Crazy Kids

​¡Feliz Aniversario!

If I'm right, this one is known as the silver anniversary, or aniversario de plata in Spanish. I hope you and dad have a fun, kidney stone free vacation. And I am happy to be one of the crazy kids in this family. From what I've seen, no one really ever stops being a kid, they just get better at hiding it. For example, the missionaries always seemed so grown up to me when I was a kid. But now that I am one, I have seen just how young we really are. We still get bored in long meetings, make fun of each other, and do some stupid things. Still, I'm so glad to be able to get to know all of the wonderful people here, missionaries, members, and nonmembers alike, and see how life works down here. One of the people here said I was in the wrong area to see Mexico, because all of the touristy things are in the north. Yet that's not the real Mexico. The real Mexico is where the people live, what they see from day to day. It's riding the bumpy, shakey, and somewhat scarey public transportation. It's eating tortas and tacos from the street vendors, not always the smartest choice in all honesty. What I'm trying to say is that I feel I am in the perfect place to get to know Mexico. And I feel I got a bit off topic from the subject of your anniversary.

As far as things are going here, things are about the same. I finish my training in two weeks, which I can't really believe. I feel like I have progressed a lot with the language, but I still have a lot to learn. I read a couple of the Isaiah chapters of the Book of Mormon in Spanish this week, and they kind of kicked my butt. I litterally had to go verse by verse reading the Spanish, then the English to understand what he was saying. The other chapters I do a lot better with, but Second Nephi is going to be a challenge. Still, I know I can make it through. Other than that, I feel I learn something new everyday as far as the language goes.

As far as the people here, they are all pretty kind that I've talked to. A lot of the people here own their own little businesses here. And a little business in Mexico can be as little as going bus to bus selling candy. It kind of surprises me how often that one happens. You'll be on the bus and suddenly there's someone shoving some kind of mango chile lolipop in your face saying uno por dos pesos, o tres por solo cinco pesos. But they must make money, because they keep doing it. Many people also work in factories making all sorts of things. And there are a lot of moto taxi drivers as well. Moto taxis are either carts pulled by a motorcycle, or occasionally a bicycle, or a golf cart. They are more expensive than the buses, but are fairly cheep still, so we use them occasionally. So basically, people do a lot of different things here, just like in the states.

That's about all I've got for you this week. I hope you get feeling better, and once again happy anniversary. I love you.

Love,
Elder Samuel Long

P.S. There is a chance, it's not for sure as far as I know now, that I won't be able to write next week. We may be going to some Mayan ruins to the north of Mexico City called Teotihuacan. Like I said, I'm not completely sure, but If I don't write you next week, that's why.

P.P.S Speaking of stupid things missionaries do, this may have happened: