District Conference in Santa Lucia

Dear Family and Friends:
    It's hard to believe that another week has come and gone already.  The Belize saints came to the temple this week.  They always stay for a couple of days and it is always fun to hear the ordinances in English.  The official language in Belize is English and most of the young people don't speak Spanish.  Most of the older people speak both English and Spanish.  They have a different accent and the young people like to practice their Spanish on us. 
    We were assigned to speak in the Santa Lucia District Conference on Sunday the 17th.  This District is working very hard to become a Stake.  They are very close to that goal.  There were about 800 at the conference.  Santa Lucia is about an hour and a half away from Guatemala City and very hot and humid. 
     Let me introduce you to Valmoris Ceballos and his wife.  They are ordinance workers.  Hermano Ceballos works for the church.  He is one of the guards here at the temple and is the one that drove us to the hospital when I broke my legs.  He is a special friend. 

 Hermana Ceballos directed the music for the conference and directed a youth choir.

Hmo y Hma Ceballos with their daughter and her family 

  The church building is in a "U" shape.  Lon and I were both assigned to speak for about 5 minutes each.  I spoke to the Primary children and sang a song with them, encouraging them to prepare now to enter the temple one day.  Lon spoke to the young people, the investigators, the adults, and encouraged them to prepare now to enter the temple and attend regularly, and to prepare to become ordinance workers in the temple.  It was a wonderful conference.

As we were leaving, I was given one of the flower arrangements that decorated the pulpit.  They were cut flowers and I knew that they would die fast

The little girls started coming up and asking for a flower.  It was fun to be able to let them pick which one they wanted.  We both received many hugs and kisses.  We love these people and are thrilled for this new assignment and the opportunity to get to be with the saints in their conferences.

     Tonight at Family Home Evening, we welcomed our newest missionary couples.  Elder and Hermana Barney are here for a year.  Their son and his family are here with the Embassy for a year so they are enjoying being together. 

         The Gardner's are from Orem, Utah.  He served here in the Central American Mission 50 years ago and yes, he remembers Frank Wall!!  What a small world we live in.

We took them on a walk to show them where the grocery stores are.  We only did the 2 miler for them but today, I did the 4 mile loop.  Of course it took longer than 1 hour but it felt good to be able to walk that far. 

      Neither of the women speak Spanish and have never served in a temple before so we have lots to teach them and they are eager to learn.   This is our missionary family as of today.

    Back row:  Los Cuellars, Wilsons, Roberts, Barlows, Elder Barney, Elder Murri, Hna. Caballero,  Burks. Middle row:  Thompsons, Hna. Cordon, Eberhards, Hna. Paniagua, Hna. Barney, Hna. Murri.  Front Row: Padillas, Hna. Guzman, Hna. Tanner, Gardners.  27 temple missionaries.

      Well, that is about all for this week.  We look forward to our shifts in the temple and being with the wonderful people we are able to serve with.  Some shifts run real smooth with lots of workers and some others are a struggle with only a handful of workers.  Our Thursday evening shift really struggles.  This week we only had 2 native obrera's.  Luckily we had 5 missionaries assigned.  The only positive thing about that shift is that we get to help with all the ordinances cause there aren't enough workers.  Hope you all have a wonderful week.  You are in our prayers.  We love you Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma, Lon and Nancy