ELDER LOPEZ - ACAPULCO

In our mission we have lots of duplicate surnames.  In fact, right now, I am pretty sure we have 5 missionaries with the last name "Lopez".  So, when we get duplicates we always have to add where they are from - so we can keep everybody straight.  So, today, I want to tell you about Elder Lopez - from Alcapulco.

Elder Lopez's family convertedto the church so time ago.    It seems the missionaries knocked on their door - actually they were looking for another address, but their family listened to their message and joined the church.  ("Teach when you find; find when you teach") He has siblings and a niece and nephew that have already served missions.


I knew there was something different about him the first day he arrived here.  During our orientation of all new missionaries, he was attentive and smiled encouragingly as I gave my part of the presentation.  Usually new missionaries are quite anxious and nervous about everything on that first day in the mission.  (It is nice to have interested, pleasant expressions when you are waxing on about this item or that.)  And then...after finishing the lunch we have for all the new missionaries and their companions, Elder Lopez started cleaning up, without being asked.  He picked up trash, put tables and chairs away, and washed off the tables when we were done.  He didn't leave until everything was "spic and span"!  Wow!  Many missionaries are helpful, but he definitely went the extra mile.

Wow!  He was already serving!  I was so impressed!  And now I know why.  He not only had been trained by Mom to be helpful...but he had just finished serving as the Stake Young Men's President before coming on his mission.

He told me he had graduated from high school and was preparing to go on a mission right away when he was called.  His counselors were 23 and 21 at the time.  He said the biggest thing he had to do was put on a YM camp for their stake the summer before he came on his mission which involved organizing everything:  activities, speaking in front of a group, talking with young men of all ages, food, and a budget...and he and his two counselors did the whole thing.

Oh, and I almost forgot, wouldn't you know, his first name is "Helaman"!

Our young adults really are incredible, aren't they?  We must not under-estimate, but believe in them and trust in them.  Give them a job to do...and then get out of their way! We love working with young adults and missionaries!!!

*********************************VIVA MEXICO***********************************

Of course, mole is very popular here.  People do not make it themselves at home (as it contains some 45+ ingredients!) but buy it at the store.

Here is one way mole is sold in the grocery store. 

 In grocery stores there are clerks that help you with your fruit and meat.  In this store, you could pick out your chicken breasts and then a clerk would cut it anyway you want it.  This woman wanted very thin slices of chicken.

Fresh, delicious fruits and vegetables are readily available and inexpensive for all sectors of the population here in Mexico.

 Nopales is very popular here.  It is the "leaf" of the cacti plant, and is very  healthy.  It is a common ingredient in numerous Mexican dishes. These cacti "leaves" arrive at the grocery store with stickery spiney things still on them and a clerk, wearing rubber gloves, removes them by hand with a knife.   I have also seen clerks removing the papery outer layers of onions.  Some stores have a clerk in the fruit area as well.  You can pick out your pineapple and the clerk will cut off all the outer layer of the pineapple so you just have only the fruit to deal with.  Also it is very common here to find cantaloupe, watermelon and papaya cut in half (or quartered) and sealed with plastic wrap.