Vive Mexico!
We talked to Chris for a LONG time today hearing all about his travels down to Mexico,
Hermosillo during Covid, his new area and his first week.
He travelled all the way to Hermosillo (Kansas to Dallas to Mexico City to Hermosillo) by himself.
But he had a phone. The rest of his friends went through Phoenix and thought he'd missed his flight.
In the Mexico City airport, he saw a sister missionary heading home to Tiajuana and was super excited to see another nametag and talk to her!
A sweet reunion with his mission president and the rest of the elders when he arrived.
They had Carne Asada waiting for him. Chris feels like his Spanish is rusty, but his mission president was so impressed with all the returning elders who have been gone for a year but are still speaking so well!
His mission went from 160 missionaries down to 24 (all from Mexico) during Covid.
But now they're back to 60! His President is slowly opening areas back up, beginning with areas that have access to hospitals or a highway to get to a hospital. (In case of serious issues with Covid.)
Chris is serving in Pesqueira -- a small town of about 4,500 with mostly dirt roads, but lots of trees.
He said he can walk through the whole town in 20 minutes.
They're living with members, but do have a church building in town.
His companion is who he was training last March! They are so excited to be assigned together.
Of course the comp has a year under his belt now and has been a zone leader and served previously in Pesqueira, so knows the area.
Sunday was the first Sunday the area could have in-person church again.
They're a branch of about 80 and groups of 4 are alternating attending once a month.
They aren't allowed to eat with members, but just this week they've changed so members can make them food and they go by and pick it up.
The most impressive thing on Sunday was the 2nd counselor in the Branch Presidency.
He's 17 years old!
The Branch President and 1st counselor both were away, so watched into church via Zoom.
The 17-year-old counselor and two of his 15-year-old buddies, greeted incoming members at the door, presided, conducted and blessed and passed the sacrament, cleaned the pulpit and mic between speakers and were on top of the hand sanitizer! They did it all!
Chris was super impressed! And so are we!
One sister ran up to Chris after Church saying, Elder Shaeffer, I served with your cousin!
Chris was confused at first until she said she served in Aguascalientes with Clark and he had told her his cousin was serving in her home mission area.
But to be assigned to her town is pretty incredible! What an amazing world!
In much less significant news, MRI and x-rays show I've sprained my deltoid ligament.
And ignoring it for so long might mean a long healing period.
So no hiking, walking (for exercise), lunging, tip toes (barre), or sideways movement.
Swimming and Peloton are perfect.
Having a colonoscopy and ankle problems in the same week (oh yeah, and neck pain)
makes me feel like I'm breaking down a bit!
At least I'm in good company. Dan is also icing after a long run today.
And if that doesn't make us feel old, how about scrolling down this LONG list to get to 1970!
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