Our niece Ashleigh Garcia went with us this year. She kept Travis company on the long trip.
Anybody recognize these two? Somehow they showed up at Grandma Garcia's for Christmas this year.
We visited Grandpa Garcia's grave in Las Cruces.
We also visited Great Grandpa Chavez' grave (Lisa's Grandfather) grave in Colonia Juarez. This year we got special permits to cross the inner border at Janos Mexico and visited Colonia Juarez, The Mormon colony settled in the 1880's. It is where Grandma Garcia was raised and introduced to the Church.
This is the place where Grandma was baptised in the river in Colonia Juarez when she was 15 years old.
The temple in Colonia Juarez. Dedicated in 2000' A very beautiful temple in a quiet little Mormon colony of 1200 people. Thanks President Hinckley for bringing the temples to the people. The Ochoa family from the Ascension Branch was sealed here just three weeks ago.
La Academia Preparatoria de Colonia Juarez. This school was first opened when the saints arrived to Colonia Juarez. It is owned and run by the Church, but you don't have to be a member to attend. Lisa's mother graduated from here before getting married and going to BYU. It wasn't quite this big back then. Two of the youth from the Ascension branch attend this school. Thanks to the Perpetual Education Fund, many others do also.
I caught a picture of one of Santa's Elves still in her jammies.
One day we assembled 500 dispensas of food to distribute. Lisa's job was adding the bags of flour.
We bought red chilis from these boys. Then gave it to anyone who needed it.
Ashleigh carrying a dispensa.
Travis found the balls at a School for handicap children we visited.
Mark rented a young boy's pony and gave rides to the kids. He had to test it out first.
Now Travis wants a Pony!
Members of the branch showing the new books they received. Thanks Lisa.
Santa got mobbed by the kids at a Party in town.
The Barboza Flores Family. they lived in a house made of pallets three years ago. Dave's family helped them this year with some construction supplies for their home. Ask Dave for the details. They were very touched. Thanks Dave and Amy, and kids.
The Medrano Family. Thanks to many hands, we helped them with the little addition to their house. They have nine in the family and live in about 200 square feet. The bike in the picture is from Matt to Rodolfo, who is holding it.
This is the addition to their little adobe house. It now has a cement floor, new lights, and a front door. They are members of the branch, and are preparing to go to the temple in a few months.
This is Alexis, and Alexa, the Medrano twins. They are 15 months old. We took them a rocking horse and a toy box. They're not too sure about Mark holding them.
Miguel and Eloisa Sirvas, and their son. There house is made out of pallets, plywood, tar paper, adobe, tin, and every other kind of worn out broken down stuff they can find to use. They invited us in and offered to let us stay with them if we wanted while we were in town. They fed us homemade corn tortillas when we visited. The house is no bigger than 8 feet by 12 feet with a little wood stove that he made, a table, and a small bed. No electricity, no bathroom, no running water, and a dirt floor. We left them some blankets, food, and clothing. She is a member of the church, baptised 7 years ago in Casas Grandes with her three children.
This is our friend Adelaido. He wanted to give us a puppy in exhange for things we brought to him. He gave Mark forty two pesos, that he had been saving for us. We gave him some new tools, and a little stove to cook with, along with food and a sleeping bag.
Here he is with his new stove, he quickly took it inside so it would'nt get stolen.
This little guy got a new blanket.
We always find some Tara Mara Indians. They are very poor and live up in the mountains of Northern Mexico. They dress very colorful and come down to the border towns to beg in the streets.
And last but not least, this is our new little grand niece, Olivia. She is Nicole's new baby. Just 4 months old. Nicole is Hugo's daughter, Lisa's brother. Merry Christmas to all. I hope we did'nt bore you with our trip. Lots of love to all. During this holiday season, don't forget to count your many blessings.
Merry Christmas to all the family. We hope Santa found you and yours and you have a wonderful day today. We made it home sunday night late after driving all the way from Las Cruces, NM. We woke up Christmas Eve to the smell of a pie cooking in our oven. Bobette, a friend from our old neighborhood snuck in our back door and welcomed us home from Mexico with a homeade Peach Pie! Yum. We enjoyed helping Santa south of the border again and all went well. We wanted to share a few pictures of the trip. Enjoy! Merry Christmas. Love , Mark, Lisa, and the boys!
PS. We are anxiously awaiting a call from Justin about 12:00 noon today Yea!!!
Willeys, Dennys,& Stouffers enjoyed the parade Wednesday night. Stouffers surprised us and showed up half way through...
It was hot !!!
There were some great floats, but I didn't take pictures
This one was Stu's favorite. Jessica is having fun riding in the parade.
A representation of those present. I think the Dennys
There were horses.
Hot chicks and studs!
At attention for the flag.
Kara, Tim, Coop, Soph
Nate and Sara
Mark and Lisa...hot and sitting in the sun.
Neither broken arms, or cold and flu, nor tingling toes, or bitten cheeks, nor soaked drawers, or frozen paws can keep California kids from believing that SNOW is the BEST INVENTION EVER. I was playing the part of the warm, dry (although sneezing, coughing, drippy and running) photographer so that's why I'm not in any of them. We had a WONDERFUL Christmas in Utah. Thanks to all of you, with apologies to those we couldn't see. After I got so sick we decided it wouldn't be nice to
Anybody recognize these two? Somehow they showed up at Grandma Garcia's for Christmas this year.
We visited Grandpa Garcia's grave in Las Cruces.
We also visited Great Grandpa Chavez' grave (Lisa's Grandfather) grave in Colonia Juarez. This year we got special permits to cross the inner border at Janos Mexico and visited Colonia Juarez, The Mormon colony settled in the 1880's. It is where Grandma Garcia was raised and introduced to the Church.
This is the place where Grandma was baptised in the river in Colonia Juarez when she was 15 years old.
The temple in Colonia Juarez. Dedicated in 2000' A very beautiful temple in a quiet little Mormon colony of 1200 people. Thanks President Hinckley for bringing the temples to the people. The Ochoa family from the Ascension Branch was sealed here just three weeks ago.
La Academia Preparatoria de Colonia Juarez. This school was first opened when the saints arrived to Colonia Juarez. It is owned and run by the Church, but you don't have to be a member to attend. Lisa's mother graduated from here before getting married and going to BYU. It wasn't quite this big back then. Two of the youth from the Ascension branch attend this school. Thanks to the Perpetual Education Fund, many others do also.
I caught a picture of one of Santa's Elves still in her jammies.
One day we assembled 500 dispensas of food to distribute. Lisa's job was adding the bags of flour.
We bought red chilis from these boys. Then gave it to anyone who needed it.
Ashleigh carrying a dispensa.
Travis found the balls at a School for handicap children we visited.
Mark rented a young boy's pony and gave rides to the kids. He had to test it out first.
Now Travis wants a Pony!
Members of the branch showing the new books they received. Thanks Lisa.
Santa got mobbed by the kids at a Party in town.
The Barboza Flores Family. they lived in a house made of pallets three years ago. Dave's family helped them this year with some construction supplies for their home. Ask Dave for the details. They were very touched. Thanks Dave and Amy, and kids.
The Medrano Family. Thanks to many hands, we helped them with the little addition to their house. They have nine in the family and live in about 200 square feet. The bike in the picture is from Matt to Rodolfo, who is holding it.
This is the addition to their little adobe house. It now has a cement floor, new lights, and a front door. They are members of the branch, and are preparing to go to the temple in a few months.
This is Alexis, and Alexa, the Medrano twins. They are 15 months old. We took them a rocking horse and a toy box. They're not too sure about Mark holding them.
Miguel and Eloisa Sirvas, and their son. There house is made out of pallets, plywood, tar paper, adobe, tin, and every other kind of worn out broken down stuff they can find to use. They invited us in and offered to let us stay with them if we wanted while we were in town. They fed us homemade corn tortillas when we visited. The house is no bigger than 8 feet by 12 feet with a little wood stove that he made, a table, and a small bed. No electricity, no bathroom, no running water, and a dirt floor. We left them some blankets, food, and clothing. She is a member of the church, baptised 7 years ago in Casas Grandes with her three children.
This is our friend Adelaido. He wanted to give us a puppy in exhange for things we brought to him. He gave Mark forty two pesos, that he had been saving for us. We gave him some new tools, and a little stove to cook with, along with food and a sleeping bag. 
Here he is with his new stove, he quickly took it inside so it would'nt get stolen.
This little guy got a new blanket.
We always find some Tara Mara Indians. They are very poor and live up in the mountains of Northern Mexico. They dress very colorful and come down to the border towns to beg in the streets.
And last but not least, this is our new little grand niece, Olivia. She is Nicole's new baby. Just 4 months old. Nicole is Hugo's daughter, Lisa's brother. Merry Christmas to all. I hope we did'nt bore you with our trip. Lots of love to all. During this holiday season, don't forget to count your many blessings.
