September 19th through September 25th

September 19^th through September 25^th: Monday we got up and went for a walk around Senahu. 

Early in the morning on our walk.

This boy was on his way to school.

The Catholic church in Senahu.

From the Catholic church looking at the main plaza.

From the steps of the Catholic church you can see the steeple of the Mormon church on the left.

On our way back from breakfast we passed by the Elders home.  All the district has slept over from conference so they could have P-Day together.

We then had breakfast and on our way out of town we stopped at the market and went to find Soila, who has a shop that sells huilpiles y cortes (blouses and skirts).  She was recommended to us by Griselda, the wife of the district president.  We didn’t find Soila, but instead found her son and he went and got his dad, Alberto.  It turns out they are members of the Church and the father has been a member for about 40 years.  He said that his parents were early pioneer members.  Sister Price had a good time buying 3 blouses and 2 skirts, while mom bought fabric for a skirt and a blouse.  The fabrics for the blouses are so beautiful and intricate in design.  They will make beautiful pillows or other decorations.  The fabric for the skirts is very heavy and tightly woven and we think we will want to cover a chair with it.  

On our way to breakfast we were confronted again by the shoeshine boys.

The inside of a local shop.

As we left town the Elders were all dressed to go to La Tinta for their P-Day.  They are going to play some soccer with the Elders there.

Elders of the Senahu District

Click Above to hear Kekchi

Soila's husband who helped us find just the right fabric.

Alberto, Soila's husband

Click Above to listen to Alberto

Here are the fabrics that mom bought.

We were on the road home at 9:15am.  We stopped for a few more pictures of the magnificent countryside.  We also had to stop to let some trucks pass where there was only room for one vehicle on the road.  We made pretty good time considering the road construction between El Rancho and Guatemala City.  

This row of houses were all the same except each painted a different color.  We thought they might be housing for the workers of a coffee plantation.

We saw several men selling wood door to door.  Life is difficult and for many, making a living is back breaking work.  Literally.

Some of the mountains on the way out of Senahu.

A cute white church on the way out of town.

Every hill and mountain is covered with thick vegetation.  

Looking across the valley as we head up the first mountain.

See what I said about back breaking work.

These men are trying to control the vegetation from taking over the road.

More fun for the 4 X 4.

Waiting for cars to pass.

This boy is working to fix the road, hoping that some of the people passing will pay him a few Quetzales.  We did. The pickup truck coming down the hill has 3 brahma bulls in the back.

They are cutting away the mountain. This is some of the road construction between El Rancho and Guatemala City.

We got home about 3:30pm.  Driving on very windy roads, up and down five mountains, is very tiring and I spent the evening watching football.  Tuesday we had the morning shift.  Wednesday we went over for the 8:00am session to help with the MTC missionaries.  We then had presidency meeting and I had 30 minutes to run home and get lunch.  I then had the opportunity to confer the sealing power on two new sealers.  I received a letter from the first presidency authorizing me to do so.  We then had the afternoon shift.  That was a long day, but so rewarding.  Thursday mom went to a water color class for all the sisters at Jill Smiths and then we went grocery shopping since we didn’t go last Monday.  We spent the rest of the afternoon doing family history.  Thank goodness we can do the work for the descendents of our ancestors.  I have another 500 names to print.  Friday we had the morning shift and Saturday we went over to the temple at 9:00am to talk to a group of primary children for the Alameda Stake.  That is so much fun.  

The primary kids and leaders from the Alameda stake.

Don't they look sharp.

So Cute.

We then worked in the temple till 2:30pm.  The temple closed early for the women’s session of General Conference.  Mom went to a dinner with all the North American sisters and then they watched the conference together.  Elders Fillmore and Frampton came over and watched some football with me.  I’m the only apartment with Direct TV.  Sunday we went to church at our ward.  It’s been over a month since I have been in a sacrament meeting.  It was so nice to be able to take the sacrament.  After sacrament meeting, I went to the temple with 7 brethren from the Temple Department in Salt Lake.  They are here for transition meetings for the new way temples will be maintained and cleaned.  The new area director for the Central America and South America Northwest areas is our precious engineer, Elder Lopez.  All of the recorders and engineers from all the temples in these two areas are here for two days of meetings.  I am going to try and go to dinner with Brother Cabrerra and Brother Pineda from Cochabamba.  Later in the day, we got special permission to Facetime the baptism of our grandson, Kimball.  We are so grateful for technology!  We got to see everything and felt a part of his special day.  

We are so looking forward to General Conference next week.  We had a great week and still feel humbled and blessed by this opportunity to serve in the House of the Lord here in Guatemala.