Que Pasa Calabaza?

(Posted out of order.  We didn't receive a few emails at the right time, just barely figured out how to access them.  This is from October 30, 2017)

Happy Halloween!!! I am the happiest missionary in all of Cancún because we found baby pumpkins and we carved them! It´s the simple things, haha. They say, "Sea feliz, Sea Mormon!" (Be happy, be Mormon!) My companion indulged in my desire to carve pumpkins and we had a lot of fun. I also love the phrase, "Que pasa calabaza, nada nada limonada!" (What´s up, Pumpkin. Nothing, lemonade.) Spanish is the best. 

We learned a bunch of other random phrases this week, like "con las manos en la masa" or, "The hands in the dough." It means caught red handed, but it actually was very applicable because we were kneading masa with the relief society for a ward activity. We made "pibi pollo." It´s traditional to the Yucatan peninsula and they usually cook it in a hole in the ground. We weren´t that exotic and we just made it in the oven, but it was super fun and we wrote down the crazy complicated recipe. So I will definitely intent to make it for you all someday and hope that it turns out okay. :)

This week we had the suuuuper amazing, spiritually uplifting Stake Conference with our favorite mission President, PRESIDENTE REYNOSO! He came to talk and did an amazing job of explaining the joys of missionary work. It was so great because our investigator Kristel can´t make it to church on sundays for her college, but she could come to the Saturday night session and she loved it! Everyone was so friendly and really gave her the best "bienvenida." At one point she started crying, I think because she felt the spirt? Maybe she was nervous? I´m not actually sure....but I just felt prompted to share the scripture that says "Lean unto God in every thought, doubt not, fear not." After that, she was calm, and full of joy just to be there in the Lord´s house. I´m not sure why she was upset, or exactly how she was feeling, but I know that message was what the Lord wanted her to hear in that moment. She´s amazing. 

Elder Martinez from the Quorum of the Seventy was also there, and he is so powerful!!! He really helped me understand that even after our best efforts, if the people don´t accept our invitation, it isn´t because we didn´t have faith. It´s because God respects their agency. It was a beautiful conference and it was amazing to see the whole stake show up, ready and willing to hear from our leaders. The saints are so good here, it´s unbelievable. 

Elder Martinez made the best joke. He pulled the stake presidente up to the front, and put him next to Presidente Reynoso. He explained how they both have priesthood keys for the missionary work and how the members and missionaries NEED to work together. And then he explained that both of them are dentists. (The stake pres is the talented dentist that fixed my tooth) Sooooo.....OPEN YOUR MOUTH and share the gospel. It was too good. And so true! 

I had the lifechanging experience of eating Elote, which is mexican street corn with cream, cheese, and chili. Hermana Merrick and I were amazed by how good it is and every time the corn guy passes by on his tricicle we´re super tempted to by an elote. We can´t buy street food, but we can accept it if a member offers us something. 

Pictures this week include one of the many random horses that we pass on the streets. There are cowboys here. Also, our cute pumpkins and making pibi pollo. :)

I love you all and I hope everthing is going well! Have a great Halloween, eat lots of candy, and share the gospel!!! 

Love, 

Hermana Schwartz