MARCH 21 - MARCH 27 CENTRO DE CAPACITACION MISIONAL MEXICO (MISSION TRAINING CENTER)

Hello, my parents and family and friends!!

It's my second P-Day and I've been looking forward to it ever since the last P-Day!! haha. Man, this week has gone by pretty fast, though! I've had a lot of fun and I'm learning so much here in the CCM. About a week or so ago we added another class on our schedule later in the afternoon with Hermano Vargas and Hermano Gomez. Twice the Spanish, every day that we have classes (which is every day except P-Day on Thursdays, and Sunday)! So this week has been super busy but also a whole lot of fun. Right after I had to finish emailing last Thursday, I got a notice from the Servicio Postal that I had got a package..and it was the COOKIES! That was absolutely amazing and I felt so grateful. It's really, really rare to get things here in a short amount of time, at least according to the other missionaries, and that was the first thing any of us in our district had received!! I shared the cookies with all the guys in my district (7 of us elders - Hermana Terranova and Hermana Richins weren't in the casa to get some and I had to keep them safe!), and I still had a couple left over to savor myself. Thank you, momma, and thank you, my dad! They were delicious!! Speaking of mail, I also got the first letter here out of anybody in my district! The day before yesterday we checked our mail and I got mom's letter sent the day I left. Thank you, momma. :) I'm blessed to have such good parents that take care of me, even when I'm in Mexico!! Ok, so after the last P-Day.. on Saturday I got to role-play (as a friend of mine that I chose to portray), and went through a lesson in front of the class with Hermana Salvador. That was really neat, and Hermana Salvador taught in such a genuine way. It was also really cool to be able to understand the lesson and respond like my friend would -- in Spanish! It's neat practice. We do a lot of role-playing here, every day, and whenever we teach "real" lessons, the person we are teaching is always a "profile" of a real person. It's really helpful and a neat experience for us to teach in Spanish and be concerned for a real person. Sunday was awesome and a day of opportunities! In Sacrament meeting, I blessed the Sacrament (Santa Cena) in Spanish, sang "Oh Dulce, Grata Oracion" or "Sweet Hour of Prayer" with three other elders in my district, AND gave my first talk in Spanish!! It was an awesome meeting and such a cool experience to give a talk! Our district's topic this week was Charity, "the pure love of Christ," and I spoke for 10 minutes in complete Spanish about charity and how important it is to have it in our lives. Especially as missionaries -- we need charity, especially! That was an awesome day, and Monday ended spiritually as well. Our district got way off topic for a while Monday night and Elder Archibald and I left to study outside for a while. When we got back and after everyone calmed down, we decided to read the Book of Mormon together. We read Alma 14, about Alma and Amulek. It's Elder Adams' favorite chapter. When we were done reading it, we talked as a district from heart to heart about being missionaries and how much of a blessing it is in our lives. There were tears. We all really hope that we are being good examples to those we love back home. I really hope I am. All 9 of us in the district committed that night to staying more focused and living up to our potential and this amazing calling as a representative of Jesus Christ. Whenever we get too off track now, one of us will say "potential" and we'll quiet down. Ok, I know that might sound cheesy, and it kind of is haha, but we really do understand how important it is that we are out here. Hermana Terranova quoted one of the doctors from Gray's Anatomy and said, "Today is a great day to save lives." I love that, and that's why we're here. Tuesday we had our first TRC. I still don't quite know what that stands for lol, but it's basically an opportunity to talk with real, LIVE, interested people about the gospel. We skyped with two girls, this week. One of them's name was Maytee (Mai-Te, not maytee like ahoy maytee hahaha), and she's been less active and missing church for a while. It was neat to be able to talk with her and I told her straight up that I want her to go to church! haha. I told her that it blesses my life, especially in school which she is also super busy with, and she really appreciated that. Wednesday one of the most awesome things happened. One of the other elders and I were practicing teaching Hermana Terranova about the Plan of Salvation. At the end of the lesson, I bore my testimony that because Christ lives, we too may live. I told her I was grateful to have that understanding in my life, that I can be with my family and those I love for eternity. Tears came to her eyes, and Hermana Terranova does not cry, at least not like the other sisters. That reminder of the Plan of Salvation made her think of her aunt who was killed, and through those tears she said that knowing that was what got her through that. That was really special and the Spirit was there in that lesson. Well, wow, I made it to Thursday! Ok, before I get going to responding to the others emails I NEED to respond to, there's been a few questions about the food here. The food is AMAZING and totally authentic, true Mexican food! There's meat prepared different ways, tortillas, rice, beans, gello, and plenty of hot sauces! There's one here that has a bad reputation and it's supposed to be in a white bottle, but my companions and I still haven't found it! One of the other elders and I asked one of the workers one day and they said they don't have it right now. It's supposed to burn a whole through you hahaha. Oh gosh..the first week and a half I really wanted that bottle. I'm ok now, though! Besides the Mexican food, we DO get American bits here and there some days! We've had pizza and chicken rolls from Costco (on special meals haha), and the MOST AMAZING surprise was Sunday night when we had hot wings and waffle fries!!! Each of us elders got back up to get a second helping!! hahaha. Ok, ok, I'm sorry I can't write even more but I have to go on to sending pictures and responding to as many emails as I can! I love you my family and friends, and this time I can leave you on that funny note. ;)

Mucho amor, from Mexico!

Elder Trent Sellers

I'LL BE WAY DOWN HERE IN 4 WEEKS!

WOW, 4,545 MILES FROM ORLANDO TO CONCEPCION, CHILE

LOOK OUT BELOW!

NO ONE SAID YOU COULDN'T HAVE FUN!

THIS GUYS TALL!

THE 3 AMIGOS!

A SITE TO SEE!

SAY "QUESO"

LOOKS LIKE A GIANT CAKE WITH CANDLES.

ANYONE FOR A GAME OF CHESS?

CCM OR MTC.

THE CCM IS FULL OF COLOR!

HOPE I DON'T RUN INTO THE REST OF HIM!!

MI CASA

HOLA 

MEXICO'S NATIONAL FLAG

REALLY, REALLY TALL PALMS!

PROUD TO SERVE!

MARCH 12 - MARCH 20 CENTRO DE CAPACITACION MISIONAL MEXICO (MISSION TRAINING CENTER)

Hey, mom and dad and friends!!

Sorry for taking so long -- it's my first P-Day!!! Finally! I'm so in need of doing laundry!! I don't think I've ever been so excited for laundry hahaha. The P-Day's are staggered here at the CCM and our district (District 13A ...Hunger Games wink wink) doesn't get ours until Thursday. I didn't know until after I sent my first email, so I'm sorry to keep you waiting!! Everything is going real well here at the CCM. It is a BEAUTIFUL place! Mexico City is a lot different than Orlando. Even though we are within the walls of the CCM for the next few weeks (at least until we get to visit the Mexico City Temple and Visitors Center - the temple's closed but we still get to go see it sometime in our last two or three weeks!), we can see the mountains around us and the cities built right on the steep inclines. It is SO pretty. Mexico City is cramped and crowded but it is really colorful! There is a big mountain (I say mountain because I'm from Orlando and it is a mountain to me lol) that stands above the CCM with a big B on it and cramped, colorful houses below. I'm going to send a separate email with pictures after this one. We only have an hour to email, but I'm hoping our district spends a little more time today, especially on our first P-Day. ;) I was SO EXCITED to log into my email and find so many amazing emails from home! I read every single one (and there we more than 20!! Gosh I love you, my family and friends), and I'm going to try to respond to as many as I can. THANK YOU for writing me!! Ok, ok, so one more thing about Mexico City before I tell you about this week. The Mexicanos here LOVE fireworks and there shoot them off in the morning, during the day, and all throughout the night! They're not the beautiful, colorful kind, but just loud and booming. The first few days I didn't quite believe the CCM because they sounded like canons hahaha and I couldn't seen any visible fireworks, but IT'S TRUE. My companions and I have been trying to go running every other morning (waking up at 5:30, an hour early!! Oh, and not Sunday. Mostly to not let the food get the best of us haha), and when I was walking around the gravel track I could see these crazy Mexicanos launching them into the air and seeing small little bursts. It's really funny hahaha. They even set the hill sides on fire!! We were watching the big B mountain (which stands for Benemerito, by the way) burning at its top the other day (just small little fires, but from the fireworks!! lol). Ok, so THIS PAST WEEK. Well, my companions are awesome!! I'm in a trio and my two companions' names are Elder Archibald and Elder Kemner. Elder Nathan Archibald is from Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada (made me think of the Bevans!!), and Elder Ryan Kemner is from Blanding, Utah. They're both really nice guys and we've been having a lot of fun. We've taught FIVE LESSONS so far, in just a week! Two days after we got here, we had to give our first lesson to an "investigator" in complete Español!! It's been a really neat experience to have to pray for guidance and go in and give our best lessons in a language we definitely aren't fluent in. I've been loving speaking Español and I'm really picking it up fast! I'm so thankful for everything that I learned at Boone and all the opportunities I've had to learn it at home. Our investigator's name is "Ivan," by the way, but he becomes Hermano J. Vargas tomorrow when he becomes our new afternoon teacher! We've been kept so busy in our classes and throughout our days. There is seriously no free time in our casa. We are constantly moving and our home is practically our classroom. Each district has their own classroom, and ours is where we spend all of our time. This past Sunday we had our first Sacrament meeting, entirely in Español, and EVERY SUNDAY we have to prepare talks, entirely in Español, because we don't know who the branch presidency will call on!! I managed to evade a talk this Sunday, but I'm actually really excited to give one and use as much Español as I can. Our branch presidency is really cool. Presidente Suaste is our branch president, with Presidente Flores and Presidente Alvarez as his counselors. Presidente Flores served his mission is Orlando from 2000 to 2002, and he remembers serving in the Conway Ward!!! It's absolutely crazy how small of a world it is. There is an elder here, Elder Bennett, who is from Cardston, Alberta and he knows the Bevans family! Elder Arista, the other missionary who is here at the CCM from OUR STAKE, is IN MY ZONE! It's awesome!! That made me so happy and I'm so glad I have a friend from home here! He's going to Scottsdale, Arizona. Also, Hermana Terranova in our district knows Sarah Cunningham from SUU. It's just absolutely awesome how we can have so many connections and how the world can seem so small. I'M IN MEXICO OF ALL PLACES! Well, gosh, there is so much going on here. I miss home and I miss my family and friends, but I'm so happy to be here and to serve the Lord. We had a devotional Tuesday night by the Mexico Area President, which was really good, but I think the thing that hit me most was seeing over 300 young elders and hermanas together who are all sacrificing 18 to 24 months of their lives to help others find true happiness and joy in their lives. I'm so inspired by all of the missionaries here. We all come from different backgrounds and places but we're all here, together, for one important purpose. Our objectivo is, "Invitar a las personas a venir a Cristo al ayudarlas a que reciban el Evangelio restaurade mediante la fe en Jesucristo y Su Expiación, el arrepentimiento, el bautismo, la recepción del don del Espíritu Santo, y perseverar hasta el fin." That is my purpose for the next two years. I know the Gospel is true and if I didn't know that, I wouldn't be out here in such a foreign place. If I didn't know that, I wouldn't have such a great impression to share it with people on another face of the Earth. 

I love you, mom and dad, and I miss you. Thank you for such wonderful emails of love. Dang it, I really can't type this without breaking into tears, but man have I been blessed with two amazing, loving parents. Also, Cris, my bread Travis, my cousin Mitchie, and all of my loving family and friends, I love you and I hope you are all doing well and enjoying your week. :) 

Con mucho amor por todo,

Elder Sellers

P.S. My companions and I made a joke how the two hardest things here in the CCM are speaking Spanish and going to the bathroom hahaha. It's TRUE!

CENTRO DE CAPACITACION MISIONAL MEXICO

THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS MEXICO MISSION TRAINING CENTER

ELDER TRENT SELLERS OFFICIAL MISSIONARY NAME TAG

CHILE'S NATIONAL FLAG

NOW YOU CAN PRACTICE YOUR SPANISH TRANSLATION

HOME SWEET HOME, AT LEAST FOR 6 WEEKS!

ELDER SELLERS' "ORGANIZED' CLOSET

TRENT'S COMPANIONS, ELDER NATHAN ARCHIBALD (MEDICINE HAT, ALBERTA, CANADA) AND ELDER RYAN KEMNER (BLANDING, UTAH)

DISTRICT 13A (NO IT'S NOT THE HUNGER GAMES!)

READY TO LEARN SPANISH

LEARN, LEARN, LEARN

HOLA

HOLA, COMO ESTA?

DISTRICT 13A POSTER FOR GOAL OF THE CCM "DO NOT SPEAK WITH FEAR".

SPANISH SCRIPTURES

CCM HOUSING

BEAUTIFUL CCM GROUNDS

THE "B" STANDS FOR BENEMERITO

LOVE THE CCM CAMPUS

MARCH 12, 2014 MADE IT TO THE MEXICO MISSION TRAINING CENTER

I made it!! I'm at the MTC (or the CCM, "se-se-eme," as they call it!) and everything is going great so far. :) One of the first things they're letting us do is email our parents. :) My flights went well and I made it in one piece with all of my baggage. When I got on the first flight, one of the pilots said I was the best dressed to board hahaha. He thanked me for dressing up when I got off! When I got to Atlanta I took the "plane train" through the tunnel to the F Concourse for International Flights. That thing is super fast for an airport shuttle and it was pretty fun! I saw a sister missionary returning home and then an elder, so I walked over to the elder and I think his mom and introduced myself and said welcome home. :) He was just getting back from Brazil and he had a bit of an accent! It's funny how he's on the other end of the two years than I am, and I know he had to have done so much in his mission. Coming home from a mission is such an amazing accomplishment and I'm just now getting an idea of that. There were fancier places in a food court in Concourse F that were kinda expensive (I was hoping for a McDonalds or Chickfila) and the only burger place wasn't open yet, so I had to miss my American food! I stopped by the CNN booth for some gum and then went to the gate and ate some of my peanut butter pretzels and Hershey's Cookies and Cream drops lol. That held me over and when I got on the next flight we were given half a sandwich, a cinnamon brownie, and crackers. I was almost sure that I'd have another missionary to travel with but I was the only missionary on that flight, too! I managed to sneak a little bit of sleep on it, though, and I got a few really neat pictures that I'll have to email on my first actual P-Day, or as soon as we're able to email again. When I got to Mexico City, I made it through immigration pretty fast, picked up my bags, and as soon as I got on the other side of customs two brothers from the MTC/CCM were waiting for me. We went to get the van while we waited for another missionary to arrive, and man it was nice finally seeing another missionary get in the van. It was only us two all the way on the 40 minute trip to the MTC/CCM! His name's Elder Adams and he's been my bud since I got here! He's from Mesa, Arizona, which was so cool to find out! Once we got here, we waited around for a bit and then one of the brothers drove us over to the cafeteria. The campus is nice from what I've seen so far and lunch was AMAZING!! The people working in the cafeteria are awesome, too, and they help you practice your Spanish! After lunch, we came back over here to the Thomas S. Monson building and now we've been working through orientation. I got my name tags, my house keys, and I found out that I'm in a trio while I'm here!! The other two guys haven't arrived quite yet, but it'll be awesome when they do! Well, I have to get going on the rest of the things that we have to take care of! I want to go to the house and check out how things are there!

Hope today hasn't been too hard, yet. :) I love you mom, and I love you dad, and I sure do miss you. Ah gosh, I can't even type that without tears. Ok, love you very much!! And tell everyone else I say hi and hola from Mexico!

Mucho amor,

Elder Sellers

P.S. I'm getting to give a prayer in Spanish tomorrow night at our "Meet Your Branch President Meeting"! Jumping right in!!

ELDER TRENT SELLERS LEAVING ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

GETTING READY TO BOARD

MEXICO HERE I COME!

RIDE FROM AIRPORT TO CCM OR MTC. IS THAT A SAM'S CLUB?

MADE IT TO MEXICO!

RIDE FROM AIRPORT TO CCM OR MTC