It's not Taco Bell

April 19, 2015

I knew that the food here would not be like Taco Bell and it isn’t.  I guess what has surprised me is that each region of Mexico has its own type of food.  Therefore, a lot of the food I expected is not available where I live.

I expected a lot of beans.  No beans here – or at least very few beans here.  If you are eating at a restaurant and order some, you will get a small bowl.  Refried beans (frijoles) are even harder to find.

I thought all of Mexico ate both corn and flour tortillas.  Nope.  Although you can find flour tortillas in the grocery store (small little display with one brand), most of the tortillas are corn in this region.  You can order a “gringa” (white girl) at some restaurants which is a fried flour tortilla with meat and cheese.  Delicious indeed, but it is not the normal meal around here.  Corn tortillas are warmed on a stove top and not deep fried.

Rice – don’t know how it is here since I haven’t had any, except in rice pudding.  Spanish rice?  It’s probably popular somewhere else in Mexico.

Guacamole – it’s usually runny without a lot of flavor except for the hot part.  They use a lot of water in the preparation.  We have found some “American” guacamole at one restaurant and we savor it whenever we can!

Tortilla chips are for mixing with salsa and scrambled eggs – called chilaquiles.  I run into flavored Doritos at convenience stores but few are dipping them into salsa.  Meanwhile, salsa is runny, very hot, and seldom makes it into my system!

The food here is great – but it is not Taco Bell!  That’s alright with me.  I was never much of a Taco Bell fan anyway!

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

April 19, 2015

Beauty is an interesting and cultural thing.  This is most apparent living as a North American in Mexico. (Side note> Mexican’s consider themselves “American’s” also - therefore we are North Americans)

This is not a very integrated society.  I see very few cultures other than Latino.  Occasionally at tourist spots, I will see other races.  However for the most part, I see very few.

You are considered more attractive here if you have lighter skin.  What an interesting contrast – I would prefer if my white skin would tan and get some color to it.  Here you see umbrellas protecting one from the sun while in the states you find people trying to tan themselves with various products or tanning salons.  I guess it’s all in the eyes of the beholder.

I stand out down here not only for my light skin and blue eyes, but for my gray hair.  I seldom see gray hair on females.  Most of the hair is dyed very black regardless of the age of the woman.  Women’s hair is kept long, mostly without bangs, until you are quite a bit older.  I guess shorter hair is for “older” people. 

So what really is beauty?  When we all reach a perfected state, will we have different colored eyes and hair?  Maybe by that state we will be able to look past our physical exterior to see the true beauty within.

A Perfect Storm of Illness

April 12, 2015

This was an unusual week.  It was like the perfect storm of sickness!  Here is what we did last week.  We were present at all of these things – and this schedule does not include the four days of interviews.  Wow – no wonder we are tired!

Monday:

·         Elder J. R. was admitted to Cami Hospital with a severe infection in his food.

·         Hermana A. L. had a tooth ache and we took to the dentist

Tuesday:

·         Elder J. L. was admitted to the hospital because he couldn’t keep food down.

Wednesday:

·         Elder J. L. released from Cami Hospital

·         Elder J. R. released from Cami Hospital

·         Elder J. S. taken to Dr. Francina to check on procedure on toe

·         Elder C. A. taken to Dr. Francina for a procedure on his toe

·         Elder T. G. taken to Dr. Francina – fear he has another hernia, needs ultrasound

·         Elder B. H. taken to Dr. Francina – needs surgery for a benign tumor in chest

·         Elder R. M. taken to internist for test results – he is gluten intolerant

·         Elder D. G. comes down with chicken pox

Friday

·         Elder A. G. sees plastic surgeon to repair bad scar on face

·         Elder D. R. sees plastic surgeon to help repair burns on hands

·         Elder T. G. gets his ultrasound

Saturday

·         Elder T. G. gets results – needs surgery

·         Elder B. H. has a successful surgery removing benign tumor

·         Hermana R. W. is admitted to Cami Hospital with dehydration and diarrhea.

Today we still have our Hermana in the hospital.  Elder B. H. was released from the hospital today (5 hours to get the hospital and insurance to work together) and is at our home, and 2 Elders have also joined us for a dentist appointment in the morning.  May we sleep in tomorrow?

"I killed someone"

April 3, 2015

From Keith's journal

     Occasionally, as Mission President, I have to do “special interviews” of investigators who want to be baptized.  These include those who have been involved in abortions, same sex attraction/relations, and even murder.

     Those who have committed a homicide, in order to be baptized, have to be cleared by the First Presidency of the Church in order for the permission to be given for them to be baptized. 

       Recently I was asked to interview an 85 year old gentleman who wanted to be baptized, but had been involved in a homicide 50 years ago.  During his baptismal interview, he told my missionary,  “I killed someone 50 years ago!”   So, they called me up and I scheduled an interview him.    

        This man is suffering from terminal cancer, has listened to the missionary lessons, has attended church, and wants to be baptized.  

        Fifty years ago in a small village up in the mountains, some men came to his house and kidnapped his sister.  It was a very traumatic incident for this man and his family.  

      He took off through the mountains and valleys, trying to track down the kidnappers and his sister.  After searching for many days, he caught up with the kidnappers, but very unfortunately, they had, just moments earlier, killed his sister.      

       He said he was in a rage, and began hand to hand combat with one of the kidnappers, while the others fled.  They fought for a long time, and eventually he killed the man who ended the life of his sister. 

       He said the local “law” arrived as the combat came to an end.  He explained it all to the law officer, who then told him to just leave!  He took off and never looked back. 

       I submitted this case to the First Presidency a month ago, then received a letter back from them granting permission for him to be baptized! Amazing!! 

      He was baptized just a few weeks ago!!  His wife has been a member for a very long time.  Hope he lives long enough for them to be sealed in the temple!! 

April Fools Day

April 1, 2015

Our missionaries pulled a real good joke on the President for April Fools Day.  He is doing quarterly interviews so he was in the La Perla Stake.  These interviews are done one on one.

Elder Munoz just arrived 2 weeks ago so we don’t know him as well.  Our assistants talked a young man in the church into putting on Munoz’s white shirt, tie, and name tag.  He goes into the interview.

As he walks in, Keith thinks: “This kid doesn’t even look familiar – have I ever seen him before?  I must be getting old.”

Keith: “Elder Munoz, it’s good to see you again.  How are you doing?  How are things going?

Munoz: “It’s going great.”

Keith: “You have braces.  I don’t remember you coming with braces.  You’re not supposed to have braces here.  When did you get them?”

Munoz:  “Just got them last week.  A sister put them on for me!”

Keith:  “WHAT – you can’t do that!  Did you ask permission?”

At that point, a bunch of Elders burst in laughing.  They got him!

Our nine month anniversary

March 31, 2015

Today is our 9 month anniversary.  We have served one fourth of our mission.  As I was thinking of that this afternoon, it dawned on me that we received such a wonderful gift to celebrate this first nine months.

We have tried to not focus on numbers here.  It seemed that it was too strong of a focus before we got here.  Therefore there were some things that happened in order to increase numbers instead of the primary focus of bringing people to Christ.  Bringing people to Christ includes all – you, members of the Church, and nonmembers of the church.

There have been several times that we have heard that missionaries don’t think we care about baptisms.  We care about baptisms, but we care more about growing the Church in Mexico.  The stronger the church is in Mexico, the better off Mexico will be.  A baptism, and no further attendance at church, does not help the church in Mexico.  Members who are no longer attending church need attention and love.  Their lives can be made better.

Back to the subject:  Therefore, we have worked on obedience and help strengthen our missionaries.  If missionaries are more righteous and obedient, they will do a better job at missionary work.  Up until March, our baptisms have been a little disappointing each month.  We have looked at that sadly but felt compelled to continue down our road of focus.

Baptisms in February were 40, which was pretty close to average.  Baptisms in March were 130!  What a gift for us!  130 souls brought to Jesus Christ because of obedient, righteous missionaries!  There were also hundreds of “less active” members that came back and partook of the spirit that can be felt at church – because of simple and thoughtful invitations from our missionaries.  What a gift for our nine month anniversary!

The Visa Challenge

March 28, 2015

Elder Vallejo is our executive secretary in charge of Visa’s.  We have to choose a secretary that has absolute integrity along with excellent Spanish and English skills.  Every one of our missionaries from foreign countries has to have a Visa from Mexico.

Elder Vallejo often has to take the metro, along with a number of missionaries, to central Mexico City.  At times he has thousands of dollars on him and up to 20 passports.  He has to maneuver a group through various stations, streets, and buildings.  It is most stressful.

He shared several recent experiences:

The first time he was on his own after he prior secretary had finished training and moved on, he arrived at the Visa office with all the needed money and paperwork.  First question: May I see your passport for identification?

Answer:  I forgot it (realizing now that he forgot all the passports needed)

The clerk doesn’t look up as Elder Vallejo says a silent prayer.

Question:  May I have the paperwork and passports of the other missionaries?

Answer:  Here is the paperwork, I forgot the passports.

The clerk still doesn’t look up but keeps working.  Elder Vallejo starts to understand that he is receiving some Heavenly help here.  The clerk continues, never looks up, finishes the paperwork, collects the money and bids him farewell.  He walks out with a lighter heart.

Last month the Visa office refused to grant a Visa to one of our Elders.  It had been granted for the first year, but now they didn’t like his passport.  When the Elder had signed it in the USA, he hadn’t signed his full name.  He crossed it out and resigned, which was acceptable in the US, and acceptable the first year down here, but no longer.  This requires a trip to the US Embassy and an original birth certificate in order to correct.  We don’t have original birth certificates – mom and dad do.  The Elder’s parents scan us a copy and the trip begins.

Arriving at the embassy, and with a prayer going, they walk up to the clerk.  They are greeted with a big “Hello Elders, I’m a member of the church also.”  Once again Elder Vallejo is receiving Heavenly help.  She looks at the scanned copy and marks it as an original.  Our Elder is now legally in Mexico.

We are ever so thankful for assistance from the other side of the veil!