December 2, 2013

[Editor's note: I'm not going to edit Elder Blanding's emails because I love seeing the Spanish seep into his English.]

So this is going to be a short letter (I have about 10-15 min. to write) I really hope you are all good. I have officially started with Christmas. It is weird how differently it is celebrated here. They barely put up any lights, to the point where you can walk down about 10 or 15 streets without seeing a single house with lights on it. I just hope you are celebrating to the full extent back there (this is a hint to have Dad or Kray put lights up on the house).

On the work side: This week we had a surprise baptism. The 9 year old girl of a less-active family wanted to get baptized. We started teaching Monday night, had the interview Saturday and Sunday before the services she was baptized (on her 9th birthday too). 

Other then that not much is happening here. Things are going along normally. We just need to be able to get people to actually come to church. Things are going just fine all things considered.

Elder Blanding.

Elder Blanding far left.

"How they make tortillas here in Mexico (the good way)."

"Us on our way back from eating, (Yes we have to go up the mountain to eat)."

"The other elders here in the branch walking down the same path as the [last photo]."

"My nativity set that I bought for 180 pesos (it is about 14 dollars). Oh, and I will be sending you the nativity set to add to your collection for next year. I really don't want to have to pack it up and carry it with me for the next 15 months."