Hola! Sorry for the missed letter last week. I really shouldn't do that. It makes for an extra long letter this week. The power went out in our neighborhood last Sunday early afternoon and was out the rest of the day, so no computer and no Internet and I just kinda forgot to get a letter off. Lynn & I actually spent time reading and playing Scrapple Apple (a game Jarom sent us for Christmas). I should know better than play that with Lynn. He always wins.
Anyway, here's a rundown of our last two weeks.
Monday, May 9th, in celebration of Mother's day, the US on the 8th and the 10th here in Mexico, our FHE group went to dinner at SuperSalad. We included Ricardo and Maricarmen in our festivities. It was a fun evening with good food. Elder Riggs shared an experience they had recently that is an example of the watchful care we are receiving as missionaries serving here in Monterrey. Their visa had expired and they were anxiously waiting for it to arrive, as they do a lot of traveling in regards to their assignment with the Employment Center to give presentations to the various stakes and their service as support to Hidalgo, a branch which is located northeast of Monterrey and is more than an hour away. When we, as missionary couples drive a car to Mexico we have to register it at the board to be able to drive it here in Mexico. It is good for one year. As long as we have current visas we don't have to renew the registration for the additional year we are here. We just have to show our visas and it is good. So, that was a concern for the Riggs. Well, as it turned out they got their visa on April 29th, in record time, especially considering that it took over 8 months for us to get ours. On April 30th, as they were traveling to Hidalgo they were stopped by a road block. A policeman noticed the expired registration sticker and asked to see their papers. Fortunately they had their current visa and he motioned them on. If they hadn't had that current visa their car would have been towed away and they would have had to pay some fines to get it back. We feel especially blessed that we were never stopped the whole time that we were without a renewed visa. Wednesday our stake Relief Society had a temple morning and they requested a second session at 10:30am, which we did. We even had a few extra workers come to help. The regular 9am session was packed but the 10:30am wasn't as full as they would have liked but still a nice session. They also had initiatories going all morning.
One day this week Sister Hernadez, whose husband is a temple seller on Saturdays was driving in her car with her daughter when they were stopped by some young men with guns and their purses were stolen. She lost quite a bit of money and all her credit cards. Of course, this was very upsetting to her.
Saturday was somewhat busy, but not nearly what it used to be. Some bus lines won't even travel some of the roads going to Monterrey, especially those coming from the border, any more because of the cartel and their attacks. So it's harder for the excursion stakes to get to the temple. The group that came from Matomoros had a very scary experience as they preparing to leave to come to the temple. They were in the buses getting ready to leave when a couple of buses pulled up and blocked the entrance. They were from the cartel. One of the leaders of the church group went up to them and told them that they were just a group that were trying to go to their church to worship. They were finally allowed to leave but many of the members were very scared and only one bus load ended up coming. These faithful saints show such great courage during these challenging times.
Monday, we and the Clarks went to an Artisan market from Oaxaca that was being held in San Pedro at the main plaza, with the Meneses and the Herreras. We saw some beautiful items and couldn't help buying a couple of more souvenirs. Lynn found a wallet, well actually two, that he found to replace his worn out wallet that he bought about 35 years ago. It was really time to replace it. He misses his old one, as it was thinner but these new ones will work just fine. The Meneses treated us to lunch from one of the vendors. The food was really good and they made the tortillas right on sight as we watched. 
About three or four weeks ago Elder Riggs was teaching the Principles of the Gospel class. There was a women who came to church that day for the first time, Sister Marta, who was planning on being baptized. During the class he asked her why she wanted to be baptized. She said it was a feeling she had (holding her hand over her heart). He asked, “What kind of feeling?” She said, “It was a very warm peaceful feeling.” He asked, “When did you get this feeling?” She said, “It was there when
the Elders came to my home.” He asked, “Why did you let them in to teach you? She said, “I had a growth on my wrist and had it surgically removed and was home recuperating. While I lay on my bed I had a dream that I was washing a dark blue tie with red and white stripes on it. I thought, that's a funny dream because I don't have any men living at home now. Then I saw that tie on a white shirt. As I was waking up there was a knock on the door and I went to see who it was. When I opened the door, Elder Welton stood there with the dark blue tie with read and white stripes. (Elder Welton had only been in Mexico for one week and this was his first assigned area). I HAD to listen to their message.” Sister Marta was baptized by Elder Welton on Good Friday and confirmed a member of the church and received the Holy Ghost on Easter Sunday. Elder Welton wore his dark blue tie with red and white stripes to the baptismal service on Friday and to Sacrament meeting on Sunday. He actually had the bottom of the back side of his tie cut off so that he could give it to her as a gift and remembrance.
Tuesday there was no power at the temple during the day. Sister Clark called us to warn us that there was a lot of laundry to do, as they couldn't do any with the power off. The temple has a backup generator that kicks in when the power is off but it only runs essentials. When we got there in the afternoon the power was back on so I could finish the laundry but the Internet was off, which also meant that we had no phone service. President Granados wasn't sure about how everything was functioning and couldn't get in touch with President Perales, so he said that we wouldn't be able to do baptisms. We had to turn away a youth group who came to do baptisms, which was sad.
Wednesday, when we were at the temple in the morning, to help with the missionary session and for me to do an endowment session, we were saddened to learn from Elder Clark that Sister Perales' brother had died that morning. The Clarks filled in for them on Friday morning so the Perales' could attend the funeral.
Saturday was a bit busy. The Clarks were on morning shift. They woke up a bit late and when they arrived at the temple at about 5:25 there were four buses and a lineup of people waiting to get in the temple for the 6am session. It seems that the Machucas were late, also. Fortunately, Elder Clark still had the key to the temple door from the day before so he was able to get in and get things started. Sister Clark and I spent most of our day in the laundry room. The sister that was called to be in charge wasn't there again. She has been there about half of the time in the last two months. Things go really well when she's there but it's a problem when she's not, since Sister Clark and I have to fill in and we both go home exhausted and hurting from all the work.
Yesterday Sister Clark shared with me an wonderful experience they had. About four weeks ago there was a new convert that came to do baptisms that Sister Clark met while she was working in the laundry room. She and her husband are from Nuevo Loredo, the border town that most of us missionaries have to go through to get back to the US. This sister had only been a member of the church for a few weeks, but her husband had no joined. She said the he had driven her to the temple and was waiting in the waiting room. When Sister Clark had some down time she went to meet him and talk with him. She said he was a very nice gentlemen and he said that his wife would really like him to join the church but he just didn't feel like he was ready. When the Clarks were leaving the temple to go home that afternoon they saw this couple walking to their car and stopped so the Elder Clark could meet them. As they were talking Elder Clark, a bit emotional, said to this dear man. “You need to join the church so you can come here to the temple to be sealed to her for eternity because you do love her, don't you.” Well, as it turns out he did join the church about a week later along with their son. They were both at the temple yesterday doing baptisms and are very grateful to Elder Clark for his encouragement.
Tomorrow we will be going to Saltillo again to have lunch with the Flores. Plus we are in charge of the FHE lesson, which will make a very busy day.Monday, May 16th, was FHE evening at the Riggs, which, as usual, was very enjoyable. This is always the highlight of our week and we all love meeting together, sharing our experiences. Elder Riggs shared a story with us that was very a wonderful conversion story. In addition to their assignment to work in the Employment Center they also go and help in Hidalgo, There's a new missionary assigned there, Elder Welton, who just happens to be from Peoria, the same city in Arizona as the Clarks and who they knew there. Sister Clark said that when they were home, soon after their call as temple missionaries and before coming here to Monterrey, she was talking to him about getting his papers in for his mission and that maybe they could serve in the same area. Well, that's exactly what happened. He's here with them. The Clarks have gone out to Hidalgo a few times and met with him. Anyway, back to the story that Elder Riggs shared with us about Elder Welton and one of his recent converts who he helped teach.
About three or four weeks ago Elder Riggs was teaching the Principles of the Gospel class. There was a women who came to church that day for the first time, Sister Marta, who was planning on being baptized. During the class he asked her why she wanted to be baptized. She said it was a feeling she had (holding her hand over her heart). He asked, “What kind of feeling?” She said, “It was a very warm peaceful feeling.” He asked, “When did you get this feeling?” She said, “It was there when
the Elders came to my home.” He asked, “Why did you let them in to teach you? She said, “I had a growth on my wrist and had it surgically removed and was home recuperating. While I lay on my bed I had a dream that I was washing a dark blue tie with red and white stripes on it. I thought, that's a funny dream because I don't have any men living at home now. Then I saw that tie on a white shirt. As I was waking up there was a knock on the door and I went to see who it was. When I opened the door, Elder Welton stood there with the dark blue tie with read and white stripes. (Elder Welton had only been in Mexico for one week and this was his first assigned area). I HAD to listen to their message.” Sister Marta was baptized by Elder Welton on Good Friday and confirmed a member of the church and received the Holy Ghost on Easter Sunday. Elder Welton wore his dark blue tie with red and white stripes to the baptismal service on Friday and to Sacrament meeting on Sunday. He actually had the bottom of the back side of his tie cut off so that he could give it to her as a gift and remembrance.
Tuesday there was no power at the temple during the day. Sister Clark called us to warn us that there was a lot of laundry to do, as they couldn't do any with the power off. The temple has a backup generator that kicks in when the power is off but it only runs essentials. When we got there in the afternoon the power was back on so I could finish the laundry but the Internet was off, which also meant that we had no phone service. President Granados wasn't sure about how everything was functioning and couldn't get in touch with President Perales, so he said that we wouldn't be able to do baptisms. We had to turn away a youth group who came to do baptisms, which was sad.
Wednesday, when we were at the temple in the morning, to help with the missionary session and for me to do an endowment session, we were saddened to learn from Elder Clark that Sister Perales' brother had died that morning. The Clarks filled in for them on Friday morning so the Perales' could attend the funeral.
Saturday was a bit busy. The Clarks were on morning shift. They woke up a bit late and when they arrived at the temple at about 5:25 there were four buses and a lineup of people waiting to get in the temple for the 6am session. It seems that the Machucas were late, also. Fortunately, Elder Clark still had the key to the temple door from the day before so he was able to get in and get things started. Sister Clark and I spent most of our day in the laundry room. The sister that was called to be in charge wasn't there again. She has been there about half of the time in the last two months. Things go really well when she's there but it's a problem when she's not, since Sister Clark and I have to fill in and we both go home exhausted and hurting from all the work.
Yesterday Sister Clark shared with me an wonderful experience they had. About four weeks ago there was a new convert that came to do baptisms that Sister Clark met while she was working in the laundry room. She and her husband are from Nuevo Loredo, the border town that most of us missionaries have to go through to get back to the US. This sister had only been a member of the church for a few weeks, but her husband had no joined. She said the he had driven her to the temple and was waiting in the waiting room. When Sister Clark had some down time she went to meet him and talk with him. She said he was a very nice gentlemen and he said that his wife would really like him to join the church but he just didn't feel like he was ready. When the Clarks were leaving the temple to go home that afternoon they saw this couple walking to their car and stopped so the Elder Clark could meet them. As they were talking Elder Clark, a bit emotional, said to this dear man. “You need to join the church so you can come here to the temple to be sealed to her for eternity because you do love her, don't you.” Well, as it turns out he did join the church about a week later along with their son. They were both at the temple yesterday doing baptisms and are very grateful to Elder Clark for his encouragement.
Tomorrow we will be going to Saltillo again to have lunch with the Flores. Plus we are in charge of the FHE lesson, which will make a very busy day.before coming here to Monterrey, she was talking to him about getting his papers in for his mission and that maybe they could serve in the same area. Well, that's exactly what happened. He's here with them. The Clarks have gone out to Hidalgo a few times and met with him. Anyway, back to the story that Elder Riggs shared with us about Elder Welton and one of his recent converts who he helped teach.
About three or four weeks ago Elder Riggs was teaching the Principles of the Gospel class. There was a women who came to church that day for the first time, Sister Marta, who was planning on being baptized. During the class he asked her why she wanted to be baptized. She said it was a feeling she had (holding her hand over her heart). He asked, “What kind of feeling?” She said, “It was a very warm peaceful feeling.” He asked, “When did you get this feeling?” She said, “It was there when
the Elders came to my home.” He asked, “Why did you let them in to teach you? She said, “I had a growth on my wrist and had it surgically removed and was home recuperating. While I lay on my bed I had a dream that I was washing a dark blue tie with red and white stripes on it. I thought, that's a funny dream because I don't have any men living at home now. Then I saw that tie on a white shirt. As I was waking up there was a knock on the door and I went to see who it was. When I opened the door, Elder Welton stood there with the dark blue tie with read and white stripes. (Elder Welton had only been in Mexico for one week and this was his first assigned area). I HAD to listen to their message.” Sister Marta was baptized by Elder Welton on Good Friday and confirmed a member of the church and received the Holy Ghost on Easter Sunday. Elder Welton wore his dark blue tie with red and white stripes to the baptismal service on Friday and to Sacrament meeting on Sunday. He actually had the bottom of the back side of his tie cut off so that he could give it to her as a gift and remembrance.
Tuesday there was no power at the temple during the day. Sister Clark called us to warn us that there was a lot of laundry to do, as they couldn't do any with the power off. The temple has a backup generator that kicks in when the power is off but it only runs essentials. When we got there in the afternoon the power was back on so I could finish the laundry but the Internet was off, which also meant that we had no phone service. President Granados wasn't sure about how everything was functioning and couldn't get in touch with President Perales, so he said that we wouldn't be able to do baptisms. We had to turn away a youth group who came to do baptisms, which was sad.
Wednesday, when we were at the temple in the morning, to help with the missionary session and for me to do an endowment session, we were saddened to learn from Elder Clark that Sister Perales' brother had died that morning. The Clarks filled in for them on Friday morning so the Perales' could attend the funeral.
Saturday was a bit busy. The Clarks were on morning shift. They woke up a bit late and when they arrived at the temple at about 5:25 there were four buses and a lineup of people waiting to get in the temple for the 6am session. It seems that the Machucas were late, also. Fortunately, Elder Clark still had the key to the temple door from the day before so he was able to get in and get things started. Sister Clark and I spent most of our day in the laundry room. The sister that was called to be in charge wasn't there again. She has been there about half of the time in the last two months. Things go really well when she's there but it's a problem when she's not, since Sister Clark and I have to fill in and we both go home exhausted and hurting from all the work.
Yesterday Sister Clark shared with me an wonderful experience they had. About four weeks ago there was a new convert that came to do baptisms that Sister Clark met while she was working in the laundry room. She and her husband are from Nuevo Loredo, the border town that most of us missionaries have to go through to get back to the US. This sister had only been a member of the church for a few weeks, but her husband had no joined. She said the he had driven her to the temple and was waiting in the waiting room. When Sister Clark had some down time she went to meet him and talk with him. She said he was a very nice gentlemen and he said that his wife would really like him to join the church but he just didn't feel like he was ready. When the Clarks were leaving the temple to go home that afternoon they saw this couple walking to their car and stopped so the Elder Clark could meet them. As they were talking Elder Clark, a bit emotional, said to this dear man. “You need to join the church so you can come here to the temple to be sealed to her for eternity because you do love her, don't you.” Well, as it turns out he did join the church about a week later along with their son. They were both at the temple yesterday doing baptisms and are very grateful to Elder Clark for his encouragement.
Tomorrow we will be going to Saltillo again to have lunch with the Flores. Plus we are in charge of the FHE lesson, which will make a very busy day.
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