August 20th through August 26th

August 20^th through August 26^th:  Monday we went to the baptism of Dane Bock, the grandson of President Craig Hill, president of the Mission Training Center.  He was baptized in the same font that his mother was baptized in 25 years ago when the Hills were living here in Guatemala .  His grandfather baptized him.  In the afternoon, we took the missionaries to see the movie, Christopher Robin, and then we went to dinner.  

Dane Bock on his baptism day.

Eating out is always a good time with good friends.

Tuesday we went to paint class and then we did our afternoon shift.  Wednesday and Thursday we also did the afternoon shift.  

Chris is working on this new painting

My painting of Xela is almost finished.

This is going to be Luke

Wednesday during presidency meeting, Brother Abadillo shared that one of his sons had been in the devotional for temple workers in Provo and had heard Elder Holland say that if you thought last General Conference was exciting then maybe you should buckle your seat belt for the next conference. We are on alert!   Thursday evening a big group of youth came to the temple and each of them had a family name. It was fun to see their excitement to do the work for someone they had researched and found. 

All of the youth in this group brought a family name for baptism. 

Friday we flew to Belize City for their district conference.  We were picked up by Elder and Sister Magnusson.  He is a counselor in the El Salvador Mission presidency and also the District President in Belize City. They were so kind to have us to dinner that evening.  There are no direct flights between Guatemala City and Belize City, so we had to fly to El Salvador first.  So by the time you leave for the airport and get to your hotel room it is about 7 hours.  Saturday we went for a walk in the morning and ended up at a grocery store where I sat down and waited for Chris to finish wandering.  They had a number of things we can’t get in Guatemala.  When she walked up to where I was sitting, she started laughing and then took my picture.  I didn’t see the humor in the sign that was directly above my head.  

I sat where I was supposed to sit.

The Elder Scott and Sister Kathleen Magnusson  picked us up at 12:30pm and we drove for about 1 ½ hours to Orange Walk for the two Saturday sessions.  Orange Walk is about in the center of the district.  We had two terrific meetings.  Brian K. Ashton, the second counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency, along with Ismar Vallecillos, area director for BYU Pathways, were also there to share information about the Church's online educational program for the members.  The two meetings were excellent and we felt good about our two talks.  The Spirit bore witness of the things we taught.  After the meetings, I gave temple ties to those that had participated in the meeting.  

With their temple ties: Left to right-Elder Brian K. Ashton, Ismar Vallecillos, me, Elder Magnusson, and Elder Adams.

The Magnussons had all of us over for dinner when we got back to Belize City.  It was a nice evening with these servants of the Lord.  Brother Ashton also said that we should make sure we are listening to the next General Conference because there are more changes coming.  He said he would be speaking and we are excited and can hardly wait for conference.  

After dinner at the Magnussson's home.

Sunday we had a nice general session.  Brother Ashton and Vallecillos could not be with us, they had gone on to their next assignment.  We were so excited that Silbert and Jennifer Gordon were asked to speak about their experience of serving a mission to the Guatemala Temple.  It was great to hear their testimonies and they expressed love and gratitude to us.  

Cemetery Road goes right through the cemetery.

The chapel in Belize City.  You can see the storm clouds gathering.  By the time we finished the meeting, the streets had become rivers.  We now understand the meaning of tropical storm.

Waiting for the the Belize City District Conference to begin.

Our dear friends, Silbert and Jennifer Gordon, who served with us in the Guatemala Temple.

We got this picture between storms.

After conference we were invited to the Gordons home.  Sister Magnusson drove us over in a torrential rainstorm.  All the streets were flooded and it was really incredible.  We spent a few hours with the Gordons.  Silbert showed me some of this woodwork.  He is very talented and has made beautiful furniture for their home.  They then drove us around and showed us the sights of Belize City.  Most of the streets were still flooded.  

And it is raining again.

Click below to see it rain.
It's raining

Brother Gordon made and designed this beautiful mahogany dining room set.  He is a very accomplished wood worker.

Silbert made this dresser and this is his granddaughter.

As we drove around seeing the different sites,  most of the streets were flooded.

Streets quickly became rivers.

200 year old Anglican church.

This might get old quick.

Even with things being overcast, the ocean is beautiful.

In the evening, we again went the  Magnusson’s  home for some supper.  They are doing a great job and are very gracious hosts.  The Adams, another senior couple joined us for supper.  They are the CES coordinators for the country.  They told us all about the youth camp they had just had.  They leave in about two weeks and have been a great blessing to the youth and young adults here in Belize. It was a great trip to Belize and we feel so blessed to be able to share our testimonies of the temple with the saints of this temple district.  We can now look at the calendar and see what we will be doing for each of the next 9 Sundays.  It is going by too fast and we will miss so much the wonderful people of Guatemala and Belize, but what an adventure this has been.  Words cannot describe all of our thoughts and feelings.  In a few short weeks we will be headed home and as President Atkinson said, when I asked him how he was doing shortly after he got home, "I am learning how to be irrelevant."  That, I am afraid, will shortly be our lot.

August 13th through August 19th

August 13^th through August 19^th:  Tuesday we went to our paint class.  Jill Saxton Smith, our teacher, has been in the US for the summer and this was the first class we have had in over 2 months.  We are so glad she is back.  It was fun to get back to work on Xela and Luke.  I want to at least finish their portraits before we leave.  Mom finished a landscape that she has been working on for awhile.  

You can't really see, but she got freckles this last week.

It is so nice that we have something we can do together.

We then hurried home, had a quick bite to eat and went to our shift at the temple.  Wednesday was a holiday here in Guatemala and the temple was really busy.  We went over and helped for part of the day.  Thursday and Friday we did our regular shifts in the temple.  Saturday we worked on printing a label for all the pillows we have made to give away.  We went to the internet to learn how to print on cloth.  It turns out you need freezer paper to make it work.  Jill brought us back a roll of freezer paper.  We had looked all over in Guatemala City and could not find it here.  So when we had our paint lesson on Tuesday she gave us the paper.  I got 10 pieces of cloth sized and ironed to the freezer paper.  Mom is working on the design of the label and we are about ready to get them all printed.  We want to add the label to identify where the huipil is from. Sunday I left early to go to a coordinating council meeting, which includes all the stake presidents of a certain area, the mission president, the temple president and the area Seventy.  Before the meeting started, we attended the sacrament meeting of the ward in the building. The area seventy, Elder Gonzalez, asked me to take a few minutes and bear my testimony. I got home in time to eat dinner with Chris and then left for another coordinating council meeting.  I got a little emotional saying good-bye to all the stake presidents that we have worked with for the past 3 years.  It was the last time I will be with them.  I gave them all a temple tie as a reminder of the importance of the temple. 

Here is just a sample of the ties I have been giving away.

The experiences I have had with these dedicated servants of our Savior has been very special.  Sorry I forgot to take a picture of all the stake presidents.  It was a good week and they continue to fly by.  

August 6th through August 12th

August 6^th through August 12^th:  Monday evening we had a Family Home Evening to introduce a new missionary couple, the Solorzanos, who have come to serve with us in the temple. They are Guatemalan, but have lived the last 15 or so years in the United States. They served here in the temple when it was dedicated in 1984 and have served in other temples in the United States.  It is an answer to our prayers to have such capable people come to serve in the temple.  They will be a great blessing to the temple and the saints who come to worship.  

Refreshments after FHE.

The Solorzanos are the couple on the left.

Tuesday the Calls arrived for their last visit to the temple before they finish their mission next month.  They serve in a small town, Fray Bartolome de las Casas, about 2 1/2 hours northeast of Coban.  They come to Guatemala City about every 6 weeks, to visit the temple and stock-up on supplies.  It is always fun to have them spend a few days with us.  We help them get their batteries recharged by playing some cards and talking to them in English.  The only contact they have with other senior English-speaking couples is when they come to visit the temple.  Wednesday we had the morning shift and played with the Calls in the afternoon.  Thursday morning we took the Calls to Mega Paca.  I scored big.  I found 6 new shirts for about $14.00.  I say new, but some of them are used, but still in good condition.  We then worked the afternoon shift.  Friday morning we got up early and took the Calls to Lake Atitlan.  They have served 22 months in Guatemala and have not been able to visit this famous place.  We drove to San Lucas Toliman which is right before Santiago Atitlan.  We walked through the market there and mom bought 2 CDs.  One by ABBA and the other the Bee Gees.  We were surprised that the ABBA CD was in Spanish.  Who knew that ABBA had done a Spanish version of their songs?  

The market in San Lucas Toliman.

We then went on to Santiago.  We walked through their market and then went to lunch, but it was only 10:30am.  The restaurant had just stopped serving breakfast and would not be ready for lunch till noon.  The owner is an American said that if we wanted to order breakfast they could still serve us.  So we had breakfast.  With one last visit to the market and then having to go back to the restaurant because I had forgot my hat, we were on our way home.  We got home in time for a couple of card games.  

We stopped to take a picture of Lake Atitlan.  I am wearing one of my new shirts.

In front of the church in Santiago.

I love this door within a door.

The church in Santiago is a very interesting blend of Mayan and Catholic traditions.

This beautiful  statue is in native dress

Market in Santiago.

This was the local market day in Santiago. 
Lots of hustle and bustle going on.

We took a tuk tuk ride back to our car.

Click below to ride with us.
Riding in a Tuk Tuk

Saturday morning we had the 4:00 am shift, so we went to bed at 8:30pm. The temple is really busy on Saturdays and we had a great morning.  In the afternoon, I worked on the floor plan for the basement apartment we are going build in our son's home when we return.  Our good friend, Wally Cooper, said he would help us with the plans if we could get him some dimensions.  So this last week I have been sending John, our son, drawings of things I need measured and then putting all the information on a large floor plan.  I had to do an "as is" drawing and then one showing what we want to build new.  Our plan is to live in John and Jill's basement while I am doing the remodel.  Chris calls this camping out, but it should only take 4 or 5 months.  I told Chris yesterday that, if Chip and Joanna Gaines can do a house in 8 weeks, I should be able to do one in 3 months.  But we are setting our expectations at 4 to 5 months.  I am really excited for this new challenge, but Chris may need to visit some of you during some phases of the remodel.  Sunday we went to the stake conference at Las Victorias stake.  Our assistant recorder, Brother Carranza, is the stake president.  It was a very nice meeting and we were glad to be able to support him in his church calling.  

The choir practicing before the conference.

Click below to listen to the choir.
Choir Practice 

After the meeting.

L to R President Christensen, Guatemala East mission, President Carranza, Stake President.  It was great to be with these dedicated men.

Each week as I write this blog I feel so lucky to be having these experiences, words cannot describe my feelings.  Words like wonderful and marvelous just don't seem to do justice to what we are experiencing.  Right now tears are running down my cheeks.  I feel so blessed and honored and thankful for this time here in Guatemala.  Our time is short and when we get emails from Salt Lake saying, "In preparation for your release as President and Matron of the Guatemala City temple we need you to answer the following questions", you realize it is coming to an end.  There is some sadness in the thoughts of no longer having these experiences with the Spirit each week, of no longer getting kissed on the cheek by little old ladies, and of no longer seeing the native dress.  Ok, I have to stop, I am making myself cry even more.  You get the picture.  It is a great day to be a missionary.  God bless you all.  

July 30th through August 5th

July 30^th through August 5^th:  Wednesday we went exploring and visited Sumpango.  It is a small town about 1 ½ hours west of Guatemala City.  As we were leaving, we noticed the name of the town was written Tzumpango on the municipal building .  In the Kaqchikel mayan dialect, "tz"is pronounced as an "s".  All the maps now use Sumpango.  

Town plaza from the 3rd floor of the market building.

A group of women sitting at a food booth having breakfast.

I was trying to get a photo of these children watching a cartoon video on the steps.  Quite a nice selection of videos.

The women selling their vegetables.

Looking down on the vegetable vendors in Supango.

Two old friends having a morning chat.

Chris paid $1.50 for these roses, plus the privilege of taking the photo.  The vendor was really more pleasant than she looks, but she had very bad/missing teeth and wouldn't smile for the picture

45 years and she still loves me.

Inside the Sumpango church.

The municipal building in Sumpango--but it is spelled with the Kaqchiqel spelling--Tzumpango

In the afternoon, we tried to go up the hill to a doctor appointment and the traffic was so bad we gave up and changed our appointment to next Tuesday.  On Friday we went to dinner with President and Sister Hill and celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary with them.  

Thanks to President and Sister Hill for inviting us to dinner.  And it just happened to be our 45th wedding anniversary.

Friday evening, the Santa Lucia District had a special couples fireside.  It happened to fall on our anniversary and we were happy to share our testimonies of eternal marriage.

We spent a lot of time in the temple this last week and enjoyed a Saturday that was very busy.  Sunday afternoon I took the missionaries to our monthly "Break the Fast" dinner.  

Always lots of good food.

Always nice to be with the Area Senior missionaries for "Break the Fast".

Mom stayed home and had a conference call with all the committee members for the family reunion next summer of the Edgar and Elizabeth Norman descendants.  We expect about 130 people will attend. The weeks are flying by and we continue to feel blessed beyond what we deserve.