[Note: Tanda wrote and asked Bryce several questions.]

Okay so first I’ll answer some of your questions…

Yes, they are sending missionaries tomorrow to the other ward so we will be a District again and I should get a new phone soon too… which I will be very careful with.

We’re are finally starting to get organized in our new place which is just down the street from our old apartment. It is so much better and is new construction so we’re the first people to live there! However my companion tripped the other day in the shower and broke the skin :/ [maybe Bryce meant sink?] …better than his head I guess. We live alone which I think is the same for every companionship in the mission, and luckily, yes we get feed by the members here too

Another nice thing is that a member from the other ward owns a laundry mat on our street and washes all my clothes for 15 pesos, and they are actually clean and don’t get sun bleached or pooped on by birds or spiders laying eggs on them, all of which happened in Pachuca.

Okay, so after not writing last week, I’m sure the title of my letter almost gave you a heart attack, however about an hour ago I ate a Huarrache which is like a Mexican pizza. I have grown to eat a lot of salsa, which is really hot here, however the guacamole that was on this thing was so hot that it burned my mouth, lips, stomach and I could hardly open my mouth for 10 min. because the movement of air in and out of my mouth on my lips hurt so much. Of course I also had to make a somewhat painful bathroom trip shortly after! I also got to eat cow foot last week which I couldn’t really reject because it was offered to me in a family home evening we had with the member we baptized yesterday! So I politely ate it and politely didn’t vomit. I also ate pig foot about 2 weeks ago. I’m not sure which is my favorite?

Last of the interesting things to happen, is yesterday we were late for our baptismal service because the road was blocked by about 35 cross-dressers who were dancing in the street and asking money from all the people driving through. One of the strangest reasons to have traffic backed up or to be late to our own baptismal service. Welcome to Chimalhuacán!

I love you all and you’re in my thoughts and prayers.
-Bryce

Well today and tomorrow are Independence day in Mexico, so I have to be in the house by 6pm. We spent the morning cutting the grass in our very small back yard. It was good. On Wednesday we had a combined zone conference where we learned about positive affirmations in the mission from the church psychologist for all of Mexico. Affirmations are amazing.

[Tanda] I had asked Bryce some more questions (in italics). His answers follow.

Where in Mexico is your companion from?
San Louis… its north of here

Was he born in the church or is he a convert?
born a member

How many are in his family?
he has 2 brothers and 2 sisters he is the oldest

How well do you get along?
We are getting along very well (it is a process and a choice)

What is your daily schedule like?
leave the house at 11, work, eat with a member at 2ish, work, return at 9

What do you usually eat?
corn tortillas, soup, pasta, rice, tacos, enchiladas, etc; the tacos, etc. are very different here

Is the money you get enough to cover your expenses if you are careful?
yes, I am getting very good at budgeting

How is the Spanish coming?
poco a poco [little by little]

Have you taught any lessons in Spanish yet?
every day now, whether they understand what I am trying to say…?

What is the ward like where you meet?
very small …its a Ward

Have you had to speak or pray in Spanish at the church yet?
I spoke two weeks ago …every 3rd Sunday is mission Sunday

What is the Mexico City temple like?
it’s closed for remodeling, it will be rededicated in November I think on the 16th… the Prophet will be here!

Are the Mountains rough like the Rockies or more like the ones in the east?
Kind of in the middle, lots of volcanic rock, the mountains are big

Is the area desert or green? You said it rained a lot, but the pictures I saw on line looked like it was very rocky and dry?
its green, but there are rocky and earthy parts too

Are you happy?
I choose to be every day

Oh, Edwana Klaasesz accused me of having your face again. It’s a great face, I’m glad that we share it!
I AGREE! however I have your face, you had it first.

Well I’ve got to go. Love you all very much and thanks for all of your emails!

Bryce