fantastic old gamecube animal crossing and have a good all time talking about that so that's fun. Also we taught another lesson via skype with a lady who lives in Pueblo Mexico and I understood most of what she said and was able to have a conversation with her so that raised my confidence a bit!

Also we had our last day of service and found the legendary pillow room which I have of picture of and will send it right after I send this!

After the Tuesday night devotional I had to say bye to good ole Elder Lloyd which was actually really hard but of course I held it all in til he was gone although it doesn't really matter since this email is being forwarded to him haha!

As you guys have already heard I did see my second cousin Mavenee when I was getting my haircut so that was really awesome and funny!

Also we were practicing saying the First Vision to each other and it was kinda hard even though we all have it memorized and it was really powerful and really cool!

Well the next time you hear from me I'll be in Mexico! Glad to know everything is going well at home!

Love and Miss you all!

Elder McQuivey

 

 

On our stairs someone wrote Mikaela and I hit it everytime I walk down the stairs!

This is me and Elder Christianson!

 

Some bat that was by our classroom and didn"t move for 3 days!

A little scripture guy I made with octupus gummies



This is me and Elder Hale after our haircuts.

 Good ole Elder Nurse McQuivey in action taking my companions BP.

 

Vida es Loco

Elder Miles and I

Hola familia y Everyone!

I've got a few experiences I'd like to share this week!

First is the Haunted Apartment!! So there was a day this past week when we woke up walked out of the room and the door was WIDE OPEN!! I was freaking out cause all through the night I had been hearing knocking! After that incident we started locking the door every night and I kept hearing the knocking and I was starting to get anxiety and I was freaking out hardcore! Then one day I heard it during the day and I found the source!!! It was just the Water Heater making the stupid noise that caused me so many sleepless nights!! So no worries I'm all safe!

 

Second is the Jose Lessons! We have been teaching this "investigator" Jose and it's been great! We taught the first lesson and it was great then the 2nd lesson was the Plan of Salvation and he was talking about a family member of his that is in a Nursing Home and how he thinks the Family member should be with his family and all this stuff and started crying and then I started crying cause after having worked in places like that and seeing people not really care for the patients I told Jose (all in English cause he needed to hear it and I needed to be able to say it) how I know where he is coming from and how I agree with him and I asked him if he believed in After Life and he said yes and it was a fantastic powerful lesson and ya that was great!

Also I get my flight plans tomorrow so that's exciting! 

Love and miss you all!!

 

PS if you're looking for a good scripture chapter go to Moroni 7!!



me breaking some no kissing chicas rule

 sometimes study time is nap time

Elder Hale(one of my favorite Elders in my District)

Elder Anderson

Me and Elder Lloyd

 

Interesting Week



Elder McQuivey & Elder Andersen (aka Bad Boy)

Hola!! Buenos Dias!

 

      This past week has been pretty crazy and there are a few stories I'd like to share so I hope I have enough time to do so! First of all lately we've had to teach our teachers who act as our investigaters and you know our Crazy Hard teacher?? Ya well the first 2 or 3 lessons he made us teach it all outside the door that was ridiculous and frustrating! Then the latest lesson he finally let us in a little way through and I shared the most perfect scriptures for this guy "Armondo" found somewhere in Heleman and we taught a pretty great lesson that ended in.....Getting him committed to baptism so ya I guess you could say I'm doing pretty well with Spanish and teaching and what not but no big deal I'm just the best nothing new!

 

     Another story which is more of a miracle/prayer answered/comforting thing! This past week I had to go the the Mexican Consolate for my Visa and what not and it was tough! At first I was really excited for a day to relax but emotionally it was exhausting! Although I got to meet this really cool guy on the train from Afghanistan who has the most amazing story but I don't have time to share it and really I don't remember much but it was good! So down in Salt like some guy just started cussing us out so that was pretty fun too like literally I just busted up laughing!! Ok so the real part of the story...On the way back we were on the trax and I just recongnized everywhere and I was getting overwhelmingly homesick and I was almost about to lose it with tears and what not and I just needed some help and right when we were going to go over 12600 South (in my mind the make or break point) This guy came up and sat down next to me and started talking to me! He was super nice and we talked in Spanish a little bit and he told me that he worked for the church and is the guys over all the temples is Mexico and all the ones in South America too so 34 temples! There are only 5 of those callings in the whole church!! Me and him related really well and talked about his mission and conversion to the church when he was 17 and me going on one and his kids and overall he was giving me the most incredible pep talk without even knowing it! He came up and talked to me THE SECOND I needed it and I was so grateful for him!! Also he is a platinum on Delta so he's going to be on the look out for you mom! Also by the way I have so much popcorn so no worries on sending me any more I think I'm good! Also I saw Elder Bad Boy (Elder Andersen) here.

 

Love and Miss you All!!

 

Elder McQuivey

 

 

Week Dos!

 

 

 

Well this past week has been a little better!  We have a teacher Hermano Clark who is the best!! He helps me out a lot and is a way nice guy! The other day Zuzu was acting as an investigador for me and my companion and he wouldn't even let us in the door!!! Like he hasn't taught us how to handle any sort of situation so I was shaking and got way nervous and stressed and locked my knees and almost passed out but I handled it like a champ! Gave the whole lesson right in front of the door and he said he wouldn't read the book of Mormon due to time so I was like BOOM here's the Restoration Pamphlet and read and pray about that!! Also last night I only got about 20 minutes of sleep cause I have this awful sore throat and got way congested!

Well I'm out of time so write me letters also cause that's easier for me to respond and put Unit 811 and Sep15 on the letter/package.

Love and miss you all!

Elder McQuivey