103 Weeks to Go!

On the bus to the Mexico City Temple & Visitor's Center

Making himself comfortable in the Visitor's Center

(He requested that this be the pic for his missionary plaque at our church. Lol)

With his companion

In front of the Mexico City Temple

With the elders in his district

With the hermanas (sisters)

Week One Email (July 24, 2014):

I have been sitting here looking at this computer screen for a little bit now. I don't know what to write. I don't know how I can possibly explain in one email everything that has happened, all the struggles I've gone through, the accomplishments I have made, and really just do any justice to this last week. There is simply no way I can truly explain what my experience here has been like. Well, here goes a feeble attempt to try and do just that I guess.

This is the single hardest thing I have ever had to do. The first couple days were so rough. I was homesick beyond belief. I could never have prepared for just how homesick I was going to be. I can say though, that one thing I have been able to learn while I have been here is humility. Prayer is what has gotten me through this experience so far. I pray before I do anything. When I eat, when I study, before a lesson, every time I have felt homesick I have prayed to God for strength. 

Another thing that hit me about prayer this week, is that I know that I have a lot of them coming my way. I realized yesterday, that my family would often say in our prayers "please bless all the missionaries" and I know that families all over the world say that in their prayer and in the temple they almost always include the missionaries in their prayers. As I sat there and thought about that, I could almost feel the power of all those prayers hit me. I mean I am now an official missionary. I am included every time anyone ever says a prayer that contains "please bless the missionaries" and that will always be a comfort to me. 

I don't get to see Jake (his cousin who is also at the CCM) as much as I would like. He was the first person I saw here and that was awesome and we've been able to sit next to each other at two devotionals. I love that kid. I plan each day around trying to see him whenever I can. His classroom is in a building called Wilford Woodruff and mine is in John Taylor. They are, luckily, right next to each other. Me and my companion have a code word called "Woodruff Run" which is when we take a lap through the Woodruff hallway to see if Jake's class is doing anything and if they are not, then I stop in and say "hi". His district is all super cool and it looks like he has had a pretty fun time here overall. I for sure don't have any stories about being in a barbershop quartet or playing in the rain to find a lost name tag.

Good things have happened, though. I have been named "Best at Spanish" and "Most Athletic" by my district. I have also discovered a love for the Book of Mormon. I spend my hour of personal study time each morning reading solely from it and writing down any inspiration I have while reading it. I get this awesome feeling while I have been reading and it starts my day off right. I have also felt and seen the love of our Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ like none other while being here. 

As hard as this has been so far, and as much as I miss you all at home. I know what I am doing is the right thing. I know I have an amazing opportunity to bring the Gospel that I know is true into the lives of others. I know when I a get home in two years I am going to look back and think, wow that went by so fast. But right now, it feels like it couldn't possible be moving any slower.

I love you guys so much. I am going to try and send as many pictures as I can here in a little bit, but first I need to find a cord for the camera. 

The church is true.

Love always, 

Elder Alley

Max está en México

Here's the email Max sent us this evening from Mexico City. When he left us this morning and got to his gate, he was lucky enough to meet up with 3 elders and 1 sister missionary from the Spokane area who were all headed to the MTC in Mexico. It was nice to know he wasn't traveling alone.---Max's Mom

July 16, 2014

Well, I don´t have a lot of time but I want ya to know that I have officially made it! The trip has been pretty crazy so far. First flight I, of course, had a screaming and kicking toddler right behind me but I managed to get some sleep anyway. Second flight, I made the mistake of reading the letters Michael and Aubrey wrote me and I started tearing up, so as to not further embarrass myself, I didn't even read Mom and Dad's letters. Again gotta make this quick, but highlight of the trip so far was when our bus arrived at the CCM and we were waiting to unload, I was startled by someone slapping the window right by me from the outside. Elder Sok* was right there! I hadn´t even gotten off the bus yet and we already found each other! Ok, well I have to go do some more orientation stuff. My Pday is Thursdays, but tomorrow doesn´t count cuz it's more orientation. Sooo I will write you all in a little over a week! 

Love you all!

Max

*Elder Sok is Max's cousin who's been at the CCM since June 18th.

From the CCM:

Your Missionary's mailing address is:
Elder Max Alley
[25/08/2014] 6 - C
Carretera Tenayuca-Chalmita #828
Colonia Zona Escolar, Gustavo A. Madero
07230 Mexico, Distrito Federal
Mexico

The estimated departure date for your missionary is [25/08/2014]. The use of the above address on all correspondence will greatly facilitate delivery to your missionary at the MTC. Please don't send packages.

Departure Day

Grandma Alley

The Fam

This is just so "Max"

Ready to leave

Last Hugs Montage (Sniff, sniff)

Report from Max's Mom on his Departure Day (July 16, 2014):

I think he got a few hours of sleep the night before. His dad and I got about 45 minutes. We sent him to bed and we finished up the packing frenzy for him because we knew we could come home after dropping him off and sleep. It was sweet because we found him later curled up in bed beside his little sister, Aubrey.

I did pretty good holding myself together. I lost it at his setting apart when he came over to hug me and I teared up a couple more times that night from seeing his interactions with his siblings. Max did pretty good holding it together, but I could see the waves of anxiety and sadness mixed with excitement come and go all night.

Our last hugs were tear filled. He did me in when he leaned in to give me a kiss on the cheek and squeezed me real tight as we were hugging. I could see him fighting to not cry as he walked up the ramp to the security line. I was so sad to see him go and I missed him the second he left my embrace, but it was tempered with a feeling of peace that he was where he needed to be. That’s the only thing that makes this bearable is that I know the Lord is mindful of him and that a mission will be pivotal in making him the man the Lord wants and needs him to be. I know he’s being watched over by angels, so I can sleep at night.