Our week started with a challenge for President Thompson to drive a car in this huge city, to do it safely and also find our way back home. We did cheat a little, we took the Murri's with us as co-pilots. We headed to the doctor's office on Wednesday afternoon, then drove to Walmart and to Price Smart. We passed our Stake Center on the way so we know how to get to four places and home. The President drives a 2014 Honda Odyssey that is fully loaded. We can use it anytime we need and drive for the other missionaries when they do their shopping on Mondays.
We have watched the rash on President's leg fade daily. Here are the pictures to show you the difference this week. The doctor was very pleased and released him to return to his normal routine, including walking daily. We are very thankful for all the prayers for him, and for the blessing of renewed health and strength.
On Thursday, the 31st, Daniel and Kelly Fisher arrived by bus from El Salvador to visit Guatemala. Daniel is President Petersen's grandson. They have been in El Salvador for two months volunteering at an orphanage, helping with homework and cooking and anything else needed, and also volunteering at a hospital, teaching dance therapy. They are students at BYUI and have about three more weeks before they head back to school. We hired Andre to drive us to Antigua and show us around.
Antigua was the capital of Guatemala for centuries. It is about 45 miles west of Guatemala City and usually takes at least an hour and a half to get there because of the city traffic. It was first built in 1532. After two major earthquakes destroyed much of the city, the capital was moved to Guatemala City. In 1976, one last earthquake did major damage once again.
It is amazing what the earthquake left untouched and the damage that it caused.
In front of the Church and Convent of Capuchinas
We then drove to the Monastery and Church of Saint Clara
Daniel had my camera and took this photo. Since my fall in January, I don't get very far from my eternal sweetheart. He makes sure that he is holding my hand so I don't have a chance to fall a second time. Friends and lovers forever.
There are at least 40 huge churches similar to these around Antigua. They have 6 that are historic monuments and are protected. The others are pretty much just ruins. We had to visit the Apple Factory while we were here and Andre took us to a wonderful quaint shopping center that we will definitely have to visit at least once more before we come home. All the streets are cobble stone and no building can be built unless it looks just like all the rest of the buildings in town. When the church built it's chapel, it too had to look like all the other buildings.
Daniel and Kelly slept in one of the guest rooms at President Burk's house. They came in about 8:30 on Friday morning for breakfast and Andre picked them up and took them to the bus to go to Panajachel for the next couple of days.
We had our first Saturday off as our rotation fell that way this week. It is so different than being in the temple daily. We are learning lots and feel more comfortable in our new callings. We love the new challenge and love getting to know more of the obreras. We send our love to all. We are feeling great and pray that we will be able to be healthy from now on. As my little sister Connie counseled: Maybe you aren't listening close enough to the Lord and he is trying to get your attention. We promise that we will try to listen more intently and learn the lessons that we need to learn. A quote from Neal Maxwell gives us comfort also: Additional tutoring and suffering appears to be a pattern for the Lord's most apt pupils. We pray that we are indeed "apt pupils". We definitely have more patience with people who have physical handicaps. Have a wonderful week and we will let you know how our week goes. Life is wonderful, enjoy every day. Lon and Nancy, Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma.
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