A Whirl-Wind of Feelings, Changes, and Events…

On March 3, 2010, we accepted a call to serve in the Church’s Perpetual Education Fund (PEF) Service and Call Center in Mexico City. Since that time, our lives have been a-whirl wind of feelings, changes, and events.

Our friends at the Institute

Feelings

Accepting the call to serve in Mexico City meant that we would be leaving Tampico prematurely, and along with it, all the people and the things that we had come to love so dearly. Our heartstrings have been pulled and stretched so much this last month they hurt terribly! We know they will stop hurting as we come to know and work with the Saints in Mexico City.

Our Book of Mormon Class!

Our English Class!

Changes

Responsibilities: The PEF assists young adults in the church in planning for successful lives, and in some cases, provides financial assistance for education to those in need. We will be working in the Mexico PEF Call Center, assisting staff and volunteers in the daily administration and support of students in the PEF program. There are about 5,000 young adults in Mexico that are enrolled in PEF.

PEF Staff and Trainers

Where we live: We are now living on campus of Benemerito, a high school sponsored by the Church. It has the look and feel of the BYU campuses. The kids and grounds are beautiful! There are about 2000 kids that attend Benemerito. Half of them live on campus in dorms or in group homes, and the other half live at home. The dorms are just like Heritage Halls at BYU-Provo, except that there are no kitchens in them because everyone living in the dorms eats at the school cafeteria. The group homes have about 18 kids per home, and each home has a couple/family that provides for, or otherwise cooks for them! We live in a converted dorm room at the girls dorms. One of the 3 bedrooms has been converted to a kitchen. It reminds me a lot of Anna Min and Jereme’s place at BYU Idaho. The campus is safe and includes a security gate manned 24 hours per day by security personnel.

The front door to our new home.

The view outside our front door.

The Institute in Mexico City with Elder & Sister Jarvis

Where we work: The PEF Call Center is located in a nearby Institute building and is only a 15 minute walk away for us. We work 8:30 AM – 5PM, Mon through Friday, and 9 AM -1 PM on Saturdays. Being so close to and working all day at the call center/institute is a good thing because the traffic and drivers here are crazy! Right now the only place we plan to go in our car is to Walmart, which is 5 minutes away! Otherwise, we’re walking or if we have to, going by taxi!

Events

Transito Police: While working with the missionaries, I got stopped in the car (again) by a Transito (Traffic) policeman. This time, I ended up paying the policeman what he asked for.

Flight to Mexico City: Four days after we received our new call, we flew to Mexico City and stayed for a week of training about the PEF program. We stayed at Benemerito in the apartment we now live in, and ate almost all of our meals at the school cafeteria. Eating at the cafeteria was wonderful not only because it was convenient but also because the food was delicious! While in Mexico City, we attended a PEF board meeting with the Mexico Area Presidency in their downtown offices! The meeting was great but the taxi ride was crazy!

At the Beach

Anna Min’s Visit to Tampico: Anna Min came to visit us in Tampico! As is the Nolte custom, we packed everything we could in those 3 ½ days she was with us! Eating out for fish and Mexican cuisine, buying at the street market, walking the dike at the Madero-Tampico Playa (beach), attending our English and Book of Mormon classes at the Institute, going to our branch for Sunday Services, and of course, traveling to Tajin (Totonacan ruins) and Costa Esmeralda (Best Western Noray-Hotel on beachfront of Gulf Coast). We sure loved having her with us—it was a real boost!

At Costa Esmeralda

Costa Esmeralda with Anna Min

Our Move to Mexico City: Last Thursday, and three days after Anna Min flew home, we packed up our belongings and moved here to Mexico City! It took us 9 hours to make the trip. Although some of the roads were pretty precarious, the scenery was beautiful, especially climbing up and traveling through the mountains. There were a few times along the way that we took turns or routes that at the time we thought were incorrect but later turned out to be exactly where we needed to go. We recognize the source from which we were assisted along the way and the power of your prayers being offered in our behalf.

A Warm Welcome: The Jarvis’s and Olsens, two other missionary couples serving in Mexico City have treated us wonderfully! Thanks to them, we have already been to the temple and visitors center grounds, had our refrigerator stocked with fresh fruit and vegetables, and been invited over for dinner on several occasions, and even seen a video or two since arriving.

We are grateful to all who enrich their lives with their love and friendship.

Love,

Jeff and Mary Ann

A beautiful morning