One Month Anniversay - Doctor's Orders

One month in the Mission Field and two weeks in Country. There ought to be a celebration! Oh, we did, I will get to that... Lets see, last time we talked, we were at the last Sunday events. The week has been a busy one. Part of our assignment this week was to help the guys in our office to process all the pictures and notes coming in from Elder Bednar and Elder Christensen´s visits all over the Country. They divided up for some of the visits, taking Area Presidency members and others with them as they traveled. They had meetings from Chihuahua in the north to southern Mexico and parts in between. The office had assigned us and then had other photograhers to take pictures and notes at the various assignments. Dalene then organized all of them into folders to try to keep some semblance of sanity. I spent most of my time translating the spanish notes into english so that the report could go to the Area Presidency and then with Elder Bednar back to SLC. It sounds easier than it was. It was special to see photos of and read the lessons that an Apostle shared in blessing the Saints here in Mexico.

That took a good part of our week. We did have FHE with the Senior Missionaries, but on Monday night, the Sandbergs and the Montoyas were with Elder Bednar, and the Stevens´ were training missions in Cancun (tough duty Stevens´! Okay, I was just jealous. They work extra hard and tend about 7,000 missionaries Areawide). We had the opportunity to meet Elder Marcus Nash and his wife (at the Mission Office downstairs) who was visiting the Mexico West Mission and then had an Area assignment later in the week. More on that later as well.

We are in the ¨rainy¨ season here, so most evenings we get a pretty good rain. Generally in the evenings, but sometimes later at night. We are on the 4th floor and just outside our door in the atrium is a fiberglass ceiling that the rain hits and makes the rain on a tin roof sound. When it really rains, it can be quite noisy, but fun. I guess you have to be from Arizona to appreciate it.

Thursday morning was very special for us in that we had the opportunity to have a special devotional at 8 am. with Elder Bednar in the Area Office for the employees and missionaries there. We were in our seats before 7:30 am and just made the back row. Elder Bednar came into the room at just before 7:45 and because everyone was there, began the meeting. Elder Christensen spoke first, then Elder Bednar. He was spectacular and I won´t recount the meeting, except to say that he shared the thoughts of his soul and stated that the Church was in a time of ¨harvest¨ in Mexico. The rest of the meeting is going on my ¨small plates¨ (spiritual things). Much of what he talked about was very sacred and he asked us not to take notes or share outside of our immediate family. We were able to shake his hands after the devotional along with the other General Authorities, Area Presidency, etc. No time to talk, but it was still cool. No question in our minds that he is one of the Lord´s Prophet´s, Seers, and Revelators.

We had a moment to chat with him at the end of the day as we were leaving and they were all getting out of their Area review and getting on the elevator. So very kind and interested in what we were doing. He is on the Communications Committee that we are ultimately responsible to in the Church. He and Elder Holland are the GAs on the committee.

Friday morning, Sandino came and got me and we went into a meeting with Elder Valenzuela and Elder Nash. He is responsible for the Church Correlation Committee. Elder Hales and Elder Bednar are the two Apostles responsible for this Committee. It was a special opportunity to see how the Church operates at that level. Elder Nash was very interested in how well Mexico was doing and the changes that we are working to be a part of in communications.

We had a dinner Friady night at Arrabal, an Argentine restaurant, for the Hobbs´ who are leaving on June 10th. They are in charge of the Senior Missionaries Areawide and have completed their 18 month assignment and are headed back to California. The Muñoz´ came in Sunday night and will train with them for the next couple of weeks. They are a wonderful couple, who are natives and join our happy band.

This morning, we were invited by the Hackings to go to Ciudadela. It is a famous artisan market toward the center of town. This was a new part of town for us and was a very beautiful drive and we arrived a bit before it was up and running. Elder Hacking wanted to buy a guitar and we were just interested in looking. 

There were so many fun things to see. We just had to remember that we will be here for the next 17 months, so not a great time to shop and have to store stuff. I did find a pair of sandals that I needed to run around the apartment in. We hustled back to get back in time to go with Dr. Stevens who invited me to go with him to his barber. He has a car, so we rode with him and spent $80(M) on the haircut! (That´s about $7US.) He did a nice job with what he had to work with.

Elder Dr. Stevens and his wife Peggy have been telling us about the best place for tacos al pastor, which we hadn´t had yet, at a place called La Onda. On the way back from the haircut, he invited us to go to dinner tonight at La Onda. He said that they walk there if we didn´t mind. Of course not! So we walked this evening to Avenida las Palmas and toward the center. It is a lovely tree lined walk and the weather was beautiful. No rain. We went quite a ways and then down a back street to this little restaurant. 

At a florist shop on our walk to the food.

There was a ¨trompo¨ (a top looking piece of meat that is on a spit that turns around a fire, with pineapple on top) in the entrance to the restaurant. We ordered one taco al pastor and a plate of the various kinds of meats, onions, peppers, cheese that we made tacos out of that we shared between the two of us. It was off the charts tasty! Probably the best meal we have had since we´ve been here. We walked back to work off the great food. It was a great evening.

Just what the doctor ordered!!!!

We love all the emails, iChats, messages, and visits with everyone at home. We miss you all and love you very much. And we love being in the Mission Field!

Special Sunday

17 mayo 2015

Wow, the time is flying! We had the opportunity today to go to the Special Conference for one of the stakes in north Mexico City with Armando. He picked us up at 8:00 a.m. today and off we went. I must tell you that this is a very confusing city for me, at least so far. Nothing is straight and the road system is "different". We did arrive at the Stake Center, after a bit of a goose chase. It was new and one of the new models. The chapel had carpet in it, which is unusual for Mexico. It houses three wards and a stake suite. It is exceptionally beautiful and useful.

The choir was practicing as we were arriving, so Dalene went right to work. We were not only to photograph Elder Christensen, but also to find families, young and old. We also were asked to find missionaries from Mexico. I was able to help set up chairs and not too long after that, I was standing outside the doors when Elder Craig C. Christensen, Presidency of the 70 and Eder Marion B. De Antuñano, the Area 70, arrived with the Stake President. Elder Christensen came directly to us and introduced himself to me and asked what our assignment was. I explained our purpose and he told me that I should get Dalene and come to the Stake President's office with her and the other brethren. (Yes, sir!) I retrieved Dalene and we went to the meeting. We introduced ourselves and he asked Dalene to explain in english what our assignment is and he would translate it to the other brethren. He mentioned that he was on this committee, so he was very interested in how it was going and asked us to please continue to report to Elder Grow and our contacts in SLC. He explained to the brethren in the room what we were doing and how this could help Mexico. He explained that Mexico was a test bed for this work and they were excited to see how it goes. He was very "up to speed" on the process and very kind and down to earth. We were then excused from the meeting. It was a unique experience and he made us feel very good about our calling and the work we are about.

[As an aside, I should mention how wonderful missionary plaques are. Since we have been wearing the name plaques, it is amazing how immediately we are recognized, albeit for good or bad, and especially, how recognized we are among the members. It was apparent as we arrived at the Stake Center today. The people immediately light up and welcome us, and in spite of our meager language skills or cultural faux pas, we are loved, accepted, welcomed, and given a special status. It reminds me that this was hard-earned and we owe a debt of gratitude to those who have gone before and created a culture that loves missionaries and the missionary work. Just sayin'... Don't goof this up Griff!]

The conference was particularly touching. They had a choir, which sang beautifully, with an excellent director, pianist and a flutist. Dalene was instrusted to be "discreet", to not teach a bad lesson that conferences were photo ops. I thought she did a beautiful job. I was asked to take notes, which is harder than it sounds in spanish, trying to type on my ipad mini keyboard. We will have to see if anything really makes sense.

The Stake President spoke, two sisters and then Elder De Antuñano. The first sister talked about the importance of the Sabbath, the second about the hastening of the work and missionary work and Elder De Antunano about his experiences in missionary work as a member missionary. All were exceptional talks that would have been spectacular in any conference in the world. Elder De Antunano's talk involved two recent experiences where bosses and colleagues have asked to talk with him about the Church because of who he was and his example. Both were spectacular examples.

Elder Christensen gave closing remarks and talked about each of the talks and his own experience, first as a mission president of the Mexico City East mission and then returning as Area President. He complimented the Mexico Saints for their devotion to families. He talked about a family in Mexico that they know that went in entirety (grandparents through grandkids) with their son to get engaged. He thought it peculiar, yet it demonstrated the strength of their family ties. He also praised them for their successes and efforts in support of the Area Plan. He even mentioned that the missionaries could quote the Plan's mission statement and that several of the people that he had talked with we intimately acquainted with its goals and were trying to instill them into their families and individual lives.

He told a rather humorous story that he had been praying for the opportunity for missionary experiences, but that between his house in SLC and the Church office building, he seldom even sees so much as one non-member. He said that one day he was in WalMart and happened to see a counselor in the Stake Presidency in his Stake, going up and down the aisles greeting people. He said he followed him from a distance for a bit, but eventually approached and asked him what he was doing. He said that he didn't have the opportunity to meet many non-members either and this was his way of finding some. When asked how it was going, he told Elder Christensen that just the day before he had met a man, who agreed to meet him and the missionaries that day in the eating area of WalMart for a first discussion and invited him to come with them, which he accepted. He said that "miracle" of miracles, the man and his family showed up and they were taught by the missionaries. Goes to show you... the Lord can put people in our path when we are ready and make and effort.

For me, which is always the case, I am blown away when the visiting authority blesses the people, which Elder Christensen did in closing, that they would be blessed in their efforts as they live the gospel and the Area plan, that they would be blessed in their work, and that Christ would be close to them. I love that he did that! He has the authority and keys to call forth those blessings, which is so special to see and hear. You could tell that he has a great love for this people and conveyed that to them through the Spirit. Its awesome to be on the Lord's errand and see those blessing come to fruition.

Dalene worked very hard to get pictures before after and during the conference (discreetly, as instructed by Elder Christensen). Afterwards, Armando had us working on finding families and missionaries to photograph. One of our assignments is to work on content and having "mexican" people in the Area and Church's archives. There were so many beautiful families and missionaries and only one camera running. In the future, I will try to bring a camera for these kinds of events so I can capture additional pics. They love to have their photos taken and are so family-centric that it does the heart good. The missionaries almost all had people that they had brought, investigators, etc., that it was special to see how the work and growth of the Church is progressing.

My particular assignment was to round up missionaries to photo for Dalene. In the process, I found an Elder Huaman. What are the chances?! Huaman (Elder Romulo Huaman Ramos) isn't a common Mexican name, it is a common Peruvian name. I of course immediately asked if he was from Peru. Yep! Just outside of Cuscomanta, in Apurimac. Serving a mission outside of Peru. When I was in Cusco, there was just one ward and a district. There are now 4 stakes and a mission in Cusco alone. My one post-photo op thought is I have a picture of him and his companion, but not of him and me. Dadgummit! He did give me his address and email, so perhaps we will have another opportunity. He did thank me for going on a mission to Peru and said that him going on a mission is a product of missionaries like me going "back in the day". It kinda made it all worth it for just a moment. Pretty special.

Elder Huaman on left

Happy Anniversary

So Dalene informs me that this is our one week aniversary in Mexico. It seems like a very long and a a very short week, all at once. We have been drinking out of the proverbial "firehose" at our new assignment. We have met wonderful people, staff and fellow missionaries, who have all been so kind to us. We went to Church here for the first time, had a Family Home Evening with our fellow missionaries (where we had to offer the two prayers) and the Area President and his wife Elder and Sister DeHoyos. Whew! And se still had to eat, shop, learn to navigate a bit, work on visa issues, and generally try to figure which way is up.

Our apartment (read loft) is quite nice, although it has its quirks, but it will be comfortable enough for us. Its funny that we miss things like... say, a garbage disposal or any of the thousand other things we'd like to just go get, 'cause we can. Dalene even wants her car, so she can just "go get it", instead of walking or riding in a taxi. Traffic here is something to behold, so she'd have to put on her game face, but it would be handy.

We are located on the "PH" or top floor of the building where the Area Offices are, for the moment. We will probably be moving to Los Verdientes, which used to be the Mexico City West Mission office, right next to the chapel. It is about a 10 minute walk across the bridge and up the hill from our apartment. There are a couple of other couples in there, kinda... the Matas, from Puebla, who are doing Family History and the Stevens', who are the Area Doctor and assistant, although they could be anywhere. (Elder Doctor Stevens only has responsibility for 7,000 missionaries in Mexico). Great fun people!

The front door to our office bldg

Sister Hacking's Birthday was same day as Jennifer's May 11

Our next loft neighbors are the Hackings, who have really taken us to raise. They show us where to find food and supplies and let us know where to be and when. Very important this first week, just sayin'. They are also in the same upstairs office and are assigned as Welfare Missionaries. We would still be looking for ourselves if they hadn't come along.

Dalene spreading out already. Alejandro and Armando on left

Alejandro taking group photos of Sr. Missionaries
(Pococks, Matas, Andersons, Sandebergs) 

In our office, we are staffed with a Manager, Sandino Roman, who is super. He has two other people on the team: Alejandro Saldaña and Armando Gonzalez. They have been exceptionally helpful and even moved desks, so we would have a space to work. They are very hard working and work to fill all of the requests from the initiating departments. It is amazing the work load they all have.  We kid them that we are the newest release of their department, their 3 and our .5, which makes this the release 3.5! We hope that we will be up to speed soon, so we can lift some of their burden. Again, they have been very kind and loving to us, as has all the Area Office staff.

We have also met a couple of outside vendors (read contract employees) who help in various projects that they are tasked with: Dulce and Omner. They seem to be a fun bunch to work with.

I might also add at this point, how valuable our time and contacts we made while training in SLC have been this week. They may be sorry they even let us in the building there, let alone admit they know us. We have been talking with Kate Lloyd, our contact, and Marriane Jennings, the Media Library Manager, a lot this week. They have been working hard to bulldoze out paths for some of our request and to understand some of the issues and concerns from Mexico. We really can't thank them enough for all the help and support. We have the unique position that we can't be offended and can push as hard as we can to get things done. Pretty cool place to be.

I should mention that Elder Bednar and Elder Christensen arrived in Country yesterday and are traveling the Area. Our office is tasked with making sure we have photographs and notes from all of the places they visit. It was incredible to see the Church system at work as they reached out to Stake Presidents across the Country to provide photographers and notetakers, who will send their material back to the Area Office for compilation and publication. Dalene will help in a Stake Conference this Sunday, with Elder Christensen, taking photos. She won't admit it, but I think she's a bit nervous (not just a bit). One of the big cameras that the Office had went down, so they asked if she would use hers, which of course she will. They have been blown away by all her mad photo/printing/editing/business experience and the fun resources she thought to bring with her, in spite of my protestations. (She is usually right...) Elder Bednar and Elder Christensen will both be at the Area Office Thursday to do a Deviotional for staff. Which we will get to help with photos and attend.

We also met President and Sister Whitehead, of the Mexico City West Mission. They are super nice people and very "busy", and still took the time to visit and invite us to their activities in the Mission as well. A couple of their Elders are working on our visas, so we have had a bit of contact with them. The Toblers are the Mission Office couple and live in Teca 11 with us and the other couples. They are equally impressive. We will have to fill you in on all our other couple friends as we go along. They all have unique stories and skills and have been kind and helpful.

We have missed the contact with all of our family and friends, but seem to be in regular contact, in spite of being here. We especially miss our kids and grandkid's squeezes, but know that we are about the Lord's business and this is where we are supposed to be. We love you all.

FHE

Have to hack in and post this adorable picture of the whole gang. 

FHE for the first time in 10 years lol. 

Justin said that we talk to our parents now more than we did when they were here. Probably true. 

I suppose it is a good indicator that we miss them a sure heck of a lot. We all thoroughly enjoy being able to "hangout" with them and join the conversation at anytime ( like I did last night twenty minutes in).

They're still alive and adorable as ever!

Transfer Segundo

 It was a wonderful 4 days in Salt Lake City at Church Headquarters.  We were able to see Tracy Fox, an old friend.  He was able to spend a couple of hours visiting with us and show us around Temple Square.

It is a must to take your pictures while there with the iconic buildings.  We ate at the Lion House, rode the Trax back and forth to our room.

We ate in the employee cafeteria.

Had to say goodbye to our new friends.  The last night there we had a chance to go to dinner with Dalene's relatives.  It was great being able to visit with them.  Gary and Kathy (the couple in the back) are serving a mission in Salt Lake.


We were staying in the Little America in Salt Lake City. It was great and we are probably never fully ready for what's ahead when you never fully know what you will be doing.

There were no fabulous sightings in this airport waiting.   Met several families going down to Mexico to surprise their mothers for Mother's Day.

The flight was a smooth one.  It was a little disconcerting to walk down the isle of the plane and have someone just say "Hola Hermana".  Haven't gotten used to it yet.


When we arrived the plane was on time, even a few minutes early.  But we ended up sitting on the tramac for about 45 minutes because the assigned gate wasn't available.  We made it through customs with very little fan fare.  Althought they did make Dalene fill out the immigration form again.  Don't know what that was about. We had a Church employee waiting for us there to pick us up and take us to Loma de Tecamachalco.  It took us about 2 hours to get over to the West side because it was Friday evening  rush hour.  And the streets here are not the best.

I didn't get any airport landing photos because it was just too much to deal with all the bags and stuff.

 When we got to the Area office building we parked the van in the garage there because it was a Church vehicle, walked across the street to the VIPS restaurant and ate.  Needless to say we were famished.  It had been hours since we had eaten and that was in Salt Lake Airport.  A greek yogart parfait will only carry you so long.  When we finished our meal we walked back across to the garage and got out luggage out and pulled it down the hill across the street to our new residence for the next 18 months.  I wish I could have gotten that picture.  I did get the picture of the couple that came to welcome us, the Hackings, who will be our neighbors.  Elder Hobbs was also there to assist us in getting in and settled.  The church had it ready for us with the table even set.

First Transfer

There is one thing that we won't get in the field when we do reach Mexico.  That would be transfers.  On the last Sunday you are in the MTC they hold a Departing Fireside.  They call leaving the MTC the first Transfer.  We did that first thing Monday morning (May 4th).  Our transfer was to Church Headquarters to attend training with the Office of Communication Services.  What a fantastic group of individuals.  They had one of the team members that drives past Provo on his way to work pick us up.  Zak Nyberg picked us up and chaufered us to Salt Lake City where we checked into a hotel before heading in for our first day of training.  He saved our lives!!! And to his wife, Yes, he does have quick reflexes. Before we ever made it to the freeway onramp  a large 15 passenger like van tried to occupy the same lane we were already in, heading right for the passenger side.  With quick evasive driving, he manuvered away and past the offending vehicle.  Once past the van, we merged over to a side of the road to see if there was any where that contact was made.  All looked good, although hearts were pumping rather rapidly.  We did a quick internal prayer of thanks for the Missionary Guardians and continued on our way.

With the past few days of a waterfall of information, it has been great to be with the team of people we will be working with, though from a distance.  We had many department representatives come in and share their responsiblities and how the puzzle fits together through communcations. We also had a visit by Elder C. Scott Grow who is on the communications committee.  There were three other couples that were attending the training with us.  Elder and Sister Weise will be heading to the South America South Area office in August.  The Proctors are in the submittal process and the Watanabes are in the investigational part.... are we ready to do this yet?

The Support Team L to R: Kate Lloyd (the Americas and our support person), Dan Billings

(Eastern Europe, Asia, Pacific) me and John, Ekitzel Wood (operations process) Not Pictured: Zak Nyberg (Middle East and Africa, part of Europe) Elder Courtney Lassetter (Service Missionary for this Dept.) and Matt Robinson our fearless leader.

The Language of Love

Lee Essig Dalene's Tutor

Aline Saucedo John's Tutor

We have been able to meet with all of our language people.  We love all of them.  Ellos son fantásticos.

Marlow Vasquez (left) with his wife Marissa (his supervisor)
is the Spanish Coach for both of us.