All the Crazy Foods of Mexico

 Ola Everyone -                                                                                                May 21, 2021

I have been eating at more member's houses and getting a lot more food which is AWESOME!  Last P-Day we went to Celaya and played volleyball with some other elders which was super fun!  It's always great to see other elders.

So we are teaching this lady named Veronica.  We asked her to read the Book of Mormon and she is trying. I can't tell you how good it feels when we are able to get out and teach!  She owns a cheese shop and she fed us some really good tacos.  Speaking of food, I still am eating crazy weird things here in Mexico.  I have eaten a whole cactus pad, like the prickly pear cactus.  They put them in soup or eat it raw.  Not my favorite.  I also have eaten fried pig skin called chicharon.  We had it with tacos with Veronica.  At first I thought it was like a churro because the name sounded like a churro and it was clear and crispy like a churro.  But . . . . it did NOT taste like a churro.  I have seen some weird bugs here too.  Lots of maggots hanging around the trash areas (gross!) and ants the size of my thumb.  Also I saw a grasshopper the size of my hand!  Luckily it was dead, but it was massive!  I have had some weird drinks too.  One of them is called jamaica (ha-my-ka)  which looks like red wine, from the jamaica plant and it's pretty good, depending on how much sugar they put in it.   Also I have had some homemade horchata which is absolutely delicious!  There is another drink like chocolate milk mixed with horchata and that is also amazing.  The people here eat every part of the animal.  I have seen cow's hooves, ears, pig's faces, etc. at the store for sale.  It is super humbling because usually the members can only afford to make soup with very little meat in it.  Two people have told me that I look skinnier.  I'm sure I have lost some weight.  

Last Sunday was awesome because I got to play the piano for prelude in the San Miguel ward.  All the people get to sit together now.  I have been eating Sunday dinners with the Gonzales family and they have two kids who attend BYU Idaho.  Hermana Gonzales is so helpful and sweet.  They have a piano and asked me to play for them after dinner which felt sooooo good to play.  

Hermana Monces made us enchiladas (she isn't a member--she is catholic) .  We have been teaching her but she is really skeptical about the church and has a lot of questions.  It's good for me though, because I study more to try and help her understand better.  Last P-Day we went to this beautiful mall that totally looks American.  It was called La Plaza Lucirnega and this big shop called Liverpool was exactly like a Dillards or Macy's.  I walked in and there was a make-up/perfume section and I just stood there and took in a deep breath and thought, "I feel like I'm back in America!"  If you want to know what Mexico is like, just watch the movie, "Nacho Libre."  They actually did a great job making it look exactly what Mexico really looks like.  All the houses, all the people, are TOTALLY what Mexico looks like!  

I am really happy right now!  Today was actually pretty busy.  We went to a cool part of town and there are a lot of Ex-Pats there.  It was so weird to hear people say in English, "Oh my gosh" or "Thank you so much."  When I hear that it's like, I CAN UNDERSTAND YOU!!  Oh my gosh, English people!!  I still am trying to learn the language here.  I had a conversation with a little kid today and that was fun because they speak more my speed.  I love talking with little kids!  Sometimes I will play dolls with them or talk about sports with them and it's always fun.  

The weather here has been awesome this week.  It was cloudy and cold and I got to wear my sweater which was GREAT!  I love the cold!  I absolutely love it.  I was getting a little tired of the hotness ha ha!

I have shared my testimony a lot this week about how this religion is about happiness and that's why I'm a missionary.  I want to share this happiness!    I love it when people see that the Mormons are a happy people.  It's such a great way for others to be more interested and curious about who we are.  Thank you all so much for the love.  I love you all! 

Have a great week!

Elder Spencer Chamberlain