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