For Erik Chappell, spending two years spreading the gospel in one of the world’s poorest and most crime-ridden places was “like a dream come true.”
Chappell, the 21-year-old son of Mark and Jen Chappell, spent two years in and around Tijuana, Mexico, as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“I had a lot of other missionaries who had a lot of problems. They would get mugged or held at gunpoint … but I personally didn’t have a lot of problems like that,” the 2011 Warren Central graduate said.
The Mexican city of about 1.3 million has a notorious reputation for drug cartels, violent crime and kidnappings. In 2013, the city recorded 429 homicides. In 2012, 320 homicides were reported. In 2011, it’s estimated that more than 1,100 people were killed in drug-related violence.
Chappell’s description of when he arrived is understated.
“At that time, it was a little more dangerous,” he said.
Chappell didn’t know about the city’s seedy underbelly when he was assigned to go there.
“Honestly, I was really excited because I knew I was going to be able to learn Spanish,” Chappell said. “I had heard of Tijuana but I had no idea where it was.”
Friends and family expressed concern about going to a city where an active drug war is waging, but Chappell was eager to answer his missionary calling.
“We go around and we share the message about Jesus Christ and help everybody so they can learn more about him,” Chappell said. “I got to see many people who changed their lives and now live a lot happier.”
The Tijuana Temple District of the Church of Jesus Christ has approximately 30,000 members, according to church officials, and Chappell spent time spreading the gospel, working with other missionaries and building homes.
“It’s really changed my life. It’s something that’s optional. We’re not required in our church to do it,” Chappell said. “It’s something I wanted to do my whole life. Everything I’d done up until that moment was preparing me to go on that mission.”
Mormonism allows single men between the ages of 18 and 25, single women over the age of 19 or retired couples to work as missionaries. Missionaries work with a companion of the same gender during their mission, with the exception of couples, who work with their spouse. Single men, such as Chappell, serve missions for two years and single women serve for 18 months.
Missionaries receive assignments from church headquarters and are sent only to countries where governments allow the church to operate. Before going to Mexico, Chappell completed a 10-week training course in Spanish. Before he left, he didn’t speak the language.
“I’m fluent in Spanish now,” he said.
Missionary work is voluntary, and church members receive no pay for their work. The workers avoided entertainment, parties and other activities and communication with family and friends is limited, so focus remains on religion and service, Chappell said.
“In my church, it’s different because you’re completely dedicated. It’s 24/7 missionary work,” he said.
The experience is something people of all faiths should experience, he said.
“Anyone who can go, even if it’s a few days or a week, do it,” Chappell said.
In January, Chappell is set to attend classes at Brigham Young University —Idaho where he is majoring in mechanical engineering. He was a student there before leaving for Mexico.