Adventures in Mexico 6: Can you say Ocozocoautla?

In our last episode, we went to the beach on New Year's Day and then bade farewell to Tapachula, driving up to Ocozocoautla de Espinoza, or "Coita" as the locals call it.

We arrived at about 11:30pm, but the family we were staying with said they stayed up late, and, sure enough, they welcomed us in, showed us where we would be staying, and then stayed up talking to Kelsi until 2am. Party animals! They were very gracious, and we appreciated their hospitality. I believe a couple people were sleeping on the couch after giving up their rooms to us.

Cielo Chávez, Kelsi, Itzayana

The family's daughter Itzayana was a great friend to Kelsi when she was there, and continues to be a powerful force for good in the local branch. She was running the young women's organization until recently when she got put into the primary presidency.

Here is a picture of Itzayana from Kelsi's mission:

The next morning was Saturday. Linette was finally feeling all better, but I came down with a sick stomach. (I'm not sure if it was the ocean or Little Caesar's). Cielo (the mom) was kind and gave me one of their little white pills and some warm drink that is supposed to be good for that.

Everyone else was going to go visiting, but I was in no condition to do so. I saw this hammock in their courtyard, and it seemed like the best thing in the world to lie down in it, so I crashed in the hammock while they went visiting. It was a cool, pleasant morning with a little misty rain falling. I lay there under the overhang so the rain didn't get on me, but I felt an occasional bit of pleasant mist. I could hear the sounds of people and vehicles in the streets nearby, and other than feeling gross, it was actually a blissful time. I was able to play an audio book for a couple hours while I hung out (literally).

Chillin' in a hammock.

After their first round of visiting, they came back to check on me, and I was feeling somewhat better, so I went out with them this time. I picked up some Coke and yogurt (both seem to help an upset tummy), and that did make me feel a bit better.

The first place we visited was a couple that makes these awesome things from Oaxaca called "Tlayudes", which are like big meaty quesadillas. (I settled for eating my yogurt).

We also dropped by and talked to a lady that had been baptized while Kelsi was there. She was very quiet.

On the way to visit Kelsi's friend Citlali (seet-LAH-lee, which is fun to say), Erika said that she wanted to try out one of the little motorcycle taxis (mototaxi) that you see all over town. So we let Kelsi and Erika out and let them flag one down.

It didn't take long to spot one.

Kelsi had Erika try to arrange for the ride, and then took over and haggled over a price (since, frankly, they didn't need this ride at all!)

And off they went. When the mototaxi dropped them off, we drove around the block so it wouldn't be as obvious that we had been following them and could have just taken them ourselves.

We had a nice visit with Citlali and her family.

Kelsi and Citlali

Citlali's sister, Kelsi, Citlali

Randy, Linette, Citlali, Erika

As we drove down the street, we happened to pass a lady that Kelsi had once taught, so we pulled over and talked to her briefly.

That night, I rested in the van listening to a guy on a balcony playing random notes on a Chinese flute while the girls visited a couple who had been investigating the church for a long time but had some snags keeping them from baptism. I eventually went in to see them.

The couple gave Erika a Barbie doll with local traditional clothing.

By this time, Kelsi and Erika were both not feeling that well, and although Linette had finally started feeling better the day before, we were all pretty exhausted from the trip. We actually sat outside one house in our van and decided we just weren't up for another visit, so we went back home.

Not too long after getting back to the house, we excused ourselves and collapsed up in our room. Erika came in and snuggled Kelsi, and we all just sat there feeling a little sick, fairly exhausted, and, strangely, really happy just to be together. Kelsi had me give her a blessing, and we had a family prayer. I'm not quite sure why, but this little moment was one of my favorite parts of the whole trip. Maybe it's because I love these girls so much, and we were feeling the spirit together. And maybe it's because it was one of the first moments of the trip where we sat down and relaxed for a minute. But whatever it was, it was awesome, at least for me.

Sunday morning we were all feeling a lot better. It was probably just as well that it was fast Sunday, because I wasn't sure I was ready to eat much yet anyway.

We arrived at church a little early, and Kelsi started playing prelude music in the chapel, since they don't have a pianist there. Later some people came and started giving her hugs and stuff, so Erika took over for her. It was fun being with 3 gals who could all play the piano. They ended up having Erika play the opening and sacrament hymns. Kelsi went up to play the closing hymn.

Then after church I saw that Erika was in there playing the closing song for relief society. You go, girl!

One of the elders serving there happened to be from Riverton! He wasn't in our stake, but went to our kids' high school. So I took this picture and texted it to his sister, which she appreciated.

We had fun visiting with a bunch of people after church (kind of like Kelsi had wanted to do in San Cristóbal, had the planes been on time).

This family had recently moved, but came back this Sunday in order to see Kelsi again.

Lorena, Jacobed, Kelsi, Josh, Hazel, Erika and Linette (possibly in that order)

The primary kids made muñecas (snowmen) out of styrofoam cups (with candy inside). And there were lots of hugs.

After church we saw this horse parade on the way to visit the branch president.

I thought the branch president's granddaughter was adorable.

We also dropped by to see this family, and they were a hoot.

Cepeta, Kelsi, Erika, Linette, Dani

Luz Elba, Dani, Cepeta

Randy, Cepeta, Kelsi, Erika, Linette, Dani

When we got back to the home where we had been staying, we got to hold their new granddaughter, who had been blessed in fast and testimony meeting that day.

It was great visiting with the family and talking with the married daughter. Cielo (the mom) hadn't come to church much for years, but the baby blessing and testimony meeting really touched her, and she said she felt like she was "home" there. So she thought she might try again.

We really appreciated their hospitality and thanked them for putting up with our late arrival, sickness, and erratic schedule. They seemed genuinely happy to have had us there, which was very kind.

Above is the picture we took with the family just before heading out for Tuxtla Gutierrez.

In our next and final episode, we stay at the mission home, visit with President and Sister George, and eventually make it home at various times.