Christmas in Guatemala

     Because we didn't arrive here until the 21st of December, 2013, we didn't expect to have much of a Christmas this first year.  This would be the first time in probably our entire married life that we did not participate in a Christmas program.  Our ward did a nice one on the 22nd but we did not have the opportunity to sing with them.  However, the other missionaries and the Temple Presidency had other plans for us.  On December 23rd, we met in the home of President and Sister Burk for a dinner with the English missionaries and the mission nurse and her husband and the President and his wife of the Mission Training Center.



Back row: Elder and Sister Pitcher (just made the secretary to the Area President, Elder Amado)
First Counselor in the Temple President and Sister Harris, Elder and Sister Burbidge  Mission nurse and her husband, President and Sister Nicolaysen CCM President, Elder and Sister Barlow(red head), Elder and Sister Roberts, Elder and Sister Svenson
Middle row: Sister Dick (a widow serving and living with a Latin companion), Elder and Sister Murri, President and Sister Burk.  Front row: Los Thompsons and Elder and Sister Olson.
    
     We had a wonderful dinner of ham and scalloped potatoes and all the trimmings.  After we ate, we assembled Christmas stockings for the missionaries at the CCM (MTC).  There were only 11 young men and one young woman in the CCM at this time, about 40 new ones arrived on Friday after Christmas.  Our Sister Dick has been spending her nights with the young woman so she isn't alone in the CCM. 

      On December the 24th, we were feeling real sad that we had nothing to give to the other missionaries as they each kept bringing over a gift to us.  We were assigned to bring rolls to our dinner that evening with the young Elders so we made a big batch of whole wheat rolls and took hot rolls to each of the other Senior Missionaries as they came out of the oven.  It felt good to be able to give something back to those wonderful people who have made us feel so welcome and needed. 

     That evening, Elder Thompson and I went to the apartment of President and Sister Harris to have dinner with two missionaires, Elder North who has been in the CCM only 2 weeks and is from Utah, and Elder Oliviera who is from Brazil and speaks Portugese and is learning Spanish.  The CCM provided a lasagna, made with ham that resembled bologna (not real good), and sugar cookies.  We provided the salad, veg, rolls, and anything else we wanted for the meal.  All of the other missionaries were paired up and had the same meal with 2 or more of the young Elders. After dinner, we had a Family Home Evening and presented the Elders with their stockings.  We visited about family traditions and just tried to help the young Elders not miss their families and to not be alone for Christmas Eve.  They had a devotional at a broadcast from SLC so it was not a late night. 



 Elder and Sister Thompson at the Harris apt         Elder North and Elder Oliviera

     When we were at the store on the 24th to pick up some rugs for our bathroom, the tile floors are just too cold for bare feet, Elder Thompson suggested that we buy a Christmas tree as they were 40% off and we would be here next Christmas.  I was so surprised that he would suggest it, but thrilled.  We bought our Charlie Brown tree with lights and decorations for less than $15.00, and no, this tree will not be up all year.  It doesn't have a pot to go in so it will come down on the 1st.

     Christmas morning was very calm and special as we read the Christmas story in Luke and remembered our Savior and His birth and life and all that He has done for us.  We were able to Skype Mindi, Ginger, and Tracy and visit with all of their families during the day.  We missed Shayla and her family but know that they were enjoying Christmas with all the kids this year. 

     We enjoyed a meal of chicken on Christmas, only because I didn't get the turkey breast bought and thawed out in time.  We did have a turkey dinner with all the trimmings on Saturday after our early morning shift (4:30am to 1:00pm).  We had planned on watching "Christmas for a Dollar" on Christmas night.  However, we could not get the TV to cooperate and could not get it to play a DVD.  After Elder Pitcher messed with it on Thursday, we have to change some cables each time we want to watch a DVD but at least now we can and we finally got to watch it on Saturday evening. Now our Christmas was complete and we are getting ready to celebrate the New Year. 

     The fireworks and firecrackers went off for three days and nights as the Guatemalan's celebrated Christmas. 

     To get to church, we walk through the temple grounds and through the building that houses the nursery for children who are coming to be sealed to their parents in the temple.  We walk down a flight of stairs and out into the parking lot of the church.  It is not like any of the churches in El Salvador.  Instead of a U shape, it is a L shape and very small.  One of the members of our new ward is Elder Amado, of the first quorum of the Seventy and the Area President.  It is fun to have him there as they usually ask him to share a few words at the end of each Sacrament meeting. 

walking through the temple grounds

The front of the church

 

The temple spires behind the church

     

The door into the nursery building

The door we come out of and down the

walk to the chapel

The houses right next to the chapel

    

      We are told that this is a very rich neighborhood, and so the ward is small because the people don't think that they need their Savior in their lives.  We have a set of young Sister Missionaries in the ward.  With the holidays, it is hard to really know how many are in the ward, but the building is so small, it can't be very many.  We are excited to get to know more of our ward family.  We do have quite a few Americans from the Embassy in this ward as in El Salvador. 

      Enough for today.  We only wish that we could let you feel the love of the people here for their Savior.  This temple is 29 years old, but is reverenced and taken care of with such love that it looks new.  The wood is polished and everything is clean and in order.  We are thrilled to be here and be able to serve our Father in Heaven's children here in Guatemala.  Have a wonderful week. Be careful as you celebrate the New Year and may God bless you with those righteous desires of your hearts.  We love you Dad and Mom, Lon and Nancy, Grandpa and Grandma, and of course, our other title, Elder and Sister Thompson.