ADVENTURES IN TORREON

We're Home!

2012-01-03T10:25:00.000-08:00

Another World...

On June 30, 2011 Bruce and I stepped from one world to another. We stepped from a wonderful world where vital young missionaries were our focus to a world where our family welcomed us with open arms after a three year absence. We were greeted by four of our children (our oldest son lives in Texas) three spouses, and 5 grandchildren with one on the way. A big surprise was that Bruce's parents decided to drive down from Idaho to welcome us! Bruce's sister and husband, Robert and Carolyn were also there. It was a great reunion.

Grandpa Bruce holds the newest member of the family, James Paul Steele, born just one month earlier on May 29th.

Left to right, Grandson Caleb with his new sombrero, daughters Annette, Melanie, Daughter-in-law Stevie holding James, and son-in-law Shaun (proud papa of James).

Dick and LaVonne Clark--our surprise visitors from Idaho.

Jared and Melanie Steere with three of their 4 children, Caleb 5, Halle, 7, and Ava 3.

Robert and Carolyn Christesen

Son Nate and Stevie Clark holding baby Taryn, Melanie's youngest at 2 months.

The engaged couple--Amy Tolley with our son Spencer at the house. They would be married in August.

This sign was on our front door, thanks to Melanie.

The Bagley's, our neighbors, helped liven up the place also.

And 11 days later....we gave our report in Sacrament Meeting in the Country Park 3rd Ward of the South Jordan Country Park Stake

June 10, 2011

Our Homecoming Report

We told all of our former missionaries who were planning to come hear us speak to come dressed like missionaries and be prepared to sing the mission song (in Spanish, of course). We had about 45 elders present and I don't think there was a dry eye in the house. These young men are indeed like the "the armies of Helaman". It was an amazing meeting. We love these guys.

Afterwards, most of them came by the house to have a little food fellowship. We were also happy to meet the parents of many of our missionaries, some still in the field.

Jake Falk and family.(SLC, Utah)

Jordan Pogue,(WA.) his friend Ashlee, and Spencer Wallin(Layton, Ut). Jordan was one of our first assistants and Spencer was one of our first office elders. They taught us everything we needed to know about the misison.

Trevor Mann (Far West, UT), his mom and sister, and Sr. Clark

Jimmy Sweeney (Kansas)

Brandon Layland,(AZ) a friend, Daniel Guerrero from Mexico, and Tyler Clonts.(AZ)

Brennan Thompson (Utah) and wife.

Travis Sorenson (Utah) and his mom.

Joseph and Hazel Anderson, parents of TJ who was still in the field. (From SLC, Utah)

The Scothornes--parents of Jack Scothorne, still in the field. (Kearns, Utah)

Kendall Glauser,(Herriman, Utah) Eric Blair(Riverton, Utah), James Bouchard (Texas), and Justin Reed (Colorado) with fiance.

Our dear friends, Alex and Cindy Helquist. (West Jordan, Utah)

Jake Falk (SLC), Lance Von Bracht (Montana), Scott Carlson (Texas), Jarem Morris (Arizona), Jordan Mills (Utah), Taylor Stratton (Colorado), Cameron Clark (Utah), and Drew Van Orden (Utah).

Alex Masterson (Texas), Brandon Layland (Arizona), Taylor Robb (Nevada) and future wife, Breanna.

The guy who made it all possible for Glenys--Chuck Gilmore and his wife Judy.(Utah) Chuck was a high school friend and taught and baptized Glenys when she was 18 and he was 17--back in St. Joseph, Missouri. So many good things have happened because of that decision to be baptized.

Travis Stoor (Idaho) with future wife Erin, and his mom.

Tyler Stevens (Washington and Utah), Joshua Phillips (Utah), Ben Hawkins (Arizona), Regan Hunsaker (Wyoming) and future wife, Garrett Galt (UT), Scott Spencer (UT), Trevor Mann (UT), Preston Harris (California) , Brian Libby (Arizona/Texas), Travis Sorenson (UT), and Owen Kent (Missouri).

Adam Mott (Tooele, UT.) and Alan Sorenson( WVC, UT.) with their wives, both expecting their first children!

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we proclaim to all who will listen that we have a Heavenly Father who loves us and who sent his son, Jesus Christ, to redeem us from our sins. We proclaim that a young boy, Joseph Smith was prepared to find and translate the Book of Mormon which is another testament of Jesus Christ. That book, along with the Bible, can help us understand God's plan for us during our journey on the earth. We believe that we have a living prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, who leads the church today through inspiration. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we send missionaries into all of the world where they can enter, to teach others about the great truths of the gospel. This blog has been dedicated to sharing the experiences we have had serving with a small group (approximately 467 missionaries over a 3 year period) of these devoted young people. Because these young people believe what they believe, they volunteer to give 2 years of their lives to full-time missionary service so that they can share the gospel message with others. There are currently over 52,000 missionaries serving throughout the world.

"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask of God, the eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." --Moroni 9:4,5 in the Book of Mormon--

2012-01-02T19:21:00.000-08:00

Our last two weeks in the mission...

We finished our time in the mission, training the leadership in Zacatecas and Durango and saying goodbye to dear friends there. We were invited to dinner with the leadership of Madero District and enjoyed a good time with mariachi music and fellowship...along with some good food. We had a farewell luncheon with the office elders on our last Saturday and were delighted to have Sr. Lopez and her mother arrive from Puebla to join us. They also attended our last Stake Conference in La Laguna Stake on our last Sunday where Sr. Clark was presented with beautiful flowers. We finally got to go to the restaurant known as "Pampas" on our last Monday with the Stake Presidency of La Laguna. We enjoyed visiting the Castenada family in Bermejillo on Wednesday night, Sr. De La Cruz and Abrahm visited us at the hotel and then we picked up President Flores with part of his family on Thursday afternoon. Their flight was delayed so we did an intensive orientation and then took them to a late dinner. They dropped us off at our hotel and after a very short night, we got up and were driven to the airport by our assistants, Elders Welch and Beltran. We cannot believe that this chapter in our lives is over. WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY LOVED SERVING AS MISSION PRESIDENTS. WE LOVE THE PEOPLE OF THE TORREON MISSION AND ESPECIALLY THE MISSIONARIES.

Hermanas Ortega and Gonzalez asked what they could give me as a going away gift. I told them I just wanted to have my picture taken with them. This will always be a sweet memory.

We loved everything about the Hotel Gobernador in Durango, Durango. One day I will have a sign painted like this to remember our many visits there.

As soon as our van pulled up there, one of their outstanding bell hops was there to help us. The front desk somehow knew we had arrived and greeted Bruce by name with our paperwork ready. We got to know the waiters and one would have Bruce's oatmeal ready in the morning if he was on duty. This is Mario with Bruce.

Another of our favorites...

Victor liked to practice his English and always was so helpful. We presented them Books of Mormon and Tabernacle Choir CDs for Christmas.

This group is our leadership in Durango. We had a great training day with them and then said our last goodbyes. The mission is in good hands. Elders Vargas, Myers, Davis, Cooke, Malpica, Munson, Maxfield and Hermanas Silva and Romero.

Our last stay in the Meson de Jobito in Zacatecas. We won't forget the complicated street layout, the wonderful atmosphere of the arts, and the great members and missionaries here.

The view from our room...

Our former assistant, Elder Gutierrez, gave me an apron that said "This house is not a restaurant". He and Elder Robb had ordered it for me.

Back in Torreon, we treated our fine office elders to lunch at Cimaco at the Cuatro Caminos Mall.

Assistants Welch and Beltran, Elder Juarez--Secretary of the mission, Elder Young--Secretary of Records, Elder Perez, Reference Secretary, and Elder Burgin--Financial Secretary.

Sr. Lopez and her mother rode a bus all the way from Puebla to say goodbye. They joined us for the lunch and presented me with this beautiful plate from Puebla.

Our dear friends from the Madero District Presidency invited us to an evening meal at the Sirloin Stockade. L to R, Los Hernandez, Los Clarks, Los Bracamontes, Presidente and Hermana Moreno, and President and Sr. Becerra, Bruce's counselor.

We sang the beloved songs of Mexico with the Mariachi Band and I cried.

This was a bittersweet time with our friends from Madero.

We spoke in the La Laguna Stake Conference and they gave me a beautiful bouquet of flowers that I enjoyed the rest of the week. Sr. Lopez and her mother were there to support us.

The last baptism we witnessed was in La Laguna stake and was performed by Elders Bickmore and Soriano. The young girl was baptized.

The Stake Presidency of La Laguna treated us to dinner at Pampas de Brazil. We drank "Cielo Azul". (Blue sky)

It was hard to say goodbye to the patriarch and matriarch of the Casteneda family of Bermijillo. They joined the church as a poor young couple and they flourished to produce wonderful children and leaders in the church. Their son, Nicolas is mission president in Villanueva and their son, David Jr. is district president in Bermejillo.

David and Alicia

Aaron and Griselda

Shelem and Josue

Serving a traditional Mexican dinner...

My dear friend Marta De La Cruz. She helped me with Spanish but most of all, was there if I needed her and visa versa. We are soul mates.

Marta and son Abrahm--home from his mission and preparing to leave for BYU Idaho.

President and Sr. Flores with their two youngest children. They will lead the mission when we are gone. The are in for a very exciting experience.

President Raul Baron, President of the Gomez Palacio Stake and the Institute program in Torreon came to the airport early to see us off. He and President Clark became good friends and loved serving together.

After this picture was taken, we said goodbye to our faithful assistants and boarded the plane for home. It was like we were in a dream world. Thanks Elders Beltran and Welch.

June 2011 Changes

2012-01-02T18:37:00.001-08:00

"Hasta ver...Until we see you again." Our last transfer.

Goodbye to our last group...Elder Ayala, Hermana Palma, Elder Can and Elder Pineda pose for one last photo before their flight leaves the next morning.

Our traditional "Cena de despedida".

The sisters get together to say goodbye to Hermana Palma!

Hermanas Maqueda, Gutierrez, and Garcia.

We were delighted to receive this group the next morning.

Elders Garcia, Coday, Montiel, Perea, Hermanas Acosta and Romero, Elders Ramirez, and Perez

Sr. Oliveros joined us late that night--from Peru.

President says to Hermana Clark..."Can you believe we are orienting our last group of missionaries?"

Chatting before the orientation...

Elder Beltran welcomes Elder Montiel, a friend from his area in Puebla.

Zone Conferences of June 2011

2011-06-28T11:23:00.000-07:00

Zone Conferences, June 2011

Zacatecas Zone

F: Elders Hansen, Mercado, Molina, Tellez, Lopez, Rodriguez, Orr, Lambert

M:Dastrup, Astete, Ogden, Toone, Bean F: Lopez Ayala, De Olarte

Torreon Reforma Zone

B: Elders Gonzalez, Pack, Smith, Butterfield, Gomar, Pedraza, Scothorne, Peterson, Hernandez Balbuena. M: Garcia, Montes, Rivas, Hna. Gonzalez, Hna. Ortega, Hna. Clark, Pdte. Clark Hernandez Martinez, Lopez Tovar, Payzant F: Elders Navarette y Rodriguez.
Torreon Mexico Zone
B: Elders Welch, Day, Belnap, Beltran, Strong, Young
F: Zambrano, Perez Alarcon, Pineda, Hna. y Pdte., Burgin, Juarez, Portillo, Juarez Castillo

Torreon Jardin Zone
B: Elders Abbott, Thompson, Perez Monroy, Castellanos, Olea, Ramirez Leon, McBride, Gomez. M: Elders Ruiz, Sandoval, Hna. y Pdte. Clark, Hernandez Mora, Curiel, Quackenbush, Solis, Canul F: Elders Lopez Olguin, Barragan, Rivera, Paskett, y Cruz Ostria. (Elders Gollner and Romero not in photo)

Madero Zone

B: Elders Olvera, Rasmussen, Carrillo y Jensen

M: Elder Nicio, Hna. Maqueda, Hna. Clark, Hna. Palma, Pdte. Clark, Elders Avila, Sosa, Jimenez, y Carter. F: Elders Kennedy, Garcia Pineda, y Davila.

La Laguna Zone

B: Elders Soriano, Archundia, Polo, Lopez Juarez, Lyon, Porter, Jensen. F: Hna. Clark, Elders Anderson, Myers, Chavez, Hnas. Gutierrey y Garcia, Elders Fuentes, Miranda, Macedo, Vargas, y Pdte. Clark

Gomez Palacio Zone

B: Hna. Clark, Elders Rasmussen, Poot, Zenil, Limon, Alarcon, Inga, Neser, Cruz, Pdte. Clark, Lopez Lagunas. F: Elders Franco, Martinez, Tarabilda, Sorenson, Porter, Edwards, Lunt, Perry, Andersen, Seiter, y Diaz.

Fresnillo Zone

B: Elders Martinez Hernandez, Larson, Lecca, Andrade, Jones.

M: Elders Ayala, Levie, Ragland, Diaz, Rodriguez, Felix, Quintana, Gutierrez.

F: Hna. Cuba, Hna. Clark, Pdte. Clark, y Hna. Mamani.

Durango Mexico Zone

B: Elders Hernandez Olvera, Roderick, Pdte. Clark, Thompson, Oehler, Munson.

M: Hna. Clark, Hna. Baquerizo, Hna. Silva, Elders Vargas, Bickmore, Garcia, Jiminez, y Cortez.F: Elders Cooke, Mejia, Aguirre, y Malpica

Durango Del Valle Zone

B: Elders Gil, Harman, Ellgen, Wagner, y Gallego.

M: Pdte. Clark, Elder Krebs, Hna. Clark, Elder Garcia Pech, Guardia, Can, Hyer, Olmedo, Venegas, Thomas, Barfuss, Hansen, Sanchez y Uribe. F: Elder Hernandez, Calderon, Maxfield, Davis, Teran.

Our last Zone Leader Council

2011-06-28T07:24:00.000-07:00

The first of June rolled around way too fast and we held our final zone leader council. To start the day off right, President Clark and those who wanted to run did their traditional laps around the neighborhood near the mission home. He is going to miss running with this group. Elder Carrillo, Elder Guardia, Elder Zambrano, Elder Jimenez, Elder Rodriguez, Elder Davis, Pdte. Clark, Elder Beltran, Elder Mills, Elder Welch, y Elder Belnap.
At 8 a.m. we had breakfast of scrambled eggs, ham, corn bread muffins, bananas, y juice. You can pay attention in the meetings better on a full stomach.

Elder Payzant was happy to participate for his first time on the council. He served as financiero of the mission before this assignment.

Elder Payzant with President Clark and I

Here is our entire zone leader council. They really look sharp.

B: Elders Davis, Zambrano, Rodriguez, Quintana, Castellanos, Andersen, Guardia, Lyon, Vargas, Malpica and Belnap. M: Cooke, Jones, Sandoval, Poot, Jimenez, Pedraza, Payzant, Mills, and Carrillo. Front: Our assistants, Elders Welch and Beltran with us.

These guys surprized us with beautiful watches with the mission name and our dates of service engraved on the back. Thewatches are wonderful reminders of all of our 470 missionaries that we had the privilege to serve with.

What a surprise!

Elder Beltran shows his exhaustion after completing his first zone leader council as assistant. He's figured out that it takes a lot of work to be an assistant to the President.

He and Elder Welch will welcome their new president and his family on Wednesday, June 29th.

A Training Program for New Missionaries

2011-05-19T19:12:00.000-07:00

Training the Trainers

We had the opportunity to launch a new church-wide training program for our new missionaries this change. All the designated trainers were invited into Torreon to be with their new companions for instructions the day after our normal change meeting. This required a little creative arranging of sleeping quarters and a little extra food (ok, a lot of extra food) but after it was over, we really felt that the new missionaries would be getting a great benefit because of this new system. Each companionship with a new missionary received a curriculum for study and they will use an extra hour each day for companionship study. This will be accompanied by video instruction using the two sets of Preach My Gospel videos which are excellent. As an added bonus, they will be with their same trainer for two full changes, if circumstances allow. Below are photos of the before and after of our training luncheon. The table is ready for hungry missionaries.
Now this is a pot of a lot of hot dogs!

Condiments, anyone?

The calm before the storm.

Chow time. Elders Welch, Diaz, Perez, and ?? digging in.

Elders Balbueno, Lopez, Aguirre, Molina, Toone, Barragan, and Lopez O.

Elders Beltran, Welch, President Clark, Elders Payzant and Edwards.

Elder Munson, Sisters Ortega and Gonzalez, Elder Jones and Elder Lopez O.

Elder Maxfield,Rasmussen, Meyers, Chavez, and Gonzalez.

Elder Lambert and his new companion, Elder Tellez.

Elder Olmedo and his trainer Elder Ellgen.

Elders Uribe, Diaz and his new companion, Elder Gutierrez. Elder Gutierrez was released as Assistant to take on the important role of trainer.

Elder Toone and Elder Andrade

This fine looking group is ready to work together to create better missionaries in the Mission Mexico Torreon.

Missionary changes in May 2011

2011-05-19T18:33:00.000-07:00

Changes of May 2011

Changes again! It seems like the just keep coming around. With this change, we sent 10 great missionaries home to enjoy their families after their hard work, and welcomed 17 new missionaries ready to find, teach, and baptize. Below, Sr. Ortega poses with Sr. Perez who will return to Mexico City the next day. Elder Trujullo says goodbye to members and missionaries alike at the mission home. His companion, Elder Jensen, was sad to see him go. From left to right...Elder Beltran, Elder McBride, Elder Gutierrez, Elder Jensen, Elder Trujillo, Elder Poot, a member from the Alamos Ward, and Elder Welch.
Since the change fell on Mother's Day, Elders Valencia and Barragan made me a beautiful paper rose. They have talent.

Elder Martinez has been serving as a zone leader with Elder Belnap. Elder Martinez poses with his companion and says his final goodbyes.

A family of members from Latinoamericana Ward brought Elder Valencia in to the mission home. Sr. Perez was so glad to see them and visit with them as she had also served in that area during her mission time.

Elder Marin signals "Victory" He served with honor and returned home the next day. He is from Acapulco.

Elder Estrada looks up from his homework assignment for Sr. Clark. All of the missionaries write a few words that describe their mission experience and what it has meant to them. They also add their contact information so that we can keep in touch.

The Last Supper...so to speak. They always enjoy their lazagna meal on the night before they go home. We have ice cream sundaes after their testimony meeting. It all makes for a special last day in the mission.

Our veteran missionaries: Back: Elder Bonfil, Elder Marin, Elder Estrada, Elder Lara, Elder Trujillo. Front: Elder Castro, Hermana Perez, Elder Martinez, Elder Pacheco, and Elder Valencia.
Elder Franklin Smith Molina arrived separate from the main group of our missionaries the next day, as he and his sister, who began her service in Guadalajara, traveled together from the MTC in Lima, Peru.

We have been greatly blessed to receive this large group of 16 strong missionaries from the MTC in Mexico City all at the same time. No North Americans will be arriving until August so we were able to interview all of them and assign their areas that day.

Front: Elder Lopez Perez, Elder Balbuena, Elder Olmedo, Hermana Gonzalez, Elder Nicio, and Elder Gonzalez. Middle: Elder Alarcon, Elder Uribe, Elder Chavez, and Elder Lopez Olguin. Back: Elder Andrade, Elder Gomez, Elder Mercado, Elder Diaz, Elder Aguirre, and Elder Tellez.

Welcome to the Mission Mexico Torreon!

Babies on the way!

2011-05-19T18:09:00.001-07:00

We are sad to be very near the end of our mission experience but we have three very exciting events that will help us with the transition...we will receive three new grandchildren this year. Below is a photo of our daughter-in-law, Stevie who is expecting their first baby in September, our daughter, Annette, who is expecting their first baby in June, and Melanie, who is expecting baby #4 in May. Below is Annette Clark Steele at one of her baby showers. The "man of Steele" shirt is perfect for their little boy.
And on May 5th, Melanie Clark Steere delivered baby girl Taryn Kae. She weighed in at 7 lb. 8 oz. and was 19 inches long. Two more to go!Here's our beautiful daughter looking quite content to finally have her daughter here safely.
Stevie Hartmann Clark is practicing for the time when she can old her own little girl in September.
Nate Clark is thinking.."before you know it, I will be the dad of one of these little bundles. Yikes!"
Taryn Kae Steere
Taryn is growing fast and we can't wait to give her loves and welcome the other two new babies. They all join Melanie and Jared's other three children so we will double our numbers this year. Our family is being blessed greatly while we are on our mission to Mexico.

Mail for missionaries...

2011-05-03T19:47:00.001-07:00

Sending Packages to Torreon...
Hey all of you mission moms! We've learned some very interesting things about mail service over the almost three years we have been here. One important lesson that has been reinforced recently is that DHL is NOT a great way to send things to your missionary. We've had a couple of families send things through their local, friendly DHL people in the US and when they arrive at the office in Torreon, there is an added expense to receive it because of taxes and customs fees. I'm talking like $150.00 worth of taxes and customs fees. Nothing you would normally send would be worth that amount. Several packages sent through DHL have been inspected and delayed because of their contents--any quantity of the same item looks like you are trying to sell them here and they are confiscated. At times food items are regulated by a government agency and not allowed in DHL packages. Any drugs sent must have a prescription accompanying them...etc. Below is a photo of a box sent through DHL that was held up at customs, sent to several addresses and finally delivered to our office for a huge charge.

We suggest that you use the US Postal Service for your packages. They sell those boxes that you can fill with whatever weight. Those work great. They are durable and usually are not delayed at customs. (don't ask me why) We have had a few things stolen from packages by postal workers but for the most part, they come through great. I have personally received packages in 13 days. Usually it takes a little longer and plan way ahead to send things for Christmas. We got a box that was mailed from the US on Dec. 13th on Valentine's Day. Nice gift, just two months late. Remember that once the package arrives in the office, we have to take the packages to the areas of the missionaries during our zone conferences or interviews, or, the zone leaders take them out when they return to their areas after zone leader council which is once a month.

You will notice the religious stickers on these boxes. Sometimes this helps the postal workers be honest and not want to defile something of a religious nature. We do whatever we can to get those packages to our missionaries.

Address to use: Missionary name (you would be surprised to know how many letters and boxes we receive with no name on them.

Apartado Postal 792 (this goes to a post office box and our office elders pick mail up three times a week)

Torreon, Coahuila

Mexico 27000

Missionaries love mail so keep those cards and letters coming. We will do all that we can to get them to your missionaries in a timely fashion.

If you have questions, send me (Sr. Clark) an email at bclark6053@hotmail.com

Surprise seminar in Cuernavaca--April 2011

2011-04-28T19:01:00.000-07:00

Seminar in Cocoyoc

All the mission presidents in Mexico (23, soon to be 24) have a twice yearly meeting to share new information and be rejuvenated spiritually for the next six months. This year, the wives were invited to the spring meeting as the Area Presidency announced some exciting changes which involve the assigning of trainers for new missionaries. The meeting was held over the mountain to the south of Mexico City in an area called Cocoyoc. The property used to be a sugar plantation and was built in the 1600's. It was turned into a hotel property and has been beautifully maintained. Although the meetings took the majority of our time, just being with the other presidents and wives made the trip a pleasant change of pace and rejuvenated our spirits.

Hotel Hacienda Cocoyoc is in the state of Morelos near Cuernavaca. This area is called the land of eternal springtime so here is a sample of the flower beds in bloom in April.

One of the plantation buildings which has been turned into a banquet hall.

President Clark stands under a stone archway covered with the roots of a very old tree.

Muscle Man!

Just wishing we had the time to enjoy one of three pools...

We had most of our meals out doors. Here are the Villareals who serve in Mexico City and the Castenedas, who serve in Villahermosa. President and Sr. Casteneda are originally from our mission area. He was released as president of the Gomez Palacio Stake so that he could serve as a mission president.

President and Sr. Rex from the Puebla Mission

Our Area President and wife, President Daniel and Leann Johnson.

Sr. Hansen (Veracruz) and Sr. Heyn (Tijuana)

A view of the inside of the banquet hall.

The outgoing generation of mission presidents and wives together one last time. We will all return home in July. We are missing President and Sr. De La Cruz who spent the night in the hospital because of a worrisome chest pain. They are pictured below. (all is well)

Left to Right: Clarks (Torreon), Heyns(Tijuana), Nancollas (Mexico City North), Hansens (Veracruz) Rex (Puebla), and Velazco (Tuxtla-Gutierrez).

President and Sr. De La Cruz (Oaxaca)

Presidents Velazco, Heyn, and Clark, visit President De La Cruz to give him a blessing and bring him back to the hotel so that they can catch their flight to Oaxaca.

Here we are in front of the beautiful waterfall. Now it's time to get back to work, finding, teaching, baptizing, and building men out of 18-26 year old missionaries. It is a joyful work but it is work.

March 2011 Changes

2011-04-27T19:09:00.000-07:00

This photo should be at the end of this segment but my blogging skills are less than perfect so I'll just say that this is what an excited new missionary looks like. Elder Rodrigo Rodriguez was the last of the 16 missionary we received during a very long day in March. We got up at 4 a.m. to prepare to be at the airport at 5:00 so that our outgoing missionaries could catch their planes at 6. Elder Rodriguez arrived that same night at 11:30 so it was a long day but well worth it as these missionaries are going to be great.

This is what some of our North Americans always want to do when they enter the mission home...lay on the carpet. Most of the homes in our area have tile or cement floors so this is a simple pleasure that Elder Adams, Elder Abbot, and Elder Jones enjoyed on their last Sunday in the mission. Some of the members from Barrio San Luis brought Elder Chatu to the mission home and posed for one last photo together before his return the following day.

On the Sunday of change weekend, the returning missionaries come to the mission home during the afternoon to have their final interviews with President Clark, to weigh their luggage, and to visit and share mission stories. Some haven't seen the rest of their group for many months, some not at all, depending for their assignments. After the interviews, we enjoy a lasagna dinner together and then have a testimony meeting so they can share with each other the wonderful, faith building experiences they have enjoyed. It is a bitter sweet reunion.

Elder Chatu and Elder Morales enjoy a little Torreon sunshine for the last time.

Our office staff and their replacements pose behind the rose garden at the mission home.

Left to right: Elder Payzant, financial secretary, Elder Welch, new assistent, Elder Robb, former assistent, Elder Gutierrez, current assistant, Elder Young, membership secretary, Elder Castellanos, former secretary of the mission, Elder Juarez, new secretary of the mission, Elder Wahl, missionary returning home for knee surgery. He has been helping out in the office while waiting for his travel.

Nine of the best...Back: Elder Adams, Elder Abbot, Elder Gallegos, Elder Franco, Elder Weyland, Elder Chatu. Front: Elder Robb, Elder Morales, and Elder Jones. We miss them a lot.

Monday morning we put 9 missionaries on planes and were blessed to receive these three outstanding young men from the Missionary Training Center in Mexico City. L to R: Elder Gomar, Elder Canul, and Elder Gil.

B: Elders Carter, Seiter, Peterson, and Strong.

M: Elders Porter, Jensen, Olea, and Orr,

F: Elders Kennedy, Sorenson, Perry and Pack

I know a lot of US moms have been checking this blog daily to see their sons photos appear after their arrival from the MTC in Provo. It is hard to believe that they all received their visas on time and were able to join us Monday evening. We all ate a bit of dinner and hit the sack so that we could hit the ground running the next morning. It was a challenge to get everyone processed and ready to meet their trainers by the 2:00 meeting but things went like clockwork and all are happily serving in their first areas.

We are now in the process of visiting all the zones in the mission and doing interviews and we are pleased that all are doing so well.

Change is in the air...

2011-03-03T17:08:00.001-08:00

Change is in the air...

and we are not just talking about the cold front that actually froze all of the plants, fruit, and flowers outside and also the missionaries in their cement houses. We are talking about the constant changes in the mission. The months of January and February seemed like a dream. In this dream, we seemed to drive to the airport many times, to take missionaries, to pick up missionaries, to return to the airport to pick up lost luggage, etc. We are so grateful for a nice small airport where everyone knows us by now and the workers are always very gracious and helpful. Our regular change day was held on February 14th but we made many more trips before and after.

Companions Elder Pacheco and Ray say goodbye the day before Elder Ray flies to Oregon to be with his family again.

Members from the Bosque Ward in Gomez Palacio bring Elder Ray to the mission home. On the far right is former Elder Ali Rios who now lives in Gomez and is the ward mission leader and teaches institute.
Elder Lamb poses with Elder Polo (from Peru) Elder Lamb returns to California the next day.

Hermana Baquerizo (from Equador) says her goodbyes to her companion and trainer, Hermana Escorcia who returns to Cuernavaca.

Hermanas from the Nazas Ward bring Hermana Escorcia to the mission home. The sister on the right is from the Sarabia Ward and will serve as companion for the night to Hermana Baquerizo.

All of the North Americans from this generation pose for one last photo together. Back: Elders Lamb, Cameron Nelson, Conner Nelson, and Bouchard. Front: Elders Ray, Checketts, Roderick and Glauser.

One of our extra trips to the airport was to take Elder Barcena who developed a herniated disc in the mission and returned home to the care of his family in Mexico City.

Cena de despedida--13 enero 2011

L to R: Hermana Escorcia, Elders Glauser, Miliar, Ray, Checketts, Cameron Nelson, Bouchard, Conner Nelson, Lamb, and Perez Zaragoza.

B: Glauser, Bouchard, Conner Nelson, Cameron Nelson, Lamb.

F: Miliar, Perez Zaragoza, Checketts, Ray, and Hna. Escorcia

These fine missionaries were in the vans on their way to the airport by 5:30 a.m. the next morning to begin their transition into civilian life.

Bright and early, our new missionaries from the CCM in Mexico arrived. Here are Elders Hernandez Mora, Sanchez, Hernandez Olvera, and Soriana with Hermanas Gutierrez and Maqueda in front. Welcome to Torreon.

Elder Orlando Garcia left before the rest of his group in February so that he could meet a school committment. Before he left, he took the final test of the Companionship Language Study program. A certification from this program states that he has completed a certain level of competency in English and is ussued by BYU.

Elder Austin Smith, our financial secretary for some time, returned home due to health problems. We wish him all the best. He has been a great asset to our mission.

Elder McKeon Day joined us on time from St. Louis, Missouri by way of the Provo MTC. He was the first of our February North Americans to arrive.

Elders Thompson, Oehler, and Dastrup are excited to be in the country and are ready to work.
They were only a few days behind Elder Day.

Friday, February 25th was the date for these 5 to arrive. Elder Wahl is making a return appearance after returning home to have knee surgery at the first of November. Next to him on the back row is Elder Wagner from Utah. In front are Elder Ragland from Maryland, Elder Neser from California and Elder Larsen from Utah. This completes the generation of February arrivals.

We already know of 2 new missionaries arriving from Peru on March 4, one North American scheduled for March 7th and our regular transfer day is March 28 when we SHOULD receive 17!!! We are not optimistic that this will go smoothly. We will live through this, somehow.

New missionaries for a new year...2011

2011-03-03T16:50:00.001-08:00

With the start of the year 2011, our prayers were answered and we began to receive more missionaries from North America. The visas have been procured in many locations other than Salt Lake City and church travel is being creative in arranging travel to get us our missionaries! We feel so blessed to receive such wonderfully trained missionaries. Those from the north already are speaking really good Spanish and are hitting the ground running.

Elder Bean is from Oklahoma and Elder Ellgen is from Colorado. They travelled together to join us in the Mision Mexico Torreon.
On January 3rd, we were blessed to receive 9 missionaries from the CCM in Mexico City. Two missed their plane because of baggage issues and they joined us shortly after the end of our change meeting. Above on the back...Elders Olvera, Teran, Cruz, and Macedo. On the front with President Clark and I are Elder Ruiz, Elder Perez, and Sr. Cuba. (she is from Peru)

Elder Calderon

Hermana Baquerizo is from Equador

Within the week, we received the 4 North Americans scheduled to be here in January. This is a sign that our prayers are being answered. Elder Dunman from Arizona, Elder Abbott & Elder Tarabilda, both from California, and Elder Hyer from Utah.

They are now hard at work finding, teaching, and baptizing here in Mexico

January 2011 transfers

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January 2011

Hermanas Ortega, Garcia, and Palma say goodbye to Hermana Velazquez.
Elders Perez and Stratton baptized this family from area Centro. They brought a cake to Elder Perez on his last night in the mission.

Elders Lunt and Polo say goodbye to their companion, Elder Hernandez.

The whole group. L to R. Shimata, Ramos, Heffernan, Hernandez Lepe, Hna. Velazquez, Watson, Hernandez Vergara, Perez, Galvan, Hernandez Sanchez

Elder Ponce joined President Clark and I in the mission home about a week before the rest of his
group as he returned home early for a school committment.

Blanca Navidad

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Blanca Navidad

A goal for the mission was to have a Blanca Navidad, or in other words, for every companionship to baptize on December 26th. We were able to attend many wonderful baptisms that Sunday. Here are a few photos of the happy missionaries, the happy new members and their happy families.

There was great family and ward support for the 5 new converts in the Torreon Jardin Stake as shown above.
Here are the 5 new members and the missionary or member who baptized them, including, Elders Ramos, Navarette, Polo, and Miranda.

Elders Smith, Martinez Vasquez and Brother Jasso are shown here with their two honored guests, dressed in white and ready to be baptized.

Sr. Teresa and her husband are shown here with Elders Navarette and Bickmore. These missionaries will always be special to her.

Elder Miranda had his first experience using his priesthood authority to baptize this young lady in Sunday's special baptismal service. Elder Heffernan, his companion will return to his home in Hawaii next week, knowing that he has trained his companion well.

This beautiful young lady followed Jesus' example by being baptized by immersion by Elder Lopez Juarez. Elder Scothorne is his companion.

Elder Franco and Elder Barfuss baptized these two special young people in the combined baptismal service in Torreon Reforma Stake. They serve in the California area.

Here is the group from Torreon Reforma together. The district of Elder Franco helped 4 new converts in all. (shown here, Elder Franco, Elder Martinez Vasquez, Elder Barfuss and Brother Jasso.

"Tied" to our friends in Las Vegas

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Elder Robb is one of the Assistants to President Clark. He is shown here with his companion, Elder Gutierrez. The Young Women of the home stake of Elder Robb in Las Vegas collected ties as a service project this fall. They sent some of them to the 17 missions in which their stake currently has missionaries serving--all over the world. We were blessed to receive 70 some new and gently used ties. We decided there were people here in the boundaries of our mission who could really use a tie. Our missionaries were challenged to give a tie to an investigator or new member and then take a photo of the gifts to send back to the Young Women in Las Vegas. Here are some of the photos...

Hermanas Velazquez and Garcia found a good home for one of the ties.

Elders Edwards and Curiel are serving in El Orito in the Zacatecas Zone. They gave their tie to this future missionary.

Elder Miranda shares his tie with this gentleman in Torreon Jardin

Elder Harman found a home for his tie in his area of Aeropuerto/Independencia in Torreon Reforma

This young man is holding his new tie and his mission call. He is "Called to Serve".

Elder Franco from California area gives his tie to this gentleman.

Elder Castellanos found just the right youth to receive this tie.

Elder Young and Elder Romero pose with their tie recipient.

Recent convert "Jorge" receives his tie from Elder Lara and Elder Roderick.

Elder Lamb poses with a family from Central, Gomez Palacio

Another future missionary is happy to show off his tie. This service project has brought smiles to people in Las Vegas and in Mexico.

Merry Christmas in Mexico

2010-12-29T16:23:00.000-08:00

Feliz Navidad de Mision Mexico TorreonPresident Clark and I enjoyed our 5 Zone Conferences and special Christmas Dinners during the month of December. Here we are taking a minute to enjoy the moment.
Elder Checketts of the Fresnillo Zone is pretty excited to receive his Christmas stocking and his CD with photos of all of the missionaries.

A special musical number in Durango was absolutely beautiful. Here Elders Alexander, Toone, Glauser, and Lambert sing the English part in perfect harmony.

Elder Avila in Durango

Elder Gonzalez in Durango

Elder Glauser in Durango

Elder Gallego in Gomez Palacio

Hermanas Velazquez and Garcia pose with Elder Hernandez L.

Elders Shimata, Maxfield, Fuentes, Guardia, and Martinez share a special number.

Elder Jason Rasmussen from Madero Zone

Elder Bonfil, Zone Leader in Madero

Elder Archundia, one of our news missionaries is serving in Madero.

Elder Anderson from San Pedro

The Madero Zone enjoyed their party. The sisters made the hats for their entire zone.

It was a really festive time.

November 2010 Change

2010-12-20T19:20:00.000-08:00

November 2010 changes!

Elder Rodriguez Cordova has his bags packed--excited to return to his family.

Ten missionarys enjoy their last meal together the Sunday before they depart early Monday morning. There is only time for yogurt and granola bars the next morning as we leave the mission home at 5:30 a.m. to get everyone checked in at the airport on time.

Elder Miranda and Elder Smith served together in Mezquital area of Durango so they became fast friends. Elder Smith is serving in the offices as financial secretary so he stopped in briefly to say goodby to his former companion.

Elder Falk will return to Utah with Elder Heffernan going back to Hawaii in January. Elder Castro will stay a while and hold down the fort.

Elder Marquez enjoys a visit from two families he worked with in Torreon.

The generation together for the last time...B: Elders Rodriguez C., Miranda, Pacheco, Guerrero, Morales C., Espronceda, Galeana. F: Elders Mera, Falk, Kent, and Marquez

At the airport!

Our assistants, Elder Gutierrez and Elder Robb, with President Clark and I in front of the Christmas tree.

Blessings from the CCM in Mexico City...B: Elders Hernandez, Gonzalez, Garcia, y Achundia. F: Elders Sosa, Rivas, Rodriguez, and Cortes. (Elder Lopez got separated from the group in the airport and had to catch a later flight.)

Elders Maxfield, Rasmussen and Barfuss--arrive on time from Salt Lake, California, and Michigan. (They have been in the MTC in Provo for 6 weeks)

Elder Nathaniel Hansen is greeted with a sombrero and serape at the airport. He hails from Kansas and is the first to arrive from our October group of 10. Better late than never.

Elder Spencer Jensen becomes #2 to arrive from the October group. Now, we are still waiting for 8 more. (posted Dec. 20)

October Change--2010

2010-12-20T18:43:00.001-08:00

October 2010 Change

It was a warm fall day in Torreon when we enjoyed the company of these 14 missionaries who have served diligently for 2 years, or 18 months in the case of Hermana Lopez. We enjoyed a nice meal and a testimony meeting together. It is amazing to hear the testimonies of these young people and to actually be able to see their spiritual growth and maturity as expressed from the heart. Missionaries change the lives of others but, just as importantly, they personally change because of their experiences.

Cena de despidida!
Elder Grover makes sure his photo is in the right location on the map with all the missionaries serving in Torreon from the US.

Elder Moreno and Elder Robb pose for some last shots. They have served together as assistants and now Elder Moreno is preparing to return to real life in Tijuana.

A beautiful trio of sister missionaries--Hermanas Mamani, Lopez, and Garcia. Hermana Lopez returned to Mexico City the next day.

Three Amigos! Elders Clonts, Mair, and Naumu all purchased a beautiful Mexican sombrero to take home as a reminder of their time in Mexico.

Adios amigos!

Back: Elders Betoni, Van Orden, Allen, Michael, Williams, Clonts and Mair.

Front: Elders Grover, Larsen, Naumu, Layland, Moreno, Turley, and Hermana Lopez

A gift from the United States--Elder Ryan Lambert joins us. He is the last to get his visa approved from the generation of September! He had been serving in one of the Provo missions while waiting. Welcome to Torreon!

Elder Garcia Pineda and Elder Miranda look right home as they pose for their group photo on their first day in the mission. We are grateful they have joined us in this blessed service.

Mission President's Seminar in Merida, Mexico

2010-10-03T07:22:00.001-07:00

Seminario de los Presidentes de Mision

Merida, September 6-10, 2010

The Area Presidency and the 23 Mission Presidents and their wives were invited to join together in Merida for the annual Mission President's Seminar. We spent 4 days in September meeting together to learn of the eight new lessons for missionaries and to practice the things we learned. It provided a way for us to "refuel our spiritual tanks" and to get new ideas to take back to our missions. We also enjoyed meeting the new presidents and becoming re-aquinted with those who had been here one or two years already. The conference took place in the beautiful Hotel Fiesta Americana in downtown Merida. The lobby of the hotel was beautiful!

Everyone enjoyed visiting...here Pres. and Sr. Chavez and Pres. and Sr. Angulo enjy a meal together.

Old friends...(in more than one sense of the word). Srs. Rex, Heyn, Daisy Bratcher from the area office, Sr. Hansen and myself enjoy a little after dinner visiting.

Presidents Castenada y Saucedo and wives get acquainted. The Castenadas are from Gomez Palacio, Durango and were dear friends to us before they were called. Nicolas served as the Stake President of the Gomez Palacio Stake before being called to serve as the President of a new mission in Villahermosa.

Sr. Velasco gives me a big hug. She is so full of love and enthusiam for the work.

We got one day off to sight-see. Everyone traveled by bus to the ruins of Uxmal. It was fascinating and also very HOT. Afterward, we visited a museum in Merida.

Bruce and I in the courtyard of the "monjas".

Pyramids and structures can be seen in every direction. There are still many covered with dense jungle in the distance.

Our fearless leaders atop one of the pyramids we were allowed to climb.

Elder Benjamin De Hoyas, President Daniel Johnson, and Elder Octovio Tenario

An ancient pyramid!

Serpents were a common decoration.

Only iguanas live there now.

Basquing in the sun.

Back in Merida, President Clark met a "Dare" officer and had to have his photo taken with him as he served on the board of "McGruff and Dare" before coming on the mission. We sent this photo to the founder of the program to show her that her efforts to keep kids safe had spread to Mexico.

President Steven and Sr. Sherilyn Rex from Laketown, Idaho are serving in Puebla, Mexico

President Pete and Sr. JoElla Hansen from California are the presidents in Veracruz, Mexico

President and Sr. De La Cruz

They have family in Torreon and lived there before their missionary service.

President and Sr. Velasco

Our generation of wives...L to R: Hermanas Velasco, Hansen, Clark, De La Cruz, Rex, Nancollas, Heyn

The Presidents from our generation: L to R:Clark, Hansen, Velasco, Rex, Heyn, DeLaCruz, Nancollas

Our last time all together!

President Hansen and President Clark sharing ideas and frustrations.

Presidents Rex, Hansen, Heyn, and Clark

It was a great seminar and we will miss these fine people.

September 2010

2010-10-03T06:56:00.000-07:00

The August Change lasts till the end of September

There's never a dull moment at the mission home. Look what the CCM in Mexico City sent to us...7 wonderful native missionaries all ready to preach the gospel to the people of our mission area. They arrived at 2:30 in the afternoon so we fed them, interviewed them,and sent them to work with the elders in the areas near the mission home with the companionships already serving here. That evening, we went to the airport to pick up 7 North Americans to join them and we had a great evening of visiting and eating. The next day woud be the change meeting. (luckily, there are exactly 14 beds in the casita behind our home so everyone had a place and hopefully they slept.) Shown here: Elders Juarez, Davila, Avila, Garcia, Curiel, Duran and Ramirez. Gifts from the north...Elders Harman, Butterfield, Rasmussen, Holder, Alexander, Lunt, and Myers.

A week later we got word that Hermana Mamani from Peru, had received her visa and would be with us on Saturday night. She is a delightful sister and ready to serve. Here she is shown in front of her assigned apartment in Madero where she would serve with Hermanas Lopez and Garcia.

We then got notification that 5 more missionaries from North America had received their visas and when would we like them to arrive? We were in Merida all week for the mission president's seminar so we arranged for our assistants to pick them up at the airport Friday night at 8:40 and we flew in at 11:40 and the next morning we all enjoyed breakfast in the mission home together! Here are Elders Gollner (Canada), Wahl, Ogden, Bickmore, and Young.

A week later we got word that the 4 missionaries who had entered the MTC on May 19th had finally received their visas. They had been temporarily assigned to the Salt Lake City Mission so that they could work while waiting for their clearance. Here are the famous lost missionaries...Elders Lyon, Belnap, Burgin, and Scothorne. We are still missing Elder Lambert who should have arrived with the earlier groups. Hopefully we will have word of his arrival soon and our change of August which lasted till the end of September will be complete.

Welcome to the Torreon Mexico Mission--one and all!

August 2010--the change of all changes!

2010-10-03T06:27:00.000-07:00

The month of August brought the necessity to send 19 seasoned missionaries to their homes to begin their lives "after mission". Because many of them had school committments, we sent them home in 3 groups so that they would not lose a full semester. Below, Elders Sanchez and Hurtado pose at the Torreon airport on the morning of their flights. They returned to their homes on August 2. On August 15-16, we enjoyed the brief company of our second August group who were returning to school which started August 26-29th. Here, Elders Porter and Hernandez Sanchez have one last photo taken with their companion Elder Martinez.

Elders Galvan and Heffernan goof around as they say goodbye to their companion, Elder Knowles.

Elder Benson was surprized by a visit from this family that he baptized in his first ward in Torreon. They are still strong members of the church and "how great is their joy".

The second group of August--10 in total, in their group photo. Elder Robinson, top right, was there as an assistant but he would also return in two weeks. B: Elders Martinez, Sorensen, Torgerson, Phillips, Robinson. F: Knowles, Benson, Galt, Harris, Atwood, Moynihan.

The third group left us on August 29th. They were either returning to work and save money for school or their school start dates fell later in September. Here Elder DeOlarte says goodbye to Elder Stevens. You can just see the love that they have for one another because they served the Lord and the people of Matamoros together.

The family Morales comes to say a last goodbye to Elders Richardson, Shepherd, Maldonado and Jimenez. We got a note from Elder Jimenez a week later saying he had been called to serve as 2nd counselor in the bishopric in his home ward! He didn't have a break, just a change of venue.

The group from areas Nazas and Industrial pose with the brother who brought them to the mission home: Elders Carrillo, Mills, & Beltran say goodbye to Elder Maldonado.

Group 3 at the Cena de Despidida...L to R:Maldonado, Jimenez, Richardson, Shepherd, Pdte. Clark, Kober, Robinson, Blanco and Stevens. In the background you can see the maps of Mexico and the United States that I recently made. They hold the photos of each missionary who has served in our mission since we came. They will be a wonderful keepsake for after the mission.

Group shot: B: Elders Jimenez, Stevens, Kober, Robinson, and Richardson. F: Elders Blanco (Peru), Maldonado, and Shepherd.

The next post will tell of the 24 new missionaries we received in 5 separate groups in September. These last two months have been challenging and full of change to say the least.

Leadership Training Seminar

2010-08-11T16:42:00.000-07:00

Leadership Training Seminar--August 2010

Imagine our surprize when President Clark opened an envelop from church headquarters and learned that our lives in the mission would change in an instant. He said he was pretty comfortable in his routine but now, the directive changes our 6 week training cycle to a 3 month cycle with changes still happening every 6 weeks and zone leader councils every month. It sounds confusing but with a fresh calendar and lots of prayer and work, we are up and running. The best part of all is that we have wonderful new lessons to help the missionaries teach more effectively and rely on the spirit to direct them in their teaching. We held our first training for all of the zone leaders, district leaders, and trainers in the institute building here in Torreon. We holed up for 3 days straight in the upper floor of this beautiful building and went to work. We had all of our leaders come into Torreon for this and I figured that over a period of 5 days, I prepared or ordered 330 meals! Those who live in Torreon returned to their areas each night to practice what they learned and the others worked with local companionships in the afternoon and returned to stay in the mission home at night. All went well and we really are going to love these inspired materials.
President Clark did an amazing job of training the missionaries.

Elders Castro, Galeana, and Valencia practice.

Elder Perez Zaragoza, Elder Morales, and Elder Turley practice.

Elders Trujillo, Gutierrez, and Moreno

Elders Bouchard, Mair, Chatu, and Bonfil

Elders Heffernan, Kent, and Michael

President observes Elders Stevens, Hernandez S., and Miranda

Elder Adams is taught by Elders Carrillo and Falk

Elders Robinson and Ayala teach Elder Hernandez Lepe

Elders Kober, Layland and Clonts smile for the camera.

Elder Allen, Perez Labra, and Larson

Elders Robb, Van Orden, and Jimenez

Elders Ramos, Williams, and Grover

Elder Watson, Elder Lopez T., and Elder Abbot

Elders Marquez, Miliar, and Ponce

2010-08-11T14:21:00.000-07:00

July 2010

The group was large--nineteen fine missionaries were ready to return home. We had quite a dinner with 27 present since two families came to pick up their missionaries. It took us 5 cars to get everyone to the airport the next morning. Now it's just a memory. The Mexican Elders from this group was the first group of missionaries we welcomed in Torreon two years ago. They have all been amazing. B: Briggs, Rodriguez Casas, Villela, Ruiz, Baustista, Roman, Chagollan, Mora, Martinez Trujillo, Santana, Orme, Meza. M: Hna. Cabrera, Gonzalez and Clark, Pdte. Clark, Elder Flores F: Barton, Stratton, Santoyo, and Hernandez Issac. (Elder Hernandez has already been called to the High Council in his home stake)

Elder Bautista and two of his fan club

Elders Flores, Santoyo, and Orme sing together one last time.

Elder Stratton enjoys a piece of cake with a family he taught and helped baptize.

Saying goodbye! Elder Nava, Elder Meza, a brother from their ward in Oriente, Elder Diaz, and Elder Richardson

Hna. Perez and Garcia say goodbye to Hermanas Gonzalez and Cabrera

The Santoyo family from Mexico is reunited after 2 years.

The Orme Family is only missing one now. They are on their way to pick up Jasos's twin brother from his mission in Peru.

Now, we get to start fresh with three great arrivals from the USA--Elders Porter, Payzant, and Mills. Welcome friends.

Sisters--Sisters

2010-08-11T14:07:00.001-07:00

Hermanas Juntas (sisters together)

We treated our great "Hermanas" to lunch in two different groups according to their location. There are only 10 here right now and sometimes girls just need to get together and talk. Here are the 6 serving in the Torreon area: Hna. Lopez, Hna. Perez, Hna. Garcia, Hna. Clark, Hna. Cabrera, Hna. Silva, and Hna. Gonzalez. Hermanas Cabrera and Gonzalez returned to their homes in the July change. The group from Durango consisted of Hna. Palma, Hna. Velazqueaz, Hna. Ortega, and Hna. Escorcia.

2010-08-11T13:51:00.000-07:00

June 2010

Three of our former zone leaders all left together in the month of June. Here are Elders Rincon, Zizumbo, and Hunsaker with Presidente Clark. One last pose with their companions... Elder Hunsaker, Elder Rincon, Elder Zizumbo with Elder Mair and Elder Martinez.
Elder Castellanos arrived 3 weeks late from the CCM en Mexico but he was well worth the wait!

Elder Toone was scheduled to arrive in April or May so we were especially glad to get him.

Our group of 5 from Mexico were strong and eager to get to work.

Elders Ramirez, Zenil, Martinez, Lopez, y Rodriguez

A big change

2010-08-11T13:34:00.000-07:00

April 2010

Our group of outgoing missionaries for April was rather large. We had a great time visiting with them and sharing experiences from the last two years. The group of Americans was the first that President Clark and I met at the MTC when we were there two years ago for the mission president's seminar. That means we are really getting old in the mission! We hated to say goodbye to these great friends but they are now finding their way in the real world and are involved in school, work, church callings and finding their eternal companions. Good luck friends. Pictured below: B: Elders Hawkins, Rios, Slaugh, Osuna, Packard, Montoya, Sepeda, and Libby. F: Mann, DeLaCruz, Gonzalez, Lopez Cortes, Avila, Maygueyal,and Cano.

We welcomed one new American--Elder Smith from California
Sr. Morales also returned home. Here she is with President Clark at the airport.

Seven new Mexican Elders joined us: B: Elders Perez Monroy, Guardia, Obispo, Lopez Tovar, F: Elder Barcena, Solis y Felix

The outgoing group enjoying their "Cena de Despedida"
(farewell dinner)

2010-08-11T13:12:00.000-07:00

March 2010

The Changing of the Guard--Elder Zizumbo (seated) has served as assistant to President Clark for several months. He will spend his last two changes as a "normal" missionary. Elder Moreno joins Elder Robinson as the new assistant. We received 6 wonderful new missionaries from the "Centro de Capacitacion Misional" in Mexico City. (That's where they spend 3 weeks learning how to be a missionary before coming to us) Below from left to right: Elders Mejia, Fuentes, De Olarte, Hna. Silva, Elders Montes y Malpica.

We were also blessed to receive 5 strong American missionaries from the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. Belos: Elders Jones, Okey, Cooke, Hansen, and Welch.

Elders Stoor, Lopez Melo, Castro, and Juarez Perez returned to their homes after 2 years of service. They have been missed.

Conferencias de Zona--June 2010

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Zona Durango Mexico

B: Galt, Zambrano, Briggs, Pacheco Gonzalez, Martinez Hernandez, Lopez Ayala, Williams, Heffernan, Juarez, Torgerson, Smith F: Pedraza, Miranda, Castro, Jimenez, Clarks, Hna. Escorcia, Hna. Ortega, Elder Kent

Zona Madero

B: Elders Okey, Cruz, Gallegos, Shepherd, Phillips, Robb, Galvan, Sandoval, Clonts, Aguero, Shimata. F: Hermanas Perez, Gonzalez, Clark, Pdte. Clark, Elder Martinez Trujillo

Zona Zacatecas

B: Elders Allen, Van Orden, Martinez Velazquez, Smith, Barragan, Mora, Welch, Miliar, Quintana, y Hurtado. F: Lopez Tovar, Santoyo, Hna. Clark, Pdte. Clark, Stratton, y Limon

Zona Torreon Reforma

B: Elders Diaz, Richardson, Ramirez, Rodriguez Atilano, Hernandez Lepe, Edwards, Hansen M: Meza, Nava, Benson, Romero, Ray, Morales Castellanos, Chatu, Garcia F: Hna. Cabrera, Hna. Clark, Pdte. Clark, Hna. Garcia

Zona Torreon Mexico

B: Elders Munson, Gutierrez, Rivera, German, Bautista, Villela, Nelson, Robinson F: Elder Falk, Hna. Clark, Pdte. Clark, Elder Ruiz (missing Elders Moreno y Blair)

Zona Torreon Jardin

B: Elders Gallegos, Espronceda, Garcia Pech, Stevens, Glauser, Valencia, Davis, Thompson, Betoni, y Mair M: Checketts, Blanco, Hernandez Vergara, Hna. Silva, Hna. Lopez, Can, Marquez, DeOlarte, Martinez Ramos, F: Montes, Solis, Blanco, Clarks, Martinez Vazquez, Knowles, Hernandez Sanchez.

Zona La Laguna

B: Maldonado, Lopez Trujillo, Rodriguez Cerda, Galeana, Franco, Perez Labra, Atwood, Beltran, Orcillez, Marin, Jimenez, Guerrero, Carrillo F: Barton, Clarks, Chagollan, Santana, Grover

Zona Gomez Palacio

B: Watson, Zenil, Hernandez, Issak, Rodriguez Cordova, Quackenbush, Vargas, Lopez Juarez, Nelson, Moynihan, Malpica, Roderick, Bonfil, Estrada, Adams, Venegas, Sorensen, Roman, F: Falk, Mejia, Clarks, Jones, Fuentes, Abbot

Zona Fresnillo

B: Vargas, Feliz, Perez Zaragoza, Navarette, Harris, Naumu, Ponce, Weyland, Lamb, Cooke, Perez Monvoy, F: Turley, Mera, Clarks, Sanchez, Hernandez Martinez

Zona Durango Del Valle

B: Flores, Guardia, Morales Ruiz, Andersen, Michael, Ramos, Ayala, Barcena, Jones, Castellanos, Lara, Trujillo, Pacheco Garcia, Pineda, Poot, F: Layland, Franco, Rodriguez Casas, Clarks, Hna. Velazquez, Hna. Palma, Orme

A visit from the Steere Family

2010-05-08T15:23:00.000-07:00

Five Steeres Loose in Torreon, Mexico

(Jared, Melanie, Halle, Caleb, and Ava, that is...)

The caption for this could be..."are we finally at Grandma and Grandpa's house?" After almost two years, we were able to give lots of hugs and kisses to our beautiful grandchildren and their parents, Jared and Melanie Steere. We spent 6 wonderful days exploring Torreon and just hanging out together.

The Steeres arrived at 11:40 p.m. Torreon time so they had a long day of travel. Caleb was still pretty bright eyed and bushy tailed.

We visited the Centro in Torreon the first afternoon.

Caleb rides a hot race car at the Mercado Juarez while Halle prefers the burro of days gone by.

Chocolate anyone?

A visit to BIP's followed. Here Melanie enjoys her cone. Jared looks on with envy.

Grandpa and Ava just chilled.

Halle and Ava

The whole family Steere. This was taken from the hill where the Cristo de las Noas is. You can see the city of Torreon in the background.

We enjoyed a belated Easter Egg hunt at the mission home.

The next day, we picniced in the ruins at the Puente de Ojela. Ava and Caleb are sporting their Santos hats.

Fancy open air restaurant.

Ava in the luxury pool at the mission home.

Two beautiful jovencitas with their balloon flowers at the Dia de los Nino celebration in the Jacarandas Ward. The missionaries were busy supplying the balloons.

Elder Bautista and Elder Beltran fight it out with their awesome swords.

Caleb shows off his cool glasses.

El Presidente Clark y sus nietos. Que padre!

The familia Castaneda came from Bermejillo for a Noche de Hogar. (family night) L. to R. Angelica, Alicia, David, Alexandra, Alicia (mom), Adriana, and Adela. What a beautiful family. They sang to us and played with the kids. It was a great evening.

The Clarks, Steeres, and Castanedas.

Changes in April

2010-05-08T14:38:00.001-07:00

Changes AGAIN! It is amazing how fast 6 weeks passes in the mission. We can do this!

President Clark poses with Hermana Morales at the airport as she says goodbye.

We welcomed 7 new, energetic missionaries on Monday, April 26th.

B: Elder Perez, Elder Guardia, Elder Obispo, Elder Lopez, F: Hermana and Presidente Clark, Elder Barcena, Elder Solis, and Elder Felix.

Adios amigos...B: Elder Hawkins, Elder Rios, Elder Slaugh, Elder Osuna, Elder Packard, Elder Sepeda, Elder Libby. F: Elder Mann, Elder De La Cruz, Elder Gonzalez, Elder Lopez, Elder Avila, Elder Maguayal, and Elder Cano!

Lasagna all way round. We loved working with these missionaries. The Americans were the first missionaries we met in the MTC in Provo as we were preparing to leave for our assignement. They joined us in Torreon later that summer.

El Zapato de Oro--Golden Shoe Award

2010-05-08T13:18:00.000-07:00

Each change, (every six weeks) zone stands out as a zone of excellence in their work. We have developed an award called the "Golden Shoe award". The trophy is an old tennis shoe that has been spray painted gold to represent all the steps the missionaries take each day to spread the gospel message. Along with the honor of earning the gold shoe, the missionaries in that zone are treated to a pizza party. They love it! Here are photos from the Torreon Mexico Zone and the Torreon Jardin Zone. The Fresnillo Zone and the Durango Mexico Zone have also been honored to this point. We hope to see each zone recognized soon.

Elder Welch doesn't like cheese but that didn't keep him from enjoying the pizza! He shared!

Elder Bonfil shows his excitement!

Elder Beltran uses "Salsa Valentina" liberally like all good Mexican missionaries.

The Torreon Mexico Zone has only 12 missionaries but they proved that though few, they are mighty.

L to R: Elders Robinson, Nelson, Ruiz (ZL) Moreno, Pdte. Clark, Bautista, Van Orden, Falk (ZL), Beltran, Bonfil, Welch, Villela, and Ponce.

The Golden Shoe Award

Members of the Torreon Jardin zone, one of our largest zones, admire the shoe.

President Clark presents the 'Zapato de Oro" to Elders Rincon and Stratton, the zone leaders

Elders Moynihan, Roman, and Martinez get into the spirit of the occasion in Torreon Jardin.

Pizza+Refresco = Happy Missionaries!

The Torreon Jardin Zone:

B: Lopez, Rodriguez C. Ray, Avila, Estrada, Larson, Navarette, Garcia

M: Mair, Atwook, Hernandez S. Rincon, Hnas Lopez y Escorcia, Elders Stratton, Calleja, Miliar, Moynihan, Martinez, Roman

F: Elders Mera, Franco, Glauser and Turley

The Whole Armor of God

2010-05-08T08:27:00.000-07:00

Elder Pacheco in Torreon

The Whole Armor of God

La Armadura de Dios

To kick off the new year of 2010, Sr. Clark reminded the missionaries of the importance of putting on the whole armor of God as taught in Doctrine and Covenants 27:15-18. Some of our most valiant warriors in the battle for righteousness in our lives, were able to don some "primary-like" pieces of armor as we talked about each point...

15: Wherefore, lift up your hearts and rejoice, and gird up your loins, and take upon you my whole armor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that ye may be able to stand.

Elder Villela in Gomez Palacio

16: Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, which I have sent mine angels to commit unto you;

Elder Pineda in Durango, Mexico

17: Taking the shield of faith where-with ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked;

Elder Gallegos in Fresnillo

18: And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of my Spirit, which I will pour out upon you, and my word which I reveal unto you, and be agreed as touching all things whatsoever ye ask of me, and be faithful until I come, and ye shall be caught up, that where I am ye shall be also.

Elder Lopez in Madero

These wonderful missionaries have to be protected from the adversary by living close to the Spirit at all times. The opposition is great for those who do what is right. They must be prepared to withstand the fiery darts of the adversary as they spread the gospel of Jesus Christ throughtout the Mision Mexico Torreon.

We are so grateful for these righteous young people who have committed two years to serve their Heavenly Father.

They are indeed "warriors" in the army of our Savior.

Running

2010-02-09T18:30:00.000-08:00

Running?

Who would imagine that the photo of these beautiful ladies would be about running? This photo is of President Clarks Mother, LaVonne, and our two beautiful daughters, Annette and Melanie. They are in front of LaVonne's prolific garden that she tends each summer in Ashton, Idaho. We have 5 children, 3 boys and 2 girls. The boys enjoy being active, (Brian is a professional skydiver and pilot, Nate lives for snowboarding, and Spencer can hardly wait for the snow to melt so he can hike a different Utah mountain peak each weekend) but the girls have inherited their father's passion for running. Annette and Melanie both participated in track and cross country at Kearns High School in Kearns, Utah where they were part of state championship teams in different events and as individuals. Melanie attended Ricks College where she took second place in the NJCAA finals in the 800 meter run and went on to BYU to be part of many successful seasons of both Track and Cross Country. Annette ran for BYU for a year but had to step back because of persistent hamstring injuries.

Now that their college days are over, they have become interested in running marathons. President Clark has run in 29 marathons in his career. (which he plans to resume after the mission) Here Annette is shown stretching out after the Mesa Falls Half-Marathon in Bruce's hometown of Ashton. Annette and Melanie enjoying their medals and the grass after the Mesa Falls half marathon.

Here Annette is shown crossing the finish line of the Salt Lake Marathon in April of 2009
This was her first full marathon so she was pretty pleased to have finished well and still able to walk.

The girls decided to put their names into the lottery of the St. George Marathon and were chosen to participate, much to Dad's dismay. He is a member of the 10 year club but of course couldn't just stop what he is doing in Mexico and join them. They were kind enough to take this picture at the starting line the day before the race. Their sign says something like, "See you in 2011 Dad!They both had successful races until Melanie crossed the finish line and had severe cramping and had to be hauled by ambulence to the local hospital to have fluids replaced, etc. All turned out well, except the bill, and she may want to run that race with Dad in 2011. It may take her that long to have the mind set to try it.

Melanie looking sad in the Dixie Regional Medical Center

Let's not forget that she did win a medal!

This is Halle, Melanie's daughter running for Easter Eggs last year. Maybe this could be the start of another Clark family runner.

While in Torreon, President Clark runs every morning but not the distances required to prepare for a marathon. The Lala Marathon is run each March in Torreon and here President Clark is posing with some Lala Cows on display a week before the marathon.

It's a long way down to the shoes for this cow.

These two look ready for some Lala leche.

President Clark is inspiring some other young runners. Each Saturday, the Elders who work in the offices go to the Bosque park with him to run their laps as it is their day of preparation. This is a photo of some of our zone leaders who joined him for his Tuesday morning run near our home during the Zone Leader's council meetings. Pictured are: Elders Libby, Falk, Robinson, Stratton, Hernandez, President Clark, Santoyo, Orme, Mann and Zizumbo. I must say, President Clark is usually a bit in front of the pack as he tries to stay in shape so he can handle the rigors of the mission and be ready to train for the marathon in 2011.

Cambios de Febrero

2010-02-09T16:29:00.000-08:00

Goodbye to this great generation of missionaries...we will miss you greatly.

Elders Ramirez, Von Bracht, Kjar, Maxfield, Noakes, Mills, Spencer, Carlson and Hermana Salas with President Clark and I on their last night.

Posing for an informal photo after dinner. The traditional food is lasagna, green salad, fruit, rolls and ice cream sundaes for dessert. (the parasite pills go nicely with this meal)

Hermana Salas-- a rose among the thorns.

Elders Spencer, Maxfield, and Carlson get a little crazy with the whipped cream.

Elders Carlson and Maxfield reflect back on their wonderful mission experiences.

The next day... we welcomed some more great missionaries!

Hermana Ortega with Pres. Clark and I

Sr. Garcia! We are so grateful to have two more sisters.

Elder German

Elder Franco

The tall and the short of the mission...Elder Vargas and Elder Mills, our assistant.

Elder Mills jokes around with Sr. Ortega.

Elder Vargas

Our new Americans...Elder Edwards, Elder Smith, and Elder Quackenbush--all from Utah.

Celebrating Christmas in the Mission--2009

2010-01-25T15:01:00.000-08:00

Sr. Velazguez and Sr. Salas made all of these hats out of paper. The Zona Mexico Reforma was definately in high spirits as we celebrated the season together. B: Gonzalez, Pacheco, Marin, Kunz, Venegas, Williams, Ramos, Can, Carrillo, Man, Hernandez I., Flores. F: Pacheco, Hna. Velazquez, Hna. Salas, Pdte. y Hermana Clark, Elder Orme

Christmas 2009 in Mission Mexico Torreon

With the help of 5 Stake Relief Societies, we were able to provide a special Christmas dinner for each of the missionaries here in our mission. Here are some photos of the missionaries enjoying the spirit of the season. We encouraged them to enjoy a "White Christmas". By that, we hoped they could all experience the beauty of seeing one of their investigators enter the waters of baptism during the season when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, who made it possible for all of us to live with our Heavently Father again, by obeying the commandment to be baptized.

Zona Torreon Mexico

B: Elders Grover, Ponce, Layland, Perez L., Zizumbo, Mills, Van Orden, Bonfil.

F: Castro, Sanchez, Strawn, y Slaugh

Each zone prepared songs to perform after dinner.

Hermana Del Rio of the Torreon Mexico Stake made this beautiful table and all the wonderful good food possible, with the help of her family. She makes the best tamales known to man.

Enjoying the day...

This meal was fabulous. The missionaries had all they could eat and more.

Stake leaders and the Del Rio family participated in chime ringing after dinner.

In Durango Mexico, President and Sr. Bretado enjoy visiting with other stake leaders. Brother Bretado serves as counselor to President Clark and also made our chimes to use.

Durango Mexico sings to everyone...

Sisters! Hermana Lopez, Hermana Gonzalez, and Hermana Clark visit after dinner.

Zona Durango Del Valle

B: Villeja, Thompson, Sepeda, Phillips, Montoya, Osuna, Lamb, Rodriguez Cordova, Adams, Robinson, M: Pedraza, Galeana, Amador, Pineda, Watson, Santana, Betoni, Hernandez M., Pdte. ClarkF: Martinez V., Nava, Hna. Lopez, E. Carlson, Hna. Gonzalez, Hna. Clark

Zonas Torreon Jardine y Madero

(the quality of the other pictures of this group was too poor to post.)

Zona Durango Mexico

F: Blanco, Morales, Hernandez V., Maguayal, Franco, Naumu, Perez Z., Morales C., Marquez, Pdte. Clark, Rios. B: Rivera, Von Bracht, Glauser, Moreno, Checketts

Elder Bonfil, Mission Secretary, leads a group in Christmas Carols while waiting for dinner.

Elders Betoni, Hernandez M., and Carlson

Elder Checketts is always ready to help out on the piano.

Hermana and President Segura of the Durango Mexico Stake

(President Segura was released the Sunday before our dinner)

A team effort in Durango.

Our new Stake President in Durango Mexico, Pdte. Garcia and wife, are in the center of the group.

Fresnillo Zone

(sorry about the poor quality)

F: Benson, Jimenez, Sorensen, Castro

M: Ruiz A., Rincon, Bautista, Almaraz, Chatu, Shepherd, Stevens,
Ruiz V.

B: Mair, Barton, Packard, Trujillo, Gutierrez

Zona Zacatecas

F: Hermanas Cabrera and Romero

M: Guerrero, Lara, Lopez, Barton, De La Cruz, Mera, Miranda

B: Clonts, Diaz, Kober, Libby, Conner Nelson, Chagollan, Romero

Zonas La Laguna y Gomez Palacio

Clark, Valencia, Guevara, Robb, Masterson, Maxfield, and Kjar

Elder Jones, Hermanas Espinoza and Perez, Bonfil and Weyland

Elders Michael, Stoor, Cruz, Santana, Hurtado, Galt and Barragan

A heavenly choir led by Elder Mora

Playing chimes with Hermana Clark: Hna. Espinoza, Elders Espronceda, Cruz, Navarette, Abbot, Robb and Masterson

The entire group in Gomez Palacio

(La Laguna and Gomez Palacio Zones)

2009-11-15T19:41:00.000-08:00

Photos!

As a Christmas gift for all the missionaries in the Mision Mexico Torreon, I took candid shots of all of them and put them on a CD with music. Here is a sampling of what the missionaries received as a souvenir of the mission. (this first one is for you Brother and Sister Meador. Doesn't he look great?! Sorry I'm so slow at updating.)

Elder Michael and his new companion, Elder Sandoval at Zone Conference in La Laguna

Elder Sorensen waiting patiently for interviews.

Elder Bensen and Elder Gutierrez

Elders Hernandez, Glauser, Morales, Pineda, Von Bracht and Marquez waiting for someone to unlock the gate to the chapel in Durango Mexico.

Elder Layland in front of the mission office

Elder Mann and Elder Ocampo at the mission home waiting for Elder Ocampo's final interview with the president before he returns home.

These elders are known for sharing their beautiful singing voices in whichever zone they are serving. Elder Moynihan, Turley, Robinson, and Osuna while in Estaca Torreon Jardin.

Elder Weyland and Elder Robb waiting for interviews in Estaca La Laguna Gomez Palacio

Elder Morris!

Elder Orme--there are none quite like him. Oh wait, he has a twin serving in South America!

Elder Tyler Stevens waiting in Zacatecas (he is also a twin)

Elder Jones joined us from Missouri this April and he definately has the "Show Me State" attitude. He is a missionary on fire!

Elder Atwood in the mission office

Elders Lopez Rueda and Limon are excited about the newly released Bible in Spanish.

Elder Trujillo is happy to finally get his conference edition Liahona.

Elders Hernandez Vergara and Roman shine their shoes while waiting.

Elder Williams accompanied his companion to the mission home in this big rig. Some members of their ward brought them and he just had to have his picture taken to prove it.

Elders Velazco, Miranda, and Ray enjoy lunch made by the Priests in the Fresnillo Stake at a mission preparation activity.

Elder Rodriguez Casas shows the Companionship Language Study manual that was introduced last summer. The Spanish-speaking missionaries have the opportunity to earn a certificate from BYU if they complete the course while on their missions. The program depends on the help of the American missionaries.

Zone leaders Noakes and Rincon go over an area book with Hermanas Lopez and Espinoza.

Elder Nelson in Zacatecas

Elder Galt is setting the example for his future missionary friend in front of the chapel in Villanueva.

Sr. Clark usually brings bananas to zone conferences for a snack. These elders are without ties in compliance with the request from the President of Mexico during the influenza epidemic last winter. The missionaries were a little uncomfortable with it at first but seemed to adjust.

Elders Calleja, Roman, Bautista, De La Cruz, and Ruiz Arretche.

A sunny day in Torreon--Elders Torgerson, Galt, and Miranda

Elders Zizumbo, Guevara, y Lopez Cortes

Elders Pacheco, Moynihan, Valencia, Velazco, and Kent

Elders Rincon, and Noakes

Elders Aguero and Rodriguez Cordova

2009-11-13T17:09:00.000-08:00

Dia de los Muertos

In many Latin American countries, including Mexico, November 1 and 2 are days to honor the dead. Families gather to honor their ancestestors and create private alters decorated with sugar skulls, marigolds, and rememberences of their loved ones. November 1 is the Catholic holiday, All Saints Day, and November 2 is All Soul's Day. While in the US, Halloween on October 31 is a scary holiday, Dia de los Muertos is a celebration of loved ones who have gone to the next life. We were in Zacatecas and Durango during the week of these holidays so were able to witness many interesting displays. Here are a few photos of the shrines created to honor loved ones.

September 09 Changes

2009-10-30T17:30:00.000-07:00

Our outgoing missionaries...
Back: Alvarado, Sheffield, Miranda,
Front: Hna. Marquez, Basilio, and Carmona. We miss them dearly.

Our New Missionaries...Elder Nava

Elder Juarez

Elder Diaz

Elder Jimenez

Elder Vargas

Elder Pedraza

Elder Torres and Elder Guzman returned at the end of August so that they could start school on time. Here they are posing at the airport on their final morning.

A visit from Elder and Sister Johnson

2009-10-30T17:06:00.000-07:00

Elder and Sister Johnson, our new area president and wife, spent the first week in September with us touring our mission. We had an enjoyable time becoming acquainted and being with all of our missionaries for special zone conferences. Elder Johnson is a master teacher and asked the missionaries to come prepared with some thoughts on Article of Faith #4. We had great discussions in all of the zones and the missionaries really prepared well. Elder Johnson also presented a new way of approaching prospective members and it relies heavily on being worthy of the spirit. We have our work cut out for us as we try to incorporate this method and try to be worthy of the spirit at all times.
This is a view of a small park in front of the hotel in which we stayed in Zacatecas, Zacatecas. It's called the Mason de Jobito and was a very comfortable place. Zacatecas is a very beautiful colonial city and the Johnsons enjoyed seeing a bit of it.

A walkway within the hotel.

President Clark is always thinking---about missionaries!

Elder Daniel and Sr. LeAnn Johnson. She's originally from Sugar City, Idaho and he's from Chiuahuah, Mexico. They met at the "Frostop" drive-in in Ashton--the home town of President Clark. It's a small world after all.

Mission President's Seminar

2009-10-29T21:02:00.000-07:00

Mission President's Seminar

August 2009--Mexico City, Mexico

In August of 2009 we had the opportunity to attend the annual Mission President's seminar in Mexico City. In attendance were all 21 of the Mission Presidents serving in Mexico. Conducting the seminar was our new Area President, Elder Daniel Johnson and his counselors Elder De Hoyas and Elder Tenorio. Presiding were Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder Walter Gonzalez of the Seventy. It was a spiritual feast and a great time to meet the new presidents and their wives and feel of their enthusiasm for the work.

We took a short walk from our hotel to watch the Voladores de Papantla in Chapultepec Parque.
Here they are flying!

We had the privilege of attending the Temple in Mexico City and then posed for a group picture
in the Visitor's Center. Here is a photo of our new area presidency with Elders Christofferson and Gonzalez with their wives. (Hna. Gonzalez was not present)

We had an afternoon to be tourists while there. Our choice was to visit the famous Museo Nacional de Antrophogia and then tour the downtown area by tour bus. It was all very interesting and beautiful.

Bruce shares his passion for running with this statue of one of the famous Tarahumara Indians who are famous for having the stamina to run for very long distances.

Mexico City was designed by Napoleon and patterned after Paris with large boulevards and lots of beautiful statues.

Angel de La Independencia

La bandera de Mexico

We celebrated our 36th anniversary with a beautiful cake and well wishes presented to us by the other presidents at lunch on our final day.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Hermana Clark, President Clark, and Elder Walter F. Gonzalez of the Seventy.

Zone Leader's Council--July 2009

2009-07-14T20:33:00.000-07:00

Zone Leaders Council

Every six weeks, all the Zone Leaders in the mission meet at our mission home for two days of meetings as we plan the upcoming zone conferences.
These young men oversee the work of approximately 20 missionaries in their zones. (we now have 190 missionaries in the entire mission). They have a huge responsibility and take it very seriously. Here they are pictured during the Monday evening portion of our meeting.

A little family night fun gives them a break from their planning. Here great minds compete in a game of scrabble.
Food is always appreciated after a hard day's work. Elders Ruiz, Sheffield, Rincon, and Santoyo act like they've never seen chocolate cake before.

Happy campers...Elders Noakes, Maxfield, Kjar, Hunsaker, Strawn, and Moreno.

Elders Sheffield and Ruiz are the Zone Leaders in our La Laguna Zone. They look pretty happy to be eating baked potatoes.

Here are all of them posing for their traditional group photo. This is a great group and we feel blessed to be able to work with them to help make our mission better.

Back: Hernandez, Libby, Sheffield, Strawn, Noakes, Guevara, Lule

Middle: Ruiz, Von Bracht, Kjar, Maxfield, Rincon, Masterson, Stoor,

Sitting: Santoyo, Moreno, Pres. Clark, Zizumbo, Guzman

Floor: Carlson, Hunsaker, Clark, Mills

Things that make missionaries smile....

2009-07-11T18:19:00.000-07:00

Things that make missionaries smile...

Baptisms!

Elder Von Bracht and Elder Lule (our assistants) are dressed in their whites as they finish filling the font. A mother and a daughter were baptized later that day.

Family and friends that greet them at the airport after their missions!

Elder Cabrera is greeted by four former sister missionaries from the Mexico Torreon Mission! Hermanas Martinez, Garcia, and Carpio served with us. The other sister served with the former president.

Actually getting rained on in Torreon!

Elders Jimenez, Chatu, and Lamb were caught in this downpour in Torreon's sister city of Gomez Palacio.

Sharing a bit of their mission experience with family nine months after their mission is over.

Elder Spencer Wallin with his parents and his sister Lizzy at the mission home.

Getting packages from home and sharing your Jelly Bellies with your friends!

Elder Shimata had a great time sharing with Elders Guevara, Reyes, Maldonado, Lomas, and Franco!

Greeting friends at interviews!

Elders Flores, Mills, Roman, and Grover--brothers in the mission.

Playing the game "Basta" at zone conference.

The zones from Zacatecas and Fresnillo play here! To play Basta, someone names a letter of the alphabet and teams must quickly write down a theme, a scripture reference, a question, and a committment and then yell "basta" first. (that means stop) They get points according to their answers and originality.

Getting suckers from Sister Clark and the Liahona magazine from church headquarters at interviews.

Elders Checketts, Ray, and Meza

Knowing that being a missionary is a once in a lifetime experience and that you should enjoy it while you can!

Elder Lomas only has seven weeks left to share the gospel message. He does it with joy!

President Clark and I feel so blessed to be able to work with these great young people as they share the message that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored through a prophet in these days. The light you see in their eyes is the light of Christ. If you want to find out more about their message, go to www.lds.org.

Mini-MTC in La Laguna Stake

2009-06-14T16:43:00.000-07:00

The La Laguna Stake in Gomez Palacio, Durango held a youth activity this Saturday that was outstanding. They organized a Mini-MTC or CCM as they call it here in Mexico. (Centro de Capacitacion Misional) All the youth in the stake attended in missionary attire to learn about how to be a missionary. We began with a welcome in the chapel where Pres. Clark spoke and the full-time missionaries sang. Then the youth were divided into two groups, the Sons of Mosiah and the Sons of Helaman. There were workshops taught by the missionaries and returned missionaries, lunch, and then the youth actually went out with a companion and an adult to an assigned area to talk to people about the church. They shared their experiences in a testimony meeting at the close of the day. It was exciting to hear of their successes as they found that it is not hard ot share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Heavenly Father hears the prayers of his children and knows the desires of their hearts. When they are ready, missionaries find them and teach them so that they can enjoy the blessings of the gospel in their lives. Here are some photos of the great youth in the La Laguna Stake.

Here the full-time missionaries serving in La Laguna pose for a photo.

The joy of missionary work shows in their smiles.

Breakfast in the MTC

Future Sister Missionaries

Gathering for a group photo.

Future Missionaries!

Hermanas Juntas

2009-05-10T13:59:00.000-07:00

Hermanas Juntas

Saturday, May 9, 2009 marked the date of our 2nd semi-annual Hermanas Juntas (that means Sisters Together). Our mission has only 11 full-time sister missionaries and they are all assigned, as companionships, to different zones in the mission. That means that they rarely have a chance to see each other, let alone be all together at one time. For this reason, Sr. Clark has decided that twice each year, she will host a day of activities for all the sisters in the mission home. This time, they started the day with a presentation about open houses that we are going to begin here in the mission. Then they all went together to see the Museo Arocena in the Centro, followed by an afternoon sharing recipes and techniques for cooking. An inspirational message was the last activity of the day. Sr. Becerra from the Alamos Ward, Gomez Palacio Stake, talked with the sisters about being righteous women. Sr. Becerra is the wife of one of the counselors to Pres. Clark in the mission. Sisters Pena and Marquez who will both be leaving the mission before the next Hermanas Juntas, bore their testimonies about the truthfulness of the gospel and about the blessing a mission has been in their lives. It was hard for everyone to say goodbye but finally the last group left after many hugs.

From top to bottom: Hermanas Morales, Hernandez, Gonzalez, Castillo, Romero, Cabrerra, Pena, Huerta (ex-missionary living near Torreon now), De La Cruz (ex-missionary who served in Mexico), Espinoza,Marquez, Lopez, Clark, and Salas

Our cool assistants who provided transportation... The casual, open-collared look is because for a week, all the missionaries have been asked to go without ties to help combat the spreading of influenza germs. The turned up collar look is to be cool for the photo! (Von Bracht, Lule, and Llano)

Hermanas Lopez, Pena, and Morales show us their new recipe for a sandwich snack! They call it Molope which is a combination of the first two letters of all of their names. What a team!

Hermanas Salas and Castillo demonstrate a delicious dessert using vanilla wafers or galletas maria as they called them. Yum!

Another dessert! Hermanas Marquez and Cabrera make cheese cake using marshmallows!

Our visitor, Judith De La Cruz, just returned from serving a mission at the visitor's center near the temple in Mexico City. She is organizing a series of open houses to promote the church here in the Torreon Mission so spent the day with us, first explaining the role of the sisters in the open houses and then putting together a wonderful dessert using gelatin and a blender.

Sr. Clark demonstrated a quick main course recipe that can be cooked in an oven or a microwave. It uses frozen flautas, canned enchilada sauce, cream of mushroom soup, and cheese. A real Mexican-American classic.

Hermanas Romero and Espinoza tell us the steps to making tacos al pasteur--a favorite of all.

The flour has settled and the happy cooks pose for a photo together with their aprons to remind them of the day.

Sr. Becerra on the left, gave an inspirational message to close the day. It was definately a day they will always remember. These young women are some of the brightest and best! We love them all.

A peculiar turn of events...

2009-05-08T10:59:00.000-07:00

A Peculiar turn of events...

A recent email from our Area Presidency requested that missionaries serving in Mexico, discontinue the wearing of ties from Wednesday, May 6 until Monday, May 11. This comes after the Commissioner of Health in Mexico determined that ties may be harboring germs that could spread the influenza virus that has been a problem in Mexico. We called the Assistants, they called the Zone Leaders, and they called the missionaries. The most common reaction: "Are you joking?" Thursday morning we arrived at the Durango Del Valle Stake Center to find many missionaries feeling a bit undressed without their ties. Some covered up their necks when they saw us and felt embarrassed about their obvious tan lines above the collar area. It was so interesting and comical. I took a few photos to prove that this actually happened. We all felt a bit casual but enjoyed the day and received inspiration from the conference. Sr. Clark suggested they could use this as a missionary tool as they were going to have people notice and ask them about the change. They could share the message that we believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law. Maybe we'll get a few teaching opportunities out of this situation.

Here are a few photos of some of our missionaries in Durango enjoying their "no tie" zone conference snacks.

Elders Calleja, Roman, Bautista, Galeana, De La Cruz, y Ruiz

Elders Packard, Clark, and Libby, model their tan lines!

Elders Dishman, Packard, Kent, and Spencer enjoy their bananas.

Influenza Epidemic

2009-05-01T09:52:00.000-07:00

Dear Parents

An outbreak of "swine flu" has occured in Mexico but no cases of this disease have been documented in the Torreon area or other areas of the mission. Nevertheless, we are taking all the precautions given to us by both the government of Mexico and the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. As of Wednesday, April 29th, there will be no zone conferences held in our mission, or in other missions in Mexico. The area presidency has suspended all large church gatherings for the week and the president of Mexico has asked that businesses close and that people stay home to prevent the spread of the disease President Caldaron will be re-evaluating the situation on May 5th and will give us further directives at that time. The Church has suspended the entrance of missionaries to serve in Mexico into the country at this time and no missionaries from Mexico will be entering the MTC in Mexico City for the time being. Missionaries who are scheduled to return home at this time will be allowed to do so as long as they do not currently have any of the symptoms.

All of the missionaries in the Mexico Torreon Mission have been advised to wash their hands at least every 2 hours with soap for 15 seconds in duration. They have also been advised to stay away from anyone with cold-like symptoms. If they feel more comfortable wearing a face mask, they are certainly welcome to do so. Many in the cities are doing such. This virus manifests itself very quickly with very high temperatures and headache accompanied by muscle aches, weakness, nasal congestion, sneezing, sore throat and cough. According to an email we received from our area medical advisor, 313 cases were diagnosed during the months of October to March with 30 deaths from those cases. News broadcasts continue to update us on the numbers every day. As we receive calls from missionaries with flu-like symptoms, we advise them that if their temperature is not over 39-40 degrees celsius, they are probably fine and to use the normal methods for relieving symptoms of colds and flu that are inevitible. The large media exposure about the swine flu has caused some of the missionaries to worry that their runny noses indicate the problem but in all cases, their temperatures have been normal or only slightly elevated.

Although all parents are concerned, we hope that the parents of our missionaries will feel peace by knowing that their sons or daughters are serving the Lord Jesus Christ at this time and are entitled to a great amount of protection in doing so. Please continue to pray for your missionaries and we will do all in our power to protect them from this outbreak of influenza.

Con amor,

Hermana Clark

March Zone Conferences

2009-04-01T19:18:00.000-07:00

Zone Conferences --March 2009

Torreon Reforma/Torreon Mexico

B: Aguero, Rangel, Galovan, Williams, Cruz, Toledo (ZL), Miranda, Briggs, Lopez, Morales, Ponce, Gutierrez, Kunz, Kober, Sorenson, Grover

Fr: Hna. Moralez, Hna. Hernandez, Maldonado, Harris, Osuna, Shimata

Our zone leaders do a great job of presenting material to help the missionaries be more effective. Here Elder Kjar and Elder Strawn demonstrate how to use pass along cards to invite everyone to hear the gospel message. This is in the Torreon Reforma/Torreon Mexico Zone Conference.

The missionaries then work in groups of three to practice presenting. Here Elder Osuna is teaching Elder Galovan with Hermana Morales observing, along with their Zone Leader, Elder Strawn.

We developed a fun way to test their knowledge of church materials by playing "Jeopardy". Here Elder Strawn is the M.C. while Elders Noakes and Toledo assist. The categories were: Where in the World?, Preach My Gospel, Vamos a la Casa, and Music. The entire zone conference is always presented in Spanish.

This team tries to come to a consensus on the correct response .

We enjoyed nachos and cheeze for our after conference snack. Here Elders Shimata, Morales, and Miranda add a little more cheese.

Elder Knowles acts like he's never seen food before!

Companions Elder Perez and Basilio. This is the last ZC for Elder Perez.

Happy missionaries--Turley, Masterson, and Alvarado

Companions--Layland and Rios

Elders Molina, Torres, Michael, and Sanchez

Photos of more of our zones...

Torreon Jardin

B: Galt, Jimenez Moreno, Rodriguez Casas, Sulvaran, Olsen, Santana, Bautista, Perez Zarate, Mair, Chavez, Atwood, Avila

Fr: Zizumbo (ZL) Hna. Espinosa, Pres. Clark, Hna. Romero, Elder Maxfield (ZL)

Fresnillo

B: Hurtado, Ventura, Miranda, Larson, Perez Juarez, Barton, Ruiz, Guerrero, Spencer, Pres. Clark

Fr: Velazco, Phillips, Mann, Stoor, (ZL), Hernandez Barrera (ZL)

Durango Mexico

B: Rincon, Ocampo, Blanco, Rios, Naumu, Clonts, Torgerson, Van Orden, Almarez, Kent, Libby(ZL)

Fr: Hna. Gonzalez, Pena, Jimenez Dominguez, Pacheco, Martinez Nahum, Carlson (ZL)

Durango Del Valle

B: Sheffield (ZL), Packard, Heffernan, Sepeda, Dishman, Moreno, Perez Labra, Cabrera, Guzman, Allen, Miliar, Hernandez Isaak

Fr: De La Cruz, Falk, Galeana, Carmona, Calleja, Vazquez, Roman, Santoyo (ZL)

Cultural Celebration in Bermejillo, Durango, Mexico

2009-03-22T15:43:00.000-07:00

The Bermejillo District of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a growing district that is working hard to become a stake. After months of construction, their chapel in Bermejillo has been expanded and remodeled. The result is a beautiful gathering place for all the members of the church in this area in the state of Durango, about 30 minutes north of Torreon. This chapel serves the members in Bermejillo, Cuauhtemoc, Poanas, Mapimi, and Tlahualilo. An open house was held on Friday and Saturday, March 20 and 21 with a wonderful cultural celebration on Friday night...

This display was arranged to demonstrate how the church involves children between the ages of 3-12 in the Primary organization.

President David Castenada introduces the program...

The history of Bermejillo was sung by this "caballero"...

Beautiful sisters performed several native Mexican dances...

Some of the brothers too...Que bonita...

The Primary aged children did their part...

A dance from Veracruz...

The Young Men and Young Women were represented...

The Castenada family closed with "Teach me to Walk".

A Visit from Annette

2009-03-07T18:53:00.000-08:00

Annette's visit in February

On February 19th, our daughter Annette, came to spend a week with us. We arranged it at a time when she could see Torreon, but also travel with us to our other main cities in the mission, Zacatecas and Durango. Annette graduated from BYU in art history last spring so enjoys all things artistic. She specialized in book restoration and had the opportunity to spend a summer as an intern in the restoration lab at the church offices and worked for two years in the restoration lab at the Lee Library at BYU. She now works in a small lab in Salt Lake City. She was delighted to get away from the cold and snow and soak in the rays in Mexico for a while. It wouldn't be a trip to Torreon without a drive up the see the Cristo. Here is a view of the city as the lights were coming on...also, the Cristo at night.

Having taken a stained glass class while in college, Annette was fascinated by all the stained glass we saw as we walked though our neighborhood. This Catholic church is near our offices and she was amazed to see the detail in this beautiful window.

After visiting with the missionaries in the Zacatecas Zone, we slipped away from interviews for a while and rode the teleferico to the buffa. (that's a chair lift to the highest point in Zacatecas) Annette poses with the city behind (and below) her.

A view from the top!

Zacatecas, Zacatecas is a city of narrow cobblestone streets, beautiful cathedrals, and lots of tourists. It's charming but difficult to make your way through the streets, most of which are one way.

This cathedral is a block from our stake center in Zacatecas. It is currently being renovated. We were also able to walk to the Quinta Real Hotel which is a bull ring which has been turned into a 5 star hotel. It's really something.

At the top of the "buffa" is a cathedral, vendors, and statues of famous Mexican Revolutionary figures-thus Poncho Villa rides.

The fountains at El Parque Guadiana are full of "children" playing in the water. (without water at this time of year)

At the Museo de Cine, Annette is dwarfed by the huge camera. Durango is the site of many western movies and during it's heyday, all the Hollywood stars flocked to Durango, Durango to participate or just see what all the rage was as far as scenery was concerned. John Wayne owned a ranch outside of Durango, La Joya Ranch, which has been the set of many movies.

We visited the Regional Museo de Durango and found this great display of paper mache art by a local artist. This crazy dragon really caught our eye.

President Clark really deserved this fuity ice cream treat that evening because, after all, while the girls were off sightseeing, he was finishing his interviews for this six week period. It's amazing that he could even smile after visiting with all 170 of them! He works hard. (by Glenys)

Annette is very content to sit on the Plaza de Armas in Durango and watch people and enjoy her ice cream. It was a great trip and one we won't soon forget.

Missionaries, missionaries, and more missionaries...

2009-03-07T16:21:00.001-08:00

We're hoping that this blog can be a way for parents of our missionaries to catch a glimpse of their sons or daughters. Here are a few shots Sr. Clark took of our fine missionaries waiting for interviews with the President or during zone conferences. Enjoy!

Elders Miranda and Mora-former and present secretaries of the mission--comparing notes at interviews.
It must have been "gold tie" day in Durango!
Elders Hernandez, Maxfield, and Phillips got the memo.

Hermanas Castillo and Salas read their mail while waiting.

Elder Michael and Elder Alanis after Zone Conference in Madero

Our office staff: Elders Lopez, Mora, Sorenson, Hyde, Llano, and Briggs--posing outside the mission home after a preparation day cookout--these missionaries do so much to keep our mission operating smoothly.

Some of the Zacatecas Zone waiting for interviews:
Elders Ramirez, Santoyo, Moreno, Perez, Spencer, Amador, Carlson, Ruiz, and Guerrero

The Madero Zone all wore green ties to interviews. Here they are waiting their turn:

Elders Maguayel, Perez, Betoni, De La Cruz, Torres, Gines, Layland, and Masterson

A New Year--2009

2009-02-07T17:14:00.000-08:00

Interviews were held at the first of January. It was great to see the missionaries again after a slight break for Christmas. Our new Area Medical Advisor, Dr. Ed Spencer, and his wife, Cindy, accompanied us as we visited four of the nine zones. They gave advice and counsel about health and met with missionaries who were having specific problems.

Elder and Sr. Spencer with some of the missionaries from Durango

Elder Spencer is an outstanding missionary and was able to share a short message about the church to several individuals as we traveled and now the missionaries are teaching them. We enjoyed our time together.

We were delighted to have a call from President Clark's parents who wanted to come down for a visit. They spent a week with us in January and were relieved to be free of the ice and snow that was plaguing them in Southeast Idaho. Here is a photo of them with the Zone Leaders at our council meeting. We all enjoyed the 80 degree weather during their visit.

In our Zone Conferences that started Feb. 3rd, President Clark focused on his vision for the mission. Those who were here when we first arrived had heard it but we have received so many new missionaries since July, it seemed appropriate to present it again.

Our first Christmas in the Mission

2008-12-31T17:35:00.000-08:00

We have just finished our Zone Conferences where we celebrated with the missionaries by having a nice dinner and a beautiful power point presentation created by our assistants which included photos of missionaries and those they have taught in their white baptismal clothes on the day of their baptisms. They selected the most moving, beautiful music and incuded pictures of the Savior and scriptural passages about baptism. It brought us to tears all 5 times we saw it. We truly love these 160 great missionaries and the work they are doing here. This is a Christmas we will always remember because we are able to focus more on the gift of the Savior and not so much on things of the world. How blessed we feel.

We enjoyed a little "giving" after the dinners. Sr. Clark had been doing a little "elf work" since October. (the Sister Missionaries helped her for a couple of hours on the day of their Sister's Together activity in October) She made personalized stockings for all the missionaries and filled them with a few goodies.

Visits from our family

2008-12-31T16:41:00.000-08:00

We were so happy to have visits from 4 of our famiy members during November and December. Melanie brought our new little granddaughter, Ava Lynn Steere for a visit during the week of Thanksgiving. We enjoyed every minute! Ava was such a good traveler and happy baby. We visited the suspension bridge at Mapimi, the Cristo, attended a couple of President Clark's presentations at the mini-conference held in conjunction with interviews, and put up the Christmas tree.

We also visited the very beautiful and interesting city of Zacatecas. Here is a photo of one of the cathedrals in the center of town.

During the week of Christmas, we enjoyed having two of our sons, Nate and Spencer, as our guests here in the mission. We enjoyed just hanging out around the house together, opening a few gifts, and then heading to Durango to see the Villa del Oeste, a park which celebrates the western movies that have been shot around the Durango area. We tried to find John Wayne's La Joya Ranch but a river had washed out the road. (sounds like something you'd hear about in a movie) We just enjoyed taking pictures of cactus and rocks, and the beautiful scenery. It was a memorable week. The temperature was in the 80's and the boys returned home to 12 inches of snow.

November 2008

2008-12-31T16:14:00.000-08:00

Temples are sacred houses of worship for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Members throughout the world aspire to be worthy to enter these temples by their faithfulness in paying a full tithing (10 % of their income) living the Word of Wisdom (abstaining from substances harmful to the body such as tobacco and alcohol, and living the law of chastity. Ordinances which unite families together for all of time and eternity, are performed in the temples.

One of the highlights of the month of November, here in Mexico, was the rededication of the Mexico City Temple. People have been looking forward to this during the year and half of reconstruction. A cultural program was broadcast to all the stake centers on Saturday, November 15 and then the temple was dedicated in two sessions on Sunday, November 16th. We had 6 new missionaries with us for the weekend so we were privileged to accompany them to the morning session which was televised to worthy members in our stake centers.

When President Clark served in his mission in the SE Mexican Mission in 1970, there was not a single temple in all of Mexico. Now there are 12. This tells you how the church has grown in this part of the world. We are so pleased to be able to work with the great members, bishoprics, stake presidencies, and missionaries as they continue to build the church in the Torreon area. We pray that one day the people here will be blessed with their own temple.