Mexican Moments with Greg and Peg: Trip to Hermosillo this week!

THOUGHT: "LAUGH WHEN YOU CAN.....
APOLOGIZE WHEN YOU SHOULD.....
AND LET GO OF WHAT YOU CAN'T CHANGE!

Monday, Dec. 7th

Today was a good day - the calm before the storm so to speak! I went to Spanish class after missing for about 5 weeks! I was in charge of refreshments for FHE tonight so I made a big pan of cream cheese brownies. They were a hit. FHE was good - the Pratts were in charge of the lesson. They are a cute couple. We played a game after the lesson - what's my line. We had to write somethings we had done or something amazing that had happened to us and then we had to figure out who that happened to. We got to know everyone a little bit better. Good day!

Tuesday, Dec 8th

Here comes the storm! We left the house at 9:15 to get to the temple grounds where we park our car. We had called the little man with the little mostly dead taxi to take us to the airport. This is our first trip after the Smiths have gone home! We were planning on meeting him at 10:20. We finally got there at 10:40. I won't even mention the traffic today! What's the point? It's horrible always now! We got on the way to the airport, but Greg kept asking him questions about his family history and he talked and talked and drove slower and slower, until I thought we were not going to make it. We did make it and had a 3 hour flight to Hermosillo. I watched two movies on the plane - Elf and Home Alone. I was totally entertained. President Robinson met us and the fun long trip started. He took us to the mission home to have some lunch and pick up Sister Robinson. He made us yummy tacos with the shredded pork meat from Costco, potatoes and corn in a tortilla. It tasted good. We all piled in the car and headed out for a 5 hour drive to Aguas Pietas which is up on the border of Arizona. I have been sitting way tooooooo long today! We got some soup and hot chocolate for dinner and called it a night!

This is a famous Mexican actor -is in soaps and movies. Everyone around us was asking him for photos

Above the smog there really is a blue sky

Not seen well but these vineyards supply US and Europe with table grapes from March to July.

Wednesday, Dec 9th

Well today just got a whole lot worse! Sister Robinson found out last night that her father passed away. She had tried to call him on Sunday and he didn't answer. She called again on Monday and still no answer. Her sister had been trying to call her as well so they finally got worried on Tuesday and sent a neighbor over to check on him. He was found in his shop in the backyard sitting in his chair dead. His little weiner dog was missing. They don't know how long he sat there - maybe since Sunday. Poor Sister Robinson was so sad and in shock. He was 87 and his wife has been gone for 25 years to cancer. He lived between Vernal and Roosevelt in Utah. So we have this whole week planned for this mission tour and conference. President Robinson dropped us off at the church an hour early to wait for the zone conference and to wait for the Elders to come and unlock the church doors. It was cold, but they had given me a blanket. We had a nice long wait. President Robinson drove his wife to Tucson to catch a plane to Salt Lake. She was going to rent a car and drive to Vernal. There was construction along the way and she missed her plane by 5 minutes. She had to sit in the airport in Tucson for another 5 hours to wait for the next flight. Poor thing. We went ahead and did the zone conference with the Elders in this town. There are no sisters here due to security. I guess it's not safe for sisters. The district president came and picked us up to go check out a hospital for this city. Greg had success and the hospital will work well to see sick missionaries. The president took us back to the church where we waited for President Robinson to come back. He finally made it back after 2. We got in the car and drove off to Nogales for 3 hours to sleep tonight! We are staying in the Fiesta Inn which is a nice hotel so we are taken care of. I pray Sister Robinson makes it safely to Vernal.

Our hotel in AguaPrieta - on the border. Interesting that although this town is much poorer than Nogales the stake is much stronger

Dumped out in front of the chapel - President Robinson had to run his wife to Tucson to fly to Salt Lake for her father's funeral

It was a little cold waiting for the elders to let us in.

Hospital in AguaPrieta that we are trying to contract to see the missionaries

Waiting in the district president's office for President Robinson to come back to get us.

Delivering spray bottles for the Permethrin for the elders.

Northern burritos at a restaurant in Cananea

Here I am with President Robinson my second cousin

Sonora is known for its beautiful sunsets

More sunset

Tree in our hotel in Ciboria

Thursday, Dec 10th HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

YES! 13 months in the mission. Time has picked up a bit and we need to get busy and finish strong.
We were up and going early to the zone conference by 8 am. It went great and the visits were good too. Not too many sick missionaries today. President Robinson talked to the missionaries for quite a while and Greg saw a few then we were off to Caborca the next city in this mission. We drove along the border with Arizona. Greg never lets me get too close!!! This drive was OK but these long drives are getting on my nerves - especially in my back!! It was another 3 hour drive. We drove along the road where a lot of the drug and human smuggling takes place. Luckily no one stopped us to take away our car. Not the safest place on earth here! We made it early enough to stop and get a burrito. President loves burritos. This is the 2nd time we have gotten these. The zone conference went well except for one Elder that could not stay awake. He slept through the whole thing!

Guadelupe is everywhere this time of year

Official rest stop near Altar Sonora - launching point for human trafficking to the US.

The Sonoran desert

More Sonoran desert

Nativity scene in Caborca,

Catholic Church in Ciboria

Friday, Dec 11th VERY VERY SAD DAY! WE LOST ABBY DOG TODAY!

Today started out very early! We were up and going by 6 am. I even get to take pics of the sunrise this morning. It's impossible to take pics of the sunrise at our house in the city. We drove for 4 1/2 hours to Guaymas for the next zone conference. All went well at the conference. After that we went in search for a new hospital to help take care of the missionaries. We found one but the administrator wasn't there so hopefully it will work out for the missionaries. We found a new lunch place for the Robinsons. It is a seafood place. We ordered shrimp quesadillas. When they came, they looked suspiciously like shrimp tacos. They tasted great so everything turned out! We drove down to the beach to look at the ocean. I was enjoying it until Beka called to tell me she was at the vet with Abby. Abby had had some heart problems a couple of weeks ago, but was taking medication and they all thought she was doing OK until yesterday and today. She was lethargic and wasn't eating and having diarrhea. At the vets her temp was taken and she was very cold. While the doctor and Mitch were deciding what to do Abby had a seizure. We then decided she was pretty sick and it was time to send her home to heaven to be with her mom. She just couldn't hold on until May. This is not a very happy day. We have had Abby for 13 years and 2 months. She wasn't old enough to die but some things there is no control over. She was such a good and loyal friend. Bye sweet Abby.