Hope all is well with all of you. We have had lots of rain and have been wondering if I need to get a new umbrella that works a bit better. It is beautiful here when it rains; I actually like the rain.
[Week Beginning - Nov. 11 2019] We had our first baptism - a young boy in a part-member family was baptized; we recently taught this family! I think I sent a photo of where they live here in Cotza. An awesome family!
I had some habanero salsa the other day - very hot salsa, yet I liked it! Also, the stores here sell many different levels of hot chips - so I asked what "hot" is, the clerk says, well we have (
sarcasm) single hot, double hot, mild hot, extra hot, super hot, super hot-hot, and extreme hot..okay, I said I will have the hot chips. Many types of food to eat here in the mission field. Apparently, I have been told many favorite dishes may include armadillo, cow brains, cow intestines, wild bore, and a "shark fish" called Peje - This area, in the Atlantic coast state of Tabasco, is famous for being home to the Pejelagarto or Peje, an ancient species that still swims slowly through the region's lakes and lagoons. The local fishermen sometimes call them "dinosaurs" - due to a gene buried within the fish's genetic code that prevents it from mutating. I had cow brains the other day. I often wonder if there are laxatives in the tortillas here, haha. They hand make them here and are the best fire cooked tortillas.
Also, I like this apple flavored yogurt that is really good - can't remember the name of it. As you may understand, the food is great and I am hungry more often than not, especially after a day of contacting and talking with many people. It seems that every day or so my companion and I have a run in with a dog. You also have to get good at dodging cars as we try and cross the streets in Cotza. Many street vendors on the street will sell fresh coconut juice and you can drink it out of the shell of the coconut; they will use a machete to cut it in halves and add a straw - fun to watch them do this with the machete as they are very good at it.
Many say that my Spanish is very good and believe that I have been here over a year and that I am much older. I have been blessed to have picked up the language well while here - I know I have had help with the language from the Savior doing his work.
Recently I taught an older lady on a division (when you have another companion for the day rather than your regular companion) - and even committed her to a baptismal date - I wrote it on my hand to remind me of the date - haha. I talked with a young man - he just said all religions are the same - in that they all talk of God. Many here are devoted to Catholicism. Often you will see a small shelf with a box made of iron around it on the iron fences surrounding many of the homes here. This shelf is used for placing crucifixes, and religious candles or Seven Day Candles and are used as a means for prayer, devotion, meditation, ritual, healing and protection. Often there is a depiction or images for Christ, Mary, Angels, Saints and others on the glass jar of the candle. We have a shelf for our home that contains two empty
Coke bottles, haha. Evan always tells us it is better to drink
Coca-Cola than
Jumex juice or water, anyway, haha.
We have been asked to teach English each Tuesday night for an hour and half or so for members or anyone - It has been interesting to do this
Recently on a division, as we often do look for ways to serve others, I noticed an old man that what I thought might be his daughter with him that had a hard time walking as they were getting out of their car. I went and asked him if he wanted help, he said "si, gracias." It reminded me of a conference talk by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, I had recently read, "You Are My Hands“ - "Succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees."
We talked with a man building a decorative wall in his yard that expressed some interest - we will see how that goes; we talk with many - the work presses on. I love my mission and are truly blessed to be here doing the Lord's work! Have a great week!
Conference Talk, April 2010, “You Are My Hands”, Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency.
Christ did not just speak about love; He showed it each day of His life. He did not remove Himself from the crowd. Being amidst the people, Jesus reached out to the one. He rescued the lost. He didn’t just teach a class about reaching out in love and then delegate the actual work to others. He not only taught but also showed us how to “succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees."
As disciples of Jesus Christ, our Master, we are called to support and heal rather than condemn.
When I think of the Savior, I often picture Him with hands outstretched, reaching out to comfort, heal, bless, and love. And He always talked with, never down to, people. He loved the humble and the meek and walked among them, ministering to them and offering hope and salvation.
That is what He did during His mortal life; it is what He would be doing if He were living among us today; and it is what we should be doing as His disciples and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“Wherefore, be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.” (D&C 81:5.)
