Occasionally we get requests for some general information for missionaries that are going to serve in one of the Monterrey Missions. Here are some responses from actual alumni. If you still have questions after reading below, or if you are a returned missionary and have more comments you would like to contribute, please don't hesitate to send your feedback to the webmaster. If I get inundated with comments to manually update this page, I'll probably automate it, but until then, you'll have to just send your comments to me directly. I will use my discretion on which comments to post, e.g., I won't post a submission that is relatively negative.

General information for future Monterrey missionaries:

Missionaries coming to this mission will need two suits, because Mexico Monterrey West missionaries always wear suits at zone conferences, interviews, and during any church meeting. They have even been wearing suits to tract and teach, except when the weather is very hot (we don't want anyone passing out from heat exhaustion). The expectations and standards of professionalism and spirituality are high in this mission, but the result has been miraculous. This is one of the most exciting missions in the church right now, and with the new missionary program that came out this summer......there will be no limit to what we can accomplish here in the Monterrey West Mission! Elder Henry B. Eyring told us during a regional conference that we will see many miracles happening in Mexico, and we already have. But we are going to see many more in the future. If you are coming to the Monterrey West Mission......Come as a true disciple of Jesus Christ, and come ready to be a representative of His church, and you will be part of those miracles!

I returned home from the Monterrey North mission in Decebmer of 1999. You are going to the coolest mission on the planet. Moneterrey is the 2nd biggest city in Mexico, and is the coolest. The mission extends from the city itself, northward towards Nuevo laredo, then along the texas border until you hit the gulf of mexico and matamoros. You are lucky to be going there.

When I was called to serve in the Mexico Monterrey North Mission, I had the conception that all of Mexico was hot - wrong!!! Be sure to take some warm clothing as well - my parents had to send me a heavier coat, gloves & thermals. I am a cold person as it is, but I thought it was very cold. It also rains a lot in the winter time.

Then comes the summer "carnicula" and you wish for the winter. It is HOT HOT HOT. Take some serious white shirts. If not you can always buy them down there.

MMNM is a great mission. The people are very receptive to the gospel & most are very willing to listen. I would like to go back and visit some of the friends I made down there. Good luck!!!

When I was missionary in Monterrey many moons ago, our mission president bought the necessary bikes for all the missionaries who needed one. I remember one "gringo" missionary who started to build his own bike, but he never used it!! Why? Because imagine, a gringo missionary with a nice bike in one of the poorest parts of Mexico. It's a temptation for many burglars, don't you agree?

Otherwise, you will need many other things more than a bike. Keep in mind, Monterrey is a HOT place in summer and cooler than the average weather in Mexico during winter season. Buy enough shirts (short sleeve) for summer and at least 3 pants if you don't want to wash a lot of laundry during your mission. The shirts are important because you going to sweat a lot and some times I was taking two showers a day!

During winter, you might be want to buy a suit for the cooler weather, no more than one because you will never use a second suit. And the most important thing: FOOTWEAR. NEVER buy a nice pair of shoes (may be only for Sundays) beacause you going to walk a lot. Buy at least two pairs or more of that industrial shoes with tire sole if is possible. Hey man, this is the voice of the experience talking to you!!!

Have fun and convert a lot of people into the true Gospel. May our Heavenly Father bless you always.

Whether or not you need a bike will depend on where you are, your companion and your mission president (whether or not he allows bikes). Most of the big cities, like Monterrey have a decent bus system. When you go to the smaller pueblos you might want a bike. When there are transfers its usually by bus and they charge you extra for the bike. Maybe take some $ with to buy one down there and when your transfered, sell it.

Driving in Monterrey is a treat!! Remember, don't lose your cool, and the horn is the most important feature of your car.

Monterrey is on the edge of the Sierra Madre Oriental which is a front of mountains on the east side of Mexico. I don't know where you live, but compared to Utah, it is hot and humid. Many of the leaves on trees continue green in the winter, cause it doesn't freeze much, if at all. This isn't the case for the cities up on the top of the Sierra Madre plateau, like Saltillo, or Matehuala. Those places can get pretty cold. I had no long sleeved shirts at all, since I never needed them. I was in Saltillo in the summertime, and the Monterrey area down below for the rest of my mission, so I never saw a cold winter on my mission. You'll hardly ever use a suit (Just at conferences--and even then you don't have to wear one there) So, it might be a lot cheaper to just use a Blazer instead of a suit. In the winter you'll probably need a sweater for the warm days, and a light coat for the colder ones. The summer? Hot, hot hot. Have you ever had the sweat drain across your forhead and run into your eyes and make your eyes water even more because of the salty water? If you haven't, it'll definitely happen to you.

You'll love Monterrey... It's very hot, so be prepared... I saw 120 degree weather all the time... It's a good idea to bring a few white T shirts to wear under your regular shirt it will make them last longer. And try to fax or use email whenever you can, there's a lot of places to do it from, and it's a lot more reliable. Pray to go to Saltillo also, it rules. Good luck!

Besides the typical case of mylanta and pepto bismol, all I can say is you'll love Monterrey. Monterrey is a very large city, I would say possibly larger than Salt Lake City, but with much nicer people, people in Monterrey are famous for being straight foward, they like things up front. I will admit a little of soccer knowlege will be helpful to open conversations on the street, but overall just be yourself, don't worry, let the spirit do the rest. Bienvenido a Monterrey. I hope you enjoy hot and atomic SPICED FOOD, you'll have plenty of it.