August 27th through September 2nd

 August 27^th through September 2^nd: Monday Elder Magnusson, the Belize City district president and a senior missionary, drove us to the water taxi and Sister Magnusson became our tour guide to Caye Caulker, one of the many keys off the east coast of Belize.  It was about a 45 minute ferry ride out to the island.  We walked to one end of the island and saw what is called the Split.  Part of the island was split off during a hurricane a number of years ago.  The island is very small and much of it is only about 200 yards wide.  

Sister Magnusson and mom waiting for the ferry to leave Belize City.

We had a lot of comments on this picture that we posted on Instagram and Face Book.

It was a smooth ride out to Caye Caulker.

Click below to be with us on the ocean.
Boat ride to Caye Caulker 

Arriving at Caye Caulker.

Sandy beaches and a sign to remind you where you are.

Lots of places to sit on the beach and have a cold drink.  We had water.

Ready to pour the next floor.  Interesting supports.

On the way back to Belize City we sat on the main deck.

We made it back to our hotel with time to shower and check out by 1:00pm.  We had lunch at the hotel and then headed to the airport.  We shared the plane to San Salvador with 4 missionaries that were being transferred out of Belize.  We caught our last plane to Guatemala City and arrived about 9:00pm.  We were tired and went straight to bed.  

I gave away my tie to Silbert Gordon.  We are headed home.

The San Salvador volcano.

Tuesday we had a day off and we went to our paint class and then spent the afternoon resting up, traveling is tiring.  

Xela is done.

Paint Class,  Sister George and the Mathews have joined our class.

Mom's landscape is coming along.

Luke got hair, a background, and a white shirt.

Wednesday we did the morning shift and had presidency meeting.  After lunch I wanted to go to Mega Paca, but Chris didn't.  So she sent me off by myself, big mistake.  I had a great time shopping.  I bought 2 pair of Levis and 20 shirts; some were brand new with the tags still on.  I got some great shirts, a Woolrich, which was brand new, a North Face, a Cabelas, and many other name brands.  The grand total of my shopping spree was $36.00.  The Levis were $5.00 and the 20 shirts $31.00.  That is an average of $1.55 per shirt.  

I think the other two shirts are still in the laundry.

Chris was a little surprised by the quantity of my shopping and commented that I have never had such a nice wardrobe of shirts.  Thursday we took the missionaries grocery shopping and then we did the afternoon shift.  

We bought radishes.  They are really just small apples.

Friday we started a week off.  President Flohr needs a week off later in the month so we are switching up our rotation of one day morning shift, next day afternoon shift and the next day off to one week all the morning shifts, the next week all the afternoon shifts and the third week off, only we are starting with the first week off.  We are going to try and get everything organized into what we are going to take home in our luggage and what we are going to ship in the container.  We still haven't finished the labels for all the pillows we have made.  So we hope to keep busy.  Friday we went back to Mega Paca and I got 10 pairs of khaki slacks and 3 jackets: a Colombia jacket, a fleece and a wind breaker.  The total damage was $38.00.  The jackets $18.00 and the slacks $20.00.

Khakis in every color.

We are headed back at the beginning of the winter.

We don't know what we have in storage and I now won't need anything from the storage unit.  Chris is a different story.  She has not had any luck finding things she likes.  Saturday we went and did the first 4 hours (4:00am to 8:00am) of President Flohr's shift. He kindly agreed to go and speak for us to a group of YSAs in the Palmita Stake at 5:00pm because we have to be at our grandson, Stanford's, baptism via Face Time.  We spent the day shortening the cuffs on a number of the new slacks I got.  I cut and pined and mom sewed.  Stan's baptism was sweet and we enjoyed seeing everyone, but Ginny and her family who live in California.  Sunday we went to the stake conference in the Linda Vista stake. It was a nice meeting and we enjoyed being with the saints there.  

Linda Vista Stake Conference

L to R President Cluff, mission president, President Alias, 1st counselor, President Lopez, stake president, President Leiva, 2nd counselor, and me.

The choir.

Click below to listen to the Choir

God be with you till we meet again in Spanish

God of our Fathers in Spanish

This young man was the accompanist for the choir and congregational hymns.   He is 8 years old and was terrific.

In the afternoon, we took the missionaries to our monthly “Break the Fast” dinner.  It was fun to be with all the senior couples who are serving here in the city.  It was another great week.  We are feeling so blessed.  We got word that John and Sally Price have received a mission call to come back to the Guatemala City Temple.  We are so excited that they will be coming back here. 

Welcome back to Guatemala.