NEW YEAR, NEW SEMESTER, NEW EXPERIENCES

Toby dressed for the cold!

COLD WEATHER--Apparently, Tampico is having its coldest winter in 17 years. It's been soooo freezing cold! A couple of weeks of 50 degree weather and then three days of 40 degree weather. I know that doesn't sound bad, but with the humidity, and with the lack of heaters, and limited winter clothing, we've been cold. I've been wearing Jeff's socks, two tops along with my sweater and rain jacket all day long, inside and outside. We are fortunate to have a space heater to use courtesy of our landlady. Still we jump under the covers when we get home. Sunday, everyone was sitting in Sacrament meeting in their stocking caps, gloves, coats, and scarves, boots, and long socks . And at the institute, everyone was busy at their computers shivering in their winter gear. I took pictures on the cell phone, but I can't figure out how to transfer them to the computer.

Naranja, Veracruz, Mexico

UPDATE: I wrote that paragraph a week ago. We're back to some 70 degree weather. So revitalizing. We've had a lot of rain, but today we had sunshine. Love it!



TRIALS & MISHAPS: Jeff somehow completely erased my institute gmail contact list containing names, email addresses, phone numbers, addresses, birthdays, wards, stakes, pictures and notes. He felt pretty bad.... At least it happened the week before classes began and it gave us both something to keep us really busy. Most of it has been recovered.


OOPS! Then, Jeff dropped the camera on our second night of classes and it stopped working. We were able to take any pictures of the class. He felt pretty bad about that. He remembered that I wanted a new camera anyway. The next day when we went to go to the store, we discovered that things had snapped back into place and opened and shut as normal. A tender mercy.


NEXT, we couldn't transfer our photos onto the computer for some reason. I complained to Norton since I thought it might be because of the new virus software. They got on remote to help me and what do you know---it started towork.


NEW CLASSES: We started new English classes and have all new faces. It's fun. It's a smaller group than usual and we're not going to divide, but it's really just the right size—about 17-18 students. They are a really fun class. Of course, this means Jeff and I have to team teach. A tricky situation. I get kind of bossy. Jeff's handling the music. I'm planning the class.


Our Saturday Book of Mormon II Class has familiar faces! We appreciate the sacrifice of these kids to give us a part of their Saturday night—even when it is their only free day.

Reynosa Family

CHRISTMAS! We had a very nice Christmas and New Years which involved lots of get-togethers and dinners (Bentley's, Call's, Reynoso's, Trevino's), missionary farewells, BYU sports, a couple of movies, four new books to read. The highlight was being able to travel around the mission and deliver mail, packages, and Christmas wishes to the MEXICO TAMPICO missionaries in time for Christmas. On Dec. 23, Jeff and I travel to Naranja, Tuxpan, Huehutla, Poza Rica, Papantla, and a few other places I can't remember right now—a twelve hour day trip which met with lots of traffic, some car trouble, and some VERY HAPPY MISSIONARIES. It was worth it. Jeff went out with Pres. Call on Dec 24 to make other deliveries in the Victoria area.

Karla Trevino came with us as we delivered Christmas packages & cards to the missionaries.  Here we are in Poza Rica

CHRISTMAS AGAIN—This week (Jan 15) cards and packages arrived! We hadn't had any mail since November. We put on the music, opened the cards, the packages, and ate the candy that came with it. It was fun!

RECRUITING—Come to Institute! We're making the rounds to the different wards to invite the Young Adults to Institute! It makes Sunday's our busiest days. Yesterday, after visiting 3 wards and their Single Adult classes in the morning and early afternoon, we ran home for a quick bite and then ran out again to a fireside which the missionaries arranged for us to speak at. Afterwards, they served “Moyetes”. MMMMM..... good!

Moyetes!

Didn't think this would be sooooo long! So I won't go on about the language struggles, the traffic scares, Jeff's backache as a result of carrying a car battery 4 blocks, sniffles and colds,or the grandkids that we miss! I will just say that we are looking forward to having Emily, Boyd, Gavin and Eli here in a month! WHOOPEE!

Barrio Aeropuerto Young Single Adults