January 29, 2018---JANUARY---BARBACOA, PIANO & ENGLISH, LOS TRABAJADORES Y LOS VALIENTES

Barbacoa

We are teaching our land-lady a little bit. We are teaching her how to read the scriptures. Nobody has ever taught her how.  We are good friends, and sometimes she invites us over for some food because she sees us returning from the store with bags of ramen noodles and eggs. She has two sons around our age and knows how needy we can be when it comes to cooking ability. She fed us tacos of barbacoa. Which I found out as I was eating is lamb. It was more tasty when I found out what it was. 

Piano and English

I am the piano teacher and english teacher here in Maravatio. I really enjoy seeing people progress in their knowledge. 

Also I am starting a one month english course to (teach people how to) learn how to read in english. I am doing it more frequently to see if having more followup will help people learn and stay motivated. 

Los Trabajadores y Los Valientes

A taxi driver told us today, "In life, the workers and the brave die first." I thought is a worthy quote to put up. Haha funny, but true. He gave the example of a brave person (no fear, kind of spontaneous) walking into a party jumping around doing all kinds of stuff, and then some other guy getting upset, whips out his pistol and beats the man dead. I then realized that maybe the parties this taxi driver has been do are a little different from the parties that I have been to.  

"2"--- January 9, 2018---REYES MAGOS

Reyes Magos

This past week we celebrated Reyes Magos. Here, they have Santa Claus and the Reyes Magos. The Reyes Magos are the 3 wise men from the nativity story. Santa comes the 24th in the night and the Reyes Magos come the 6th of January. The point of the whole thing, is that they get double presents and have double fiestas. It is a good tradition. Also, on the 6th they make this bread that they call Rosca de Reyes. Its a huge circle that everybody shares. Each person cuts their own piece from the rosca. The people that cut a piece that contains a little plastic baby Jesus have to bring tamales for everybody on the 2nd of February. Im not exactly sure why, but all I know is that I have to bring tamales to everyone in our congregation on the 2nd. 

January 1, 2018-HAPPY NEW YEAR!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
1. When my companion was assigned to be Santa Claus for the Christmas party.

2. We rode horses up to a view point to see the Monarch butterflies.

3. A tree filled with sleeping butterflies.

4. One butterfly wakes up.

5. Another tree filled wth butterflies.

6. A path filled with butterflies.

Week 55 - December 18, 2017 - POKEMON AND CHRISTMAS

Pokemon

The other day I got into a good conversation about Pokemon, reminiscing with an 11 yr old kid, haha. The next thing I knew, he went to his room and came back out with a Pokemon wallet that he had bought with his own money. He gave it to me. I was super touched to see such generosity. 

Christmas

I am excited for the Christmas season that we are in. I love the chance it gives a community to focus on Christ and also on giving to others. 

Week 54-December 11, 2017-PHOTOS!!!

PHOTOS!!!

1. Inside of a typical transportation.

2. Typical stance inside, because I usually don't fit.

3. Yo y Elder Sevilla

4. Yo y Elder Osorio

5. Yo y Elder Osorio

6. One of the missionaries in our district, Elder Byington, teaching English.

Week 52~November 27, 2017~TORTAS, 52, HUMBLE, CAMARA CARNAL

Tortas

We got some people from the local congregation to come with us and bring tortas (sandwiches mas o menos) to people at the hospital. We sang a couple of Christmas songs, too. I think everyone felt happier, knowing that they had helped someone else out. 

52

1 year away from the states. 

Humble

How humbled can a person be? Haha, only time will tell. But humility is a great attribute once acquired, but a tough characteristic to develop. 

Camara Carnal

There is some slang phrase that's "Camara Carnalllll" I don't know what it means exactly, but I lost my camera the other month. 21 years old and still losing stuff, it's embarrassing. That's why there are no photos. Consider this my public apology.

Week 51~November 22, 2017~SIT DOWN...BE THANKFUL

Thankful

Be thankful. Say out loud something you are thankful for. Don't complain. Be thankfulllll.

I will start by saying that I am thankful for sandwiches. A good sandwich with some mayo, un tomato, and some ham. 

Also I am thankful for the opportunity to breathe. Life wouldn't be life without breathing. 

Also, I am thankful for family. Family is what makes me happy. When the family is all together, it's always a good time. 

Also, I am thankful for freedom. 

Also, I am thankful for the people that I have met and known in my life. All very good, all helping me along the path. 

I love you guys.