Parable of the Bird

Arriving in Veracruz, settling into a new life, living in the heart of a large and noise city, being nervous about the responsibility of our new calling, leaving our family, friends and quiet life in McCall behind....You can imagine my already problem of  NOT SLEEPING escalating.  Friday nights were especially difficult as we had to be in the temple very early on Saturday mornings.  One typical Friday night, I had gone to bed early and was fighting going to sleep.

The neighborhood rooster was crowing

which  started the neighborhood dogs barking

It was after 3:30am when I finally fell asleep and at 5:00pm, the rooster started in again.  It was one lucky dog and rooster that I didn't have a machete.  That Saturday we were in the temple for every shift and session, which is one long day.  The next morning was Sunday and I really looked forward to sleeping in.  At 1:00am the rooster started in, then the dogs, but as I laid there I heard a bird and as I listened intently, my mind shut out all of the annoying noises and soon all I heard was the bird.

Settling into our new life

We actually live in Boco Del Rio (Mouth of the River)

We can cross the highway in front of the temple, and be at the beach, walk on the beach two miles and be at the mouth of the river, where this picture is taken

My favorite food here in Veracruz is Camarones and I have learned to prepare them

Yummy, Yummy

I shared my shrimp sauce recipe with a restaurant here

Every meal is complete with fresh fruits and vegtables


The fruits and vegetables in Veracruz are always fresh and wonderful, however we soak everything in a disinfectant for ten minutes before using. We have never gotten sick from our own food. The Manila Mangoes are to die for and we have never seen such beautiful red, yellow and orange peppers. All their vegetables taste as if they were just picked fresh out of a garden.

And of course the shrimp have to be fresh

Now this fish is really fresh

 Their are alot of restaurants within walking distance, however they are expensive, never serve vegetables or salads. Our favorite place to eat is Carl's Jrs. and a little Oriental Restaurant in the mall, Las Americans. Hirum took us to a very fancy restaurant once and Robert got sick, since then we haven't eaten out much

Everything here, even in nicer areas of the city, is dirty. Garbage on the streets everywhere. When we first arrived we tried to clean up some of our walking areas, but finally gave up. The beaches are left natural, which is not a good thing

The clean-up committee

We are having a wonderful time here
together.

Entering the Temple In A Whole New Light

It was four day after our arrival in Veracruz
that we entered the temple for the first time

We were so anxious to enter.

The Presidency

Presidente & Hermana Yanez

Presidente & Hermana Bickmore

Presidente & Hermana Hilton

Presidency

The Temple Matrons








The first week in the temple was overwhelming. We attended every session, every prayer meeting, meet 80+ obreros (temple workers), meet hundreds of the faithful participants, and started to memorize the temple ordinances. We were spending a minimum of 12 hours a day inside it's walls. After the first week, we started on a schedule and were still spending many hours in the temple each week. And YES for the first 3 months I, Lindy, was in the laundry room. It gave me much incentive to learn the language. By the end of first three months, I started participants in the ordianances and now nine months later I am a pro. The first week, Rob was conducting prayer meetings and the 2nd week did his first sealing. It is a pure miracle as to how quickly his spanish returned (from his mission days, 44 years prior). As 2nd counselor he is over the physical operations of the temple, so he had to learn an entire new vocabulary than that of the mission field. Heavenly Father certainly issues out blessings as they are needed.

A Weekend of Travel continued

The home of Hernando Cortez

On April 21,1519, Cortez landed near this site in Veracruz.

First church built in Mexico

Bananas grow everywhere


The beaches are empty


Although it looks cool here, these first few days in Mexico are the only days we weren't HOT and SWEATY

A Week of Travel

Traveling with our new found friends

The Ratz's from Canada

The Tejada's from Ecuador

Presidente Bickmore & Mayrene

Our trip to El Tajin was most interesting El Tajín is the name of the principal metropolitan Classic period Maya site in Veracruz, Mexico. El Tajin was occupied from the pre-urban days, but reached its height during the Classic Maya period, AD 250-900, when the population may have been as large as 20,000.
The site of El Tajin has 168 public buildings, including temples, ball courts, and plazas, within an area of nearly 200 ares. At least a dozen ball courts have been identified at El Tajín, and several depictions of the game are lavishly carved into and painted on the walls of the buildings.

MISSION IN VERACRUZ, MEXICO

 

Having a toast to say goodbye to our home and the snow

Mexican farewell, complete with piñada

Saying goodbye to our friends in McCall

Hardest of all, saying goodbye to our family

 

 



Our first look at Veracruz, Mexico



Our new home

 

View from our frontroom window

Content with our New Liife