May 28th through June 3rd:

May 28^th through June 3^rd:  Monday afternoon, after taking everyone shopping, we went and saw Han Solo.  It did not live up to what I have come to expect from a Stars Wars movie.  Sorry Han.  Tuesday we went to our last paint class until August.  The Smiths are headed to the states for the summer.  

Xela got some flesh tones.

We then did the afternoon shift.  Wednesday we had presidency meeting.  Thursday we did the morning shift.  Friday we switched with the Flohrs and did the morning shift so that we could leave for Senahu.  The Flohrs came in a few hours early so we could arrive that night for the Senahu Stake 1^st year celebration. The Jensons went with us.  We made good time and only had a little mud on the road between San Julian and La Tinta.

There is always room for one more.

  

It rained during our trip into the Polochic valley.

This just added to the adventure.

And the fun.

You had to guess how deep the pot holes were.

Click below to see the video.

Driving in mud.

There is always room for one more.

Click below to see more of the road.

More pot holes.

This is the Polochic valley.

We went over two mountains to get from the Polochic valley to Senahu.

Lunch on Friday.

Our home away from home.

We had time to get a bite to eat with the Faundezes before we got changed and went to the chapel.  It was more like a talent night where each ward did a presentation.  The funniest was the ministering brethren who took care of someone who had an accident.  At the end, President Cuz asked the congregation if they would like to see President Norman and his wife dance.  I was more than reluctant.  In fact, after we got up on the stage I took the mike from him and told everyone that after the program I was going to “matarlo”—murder him.  That really got a laugh.  So mom and I made fools of ourselves for about 30 seconds, but the people loved it.  President Cuz invited all the youth to come to the stake center at 5:00am and play soccer.  They use the basketball court in back of the building as a soccer field.  Unfortunately, it is right across the street from our hotel, so everyone was up early.  

I love that they have a picture of the temple as part of their celebration.

Our good friends, President and Sister Faundez.

Click below to listen to marimba music.

Marimba music.

One of the ward's relief society.

Click below to see the RS.

Relief Society dancing.

Youth dancers.

Click below to see the dancers.

Youth dancing.

Accident victim.

They had a good turnout for the activity.

How embarrassing.  She had a big bug in her hair.

Click below to see us dance.

We were good sports. 

Soccer at 5:00am

Saturday we got up, had breakfast and walked around the market.  Market day in Senahu is crazy.  About 5:00 am trucks start arriving from all the little villages.  They are packed with people crammed into the back with everything they want to sell.  They plop their stuff down wherever there is an open space on the street.  I took the Jensons to the top of a hill where they have the cemetery.  It is a great place to see the whole valley.  

Market Day

This is how they arrive.

Walking in the market.

Mom loves a good market.

One week old chicks at the market.

The church is only a block off the main square.

 The name of the church is only written in Kekchi.

Lunch on Saturday.

View from the lookout at the cemetery.

View from the cemetery.

The town square is directly behind us.

We had two meetings that afternoon and evening.  After the first meeting which was on ministering, the area seventy, the mission president, the stake president and I each went with a leader from one of the wards and made visits to members that they felt needed comfort or support.  At the second home, I gave a blessing to a woman in her 80’s.  She cried and cried and I cried.  They were so thankful that we had come to see her.  It was a wonderful experience and I felt like we had really ministered “to the one”.  Mom and  I had the opportunity to speak in the second meeting.  

Afternoon meeting.

Evening meeting.

Sunday the building was packed and we had a great conference.  I felt the Spirit as I talked about the first message from President Nelson urging us to stay on the covenant path.  I got emotional as I said goodbye to this group of saints.  We have become very close to them as we have watched them grow in their knowledge of the gospel, be blessed by an apostle, Elder Renlund, and as they have come to the temple. We will miss our association with them very much.  At the end of the meeting, the choir director who was setting next to me, leaned over and said that they were changing the last song to “God be with you till we meet again” and the choir was going to sing it in Kekqui just for us.  I cried through the entire song. This was our last visit to Senahu and we feel so blessed to have been able to rub shoulders with these wonderful saints.  We know that God loves them and we love them.  We will forever cherish our memories of Senahu and the good members there.  

Sunday morning.

Sunday session.

This is the stake presidency, Elder Arredondo, President Faundez. me and our wives.

They gave me a souvenir so I don't forget Senahu.

The Choir

Click below to listen to "God be with you till we meet again in Kekchi.

Audio of the closing song.

We then loaded up and headed home.  About two hours into our 6 hour trip, we started to feel like we were driving in a dust storm, but there was no wind.  Sometimes it was like we were in a fog.  This went on for a couple of hours, then President Faundez called and asked if we were OK.  Volcano Fuego had erupted and some of the roads had been closed.  We stopped in El Rancho and the pavement was covered in ash.  

Ash in El Rancho.

It was a big eruption.

Click below to see eruption.

Fuego Erupting

Some people just made it out.

We got home without any problems and then saw on the internet some of the pictures of the eruption.  It is so sad that at least 25 people  have died.  They are afraid that the number will go up because there are a lot of people listed as missing.  It is a sad ending to a wonderful weekend, but one that we will forever remember.