April 22nd through May 1st

April 23^rd through May 1^st:  The temple continues to not have a lot of patrons.  During the last few weeks we see some sessions with only 4 or 5 patrons, but other with about 20.  We are always happy when we have enough patrons on the sessions to make a complete prayer circle.  On Friday the 26^th, President Crayk and his wife left for Yacuiba, a small district in the interior where it is hot and humid.  He assigned us to speak to the single adults, 30 years and older, in the Cobija stake.  We were on shift for the afternoon, so we had to leave the assistant registrar in charge for the last 1 1/2 hours.  President Crayk did leave us his car and in the morning he had driven me to the chapel to insure I could find it.  We arrived and there were only 6 single women there.  We waited for maybe 15 minutes and the person in charge got a call saying the stake president would be another 30 minutes, so we started.  Mom talked for maybe 15 minutes and then I spoke for 20 minutes.  Just as I was ending the stake president arrived.  They had the stake single adult leader and the stake president talk.  By the time we were done there were maybe 20 in attendance.  After the meeting they started moving all the benches in the chapel and were preparing to have a dance.  We didn’t stick around for the dance citing the fact that we had to be in the temple by 6:00 am. 

Moving the benches for the dance.

Saturday, President Diaz did President Crayk’s shift and we did President Diaz’s shift.  After the evening shift, a group of us went out to our favorite fried chicken place for dinner.  It was fun to sit and talk and spend time together.  Sunday we had invited 2 couples from the Ticquipaya Ward to dinner.  We found out late Saturday night that the Ticquipaya Ward building was being torn down, they are finally going to get a larger building and they really need it, and they were going to meet in the Linde Ward building at 2:00pm.  We called the two couples and changed the dinner appointment to 12:30pm.  We had a nice dinner with them, Christian and Lillian, who I had sealed maybe 6 months ago, and Alina and Jorge, a couple who are engaged to be married.  We teased them that I would only be here for 6  more months, so if they wanted me to seal them they had to get moving.  After dinner we drove Alina and Jorge out to Ticquipaya and we went to church with them.  The bishop knew I was coming so he asked me to speak.  The stake president also came so he and I were the speakers.  I think it was a nice meeting.  We also saw Willie Escobar, one of our shift coordinators, who had been in a bad bus accident with his daughter on their way to La Paz.  He had to have a plate or rod put in his leg.  His 13 year old daughter almost died and after a month is still in the hospital in La Paz.  He is mending well and they say his daughter will be able to come to Cochabamba this week.  We still pray for their recovery.  I got home in time to pick up Pres. Crayk and his wife at the airport.  Monday, we went shopping for mom’s birthday.  All she wanted was for me to buy a new pair of pants.  We actually found a pair of slacks that fit and that I liked.  She’s happy and so am I.  We had a nice Family Home Evening with Elder Cabrera, our recorder and Area Seventy.  He spoke to us about his impressions of attending conference in Salt Lake and his meetings with the First Presidency and the Twelve.  I was impressed with his feeling that the purpose of everything that the church does points to the temple.  He said that at the close of their meeting with the twelve, just before the closing prayer, Elder Packer raised his hand and said that after the meeting he would like to shake everyone’s hand.  There were over 300 seventy in attendance, and even though he cannot stand any more, he indicated he wanted to shake their hands and he invited the other members of the twelve to join him.  When the senior member of the twelve invites the other members to do something they all comply.  So he said the twelve lined up and shook the hand of everyone who was in attendance.  He said that was really special and several of them called him by name and asked about his wife by name.  He was impressed that they remembered him and his wife.  We then all had a treat.  Mom had made 2 big apple crisps.  I didn’t take any pictures because I am coming to the conclusion that you might think that all we do here is eat and have parties.  Tuesday  April 30^th:  Moms birthday and the anniversary of the dedication of the temple here in Cochabamba.  We were on shift this morning.  I spoke in preparation meeting about the anniversary of the temple dedication and read a part of the dedicatory prayer given by Pres. Hinckley.  Quote, “We remember before Thee the sons and daughters of Father Lehi. Wilt Thou keep Thine ancient promises in their behalf. Lift from their shoulders the burdens of poverty and cause the shackles of darkness to fall from their eyes. May they rise to the glories of the past.  May they recognize their Redeemer and be faithful and true Saints of the Most High. May they seek learning out of the best books (see D&C 88:118). May the enlightenment of education bring new and wonderful opportunities into their lives.”  I then talked about what a blessing it is for us to be able to serve the sons and daughters of father Lehi.  Of course I was a mess by the time I was done.  When our shift was over, we went to have lunch with a few of the other missionaries at a restaurant call Tuesdays.  They have a special 2 for 1 on Tuesdays, what luck for me.  Mom didn’t want the special so I ordered 2, one to eat and one to eat tomorrow.  Mom got a lot of nice emails and well wishes.

A birthday gift from the Vallenas.

Birthday gift from the Dyer's.

She is a real blessing in my life and I thank my Father in Heaven for her and I am so glad she is my eternal companion.  Wednesday we had an English session.  It is always nice to hear in your native tongue the beautiful and so full of meaning the words of eternal life.