Week of November 16th to 22nd, 2015 Visit To home town of Benito Jaurez

Monday we had the opportunity to join with the 26 other brothers and sisters who came to help clean the temple. This was a great group, once in a while there is just a small group that comes, when this large of a group comes it only takes about an hour to clean from top to bottom! They clean light fixtures, baseboards and everything in between and when they are done the temple would pass the white glove test. Everyone works with smile on their face and seems to be enjoying the peace and serenity of being in the temple giving service.What amazing people.

We met with the the Roesberrys, and their son, the Peñas, and the Cardenas at 12:00, we all piled in the Peñas van (it was a tiny bit squishy) and headed into the mountains to the town of Guelatoa. This is the birth place of Benito Juarez, he was born around the same time period as Abraham Lincoln and Joseph Smith and he made it possible for Mexico to have freedom of religion and freedom from oppression of government. He came from very, very humble circumstances and is definitely proof that one person can make a difference and of the power of education. (or maybe I should say learning)

It was a beautiful drive, although the roads were very narrow and very twisty, we have learned something about the otherwise very patient, laid back Mexican people, when they get behind the wheel of a car, the patience is gone! They are crazy drivers! They pass on blind curves, drive fast on mountainous roads and if you have a weak stomach and get carsick you better stock up on Dramamine!Plus they are not shy about using their horns! Ross and I are usually okay but Jan always takes her Dramamine and Sister Cardenas got so carsick. Really though the roads are BAD! The mountains are so pretty, there are flowers all along the roadside and right now everything is still so green and lush. It made us a bit homesick.

A tile mosaic on the hiway going to Guelatoa, It tells the story of Benito Juarea and the reforms he made in the Government of Mexico.

Dad and I in front of  a statue of Benito Jaurez, unfortunately it was a holiday and the museum was closed. 

Ducks on the grounds by the little cabins where he was raised

Both pictures are the lake at Guelatoa

Jan, Greg, and Dan 

This week was pretty much normal in the temple, we helped with several sessions and with other ordinances as well as with office work. We thought we would have a slow and early Saturday as we thought we had no excursions and no own endowments, but we were surprised with several unscheduled groups. We ended up with over 50 youth and 3 own endowments and a fairly large group of adults. So we had a great day.

Saturday evening we were invited by the Roesberrys to dinner at their house with the family of one of the coordinators, Jared Pulido. He has 3 darling kids and his mother in law who is also a coordinator came along also. Jan made a deliscious lasagna, the Pulidos brought dessert and after we ate we played Tensies, (a fun dice game). then grandpa got beat in a game of chess by the 8 year old, he is a chess whiz kid, he starts chess competitions in a month! They are a great family, together with the mom in law they own and operate 4 appliance parts and repair sotre and employ over 20 people. Brother Pulido is also the head of the  "For The Strength of Youth" Programs for this part of Mexico and according to the Normans, who spoke in it last year he really puts on a class program. It was a fun evening and before they left they invited us to join them for Christmas Eve.

Me with one of the cute Families at Zimatlan

The rest of the Family,Mom and Dad with thier 3 kids, Dad's mom and grandmother! ( I think dad and mom look about 14 years old)

Brand new building at Zimatlan

This is a picture of one of our obreros who just left on his mission, Omner Sanchez, He sent this from the MTC in Mexico City, He is on the left. His grandpa is a Temple Sealer and his dad is a temple worker. He has a wonderful heritage in the gospel  and is an amazing young man!

Sunday we spoke in the Zimatlan branch the Serranos picked us up at 8:00, they were worried about being on time, they were speaking in Zapata a branch in a town a little farther away than Zimatlan.The meetings started at 10:00. We got there a little before 8:30 and of course the building and gate into the parking lot was all locked up! We had them drop us off at the Zocolo ( the park and center of town, right across from the Catholic Church and we watched the Catholic Church’s procession and listened as the band played, it was some Saint’s day. I also changed my talk just a little and read through it. We studied our scriptures and after an hour we went the four blocks back to the church, the branch President was there with his little family and everything was set up and music was playing. It is a brand new beautiful building. They invited us to sit on the stand, they don’t usually, they just call us up from the audience. He said he is trying to train his congregation to come on time, he started right on time, there was such a sweet spirit there.

I was going to just give one of the other 2 talks I had written but Thursday I was sitting in a session and the spirit whispered so clear that I needed to give a talk on gratitude, I thought, no you just think that because it is almost Thanksgiving and that is what you would do in the States, but the impression, along with the whole talk came so strong. And I know that is why I was able to write it in Spanish, this is the first time I haven't had to write a talk in English and then translate it. I am not sure why but I felt that some one needed that talk, several people made comments in the other classed about it. All these experience are such a testimony that our Father really is aware of us and uses us to fill the needs of others and of how important it is to pay attention to the Spirit, keep ourselves worthy, and be prepared to serve, we thought we weren’t supposed to talk until the next week! So I prepared the talk pretty quick, I KNOW I had a lot of help. 

This is how I closed my talk,

Joseph P Wirthlin Said “Joseph B. Wirthlin said “Gratitude is a mark of a noble soul and a refined character. We like to be around those who are grateful. They tend to brighten all around them. They make others feel better about themselves. They tend to be more humble, more joyful, more likeable."  President Monson encouraged us all to cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude, in his conference talk in Oct 2010 he said “ My sincere heartfelt prayer prayer is that we may in our individual lives reflect that marvelous virtue of gratitude. May it permeate our very souls, now and evermore.”

This week as we think of all the many, many things we have to be thankful for ( and there are far to many to list) the ones that we are most grateful for are the ones that are far beyond priceless they are the love of family and friends, our faith, and the knowledge of a loving Father in Heaven. Know we love you and you are always in our thoughts and prayers. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!