spicy salsa on everything for the Latinos vs already too spicy for that Hermana

When I told this Latino Elder that I wanted a picture of him pouring the hot sauce on his Costco pizza everyone crowded around to get in the act.  They put it on everything from fruit to meat and everything in between.  

In contrast at the other end of the table was a Hermana who ate the pizza plain and immediately because it is so fatty and spicy (and because she had her gall bladder removed at age 14 and because her medication was not working) was in pain.  I was so glad I happened to be standing there talking to her piano playing companion because this gall bladder absent hermana's stomach bloated up in minutes and she literally looked like she was 7 months pregnant.  She is very thin anyway but was in a tremendous amount of pain.  She said,"I have to get to the clinic".  I told her my husband was starting coir practice in 5 minutes and was not at the clinic.  I offered to take her in the golf cart but she couldn't wait and headed out walking.  I caught up with her at the auditorium talking to Dennis and he asked if I would help her to the clinic and he would come over shortly.  He must have gotten another choir director and came right away.  He helped her with a pain pill and the Elders in her district came in to give her a blessing.  The first one they had ever given.  It is so nice they have their little white missionary handbook and oil with them.  After choir practice Dennis came running (literally running) back to the clinic and she was doing a little better (the extreme bloating had started to go down).  She ended up leaving just before the Tuesday night devotional started in a wheel chair and was even able to sing in the choir.  She and her companions have wonderful voices.   

In the devotional one Hermana ran out of the auditorium and her two companions following in close pursuit.  I had come late because I was closing up the clinic after the sick bloated Hermana and sat in the back.  When I saw the three Hermanas run outside I thought I better see if they needed help.  From the stand President Call sent Dennis a text message and told him about the Hermanas.  Dennis was sitting in the middle of the Auditorium where he sometimes leads the choir but read the message and came to see what was going on.  It is always just one thing after another.  The Elder who had his appendices out now has a temperature of 102 and has gastrointestinal problems.  And then there is the other Elder who at a high point weighted 180 and now weights 135.  Dennis sent him in for lab tests.  He didn't loose all that weight here but over the last several months.  He will probably have to go home and have more tests to find out what is causing the weight loss and gastrointestinal problems.

I wonder what it will be like when we have 600 here this summer instead of the 250-300 we have right now.  

Dennis was called back as a counselor

Today Dennis was called to serve as 1st counselor in Rama 11. He was released as counselor from Rama 6 a few months ago because the census at the CCM dropped. This seems to be somewhat fluid depending on how many missionaries are here

When he was set apart I was delighted about one thing President Zirger (an American working for the FBI here in Mexico) told him. He said, "the Lord will watch over your family while you are serving a mission here."

Yea blessings for my family!

Nancy's wedding at the farm house Nancy Ramirez Cruz and Ferando Martinez Tenorio

Nancy's bridal party

Nicely decorated tables

Nice dress from the back

This is the way they do the civil ceremony.  Nancy was previously married and so was Fernando.  The ceremony was civil with hopes for a temple sealing in a year after heir temple divorce is final.

Mosiah, the male nurse at the clinic and his family.

Citrus from the farm house.

The farm house, existing property, class rooms, dorms and out building such as the green house above are used for educating returned missionaries on how to establish their own business.  They raise produce, in this case tomatoes in those bags.  They learn how to have the tomatoes grow up the vines or ropes that are hanging down and then they sell the produce.  There are only about 30 missionaries in the academy of business at a time, taking a course that last a couple of months.  They takes business classes and engage in practical experience.  Seventy percent of the RM's are successful in business and then go on to bless their families instead of returning to the sometimes poverty or near poverty conditions they came from.  

Appendectomy the third

Elder Corey from Oregon.  This is our third appendectomy in the 8 months we have been here.  All have been Elders.  I don't know why the Hermanas and the Latinos don't seem to need appendectomies. He is a good sport even thought it will be three days before he can eat.  He has been throwing-up and then the tests and then the surgery.  Yes, he had liquids just not food for three days.

Dennis in his office at the CCM

p-day to an amazing library and Russian cafe

On the way to the library we saw this old amazing central plaza

With lots of tile and paint work, it reminds me of a large gazebo

A photo spot

A fun Russian cafe across from the park.  A bowl of hot borsch for me.  I asked for no cream and look what I got.  

The bread was delicious.  We bought a whole loaf from their bakery.

This is the Vasconcelos library.  It is ranked as one of the most amazing 18 libraries of world.  It is a block long and about 5 stories high.  

This giant reptile structure hangs suspended  from the ceiling

And yes the book shelves also hang suspended from the ceiling as well.  It is just a little eerie to lean over and take pictures from the railing.   

the move to the houses from the dormitory

We have been in casa #12 for about a month now.  The dormitories are being remolded.  When they are finished we will move back into the dorm.  The dorms room are small and we are only 2 people.  The houses can fit 20 missionaries.  In the summer when our numbers swell we will probably have to move back.  

I love having a piano.l

The kitchen and the cook

one of the 5 bedrooms.  

Each bedroom has a bathroom

Our bedroom.  They moved the bunk beds into room #4 for storage as we brought our furniture from the dorm to the casa

Room 5 has a study area that Dennis is utilizing.

Wednesday walk to the market across the street from the CCM

The local "tiangi"takes up blocks and blocks 

We try to go each Wednesday (that's the day it is set up) for fresh fruit and veggies

onion, broccoli, mangoes, bananas, tomatoes, guavas, figs, cabbage, carrots, radishes and  mandarin oranges.  We just get what they have and what looks good.

Maricarmen.  Such a sweetheart.  Her last day at work as she has been invited to work at the area office in Mexico City.  

A cute little nina who's mama runs a periodical stand outside the CCM wall.