Mexican Moments with Greg and Peg: September 2015

Friday Sep 18

THOUGHT: "GOD DOESN'T CARE NEARLY AS MUCH ABOUT WHERE YOU
HAVE BEEN AS HE DOES ABOUT WHERE YOU ARE AND WITH
HIS HELP WHERE YOU ARE WILLING TO GO" Jeffrey R. Holland

There was an elder in Mexico City from Colombia who had had several seizures and it was felt he needed to go home - not safe in the mission. Seizures are one of the few illnesses that require someone to accompany the missionary home. I tried to get one of the other doctors to do it but the buck stopped on my desk. I had to leave a little after 5 am and took a taxi to the airport (couldn't get Peg up that early.) The flight to Bogotá was about 4 1/2 hours, the elder watched a movie and I read a book. We got to Bogotá and had to clear customs, go to an adjacent terminal and then we were hungry. I changed some Mexican Pesos to Columbian pesos - 500 Mexican pesos got me 62,000 Colombian pesos. I bought the elder lunch at Subways for about 20,000 pesos and we caught our plane. Pasto Colombia is near the Ecuadorian border and in the Andes. The airport used to be in Pasto but it is at the base of a 12,000 foot active volcano and surrounded by other peaks and too many planes crashed. The moved it 45 minutes away on a mountain where they removed the top and placed a runway. There is barely enough room for the planes to land and they really had to hit the brakes hard and reverse the engines. At the end of the runway was the end of the mountain. The family of the elder was there and his uncle who is also his bishop gave me a ride to my hotel. Pasto is supposed to be the Switzerland of Colombia - beautiful mountain side meadows. My hotel - Don Saul's - was very interesting - they kept calling my room to make sure I was ok. I had dinner in the restaurant and hit the sack early.
I on the other hand had a great day! I got Sister Anderson and Sister Rice and we drove to the fancy mall up the street and shopped all afternoon! I got 2 new birthday outfits so my time was not lost!
Everyone here is so nice to think of me and include me while Greg is gone! The Andersons invited me up to their place for homemade pizza and a movie - "Sweet Home Alabama" Good times! I am sure I had much more fun than Greg today!!

Runway in Pasto Colombia

The Andes in the background

The drive from he airport to Pasto - 45 minute drive

Beautiful country side

12,000 foot volcano covered by clouds

Pasto is called the surprise city because you come around a corner and there it is

Pasto

My hotel room

my room

Main square in Pasto

Sat Sep 19

Up at 5:40 to catch a taxi at 6:20. We got to the airport about 7 and I found I barely had enough Colombian pesos to pay my fare - minor miracle. It was $37,000. The plane revved its engines with the brakes on and then lurched to a start. I looked out the window as we started to leave the runway and we were at the end of the mountain - a few feet to spare. I had a long layover in Bogotá and got home about 8:30. Exhausting day. I will let Peg tell of her day.
I had another nice day! Poor Greg! I offered to drive anyone to a store that needed to go! The Andersons took me up on the offer and we went up the street to Fresco and Superama. I bought a few groceries but saved most of my shopping for Costco. The Griffins were waiting for me to get home so we went to Costco. But before we got to Costco we had to stop at the mall to get something fixed with Sister Griffins laptop at the Apple store. We wandered around there and ended up eating a late lunch at Johnny Rockets. Poor Elder Griffin was worried about how he looked with his two wives out to lunch! HaHa! The Costco trip was successful. I was tired of all this playing around stuff so I spent the evening resting and waiting for Greg to get back!

Airport next morning

airport

Sun Sep 20 - Happy birthday Scot - we got to talk to him briefly. Church was great - Our Sunday school teacher recently went through a tough divorce and related how hard it is as she wonders what will become of her temple blessings. She was in the sealing room where she was married at the dedication of the temple and someone in the room asked for someone to talk a little about how that room is special to them - she spoke of being sealed in that room and having a testimony that her temple blessings will remain intact for her if she continues to endure to the end. Very courageous. Our priesthood lesson was on pride and I am proud to say I didn't sleep at all during the lesson. We had dinner with the Griffins and the Rices. Peg made a wonderful roast that almost tasted like home. We had choir practice for upcoming stake conference. There were about 20 tone deaf Mexicans with Elder Rice and me trying to get through "The Lillies of the Field." It wasn't pretty.

forMonday, Sept 14 Week with President & Sister Greer of the Xalapa mission.

We were up and going as usual today. My Spanish class was cancelled so I didn't get to go to that! We packed for our trip. We snagged the Griffins and made them drive down to the Telcel place to pay our bill. Usually we walk, but we needed to be on the road for our trip by 2 so we drove this time. The weather is beautiful as usual. We made our way to the fancy street where Greg paid the bill, then we walked down this nice street and ate at an outdoor hamburger joint! Greg thought it was the best hamburger he has had yet! We dropped off the Griffins back at home, packed our stuff in the car and headed out to Poza Rica where the zone conferences are being held this week!
It was the usual nightmare trying to get out of town. This Wednesday is Mexican Independence day - the 16th of September so I am wondering if people are in town for the big celebrations. Everywhere is decorated with flags and red, green and white banners and decorations hanging all around on every street! I am glad we are leaving town! It took us 3 hours to drive to Poza Rica but the drive was the most incredible deal I have seen yet in Mexico! You could be confused that you were driving on Maui in Hawaii. The trees are huge with huge leaves, bananas leaves, big palm trees and all kinds of lush green plants. It was beautiful. The pics I took don't do it justice, but it was very nice. The weather is hot and humid and all the plants love it! Poza Rica is about 30 min. from the coast. We found our way to the hotel - La Quinta Inn and had a nice time staying there. The town of Poza Rica isn't much for sure. I am surprised it isn't a bigger tourist town.

Countryside on the way to Poza Rica - the new highway cuts 4 hours off of the trip.

Tulangcingo - small town on the way

Same

Bridge on the new highway (along with 6 tunnels, one over a mile in length.

Really green near Poza Rica - Peg thought it started to look like Hawaii

Always taxis everywhere

Our hotel (don't feel sorry for us)

Near Tuxpan on the coast.

Tuesday, 15th

We were up early and eating breakfast so we could be to the zone conference in Tuxpan which was by the ocean. We followed the President and drove through more beautiful scenery. The zone conference lasted all day!😩 Way too long for me! There weren't any sisters there so I didn't have anyone besides Sister Greer to talk to! I got a lot of crocheting done today! After the zone conference we went searching for new hospitals. We stopped at one hospital but because of the holiday no one was around to talk to. We stopped at another hospital, but found out it is a government hospital and they won't see the missionaries. We pretty much struck out on that plan today! We decided to eat lunch at a little place that they have eaten at before. It was authentic Mexican food. I had bean soup, a chicken leg that was mostly cooked with some salad and mixed veggies. The veggies were good, and I picked off the meat from the chicken leg. Greg got the same menu but with a chicken wing with part of a breast. So praying over our food started immediately! I would bet anyone right now that one of us is going to get sick! Oh well! We drove around the city of Tuxpan and ended up on the beach. It wasn't a very nice beach, but the sand was beautiful, white and very fine. I don't understand why there aren't resorts lining the beaches here. We enjoyed a minute listening to the waves and watching the people play in the water. We then drove back to Poza Rica. This has been a very long day. In Mexico the 15th of September is actually the day when the big parties are. The hotel had a huge party planned starting at 9 pm. We sat out on the grass by the pool and watched the people come for the party all dressed up fancy. They also brought their little kids. Interesting! There was loud music, flashing lights and a lot of nice food to eat. We didn't pay the $30 each to join the party. We were tired so we went to bed cause tomorrow is a repeat of today!

Tuxpan on independence day

Tuxpan- this is the channel to the ocean.

The restaurant is owned by the stake president's mom

Noodle soup

chicken and salad

Big ships come up this channel

On our way to the beach

Public beach in Tuxpan

inflatables for rent

Selling goodies on the beach

More beach

With President and Sister Greer on the beach

typical house

Lighthouse?

Independence day party at our hotel

independence day decorations

Nothing says independence day like a virgin Piña colada

Wednesday, 16th HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY! Wahoo! I couldn't tell any difference in the town between today and any other day. We got to the zone conference a little later this morning cause we didn't need to be there so early as yesterday. Greg did his schpeel and I talked to the 6 sister missionaries that were there. None of them had any real problems or questions. Greg saw a few Elders that had questions about medical stuff and then we were done!! We left the Greers to do the rest of their zone conference and drove off to go see some pyramids - called El Tajin (pronounced taheen) I loved these ruins because they hadn't been remade or remodeled. They were the original ruins from 300 - 1200 AD. There are niches in all of the ruins. The biggest pyramid has 365 niches in it for every day of the year and they are grouped into the agricultural seasons they had. It started to rain on us and we enjoyed being there anyway! It was quite warm and very humid. We were also able to watch the Voladores - the flyers of Papantla. This is where they hang upside down and swing around this tall pole until they reach the ground. This is the region where the flyers originated. Lunch was a bonus I guess! I had a torta and Greg had meat with mole and rice. I will be sick for sure now! My philosophy is to drink diet coke and it will kill any unwanted bugs in my stomach. It has worked so far, so the praying continues!!
We drove back to the hotel and had a nice rest! We met the Greers for dinner in the hotel restaurant. We really enjoy being with them (mostly because they speak English) No also because they are very upbeat and fun people. They are great friends from Gilbert Az. To bed, to bed!!

Elders and sisters in Papantla

Birds for sale

Roadside shops

More roadside shops

Roadside shops

El Tajin ruins

These feet were found with the ruins

Pyramids at El Tajin

Famous for the "niches"

This one has 365 niches - one for each day of the year

Beautiful ruins

Main pyramid

Not yet uncovered

365 niches

I am guessing this is where they put their pole for their nice patio umbrella

close up of the niches

More niches

Not sure what this is supposed to be

Common design for these ruins

View from a hill

The voladores of Papantla

They climb this pole and wind their ropes around the pole

Once they are all wrapped up they hang upside down and unwind all the way to the ground

This guy was collecting money from the tourists

On your mark, get set......

go!

Successful landing

It was raining -keep you head covered but..

Don't worry about your feet.

Outside our restaurant with the fancy palm trees.

Fancy restaurant on site

Chicken and Mole - mmmmmmmmm

Thirsty?

BBQ

Homes along the way

Two cream soup - really good.

Thursday, 17th

Up and at em early again today. We got all packed up and ready to leave this morning. We drove about 30 min. to the south to Papantla. This was a cool little town kind of like Tasco where the city is built on the side of mountains with steep, narrow streets. Everything went well with the conference. The 6 sisters that were there didn't have any questions so my job was easy. Greg only saw a few Elders with questions and we were done for the day!! After the zone conference we drove up into the town and parked the car by the town square. We walked around a little, bought some Mexican Vanilla for our friends back in Mexico City. This is the vanilla capital of Mexico. We ate at the corner restaurant where everyone told us was the best place. It wasn't very good but the atmosphere was great! Good times. We hopped in the car and made the 3 hour trek back to the city.
This has been quite a long week! We were tired by the time we got home!