The Clayton Clan: Our Mission President Seminar

This October we met in Chiapas, Tuxtla Gutierrez Mexico for our Mission President Seminar.

Chiapas is a state in the south of Mexico and borders Guatemala.

We had a wonderful few days connecting with, and enjoying the company of the other 34 mission presidents serving here in Mexico, some we have gotten to know very well and who we love and admire so very much. We were also excited to greet and welcome the 17 new mission presidents who began serving in July of this year

What a fun day we had onThursday October 20th. We had breakfast at the hotel, and got on 2 big buses and went to San Cristobal about an hour and a half away. San Cristobal is the original capital of this state, established by the Spanish. The city is a melting pot mostly from the Mayan people.

There are many many indigenous groups descending from the Mayans that are recognized in Mexico. They each have their own peculiar language - 13 different ones they think; most are not written down and we were told by our guide that the languages are so guttural and unrecognizable they cannot be learned. Many of these indigenous people keep hid up high in the mountains and do not come down. They have their children and live tucked away so tight, and keep to themselves, only coming down when they need things or to sell things, and so the total population of the city is unknown.

As we got into San Cristobal, we stopped at the most beautiful place for lunch. It was lovely, lovely, and the food was very good. We took lots of pictures, and walked around the grounds, the trees were turning colors and the setting was gorgeous.

We got back on the bus for another 30 minute ride to the San Cristobal River, where we boarded boats and motored down the river seeing the gorgeous mountains and animals. We saw all kinds of birds, crocodiles and spider monkeys, but those were far away. We saw gorgeous water falls and the dam, and then came back.

We then traveled still another 30 minutes on to the large open market, where we saw so many indian-mayan people, mostly mothers and children.

We got right into the city of San Cristobal for an afternoon of shopping. That, was an experience.

We were told on the bus to be careful and not to buy from anyone, until we got to the open market. If you act interested in something, these people will follow you stay with you all day long.

The minute we got off the bus, there were children begging and mothers trying to sell blouses and scarves homemade this and that’s, trinkets and more. They seemed to be so desperate and poor.
As we got into the actual market, we saw so many interesting things and people.

I loved the grandmas. Then there were the mothers nursing their babies some out in the open others under shawls or tightly woven straps holding the baby tight to the mother's chest. Many mothers, wanting us to buy something would uncover their sleeping baby to show us, trying to plead with us to buy their trinkets.

There were so many mothers and young girls dressed in lama skirts. I just couldn't get past the mothers with their babies tied tight to them with shawls. Their brown faces and sad eyes were haunting. My heart and my throat had a huge lump stuck there as we walked around. Everything they were selling was just for a very few pesos, but they looked so desperate. I want to remember the grandma sitting in one of the market stalls in the back on a small wooden stool, crocheting a basket. I asked if I could take her picture, and she shook her head no. I also want to remember the 2 little boys, as we got right off the bus who were begging to polish Bob's shoes, and how sad they were when we all said no, gracias to them. It was absolutely heartbreaking. Our guides told us we had to keep walking, and turn away, or they would follow and follow us.

The city is a mish mash of cultures and traditions and languages. I wanted so badly to take pictures of the mothers wearing those lama wool skirts, that were charcoal black and so Woolley, again, most with their babies tied and wrapped tight around them. The children were precious! Dark beautiful skin and chocolate eyes, raven black hair. There were some adorable children playing, giggling and happy, and some were so breathtakingly sad and mournful.

Most mothers and children in and around the market were selling various things in little booths back to back. It was like a maze in there. Scarfs, clothing, jewelry, bags, all kinds of leather things, on and on. Some, grandmas mostly, sat on little uncomfortable stools in the back of their little square section weaving something or beading jewelry, crocheting or making baskets. Some toddlers and babies were asleep back on the stacks and stacks of clothing to be sold.

I bought a wool vest, and Bob a Mayan calendar. Bob also (was thrilled ) to find a petrified tree sap called Amber that had a misquote in it. (think Jurassic Park)

Our last stop was at the chocolate shop. The tour guide said that chocolate originated there in San Cristobal. (I know other places claim that too). We stopped at that darling chocolate shop there on the corner past the cathedral, called Chocolates and Kisses. We went in and hurriedly bought some chocolate bars.They were delicious.