This is a house across the street and is typical of an average dwelling. This one has a store on the bottom floor (very common) with living units around the patio and in the upper stories. The housing and commercial areas are all intermixed on the same block. The street is bordered by sidewalks (usually in pretty bad shape) and then the dwelling. there are no front yards. You can't see into the houses or yards. The lot and dwellings are surrounded by walls with a patio in the middle.

You'll also find that nice places are mixed with those that are downtrodden. However, you can only know this if you get to look inside the gate to the place, or by noticing the condition of the outside wall by the sidewalk.

Many mom and pop small businesses (of all kinds) and vendors of food, flowers, etc. are found along side the road. You'll also see mechanic shops with workers repairing cars and trucks of all sizes on the streets and sidewalks.

Our Neighborhood

This is a photo of our neighborhood from the roof of our apartment building. The Temple Square is a fenced or walled area that has a continuous security presence. We are really safe here. Outside the square we feel safe during the day but we try not to be out there too much after dark. This is an impoverished area of the city. When the temple location was selected the President of the Church determined it should be placed in an area were the poor would have easy access. He said that those with money would be able to get there but the poor could not attend, or would feel uncomfortable being there, if it was built in the prosperous areas of the city.

Our Apartment

We have a very nice apartment with three bedroom apartment, kitchen, living/dinning room, bathroom, laundry room and patio, all fully furnished. The apartment has neither heating nor air conditioning. Why? the weather here is like eternal springtime with a range of temperatures of 50 to 85. Daytime temperatures usually range between 65-70 with little humidity. So those of you up in the upper 48 states, eat your heart out.

Some may wonder, what's up I thought you were in hot Mexico? Mexico City sits in a high mountain valley (7,200 ft. elevation) surrounded by mountains. We have two seasons, wet (May to Sept.) and dry (the rest of the year). Typically it rains in the late afternoon or evening.

Zarahemla Apartments

The building in the center is where we live. We live on the second floor on the right hand side. Looking at the first level of windows, ours are the three to the right of tree. All the missionaries that work in the Visitors Center live in this building. To the right of the picture is the front of the Visitors Center.

Mexico City Temple

This is the Mexico City Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Members of the church visit during the week to worship and learn about God's plan for his children and to further prepare them to return to God after this life. It is the major building on Temple Square, an enclosed area which also includes the Visitors Center, a Missionary Training Center for Spanish speaking missionaries, and various support buildings.

Spanish Speaking Sister Missionaries

These Spanish speaking missionaries come from various parts of the world: Mexico, Peru, and Argentina. They are bright, enthusiastic, energetic, and dedicated. Currently our number in the Center has increased to 12 with 6 others working in other areas. They rotate in and out of the Center so that they eventually spend 12 months in the Center. Left to right they are Sisters: Lara O., Cuevas, Obeso, Bobadilla, Lara P., Novoa, Vilca, Murga, Ramos, Aguilar.

Incredible Co-workers

We work with an incredible group of fellow missionaries. Going left to right: the Stewart's, he has been a businessman and mayor of the City of Provo, UT; the Lopez's, natives of Mexico who work one day a week as volunteers; the Acosta's, he was a career diplomat with the US State Department and has worked all over the world. The Acosta's and Stewart's are each on their third mission and both have served three year tours as mission presidents.

We have a great time together and ofter share dinners and excursions to interesting places near Mexico City. During our service at the Center a senior couple will serve with six younger missionary sisters. There are two work shifts per day and each shift is about 5 hours. We are open all week except on Monday when we are closed for cleaning.