some thought after fast Sunday ---sent to my family

Hello all, I am so impressed with the Elders and Sisters that I interact with particularly on Sundays..  I just have to tell you about them.  One sister who made a comment in RS told about the time in high school when she was standing at her open locker.  A kid dressed in black with chains hanging from his belt loops who also had long dark dyed black hair snatched a book from her locker as he walked by with his gang of friends. All the friends laughed and though they were so cool.  It happened to be a Book of Mormon that he took.  She though he might recognize what he took and toss it back but he didn't.  Some week later he came to her to give the book back and asked what a particular scripture meant.  He had been reading the book!  Later in the year when she was at a dance a nice looking blond, blue boy asked her to dance.  It was the same boy that had stolen her Book of Mormon.  He had read the book, been taught by the missionaries and was baptized.  The sisters point was that we should never judge people by who we think they are and the way they appear.  This young man had felt the power of the Book of Mormon when he read it and it changed his life.  She is serving a mission today because she wants to share the Book of Mormon and its message with other people. 

It was fast Sunday today.  Yesterday after a wonderful white table cloth lunch prepared by the Mexican staff to celebrate our Independence Day we began to fast.  The staff were so good to us.  They served barbecued chicken, hamburgers with all the trimmings, corn on the cob and apple pie and ice cream for dessert.  Most of the sisters and elders were dressed in red, white, and blue.  The elders wore two ties tied together one red and the other blue.  We left to go visit the elders in the hospital but we heard that someone had a little American flag they placed at the front of the cafeteria and everyone stood and sang the national anthem. 

I went to district meeting B today because Dennis attended district meeting A alone since the branch president is out of town.  The newly called district leader got up and directed a Sunday school lesson of sorts for his district.  I was so impressed that some of these missionaries know their scripture mastery memorizations from seminary.  It will serve them well as they teach investigators.

After fast and testimony meeting I saw the 6 elders in district B kneel at the back of the classroom and pray to end their fast.  As I walked from the building I saw another elder kneeling in a classroom to pray as he ended his fast.  His companion sat in a chair reading the scriptures as he waited.

These 18 and 19 year old missionaries have turned a new chapter in their book of life.  Just months ago they were concerned about themselves and now their lives are turn out toward others.  They are concerned about higher things like sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with others.  That is their main focus.   

If I could ask my children to do something more it would be to prepare your children for missionary service by teaching them the gospel and helping them memorize important scriptures. 

Love missionary mom.  

our first Sunday at the CCM

our first fast Sunday at the MTC

Hello all, I am so impressed with the Elders and Sisters that I interact with particularly on Sundays..  I just have to tell you about them.  One sister who made a comment in RS told about the time in high school when she was standing at her open locker.  A kid dressed in black with chains hanging from his belt loops who also had long dark dyed black hair snatched a book from her locker as he walked by with his gang of friends. All the friends laughed and though they were so cool.  It happened to be a Book of Mormon that he took.  She though he might recognize what he took and toss it back but he didn't.  Some week later he came to her to give the book back and asked what a particular scripture meant.  He had been reading the book!  Later in the year when she was at a dance a nice looking blond, blue boy asked her to dance.  It was the same boy that had stolen her Book of Mormon.  He had read the book, been taught by the missionaries and was baptized.  The sisters point was that we should never judge people by who we think they are and the way they appear.  This young man had felt the power of the Book of Mormon when he read it and it changed his life.  She is serving a mission today because she wants to share the Book of Mormon and its message with other people. 

It was fast Sunday today.  Yesterday after a wonderful white table cloth lunch prepared by the Mexican staff to celebrate our Independence Day we began to fast.  The staff were so good to us.  They served barbecued chicken, hamburgers with all the trimmings, corn on the cob and apple pie and ice cream for dessert.  Most of the sisters and elders were dressed in red, white, and blue.  The elders wore two ties tied together one red and the other blue.  We left to go visit the elders in the hospital but we heard that someone had a little American flag they placed at the front of the cafeteria and everyone stood and sang the national anthem. 

I went to district meeting B today because Dennis attended district meeting A alone since the branch president is out of town.  The newly called district leader got up and directed a Sunday school lesson of sorts for his district.  I was so impressed that some of these missionaries know their scripture mastery memorizations from seminary.  It will serve them well as they teach investigators.

After fast and testimony meeting I saw the 6 elders in district B kneel at the back of the classroom and pray to end their fast.  As I walked from the building I saw another elder kneeling in a classroom to pray as he ended his fast.  His companion sat in a chair reading the scriptures as he waited.

These 18 and 19 year old missionaries have turned a new chapter in their book of life.  Just months ago they were concerned about themselves and now their lives are turn out toward others.  They are concerned about higher things like sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with others.  That is their main focus.   

If I could ask my children to do something more it would be to prepare your children for missionary service by teaching them the gospel and helping them memorize important scriptures.  

Dr. Montoya the doctor for the Latinos

Diego Rivera Mural

I loved this Diego Rivera Mural at the presidential palace. It shows Mexico's legendary and precolonial past.  Jesus Christ or Quetazlocotal is represented in the center as the god of the Toltecs, Mayans, and Aztecs. He wears a headdress of quetzal feathers and a conch on his chest, a symbol of the wind god; he carries a curved baton, the scepter of the seven stars or constellations. Behind him are the pyramids of the Sun and Moon in the city of Teotihuacan, the great political and religious center of pre-Hispanic Mexico. But the upside down sun indicates the decline of these pre-Hispanic cultures. He is fair skinned has blond hair and has a beard. Oh I wish the people of Mexico could really understand who Jesus Christ is and that his church is on the earth today.

More of Mexico City

The Sanborns restaurant in the Blue Tile House had colorfully dressed waitresses.  President Stan and Janet Call.  

We ate lunch in what use to be the second floor ballroom of the house/palace.

Below is the view of first floor from the balcony of the second floor.

We went to a Franciscan Monk church where there were more gold leaf chapels and a huge door with the Apostle Peter carved on the door.  The close up below shows him with the keys of authority given to him to continue the church in the absence of Christ.  Mexico is steeped with Catholic tradition.

We saw a lot of police and military showing their authority.  This was in front of the presidential palace.  Below Dennis is by a fountain inside the center plaza of the presidential palace.  

The Mexican people love their indigenous president Benito Jaurez.

There are many people on the street asking for handouts. This man was playing a hurdy gurdy type of instrument. Many people are dressed in costumes, looking like statues with a cup out front. 

We had walked about 4.5 miles and decided to take a bicycle taxi back to to the parked car.  Below was a picture of inside the taxi.  I was rather surprised to see how close he came to other cars when he was weaving in and out of traffic.   

A cactus with one yellow bloom on top.  Yes bloom where you are planted.

The downtown city actually reminded me a lot of European cities, perhaps in Spain or Italy.  

tour to the heart of Mexico City

Dennis drove us around on a tour today into the heart of Mexico City.  We went to the basilica first to catch a tour bus but couldn't find one so Dennis just drove. I really appreciate him driving because it is very unnerving for me. At the Basilica we actually saw four Basilicas.  The first was a very old small one on on top of a hill with a nice waterfall coming down.  We saw a cute little 2 year old all dressed in white with here mother.  Then we saw this new Basilica that will hold 20,000.  People were walking on their knees to show reverence as the priest was giving a mass.    

It is surprising how much gold leaf is put into these Catholic churches rather they are old or new.   

Above is the new Basilica and below is an old Basilica.  They are just next door to each other.  

This Basilica is actually sinking into the ground.  As we walked in it is obvious that we were walking uphill as the front has sunk about considerably.  It was like walking in the fun house at Lagoon.

This is a wonderful, beautiful art palace where there was a display about Michael Angelo.  It was only available to see by buying a ticket that day so the line was out the door and around the block.

We went to lunch at the house of blue tiles which is an old huge palace now housing Sanborn's Restaurant. The small pinata on the table was interesting.  In a larger size it is used at parties.  When one of the cones coming off the main center is knocked off it represents knocking off or getting rid of your bad habits.  I ate vegetable soup and with good bread, guacamole and chips.  Dennis had a spicy burritos dish.  

Busy day and hospital visit

 Busy day at the CCM
 I had the same headache this morning that I went to bed with last night so I didn't go to the gym today.  In fact I went back to bed for an extra few minutes.  I got dressed and went to the clinic and when I did Dennis said would I help him.  Evidently we had some problem with the Costco pizza the missionaries ate for dinner last night.  They have been getting pizza every Tuesday night forever but there must have been a bad one in the bunch because about 6 or 8 elders and sisters had violent throwing up and diarrhea last night all starting at about 9:30 or 10:30.  Dennis and I got in the golf cart and made house calls to these missionaries.  They are out today but hopefully with be able to go back to class tomorrow.

We also had 50 missionaries from the states come in today.  As with last week and the week before it poured down just as they were to arrive.  Each group was delayed.  The ones that were to come at 3:30 came much later with the 5:30 group that actually came at 6:30.  They first sent them over to the comodor to eat because it was closing soon and then they came back for the orientation.  At 7:15 or so 8 more elders came.  One missed his flight and will come tomorrow morning.   They served the 8 late missionaries cold hamburgers with no catsup or mayo and cold fries.  I found some drinks, apples and a snack bar for them but they got a little short changed coming in so late.

Dennis made a late trip over to the hospital to see the elder who is having the problem with appendicitis.  He had the abscess drained today and has been in the hospital now for 3 days.  Dennis may get home late.  Well Dennis just came home and  said he was in the worst traffic jam of his life.  Even the Mexican driver said his one goal in life was to survive this drive to the hospital without an accident.  Total gridlock!

Elder Kesling better now and out in the field

It probably would not have been so busy today but doctor Gill also had food poisoning.  He and Sister Gill ate out at a restaurant yesterday when they were coming home from the clinic at the temple.  I had to give the first day welcome presentation today for the first time.  Now I have given it three times and hopefully I will do better in the future.

Elders who volunteered to carry in the luggage of the buses in the pouring rain.  At least they had rain ponchos this week.  It also rained the last two weeks on Wednesday when the North American missionaries came in.  July is the wettest month.  It is beautiful in the morning and during the day but the rain comes in the late afternoon.