Despedida y Estaca Palmita

Dear Family and Friends:
    The rain has just begun with thunder and lightning.  I think that we have a lot more rain here than we had in El Salvador.  We have about 6 weeks left in the rainy season and I think we will be ready for some sunshine.  Of course, being human and never satisfied, we will be ready for the rains before the dry season is done. 
     We want to tell Lon's brother, Ken, happy birthday.  Ken and Bonnie live in Mt. Vernon, Washington and he just celebrated his 79th birthday. 

 As the oldest brother, Ken has set an example for his brothers and sister and we are so thankful for him.  We love you Ken, Happy Birthday.

     On the 15th of Sept, we had another despedida in honor of the Murri's and the Barlow's who are finishing their missions and returning to the United States.

 Los Murri, Joan and Blair of Eagle Mountain, Utah.  They served in the Dominican Republic Temple before they came here. 

  Los Barlow's of Layton, Utah.  They came here with no experience in temples, and no Spanish skills at all.  They have been such a good example to us all and the people just love them.

     The 15th was also Independence Day here in Guatemala so the natives, who knew the song, sang their national anthem for us.  It has 12 verses, and we thought our National Anthem was long. 

                       Hermana Cuellar, Hermana Cordon, Hermana Padilla y Hermano Padilla

      After a dinner with lots of the traditional foods of Guatemala, President Roberts was surprised with a cake celebrating his 70th birthday. 
     On Tuesday, we went to lunch with the Roberts to celebrate his birthday, our "hump" day, and my 9 year breast cancer survival.  It is so hard to believe that we have already been here for half of our mission and only have 9 months left.  We really splurged and went to McDonalds because it is right next to Price Smart and we did our grocery shopping after lunch.

  We are able to use the President's van during the week to do our shopping so that the other missionaries can use it on Mondays.  There is not enough room for all of us to go on Mondays.  We are glad that President Roberts likes to drive in this big city. 

     Our Saturday at the temple was crazy as usual.  Patzitcia came to the temple again today and we had standing room only.  It was wonderful.  We just love it when the temple is filled and we go home exhausted. 

     Sunday we had the assignment to speak in the Palmita Stake Conference.  It only took us 10 minutes to drive to the Stake Center because on Sundays there is not much traffic.  They had the best sounding Stake Choir we have heard.  It is so fun to meet our temple obreros at the conferences.

 The men were amazing and the director knew what he was doing.  I would love to sing with them.

 Hermana                    , one of our volunteers at the temple because she has children in her home still.

 

Hermana Teresa Jimenez and Hermana Alvarez, who is the Stake President's wife also.

     We arrived home around 1:00 and ate lunch then went to the temple at 2:00 to prepare for our Coordinators Training Meeting.  We had a wonderful turnout and felt that all went home edified and spiritually fed. 

     Another week has come and gone.  We pray that you are all enjoying life and remembering what is important, family, health, and your relationship with your Heavenly Father.  We send our love to all, Grandpa and Grandma, Dad and Mom, Lon and Nancy