Mexican Christmas!

I glanced at the ugly Christmas trees at Walmart a few miles from our home, and decided instead to climb 2 miles up a mountain trail to "Corta Su Arbol" in Amecameca. At the top, I learned that "Corta Su Arbol" supplies Walmart with trees. I saw a few Posadas, and witnessed thousands of hikers clog the freeways on their trek to worship the Virgin in Mexico City. Of three freeway lanes, two were impassable by car for the hikers for days and days. Impressive faith. Makes me glad to be a Mormon. Not that our ancestors didn't do their share of walking, but now we just drive to Salt Lake City. I loved how Christmas in Mexico means family gatherings, mostly without presents. We could hear the laughter from their homes as we passed by in the days of Christmas.

It was fun for Janna and I to host Reid & Malinda and Blair and Harper for Christmas. Reid's spanish came roaring back, he lit every firework we could buy, and everyone loved the day in Taxco, the silver capital of Mexico, way up in the mountains. The flu made the rounds between us, but no one seemed to pay too much attention. As a mission, we focused on service to the communities we're in, and helped out a lot of people. Then, on the 24th, the missionaries caroled in the "Zocalos" of those same towns. Hundreds stopped by, listened, and mingled with the missionaries. It's cold here, so they all had jackets and scarfs, beanies, it was fun. 

Missionaries can be pretty competitive, so I worried about our first mission wide soccer tournament, zone against zone. A zone is a group of 26 or so missionaries, and the faces change over time as missionaries are transferred to other areas. The zone "Meyehualco" won the tournament, and Humberto, the stone cutter on my way home, cut a stone trophy which sits in the mission office. When they think I'm not listening, the elders tell the newly arriving missionaries that they were part of the winning "Meyehualco" team. Hmmm, I went to San Dieguito High School in the 70's, so I could have the math wrong, but apparently all 126 missionaries played for the "Meyehualco" zone that day and the other zones had no one.

We are reflecting on our first six months in the mission field with these incredible young men and women. They carried us the first few weeks. We could see they were sharp, but we didn't know much. Being a mission president and his wife is like jumping on an Amtrak at full speed. No time to train you, just get up here and start working. So, we watched them, and learned from them, and we're now beginning to understand our role. It has just about killed us to let them go home when it's their turn. When you're asked to give what they are asked to give, you bond real quick. I won't try to list their names because there are so many and I might leave one out, but we have watched them go through something tough yet rewarding, and we will never forget them, not one. We worry what will become of the mission as each leaves, and takes their experience and love for the Mexican people with them, but the younger ones step up and fill in the holes. We have never laughed or cried more in six months. The assignment is relentless, but we're not tired.

On my birthday, Elders Buchanon, Pleites, Ojeda and Ramos invited us to the baptism of two families of 5 each in one baptismal service, or 10 people, and Elders Zufelt and Parker invited us to work with them and gifted me a Bolivian looking sweater and beanie. On the 18th of December, the entire mission gathered to enjoy a Christmas Conference. Janna directed games and a gift exchange (126 gifters!), and she and the Birds, a senior couple on assignment from Utah, baked cookies. We hired a local to cook tacos, al pastor con pina, suadero, and gringos. And great skits poking fun at their lives as missionaries. I guess we're too new because no one poked fun at us. I don't think the man before me reads my blog, so I'll say this, Elder Lauritzen does a perfect impression of him, including "Bueno, bueno, bueno".  I laugh and think "ugh, it's just a matter of time." But what could they come up with? I mean ... . We finished with Christmas Carols and testimonies, then the mission gifted them a pair of socks and a few pieces of candy. It was the only gift many of them received.

Janna and I witness miracles every day, practically every hour. Our favorite time is spent out with the missionaries, walking the streets, sometimes late at night, in small pueblos in the country or in the big city, from one appointment to another, teaching and working with the people. As we do, we are silenced by just how good these missionaries are, and just how much they strive to emulate their Savior, Jesus Christ.

Man, I want our kids and their families to move here, and then I want this never to end.

Our best wishes to everyone that 2014 will be a great year!