On Monday, December 21st, we took off for the south of the mission to deliver Christmas packages which had come in the mail. We left later than planned, no big surprise, and made our first stop in San Andres Tuxtlas. After that was an unscheduled missionary setting apart in Catemaco. They found me through the missionaries by cell phone. The missionary's name is Yair Timoteo Paredes. He is the only active member in his family except for his little 10 year old brother. Elder Timoteo is going to the Tuxla-Gutierrez Mission which borders us on the south. It is likely a very beautiful area. They say their are lots of mountain and jungle areas. We know that there are lots of ruins in his mission. It should be an interesting place to go.

We arrived at the Catemaco Chapel. He was there with the new branch president. His hair was combed in the very typical teenage pointy-Godzilla-Mohawk style which is popular in Latin America right now, and it drives a priesthood leader nuts. I told him that I couldn't set him apart while he looked like that. We have actually talked about his hair before. He said that there was no water in the chapel that night. I told him, " Too bad. Deal with it." We went off to the bathroom together, and it was true. No water. But he was able to squeeze enough out of the tap to flatten the gel in his hair. I told the branch president that the young elder had to get a haircut before he got on the plane the next day to fly to the Mexico MTC. The setting apart was very strong in spite of the opposition in the beginning. Elder Timoteo bore a very strong testimony in the pre-blessing meeting. I think he will do okay.