February 20th through February 26th

President Funes getting turned around and around before he starts swinging at the pinata.

February 20^th through February 26^th: Monday we took all the missionaries that live in the temple apartments and the Elder and Sister Call who are assigned to Rabinal (23 in total) to Las Colinas, a church property outside of Chimaltenango that the church uses as a camp for youth conferences. In December, during an area EFY , the “Face to Face” with Elder and Sister D. Todd Christofferson  originated from one of the buildings on this property.  It is a huge property and we walked around for about an hour and then put up a piñata and took turns trying to knock it down.  We had a lot of fun and some of our missionaries were like little kids when the candy finally fell on the ground.  We then had lunch.  We had arranged to have our lunch prepared by the caretaker’s wife.  

Starting our hike.

President Rosales was our guide.  He had been here on a number of camp outs with the youth.

Things were pretty dry.

It is a beautiful property.

This security guard wanted to make sure we did not get lost.

This property was once a coffee plantation.

Coffee bushes.

This tree got knock down but is still growing and has green leaves trying to reach up into the heavens. 

Resting after our hike around the property.

President Rosales resting up after our hike.

They had a number of large fields where they would set up tents for the campers. 

They have room for more than 1000 campers.

These buildings are restrooms and showers.

This is the building where the Face to Face with Elder Cristofferson was held. 

Doesn't she look cute.

During the week, mom and I went shopping for the pinata.  It cost us $5.00.

Mom did not have much luck.

You had to really hurry if you wanted some candy.

Brother Reyna is quite the jokester.

Lunch is served.

This is our crew.

Friday we had our paint class and then mom went to a birthday luncheon for Sister Hurst and Sister Wood.  

I finished this painting during the week and took it to show Jill, our teacher.  I really enjoyed doing this one with a pallet knife.

I worked on her eyes, mouth and blouse.

Mom added the background.

The Sisters luncheon for the birthday girls.

They started with desert.

The birthday girls.  Sister Wood on the left and Sister Hurst on the right.

Saturday we had the early shift, 4:00am to 12:00 noon.  It is very early to get up, but we love being in the temple on Saturday morning because it is always full of faithful members and is so busy.   We came home and had lunch and then went to the Guatemala stake conference and I spoke in the Priesthood session and then mom and I spoke in the adult session.  

Priesthood session Guatemala stake conference, Saturday afternoon.

The choir for the adult session Saturday evening.

Adult session Saturday evening.

Sunday we got up early and went to the Esperanza stake conference and spoke in two different general sessions.  Elder Ochoa had invited us to attend this conference with him and so we split our time between two different conferences on Saturday and Sunday.  

Choir for theEsperanza stake conference Sunday morning in the Leyenda ward building.

1st general session in the Leyenda ward building.  This was 2 wards.

Flower arrangements for the 2nd general session in the Esperanza ward building.

I love the Bird of Paridise flowers.

2nd general session Esperanza ward building.  4 wards.

2nd session Sunday morning.

President Castanon.  I don't have a n with a squiggle over it.  His name would be pronounced as Castayon.

President Lopez, 1st counselor and his family.

We got to talk to some of our kids in the evening.  Tilda (3 years old) says her name is not Tilda anymore and that she is now Mary and her dad is her “lamb”.  We laughed and laughed at her and her imagination.  It was a great week and we enjoyed so much the conferences we were able to go to and speak at.  It is always an uplifting experience to feel the Spirit witness so strongly of the truths of the gospel of Christ.  This is one of the many blessings of being the temple president.  You get invited to a lot of conferences and have a lot of opportunity to bear testimony of the temple.

Elder Rasband presenting a Cristus to the director of the children's cancer hospital.

Elder Rasband visited a children's cancer hospital and presented them some donated equipment.