Parras

The bus ride to Parras was only 3 hours and we arrived in the early evening. Parras is a smallish city (arround 44,000 people) kind of an oasis of a city in the middle of a forsaken desert. There are miles and miles of vineyards (in fact, parras in spanish means vine) but the wine factory has been closed for years. Jesse says they just export the grapes to somewhere else to be processed now. But there are trees EVERYWHERE! We just drove through this parched desert and then BAM! Lush, green trees and grass everywhere! I loved that they weren't merely decorative either, all the trees in the parks and gardens were producing either nuts or fruit. Around the swimming pools they had pecan trees and at the park there were mulberry.
When we first got into Parras we drove around to find a hotel room, and to our dismay, after checking 6 hotels and finding them all full we found out that they would all be full that night because the governor was baptising his (infant) daughter in the old wine factory so there were hundreds of people in town. We weren't that put out though, because knowing how much these people loved Jesse there is no way we'd go without somewhere to stay for the night. We went to visit the Soliz family first and Hermana Soliz taught me how to make tortillas. At first she refused my help and wanted me to sit down at the table with Jesse, but I had Jesse explain to her that I wanted her to teach me exactly how to make them she accepted my help and became like my own mother, patient and kind.
The measurements of the ingredients are how you'd expect them to be, a kilo of flour, a handful of salt and another handful of rexal (baking powder) and then a chunk of lard. She does it by sight, so the only way to learn is to watch and remember the best you can. I helped her roll them out too and I couldn't quite get them as round as she could. She kept saying "no hermana, like this..." She would pick up my mishapen tortilla and show it to Jesse and laugh. Jesse didn't care about the shape though, he was just happy he had homemade tortillas and beans (and the prospect of having them at home too made him even happier!) Hermano Soliz was 67 years old, but you wouldn't know it by looking at him (that's him below on the left). He runs five miles and eats 6 small, healthy meals every day. It's not very common to find someone in rural mexico interested in fitness and nutrition, but Brother Soliz is! He showed us several nutrition books in that he has read in english even one by Jillian Michaels! Brother and Sister Soliz have 3 children and we were able to visit with 2 of them; Elsie lives just down the street with her husband and daughter Marianna (Elsie is in the blue striped shirt, and mariana is on the far left in pink being held by Hermana Soliz in yellow). Rosy lives a few miles away, but came into town to see us while we were there for church (she's in the black shirt and blue sweater holding her daughter Sitlaly in the peach dress, her husband Eduardo is in the black shirt.) Also in this picture are Edgar (brown shirt) and Paloma (black shirt on the right) and their son Jesse(peeking out behind Paloma in the red shirt... and yep, he's named after Jesse!). Mosiah (Jesse's missionary companion) said something very touching to little Jesse the night before we left. As we were all shaking hands and kissing cheeks ( I love that custom!) and saying our goodbyes Mosiah looked at little Jesse and says (in spanish) "protect your name". I love that Mosiah is concerned about Jesse's name, and it being protected.... I love these people.
Rosy and Eduardo with me and Jesse:This is a shawl Hermana Soliz crocheted for me:
Church in Parras was something I will remember forever. Even though it was in spanish, I could feel the devotion and faithfulness of the members in the branch. Towards the end of sacrament meeting Jesse was dozing off and all of a sudden we heard the branch president say "something something Hermano Callahan something something" I look at him and say "did he just say you're saying the closing prayer?" "I dunno, I think so!" He said. So when the time for the closing prayer came he glanced around to see if anyone else would stand up, and when no one did, he stood and said the closing prayer. They also asked me to say the closing prayer after gospel doctrine, I said "In english?" They said "Sure! We'll just imagine what you're saying!" (you mean like I've been doing this whole trip?!!)
This is the whole branch at church (when Jesse was there on his mission, they didn't even have a chapel and only a handful of members): Jesse with Araceli... so much to say about her, but in a minute: After church we visited this guy, he was very racist and had a foul mouth ( he yelled "F You!" to a bicyclist who got in our way) but he was very funny and kind. He would take my hand in his and look me in the eyes and say to Jesse in spanish "tell your wife that I hope God is with you on your travels and that you return again to visit soon." His daughter and her two children lived with him and this baby (Zoey) fell asleep on my lap and drooled on my arm and I loved every minute of it :)
We spent the rest of the day driving around town with the Soliz family and looking at their city swimming pools and parks, I think that was my favorite part of the trip because it actually felt like we were on vacation (for an afternoon at least!).
This is Jesse and Eduardo in front of one of the swimming pools. They are filled with irrigation water and have fish, most of the fish were goldfish sized but we saw one fish as big as a cat! We also visited the house that Jesse lived in when he was a missionary:Mosiah and his wife Erica came that night (after 14 HOURS on a bus from Mexico City) and we had a wild time playing games and quoting Nacho Libre. I understand now why Jesse loves Mosiah so much and why they get along so well, they're both so goonie!

Jesse tried to take a picture of all the girls, but he told us all to frown. He didn't realize that he gave the directions in spanish, so here I was smiling away because I didn't know he said to frown.... we had a good laugh over that. Gabby is the one on the left and she just got back from a mission.
The next morning we had breakfast with Mosiah and Erica and she said to Jesse and Mosiah (since they all know at least a little english) "Lets all speak in english so Laura is not left out." (it reminded me of how kind Jacqueline was in Zacatecas, she insisted Jesse speak english to her in front of me so that I would not be left out) I know it wasn't easy for them but they did a wonderful job and for a few minutes on the trip I could understand the conversation, so thank you Erica :)Then we went grocery shopping for Araceli:
While most of the members we visited live in humble circumstances, these were extreme. Araceli's family hasn't had money to pay their water bill in 5 years or to pay for gas or food. We were very fortunate to have the means to be able to share with them. To little Araceli, even though you will probably never see this: I love you, God loves you and there is no need to be ashamed of that.

We visited the Mena family next and they have a bakery attached to their house.Hermano Mena bakes lots of bread every day. He let me peak into the oven and see all the loaves!
They make all kinds of sweet breads and cheese breads and little fruit filled empanadas... all warm from the oven.... delicious!
And he let me attempt to roll out some rolls :)
One of the greatest parts our trip was getting to meet Mosiah and Erica. Jesse went to their wedding last September and I was unable to go, but I'm glad I got to meet them this trip. Mosiah trained Jesse in Parras for 7 months, so they got to know each other and the area very well. To see them walking the streets of Parras together again was like watching two little kids discover a long lost club house. Mosiah is truly like a brother to Jesse and they will be eternal friends :)