Week of March 28 - April 3

 We found out that Hermana Dibb would be transferred on Tuesday, so we called her mission president, President Markham this morning to see if there was a time when we could see her and take her and her companion to lunch.

 He told us that he may be able to work it out and then told Kayla to call us to see if we could make arrangements.  She was busy and didn't call, but when he called the president back, he gave Dale Kayla's cell number.

 We called, made arrangements for the Temple President, President and Sister Norman and Dawn and Eldon Hurst to take us to San Lucas after our time in the city.  Dale, Linda, Hermana Dibb, Sister and President Norman, Hermana Ziga (from Mexico and Kayla's companion) and Sister Hurst. 

 Kayla and Hermana Ziga at the table in the restaurant.

 After eating and visiting, Hermana Dibb directed us up some small, narrow, streets to see the countryside and where the women was their clothes in a big pool.  They had us drop them off up there so that they could visit members and new converts and say goodbye since Kayla will be transferred tomorrow.

We had to find our own way out to the main road after dropping the missionaries off.  We took a wrong turn and ended up on this narrow, dirt road.  But "Lola" our GPS lady finally got us back on track and we made it home safely.  Kayla is doing great, looks great and shared some sweet experiences with us about little miracles that happen regularly.  She is truly an instrument in the hands of the Lord to bring joy to people who love her.  We could only spend about and hour and a half with her, but it was such a joy for us.

 This is the sidewalk in front of our house.  There is a Catholic school behind us and our entrance is up by the dark pink tree.  The bushes on the sidewalk are topiary rooster and hen.  Kind of fun.

 These two pictures show plants in our front yard.  They are really colorful and makes the setting for our place very nice.

 

On Friday, I had a chance to go to a municipal maternity hospital and distribute some "baby care" kits that the missionaries had put together.  Sister Done, a missionary in the area office, has a grant from the Church's humanitarian department to put together little kits for these mothers.  There were 3 floors with 5 or 6 rooms on each floor where 6 to 8 beds were situated in the ward.  They each had a chair to sit on when nursing their baby.  You can see the little kit we gave them.  It included a onesey (sp), a receiving blanket, sox, a little knitted hat, and a bar of ivory soap.  We had 100 kits when we went and came home with 8 left.  We also went into delivery and gave kits to the mothers in labor and who were actually delivering behind a large curtain. There were about 6 beds behind the curtain.  It was a typical Latin American Hospital for the common people. Some of these mothers take their babies home in newspaper, so these kits help a little.  They had incubators and a intensive care unit for the babies.  Luckily, we didn't have any mothers who had lost their babies this time.  So it was a very happy time.  It makes you realize how blessed we are to have the conveniences that we do and to realize that our Heavenly Father loves all His children no matter what their circumstances.

Saturday and Sunday - April 2 and 3

General Conference was wonderful.  We watched each session and then spent time with the other missionaries at President Norman's house for dinner.  The men all went to the CCM for the priesthood session and then came back and we had rootbeer floats.  What a great 2 days to feast upon the words of our prophets and apostles.  We love it.  Especially grateful for the talks about temple work.

 Dad and I on our way to Church on Sunday.  Fun hills behind us. 

 East dinner at Victoria Suites in Guatemala City.  There are several missionary couples serving in many different capacities in the Central American area.

 Cute treats to bring home from the dinner.  M & M's in the bottom of the glass with cupcakes and frosting on top.

 A plant that grows on the wall around our apartment.  You can't get it off - it is stuck tight.

We made a trek downtown today to Mercado Central on Monday.  Lots of fun things to look at and buy.

 Some pictures of our chapel on Sunday after our Church meetings.  Linda gave the opening prayer and Dale gave the closing prayer in Sacrament Meeting.

Get together at Victoria Suites before Women's Conference

On Saturday afternoon after our shift at the temple, went to Victoria Suites and had  a "favorite things party" for the sisters on Saturday before the General Women's Conference.  The men joined us for a pot luck dinner and then we watched conference while some of the men watched NCAA basketball. The view from the roof top patio is amazing.

March 22 - 25, 2016

This is what we see from our front door - the Angel Moroni through the trees.

We have gone on a walk every morning with some of the other missionaries.  Elder Dibb, Hermana Dawn Hurst, Elder Gary Allred, and Elder Eldon Hurst.  Coming back from our walk (3 1/2 miles) we went over a bridge (built by the Church) that crosses a busy road, and took a picture of the temple from the top.  There are a lot of beautiful flowering trees and interesting evergreen trees, too.

Our apartment in Guatemala City.

We made it to Guatemala, arriving at 5:30 a.m.  The recorder from the temple met us at the airport and brought us to the apartment.  The following pictures show a little about what is looks like.  It is beautiful here.  The weather is nice and the flowering trees are in bloom.  Our apartment was loaded with food and new appliances, bedding, towels, and dishes.  The missionaries have made us feel very welcome.

We spent 3 wonderful days at the Salt Lake Temple in training.  There were some awesome trainers - the Alldredges, former SL Temple president - was so inspirational.  We had the chance to see parts of the temple that we had never seen before and more about the history of that temple.  It took 40 years to build the outside and only one year to complete the inside with all the ornate work inside.  It was amazing.  Other missioanries were going to Bolivia, South Africa, Domincan Republic, England, Boston, Washington DC, etc.  There were 13 couples.  I had the chance to play the organ in the chapel for the opening song for our meeting Wed. and Thurs.  It was a sweet experience.