September 4th through September 10th

September 4^th through September 10^th: Most everyone got to go shopping on Saturday, so Monday, we decided to make a trip to Antigua with the 3 new couples.  The Winkfield’s are in Japan this week to be in the temple in Tokyo with one of their adult sons, who will receive his endowment and we just took the Gordon’s and the Winkfield’s to Antigua a few weeks ago.  This was the three newbies first trip to Antigua so we started off with a walk through Casa Santo Domingo, which is an enormous old church and convent that has been converted into a high- end hotel.  

The gardens at Hotel Santo Domingo

Beautiful floral arrangement with lots of bird of paradise flowers.

Part of the Hotel Santo Domingo

The original chapel was destroyed in the earthquake of 1873, but they put a tent over it and still have mass and weddings.

Next, we visited the main square and the mostly destroyed cathedral.  

The fountain in the center of the main plaza.

The Holman's and the Jenson's on the veranda of the government building at the main plaza in Antigua.

View of the cathedral and the volcano Agua.

I want one of these benches.

Pedro de Alvarado, the conqueror of Central America.

Then it was on to Nim Pot for some shopping and a visit to La Merced church.  The convent attached to the church is a museum and Chris and I had not been through this one, so we spent the 2 dollars for the entrance fee to check it out.  The views from the second story were well worth the ticket price.  

Look who we ran into on the street in Antigua.

The famous arch with Agua in the background.

In the courtyard at the convent, La Merced.

Pano of the fountain and view from the second story.

We needed one selfie today.

Clay pots for olives, wine, and oil.

You know me and cool doors.

Two old people who are still in love.

At last, we were ready for lunch.  Elder Hill, before he finished his mission, mentioned that they had found real Texas BBQ at Pappy’s BBQ in Antigua.  Well, guess where we went to lunch.  It was the best BBQ I have ever had or at least it is the best that I can remember.  It has been at least 2 years since we have eaten real BBQ, so maybe it was really good because I have not had BBQ for such a long time.  

Lunch at Pappys BBQ.  

My new favorite restaurant.

The baby back ribs were delicious

Tender and fall-off-the-bone good.

We finished off the visit with a trip to the hospital to deliver baby kits. The wife of one of our coordinators is a doctor at the hospital in Antigua and she arranged the visit for us. We distributed about 50 kits and enjoyed our visit to the hospital.  The mothers were very appreciative of the gift for their babies.  

Delivering baby kits at the hospital in San Julian, a small town next to Antigua.

Thursday we went to the airport early in the morning to pick up the Winkfield’s.  They had a great trip, but were glad to be back in Guatemala.  

Almost every day we play Rummikub and today Chris won, again.

Here is her solo effort to begin the painting.

Mom's inspiration for her new painting.

Friday, after our morning shift, I went back over to do the sealing of a young couple.  He is from Utah and she is from Guatemala.  His family did not speak Spanish, so I gave my short message in both Spanish and English.  Saturday, after the morning shift we went to the adult session of the Florida stake.  We both spoke.  Elder Zeballos, who is a member of the new area presidency, presided.  It was a nice meeting and we got home about 7:00pm.  That made a very long day; we had gotten up at 3:00am to be at the temple at 4:00am.  We went to bed tired, but happy.  

The choir before the Saturday adult session.

Click below to listen to the choir

Listen to the choir

Saturday afternoon adult session.

Sunday we drove to the stake conference in Mixco, a suburb of northwestern Guatemala City, for the general session of the Florida stake.  All the women in the choir were wearing a huipil as their blouse.  It was pretty impressive.  

Don't you love the flowers?

Click below to listen to

If the Savior stood beside me

The choir Sunday morning.

Click below to listen to the choir

Listen to the choir Sunday Morning

After the Sunday session.

President Rodriguez and you know who.

It made me change my talk and tell the story of the woman who had a dream about her grandmother dressed in a huipil.  It led her to find the records of her grandmother because she was able to discover where the huipil her grandmother was wearing was from.  We both talked and felt the Spirit from the time the girl sang “If the Savior stood beside me”, till the closing prayer.  It was a very good meeting.  We had a training session for 2 hours in the temple in the afternoon.  What a great week.  We are so blessed to be able to serve in this assignment.  

The stake president gave mom one of the floral arrangements.