November 7th through November 13th

 November 7^th through November 13^th:  Monday we had a very nice family home evening where we said good-bye to Sister Lowrey.  She has been the nurse at the MTC and has lived in the temple apartments and served 2 shifts a week in the temple.  She has been a tireless worker and will be much missed, especially by the missionaries.  

Sister Lowrey is going home.

We worked the morning shifts this week except that we switched with the Funes on Friday because we didn’t want them to have to work Friday night late and then have to be at the temple at 4:00am.  So we worked Friday night and we got up at 3:00am Saturday morning and headed to the airport at 4:30am for our flight to Flores to attend the stake conference there.  

Here we are on the plane headed for Flores.

That was our ride.

We arrived at 7:00am and we were able to check into our hotel.  What a blessing.  We both took a long nap.  We took a moto taxi to the island and walked around for a while and then had lunch at a very nice restaurant right on the lake.  It was very pleasant and relaxing.  

Looking from our balcony towards the island.

This is our view from the moto taxi.

In the moto taxi headed to the island.  There is a causeway to the island.

From the island looking at the buildings on the shore around the lake.

Some of the streets are kind of narrow.

The island is not very big, maybe 15 square blocks.

From the highest point on the island.

This is the church on the island.

This is a tourist town with lots of visitors who come to Tikal.

This is another small island.  This was the view from the restaurant where we ate lunch.

One more view of the island and the church.

My first meeting was at 3:00pm for the Priesthood leaders and then we had the adult session at 5:30pm where mom and I both spoke.  Elder Moroni Perez from Quetzaltenango presided and it was nice to spend the weekend with him and get to know him.  Our hotel was right on the lake and had a nice view of the island.  Sunday we both spoke in the general session.  It was a great conference and we both felt the Spirit as we testified of the truth of this work.  After the general session, they had a luncheon for us, Elder Perez and President Faundez and his wife, the mission president.  He is from Santiago Chile.  I then attended a meeting with the stake presidency and high council.  This stake is only a year old and Elder Perez took advantage of the time we had to teach them about their responsibilities.  He served his mission in this area and loves the people.  

Sunday morning was beautiful with a hazy mist over the lake.

As stake conference ended.

The choir.

Mom and the stake Relief Society president and her counselor.

We got to the airport at 5:00pm and our flight wasn’t until 8:50pm.  We used the time to call some of our kids and catch up on the news from home.  Some of which saddens us greatly.  We are so blessed to be able to just focus on our calling and that puts us in somewhat of a bubble, but we can see and feel the pain and fear of the unknown at home.  I told my daughter, Charlotte, that I choose to be hopeful, for I know who is really in charge and I know the end result.  I loved the quote from Elder Cook that I saw on Facebook this last week. ”There are some who feel that venting their personal anger or deeply held opinions is more important than conducting themselves as Jesus Christ lived and taught. How we disagree is a real measure of who we are and whether we truly follow the Savior.”  Therefore I won’t vent on Facebook or Instagram or use any social media to express my anger or disagreement with either side, those who voted for Trump or those that are protesting his victory.  To do so would only move me away from the influence of the Spirit that I so desperately need each day.