October 2nd through October 8th

 October 2^nd through October 8^th:  Monday, after , we piled 10 of us into the car and I dropped everyone off at the central market except Brother Gordon, Elder Winkfield and Mom.  I then took Brother Gordon to the dentist to have (as it turned out) a root canal.  I then drove mom around the central market looking for a store to buy white baby clothing.  We had no success.  We then drove to find a lab to polish Elder Winkfield’s contact lenses.  After dropping off his lenses, we headed back to the central market to pick up the shoppers.  We loaded up and headed to pick up Brother Gordon.  We called ahead and he was not out of the chair yet, so we stopped for lunch.  After lunch we went and got Brother Gordon and headed home.  I was in the car driving for 3 ½ hours except the ½ hour for lunch.  

The central market is one block from the central plaza and the cathedral.

Sister Holman is a very good sport and sat in the back.  It is hard to get 10 in a car that only seats 8.

Lunch for the tired shoppers.

Tuesday we picked up our new missionary couple, the Ellington’s, from Mount Pleasant.  Mike and Merlene served with us in China and we became good friends during the time we had a house in Mount Pleasant.  They don’t speak a lot of Spanish yet, but they have been learning the ordinances in Spanish for the last year as they have been serving in the Manti temple.  We are excited to have them here and we now have all of the temple missionary apartments full.  We let them rest a bit and then took them shopping.   

We enjoyed a little people watching while waiting for the Ellington's at the airport.

Here they come.

On our way shopping.

Friday, Erik, our gardener, cut up the coconuts that we had brought back from Puerto Barrios and we had everyone come over and try the coconut water and the meat.  Everyone liked the treat.  

Erik cutting up the "cocos" as they
 call them here.

I dug the meat out and washed it.

They repaired the road right in front of our house.

As we left the temple Saturday, this couple was outside.  We love to see the joy the temple brings into the faces of those that come to be sealed.

Sunday, after church, we went over to the temple and got ready to do training for the restricted workers in one of the local stakes.  No one showed up.  I thanked Elder Winkfield and Brother Flohr, who had come and changed and were going to help with the training, and we all went home.  We then had to drive our car and the temple van because we are now 14, with the Ellington’s, to the monthly “Break the Fast” dinner at the area offices.  It was fun to be with everyone and catch up on what they have been doing.  There were 20 senior missionary couples at the dinner, 7 were from the temple.  I think it was the largest group we have ever had.  

"Break the Fast" preparations.

We have been training and emphasizing reverence in the temple.  We love the temple and want to show the proper respect we should have for the House of the Lord.  Life is good and we thank our Father in Heaven everyday for this wonderful opportunity to serve here in Guatemala.