Meet The Mormons

Every 6 weeks on Sunday evening we watch "Meet The Mormons." Actually every Sunday night we watch a church produced video.  Last night it was Meet the Mormons.  As you can imagine at the end when David Archuleta sings Glorious sweet Herman Archuleta was affected by it.  I heard a little gasp come from her row and then some commotion as companions tried to comfort her. As she walked out she was still crying.  I gave her a hug and asked, "I guess that makes you miss your brother and family?"  She said said, "Yes, it makes me a little sad."   

Serving a mission is hard.  These Elders and Hermanas miss their families and friends and then there is the rigor of learning a language, the pressure of teaching investigators (which are the teachers and volunteers from the community), and just adjusting to a total different life style all cause some emotional anguish.  If we can get the missionaries through the first couple of weeks they are usually OK.  But then they leave after 6 weeks and have to re-adjust to the mission field with all it's emotional differences.  We all need lots of encouragement.  I really like Elder Christofferson's Christmas message in the Liahona this month.  He talks about taking the time to reflect and consider that the Lord appreciates the service we render.  It was very touching and a little bit of a twist when we usually consider that we should reflect on and appreciate the savior but this time we are asked to reflect and understand that the Savior appreciated the service we are giving.

Monday morning and missionaries leaving after having been trained

Lots of van and buses to take missionaries to the airport and to their Mexico missions.  Elder Marshall, Elder Barney's companion.

Elder Barney from our Rama 6.  He is headed to a Mexico City mission  The sister behind him with long hair is also headed to a Mexico city mission.  I really admire these young people who are willing to give two years of their life to serving the Lord.  

After the missionaries leave cleaning of their apartments begins very early.  Some leave as early at 2 in the morning.  

always hot sauce on the cafeteria tables.

Wednesday with Seth

We worked a little in the morning and then took a quick trip downtown to the Zocolo (down town)
before we had to be back for new missionaries from North America at 4:30

We stopped at the Museum of Anthropology and saw the Jaredite Heads from Vera Cruz

Seth posing in front of the majestic Quetzal bird feathers.  They really are that beautiful color.

The display of the Temple Mayor as seen at the museum of anthropology.  The ruins are still right in the middle of Mexico City.  We stopped by to see the real ruins later on Wednesday and looked over the fence but din't go inside the museum or the ruins.  Just not enough time.  

Very cute boys playing and singing out with the older man in the back.  We definitely put money in the box the little boy in the middle is holding 

Constitutional Plaza with the national palace in the background.  They were setting up some kind of display.  I imagine Christmas.

Another view from the plaza looking the other way. That is the  National Cathedral in the background.  We went inside to see it.  

We stopped at the Casa de los Azulejos  (Blue Tile Restaurant) for lunch.  It is the first Sanborn restaurant in a very historic blue tile building that used to be a palace.  We stopped along the way and bough hackey sacks and bracelets for the grandchildren.  Seth bought a braided leather bracelet.  

Palacio de Bellas Artes  where we park. We walked inside and looked around.

Tuesday with Seth

Well every other Tuesday Dennis and I go to the Mexico Temple where he see's missionary patients.
It just happened to fall on the Tuesday that Seth was here.  We went through the visitors center which is beautiful.  Then went over to the little store on the corner that is owned by a member.  We bought goods for him and me to give to our families.  He did bring down things for me and so had an empty carry-on suitcase.  After the Mexico City Temple we stopped at the Basilica grounds.  We saw both the old and new Basilicas.

The Catholic influence has been here a long time

The old basilica (gold dome) and the new basilica (green dome)

stairs to the little church on the top of the hill

A beautiful poinsettia bush.

a dove of peace

The little old church at the top

nice fountains along the way

Mexico City Temple

Monday with Seth

Monday was a work day for us.  Seth help me inspect houses again.  He did that earlier also.  I don't recall which day it was but we also walked around in the local neighborhoods.  Just before FHE with the other senior couples Dennis and Seth went out to a local taco eatery and had meat cooked on the spit wrapped in tortillas.  Then it was back to FHE.  Sister Lyons in the yellow jacket cooked our refreshments.  It was a major tostada fest.  She used to demonstrate cooking for a television show here in Mexico.  She also had drinks.  President Tenorio in the back used to be a member of the 1st Quorum of 70.  Now he is our mission president.  

Sunday with Seth

Sunday's are very busy days at the CCM :

Breakfast at the comedor at 7:30-8:00
priesthood meeting with Dennis 9:00
district mgt (like Sunday school 10:00
Sacrament mgt 11:00
lunch at 12:00
presidency lesson 2:00
video talk devotional 4:30
dinner 5:30
skype with family
church movie 7:30
testimony mgt for those leaving 8:45
drop dead on the sofa in the dormitory and fall asleep

Saturday with Seth at Teotihuacan

temple of the sun in background and Seth's new hat

top of the temple of the sun resting after the climb

restoration and old work

original colors

on the way to the temple of  Quetzalcoatl

looking at the temple of sun from Quetzalcoatl

The Gruta (a restaurant in a cave) after the pyramids.  It is very large and had a stage for dancer but none of those pictures turned out well.

Ruins of the temple of temple of Quetzalcoatl

original art work from Teotihuacan

Seth visited us from Thursday November 12th to Thursday November 19

Friday p-day with the senior missionaries

It was so nice to have Seth come for a visit.  He came on Thursday and on Friday was our already planned P-day with the other senior missionaries so he joined us at the Zoo.  The butterfly exhibit.

This was a little exhibit still out from the Dead of the Dead.  

Paddle boats at the Chapultepec Lake and Park.  The Casa Island in the background

 At the zoo.  Lions in the back ground

We found a beautiful little restaurant after the zoo.  It was called The View.  This was the appetizer they served all of us.  A little corn chip with avocado and salmon.

 Our dinners.  I had salmon.

Musical accompaniment for dinner.  It was a five star restaurant.

I loved these teapots at "The View" restaurant and of course always murals on the walls.

mountain goats at the zoo

flower market after dinner at The View

Chapultepec park

  The winged statue and President Call with Seth at the Wings