Our Work in Oaxaca (Wa-ha-ka): January 2017

We keep wondering if sometime someone we know will visit us on one of these, or by air would be fine as well.

Today is Brent's birthday and the branch put on a grand fiesta tonight. We love these people!

The birthday piñata

It's a Mexican tradition.

Month in review: In December we had a huge fiesta outside at the church with food, piñatas, dancing, and a Mariachi band. Mexican fiestas are the best. Sometimes people will block off their street and have their own fiesta. No worries, you just drive down a different street.

Christmas here is so different from Christmas at home. Not much celebration, very little gift-giving, no visits from Santa--just time spent with family and friends, and eating of course. Oh, and no snow. How can it be Christmas when it's 90 degrees outside. Thanks to our grandkids who sent us homemade snowflakes to decorate our apartment.

Christmas was made special for us because of a visit from Brandon, Netell and family. They were here during the last week of December and we loved having them here. We spent time at several beaches, took a boat tour of the bays and beaches, went to Puerto Escondido to release baby turtles into the ocean, took the little boat into a lagoon with crocodiles, iguanas, and birds, and the guys went deep sea fishing.

They were here for the fiesta, to witness a baptism in the ocean, and be with the missionaries for Christmas day. In fact, they said spending the day with the missionaries at our apartment was one of the favorite things of their visit. All four missionaries here came after church for dinner and to Skype with their families. We also took the family caroling on Christmas Eve and Christmas. We visited 15 families, sang Christmas songs in English, and left them a treat. We love sharing our family with the members here.

The baptism in the ocean was for Armando, a 25-year old nurse who we helped teach and who we still meet with. He also asked Brent to baptize him, like Paula in November, which he was honored to do. A baptism in the ocean is beautiful. There is a secluded beach a few minutes away which has a cove among the rocks that is quiet and private. An interesting outcome of this baptism was another baptism request for Brent. An investigator, a 21-year old mother of 3 boys, attended Armando's baptism and wanted to do the same. So two weeks ago Brent baptized her in the ocean as well. We did not anticipate that Brent would baptize anyone on our mission and he feels blessed to have been asked.

In Mexico, the people celebrate Dia de Reyes Magos, Day of the Magi or three wise kings, on January 6th. During the night, three gifts are left for the children, one for each of the three gifts the wise men gave to the Christ child. There is a special bread, Rosca de Reyes, eaten on that day as well. It is wreath shaped and has figures of the nativity hidden inside. If you get one of the figures, you are supposed to buy tamales for everyone on February 12th. Not sure that really happens but it's a fun tradition.

Our missionary work continues to go well. We love to visit the people and have so many new friends. We visit 15-20 families or couples each week and continue to learn of more who need a little nudge back to the gospel. We have the luxury of having an iPad so we can download and show church videos. The regular missionaries here don't have any electronic media available to them, so we are able to review and re-enforce the gospel in a different way. We also spend time with newly baptized members, helping them better understand the gospel.

All the missionaries in the Mexico Oaxaca Mission had the opportunity in December or January to participate in a special missionary program that Hermana Madsen put together. The program, called "Listen with Your Heart," was performed in seven areas and included speaking parts, a missionary choir, and slide shows. It was a touching, spiritual experience for the participants as well as those who attended. I helped out with the music in our zone by playing the piano and practicing with the elders here during weekly district meetings. Since we don't have sister missionaries here in Huatulco, I asked several sisters from our branch to sing with our elders. I love how the members here are so willing to serve and help out.

Last Monday was transfer day for the young missionaries. We said goodbye to Elder Saldaña, one of the zone leaders, and to Elder Shoemaker, who went home.. It's a little sad to see missionaries leave us but it's exciting and fun to get to know others. They are part of our lives as we feed them on Mondays, share our washer and dryer with them, attend district, zone and branch meetings with them, give them rides occasionally, and help them with baptisms. We have amazing missionaries here in the Huatulco District.

Fiestas

The fiesta at the church

This is a neighborhood fiesta where people set up in the street outside their house, blocking any traffic from driving through. No permit needed! You just do it.

Family Visit

A little street food

These people, including us, are waiting for street tacos to be cooked in the back of this car. This is a very popular food stop.

These guys and their dad love street tacos.

Christmas with the missionaries

The two supermarkets sold hams at Christmas time so we had ham and funeral potatoes for Christmas dinner. I had to use cut up frozen french fries for the funeral potatoes! One of the Mexican elders called it "papas con cereal" (potatoes with cereal) because of the Corn Flakes on top.

Todd beat the missionaries at arm wrestling, which actually surprised some of them, but his dad could still take him down, although it wasn't easy.

Sightseeing, beaches and boats

This cute blue-eyed blondie captured lots of attention from the natives.

Releasing baby turtles into the ocean.

The people loved touching this little redhead.

We've never seen so many people at a beach as we did the week of Christmas. The beaches are usually tranquil and quiet.

This is the secluded beach where we've had two baptisms.

Our dear friend, Sophia, braided Lucy's hair.

When you are 6'4' and 6'1" your grandparents don't have a large enough bed.

Of course we had a piñata.

Jack was loving the piñata thing until his dad whacked off all of Santa's body parts. He was so sad and upset!

Happy Birthday Brandon. I don't think these candles are legal in the U.S. At least we put it out on the patio.

The hard part is saying goodbye.

Baptisms

This beautiful mom was baptized by her husband who has been inactive for many years. They are so faithful and have a cool story. He prayed for a change in his life and felt that he should return to church. He saw Brent walking along the street and yelled from his truck asking what time church was. They have been there every week since as well as to all the church activities. Plus, we visit them every Wednesday.

Missionary Life