Christmas decorations

Blanca is one of the employees that works very hard here.  

This tree is in the reception/Joseph Smith building.  

I was given the task of putting up decorations in the Thomas S. Monson building.  These elders came for a hour on their service time to help with the tree and the wall trimmings.  

Missionary worries

There is always someone new to worry about here.  Elder Atkin arrived last Wednesday and right away got sick with a headache, fever and sore throat.  That developed into blisters on his hands, feet and arms.  His throat was so sore that he couldn't swallow or eat.  Dennis finally started an IV to replace fluids and gave him an antibiotic. With blisters on his hands he couldn't even put on his own name badge.  Thank goodness for good companions.  Last night he finally went to the emergency room to see if they would diagnose anything different than Dennis had already done.  While he was gone Dennis called his parents (his mother is secretary to Elder Holland) and he learned that all of his nieces and nephews who gave him hugs and kisses just before he left had come down with hand, foot and mouth disease the next day. That was what Dennis had diagnosed. The elder was highly contagious which bothers me a little because I had him in my office and in the back room.  Yesterday I asked if there was anything he wanted to eat and he suggested some soup, like a broth.  I went home and opened a can of chicken and rice soup, heated it up and brought it over to him.  I hope I washed the soup mug well enough.  The poor guy ate the whole serving with soggy crackers in it.  I imagine he was starving.  I also prepared some diced canned peaches for him.  At the service activity later in the day he was not able to hold a pair of scissors because his hands with blisters hurt so much.   Hopefully no one else gets hand foot and mouth disease. We are a small community here.

Then there was the Latina Hermana yesterday.  She had also been here for week, but had severe headache, nausea, couldn't walk well and had other symptoms.  She is from a poor community just a hour outside of Mexico City.  She was cleared to serve a mission despite the fact that she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. (maybe they thought it was inactive or benign)  It obviously got worse to the point where it is affecting her performance as a missionary.  The church will cover her with insurance for 90 days.  Her whole district was in the lobby of the clinic yesterday.  Her companion was holding her up and supporting her as she went into the bathroom to throw-up.  It was a very sad situation.  When her parents arrived the whole district went into the other room and sang a parting hymn before her parents took her to an apartment near the hospital where she will receive care.  The hymn they sang was Come, Come Ye Saints.  It was pretty sad when they got to the line that says, "And should we die before our journey is over, happy day all is well."   Her father shook my hand and thanked me. He doesn't know that I was not involved, but only wished that I could help.  Her mother supported her with her with a hand around her waist as they all walked out. We can only hope and pray that doctors will be able to help her.

Last night amid all this confusion in the lobby I was out for an errand when I came back in two North Americans were walking out.  I waved and said hola.  They came over to me and one asked how much it would cost for her to have an injection in her toe and to have the doctor work on her ingrown toenail.  I guess Dennis gives them a health class the first Monday they are here and mentions that is something he can do to help missionaries with ingrown toenails. She leaves on Monday and needed to get this taken care of right away.  I told her that there is no charge.  We take care of all the missionaries and their needs.  She had time right then so I found Dennis and he performed the little procedure for her.  Her companion and I tried our best to distract her as she didn't like the thought of having a shot in here toe.  I don't blame her.  I was just surprised that she thought there was a charge for missionaries here to be seen by a doctor. I am glad we can help even though Dennis does the biggest job of helping and I only assist him with putting ointment on the q-tip and opening the gauze package.  (the nurse had left for the day.)

Later we went to the devotional.  Dennis led the CCM Choir and I run around making sure all the people I asked to play the piano, pray and lead the music are in the right place and remember that I have asked them.  It is only a little tricky when the president asked me to have them all sing some songs NOW because there is a little too much talking going on and he would like a little more reverence.  I find myself announcing to the congregation that we will sing some Christmas hymns. (half of them speak Spanish and I can't say that in Spanish).  So it gets a chuckle from all the missionaries and I promise myself that I will learn how to speak better Spanish) Life here is just one embarrassing moment after another.

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.