May 16th through May 22nd

May 16^th through May 22^nd:  Monday we did our shopping run to Walmart and Price Savers with all the missionaries.  The Dibb’s were supposed to come back today, but we received word this week that the doctors have put Dale on two different medications and he will need to be monitored for 3 months to see how they are affecting his heart.  We are saddened that they won’t be able to finish their mission here.  I got to watch a NBA playoff game in the evening.  Tuesday we took the afternoon shift for the Rosado’s.  They were going to work for us on Saturday because we had a conference in Flores.  We were going to fly on Friday to Flores to speak that night to a group of JAS, (Young Single Adults) and then stay to speak at a stake conference.  Everything changed when I received an invitation to a meeting with all the temple presidents in the Central America Area.  I emailed the Executive Secretary to the Area Presidency and explained that I would have to send a counselor because I had accepted an invitation to speak in a stake conference and would be flying on Friday.  When he got back to me, he indicated that Elder Ochoa wanted me to be in the meeting.  So we changed everything and I assigned President Rosales to fly to Flores on Friday.  President Rosado and I would take the 2 shifts on Friday and Saturday.  Wednesday we worked the morning shift and had presidency meeting.  Everyone got new assignments for the weekend.  During our shift we had 9 missionaries from the MTC arrive to receive their own endowment, 7 Elders and 2 Sisters.  It was the most men coming for the first time to the temple that I have ever had for one session.  It was a real treat to be able to have them all in my office and teach them about the garment and give them the instruction that people receive for their own endowment. You get that many missionaries together and you can feel the power of their callings and the goodness of their hearts.  Thursday morning we took some of our missionaries downtown to the central market. Mom and I walked over to the Presidential Palace to see when the tours are.  We want to visit the Palace at some point. 

The main plaza.

The Palace on one side of the main plaza.

Mom and the gardens in front of the palace.

I want those doors on my house.

I talked mom into buying a purse/travel bag with birds all over it.  It was made from a huipil, a woven and embroidered blouse that the indigenous women weave and wear in many parts of Guatemala.  You can tell from the design what part of the country the woman is from.  I was happy I found something she liked. 

Mom shopping in the central market.

Mom's bag with birds all over it.

Mis 15 Anos, (My 15 years).  Quincinera decorations. Disney is alive and well in Guatemala.  I'm sure they paid a royalty for these.

We went to the temple to do a session in the afternoon.  Friday I got up at 3:00am.  I was afraid I would sleep in and not get up in time to take President Rosales and his wife to the airport.  We needed to leave at 4:30am.  After dropping them off at the airport, I hurried home and got ready for my meeting at the area offices with Elder Ochoa that started at 6:30am.  It was really interesting, each temple president was connected to the meeting by video and we sat in the conference room looking at an entire wall of huge flat screens.  Each video feed from each location was shown.  The area seventies were also present in different locations.  When someone wanted to speak they would raise their hand and Elder Ochoa would tell them to un-mute their speaker and then we all could hear.  We talked about our common challenges and how we can be better united and how we can help the local leaders meet the goals of the area.  It was a good meeting and Elder Ochoa was very kind and said some nice things about how we have changed the feeling in the temple.  I then came home and changed and went to a painting class.  Jill Smith, who just moved here from Zimbabwe, has a Friday morning oil painting class and I asked if I could join.  There were 2 women and a daughter of one of the women and then me.  Everyone works on whatever they want.  I had to find a picture of something that looked interesting.  I chose a mountain reflecting in a lake.  I had to leave a little early so as to have time to get home and eat and change to make it to the afternoon shift. 

Picture of my painting after the first class.

During the shift, I had a man and his wife ask to speak to me.  I invited them into my office and he began to explain some of their challenges.  I thought of President Crayk telling me that people think that there is a sign on your door that says “Bishop”.  But this man was truly hurting and wanting counsel and hope.  I asked him if they were attending the temple.  He said that they sometimes come and walk around the temple, but that they were not endowed.  (My office is before you pass the recommend desk, so you don’t need to show a recommend to talk to the women in the office or get to my office.)  I took out the pamphlet on preparing to enter the temple and read to them some of the blessings of the temple.  He started to cry and became very emotional.  I gave them the pamphlet and promised them that they would be blessed and find a solution to their problems if they would prepare and come to the temple.  At the end of our conversation, he thanked me.  I said if he really wanted to thank me, he would prepare himself and his family and come back to the temple to receive his ordinances.  He said he would.  It was a very special meeting for me and for them.  I shouldn’t be amazed at how the Spirit guides me to know exactly what to say to bless and help someone, but I am always humbled by the experience.  Saturday morning we had all the North American missionaries over to the house for Swedish pancakes and then we also worked the afternoon shift. 

Saturday morning and Swedish pancakes.

Brother Arriaga made mom a flower box and filled it with violets.

At the end of the shift, a ward came and the Bishop had brought 4 recent converts, 4 middle-aged women, to do baptisms for the dead.  Two of them had brought the name of a deceased family member that they were going to be baptized for.  It was so fun to welcome them and talk to them for a minute or two about how they were going to become “Saviors on mount Zion” for the people they were going to represent.  They were going to help individual people receive their baptism and confirmation.  They were so happy and excited to be in the temple.  We went and bought pizza at Price Smart (Costco)  and brought it back to the house and had all the missionaries over after the shift ended.  The guys watched the end of the basketball game.  Sunday we went to the Utatlan stake conference.  During the week, I had received the invitation to this stake conference and Elder Duncan, the area president, was going to preside and had asked if I would participate.  It was a reorganization of the stake presidency.  Chris and I each got to give a brief talk.  After the meeting, Elder Duncan was so kind and said to me, “The favorite part of every conference for me is when you and your wife speak.”  We are so blessed to be able to teach and bear witness of the blessings of the temple.  Being in these stake conferences is one of the highlights of the week for me.  I come away so uplifted and feeling so blessed. 

Utatlan stake conference.

Mom with Sister Gonzalez.  She is one of our coordinators.

Some of the young women who sang in the choir.

Mom can't leave the cute kids alone.

The girl in the turquoise sweater is a new missionary and will be going to Scotland.  Her mom is in the white dress.  Looks like her sister right?

After lunch, we had the opportunity to spend 3 hours in the temple training the stake leaders from the Atlantico stake.  We had over 30 stake and ward leaders there.  I got to set each one of them apart as a temple worker.  They are excited to be temple workers, even if it is only when their units come to the temple.  It will bless their lives and the lives of the members of their wards and stake.  We finished off the day calling some of the kids and talking to grandkids.  It is so fun to see and talk to them. This was truly a wonderful week.  As I have sat here writing about some of our experiences, I have had to wipe away a few tears.  These are tears of joy and gratitude to my Father in Heaven who has blessed us far beyond our capacity to repay Him.  We try and serve Him and His children and show our love and gratitude and what does He do? He blesses us even more and we become more indebted.  His love and desire for us to be happy and return to Him is so overpowering at times.