ADVENTURES IN TORREON

Saturday, May 8, 2010

A visit from the Steere Family

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

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

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

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.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Running

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

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)