June 25, 2017
Hi Boys and Girls,
I can’t tell you how happy we are to be living in Cuernavaca now…it’s like day and night different from Pinotepa, and the more I’m around the people here the more I realize what a bunch of rednecks the Pinotepa people are in many ways. The town is so isolated and poor and the people who live there really have a different mentality, hard to explain. But we feel that we accomplished what President Avila sent us there to do and our time now is to move on and help others in whatever way we can.
Cuernavacca is so green and so much cooler. We don’t even have air conditioning here but it’s very tolerable. We can now open our windows (in Pinotepa we couldn’t because of all the unwanted critters outside) and it rains about every other night. So far, we haven’t been caught in the rain. It’s quite delightful. AND IT’S GREEN! AND IT’S CLEAN! No trash along the highways or sidewalks for the most part, no dog poop on the sidewalks, LOTS of mosquitoes and no scorpions (so far). We live downstairs from the owner of the house, who is a very nice couple about our same age. The church and mission office is a five minute walk up the road, President Avila’s family live on the next street over, so our neighborhood is very nice homes and feels safe, except for the crazy buses which fly down our street. And you can really tell the difference with the people in our ward…they drive nice cars, many live in very nice homes, and wear nice clothes. These are not poor people. No tortilla vendor motorcycles going up and down our street beeping their horns incessantly, no cows mooing on the loud speaker to sell gas, no cow bells for trash pick-up. I’m telling you, Pinotepa was red neck country!
Our assignment hasn’t changed, just the location. Instead of the people coming to us we go to them. So far we have traveled to Iguala twice, Civac, Chilpancingo, and Acapulco to present to the Stake Presidency the opportunity to learn how to cook pastries, etc., and how to make the dehydrator cardboard box, classes on gardening, and we introduce the Church’s chicken project. This next week we will travel to Galeana to do the same. We travel by either bus or collectivo, which is pretty cheap and comfortable travel and the distance is at the most is about 4 hours. These buses are very clean. Senior missionaries in other missions have the option to lease a car from the church for $150 a month so we asked President about that. He checked with the area office who said they would be glad to buy a car for us to lease but it would take a while, so we decided that we’ll just keeping riding buses or walking. And we wouldn’t feel comfortable having the church buy a car just for us. Walking is good for us! Pop is doing great with his artificial knee.
So in Iguala last Friday night we had our first cooking class and had 150 – 160 people in attendance. It was truly stunning. I’m positive, however, that it was partly entertainment and partly curiosity, but we had some who were genuinely interested, either arriving early or on time, which was UNHEARD of in Pinotepa. And they asked us to return every week to teach, which is not going to happen. We have 3 or 4 more stakes in the mission yet to visit and others who have already scheduled classes. I have a feeling that in a very short time this is going to be a bit overwhelming because we have to pack and take with us all of the ingredients and utensils/bowls/mixer, etc. As careful as I was trying to be last Friday I still forgot the oil and someone had to run to the store! I’m trying to figure out a way to make lists of the ingredients and things to take for each item I’m teaching. The first class was teaching basic white bread and cinnamon bread and while that was rising we taught them banana bread. Again, the hope is that they will learn some basic cooking skills that can bless their families and possibly give them the opportunity to bake and sell, blessing their families in other ways. We’re returning to Iguala this week to help them make their dehydrator boxes and show them how to dry fruits and vegetables and fruit leathers and store them for emergencies. So far the people we’ve met here in Mexico are not at all into food storage or preparedness, but we are trying to change that attitude as we encourage self-reliance. Unfortunately, they have the attitude that either the Church or the government will take care of them.
We’re busy again and we’re happy serving the Lord in whatever way He wants us to serve. President and Sister Avila told us that our move from Pinotepa was directed by the Lord, so we hope to accomplish what is needed in the next 8 months. We feel very blessed with this incredible mission. I have never felt especially talented and wasn’t sure what I had to share with others, but I realize that what Pop and I love doing are things that they want to learn. One sister said, “We don’t know what we don’t know, so teach us!” Pop’s comment was they sent those with limited skilled to teach the unskilled! To be honest, as I was pondering this the other day it was very humbling to think that the few skills I’ve been blessed with, and discounted as not important or special in any way, is actually benefiting others. Our two sisters in Pinotepa continue to grow their businesses; the scriptures teach one of a family, two of a city….and that’s how it all starts.
We know that each of you are faced with your own challenges and trials, ups and downs, disappointments and triumphs. We pray for you and your families to be true and faithful in spite of difficulties because it’s the stretching and difficulties that eventually make us stronger as we learn to rely on Him to help us get through the trials. We pray that you will continue to teach our grandchildren correct gospel principles and love each other. Pop and I love each other and we love the Lord. I can’t think of anything I would rather be doing at this time in my life than serving a mission together.
That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it!
Remember who you are and what you stand for.
Love,
Mom, Non, Chrys
