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.

Wednesday with Seth

We worked a little in the morning and then took a quick trip downtown to the Zocolo (down town)
before we had to be back for new missionaries from North America at 4:30

We stopped at the Museum of Anthropology and saw the Jaredite Heads from Vera Cruz

Seth posing in front of the majestic Quetzal bird feathers.  They really are that beautiful color.

The display of the Temple Mayor as seen at the museum of anthropology.  The ruins are still right in the middle of Mexico City.  We stopped by to see the real ruins later on Wednesday and looked over the fence but din't go inside the museum or the ruins.  Just not enough time.  

Very cute boys playing and singing out with the older man in the back.  We definitely put money in the box the little boy in the middle is holding 

Constitutional Plaza with the national palace in the background.  They were setting up some kind of display.  I imagine Christmas.

Another view from the plaza looking the other way. That is the  National Cathedral in the background.  We went inside to see it.  

We stopped at the Casa de los Azulejos  (Blue Tile Restaurant) for lunch.  It is the first Sanborn restaurant in a very historic blue tile building that used to be a palace.  We stopped along the way and bough hackey sacks and bracelets for the grandchildren.  Seth bought a braided leather bracelet.  

Palacio de Bellas Artes  where we park. We walked inside and looked around.

Tuesday with Seth

Well every other Tuesday Dennis and I go to the Mexico Temple where he see's missionary patients.
It just happened to fall on the Tuesday that Seth was here.  We went through the visitors center which is beautiful.  Then went over to the little store on the corner that is owned by a member.  We bought goods for him and me to give to our families.  He did bring down things for me and so had an empty carry-on suitcase.  After the Mexico City Temple we stopped at the Basilica grounds.  We saw both the old and new Basilicas.

The Catholic influence has been here a long time

The old basilica (gold dome) and the new basilica (green dome)

stairs to the little church on the top of the hill

A beautiful poinsettia bush.

a dove of peace

The little old church at the top

nice fountains along the way

Mexico City Temple