Here is just the begining

You never know what you'll find in Mexico City

Seriously more pictures

If you were wondering this is more of the "Zocalo" (The town plaza with a catholic cathedral, Huge Mexican Flag, festivals, and other hisotical area like the the old house of representatives, Diego Rivera murals, and more.)



How many different angles can I get of the flag and the zocalo.

From the 2nd tallest tower in the MC

I went up into the 2nd tallest tower in Mexico City it was really cool. Marianna doesn't like heights so we went up and then went down. Apparently the tower is built on a pendulum so it doesn't crumble when an earthquake hits. But if you go up in it on a windy day you can feel it move just slightly. It was really cool to get a bigger perspective of the 2nd most populated city in the world. Even better was that I was seeing it from the 2nd largest tower in Mexico City.

I was in suburbia

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Granted I was living in the center of a little community. But it was like living in a development from the states except that the house were all built out cement instead of plywood. Everyone was all up in each other business because they rarely had walk ways to there backyards if they had a yard. Usually, they just build into the house next door. After all it's one less wall you have to pour cement for. They were built like this all the way up into the mountains. Mexico City is built in a valley so they just built up into the hillsides when they run out of space.

But let me try to give you a comparison.
Mexico City is just over 18 million people
Tokyo, Japan is low 28 million
LA is 13 million
Frankfurt Germany is 3.7 million
New York is 16 million
Gresham Oregon is just over 92,000


I don't know if that help give you an idea of this city but it's really big and hold alot of people in this valley

I got some more but you going to have to wait

Sorry these are the pictures I have for right now but I've got more. They are just taking a while to load. I hope you enjoy these pictures. I know they are kinda funny and tomorrow I will be sure to post some pictures of Marianna and I going to the Zocalo.(That is the main plaza where the big giant Mexican flag is located). I say big giant because it's HUGE. But you'll have to wait for tomorrow to see those pictures. Enjoy the picturesI don't think my hair could have been more untamed, I didn't wash it for 5 days.

Some pictures of the house

These are mostly of construction. I know I should have taken before and after pictures but by the end of the 9 day construction project "PICTURES" weren't on my priority list.

So what can I tell you about the trip

I don't know where to start. I guess I can tell you all the silly things that I saw the cool thing that raced in front of my while Marianna showed her BIG CITY.

Check out the HAMMER PANTS.

Sorry I missed geting the picutre of Batman, Iron man, King Kong. Just the back on Iron man, Sorry I not the best rapid fire photographer.

I'm home

I literally just arrived and the computer was sitting in sleep mode so I thought I would say hello to everyone. I don't have much to add to that I just wanted to tell everyone that I'm home(Ometepec) safe in Mexico and I appreciate all the emails and prayers. Have a great day because I'm going to bed it's 4:30 in the morning and I need to get some sleep.


Scott Ekstrom

Hello from the Big City

Sorry it´s been kinda hard for me to find a computer. You would think that since they call it the world wide web you would be able to access it very easily across the world. But I´ve also been working 8 -10-12 hours a day on the house here. I´ve been very busy to say the least. And I only had a short time to check my mail on saturday and didn´t have time to say hello to everyone on the blog. My apologizes if you felt left out. I will have plenty of stories for the blog when I get back. And I´ll load the picturese I´ve taken as well. I don´t have the ablitlity to do it right now. Sorry

So far I´ve been really busy and I´ll give you a list of things that will be on the blog later this week. I also return hopefully on Tuesday but it´s possible that I may not make it back to Ometepec until Wednesday. So we´ll start bloging like crazy after that.

Construction, Traffic, Police, Smog Control, Weather, Food, Speaking Spanish, Safety in the city, Navigation, Estoy Cocinero, Sight seeing with Marianna, Sight seeing with Tim, Mexican History and more but I don´t want to overload everyone after my break from the blog.

Hope all is going well.

Bri was also in another wedding last weekend and I wasn´t able to write my congratulations to Megan Mcgovert. Megan was a good friend from Bri´s soccer days at NNU. Sorry my last congratuation note is so short but if I don´t get off now I¨ll get charged for another half hour on the computer.

Scott Ekstrom

Leaving for the big city in a couple hours

If I'm going to the world's largest city why not put a picture up of the worlds largest rubber duckOr how about the world's largest ball of rubber bands
How about the world's largest Lego Tower
So this might be my last blog post for a couple days . I'll be kinda busy and I won't be able to make any real interesting Blog posts. Be sure to catch up on any of the blogs you missed because I'm sure I'll have plenty of stories about the worlds largest city. So try and keep up. I don't know if I'll have time to wrote out anything super long, but I will try to drop a few thoughts and comments in the comment section below.

Love you all and please be praying for continued health and safety.



Scott Ekstrom

1 More event I'm excited about

I'm going to Mexico City next week. We have a few construction projects up there so we will leave at about 2:00 Monday afternoon. We'd leave earlier but we can't drive into Mexico City until after 10:00 in the evening. The city won't allow people who aren't registered in Mexico City to drive before that time because of Smog and Traffic. I know crazy right. Maybe LA should try that.I'm also very excited to see a good friend. It will be a blast from the past. I met Marianna my senior year. She was the foreign exchange student at Barlow and she blended right into my group of friends. Tim and Andy and two local construction guys are going to leave on Friday but I'm going to take a bus back on Sunday. So I'm excited but also if you could be sure to blanket us in prayer and me in prayer while I'm off on this trip. This will be a complete change of pace, jobs, activities, elevation, and more ................ I'll try to keep you all informed of the happening in the Big City but I won't have as easy access to the internet or a US Phone. Sorry but I'll do my best to visit and internet cafe. Love you all


Scott Ekstrom

Some day when I have a wedding I want everyone to blog about me

This really is the summer and fall and year for weddings. Lately I can't hear the wedding bells dirrectly ringing, Mexico is a little far away. I haven't been able to watch the coming together of Ryan and Jenna OR the holy matrimony of Adam and Lo. Those were to wedding I wish I wouldn't have missed. But the undeniably beauty, the model of full devotion, and the joy of Jon and Mandy's marriage is one I wish I could personally witness. Bri is also in tonight's wedding so I wish I could see her all dolled up and gorgeous but pictures will work. (Side note:I can only see pictures if you email them to me @ scott_ekstrom@yahoo.com.) Hint Hint

For Bri and I, Jon and Mandy have been involved in many part of the our relationship sometimes directly or indirectly. They have been a great couple to watch grow. Can't wait to hang out life we did before I left for Mexico. But even cooler will be that you'll married. Here is some background on why this wedding is so special to me

Jon went to highschool with Bri and they had their inseperable mob. Also when I started pursueing Bri I hadn't really "met" Jon outside of random event on the river or HSG. I went to bible study at the Pitney house for and it was strange because everyone there was very in-tuned with the bible/life/spirtuality and I was still this silly Highschool mentor going to MHCC. This is were I concluded, if I was actually going to make it with Bri I better buckle down and start wearing actuall and mediphorical pants. As Bri and I grow closer Jon as alway been such a help, when I'm at home and when I'm away in Mexico. Needless to say Jon has had in impact in what I know about being a leader and also taking care of the lady who I love.
Mandy and I went to highschool together but we didn't click together in the same way as Jon and Bri. But the last years have change my perspective on Mandy and how God uses tallents for the better of his kingdom. It just so happens that Mandy was hired by the church the same time I was hired as Program Director for HSG @ Good Shepherd. Mandy's devotion to ministiering to a full spectrum of young girls in a Highschool ministry of at least 90 if not more girls. Her eye for the little details and the big picture made my job so much easier and she was a blessing from a program directors stand point. Also Mandy has been able to speak into Bri life and Bri into Mandy's. I don't really understand girl talk, but I think they have become good friends.

Jon and Mandy, I am so excited for you, and you both have been such a model and and intrickle part in Bri and I's relationship. I can't imagine that changing in the future, but thank you for all you done so far. As we've gone and played pool or darts at McMenamins or when we've made dinner at Jon's house. Those are just a few examples of times that I hope were just as enjoyable for you as for Bri and I. You guys are an amazing couple and your stories are amazing as well, as God is finally bringing you together to complete this beautiful union. Jon one more thing: You said to me "When you know you know." I couldn't believe that more today and "I know you know" Mandy is the girl that God formed especially for you. You two have fun and enjoy this special day because you've both worked so hard to keep each others eye lock on one another that I can't imagine the next 50 years being any different. God bless.

Sorry this wedding anouncement is so long I'm really excited and sad I missed this one

Scott Ekstrom

What is truely the "key" of this next month

Ok so these aren't the keys we found but I think they look cooler then the actually keys we lost. Just wanted to inform everyone that God does answer prays. We found the keys in the sand about 30 feet away from anything that possible could have knocked or snagged the keys. It's very random. Some would say that it was just an accident or we are just lucky. But regardless of where or when we found the keys God was in control of those keys and he knew and decided when and where we would find those keys. Hope everyones weeks have been low stress and everyone know who they are now voting for in the election. Because I'm not voting this year. And it's going to be KEY this year that someone who wasn't going to vote actually vote. IF you are still undecided or don't care how wins, call me, you can cast my vote on your ballot. Since I can't physically vote and I'm not willing to pay for the postage to cast a vote. Remember actually voting is the KEY, even though God has control of that as well. So I guess voting isn't the Key it's being a vessel for the LORD (THAT IS THE KEY)


Scott Ekstrom

Saftey first when in a bathroom in Mexico

So last night I was surprised to say the least as I reached across to get my toilet of the hanger and dry my hands. I'll try and give you the play by play in picture for because it think it will tell the story a whole lot better. First off let me explain the thought process because when I got down here everyone in the house kept reminding me to check my shoes and to not initially pick anything up with you hands. To always check first then carry. To tap my shoes on the ground every morning because you never know what would have crawled into a new home at night. I've done this and take those precautions to heart because I don't want a stupid bight, poke, scratch to send me home on this once in a lifetime trip. I'm learning way to much to get taken home for such a silly reason. I say taken home because with my medical history any little adjustment makes a world of difference. I've needed to be extra aware of my body and keeping it physical sharp and charged, staying mentally aware and noticing any changes. I've been getting more and more into a morning and nightly pattern and maybe i've gotten a little lax about certain things. Definitely not the Lymes issues but I expect and pray that God places and protects me where ever he wants me.

Moving on with the story, I'm guessing you looked at the pictures below already so here is my thought process or atleast all the information my eyes gathered. I was in the bath room thinking about getting in the shower when I look down kinda like this. Apparently this is a small one but and inch and a half isn't small for some one who has only see them dead. Also side note try and kill them with the first whack of your shoe because they are quite fast. I learned that and I just about peed my pants after I had just gone to the bathroom.