Roadside Restaurant

As I have said, we travel many miles of highway each week. We pass many interesting and beautiful things.  I wish I could wear a camera on my head and capture everything I see, but I cannot and so I share with you what I can get pictures of.  We pass by many roadside eating places. Some I would call restaurants, others I would call tables with plastic table clothes and a grill.  One of the things I love about this country, is that everyone takes care of themselves and does what they can and how they can and everyone else is ok with that, in fact it is how this country survives. Everyone accepts what others do.  Anyway, we were coming back from Agua Dulce, a fabulous little town off the highway about 15km on the way to Coatzacoalcos.  We had finished our business in Agua Dulce and we hadn't eaten all day. So we decided to stop at a roadside restaurant, one of many that we have passed and never taken the time to stop.  We were delighted, the food was really good and the view from the back windows was tranquil and beautiful, rolling hills and a lake, with brama cows and bulls grazing on the hills. We were the only ones in the place, until two Federales came in- then we knew we had picked a good one, because they definitely looked like locals.

Missionaries Apartments

One of the projects that I have taken on is to review all the missionaries apartments, for safety, cleanliness and inventory. As I mentioned, I started teaching about keeping the apartments clean and what is expected.   I have Office Elders that are helping me. We take an inventory and status check of each companionship's apartment. We then review all the Zones and we are gradually making our way across the mission.  We are eliminating clutter and getting rid of lots of extra items, such as beds, tables, etc.  Our mission once had 240 missionaries and we now have 160. So there is a lot of extra items in many apartments.  Also, I am looking at who has Clima (air conditioning unit).  The heat is very real here and it never cools down, so it is helpful for the missionaries to get a reprieve from the heat when they are sleeping and studying.  So we are working our way across the mission and getting Clima's in each apartment!  I have to review all the Sisters apartments and the Elders do the Elders apartments and sometimes President is able to go with me, which the missionaries love! As I have said our Mission covers a lot of miles, so we have 6 of the 9 Zones done and we will get to all of them!

Hermana Sump and Hermana
Warren in Coatzacoalcos

Hermana Jimenez and Hermana Mancilla
with Hermana Haws in Coatzacoalcos

Hermana Warren and Hermana
Morales with Hermana Haws in
Coatzacoalcos

President Haws overseeing things
in Hermana Cruz and Hermana
Garcia's apartment in Minatitlan

Hermana Weinmuller and Hermana
Hermandez let us in their apartment
in Minatitlan

President Haws explains a concept
to Hermana Weinmuller

Hidalgo Ward Hermanas get a Clima, in Villahermosa
President Haws helps put it together with
Hermana Scholes, Hermana Mero and Hermana Torres

September Mission Leadership Council

First Wednesday of each month we get to meet with our Mission Leaders. President trains the leaders on the principles of the Mission, this month he taught them about planning, working with the members and finding those that are looking for the gospel amongst the members and new converts. He always uses the Savior's example to illustrate the way we need to teach and lead.  I usually teach a part, this month we are working on cleaning and organizing their apartments.  I gave them tasks that will help them keep there apartments clean and orderly so that the Spirit can more easily dwell there.  We have wonderful Mission Leaders that go out and teach these principles to their Zones and then also lead by example.  MLC days are fun and have a lot going on, as the leaders get materials, packages and things from the office that they need for their Zone.  And there is always the need to practice our "esfuerza al máximo"!

Esfuerza al maximo!

The office flurry after our meeting,
before they have to get on the bus or taxi
or Convee!

Baptisms

Mexico Villahermosa Mission Boundaries

Baptisms are a wonderful part of Mission life.  We are able to attend at least one baptism a week. They are happening all over the Mission each week in each of the Zones.  Here are a few that we have attended lately.

Elder Wilkins and Elder Hernandez, Minatitlan Zone

Elder Sanchez and Elder Moore, Villahermosa Zone

Elder Urbano, Elder Pedroza, Elder Strong and Elder Jenkins
Gaviotas Zone

Mexico Independence Day

Everyone in Mexico is gearing up for their Independence Day celebration- September 16th.  I understand the celebrating begins on the evening of September 15th and goes on into the next day.  So to be safe all our missionaries will have to be in their apartments by 6pm on the 15th.  But it is fun to celebrate and wonderful to see all the country pride that is all around us.  The photos below are just some of the decorations I have seen as we go around Villahermosa.

Our First Orthopedic Event

Well one of our Sisters took the esfuerza al maximo to the next level.  She broke a bone in her foot while they were out working and ended up getting x-ray's and a cast, including crutches.  Hermana Jarquin is the one in the cast and her companion, Hermana Garcia has been a great "mom", taking care of her and getting the help that she needs. But they haven't stopped contacting people and continuing to give their maximum effort - "esfuerza al maximo".  They even got the doctor to participate in their efforts!  We have the best missionaries in the world!!

Dr. Lopez with Hermana's Jarquin and Garcia