blanket project

We are making blankets as a service project.  This was huge pile of fleece.  It is getting made into blankets by the missionaries

the cut fabric and some that are already made

We cut the edges and tie them in knots.  

around the campus

Tuesday is always Costco pizza night.  They only delivered 80 this time since the CCM census is low.  We have about 350-400 people right now.  I love the fresh spinach and lettuce from Costco.  I can trust it to be clean and safe to eat.  

interesting palm tree shadow on the lawn

I love the morning mist on the tower hill next to us

...and flowers growing out of the palm tree

Christmas cards from the family (brought from home by the Calls)

Tessa made these snowflakes 

a massive snow storm in the kitchen thanks to the Balls

Christmas cards from the Thomas family and the Clark's

Toluca P-day activity

On the Friday after Thanksgiving we took an excursion to Toluca.  It was just the Calls and us.  It took an hour to go south and west to Toluca.

We stepped into a Catholic church and I particularly liked this instruction for the Catholic women to please wear modest clothing that covers their body.   

This was a beautiful church that was a little more modern looking that the rest.

church detail

lots of church around every corner

The town plaza and stage

Toluca is know for its sausage.  Dennis had scrambled eggs and red sausage for lunch.

More of the town plaza (at least one of the plazas)

I bought a colored and a plain basket from this grandmother and her granddaughter.

more churchs

This priest was giving a mass

Dennis stopped for a shoe shine. You can get one on any block.

Fun playground with motorized cars on a track for the children.

Woman begging outside of a church.  I gave her some money

more old churches in more town plazas

lots of sagging old doors on the churches

A more modern part of town with marigolds planted for the Day of the Dead Celebration that was November 1st.  

super tight parking in Toluca.  Our is the white car in front.  It was shuffled around as all the cars are double parked in this lot.  We just leave our keys and they move it as needed.  The cars are available from the CCM.  It has the name of the church printed on the side. 

Thanksgiving at the CCM

Thanksgiving food at the comedor.  The sister on the end has hot chili sauce sprinkled on her potatoes and turkey.

Where are your veggies Hermana?  I didn't ask.

Shawn and Nadie Cates.  They will leave in a year and go back to the states where they have a home in Provo.  He will work for the Provo MTC

We ate dinner at the casa of Nadia and Shawn Cates.  This is the youngest of their three boys.  Joaquin will have another younger brother in February.  

The food.  I brought a veggie tray, a toss salad, fruit and stuffed celery.  

Shawn, the man of the house, also a bishop and the director of all the CCM. President Lyons in the background.  He is second counseor int he CCM Presidency.

The people and the decorations.  Sister Lyons made table runners and Sister Call brought napkins from the states.  Nadie decorated everything.

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.