Leon and Guanajuato

So, last weekend we went with Chad, Tania and Damaris (Tania's sister) to Leon, leather capital of Mexico, and Guanajuato, where Tania comes from.

Well, I don't think I need to tell you how lost I was in the leather capital... I was literally drooling... We went to this street where shops are ALL ABOUT LEATHER. Paradise for a woman basically (or a man to be honest). Then when you think you're entering this little tiny shop, you take two steps more toward the back of the shop only to find a massive leather market. Bags, belts, wallets, shoes, boots... ALL FOR DIRT CHEAP!!!!
Anyway, do you think that's cool? Check this out... Leon is the capital of all outlets of any shoe/bag/belt/leather brand you can imagine. Nike, Sketchers, Hush puppies, Lobo Solo, etc. They're all there...

Can you see this picture on the right? Look behind us... can you see the end of the street? No?
Well, this is the outlet plaza. Every single shop you see left, right, up, down... they're all outlet of shoes. They even have a Crocs outlet!!
Well I couldn't believe it!

Anyway, moving on... we had Chinese buffet before we drove to Guanajuato. It was about 3$ (2.5 GBP). And it was brilliant... all you can eat!

So at around 9pm, we drove to Guanajuato, to Tania's parents house. We got there and we were welcomed like family. Tania's mom was cooking tacos for us, but we were so full from the Chinese that she kept it for breakfast. So we stayed at Tania's brother, who is married to a Japanese Sister. They have the cutest girl, Airi.
So anyway, we had a nice night sleep. Then we had a BIG MASSIVE breakfast with tacos. At first I thought "Hmmm tacos for breakfast...too heavy for me". But then you watch everyone stuffing their faces, and you start drooling. And you give in... and I have to say they were absolutely DELICIOUS!!! I thought I would try only one, and I ended up having three and I had to stop myself...

So we hit the road to drive down to the center of Guanajuato. We parked and we walked nearly the whole city. Well, I have to say that it was absolutely stunning. The buildings, the streets, the smells, the colors... I mean, everything was nearly magic.

We had the best coffee ever... I have never enjoyed a day so much. And that's not only thanks to Guanajuato, but especially thanks to Chad and Tania. You can be in a beautiful place, but it's the company that makes the whole experience perfect. We had so much fun going into shops and just saying "Bartledoo" (I know... one day I'll elaborate) and taking funny pictures always saying "Would you look at that" (again... one day...). The last time I had that much fun was... was... hmmm... I can't remember!

After a whole day walking we went back to the house, to find lovely food, lovely company, lovely... everything!!!! Ate again, slept again...woke up and went for another wonderful coffee and... the best gorditas I've had since I've been here. Again you think "Hhmmm gorditas for breakfast...I don't know about that", but then you go to the stand and you see this wonderful food full of colors and you smell this mixtures of cheese, tomato sauce, peppers, chilli... and you can't say no. And you find yourself eating three instead of one. Best breakfast ever...

So we hit the road again, listened to the WT in the car, had a lot of fun again, got depressed as the lovely weekend ended (sigh), arrived home, went to the KH to help with the general cleaning, went home, had a shower, got dressed, went to the meeting, nearly dozed off (ooppsss)...went back and slept like a baby!

Well, people, if you ever visit Mexico, you need to visit Guanajuato...and don't forget Leon if you want a pair of shoes or a nice leather bag for the field...

Soooo... that's it... we're back to normality (sigh...) looking forward to next time we can hit the road and visit again.

Ciaaaao!!!

C.O. Visits

So we're having our C.O. visit here in Zac. The first as a congregation in 9 months... And we had our last C.O. visit in April in Uganda. So it was quite exciting. Shane and Misty Fleming are missionaries and after 8 years in Panama they have been given the privilege of the circuit work here in Mexico.
They are a very funny, down to earth, very encouraging couple with so many interesting experiences.
Funny enough they were in the same class as Gary and Angela Rappeneckers (do you remember them? in Uganda?).
So it was nice to relate to them. And we have so many things in common with them thanks to all the years we have been in Uganda.
His talks are really encouraging. I can see how the faithful and discreet slave, and therefore Jehovah, is keeping us up during these distressing times.
I love the way Jehovah keeps on letting us know that HE'S WATCHING and HE KNOWS what is going on down here to all of his servants. I am so appreciative.

And I loved the way he expressed zeal or being zealous at the pioneer meeting. We create a "space" around us to be able to pioneer in this crazy world and we don't allow anything to pierce that bubble. That's what being zealous/jealous mean.

And another thing I learned that I want to put into practice is to become a better teacher and this involves not talking. It involves limiting ourselves to the question in the teach book and if we need to add something, it should be like Jesus: illustrations, experiences and questions. Nothing more.

So something for me to work on as I like to talk a lot. ;-)

Anyway, today is the last day of the visit unfortunately. It was very busy, out morning and afternoon and with a meeting everyday of the week. So yes, "We are pressed in every way, but not cramped beyond movement; we are perplexed, but not absolutely with no way out; we are persecuted, but not left in the lurch; we are thrown down, but not destroyed."

So from tomorrow is back to normality. We're thinking of taking a weekend off... let's see!

So today is the public talk and I'll probably have a study coming... Jehovah I'll leave it up to you!!!