The Busy Life of a Missionary

So, I would tell you a lot of details in this email, but, there won't be much time because you'll be too busy. This week we went to Villahermosa to visit a General Authority (he is a 70 in the Presidency of Mexico...of the Church). We had to leave an entire day early as to make sure that we would get there on time. Let me describe my travels for you.

Wednesday. 10 AM convey (a bus that is a bit bigger than a mini van kinda thing with seats all along the walls of the car) leaves Candelaria to Tenosique (where our Zone Leaders are). We arrive at 1:30 PM. Work with the Zone Leaders for a few hours. At 5 PM we leave Tenosique to Villahermosa and arrive around 8:30. In Villahermosa Elder Rangel (my former companion) is waiting for us and takes us to his house for the night. 

Thursday. 9 AM we are in our places waiting for the General Authority. 10 AM Meeting starts. 10:10 AM President Morales asks me to start translating to all the new missionaries. 10:12 AM Only 2 sister missionaries want me to translate. 10:13 I'm speaking English. 10:14 Isn't it kind of rude to talk while he is talking? (Just kidding, but I found out I love translating.) 1:30 PM Finish translation. From then on I work in Elder Rangel's area with him and another elder waiting until 6:30 PM we are waiting for another meeting for leaders of the mission to start. 6:45 PM I see Obispo Chablé--the man who might not have really done anything, but the only reason I really stayed in the mission. 7 PM Meeting starts. 9 PM Meeting ends. 10 PM Three other missionaries and I in the Zone get together and are on our way out with leaders of the District (almost like they were Stake Leaders). 10:30 PM They took us to eat tacos. 11:15 PM we are leaving Villahermosa. 2:10 AM we make it to the Elder's house in Balancan. 

Friday. 9 AM looking for a way out of Balancan to Candelaria. 10:35 AM Find convey to El Triunfo. 12 PM Arrive in El Triunfo. Take taxi to Candelaria. Arrive at 1:30 PM. 1:32 PM a member happens to drive next to the taxi and takes us to our house. We go to work.

Saturday. 12:30 Recieve a call saying we need to be in a meeting in Emiliano Zapata. Cancel all our appointments. 3 PM Looking for a way out of Candelaria. All the buses leave in the morning. 3:30 PM Take a bus leaving the mission to Campehce. Get off halway. Wait on the highway trying to catch something going back the other way. (See picture) Many drunk ranchers stop. We teach them on the side of the highway (See other picture). 5:30 Another bus passes. Get on bus. Make it to Villa Chable at 7 PM. Get in taxi. Arrive at the chapel in Zapata at 7:20 PM. The meeting starts late at 7:25 PM. Meeting ends at 9 PM. 10 PM I am in the trunk of a CR-V heading towards Candelaria. 12 AM Arrive in El Triunfo and spend the night with the Elders there.

Sunday. 5 AM Wake up. 5:30 Get on the ONLY convey to Candelaria. 6:30 AM Arrive in Candelaria. 7 AM Get home. 7:20 AM Shower. 8 AM Prepare my class. 10 AM Go to Church. 5;30 PM Elder Segura and Elder Lott (the fat companions that couldn't fit in the trunk) show up to Candelaria.

Monday. Wash my clothes and put everything back where it belongs. 10:11 AM Get a call. Zone Class tomorrow in Tenosique at 9 AM... 4 PM Call saying I am teaching Zone Class here in Candelaria to fewer Elders. 

All in the busy week of a Mormon Missionary. Good news is I'm not sick.

Love you all,
Elder Andrews

Waiting on the highway.

Teaching drunk ranchers on the side of the highway.