Visiting, baptisms, and missionaries

This has been a week full of visiting members and less-active members, and spending time with the young missionaries.  

Each Monday the 4 local missionaries come to our home to do their laundry and have lunch. We love spending this time with them. They, along with the 2 elders in Santa Maria Huatulco, are almost like our own sons.  We give them rides when needed (although they rarely ask), we attend meetings with them, inspect their apartments, help with small health issues, and even teach them piano.  Elder Martinez from northern Mexico wanted me to teach him to play his favorite hymn, “How Great Thou Art” (¡Grande eres Tú!), on the piano. He has no musical training at all. So after meetings he would ask me to teach him. One hand, single notes, but he can now play that hymn and “Nearer My God to Thee” which I taught him Tuesday morning.  He is a remarkable missionary with a remarkable life story. 

This past Monday we had our first interview with our mission president, President Madsen, here in Huatulco. He is very supportive of the missionary work we are doing and asked us to continue looking for ways to help strengthen the church in this area. We always enjoy our visits with President and his wife.

Last Sunday we went to church in Santa Maria Huatulco, which is a small town about 30 minutes north of us.  They have a small branch there with great potential for growth as there are actually about 300 members on record. The branch president and his wife have four young children and we offered to drive them home after the meetings. Oh my, what a ride. Brent said afterward that even he was nervous on some of the roads where parts were washed away or had little gullies across them. But we were glad to help. The family is quiet, sweet, and faithful.

After church, we went to lunch at the home of the Contreras family. We haven’t eaten at members’ homes very often and you never know what will be served. But the food was delicious, chicken and rice, and we had a nice visit in the typical open air dining room.

On Saturday we were able to attend the baptism of Manuel. He and his sister, who was baptized a few weeks ago, live with their grandmother here in Huatulco. They both have many friends in the branch to support them and help them learn the gospel.

The members here are giving us more and more people to visit, which we really like to do. Among the people we have visited this week are the DeLaO family, Hermana Marta Pon and her family, Hermana Alejandra whose husband died just a few weeks ago at the age of 49, the Santos family who we did another Family Home Evening with, and Hermana Carmelita, who will not let the young missionaries into her home but, for some reason, welcomed us old people and said we could return.

Hermana Carmelita’s son is Chava. He is a handsome returned missionary who has a snorkeling business. He took us out snorkeling in his dingy, a blow up raft which he and Brent had to pump up while we were riding around. Chava is awesome and we were happy to hear that he is getting married in the next few months.

Chava served his mission in Guadalajara, Mexico. Brent and I went on vacation to Guadalajara a few years ago and visited the small sea village of San Blas where my nephew’s wife is from. We became good friends with her mother while we were there. The interesting thing is that Chava lived in the upstairs apartment of her house when he was a missionary. Such a small world, even in Mexico.

More visiting and two baptisms coming up this week, along with another boat ride. Life is good here.

No Sunday leftovers for lunch so we bought pizza. These 4 elders easily finished off two whole pizzas Not the pie-shaped ones; these pizzas are square and fill the entire box. It was a lot of pizza!

Outside the church in Santa Maria Huatulco after District Meeting.
Elder Martinez (yellow tie), who serves here, is the district leader.

After District Meeting, we did a house check with the Elders in Santa Maria Huatulco.

Who says you can't workout while on your mission. A homemade barbell works just fine.

New missionary Elder Pelicó from Guatemala received his first haircut in the mission--and it was free.

This is outside the Elders' house in Santa Maria Huatulco. I love pictures of missionaries walking along a dirt road. They are so dedicated.

Baptisms: Above--the cute family whose 8 year old son was recently baptized and whose parents will be baptized soon. Below--Manuel and his sister, Arantza.

People of Santa Maria Huatulco: Above--Presidente Luna and his family who we drove home after church.  Below--Hermana Contreras and her daughter, Andreli, where we ate dinner in the upstairs dining room.

This is Presidente and Hermana Cruz. They have a store just around the corner from our apartment. He is a counselor in the district presidency and she is the district Relief Society President. They are so strong in the gospel. Hermana Cruz has taken us to meet with several less-active families. Presidente Cruz really loves Elder Johnson and we have become good friends with their family.

Family Home Evening with the Santos family, playing another silly game.

Teaching: Above--teaching Elder Martinez.  Below--I have been helping these two cute girls, Diana and Jazmin, study English in preparation for their college entrance exams.

Presidente and Hermana Madsen

Snorkeling with Chava in his blow-up dingy

Chava caught a blow fish and gave it to Brent to hold, who proceeded to squeeze it too tightly and it puffed itself up so the spines poked into Brent's hand. It had a very cute face though.

We have a lighthouse and a blowhole just minutes from our house.

One of 5 beautiful beaches within 20 minutes of us.

Every time Brent looked at this darling baby she would cry.  This is not a first!

Our green onions!

             This is one of our favorite street foods, tacos al pastor with pineapple.

When you hear this bell, it's time to panic if you need the garbage truck. It stops at our corner every weekday morning between 10:30 and 11:00.  It's quite comical to see everyone running out to the street with their garbage.  (I've been wanting to share this video with all of you. Thanks, April, for helping me.)

Home Sweet Home

We have come to appreciate Huatulco as our home. We are very comfortable in our apartment and really do love this area and the people here.

We spent Wednesday and Thursday of the week before last in Oaxaca City. We got fingerprinted for our visas and were able to attend the temple on Wednesday evening. That was a special night. The church is true where ever you go.

We also were looking forward to shopping at Sam's Club and Walmart while in Oaxaca. But, unlike the church, they are not the same everywhere.  Needless to say, we were disappointed. So I'm still missing a few things that I hope I can get someone to bring to me from the U.S.  Two things I would really like are a liquid measuring cup and pump hairspray!

On Thursday morning of that week, we went to the Monte Alban archeological ruins. Amazing how intelligent and intuitive the people were two thousand years ago. It is one of the largest ruins sights in Mesoamerica and is quite impressive.

On Friday morning, before we left Oaxaca, we tried to get the oil changed in our car. It is a Honda. We tried several places like Ford and Toyota but they all said they couldn't service our car because they were not a Honda dealer. Isn't an oil change pretty basic? We finally found a Honda dealership and they were able to take care of it, even though it took three hours.

We drove home on a different highway this time. It was supposedly less curvy. I didn't count, but I'm sure it had only about 20 curves less than the other highway; plus it was 7 hours instead of 6 and not as beautiful. I'm hoping our trips to Oaxaca are few.

Friday and Saturday were exciting because we were hit with tremendous rain from Tropical Storm Earl. Several large trees were downed and the streets were flooded.  Sounds like Centerville after an east wind! But no one looses shingles or siding here because their building materials consist of cement and clay.

We love Mondays because the elders come to our house to do their laundry (and eat leftovers from our Sunday dinner).   This past Monday we had five elders here as they prepared for transfers. Two of the elders from Huatulco left, as well as seven others from the zone.  Three new elders arrived here in Huatulco and are a good fit. The young missionaries here are strong and hard-working. Plus, we have fun with them.

On Monday night, we had a Family Home Evening with the Santos family. There were three adults and two teenagers besides Brent and me.  Our activity was "Don't Eat Pete."  I brought one with me from home which Tina had made in Spanish--"No comas Tomás." This is the second time we have played it and the families love it--especially the adults. The fathers are the most comical.

The only recreational activity we've had time for this week was a trip to Bocaña beach, about a 20 minute drive from our apartment. It's a beach where you go for a mud wash. It is supposedly medicinal and has been used for centuries by the indigenous people. Well, we tried it out on Friday and we've been healthy ever since so I guess that's proof that it's medicinal!

Friday night was Family Home Evening with the branch. We were in charge of the activity part. Brent led them in a rousing game of Simon Says (Simon Dice). He was almost as good in Spanish as he is in English. The people loved it.

Yesterday we went to the baptism of an 8-year old boy. His parents are waiting to get legally married so they can get baptized as well. They are a darling family and excited to be members.

We spend much of our time visiting with less-active members and members who know them.  The people of Huatulco are very friendly and are easy to become friends with. Whether or not they go to church, they are our friends and we enjoy spending time with them.

This is one of many hillside pueblitos in the mountains as we drive to Oaxaca City. Like I've said before, it's a beautiful drive, just too many curves on a long two-lane highway.

A hillside view in the city of Oaxaca. Homes are built anywhere there is space. Very few cars here so the people who live in these houses walk up and down, to and from their homes, sometimes several times a day.

The archeological ruins of Monte Albán

Three unique foods in Oaxaca are tlyudas, mole, and chapulines (pictured here). Can you tell what chapulines are? Seasoned Mexican fried grasshoppers. I will not be tasting these but Brent did. Way to go Brent. But he most likely won't be eating them again.

The beautiful temple in Oaxaca. I love the golden lighting.

There is a little village outside of Oaxaca where they make these wooden trucks and other toys. It is awesome to drive along the highway and see shop after shop of them displayed along the road. Yes, I bought two trucks.

The working people of Oaxaca

Road repair with a pick ax, wheelbarrow and house broom.

These stick brooms are very efficient.

Lunch at our apartment on the day of transfers. Isn't this a handsome group of elders?

Family Home Evening with the Santos family, who is a less-active family in our branch.

Random parades happen whenever someone decides there is a reason for one.
We love seeing the people in native dress.

August 12th--who knew it is the day of Misa por los Taxis. We left our house in the morning to go exercising and the street was full of taxis with a police blockade at the end of the road. We asked a policeman what was happening. "Misa por los taxis." Mass for the taxis. Every year on August 12th. The decorated taxis drive in a procession past the front door of the cathedral. Who knew! 

This is our gym. We tried an indoor gym a few times but they are not air conditioned and extremely hot for working out. We found this exercise equipment at a sports park near our house. It is still hot but much better than exercising in a stuffy gym. Plus, there's a track around the soccer field. It's dirt but a normal size track nonetheless.

The therapeutic mud wash

I put this picture in to show
what we spend much of our
time doing--waiting! If you've heard of
Mexican time, believe it.

Brent thought I looked quite
charming working in the
garden with my mosquito
sleeves and sun hat.
(Thanks Sydney G.)

I included this picture just for myself. Hermana Elo was sweeping the leaves outside the church into the center tree area and her adorable grandson was sweeping them out. I guess kids are the same where ever you live. He is my cute little buddy. He loves to "sing" when I play the piano.

Home Sweet Home

No, we are not on vacation.

From our pictures, it may look like we are on vacation. But this really is where we live. It is so beautiful to us who have lived most of our lives in the mountainous dessert of Utah. And, if you know Brent, you know that he wants to see it all right now. Every time we drive to a new place for missionary work, he has done his research and knows what we should see there.

In addition to our missionary work, last week we visited 5 new beaches, went to an iguana reserve, took two boat rides to see the bays, released baby turtles into the ocean, and visited the beach where each year a million turtles lay their eggs in the sand. This happens when there is a full moon so we hope to see it in the next few months.

We are loving our missionary work as well. It is a delight to meet with the young missionaries and the people here are very friendly. We have been to district meetings, correlation meetings, presented a Family Home Evening, inspected 4 more missionary apartments, attended a regional youth conference where Brent was one of the speakers, and gone to a cultural celebration in our town. We attended church at two branches in Puerto Escondido (2 hours away) last Sunday. In the morning meeting, we were both asked to introduce ourselves and share a message. I was able to speak in Spanish for 5-6 minutes without notes and I'm feeling a little more confident.

Tuesday we headed back through the mountains to Oaxaca City (a 6-hour drive on a winding road) to complete our visa requirements (fingerprints, etc.)  This is not a pleasant drive, although it is beautiful. While here in Oaxaca, we plan on going to the temple, the archeological ruins at Monte Albán, make a stop at Sam's Club and Walmart, then return home on Friday.

Checking missionary houses

I love these two pictures. This is a Missionary Correlation Meeting with the full-time missionaries and the mission leader for the branch. We met outside the branch mission leader's home because his family kicked him out when he joined the church. He is allowed to eat and sleep there but we could not hold our meeting in the house. (The house area is above them. No walls, just a partial roof.)

And the following picture is of them walking down the road after the meeting on their way to appointments. No cars or bikes in the Oaxaca Mission--just walking, or buses for long distances. We love these young men. They are awesome missionaries. 

Regional Youth Conference

I learned how to make tlyudas, the most common native food in Oaxaca. SO good. They are definitely better than the one we tried at the Oaxacan restaurant in Salt Lake City.

At the cultural celebration in our town.

Brent took this picture of the power lines outside our apartment
to remind us that we live in Mexico.

These are pictures from when we went to the beach for the Liberación de las Tortugas (releasing the baby turtles into the ocean). The turtles come ashore to lay their eggs then bury them in the sand. They hatch after about 45 days. This is a reserve where turtles are protected. The work of the reserve is to gather the eggs after they are laid, protect them, then safely release them within two hours after they hatch.

This shows how tiny the turtles are. They are adorable.

After being released onto the sand, they scurry toward the ocean until a wave comes and
carries them away. It is one of the cutest things ever.

At the iguana reserve

Other touristy activities

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