April 11th through April 17thI

April 11^th through April 17^th:  Monday, after our shopping trip, we took everyone but the Allred’s to the Ixchel Textile Museum.  What a fun museum!  It tells the history of weaving and the different ways the huipiles (blouses) are made and decorated.  The exhibits were very professional and informative.  They had a large map and pictures of all the different huipiles and where each style of blouse was from, including the different indigenous groups.  There is certainly a rich history and culture of weavers and embroidery. 

I can never get enough of these beautiful Huipiles.

 

 

Map showing where each different design is from and from which native group.  Each group speak a different language.

Most of the huipiles are woven on a back-strap loom.

I want mom to buy a skirt and huipil.  But she won't.

They had some great displays.

Different types of masks.

We then finished off with a family home evening--a “despidida” for the Allred’s and a “bienvenida” for the May’s.  The Allred’s shared what they had learned on their mission.  This was their fourth mission, but their first temple mission and they said it was their favorite.  They have been great missionaries and are great examples of service.  We wish them well and know the Lord will bless them for their selfless service.

Family Home Evening.

The Allred's at their despedida.

Tuesday we got up early and took the Plaskett’s to the airport.  They have been living in the temple missionary apartments.  He has been the mental health advisor to the area.  We really enjoyed their friendship and optimistic personalities.  In addition to their regular assignments, they worked in the temple.  We will miss them.  

Dropping off and saying good-bye to the Plaskett's.

We had the afternoon shift and ended up getting home just after 10:00pm.  Wednesday we got up early again and took the Allred’s to the airport and then mom had a dentist appointment for a chipped filling.  Afterwards we had presidency meeting.  In the evening, we went over to the family history center to help the Young Men and Young Women learn how to search for their ancestors.  It was a pretty lively group with both English and Spanish speakers, but we had fun showing them how to navigate the web site.  Thursday we did the morning shift. Friday was the afternoon shift.  Saturday we decided to have a dinner party and so we invited Morris’, the Hill’s and Sister Lowery. The Morris’ arrived in January and we wanted to get better acquainted with them. He is the new president of the CCM (Missionary Training Center).  Brother Hill is the new Area Executive Secretary and Sister Hill works in the area office reviewing missionary applications.  Both couples have served in many capacities in Central and South America and are very interesting.  Sister Lowery lives in the temple apartments and is the CCM nurse.   I have wanted to cook Chinese food, so we went shopping.    For me, cooking Chinese food can be an all day affair.  I only cooked two dishes, but they both turned out great and we had enough leftovers to invite the Dibb’s and the May’s to dinner on Sunday. We had a very enjoyable evening. 

L to R.  Elder and Sister Hill, Sister and President Morris, Sister Lowery and Mom. 

Sunday we went to the Villa Hermosa stake conference where the Stake President, Camay, was being released.  He was called as a new area seventy at general conference two weeks ago.  Elder Cordon, a general authority seventy, who presided and Elder Charverri, also a new area seventy, were both assigned to the reorganization of the stake presidency.  Elder Charverri must have been learning the ropes from a more experienced seventy.  It was a great meeting and we both spoke.  It is so great to feel the Spirit and testify of the Savior and His work. 

Stake Conference, Villa Hermosa Stake

Choir for stake conference.

We hurried home and had the Dibb’s and the May’s over for leftovers.  We had invited them to join us on a little trip to Santa Lucia Cotzumalguapa, where we had been invited to speak at a meeting for all the endowed members of the District.  I surprised Elders Dibb, May and Fillmore by asking the District President to call on them to bear their testimonies.  Elder Fillmore and his wife are senior missionaries in the mission that takes in Santa Lucia and they were down that way for meetings.  They also live in the temple apartments.  It took us 1 ½ hours to get there and 3 hours to get home.  The traffic was horrible.  We got home at 8:00pm, then made a bowl of popcorn and went to bed tired from a long day.  It was another great week and we love Guatemala and the people.  It is so fun to go out and be with them.

They used buses to get people to Stake Conference.

L to R Sister May, Sister Dibb, Sister Fillmore,  Sister Ceballos, one of our coordinators, Mom

A primary choir practicing for District Conference