It's Mexican Monday!!!!

Basically it is the best day in the world, so you should celebrate Mexican Monday too. Eat some tacos, or pour a ton of lechera on your fruit, thats about as Mexican as you need to be.

Justen is doing super swell this week, and his email was nothing but smiley faces and exclamation marks, so thats good to hear. Here are some highlights:

• "I got my hair cut and the gay guy did a horrible job. Lucky you aren't here to impress."
• " My new companion is really cool, but pretty strict. I like him though, I think he is a good example. He is older than me, but looks pretty young."
• "We have been working really hard, but nothing is happening. It's the fourth quarter and I got no special plays."
• "I had a dream about you the other night. We were in high school, and I was watching you in a play and then we were attacked by spacemen with lightsabers. I know it's weird, but in the end I saved you and we lived happily ever after."

Yeah, he is still the same old goofy Justen. What a nut. Gotta love him.

Also, this past weekend I got an AWESOME package from my family. Woooohooo! It was full of girl scout cookies and reeses and Easter candy, all things that are not sold in Mexico. I have sufficiently stuffed my face with sugar.

Oh yeah! There was also a magazine in ENGLISH!! That was a blast. haha. I should buy one in spanish just to practice...we will see how that goes. Thank you for all the goodies! I am so sad I am missing Easter at home, but this made it a bit better!

-Sara Jacqueline

Happy Mexican Nunday!!

Today is our last day of our four day vacation, and we said goodbye to the nuns this morning before we went back into town. They are really the sweetest Mexican nuns I have ever met....and the only ones I have ever met.!

We headed back into downtown Taxco and shopped around for a couple hours before we caught a bus back to Puebla. We finally made it home after six hours in a bus...Sheeeew. Even better when I got home, I had a nice sweet email waiting for me from Elder Justen Turley.

He seemed to be very very excited about his new companion who is a greenie, fresh from the Missionary Training Center. In the mission, Justen would be called the Father and his new companion would be called his son, because he is training him from the ground up in Mexico. I think it will give him something else to be excited about, and to be focused on so that is all cool beans.

Apparently he is also very busy with cleaning and teaching other missionaries how to teach, so it seems everything in Monterrey is peachy. Also, I am happy to say he said he sent me lots of letters and even one ALL in spanish. Basically I am gonna stalk the mail man, cause I cannot wait!

Hope you had a Great Mexican Monday!!

-Sara Jacqueline

Hooray for Mexican Monday!

Top 5 Most Ridiculous/Cute Things My Missionary Said to Me:

1. "I'm just looking out for my Girl."
2. Talking about Mexicans always trying to speak in English to us: "All the girls in the street wanna practice their English with me too, but usually have different intentions...haha..yuck."
3. About his good looks: "Me and my companion were walking and an SUV full of girls pulled up laughing and waving at me and I waved back and they all started screaming like I was famous or something. It was funny." Ladies Man Much??
4. Speaking of my nasty hacking cough: "Just take the medicine from your (host) mom Sara. I know it looks sketchy, but it works. I can feel your stubbornness from here."
5. "Any creepy boys bothering you? I don't want to have to bring down the hammer."

It is official. Justen only has 9 more months on his mission. Yes that is it! Only nine more. So now all I gotta do is wait for Snookie to have her baby, and he will be back..haha. Lovely. Snookie will make a great countdown calendar.

-Sara Jacqueline

I Love Mexican Monday!!

Top 5 Things Justen told me today in his email:

1. "I'm never lettin you go"
2. About soccer: "I can play ANY sport with a ball Sara. Remember, I am Justen"
3. About his soccer skills: "Speaking honestly, I could probably play in college now, I am that good. I told you my companion is on a professional team"
4. "You are the prettiest girl I know"
5. About my students at the english school: "Stop hugging your kids Sara. If I can't hug you, then nobody can"

Thank goodness I am on a fast down hill to December, because I miss him SO much! Only 40 weeks to go!

-Sara Jacqueline

Mexican Monday: Only 39.9% Left

Justen was sad to say he wasn't transferred to a different area this week, and he didn't get a new companion. But I think that is because they still have some work to do together in that area, and they just don't know it yet. Everything seemed to be going swell for him, and he was all happy and such. Mostly he just asked about where he should go to school when he gets home, and when I want to marry him. Umm, yes he is adorable and you can't have him.

In other news, last night me and my friends went to the park to have some dinner. The park is like a humongous party on Sunday and Saturday nights, it is full of vendors and people making food, and all sorts of fun stuff. So we walked around, and examined our options and then sat down to a little tent for tostadas, gorditas and empanadas. It was run by a family, the mom and dad were both making food, and the little boys took our order and just ended up talking with us the whole time we ate. It was cute, they were like out little dates. They asked us if we liked airplanes, and showed us some American money they had been given, and asked what it was worth in pesos. They were pretty excited to know they had a whole meal's worth of coins.

If you can see in the last picture, there is a grill where all the food was made for us. These are ultra common. Basically all Mexi food here is made on one of these in small restaurants, in the park or on the street corner. In the middle, there is a little pool of oil, and around the outside it is kept hot for the food. Some are run by gas tanks, and most have like little fire pits underneath. It is like the Mexican Weber grill, everyone has one, and everything on them tastes amazing.

My tostada was awesome, and the other girls ordered gorditas and empanadas, and I know they loved them too. My entire dinner cost less than 50 cents!

Today some of my kids were being extra malicious, and usually when I bring out a camera, they stop, so I brought out my camera..hah! I hate to say this, but I took pictures of my favorites...oops. I love little Leah because she is so so smart, and the other two boys are just hilarious always.

Happy Mexican Monday!!!

-Sara Jacqueline

Mexican Monday #60 ?

I think one day I will miss having Mexican Monday, cause I look forward to it so much, and I hype it up so much, it will be hard to let go of...haha..but then again, maybe not. Who am I kidding, it will be like Mexican Monday 24/7 when my missionary comes home.

So today I got this fabulous long email. Yay me! Justen seems to be doing really well. He was all excited because he has been teaching english to some of the people from his church, and they are able to have full conversations with him now, and they are able to understand so much more than before. Thats pretty neat to see him enjoying teaching so much, because he has always wanted to be a teacher.

Justen also mentioned, he thinks he will be getting transferred soon to a different area, with a new companion, which he is pretty excited about. He told me how he was riding in a car with a guy from church, and he accidently ran a red light. Well the next thing they know, they are surrounded at gun point by some police, because the police thought they ran the red light to go rob something or do something bad. haha. They laughed when they found out they had only busted two missionaries and a little man.

Perhaps the funniest part of his email was the end. "This morning I stood up and banged my head on the wall on accident, and then bent over and my tie got all covered in beans. It was horrible Sara." I can't picture Justen, the whitest kid on the planet, being Mexican and eating beans for breakfast without laughing. He is a trip.

Yesterday I spent the whole day with my family, and we took a drive out to the family ranch to meet my abuela, and lots of other family. My host sisters wanted me to see how to milk a cow....little do they know, I have seen it many many times. I told them sometimes my mom milks horses...They didn't understand that one. My abuela was so sweet to me, and she said she was so happy that I spoke spanish to her, because she thinks that I must really be smart but I was just happy that she was understanding me at all. We played with the dogs a bit, and I met their cousins. I got to see all the lime and orange trees and enjoy the weather. The ranch was beautiful out in the mountains, but I prefer the city better.

Only 298 more days!! I am under 300 now, how fabulous!

-Sara Jacqueline

Mexican Mondays Make Me Miss You More.

Yesss, its true, I miss my missionary. A lot. He sent me a quick email this week, and did mention that he is baptizing people soon....so whoever these people are, I am super happy for them. I know they have many blessings to come! Unfortunately, he didn't say much more other than he needs to send a letter he wrote to me, so that sounds exciting, right?? Hooray for mail to come!

The good news is, there are only 10 more months until he hops the border and heads back to Kentucky, which makes everything seem so close and real. Yes! God Bless America.

41% to Go! XOXOO

-Sara Jacqueline

Mexican Monday: Finally February!

So Justen is basically the stinkin cutest thing ever, but he is also way crazy. I wasn't able to email him on Monday because I was in Cuetzalan, so I had to email him ahead of time and missed being able to email chat back and forth with him while I was out being adventurous. However, he emailed me back, but said practically nothing about himself.! I mean, I am glad he thinks the world of me, and wants to ask me stuff and tell me mushy secrets about love and hugs and clouds, but come on dude... tell me about your life!!

He said this week, he got a ton of snail mail from me, which made his week! What a blessing that the mail shows up at the perfect time, when he is struggling a little. Cool huh? I know he probably got a TON of cards and letters, because the mail was extremellllllly backed from the holidays. Mexico is ninety seven times slower than mail in Antarctica. The best thing he said in my letter that is sharable with the entire world was:

"One day we will go to tons of places to visit. But I would be completely happy sitting with you and just eating a bowl of cereal"

Yes that is true love right there! haha!

I borrowed the email he sent to his family from one of his sisters, so I would know what he was really up to this last week. First of all, he moved into a new house, and the missionaries have been busy fixing it up and making it much prettier. Jehu, a recent convert is going to get to go to the temple soon, so that is very exciting for everyone! The funniest part is what he told his family NOT to tell me:

"I have a Mexican Mom now, and she feeds us all the time, so I am probably gaining weight"

Yes, he is crazy I know. I love it.

Anyways, here is another picture of Cuetzalan as I sat and watched the sunrise this Monday morning from our indigenous village hostel. 44 Weeks to Go!! Happy Mexican Monday to my chicas!!

-Sara Jacqueline

Mexican Monday: Womp Womp

Alright, so my weekend was not so hot. I felt sick, and then ok, then sicker, and then just alright, and then SUPER sick, wanna die, and then today I am taking it easy. Basically I am not quite sure what's up, but until I feel awesome again, I am having yogurt and fruit only. Fun times.

Not only have I been Sicky Sara, my email also was hacked from the awesome mexican internet, so I have been locked our for two days now, and can't solve the mystery. The security questions are simple as pie, and somehow my answers are incorrect. Gahh! Does anyone know where I was born, cause apparently I have no idea.?!

Besides that I feel like I have a ton of stuff to do, its freezing cold outside, and I miss my missionary.

Yes I heard from him today through my school email account, but we didn't get to say much, because its very slow and much different than AOL. Yes I am disappointed, and yes this only added to my pity party. Woah is me.

The other womp of the 'womp womp' is that Justen didn't have such a funtastic week either, for unbloggable reasons. Poor guy. It was one of those, we both wanna run away together, I miss you so much kind of Mondays. So we swapped advice, and I love you's and hopefully next week will be cheerier.

Anywhoot, I finally had a mango on a stick here in Tehuacán, and it was fabulous and less than a dollar. I will definitely be snackin' on those again. Excuse my weird outfit, we were having a "swimsuit Saturday", but it was too cold for all that nonsense so we threw on some stuff overtop.

Next Mexican Monday better be better...hah..Only 45 weeks to go!!

-Sara Jacqueline

Mexican Monday!!!

I feel like Mondays come so much faster than they did before when I was in school, but I don't mind a bit. I love waiting to hear from Justen and all the cool missionary stuff he is doing.

This week, he had lots of wonderful news. First of all, Today he had a baptism for a 15 year old boy. Soo exciting! Even better news, is that they have four more baptism dates set up for the next coming weeks, which is also a wonderful blessing! Him and his companion are very excited for their investigators, and so am I and I don't even know them. Missionary work is such a neat thing to watch and hear about from my perspective.

In other news, he finally got his Christmas package!! He is so sweet. I apologized for it being so late and he says, "I always have said Christmas should be all year long". Yess, we both LOVE Christmas. Also our anniversary is today, which he remembered, so I think its a good sign that he knows what day it is..haha.

Basically to sum up the mushy stuff, he is as cute as pie. The end.

This morning we went to an extreme Zumba class. It was crazy fun, and pretty different from home. Those Mexican Zumba instructors will kick your buns. I loved it!!

Also today in my part of Mexico, we got our first dance lessons with our friend Edwin. Its not really hard, but I still feel awkward. I kept slipping all over the place in my sandals on the tile floor, which only added to the humor. I spent the rest of my day doing school work, and lounging in the sun before teaching time. So lucky.

Hey, did I mention they sell these babies everywhere?? They are seasoned grasshoppers and you can buy them by the bag full like peanuts. Gross times eleven. I haven't tried them, but I have heard they are good with lime!

Happy Mexican Monday!!

-Sara Jacqueline

Mexican Monday!

Yess, oh yess how I love Mexican Monday. All my MG's know it, and they of course celebrate with me. Gotta love 'em!

Today I missed when Justen was on the internet, so we didn't get to email back and forth, which is kinda sad, but he did send me a nice happy email!!

Justen is doing wonderful, in every email he seems to get happier and happier. I know he loves his mission and the work he is doing. It warms my heart, to hear how much he loves Heavenly Father. He said that this week he baptized a woman, and that him and his companion have been working towards many more. Apparently his investigators have been in a little bit of a rut lately....but no worries he says.

He always plays a lot of soccer but he says he played football for the first time in Mexico since he has been there, which is shocking..And he also told me he is so out of shape, that I could whoop his butt. What is that supposed to mean?? Am I a weakling?? haha.. thanks Justen. Its ok though, because his english stinks real bad right now and my grammar could whoop him any day.! Love you too!! :)

Okay okay, most of the rest of the email was mushy, or random, or not really important for America to hear...but finally, he asked me to watch this video, and thought it was a Perfect song for us. Dang, he is adorable. So go check it out, or say "barf they are so in love" a hundred times. Your choice!

Yes, I want to watch this cute video.

Mexican Monday Countdown: 47 weeks to go!

-Sara Jacqueline

Mexican Monday!!

Today was Mexican Monday, which is where my very handsome missionary boyfriend writes me an email on his preparation day. He is in North Mexico and I am in South Mexico, so now he has all sorts of advice and questions for me.

The good news from him though was that they have a baptism soon!! Woohooo!

Anywhooot.

He thought it was pretty funny that my host family fed me hot dogs, because the first few days he was in Mexico, people fed him hamburgers like non-stop. They are not good people. Not all Americans love 'em. Justen also told me to ask for Tacos de Pansa..which I found out is cow stomach!!! I told him that was awful, and he said ooops, oh yeah.....like he didn't know!! Also, he requested that I learn how to make flour tortillas so that we can eat them together for the rest of our lives. :)

He also demanded that I eat elotes (I gotta find them first) and tostitos salsa verde chips. So I guess I have a few things to look around for at lunch time right?? I also need to practice my spanish verbs. My to-do list is full of itself..Oye.

If you aren't in a Mexican Monday kind of mood..just check out this song, get yo self a taco and dance around a bit, okay??

Lastly Justen says in spanish, "Don't be writing me about no Mexican Honeys that you bring home, ok?? I do not want that darling"...hahah, he is crazy. xoxo I Love him.

Mexican Monday Countdown: 48 to Go

-Sara Jacqueline

Mmmm Tamale!!

I made it to Tehuacán safely and am so happy to be living with my wonderful host family. On Friday night, I got to their house around 8 and they were so sweet and very excited to see me. My host mother and father are Isabel and Rogelio, however I have only seen my host father once because he works a lot. I also have two sisters named Viviana and Elly, who are crazy, wild and hilarious and we have had lots of fun so far. My first meal with my family was HOT DOGS!!! I just thought that was funny..but I am glad they fed me something mild.

Mis hermanas: Elly y Viviana

They have their gifts from Three Kings Day, which is where after Christmas when Jesus was born, the three wise men traveled to bring him gifts, and it is said that the three kings reached Jesus on January 5, which is when parents give their children gifts here in Mexico.

They thought that photo booth was the funniest thing ever.

On Saturday, me and the other teachers, the six of us, all met at the school to begin our preparation for Monday when all the kids come. After we sorted out all the details of who is teaching what (I am teaching Kinder..ages 5-8) and rules and such, we went out for a walk. We actually borrowed this map from Teo, our native coordinator, and he told us specifically not to lose it. Anyways, so we walked all over the city and all the way to a mall..which was quite far...and eventually lost the map. Ooops.

We stopped for lunch at this place called Cafeteria Kevin, and me and Ashley, my head teacher, split 4 tacos. They were actually more like what Americans think of as taquitos. Small and rolled up, we each had one with quesillo, which is like string cheese, and then one with chicken. They were pretty good, but very fried. They came topped with lettuce and goat cheese!

The mall was probably most like home, it was just as nice as any mall I have been too, had tons of stores, and even American restaurants. The movie theater was huge, and we definitely plan on coming back for some Nutella flavored fro-yo.

My family picked me up later from school and we went to get tamales from someone they knew. My mother talks super fast, and knows very little english. My sisters know some, but they get tripped up a lot. So for dinner we had tamales, and it was hard for them to explain to me what it was, but its corn, chicken and salsa..which are three things I like, so I tried it, and it was WAYY good. It was all neatly wrapped up in a banana leaf. Yum. After dinner the girls wanted to know if I knew how to make paper rain, or what I figured out, were paper snowflakes. So we did a little cutting ...

This morning, my mom walked me to church where I met up with the other girls and then afterwards we spent the afternoon hanging out at the school in the courtyard laying in the sun and talking. It was pretty nice. Today my family went to the Ranch and they have not returned yet, but hopefully soon!

Ten Craziest things I have seen this past Weekend:

1. Krispy Kreme donuts in the Mexico City Airport
2. Starbucks
3. A Rooster outside my Window at 5 a.m.
4. A Meat bee hive hanging from a Restaurant (I wish I had a picture)
5. A "Wal-Mart" with a bag check at the front door (You cannot have any bags in the store)
6. Those security tags you find on clothes at department stores that explode black ink, on bottles of mascara at the store
7. REALLY cheap bottled water
8. An electric powered GIANT rocking horse at the Mall (The children were riding them everywhere)
9. Children walking along the interstate
10. All American movies in spanish, which cracked me up cause their lips don't match the Sound

Tomorrow is our first day of teaching, and I am SOO excited :)

Even better, its Mexican Monday!!