Christmas and New Years

 Monday, December 24^th: Yesterday I started cooking 2 pork roasts in the crock pot.  We are going to have a pot luck dinner tonight and I am bringing pulled pork.  I have modified a BBQ sauce recipe from off the internet; there are some things you just can’t find down here, which everyone seems to like.  So I have made spicy BBQ sauce for all of the missionaries and the people we work with closely in the temple as a Christmas present.  We have been saving jam jars and any other kind of bottle all year and I only had to buy 3 bottles of jalapeños to have 18 bottles for our gifts.  It will take me the rest of our mission to use up the jalapeños.  After spending the morning cooking, we went to see the Hobbit.  We were kind of disappointed.  The battle scenes were too long and they only told part of the story so they can stretch it out and make another movie.  Our Christmas Eve party started at 5:00 pm and we had too much food as always. 

Christmas Eve dinner.

 

  Hi from all the temple missionaries.

We played some silly games (musical spoons and repeating a Spanish nursery rhyme) and then to the Crayk’s home to watch the movie, Joseph and the Restoration.  

Musical Spoons.

 Sister Cortez gets a little excited playing games.

 Our team won but I didn't get a video of it.

We were going to watch the Church’s Christmas program with David Archuleta, but the blue ray player they had borrowed didn’t have the remote control, so it will have to wait till New Year’s Eve.

Christmas Day, December 25^th:  We went to the orphanage for the disabled children first thing today.  From the pictures I hope you can get a feel for how institutional and poor this facility is. 

Christmas Day at the Orphanage.

It is hard to be there and see these kids so love-starved and know that their life will never get any better.  Many of these children were abandoned at hospitals, churches, or just on the street.  There is a wide spectrum of disability.  Some are physically deformed, but mentally alert.  Others are mentally handicapped.  Sadly, this is a state run institution and workers have to re-apply for their jobs every year, so there is little continuity and not enough money.  We hope we were able to bring some joy into these kids’ lives, if only for an hour.  The baby strollers that were requested and purchased last year were stacked in a pile and appeared to not even being used.  The Cardon’s (temple missionaries) ward in Oklahoma sent them a very generous donation to help us with this project.  The Cardon’s were able to buy a new washing machine and a sturdy kids table, also a new pair of shoes for every child. 

Mom put new shoes on one of the kids.

The rest of us bought balls, stuffed animals, socks and picture books and one sister crocheted hats for all the kids. 

 

Mom helping with the new shoes.

Mom reading a book with one of the children.

Elder Kennedy reading a book.

This little girl is blind.

Mom playing with one of the children.

We got everyone back to the temple without incident.

We also have donated a lot of school supplies to a school for Down syndrome kids.  We came home and opened presents.  Mom gave me a book  about Bolivia and I surprised mom with a silver necklace with a pendent of temple.  She had mentioned a few months back that she would like one.  So that was not a real surprise.  But I did surprise her with a CD player.

Mom opening her CD player.

Our computer is getting old and overheats and really doesn’t like to play CDs or DVDs.  We inherited a DVD player from the Ahlstroms when they left at the first of the month.  So now she can watch DVDs and play CDs without the computer dying in the middle of something.  We of course Skyped with all the kids and experienced their Christmas over the internet.  Ginny and Sam made the move from Manhattan to LA (Pasadena) and found a place to rent and their things arrived a few days before Christmas, so they spent Christmas unpacking and sleeping on the floor, because they had sold their bed before they left New York.  James and Kirstin drove to Seattle to be with Kirstin’s family.  James had to have emergency surgery in Pendleton, Oregon on the way there.  He had to have his gall bladder and some dead fatty tissue removed.  So he spent Christmas recovering and then had to fly back to SLC on the 26^th for work.  Charlotte and Alex went to Denver for Christmas to be with Alex’s parents.  No mishaps.  A few days before Christmas, Kate who is 8 months pregnant fell down her stairs and almost had her new baby girl come early.  John and Jill enjoyed Christmas at home without mishap, but Moose had to have dental surgery.  But all in all, things are well with our tribe.  We are so grateful for the Lord’s tender mercies to each of us.  We feel so blessed.

Friday, December 28^th:  I noticed that after one of the sessions, there was a group of people in one of the sealing rooms.  The sealer who was assigned, already had a group in another room.  I asked if they wanted to do sealings and they said yes.  So I went to the office and got what I needed and spent the next 45 minutes with this group of people.  At the end I realized that some of them must be related because they had the same last name.  It turned out to be the mother and father, 2 of their sons and their wives, 1 daughter and her husband and a couple who were friends of this family.  The father told me that he had other children that could not come to the temple this time, but that he has had 2 sons who have been stake presidents and 1 who has been a bishop.  I was really impressed with this family and felt their love for each other and the gospel.

Saturday, December 29^th:  We attended the early morning session and with that session we have completed our goal of going to the temple everyday in December that the temple was open and participating as a patron in either sealings, a session or in initiatory.  We feel that we have come to better understand the power and spirit that is available in temple and it is a wonderful blessing to live on the temple grounds.

Sunday, December 30^th:  Today President Crayk took mom and me with him to the Villa Moderna ward in Quillacolla which is just west of Cochabamba.  It took us just over a half an hour to drive there.  I had asked him if there was something special he would like me to talk about and he said no, whatever I felt would be good enough.  I asked him what he was going to speak on and he said, “I never know until I get to the meeting.”  I told him I needed more preparation than that.  He said that I had enough arrows in my quiver and that I didn’t need to write out a talk.  Well, I took his suggestion to not have a prepared talk.  I spent some time Sunday morning getting a few thoughts in my mind, but decided not to use one of the 7 talks I have written out.  I was surprised when I sat down, mom said that I had spoken for over 15 minutes and that she thought I had done a good job.  Mom and Sister Crayk also bore their testimonies which was something mom was not thinking would happen.  We then went to Sunday school and after Pres. Crayk gave the opening prayer, they asked him to teach them the theme for the coming year.  Pres. Crayk said that I would share some thoughts and then he would finish.  I talked about our experiences in China and that there are no coincidences in this life.  We didn’t stay for the combined Priesthood and Relief Society meeting for fear we would be asked to teach that lesson also.  Connie had us to dinner when we got back.  It was a very nice Sunday and one filled with the Spirit.

New Year’s Eve, December 31^st: Last Friday we had a visit from Willie Escobar, one of our shift coordinators.  He lives in the Ticquipaya Ward and owns the duck farm we visited.  He brought us a duck for Christmas.   

The duck had to have his head and feet cut off.

Dad decapitated the duck.

We are having a get together tonight to celebrate the New Year.  So I decided to cook our duck. 

After 4 hours and a lot of glaze.

There wasn't much left.

We are going to have a potato bar.  I also offered to cook chili, to put on the potatoes.  It took 4 hours to cook the duck.  We had a nice meal and played a game with everyone called, hot dice. 

New Years Eve dinner.

Then those who wanted to went to Pres. Crayk’s home to watch the David Archuleta performance with the Choir from last Christmas. 

New Year’s Day, January 1^st 2013:  I got up this morning and started to blog only to have the computer overheat and turn off.  So I decided to experiment with sweet and sour sauces until I found one I really liked.  I settled on one with Worcestershire sauce and hot chili sauce as part of the ingredients.  I ended up making a big wok of sweet and sour chicken.  It was a lot of food,  so we invited the Kennedys and the Hursts to lunch.  The Kennedys have given us a round table top that has been handed down from one couple to another for a couple of years now.  They are leaving in a month.  So we put it to use and had the Kennedys, Cardons and the Crayks over for a game of Hand and Foot. (playing cards)  Don’t be shocked, it is a fun game and we laugh and laugh.  We finished off the day watching a movie (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) that Scott, mom’s brother, had sent us for Christmas.  It is about a group of British seniors who decide to outsource their retirement to a hotel in India.  It hit a little too close to home (“They are all older than we are, right?), but it was funny none the less.  Mom and I decided we will outsource our retirement to the Church and just keep going on missions, since we don’t have a home any longer.  As we reflect on the year 2012, we have learned a couple of things.  1. That sacrifices are always rewarded with blessings.  2.  That the Spirit can lead you to do something without you even realizing it.  3.  That there are ways to bless our children from afar.  4.  Temple worship has always been part of the gospel of Christ.  5. It is easier to do hard things when you have good people around you.  6.  We are all love-starved.  I am amazed at the sacrifice that so many of the saints here in this temple district make to come to the temple, many travel for many hours and some for days.  I am overwhelmed by a feeling of gratitude for the many blessing that we have received this last year.  Our children are well.   We have our health and the blessing of being here in Bolivia, of being able to go to the temple everyday, of being able to, in some small way, help advance the Kingdom, of feeling the Spirit on an almost daily basis.  Some days are hard and feel like a routine, but most days are filled with joy, happiness and gratitude.  May your 2013 be filled with similar blessings of joy, happiness and gratitude?

Tuesday Dec. 11th

Tuesday, December 11^th: We were on the morning shift today and we had 3 young men come to receive their endowments.  Each had been called to serve in Venezuela, each in different a mission there.  Each was there with both parents and in addition one had one set of grandparents.  This is very unusual for here in Bolivia.  Many times a young man will show up with no one accompanying him.  Sometimes he is the only member in his family.  To have all three, with both parents was a real surprise and shows the maturing of the church here in South America.  It was fun to talk to them about their families.  Each had been a member since childhood.  One of the fun things that falls to the presidency and matron of any temple is to explain the ordinances of the temple.

Wednesday, December 12^th: We are on schedule to have attended the temple each day this month that it is open as patrons.  This morning we did initiatory.  During our shift in the afternoon, the sealer did not show up.  So I got to seal a young couple.  These experiences are very precious and sacred and they strengthen my testimony and understanding of the eternal nature of this work.

Saturday, December 15^th:  We attended the early morning session today as patrons. I had a sweet experience with Sister Cortez, a missionary from Colombia. 

Sunday, December 16^th:  President Crayk had to go to La Paz today.  He left me with the car so that I could go and pick up Doug Thayne from the airport.  He also left me with the assignment to go to the Rosedal and Linde wards in the Cobica Stake and pass out small polished crystal-like rocks to all the members who would make the commitment to attend the temple more frequently during the coming year. At their stake conference on the 25^th of November, Pres. Crayk had promised everyone in the stake who would make this commitment, a rock to help them remember their commitment.  So I had my assignment to visit these two wards.  I took Sister Crayk and mom and we headed out at 7:30 a.m. so we could be to the first sacrament meeting at 8:00am.  I asked the bishop if I could make an announcement before the sacrament and then I explained that I had the rocks and that I needed to leave to go to the airport, but that I would be back during Sunday school to pass them out.  The 3 of us then left for the airport. 

Doug Thayne arriving in Cochabamba.

Elder Thayne and Elder Norman plus 40 years.

Doug Thayne is an old missionary companion from when mom and I and Pres. Crayk served in Ecuador from 1971-1973.  He has been building the interiors of temples for the last 15 years.  In fact, he and his crew installed the woodwork for BDL in the Ghana and Nigeria temples when I was President of BDL.  He arrived and looks exactly like he did 40 years ago, bald and with a big grin.  Really, he was bald in the mission field.  He told me that more than once, people would ask if he was his companion’s father.  We then went back to church and passed out rocks.  We then attended the Sacrament meeting for the Linde ward and passed out the rocks after Sacrament meeting.  We brought Doug back and got him settled in the patron housing and then fed him lunch. We then went and picked up Pres. Crayk from the airport.  We showed Doug the temple and the patron housing building and then Pres. Crayk had to leave for another meeting.  That evening we had a wonderful dinner prepared by Sister Crayk and we sat around the table reminiscing and laughing about our many memories in the Ecuador mission.

Monday, December 17^th: With Doug here we decided to show him around a little.  We had purchased a bunch of school supplies for a school for children with Down Syndrome.  We delivered these and got a tour. 

The school for Down Syndrome kids.

The kids were on vacation, but the facility is very nice and was constructed over the past 10 years by a parent association.  We will try and help them with some other things during this next year.  We had a great steak lunch and then we attended a Christmas Party for the Deseret Club. 

Lunch with Doug and Pres. and Sister Crayk.

This is a club made up by the employees of the temple.  It is an annual party for the kids of the employees and Santa comes and all the kids get a present. 

Santa and Mrs. Claus aka Elder and Sister Perez.

One of the temple missionaries, Elder Perez from Venezuela, played Santa and made all the children sing for their presents. 

Santa handing out presents.

Sister Crayk, who is a professional story teller, told a folktale in Spanish.  The kids loved it.

Sister Crayk telling a story to all the kids at the party.

I got to hold one of the employees kids.

Look what Santa drinks!

Tuesday, December 18^th: Pres. Crayk had to work this morning so we took Doug to the convent and he thought that was worth a visit. 

Doug and I at the convent.

Mom and Doug at the convent.

Wood carved alter piece at the convent.

We then went to the last session in the morning and then with the Crayks we went to lunch at Tuesdays and then for ice cream.  Pres. Crayk had to talk to a group from La Paz at 4:00pm so we all went to that meeting and Doug bore his testimony.  We then took him to the airport. Short stay, but it was great to see him and get caught up.  He was here in South America because he will be doing the interiors of the Trujillo temple in Peru.

Friday, December 21^st:  First thing this morning we went to SEGIP to be photographed and finger printed for our carnets, a resident ID card.  We have to get this in order to renew our visas for another year.  There is no way to describe this process, but it has required multiple trips to multiple bureaucracies with multiple payments and standing in multiple lines.  As most of you know, this is my idea of hell.  I then spent the afternoon making a huge batch of my super-duper spicy BBQ sauce.  We are going to give all the missionaries a bottle for our Christmas gift.   We were off today, but President Crayk called and asked us to speak to another group from La Paz.  It was a ward from the stake that I had just visited for their Stake Conference.  They had 17 youth and only 4 of their parents were with them. 

The group from La Paz.

I talked about how their parents were home working and sacrificing so they could come to the temple and have a special experience.  It was a good meeting we got done about 9:00pm.

Saturday, December 22^nd:  We were on turn for the morning shift today, so we were to the temple early.  The sealer didn’t show up again.  I got to seal a family, first the parents and then 3 living children and 2 deceased children.  This is the first time I think I have had a combination of living and deceased children.  It was so fun to do this sealing.  Mom represented the deceased daughter.  The children and parents afterward where so emotional, but this just made it all the more enjoyable.  Then I spent the afternoon making more BBQ sauce.  I have made 2 triple batches of BBQ sauce this week.

Sunday, December 23^rd:  We attended the Temporal Ward today and I asked the Bishop if I could have 5 minutes.  He made me the last speaker and I had 20 minutes.  I didn’t have my book of talks so it was off the cuff.  But it was easy to speak about Christmas and how wise men still search for Christ and how we can find Him in the temple.  I left 5 minutes so the stake president got up and spoke.  I felt really good about my talk.  Mom said afterward that she is not sure if the Latinos know how to deal with emotion, because I was bawling during my talk. Yea, so what’s new?    But she also reminded me that Pres. Eyring is very emotional during his talks too. We came home and had leftovers and now I am blogging.  Mom has organized a caroling party for tonight.  Merry Christmas to one and to all.

Carolers in front of the temple.

Carolers in front of Pres. Caryk's house.

Carolers in front of the stable on the temple grounds.

Our mascot we found caroling.

Some of the carolers.

 Santa and Mom in front of the stable.