Aug 26

This week our news comes from family back home.

Justin's family went to UK for 3 weeks. He met with his editor, had a book signing, met with other editors and writers, and saw the sites.

 Dyrk Ashton is another writer that was signing books, he's taking the selfie.

 Most of the grandkids went back to school.

Whitney's middle boy broke his ankle, he has to stay off it for 6 weeks, good luck with a 2 year old!

The cast, everyone at the hospital was in love with him!

Ashleigh's 2nd daughter was in a community play as one of the leads, she's got the book in hand and white dress.

The climbing wall in the park we walk in most mornings.

We had to go to the immigration office and get finger printed for our green cards, This was hours after we washed the ink off.

Aug 19

 Walking to the park last week, they had a marimba playing in the median of the road.

 Walking through the dog park to go once around Cana Hueca park.

 When we went to Porvenir/Pantelho with Pres Robert Call and the McFarlands, the chapel couldn't hold all the people. Some of the members were listening outside the doors and windows.

 We came down from the mountains and got to a tri-stake conference for temple recommend holders. We're talking to temple workers after the meeting.

 The Lozas took us to San Cristobal on a bus, totally unplanned and at the last minute.

 This hotel reminded us of our last town we served in, in Guatemala.

 Walking down the center of town.

Most of the women are wearing skirts made from sheep skin.

We ate lunch at a very nice restaurant.

Then I saw something new I had to try.

Fried crickets, not bad.

Aug 11

 Typical Mexican shirt.

 The shirts we bought in Tuxtla, in the center of town.

 Sandals I bought to replace my broken ones.

 This restaurant is right by our house and we were told that it was very good. It's only open Tuesday-Saturday from 6-12PM.

We decided to treat oursleves Saturday night after a busy day at the temple.

Aug 1

 The elders from the mission office took us downtown to get our pictures taken for our visas. We walked home, about 4 1/2 miles, and got to know more of Tuxtla city.

The Lozas took us to the center of town to buy clothes and sandals that are Mexican or typical to this area. They took us to eat gorditas, buy vegetables from the market, and fix my shoes.

Many of the stalls had popo de mayo, salted and fried ants and we asked if I could try one.

Not bad, everyone should try it once!

July 22

 The Lozas, who are counselors in the temple took us out last week in their car.

 They showed us a mall we could buy ice cream in, mango and blueberry.

 This park near our house has exercise machines we can use.

The other temple counselor had his 70th birthday party and invited all the temple workers, Pres. Villegas is behind us.

 They rented a room on the 8th floor of Villa hotel so we got to see the city spread out below.

 He had close to 100 people come.

 President and Sister Villegas welcoming everyone to his party.

 They had 3 different meats, rice, refried beans, tortillas, rolls, and these sweets.

 He had a mariachi band play for an hour.

Then we had cake and the marimba band came in and everyone danced. The party lasted about 6 hours, we left after 4 1/2 hours.

The marimba band playing.

We just got this picture of our mission plaque from our ward in Utah.

Beginning of July

 Jamie's kids.

 Justin tickling his boys.

Ashleigh's 4 girls.

 June's 4th birthday on the 4th of July.

Whitney's boys enjoying the heat of July.

In the tub.

 We saw our mission president and wife in American Fork and talked about 4 hours. Carlos and Teresa Faundez from Chili.

 Packing things for storage and the mission.

 On the plane to Mexico!

 Our master bedroom in our apartment.

 Bathroom upstairs.

 Spare bedroom.

 Kitchen and dining room.

Living room and 1/2 bathroom downstairs.

 

Eating tacos and the local drink-posol, cold corn and cacao drink served in bowls.

First day serving in the Tuxtla Gutierrez temple.