December 19th through December 25th

December 19^th through December 25^th:  Monday we got up early and drove back to Guatemala City from Salama, arriving in time to take the missionaries shopping.  We finished up and hustled to the area dental clinic to have our teeth cleaned.  All went well and when Chris’s jaw heals from the root extraction from a month ago, she will just need a new crown.  

Hotel Tzalamha where we stayed Sunday night.

Getting my teeth cleaned at the dental clinic.  Elder and Sister Houge doing the honors.

Elder Smith cleaning mom's teeth.

We were all smiles after we got our teeth cleaned.

They have a stray dog that they feed and take care of and she had pups a few weeks ago.  They are so cute and I think I need a dog.  We worked all the shifts during the week with President and Sister Rosales so that President and Sister Funes could have the entire week off.  Then next week, President Rosales and President Funes will take all the shifts so that we can be off to take Kate and Bryce around.  We are so excited that they arrive in a few hours.  

Holding 3-week-old puppies will brighten anyone's day.

Here are 7 of her pups.

Volcano Agua on the left and Fuego, center right, under the clouds.

Saturday the temple was closed for Christmas Eve.  Christmas Eve is the big day here to celebrate Christmas.  We had all the area senior missionaries over to our house for a brunch.  We fed 34.  It was fun to all be together.  

We cooked the hams and everyone else brought something to share.  

Christmas Brunch with the Senior couples.

Christmas Brunch with the Senior couples.

Christmas Brunch with the Senior couples.

Sister Curtis told a wonderful story of her visit to the Costa Rica temple.  She was visiting friends who were serving in the presidency of the temple.  After a session, he told them that the temple president wanted to talk to them in his office.  The met with him and he shared with them the story of his conversion.  He was a young boy about 12 years old when he met the missionaries.  His mother had had a dream where her parents came to her and asked her to have them baptized.  She talked to the priest and he said he couldn’t do that, but could baptize her.  The temple president was playing soccer and took the two missionaries home and they taught his mother a lesson.  As they were leaving one of the missionaries gave the mother a card with a picture of a temple on it with his name and contact information.  When his mother saw the temple she asked about it.  The missionary explained a little about the temple and that it is where we can do baptisms for our dead ancestors.  Well, the mother and the young boy (temple president) were baptized.  The temple president then told them the name of the missionary whose name was on the card.  It was Sister Curtis’ older brother.  He had made the connection because of her maiden name and where she is from is unusual.  They were both in tears.  He later contacted her brother, who is now 82 years old and not doing well, by phone, to thank him for bringing the gospel to his family.  He explained that thousands of people have joined the church because he taught his mother about vicarious work for the dead.  

Sister Curtis told a wonderful story about her visit to the temple in Costa Rica.

In the evening we went to the Victoria Suites apartments, where many of the area missionaries live for snacks  and a gift exchange.  Many were going to stay up and watch the fireworks at midnight.  

Dinner and gift exchange at Victoria Suites.

View from the top of Victoria Suites apartment building.

We excused ourselves and got home about 9:00pm.  At 11:00pm we went over the penthouse condo of Brother and Sister Rodriguez.  He is a member of the bishopric in our ward and his wife, Perla, is one of our coordinators in the temple.  They have a beautiful home on the top floor of a high-rise with full height glass panels that slide and open up both sides of their home to the outdoors.  They fed us chicken filled tamales and ponche, a traditional drink that is a little like wassail.  Then we watch from their balcony the fireworks that were incredible.  These are not public fireworks.  Everyone just buys their own fireworks and everyone sets them off at midnight.  It sounds like a war zone and you can see fireworks all over the city.  It is worth watching the videos.  They were every bit or maybe better than what we watched in China for Chinese New Year.  We got home at 1:00am.  Staying up this late is a record for me, but it was worth it.  

View of Guatemala City from the penthouse condo of Brother and Sister Rodriguez.

Brother and Sister Rodriguez with his parents.  His dad is one of our sealers in the temple and his mom is one of our coordinators.

Our midnight meal of corn tamales and ponche.

This is also part of the Rodriguez family, the brother and his family.  He is a stake president here in the city.

Our hosts for the midnight activities.

Brother and Sister Rodriguez.

We were in a war zone for about 30 minutes.

Click below to see the Fireworks

Christmas Eve Fireworks

More Fireworks

Click above to see the Fireworks

Sunday we checked in with the present unwrapping at some of our kid’s houses.  It is fun to see the joy of children unwrapping presents.  We went to church and then talked to more of our children.  We then started getting ready for our trip with Kate and Bryce that starts tomorrow.  We had a great week and learned a lot about the Christmas traditions here in Guatemala.  They open all their presents after the fireworks and they have a big family dinner of tamales and ponche.  All the family gets together for this dinner.  We are very blessed to be able to experience new cultures and share this special time with good friends.  Thanks to the Rodriguez family.

The manger scene in front of the temple.

I surprised Chris with a typical skirt to match the top she knew she was getting for Christmas.