December 4th through December 10th

 December 4^th through December 10^th:  Monday we had breakfast at our hotel and got on the road at 8:00 am.  We drove about an hour and stopped at Quirigua so that the Ellington’s could see the ruins.  We then drove back to Guatemala arriving about 1:30 pm.  We were exhausted and happy to be home.  Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday we worked our shifts in the temple.  We were thrilled to see more people come from the Senahu Stake in the Polochic and we are now setting apart restricted workers from this Stake who can help us translate in Kekchi. It is exciting to see the growth and confidence in these members as they come to the temple.   

Christmas treats for all the employees at the temple.

Friday morning we took a group of the missionaries shopping and then we all went to the senior missionary zone conference at the area office.  Elder Zeballos, the first counselor in the area presidency spoke to us about his conversion.  Saturday morning was very busy in the temple.  We had many members come for the first time and there are always lots of weddings/sealings in December.  After our shift we went and had lunch with the ordinances worker on the early morning shift.  We enjoyed being and eating with them.  

Christmas party for the Saturday morning shift.

Everybody is loading up their plates.

Cooking the tortillas on the grill.

Saturday morning shift.

Sunday morning we took the Jenson’s with us to the Escuintla stake conference about an hour south west of the city.  It was a nice conference.  Elder Ochoa, the area president presided.  Mom and I both gave talks.  He was very kind and thanked us for our talks and what we are doing here.

At the Escuintla stake conference.

  

Mom handing out pictures of the temple.

I am hiding behind the flowers.

The fresh flowers are to die for.

We enjoyed the choir.

Click below to hear the choir

Choir practicing before the conference

General session Sunday morning.

Click below to hear the choir.

More choir singing.

L to R Sister Cluff, Sister Ochoa, and mom.

L to R President Cluff, Guatemala City Central Mission, President Ochoa, Area President, and a tag along.

Fuego on the left was blowing smoke.

We came home and had Elder and Sister Winkfield over for dinner with Elder and Sister Hurst who had just arrived from the Dominican Republic.  Dawn had some dental work done when they were serving here in Guatemala and has a broken crown that the dentist promised to repair for free if they came back here.  They will be here for 6 days.  It was great to see them and hear all about the DR.  This week went by really fast and we were very busy.