anthropology museum and more traffic and stores

More ancient stones at the museum of anthropology----  seven snakes coming out of the head.   Quetzalcoatl was also represented as a serpent God. I believe Quetzalcoatl was actually Jesus Christ when he appeared on this continent after his death in Israel.

16 figures found in 1955 in the Olmec region of Mexico  One is a light grey color of different rock while the others are appearing before him.  It is believed that it is a religious ceremony.

This wonderful museum has outside exhibits as well.  An ancient temple. 

This is the head of a once much larger statue.  It is believed to be a priest because of his headdress.

We saw this man as we exited the museum.  He was performing a cleansing ritual on anyone who wanted to be cleansed.  A little fire and smoke and a few words and of course a few coins. 

Crazy close traffic on streets with no lines   This is coming home from the downtown area of the largest city in the world depending on if you believe it is Tokyo or Mexico City.

Probably a priest because of head dress and robe...ancient Mexico.

The Wrestler, again from the Olmec region...so Jaredites.  It is of a different stone from the area so it was shipped in proving that the Olmec were an advanced society that shipped and imported.  

This is a typical site to see a mother and her children sitting on the street sewing and selling their wears or food or handicrafts.

The local grocery store on the way home from the museum.  The Mexican people drink bottled water or anything else that is bottled.  That is 15 pesos to the dollar so about $2.20 in American money per bottle of soda.  Those are really big bottles.  

Chilies at the local grocery story...lots of them

We had a family home evening sponsored by the Beechers our two American mental care workers.  They asked each of us to tell something meaningful about our marriage.  President Tenorio told how he proposed to his wife with a 12 foot long letter.  He is holding it in his hand and she is sitting at the table. As a general authority he gave a talk in general conference in about 2007.

The departing missionaries (after six weeks of learning the language) are weighing their suitcases and getting ready to depart to their designated call of service.  

best mission

I am sure that everyone thinks they were able to serve in the best mission but I really do think that we have some advantages others may not.  The Mexico MTC is a bit of heaven on earth.  This 93 acre complex has high walls and guarded gates that protect us from the outside world.  We hear the horns honking from the streets just beyond the wall and we hear sirens, fireworks and music from parties on the weekends but we are secluded from any of that. The missionaries do take trips out to go to the temple so they see from distance what the city is like.  If they are staying in Mexico they go downtown to the immigration offices but basically this CCM is sort of like a  Garden of Eden where we are able to enjoy peace and security.  The cost of lunch and dinner for us at the comedor are very reasonable at about $2.50 American dollars per meal.  The cost of our dormitory housing for us is also very reasonable at about $350.00. per month.  Our total expense for Dennis and I is about $1000 a month by the time we pay for food and expenses both in and out of the CCM.

We have lots of green area to play ball or run or walk.  We have a really good cafeteria where they can eat all they want and we have 2 gyms/ or exercise rooms.  They have great teachers and good houses or dorms to sleep in.  The weather is very nice.  It is cooler than expected for Mexico.  We are high at 7400 feet above sea level and not too hot. It rains just about the right amount and the missionaries are frequently found sitting under a palm tree studying.  We have a little store where they can buy treats and on Sunday their schedule is full of devotionals consisting of both live talks and recorded talks.  They can audition for special musical numbers and share their spirit at devotions.  I listen to those auditions and decide if they are worthy of "bringing the spirit" into the devotionals.

We have excellent professional help if missionaries want their physical or emotional needs addressed.  For us senior missionaries we can use one of the missionary fleet cars and take trips out on our P-Day to see the city and go to Walmart, Costco or some other store or restaurant.

The other day Dennis and I walked around the neighborhood outside the CCM to explore what pharmacies, grocery stores and shops were available.  We were delighted to see some of the employees who work here at the CCM shopping at the same stores.  Many of them live close and just walk to work here.

Anthropology Museum

We have been busier since the Gills left.  He was a doctor and a branch president and she was a nurse, choir director and everything else.  They dissolved his branch and gave us one of his districts so our rama is larger.  Dennis is doing the choir and I am trying to pick up some of her responsibilities.  For our P-day on August 8 we went to the National Museum of Anthropology

A ball court designed after those of ancient days

just inside the very modern and beautiful National institute of anthropological

Modern day dancers at the museum. 

Mayan Calendar

family history of blood line and history of the people on Codices

Ambar..clear stones maybe something like the brother of Jared found although these are from the American Continental

I love this mural.  It reminds me of what it must have been like in the new world before Christ came

Olmec Head from the Jaredite reign.  A king.  The head is huge.  Maybe 14 feet tall.

Pole swingers coming down from the pole.  I saw them in Chichen itza also.  These were at the park before we went into the museum.

a pole dancer collecting money and praise

Another Olmec head.  President Tenorio said he looks like a Olmec.  He is from Veracruz.

Outside the National institute of anthropology

Norovirus at the CCM

I didn't write about this at the time, but LaDean sent me an email  and it reminded me about the Norovirus that spread through the CCM.  It happened shortly after we arrived so it was probably about July 18th through the 20th of 2015, but I don't remember the exact dates.  A lot of missionaries were very sick and some even went to the hospital for test and lab work because they were so dehydrated. 

Evidently LaDean's daughter in law, Sandra sent LaDean an email containing part of an email that a missionary from Sandra's wards sent home.  She wanted to know my take on the situation he had described at the CCM.  I responded and then LaDean wrote it up in her own personal life history books. 

LaDean said  this was an excerpts from an email she had received from Sandra: This is a letter from an Elder in our ward.  I thought you would find this interesting. He is currently at the Mexico CCM (MTC).  Last P-day at the CCM and "The Plague!" - Well this week has had a lot of excitement. First of all, let me tell you about "The Plague" that has infected the CCM. On Sunday morning one of the Hermanas in our zone was sick with something. Then later that afternoon, one of the Hermanas in our district wasn´t feeling so well so she went back to her room. The CCM presidency announced that there was something going around and everyone should make sure to wash their hands and be very careful. That is where it all started. The next day, Monday, the plague began to spread. It showed no mercy. We watched all day people getting picked up by the clinic golf cart. Everyone who was on it looked like they wanted to die. One kid had his head just pressed up against the seat in front of him. And I am not kidding, we saw that golf cart everywhere... it was at everyone´s house! Then, towards the end of the day, the Hermana in our district finally started feeling better, so she was able to come to class. But the plague would not stop there. Next, it took Elder Reid from our district. And he had to go home towards the end of the day. Then once we finally headed home, the plague had infected our roommate, Elder East. So that night all the missionaries who had not yet been infected by the plague hung out in the living room. Tuesday seemed to be the last major day of the plague. The doctors told us that there were about 100 missionaries that were reported sick. Me and Elder Tice seem to be some of the few survivors of the plague.  … I certainly did find that interesting!  I said a prayer for my dear sister Nola and her good husband, Dr. Harston then forwarded the email on to her. 

31 July, Friday – I got a reply from Nola – Wow!  She was the one driving the golf cart! Hi LaDean, I can't deny it we have had quite the week.  It actually started on Saturday then increased on Sunday and Monday morning the clinic was so full of patients that every exam room or counseling room was full.  There were no available doctors or nurses to help anyone that was not really sick.  Dennis and I were up on house calls Sunday night until 11:00pm and then we had two calls in the night.  When these missionaries are running a fever of literally 103+ they just can’t walk to the clinic so we have to go see them or pick them up in the golf cart. I spent the entire morning on Monday picking up and delivering back missionaries who were too sick to come in on their own. Basically we think it was a norovirus and as painful as it was (and it was painful even to watch these young otherwise healthy missionaries throwing up their guts in front of you) they just had to get through it for 48 hours.  I felt so bad for them that I just cried.  We had some Elders come in and ask if we would go see an Elder who was laying on the floor of his classroom shaking because he was having chills and fever. This was on Sunday when we already had two other requests to make house calls and we just couldn't get to them all fast enough. That Elder on the floor had a temperature of 103.4 and he couldn't make it to the clinic or go home either.  Most of them either had diarrhea, vomiting, high fever, chills and fever or headaches and achy bodies.  I saw "above and beyond" compassionate service offered by missionaries in their districts.  It was very humbling to see such Christ like love in very unpleasant tasks like cleaning up vomit, helping with soiled clothing and one Elder practically carried his companion into the house after I returned them to their house. I can’t imagine that it would be good to let the whole world know that this happened at our otherwise wonderful MTC so I have not said much about it. It probably is best for prospective missionaries not to contemplate going to the MTC and getting sick. We are all doing "elbow bumps" right now instead of any "handshakes or hugs"...the Elders can't hug anyway ...but sisters do. It will only get better from here.  I do hope your mission is less traumatic.  Much love, Hermana Harston --- I could not help but cry as I read her email. I thanked Heavenly Father for this wonderful sister I have. J 

our picture Elder Mills sent to Elder Walker

When I received the Union Second Ward newsletter today via email this was in it.

Benemerito

The "B" used to stand for Benemerito now it stands for Baptisms.  

We had a live broadcast from the Provo MTC tonight.  The only problem came when the North Americans came at 7:15 like their schedule said and the Latinos did not come until just before 8:00 as their schedules said. The devotional with President Russel M. Nelson started at 8:00.  The North Americans can get kind of loud in their conversations so I had anticipated that and asked President Tenario if we should do prelude singing for the purpose of keeping some reverence.  He said no but didn't realize that the North Americans were scheduled to come early.  When President Rubalcava learned and heard what was going on he grabbed Dennis and me and said please get someone up on the stand to help with prelude singing.  I quickly asked a couple of very capable elders in our branch, Elder Kenison and Elder Bons.  I had asked Kenison to help with that before and then told him no because President Tenario said we didn't need them.  Elder Bons was sleeping  in his seat as we had 45 minutes to do nothing.  I asked  Elder Kenison to wake him up and please have him come and help on the piano.  They had performed a special musical number together last week in the Sunday devotional and I knew I could call them on a moment's notice.  Thank heaven for their willingness to help.  I apologized to President Tenorio after for going against his desire but he told me if President/Counselor Rubalcava said to do it I should just get it going and get a pianist and chorister and that it was no problem. 

Tuesday's trip to the Temple Clinic

Lots of preparations to get ready for the temple open house.  These people were actually scrubbing the outside temple walls.  They are all dressed in white.  

beautiful temple grounds

Dennis and I have to drive through crazy traffic to go the the temple clinic on Tuesdays.  He sees missionaries from the city who need help. This was a picture of beautiful flowers and the reflection of the temple spires as seen in the vistor center windows.  

The grounds are looking beautiful.  They plant flowers under the trees and decorate with white rocks.

There is a beehive of activity as workers prepare to get ready for an open house in 10 days on August 13th. There is a crew of workers in the background sanding the previous markings off the cement parking spots so they will look fresh and new.  We saw two of the missionaries who had just left the CCM and went there to serve and learn what they can do to help with the open house.  

An interesting picture of the temple spires as seen in the morning light when we first arrived at the temple at 10:00 AM

The clinic on the temple grounds for missionaries.  That is the pharmacy in the cupboards behind Dennis.  The exam room and the receiving room are actually dorm rooms as the clinic is housed in the one of the dormitories.  The MTC for the Latino missionaries was on the temple grounds before it was at the present location here with the North American missionaries.