We have enjoyed a wonderful Easter week, or Semana Santa as it is called here. The schools were out for the week and most businesses closed down the whole week too. Our little corner market closed at noon on Wednesday. The owner said that if she stayed open, she would have to pay a big tax to the government so it was better to close. The big stores, Paiz, La Torre, and yes, even Walmart closed Friday afternoon and didn't reopen until Monday morning. The city buses stopped running on Wednesday. Can you even imagine one day in the US where all the stores and businesses closed?
Because everyone is on vacation, the temple would be full, so the missionaries in the morning shift stayed longer and the afternoon shift came early so we didn't have to close the temple in the middle of the day. We put in longer shifts all week, between 8 - 10 hours everyday, felt like El Salvador hours. But it was a wonderful week. On Tuesday, Elder Thompson was privileged to Seal a newly wed couple, Jorje Mario Chavez del Cid and Vivian Aide Castellanos Heredia for time and all eternity. This was his first live Sealing and it was a special experience for him. He next had the opportunity to do some English Sealings for a couple who were visiting their children and brought family files to be done. He had Spanish helpers so he did one in Spanish and then one in English so everyone could understand. Our temple here has been open for 30 years, and he is the first Sealer, other than the Presidency, who can use both languages in accomplishing this work. Quite an honor for this Idaho country boy.
On Wednesday, Belize came to the temple and stayed for two days. In Belize, everyone speaks both English and Spanish so the missionaries there don't have to learn Spanish. We had two sets of Senior Missionaries and another couple who live in Belize 6 months of the year come to the temple. We were able to do all the ordinances in English for them. What a blessing to be able to use two languages to serve the children of our Heavenly Father. Petan also came for two days. Petan is a long way away from the temple so they can't come regularly. The temple was filled each morning that we served and we loved every moment of it.
We asked some members what were their Easter Traditions here. Their reply was that they, as members, really don't have any as every celebration here is done by the Catholic Church. The one tradition that we would love to see is the "alfombras and parades." They usually happen on Friday mornings and we are always in the temple then so we may not get this opportunity. We never did in El Salvador. The people spend hours and hours creating "alfombras" or carpets on the streets. These are made of fruits, vegetables, seeds, rocks, flowers, etc.
Don't you just love the radish flowers! Well, these beautiful carpets are designed and then they are destroyed! The parades come and walk over them, unless you are on a street where the parade doesn't walk.
Elder and Sister Pitcher were able to attend this parade and shared the photos with us. It would be an event to see, oh well, maybe next year.
Sunday we sang with our ward choir for the Easter Program. I was able to sing two duets with Sister Jeannette Barney. Her husband is here with the US Embassy. We only had one week on one of the songs and it was one neither of us knew so it was a bit rough, especially when in the middle of the song I realized that I didn't have all the sheets of music with me. I waved my hand behind me and luckily Sister Cordon understood the hand jesters and sent the music to the podium. That was a scary moment.
We ended our Semana Santa by watching the rebroadcast of the Tabernacle Choir's performance of the "Messiah". Perfect ending to a perfect week.
We pray that each of you had a wonderful Semana Santa and that you were able to take some time to thank your Heavenly Father for His Son, Jesus Christ, and for His example, His teachings, and especially for His atonement for each of us. Life is wonderful. Enjoy it and know that you are in our prayers and thoughts always. We love you, Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma, Lon and Nancy
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