The Apple Factory

Dear Family and Friends:
    Sorry to be late writing this week, but we played on Monday instead of writing to you.  We have tried to visit the Apple Factory since our first year in El Salvador and we finally made it there. 

                  

It rained the whole day.  The Apple Factory makes beautiful wood products.  All the streets in Antiqua are cobble stone.  It used to be the capital of Guatemala, but was destroyed by an earthquake and the capital was moved to Guatemala City. 

 

This is the owner

We traveled to Antiqua with Elder and Hermana Burbidge.  She is the nurse at the CCM.  They have a car and we got to go along for the day.

 

     As you go through the front door, they have piles of products in all stages of production.  Everything is hand made and painted.

 

 The finished products are amazing.  But you have to look around cause it is all stacked up.  We found some treasures that we didn't think that we could live without.  The Burbidges are having them make a clock and we loved it so we are going to have one made for us too.

It has the Mayan calendar with a tree of life in the center.  It is not painted yet so we will have to return another day.

    

  Here are a couple of treasures that we couldn't live without.  We just don't know for sure how we will get them home. 

  After the Apple Factory, we went to the city center to look around town and find a place for lunch.  This is the volcano named Fuego.  It has been spitting smoke and debris for months now.  The trees are the edge of the city center.  We had visited here when we took the Book of Mormon tour in 2011.  We remembered the fountain in the center of the park.   

                                       

 We went to the Jade Factory and took a tour and had lunch there. 

 It never did stop raining.  But it couldn't dampen our spirits as we had a wonderful day with friends.  We got home in time for Family Home Evening at the Barlow's.

Hermano Jose y Ema Funas  (obreros del temple)

They work three days in the temple.  They have no car and ride a bus each day for a couple of hours to get to the temple.  They are wonderful, dedicated people.  She is the one who made me the doily for Mother's Day. 

     We had a wonderful P-day.  Our week in the temple was great also.  Friday and Saturday were very busy and Elder Thompson was able so seal two more families together forever.  This mission is wonderful.  We are so happy to be here serving in our Father's House.  We send our love to all.  You are always in our thoughts and prayers.  Lon and Nancy, Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma