Movin-on-up to the Penthouse

     Dear Family and Friends:
     We have had an amazing week at the Temple.   Thursday, May 1st, was a holiday here, Asueto National or National Leisure Day.  We closed the Temple after the 12:00 session so we had to go over an hour earlier because it was believed that many would come.  Well, we had a good attendance till about 10:00 then the people just quit coming.  But we were done at 10:30 so we had a good morning and the other shift was very slow.  Elder Thompson had the opportunity to perform some sealings this morning.  Saturday was an amazing morning with sessions ever half hour and lots of people filling every inch of the temple.  We believe that a lot of Relief Societies came in celebration of Mothers Day next week.  Elder Thompson even had the opportunity to seal young couple, creating a new eternal family.  Our service in the temple is truly the highlight of our weeks.
      Since we were done early at the Temple, we decided to go to lunch with some of the missionaries.

 Sister Cabellero, Los Murri's, Sister Paniagua, Los Burbidge's (the CCM nurse)  As you can see, we all have an umbrella in our hands.  The rainy season has begun.  It rained almost all night on the 30th and has rained every day since at least once.  So you don't go anywhere without being prepared.

 As we approached the restaurant, from a distance we thought WOW, what a beautiful tree and such interesting colors for the flowers.  Well, the tree is fake with Christmas lights for the flowers.  They even had a pink one too.

      We enjoyed a leisure lunch as we were waiting for the rain to ease up before we walked back home.  But it didn't let up entirely so we walked home in the rain.  However, it is not cold.

   

     Now to back track a little.  On April 25th, President Burk came to our apartment and asked us if we would mind moving upstairs into the Harris' apartment.  We have two new couples coming on the 15th and he was concerned that we only had two apartments on the second floors available, one in our building and one in the building across the street, the Svensen's apartment.  He took us up to see the apartment.  Well, as you can see in the pictures, it is twice the size of our little apartment with several enticing features, such as Direct TV installed and paid for, for the next 6 months.  This means that Elder Thompson should be able to catch any of the College Football Games that he wants if we are still on the AM shift in 6 months and we pay to have it renewed.  It also has a bigger front room and bedroom. 

      These are the very stairs that I have been exercising on each day.  Hermano Jorge Estrada is helping us with the move.  We packed on Friday evening and moved in on Saturday evening.

      The furniture in all the apartments is the same.  The windows are great and we get a nice cross wind so the apartment is much cooler than the small one downstairs.

 We can even open the closet doors all the way here.

         The bathroom is just flipped from down stairs so we have to get used to things being on a different side.  The laundry is smaller but we don't spend time here.

 

We are to have a cupboard installed here some time.

     The kitchen is huge and has a glass top stove.  Elder Thompson is having to learn to cook all over again as it cooks so differently than the other stove.

 

You go out of the door beside the frig to the roof top patio.  These are the back stairs to the front door of the apartment.

  

 

     Our view from our bedroom window is of the temple spires.

   You can lay on the bed and see the Angel Moroni.  If I were a flower person, you could even have flowers on the window sills outside the apartment.

 

     This is the view from our front room window.  It is fun to be able to see the temple both day and night.  I think we will enjoy this new apartment.  It is so much roomier and lighter and cooler.

 

Looking out of our kitchen windows you can

see the apartment buildings for the other missionaries.  They are red brick looking buildings but the brick is only a facing. 
     Well, that is about all for this week.  We are settled in and unpacked once again.  Life is good.  When Sister Svensen left, she gave us her keyboard and I took her place playing for the Primary.  We are singing with the ward choir and trying to get to know more and more people daily.  We send our love to all.  We pray that you are well and enjoying each new day.   Lon and Nancy, Dad and Mom, Grandma and Grandpa