August 4th through August 10th

August 4^th through August 10^th: Tuesday, I went over to the temple and worked on the agenda, calendar and lists of workers on each of the different shifts.  We had Presidency meeting from 10:00am till noon.  This was a short one, because we had one on Sunday, two days ago. I then worked in the office trying to get caught up.  We went home for lunch around 2:00pm and we went back to the temple at 4:00pm and worked until 7:00pm.  I called all the stake presidents who have the assignment to bring their stake to the temple at the end of next week to try and get an idea of how many people will be coming.   It looks like we will be busy.  Wednesday, I worked the morning shift, but mostly in the office.  Mom stayed home and worked on cutting off and hemming 23 temple dresses that she found in storage before the closure. Mom then worked the afternoon shift, whereas I only worked for a few hours. 

Mom the magnificent seamstress.

Thursday, I went over before 6:00am to organize the group that had come to the temple.  We have to assign them where to go before they enter the temple or it is chaos.  There were only 2 buses, about 100 people, so it was pretty easy to get everyone in the temple.  We got done about 2:00pm and then I went back for the evening shift as the sealer.  Friday, was crazy busy.  We had 6 buses arrive and we were only expecting 3.  I got most of the people into the temple by 10:00am and then I did a sealing session.  We had over 1000 ordinances done by the time we left for lunch around 1:00pm.  I was exhausted from being on my feet except for the hour of sealings.  I went home and took a nap.  Mom had worked on dresses in the morning, but she went to the temple and worked in the office till almost 6:00pm.  I had to explain to an older woman who had come to the temple with her daughter that she could not be sealed to her dead husband because he hadn’t been dead for a year.  She seemed to accept that and said she would come back in February to do the ordinance.  We then went to dinner with Pres. Atkinson and his wife.  We took them to the restaurant that the Sorcias had taken us to.  They liked the food and we had good conversation. I had a pork tlayuda.

Friday night dinner with the Atkinsons.

Friday night dinner at Tlayudas Negro.

Saturday, was only 2 buses, we had been expecting a third, but it never showed.  I got to be a sealer in the morning and it was a very special day.  I really felt the Spirit in the sealings and had one of the best experiences I have ever had.  There were times that tears were rolling down my cheeks because the Spirit was very powerful.  Mom had met a woman and young man at the temple from Arizona and they were here with an orchestra.  They were going to be performing Saturday night, accompanying some opera singers, in the restored theater downtown. Mom asked the Pres. if they wanted to go.  He was excited and since I was going downtown to get my blood checked, I went to the theater to see how much the tickets would be.  It was going to be a free concert, but they told me we should be there early if we wanted to get in.  I then took a bus all the way to WalMart to do some shopping while mom worked at the temple.  Mom had worked on the dresses all morning so she felt like she had to go and work in the temple in the afternoon.  She came home and we all loaded up in President’s car and went downtown.  We had to wait in line for almost an hour. 

Waiting in line.

Do you like my new Guayabera shirt?

But I used the time to take some pictures of a couple of the buildings that had been built with a green stone that had been quarried near Oaxaca.  (According to Wikipedia, Cantera Stone is a uniquely quarried, volcanic rock that is mined exclusively in various regions of Mexico and Central America. Its name derives from the Spanish word for quarry. Its properties are unique, in that it offers color, texture, durability, and a softness that allows for detailed carving and cutting. It is used in hotels, shopping malls, office buildings, and custom homes throughout the world. Cantera comes in a myriad of natural colors and tones, and its texture is truly beautiful. It sports unique inclusions and color flecks, making its authenticity easy to see, and gives a natural, eternal feel. Cantera is durable, and has stood for centuries in many cathedrals, haciendas and other buildings throughout Latin America. The stone's color may vary depending on the impurities present in the stone of a particular region. The cantera notably used in many of the buildings, walls, and roads of Oaxaca, Mexico is a distinct green color,)

One of the hundreds of buildings in Oaxaca made out of Cantera stone.

This carved stone work is incredible.  The stone is really green.

Another one of the green buildings.

The Macedonia Theater.  Notice the green stone on the bottom.

The doors to the theater were exquisite.

The theater was amazing and I lasted till the intermission.  Mom and the rest stayed till the end, over 3 hours of opera.  I was asleep when mom got home about 9:30pm.

The theater has been beautifully restored.

The theater was really grand.

I stole this one off the web.

The lobby of the theater.

L to R Sister Atkinson, Pres. Atkinson, Pres. Pena, Sister Pena and Mom.

Can you say Selfie.

One of the opera singers.

The singers came from all over Mexico.

Some of the singers were really professional.

 

This is just a sample of the opera.

 

Sunday, we went back to the Dainzu ward for their ward conference. 

Two friends I made at church Moroni and his little brother Abenadi.

We left after sacrament meeting so I could be in the temple with Pres. Atkinson on a call with one of the area seventies for an area coordinating council meeting.  We only had to be on the call for our part of the meeting.  Thank goodness, because some of those meetings go for 6 hours or more.  I then made cinnamon rolls again; it is a lot of work but boy are they worth it.  Thanks again Helen for teaching us how to make your rolls.

I didn't eat that many, we gave some away.

Mom then made an apple cake that we took to dinner at President Madsen’s home.  It was a nice afternoon and fun to hear mission stories. 

Sunday dinner with Pres. and Sister Madsen.

We then got to Skype with all of our Utah children who were together for Sunday dinner at Charlotte’s home.  It was a good week.  I can tell that I will be spending a lot of time scheduling the stake visits to the temple.