Conferencias, Bloqueos y Misioneros

CONFERENCIAS

We were able to assist with the Hualtulco District Conference. Hermana DeWolf and I both spoke in the Sunday Session. Hermana DeWolf spoke for about four minutes and I spoke for about 11 minutes of which about half was in Spanish. It was the first time since arriving in Mexico that I spoke more Spanish in one setting then her. She spoke on Testimony and I spoke on the Atonement.

General Conference was Amazing as usual and we had several things which stood out to us. The talk by Larry R Lawrence really hit me. I indeed wonder "What lack I yet" on a daily basis and ask the Lord to direct me and guide my path so I may be able to develop into the person he sees me as. I was also touched by Russell M Nelson talk about Covenant Women and their impact on the church and the world. How they indeed stand out form other women. I wrote in my notes "Hermana DeWolf is one of these women and people are drawn to her like a moth to a flame" In the short time we have been here it has been amazing how many people have come into our life due to her influence.


BLOQUEOS

We needed some items that are not available in our little city of Hualtulco so we headed off to Salina Cruz to go to WalMart there. We found most of what we were looking for and had all afternoon left. We realized that Juchitan was just about 30 minutes away so we headed in that direction to pick up a few items from the market there. As we were leaving Salina Cruz we encountered our first of four bloqueos. Luckily the car in front of use knew an alternate route so we left the highway and drove about a half mile on a dirt road then back up to the highway, going aginst traffic, and were able to bypass it. That was a fun adventure we thought, another cute bloqueo story. Then as we approached Juchitan we hit another bloqueo.

Eventually the man in the green shirt walked back and told us to go back a couple of kilometers and then we could take the road that leads to the dump and it would wind around and take us to downtown Juchitan. Well it took us to Juchitan, just not directly to downtown, no, it took us to a neighborhood and we had to ask several times to get directions. Finally we found the missionaries who directed us to where we needed to go.
Time to leave but the bloqueo was still there. So a "nice" moto taxi driver offered to help us find our way around it and led us through the neighborhoods back to the dump road and to the highway. We were grateful and wanted to tip him double the going rate for a moto taxi, about 10 pesos. He said that was not enough and that we owed him 50 pesos, ah... Juchitan....we should have known ; )
The Moto Taxi.

So off we went back toward Salina Cruz. We had gotten a call from a couple of the young Hermanas who were stuck there and couldn't get home because the buses were not running due to the bolqueos. So we offered to pick them up and take them to Huatulco. I missed a turn and we ended up going around Salina Cruz, which meant we would miss the bloqueo we had passed earlier, WhoooHooo!!
However we found another one and we had to go down an on-ramp to a highway and make a U turn on the highway to avoid it. Alas we arrived, picked up the Hermana's and headed home to Huatulco. The planned 7 hour trip ended up being about 11 1/2 hours in duration.

We are learning how to be patient, creative and just go with the flow here.

MISIONEROS

What can I say about the young missionaries. They are truly AMAZING and we learn from them each time we are with them. We were able to attend a Zone Activity a week and a half ago. We accompanied the 22 missionaries of our Zone to a beach in Puerto Angel where we played beach volleyball, after moving a few large boulders to clear a volleyball court. We also had coconuts to drink and eat. These young people are incredible in their devotion to the Lord and the rules of the mission. At one point the ball went into the ocean, what to do? They are not allowed to even wade in the water. They quickly called Hermana DeWolf, because we have different rules, and she waded out and retrieved the ball.

There are four missionaries who are finishing their missions this week and so we gathered and they bore testimony to everyone and gave advice to the younger missionaries. Hermana DeWolf then commented and told them as Awesome as the experience was serving a mission that they should imagine serving another one with their Eternal Companion. Once again my companion rises to the occasion!!!! Many of them vowed to do just that.
At one point in the last volleyball I started to seriously overheat and had to sit down. The missionaries were concerned and sent me to see the Mission Nurse ; ) She took one look at me and told me to get in the water and cool off. Dang that was tough ; ) Here are pictures from the activity.

We also had the opportunity to feed a few of the missionaries between the evening Saturday Session and the Priesthood Session, breakfast for the Elders Sunday morning and then between the Sunday Sessions.
Again, sitting and discussing conference talks, life and the world in general I am just blown away by the spiritual maturity of these Kids !!!! Here are a few pictures.

 

Monday, on P day, we took the Hermanas from Hautulco to a local Archeological park called Copalita. There we saw ruins, the point were the Copalita River enters the sea and lots of cool flora and fauna.

 



What a week and a half. We are so blessed. Missionaries ROCK !!! When you hike in 80 degree 60% humidity, you get really sweaty. Did I mention that Missionaries ROCK !!!!

This is the first time we have known missionaries that are finishing up their missions and we are amazed at how much we are going to miss them.