So far, September in a nutshell!
TEMPLE ESCORTS: September 15, 2015
Tuesday. We served as bus escorts
for 52 No American missionaries to go to the temple on the first day of its
opening. It was a holiday (Mexican
Independence) so many members were off work and came to the temple the first
time it has been open for over a year.
I’m not sure just how long.
Anyway, the temple was mobbed with people. Because there were no local leaders at the
temple who spoke English that we met, it was a bit overwhelming. When we all entered the chapel, some of the
elders sat in the center section, some on each side, some in the front and some
found places to sit in the back. So,
when we were called up, it was across the aisles, row by row. Consequently, our missionaries were all mixed
up with locals.
They had only probably 1/3 of the earphones for the number
of missionaries (all English speakers) we took.
We have been to the temple many times, and could kind of make out what
was being said in the movie, but for many of our missionaries, it was probably
the 3rd visit. Shoe sizes in
Mexico are different….you get the idea….then when we came to the veil…..Neal
and I had been set apart previously by the temple president with the idea that
we would be veil workers for the English missionaries we escorted. We tried to explain with hand signals that we
could help and had been set apart, but no one understood us.
We didn’t know it, because we also had missionaries mixed
with ours, who were from the mission where the temple resides. No name tags, all white, we didn’t know who
we had and who we didn’t. We didn’t
realize it, but the workers divided our group into 3 rooms, and 2 time
sessions. So, we kept trying to find
everyone, and didn’t know where they were.
Those poor temple workers:
it was their first day, many were learning the parts they would play
themselves, so we went through the ceremony, with someone at our elbows telling
us every word. And someone was on the
other side giving the words to them as well.
We left the MTC in the morning at 7AM.
We got back about 2PM. It was
quite a day. I think we really
overwhelmed them. Wednesday, the Torres
took 57 missionaries, and it was planned that Thursday we would take 3 buses,
104 missionaries. We rethought that
whole thing. So, next week we have about
the same number of missionaries, some Latino and some No American. We hope they will allow us to sit as a group,
and move as a group.
September 14, 2015 Sister Torres taught the FHE lesson on
the Independence and Revolution in Mexico.
5 of us dressed in Mexican dress.
It was fun, but we didn’t understand anything that was read or said. Sister Torres did traditional dance in her
big, big flamingo skirt and clicking heels (from her childhood). That was really fun!
We gave our Mental Health Introduction Power Point
presentation two times today. That has
been a fun addition to our responsibilities.
I’ve been working really, really hard to get the MTC History done as
much as I can. I’ve tried to take
pictures of each of the departments and committees, so that Packards can just
finish it up.
September 15, 2015
The cafeteria was all decorated today in honor of Independence Day. The tables were covered in red, green, and
white. There were banners in the
windows. One of the soloists from the
Cultural Night (who also works at the MTC) sang the National Anthem at
noon. Several of the couples (women)
wore traditional dress. They borrowed
costumes (elaborate, beautiful) from the prop room of the stage here at what
used to be a school. We were told there
is a huge room with bars all around, from which hang these beautiful, very full
skirts and dresses. We were at the
temple almost all day, so I didn’t get to wear my dress. I was sad.
We’ve been way busy.
Neal more than me, but I’m busy too.
This is because we have more walk-ins (from our Power Point
Presentations I think). The mission
presidents do not know we are leaving, but they have been so affirming, telling
us how grateful they are for the service.
It makes me feel ambivalent, and then we run up against another struggle
with Spanish, (a mission president who doesn’t speak English, or trying to do
therapy with two sisters: one who speaks
English and one only Spanish) and I think, “No, this is right.”
We struggle in the 2 health meetings we attend where we are
supposed to give input about certain individuals, and we don’t have a clue what
has transpired in the meeting. The
Cultural night, the FHEs, the interaction with Mission Presidents, who don’t
understand us and we can’t understand them, the social aspect: museums, department stores, restaurants….all
in Spanish. I’m writing this at the
Visitor’s Center next to the temple. One
of the couple sisters here doesn’t speak Spanish either, and she is pulling her
hair…she, and the area doctor’s wife are both only English speakers, and they
understand 100% and sympathize with us.
A big part of our work here is with Anxiety and Panic
Attacks….the girls are perfectionists, and it is a huge adjustment to serve
here where every single minute of every day is planned. It is hard for them to find down time to
relax.
MTC HISTORY
Because I am doing the MTC History, Neal and I went to the
Latino Arrival Reception this week. It
was so touching to see the Latino families bring their children and drop them
off….such a sacrifice….not only for clothing to prepare them, but often these
youth are part of the family’s source of income. Many tears and hugs……I stood and wept with
them.
September 18, 2015 Friday.
Today we started reading “The 4th Watch” by Michael Wilcox in
our English class, and announced about the changes October 30. They begged us to reconsider. (We’ve been so close to these sweet, kind
people). We explained why it has been so
hard, and how it happened so miraculously.
Then they said, “Well, could you please arrange to Skype with us so we
could continue our class?” They are serious
about that. They really want us to do
it. I don’t think we could do that, much
as we love them and have loved the class.
We went to the Julian Slim museum (see pictures below). What a treat that was. Oh my!
I just loved it.
Internet note: In February 2015, Carlos Slim,
according to Forbes , has a fortune of 77,100 million dollars,
which makes it the second richest man in the world, behind the US Bill Gates . He owns Telmex (telephone) and 6.4% of the
New York Times and many, many other companies.
His family created this fantastic art museum and it is open to the
public free of charge. It is amazing!
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