Journal October 4.2009

Monica reminded us that we just past our “Hump Day” in the mission field. Meaning, of course, that we are half way through our mission. During conference when President Monson talked about the service gifts of the children, it made us emotional, even to the point of tears, for our children and grandchildren. We do miss all of you. Conference was great?! What a spiritual feast it was. We can hardly wait for the Ensign to arrive with the Conference talks so we can study and review them. We are especially excited about the new temple that will be built just minutes from our city, Tremonton, and in Mark and Cheree’s Brigham City. I know they are thrilled.

Have you ever heard of a Sobremesa? We learned about and enjoyed one on Friday night. Our friends, the Chavez family had a son, Julian, getting baptized and invited us to participate giving a talk and a prayer for the baptism. Dad also stood in the confirmation circle and was also one of the witnesses during the actual baptism. It was a very nice baptism and took about ½ hour. After dinner, Rebecca’s Mother was flying in for the weekend and after one of the brothers picked her up from the airport we met at a Japanese Restaurant for Sushi. That in itself was an interesting savory (?) treat. Everyone tasted everyone else’s food and then ate a Mexican Sombrero Cake that Rebecca had made for dessert. The candles on it were the kind that kept relighting so Julian had a terrible time getting them all blown out. There were about 20 of them positioned all around the cake. Anyway, after we finished, everyone sat around the table and visited for quite a while. We were getting pretty tired because it was already midnight. Finally, they gathered up gifts, and the remaining cake and we headed back. Rebecca explained that the visiting around the table is an important part of Mexican Culture, and that is called a Sobremesa. (Over Table—or table talk) In fact it is considered rude if people don’t stay to visit after a meal.

Dad’s tutor,Victor, told us that his Mom was sitting in their living room when she looked into the kitchen and saw a huge RAT walking around on its hind legs in her kitchen. After the shock wore off she decided she needed to do something and stood up. The rat saw her, but didn’t seem concerned and just kept walking on its hind legs over to their bathroom and slide down their shower drain. YIKES!! Needless to say, we made sure all of our drains are secure so that the rats can’t stand on their hind legs and open the drains.
Last night I was getting ready for bed and walked in the kitchen and found all sorts of bugs running around on the floor and sink. A cockroach was sliding into the sink so I
tried to wash him into the drain with water, but he was too big and didn’t fit between the slots. I finally had to take a handle of one of those big spoons and smush him. Oh, the joys of a mission in Mexico. I really do not like bugs or critters.
At Zone Conference President Valasco gave us all two packets of worm pills and said it was very important to take them. Oh Yea!! Boy, are they nasty. No, we didn’t chew them, but just to swallow them was horrible. It is nice to know that we are now safe from critters inside our body, if not outside.

We have our English library ready to go now and so we will advertise it and stand back and wait for the crowds of people that want to read English Books. I’m smiling when I say that. We have lots of interest of those who want to attend our morning English Class among adults, but they have a hard time continuing more that 2 or 3 weeks. Other things take their time and it is difficult for them with families, work and church. Understandable. It is fun to get to know so many Mexican women and one or two men.

Dad is going back to the church tonight to work with a young man who is preparing for a mission. He doesn’t have someone to translate tonight, so it will be interesting how he gets along. Somehow, he always manages.

Here are a couple of picture of some of the little kids around San Critobal.
Take care,