Dear Family and Friends:
It is with heavy hearts that we have to tell you that our dear friend Elder Douglas Gardner has finished his earthly mission. He passed away surrounded by family on Wednesday the 8th of April. We are so thankful for the miracle that got him home to his family and that he was able to spend two weeks with them. Hermana Gardner had her family around to help her with the hard decisions that had to be made and are there to sustain her now. What a blessing in our lives that we were able to get to know them and serve with them. Elder Gardner's passing has left a hole in our hearts but we know that one day we will be able to renew our friendship if we can live worthy to join him in our Heavenly Home.
We had a nice surprise Thursday the 9th. Celeste Santos came to Guatemala to visit with her parents Hno. y Hna. Diaz, who are ordinance workers on the Saturday AM shift. Celeste is married to Hector Santos who was the Saturday AM shift coordinator in El Salvador and is now in the bishopric in their ward, and his parent also work in the temple in El Salvador, Hno. y Hna. Olympia Santos.
He wasn't so sure about these gringos and wanted his mother. He was all smiles as long as he was in her arms. He sure looks like his dad.
We were thrilled to be able to get a few photos of our temple employees. It is hard to get pictures of these friends because we can't take pictures in the temple. We had finished our shift that morning and went back to the temple to get pictures. We hadn't planned on being IN the pictures so we weren't dressed quite right. As we began taking the pictures of the employees, the missionaries started arriving for their afternoon shift and we got more people in the pictures than we had planned. It is so fun when things turn out so good.
Back row: Los Wilson, Elder Rosado, Engineer Carlos Ibanez, Los Roberts, Engineer Asirio Zea, Laundry Jose Martinez, Los Barney, Elder Allred, President Burk
Front row: Assistant Recorder Jaime Carranza, Hna. Rosado, Office Hna. Maggie Ruano, Hna. Guzman, Maintenance Hna. Magdalena Guerra, Office Marta Valdez, office Brenda Baltrons, office Evelyn Estrada, Laundry Irma Carcamo, Hna. Allred, Hna. Burk
sitting down: maintanence Eddie Jimenez, Los Thompsons
Men: Eddie Jimenez, maintanence; Jaime Carranze, assistant recorder; Carlos Ibanoz, engineer; Asirio Zea, engineer; Jose Martinez, laundry.
Women: Maggie Ruano, office; Magdalena Guerra, maintenance; Marta Valdez, office; Brenda Baltrons, office; Irma Carcamo, laundry; Evelyn Estrada, office.
President y Hna. Roberts, President y Hna. Burk, President y Hna. Thompson (like I said, we hadn't expected to be IN the pictures so we are just a little under-dressed)
Los Thompson's with the office staff: Brenda, Marta, Maggie, Evelyn
It was the middle of their shifts and they all changed from their whites to come outside for the pictures. We appreciate these people so much. They keep the temple running.
We went to lunch and grocery shopping for the last time with the Roberts. They leave next Monday. We are going to miss them. It has been a wonderful experience serving in the temple presidency with them. We were told of this Argentina Steak House and decided to give it a try.
It lived up to it's reputation. It was great food, great service, and a great price. But it was a going away dinner with special friends so it was worth every quetzale.
We enjoy being together and hashing over all that has happened during the week. We as a presidency hardly see each other all week as we serve on different shifts and we truly are going to miss this precious time together.
Well, that is our weekly news from Guate. We pray that this letter finds all of you well and happy. We are sad to be loosing the Roberts but excited and looking forward to getting to know the Rosales but I will tell you all about them next week. May God be with you. We send our love Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma, Lon and Nancy
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