Dia de Muertos is much more like our memorial day,than like Halloween, although I must say it is on a grander scale. you would not believe the amount of live flowers that are sold and the way the graves are decorated and cleaned during the the week. The graveyards are absolutely beautiful. The most popular flowers are Marigolds and the smell is enough to trigger anyone's allergies, grandpa was sneezing like crazy when we visited the cemetery and walked down the street past the flower vendors. The people turn out in droves to honor their ancestors, you can hardly get around in the cemetery's they are so crowded. And very few graves are left undecorated, most have food and flowers.
After the session at the temple we went with Sister Pena (Brother Peña was tied up with the inspection all day) and the Perez family to Ocotlan to the cemetery and to the market, where we ate lunch. I have to say I am not a huge fan of eating dinner in the markets and I don't think Sister Peña is either. I think the cleanliness factor is a bit iffy, and whether it is the power of suggestion or the food both Ross and I had bad stomachs for a few days after. Anyway we wandered around the market and town and looked at the cemetery, Ross and I thought we were heading home so we bought a little bit of fruit, we then went to the old church and convent which was pretty cool, there was a lot of cool art and some old furniture and stuff. They wouldn't let us take picture of the art.
This monument was built to commemorate the church which was built in 1535,
Dinning room in the convent attached to the church, behind us you can see an original painting from the 1500's!
This trunk held all the regalia of a Preist, robes etc.
The church
Entrance to the cemetery
All along the street leading to the cemetery were little altars an statues.
This altar was to honor someones relative
This little booth warned about the dangers of smoking!
After we left Ocotlan we stopped in Santo Tomas Jalieta, this little puebla is famous for thier weaving, they make woven belts and bags.
I tried to weave but I think it takes more than a three minute lesson, I'm pretty sure she had to pick out everything I did!
We then stopped at San Martin Ticajete, this is another place where they make alabrijes, the hand carved and intricately painted wood sculptures.They were some or the most beautiful I have seen also the most expensive, some as much as 1200.00 pesos, but they were truly works of art. There was a Ram and a Deer that I would have loved to get, may be another time! By this time everyone was hungry again so we stopped at a little cafeteria type place off the side of the road and had dinner, the place was pretty busy, but seemed to be really clean and the food was good. We got home about 6:30 tired but happy, our fruit we had purchased early in the day a little worse for wear, but we had a great day with good friends and saw some interesting places we had never been before.
Because of the inspection we did not have Presidency Meeting or Missionary Meeting on Tuesday, we found out that one of the things that will be changed after the inspection is that the apartments will be getting dishwashers, I thought my dishwasher worker just fine, Ross does a great job on the dishes.There are a few other changes that need to be made in the temple but nothing big and as usual the people who came from Salt Lake were such great people.
Most of the week was pretty normal until Saturday although we had one fun experience riding the bus, Wednesday we had to go downtown to a follow up Dr. appointment, we took a cab to the appointment but decided to take the bus back home, buses here are funny, each driver seems to have his own personal bus and decorates and personalizes it, this one was kind of old and was decorated with a blue string of lights along the inside front that lit up in time to the very loud music, part way home a guy with his face painted like a clown got on, he had a baby strapped on his front, facing forward, the baby never stopped smiling and gigling, the guy started talking, his voice sounded like he had sucked helium. He was performing some kind of monologue about marriage and asking the riders questions, after about 5 or 10 minutes he went around collecting tips and then got off at the next stop. It is always entertaining!
Saturday we had 2 buses full of people come to the temple and a small group, we had seven people come for their first time, and we had one Ward bring a group of 14 adults to do baptisms who are all fairly new converts and this is their first time in the temple. It was a great day! Grandpa said each day we come out of the temple feeling uplifted and blessed and it really is the truth. It seems like we have at least one sweet tender mercy, where we really feel the spirit each day. We are so blessed to be able to serve here with such wonderful people.
Last night we went to Mitla Stake Center to their Family History Marathon. We were there by assignment from the Temple President to take his place as he couldn't be in 2 places at the same time.
Our assignment was to be in charge of any investigators that came. We ended up with one couple and their little girl. Grandpa basically did all the teaching, although I found the material, his Spanish is so great, he told them all about why we do genealogy and why we have temples, we tried to show them a little video by President Eyring but the video wouldn't play, they had about 20 computers running on the Internet and I think it was overloaded and just wouldn't play.
They had one room set up with all kinds of history stuff and momentos and were taking family pictures, the gym was set up with computers like a family history center and they had a bunch of experts helping people and we were there for the investigators.It was really well organized. Then they had a short wrap up meeting at the end and 3 speakers each told a little about how Family History blessed life's, one speaker was grandpa, he did fantastic. One was a little girl who is about 9, she had made a family tree and told all about her grandparents it was so cute. But she was nervous and kept trying to get her mom to help her.
Photos at the Family History Marathon
This is the little family we visited with.
Today we spoke in El Bosque Ward ( The Forest Ward), each week from now on we speak in a different ward. We were surprised at how many people we know. I think they have to listen close just to be able to understand me. I get nervous and stumble, at one point several of the members helped me with a word! They are so sweet and kind. It is fun to go and feel so welcomed and loved and appreciated.
The thought I want to leave with you this week is from Elder Neal L. Anderson "Pray to your Heavenly Father, He will open doors, remove roadblocks, and help you overcome obstacles." I know this is true He has done so for me time and time again. He loves each one of us and wants our happiness and success. We love you all and pray for you always.
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