These two Olmec heads are different, one from the other. The first, at a small museum in the pueblito Tres Zapotes (a zapote is a large football-shaped fruit), is an image of a live ruler. His eyes are open, his nostrils are flared, his lips and other features are full and vibrant. The second, in the town square at Santiago, is of a dead ruler. His eyes are closed and his nostrils are flat as are his lips and other features. The Olmec did not worship these statues. These are not representations of gods. Rather, they are sculpted to honor their leaders. The second Olmec head is the largest ever found and is about 5 meters tall. Twenty-two of these were found near Tres Zapotes in the plain on the west side of and near to the Hill Vigía. It is said to be the crucible of civilzation in Mexico.

We like Santiago Tuxtla. This is in the town square. It is a very clean and tidy little town. This town square includes an Olmec museum and many shops.

Elders Maldonado and Page (North Carolina) are descending from their apartment to the street in Santiago Tuxtla. Pretty nice, huh? They have running water there almost every day of the week.

We have talked a lot in our letters about the district, Los Tuxtla. One of our favorite places there is the priesthood group, Santiago Tuxtla. It is not yet a branch but we have applied with Salt Lake to create the branch and are awaiting word. These photos are of the group inside the rented casa de oración. One shows the rostrum and group leadership. The other is of most of the members and a couple of non-members (now baptized) who were there that day. The Spirit is wonderful and strong in these little gatherings. The work is progressing. They have had as many as 40 people in attendance recently.

We grew these bananas in our backyard. Commercially, they bag the bananas with a huge plastic bag while they are still on the tree to help them ripen faster. These got too heavy and the bunch along with its branch fell to the ground. They ripened, though. We shared them with the office elders and the lady who helps with the mission home.

Manuel Satre Cajina is one of my favorites. He looks much older than his 77 years, doesn't he? When he was 15 or 16 or 17, he doesn't really remember, he killed a man who was going to kill him, shot him off of his horse. He served over two years in prison. When he got out he went and visited all the family of the decedent and asked their forgiveness. Even with that he has not been able to live happily because of guilt, often waking up in the night dreaming of the event. Then, he found the gospel and his life changed. He went to church and lived the commandments for months, as is required is these types of cases. His interview was very difficult because he doesn't hear and has no teeth and is really hard to understand. But, it was easy to feel his conviction and desire. He just wanted to be baptized before he died so that he could find some peace. The First Presidency granted permission and he was baptized on September 17th or 18th, shortly after Mexican Independence Day which is the 16th. His missionaries are Sisters Ramos and Guzman.

Jorge Ivan Chagala Cobaxin was my first temple recommend interview for a member in the Lost Tuxtla District. He was also the first missionary I had the chance to set apart. That happened on September 8th. He was called to serve in the Ecuador Guayacil South Mission. His MTC training was in Colombia. What an adventure for this young man to leave remote Mexico near the Hill Vigía to go to South America for two years. His mom came to the setting apart. She began lessons with the missionaries immediately after he left and was baptized only three weeks later. She remains very active.