Traditions:  Death--burial is done immediately because no embalming is performed.  At one funeral, the casket was open, the mourners almost climbed inside to kiss, hug, and touch the deceased honoring him after his decease.  Very sad, but they had a Mariachi band playing throughout. 

The week:  It has been a huge learning week!  Our first week on our own.  We had 5 missionaries the first day, 2 the next, 2 the next, 1 the next, 6 the next, and 2 the next.  Only one was from the MTC.  The rest were from other missions.  We have had phone calls from 3 Mission Presidents in the outlying areas. 

I'm playing for a choir preparing for Elder Bednar next week.  The piano music is quite difficult, so I have been practicing a lot.  I'm also playing for a duet and soloist for other Devotionals. 

We went to a farewell/welcome traditional Mexican Dinner at the Mission President's home.  Wow! do they ever go all out.....They had barbeque spare ribs, chicken, and several Mexican dishes--refried beans, rice, salads, and of course, tortillas.  It is a beautiful 5 BR home with lovely wood furniture (like you would see in a lovely home at home).  They are very gracious, but we understand just about squat....of the language.

We have been to three meetings with the MTC leaders. We understand less than squat.....but we are picking up little things here and there.

The CLINIC:  We have modified the arrangement of the clinic.  Neal has the large office Xio had.  (All the offices are lovely by the way with BIG windows).  I decided to take the desk out of the little office adjacent to his, and turn it into a living room setting with overstuffed chairs facing each other, a buffet (lovely) and a little end-table with tissues.  I use the very large Mental Health Reception office as my office for typing and greeting, etc...So we will both use the living room office and then do our calling and office recording in the other two places. 

We have told you our census is extremely low:  186 I think.  It is the lowest it has been since the MTC here started.  They anticipate July-August it will really climb quickly.  We are grateful for the reprieve to get our feet on the ground.  We go to a lot of general meetings (especially on Sundays). I played for another branch last week, then attended our own--where Neal serves as Counselor to Br Pres.  He really enjoys that calling and the Mexican brethren with whom he serves.  They spend lots and lots of hours--all of them doing counseling--interviews, etc.  Today is Mother's Day. 

We were trained last week in the computer labs to know how to help the missionaries call their parents.  The computers are set up to begin timing the call when someone answers the phone.  Then the timer goes for 30 minutes after which they are cut off.  If they have parents in two places, the timer goes only for 15 minutes for each call.

We spoke with the parents of a missionary serving here this week.  The mom said, "Do you know Mark Beecher?  He served with me in the Milano, Italy Mission."   I had a piano practice with some singers here in our apartment.  Of course, their comps came with them.  After the practice one of the fellows said, "Your son lives in my ward in Spanish Fork."  We checked, and sure enough!

They played a beautiful song as part of R.S. in the auditorium this morning.  It probably came from UTUBE.  I want to play it for your dad.  It is a male singer with the Tab Choir: "Through Heaven's Eyes" is the song.  It is from THE PRINCE OF EGYPT, by Schwartz.  

We have had mosquitoes every night (except 3 nights) in our bedroom.  We got some things yesterday that you plug into the wall that are supposed to kill them.  I also "Raided" the outside door that has a crack an elephant could traverse.  The rainy season hasn't even started.  We did bring a mosquito net and may yet hang it. 

We really love it here.  The people are so nice.  The park we live in is like the Garden of Eden--really...beautiful birds...like an Aviary...palm trees....green...just lovely.  We look right up on the mountain with the B from our windows....Neal is just itching to go...It looks so close almost like we could see inside their windows (which we probably could with the binoculars).  But it is very dangerous there and outside our walls--our sanctuary.  So, we live the rules......

Last night we met with the couples for a movie night.  (we meet with them Friday nights for dinner out, Saturday nights for movies, Monday nights for FHE).     We watched Captain Philips...oh my what a powerful movie that was.  It is violent.....a true story of the Somalian piracy event.  Oh my word.  I can't believe a little tiny skiff could take down a huge big well-equipped ship like that.  Unbelievable.