Week 1: Adventures of saying all the wrong things in paradise

Well Elder Van Pelt has been having an amazing time at the Mexico City MTC and is already learning so much about the culture and language. He arrived last Wednesday and received his name tag which he is really excited about. He already is known around the MTC because apparently there is another Zachary Van Pelt from St. George, so everyone is always asking if he is related to him.

On his second day at the CCM (Centro De Capacitación Misional, also known as the MTC), they didn't hesitate to get the missionaries up and working. He says that most of his days are spent in the classroom studying the scriptures, which is heaven for Zach because of his love of The Book of Mormon. He has also been learning teaching methods and most of all the Spanish language.

Zach also met his first companion, Elder Cox. He is very excited to be put with him because of his work ethic and that is on Zach's list of criteria of a good missionary. He has 2 other roommates, Elder Dyer and Elder Washburn. Zach really likes Elder Washburn. He is 20 years old and has been saving up for the past 2 years so that he could go on a mission. He is also having some trouble with the language so Zach is asking that we all keep Elder Washburn in our prayers as he is trying his hardest to learn Spanish.

Elder Van Pelt has found comfort in his Spanish Book of Mormon at times when his district gets a little distracted, but he wants everyone to know that he is giving himself breaks throughout the day to talk with all the new people he is meeting. :) He has complimented the sister missionaries in his district, telling that they are very beautiful. He is always trying to keep his companion and other elders focused when they are studying so that they don't drool all over themselves and get jealous of one another.

Zach had his first investigator at the CCM, Jesus. Just in the last 6 days they have taught him 3 times and they seem to be getting along very well. One day when Zach was teaching Jesus last week, he showed a picture of his little one-year-old niece Tegan. Jesus told Zach that she would be a lot bigger when he gets back to the family. He replied with what he thought was "she will have really long hair when I get back too." He was surprised when Jesus started laughing at what he said. Turns out pelo,which is hair on the head, is different than peluda, which means hairy everywhere. Elder Van Pelt also tried to sneak some FIFA finals information out of Jesus, but has learned that the information is unstable because Jesus is a dancer and doesn't watch soccer.

 Another funny story Zach wrote about with the language barrier was when he was walking through the campus and saw a worker working on the grounds. Zach asked him in passing "trabajo mas?" in which he replied "si." and Zach said "gracias!" and was on his way. Soon after, he realized what the conversation had actually meant in english. He had basically asked the Mexican worker that he himself works more, in which the probably confused worker said "yes" and Zach replying with a thank you.

Elder Van Pelt is in FOOD HEAVEN! As most of you know, Zach, LOVES food and loves a lot of it. I remember always trying to finish my food at dinner when we were little so that I could get seconds before Zach would get his seconds, which were the rest of the homemade meal. He is raving about the fish, chicken, vegetables and fruits and the quantity he can put down. He has admitted to himself that he will get fat, but we all know that probably will not happen...

Zach is doing well with the language so far. His companion Elder Cox has often told Zach that he thinks he has the gift of tongues. At times, Zach will ask Elder cox a question only to realize he has asked it in Spanish and Elder Cox has no idea what he is talking about. God has really blessed him with excelling in the language. He has noticed himself writing certain things in his journal without even realizing he is writing them in Spanish.

Elder Van Pelt would like everyone to know how much he is loving his mission already and that he wishes he could do this for the rest of his life (which our family probably wouldn't let him do). It is the perfect environment for him to feel the spirit all day every day. His p-days are on Tuesday and has 40 minutes to write emails, so if you write and don't hear back, he wants you to know he loves you, but probably ran out of time.

We are so proud of Zach and all that he is achieving. If you would like to give Zach some short words of encouragement please go to the comments section at the top and leave it and I will include it in my weekly email to him.

Keep Elder Van Pelt in your thoughts and prayers as he continues on this awesome adventure! Until next week...

-Whitney

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Elder Van Pelt left this Spanish passage in his email this week, I don't know what it says but I love it anyways!

Yo se que jesus cristo vive y su expacion es muy importante. Jesus cristo es todas ustedes señor.

​"Mi objectivo como missionario es invitar a los personas a venir a cristo al ayudarlas a  que reciban evangelio restarado mediante la fe en jesus cristo y su expacion, el arrepentamiente, el bautizmo, reciban espiritu santo y la persavarar hasta el fin."

With tons of amor,

Elder Van Pelt