Week 8 - We made it through one week. Only 93 to go!

Elder Ortiz and Elder Scott

So I got here, but we had to spend the whole day in the stake center doing interviews and training. We didn't even get our companions or areas. It was kind of a long, boring, day.It was pretty rough, but we made it through.

I got my companion Elder Ortiz, and we're serving in Temixco, one of the largest areas in the mission. It's so large that we physically cannot afford to not take buses everywhere. We end up having to spend a lot of our own money, because we spend twenty to forty pesos on buses alone, every day, each. It gets kinda rough at times. Speaking of rough, the Buses (Rutas) are insane. In fact, driving in general is insane. The roads are bumpy, and everyone drives crazy. If I don't get the opportunity to drive a car here, I'll be fine. The buses are even crazier. They're like a small rollercoaster. They jerk you and turn you, and there's not nearly enough leg room.

We've taught quite a few lessons, but it's usually Elder Ortiz teaching and me listening, or trying to follow along. 

Elder Ortiz: Elder Ortiz is my companion these next 2 transfers, so here's a bit about him. His name's Fernando Ortiz, he's 19 years old, and turns 20 on the 14th of november. he's from California, and He's been out for almost a year. He plays the Trumpet and the Bass guitar. He marched Mellophone for Santa Clara Vanguard in 2015, "Spark of Invention" and he's really quite funny. We're hoping to rent some trumpets for Christmas and play in Centro.

We walk around outside for probably 5 to 6 hours a day, just contacting and teaching. Sometimes we drive all the way out to Unidad Morelos (far away) and none of our investigators are there to listen. It can get pretty frustrating, but its all good. We walk a lot to our apartment, too, because having bikes is a theft hazard. We live in a pretty nice apartment. There's no hot water or laundry machines. I have to wash clothes by hand. It's a lot of work, and I'd love to not have to do it again. But, alas, 'tis not my fate.

We've had some really good investigators so far. No one wants a baptismal date yet, but we've been teaching some good lessons, and people have to come to church three times in a row before they can be baptized. Also, I'd never thought that a 16-year-old wouldn't be able to be baptized because he was living with his girlfriend, but I guess it's pretty common here. They're usually the only family that they have. Medicine here isn't as great either, so a lot of people are missing limbs, or are sick for the rest of their lives. It's kinda sad. But it makes people really humble and kind. I haven't even been cussed out, or even disrespected by anyone in mexico; that's not even a luxury I had in America.

Side note: Ive never been looked at weirdly by kids because of my skin color. But legit, I'm probably the only white person in Temixco. It doesn't help that I'm a giant as well. People's houses, buses, stores, and taxis were not built for tall people. And the climate wasn't built for white people. Its hot a lot, and Elder O. says that this is one of the coldest missions, and we're in the coldest season. It sucks a bit.

I also got sick on Friday. We ate a little Caesar's pizza, and a giant Pepsi, and after, I wasn't feeling so good. We took the rest of that day, and the morning of the next to rest, while my stomach hurt. We got a couple pictures while I was sick, where we covered my face with a wet cloth, and ]I put on all Elder O's California Stuff. We were just goofing around, but they made for some funny pictures. I'll try to get them to you next week, because Elder Ortiz's camera isn't working.

I'm having a good time here, but it's hard work. I now understand what people mean when they say it's one of the hardest things they've ever done. It's fun, though, and I'm sure it will be more so after I can speak Spanish.

That's all for this week. ¡Nos Vemos!