Stake Conference in Valles

During stake conference in Valles on Saturday night, we challenged the members to invite their friends and neighbors to the Sunday meeting. We try to meet as many of them as possible. Most times the missionaries wait for us after the meetings so we can meet them. This woman in the very middle is an investigator along with her two daughters to her left. After the meeting her sister-in -law brought her up to me and asked if the three of us could have a picture together. Afterward, I kept my arms around them and called them "mis hermanas". They both hugged me tight and wept. The investigator was so touched by the meeting. We went outside and also had a picture with other members of the family. It was a joyful day. These are 8 of the 12 missionaries that serve in Valles.
Left to right:
Elder Peterson, Elder Saldana, Elder Pratt, Elder Perez, Elder Olivas, Elder Newton, Elder Estrada, and Elder Astorga.
On our way home on Sunday we took another road to see a couple of the small areas in our mission where we no longer have missionaries. They are Tamuin and Tanquian. In Tanquian, we sat in the car for about 30 minutes waiting for the Branch President to meet us and show where the little House of Prayer is located in the city. While waiting, we watched the tiny market across the street. Look closely at the woman in the middle and then look at the picture below to see what it is that is strapped on her back.

This toddler must be sleeping and she just carries him to keep her arms free. It looks so uncomfortable for him and difficult for her. I hope he can breath.
When the Branch President came, he drove us to the little meeting house where about 15 people come every week. They consist of about 3 different families. Dad decided that he's going to call the stake president in Valles to find a different place for these people to meet. It is a disaster and not worthy of the name on the placard. The picture does not tell the story. Hopefully there is another place in the city where they can meet and invite others to join them. In the future we hope to give them 2 missionaries. It has beeen years since they had missionaries.