Mexico Mission 2023

Friday May 10 is Mothers' Day in Mexico. There was very little traffic that day, not because it was Mothers Day but because the number of vehicles on the road was reduced in an effort to reduce pollution levels below what are deemed harmful level. Oblivious, senior missionaries marked it with an outdoor BBQ on the grounds of the Palmas offices where we work. We live on the west side of the city where pollution is not an issue. I cleaned up the BBQ and cooked marinated pork loins, others brought the remainder of the meal elements.  We had hoped to play a few BBQ-appropriate games but that wasn't as much of a hit - perhaps when I'm in my mid-seventies, like many of the senior missionaries we work with, I won't be so enthusiastic either. The Asbell's bought a corn hole game that we have been using as an excuse to take breaks during our workdays. It got a bit of use before we ate. The BBQ is made to use charcoal and you control the heat by opening and closing the vents...

This week we travelled to Montreal to participate in our eldest son and his wife’s 10th wedding anniversary events, the capstone being a recasting of their marriage commitments to each other in their own words. It was fun, heart-warming and joyous in so many ways and yet, as a parent, heart wrenching in a couple of others. They publicly affirmed their love for one another with friends and family as witnesses. I was especially proud of our son’s articulate list that included his pledge to never abandon his bride. One of the party activities on Saturday night was a photo booth that got very, very busy about 30 minutes before it closed.  Alex said he couldn’t resist giving me a kiss…photo credit goes to my sister Judy. I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints a week before my 28th birthday. That decision over 35 years ago was both lifesaving and soul saving. Lifesaving in that the Gospel of Jesus Christ connected the intellectual dots at that point in my life and set a...