Week of Dec. 22 to 28, 2014 Christmas Week

Inside the municipal center at Ocotlan, A puepla S. of Oaxaca. Friday after the Temple closed we went to the big market here. There are beautiful old murals on the walls. Ross and Doug.

 This week with the temple closed for the Christmas break we had a lot of free time. The Normans had a friend of  here also so we had the opportunity to tag along and see a lot of fun places. Doug (The Norman's friend) is a delightful person and we very much enjoyed having him here to share in our Christmas, he definitely added to the wonderful spirit we felt and the fun and laughter we shared together. Tuesday the temple was full and we even had a late session with people trying to get that last session in before Christmas, it was such a great day to be there. Wednesday, Christmas Eve, really is the big day here in Mexico, it is celebrated even more that Christmas day. We decided to go caroling (sorry I have no pictures, I think John took some and I am sure he will post them his blog is http://johnandchristinesadventures,blogspot.com) we had the 7 of us The Normans, The Roesberrys, Us, and Doug, along with 2 darling young Sister Missionaries. We wanted to sing in a couple of hospitals, but they said no. So we went to a park and sang to people there and then we started toward a walking street by a huge Catholic Church and saw another hospital, they were glad to have us and we sang there, one patient wept ( I don't think we were that bad, I think she liked it!), and they gave us all water so now we are paid professionals.  We then sang across from the big church where we drew quite a crowd, including a reporter who interviewed the young Sisters and followed us to the next spot and recorded us again. It was a great morning. The afternoon was spent preparing for dinner at President Atkinsons house. It was a very nice evening, great food and conversation, topped off by a beautiful scripture message.
Christmas Morning we all got together again at the President's house for breakfast, he gave us all a beautiful hand made plate by a local artist, each one unique and different. Again it was great and ended with a beautiful scripture message, President is an amazing teacher! The day was spent with the Roesberrys and Normans and Doug visiting and playing games and relaxing, but the best part was being able to communicate with our family. It was so nice to be able to talk to each of you and see you faces via Skype, we are so very grateful for modern technology! It helps so much to be able to see and hear from you.
      

More of the murals

Still more, they are beautiful and so large and colorful, they are quite old but are in the process of being restored and repainted.
 

After the market we stopped in San Bartolo at the Barro Negra (Black pottery) factory again.
This is a display of the clay ect. they use to make it. I am in love with this stuff. They had a different nativity set this time that was so beautiful, bigger and more realistic. Before we come home I might have to have it. 

We try not to miss any meals! We ate Tlayudas, they are like super sized quesadias, sort of.
They are made from a large, fresh, corn tortilla stuffed with cheese, avocado, black beans, tomato, lettuce, onion, and your choice of meat, or no meat. Then you can add salsa. I couldn't finish mine. 

Yesterday after the temple we went to Tule to see the 2000 year old tree, it is a Cyprus tree and it is impressionate!
I have never seen a living thing so big! I wonder if it is tired of seeing the same patterns of life over the many years of it's life? Touching it's branch it seemed that you could feel a tiredness abut it and maybe a hope of better things to come, but you know me I like fantasy so who knows. This tree is on one side of the church, it's son is on the other and is 1000 ears old and then a baby (not sure how) old is across from it. It did seem to beckon to me to come and shelter in it's branches and I think all 25 of the grandkids could climb in it for hours of fun, however it is fenced and you can't really get close except for the branches that have grown over the fence.   

The baby

The hijo (the son)

More in the market, the lady is probably Mixtex or Zapotec,(check out the length of her braids) We considered buying a goat but didn't think the President would appreciate it if we transported it in his van.

 While we were there to see the tree a wedding party showed up, the bride is beautiful, but doesn't look very happy.
There was also a band playing roll out the barrel that escorted a family in for a baby blessing! 

These little girls were at the market in Ocotlan, I am not sure if they had just bought the Turkey or if they were selling the turkey.

At the market, see the little lady in the backround with all the live turkeys for sale, they are strapped across her shoulders
and tied at the legs and carried in her hands.

This shows a little better how really massive this tree is! 

More murals, Chris Norman, Doug, Ross and I, Jan and Greg Roesberry
It has been another wonderful week, Brother Norman said that his son told him you aren't on a mission, you are on a spiritual vacation! That is what we feel like at least part of the time. We love serving here in Oaxaca in our beautiful little temple with some of the best people on the earth. we miss you all like crazy and we love you and pray for you always. Be good to each other and have a fantastic New Year.