March 14th through March 20th:

March 14^th through March 20^th: Monday I didn’t take any pictures, which must mean we didn’t do anything interesting. Tuesday we had the morning shift with two sessions of missionaries, from the MTC.  We then hurried home and went to lunch with the Plaskett’s and the Keiskers.  The Keiskers are staying with us for a few days.  The Plasketts knew the Keiskers in the Dominican Republic and they also both know Paul and Marti Westover, who are still serving in the temple in the DR.  Paul Westover is Chris’ first cousin.  It is really a small world inside the church. 

This is where we went for lunch with the Plaskett's and the Keisker's.  This is Brother Jacome, one of our coordinators.

L to R Sister Keisker, Sister Plaskett, Brother Keisker, and Mom.

Wednesday we had the afternoon shift.  Thursday should have been our day off but we switched with the Rosales so we could have Saturday off in order to drive to Coban for stake conference.  So we did the morning shift on Thursday and again on Friday.  Friday night we spoke at 10:00 pm to a group of young single adults.  They were staying in the patron housing and had been in the temple all evening and will go back Saturday morning.  It was great fun to be with the young adults. 

The JAS group, sorry it is out of focus.

We got up early Saturday and drove north to Coban.  It only took us 4 hours, not the 8 to 9 hours it took us in January when we took the “back way”. We got there at noon and found our hotel and the chapel.  We had lunch and got dressed and arrived at the church at 3:00pm. 

Anyone need a chicken?  They carry everything on their heads.

Coban is kinda hilly.

I was invited to speak in the Priesthood leadership meeting.  Mom sat in the hall and worked on her talks. 

Saturday afternoon on the way into stake conference.

She visited with a Sister Coy who is the president of the Young Women in the Coban Stake.  This woman is a single mother of 3 children and she also adopted a girl who was being abused.  Her oldest daughter is a missionary in Tuxla Gutierrez, Mexico and has studied in a university.  She owns her home and she has done all of this by cooking and selling food in the central market.  She also teaches the Institute classes.  She was an inspiration.   We then had a quick sandwich with the stake presidency, their wives and the mission president and his wife.  We both had the opportunity to share a message in the adult session.  We felt really good about our talks.  Both of us felt the Spirit and we hope everyone was edified. 

The adult session of conference Saturday night.

R to L President and Sister Curtiss, President Coy and his executive secretary.

We then went to dinner with the stake presidency, their wives and President and Sister Curtiss.  The Curtiss’ are going to finish their assignment in June and will have been here for seven years.  They were first here as humanitarian missionaries and helped bring water and electricity to towns in the Peten, the northern part of Guatemala. After serving for two years they were then asked to stay and serve as the executive secretary to the area presidency.  After another two years, they were called as mission presidents to the Peten. This part of Guatemala is very poor.  To give you an idea, the first paved road in Peten was built in 1982.  They are such an example of dedicated service.  They have a wonderful spirit about them and great testimonies.  It was a really nice restaurant and we enjoyed the food and the conversation.  I didn’t get all the jokes, but I laughed anyway.  We didn’t get back to the hotel until after 10:00pm. 

Dinner L to R President and Sister Coy, Sister and President Curtiss, Brother Ramos, Stake Executive Secretary,   Sec. S

R to L Mom, Sister and 1st counselor Ovalle, 2nd counselor and Sister Corleto , wife of the stake sec.

Sunday we both spoke in the morning general session.  Again it was an amazing meeting.  The first number the choir performed was the Primary song, “He Sent His Son”.   A small children’s choir sang the questions to the adults and the adults sang back to them.  The meeting hadn’t even started and I was crying. 

The choir with white huipiles.

The children's choir.

Then the choir sang the intermediate hymn, “I am a child of God”, in K’ekchi’, the Mayan language spoken by about half a million people in this part of Guatemala.  Talk about an emotional experience.  The meeting was being broadcast to two other buildings and in one building the talks were being translated into K’ekchi’.  The church continues to find ways to bless the lives of the saints with the use of technology.  We both bore testimony and felt the confirming Spirit testifying to all present of our Savior and that He lives.  May you have a great Easter and focus your thoughts on what Jesus Christ did and does for you. 

After the general session on Sunday.

Mom and two Sister Missionaries.  She makes friends with everyone.

We then drove home and arrived about 4:30pm.  What a great conference.  When we get to participate in a great conference it really makes us feel like we are doing the will of the Father.  We had the Dibb’s over for caramel popcorn.  The Wilson’s and their two daughters are staying with us.  The Wilson’s had to move out of their apartment to make room for the Dibb’s.  The Dibb’s arrived Sunday morning at 5:30am and the recorder picked them up and got them settled.  It is great to finally have them here.  Now we need some more of you to come.