Sunday, June 30, 2013—GP

Off to a running start in response to last week’s worldwide missionary meeting, our ward held a “rescate a las almas” [rescue souls] yesterday afternoon.  Twenty-two full-time missionaries and many members visited all of the less-active members and some non-members, and invited them to church today with a pot-luck lunch after the meetings.  Attendance was up considerably and the food was great!  We didn’t have to cook Sunday dinner.  Missionary work is doing well in the ward.  Nearly every week there are two or more convert baptisms, nearly every adult is a convert, there are three sets of full-time missionaries in this ward alone [four Sisters and two Elders], and there are at least six or seven former or current mission presidents.

I wanted to go with the Elders yesterday; however, I was asked to officiate the largest session the temple has had to date [30% over capacity].  It took longer than usual so I got home late.  It turned out to be a 10-hour day [5:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.].  It was a wonderful and very busy day at the temple.  Tomorrow we have another big group busing in from Nicaragua for the week.  We love the work, the people, and spiritual experiences.  Keep us in your prayers, especially your mom with her Spanish.  She is the only temple worker who comes with absolutely no Spanish experience, and she naturally feels alone and not able to help as much as she would like. 

Saturday, June 29, 2013

          This was one of our toughest days.  My posts have been representative of all that is positive and the blessings of being here.  However, that is not to say that this is an easy journey and without challenges.  Fatigue and down-times, when things don’t go as hoped and expected, extract a toll from us.  We know that sacrifice is required and we are striving to follow the counsel to “Be of good cheer.”  

Week-ends are renewing and by Tuesday mornings, we are always “up and running” again—full of enthusiasm and anxious to serve.  One of our greatest rewards is being in this work together as a couple, loving and supporting each other every day.  We continually recognize and count the wonderful blessings poured out upon us and wouldn’t choose to be any place else.  We are learning new things and growing in faith and testimony.  We are happy and hope all of you are as well.    

Friday, June 28, 2013

          This was a beautiful, beautiful day in Tegucigalpa.  It was a beautiful day in the temple as well and made even better since Glade and I were able to do two sessions together.  I love being able to help without using the card and can feel my confidence growing a little more each time.  A special blessing of peace has attended me since the beginning of this service and my usual sense of anxiety has dissipated to almost nothing--another recognizable tender mercy.

          Among the patrons who came by bus from San Pedro Sula today was a bishop who had accompanied his ward including youth who came to do baptisms.  He happened to be in the baptistry when Glade was walking to his locker to change clothes before leaving the temple about 1:30 p.m.  The man approached him and started explaining about pain he was having in his mouth and asked if Glade could help.  He looked in his mouth and sure enough, saw an abscessed tooth.  It was very painful.  They went to the front desk and looked in the first aid kit for a pain reliever and found none.  They were headed to the office when I came into their path and reminded Glade that he had Advil in his locker.  He gave the man the six tablets he had and told him that he needed an antibiotic and should get to his dentist as soon as possible.  This bishop had no idea that Glade was a dentist and Glade felt that he had been guided to him in seeking help.  Since those feelings were strong and on his mind, he walked down to the pharmacy by our bread store, purchased an antibiotic, and took it to the bishop.  They were all staying in our building, so he was easy to find.  He also took him a handful of Advil to get him by until he can get to a dentist.  The group won’t leave here until later tomorrow and it is a four-hour drive home for them.  Since the following day will be Sunday, he won’t be able to get help for a few more days.  The Advil may not cut the pain down as much as he would like, but it is something and the antibiotic will start working soon.  Glade was definitely someone’s guardian angel today.          

          Our day starts early tomorrow since it is Saturday.  We get up at 4:00 a.m. and arrive at the temple at 5:00.  The first session is at 5:30 a.m.  Good Night, Everyone!!

Thursday, June 27, 2013

          Wow!  The day has finally come when I am hard up for something to write that won’t be redundant! 

One thing particularly noticeable, however, is that the weather here is much cooler than in Texas, Utah, Idaho, or Nevada right now.  It is quite pleasant outside and nowhere near the 90-degree mark.   This means our outdoor exercise is bearable and very doable.  Hope you all endure the heat where you are!

The evening walks are interesting with the grounds full of travelers and their families, those who are attending activities at the church, and the temple workers coming and going.  After we get to the top of the hill, we walk in the parking lot and try to stay away from the groups who are dressed up since we feel very inappropriate in our casual attire.  They are friendly and make conversation anyway and we love the whole scene.

Glade is reading Neil A. Maxwell’s book, Even As I Am and is having a great experience with it.  It takes time to read and digest Elder Maxwell’s writings and there is time here to do that.  He is sharing thoughts from the book with me and it is so enlightening.  It is a great book to add to your library.  I tried to get it on my Kindle, but couldn’t figure out how to do Deseret Book’s “Bookshelf” thing today—maybe tomorrow.  I already have the Bookshelf and have purchased other books on line that have downloaded to my Kindle almost immediately.  But this is different.  I’ll get it though!! 

You are all in our prayers every day and we are “upping” the intensity as you travelers start your journeys to Utah and Idaho.  Justin and Kim are first and then everyone else will fall in line.  Please be careful and safe and don’t drive when you are tired and sleepy.  My experience with the Lexus was terrifying even though everything turned out okay—that’s not always the case.

Love you all so much!     

           

Temple Visitors

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

          Yesterday I described my afternoon as not having napped, but actually I did have a little power nap, which is almost like no nap.  It was enough, however, to interrupt the sleep again, so two nights into the week the sleep didn’t even add up to enough for one good night.  Maybe tonight will be the charm.

          On our walk this evening we came upon lots of kids—some with temple groups and some with families who had brought teens to mutual.  One young boy about 10 years old and dressed in white shirt and tie with black pants, approached us and fell in step next to Glade.  He had a large pink frozen treat of some kind on a stick in his hand and surprisingly, rather ignored it as he began asking a dozen questions with great animation and no inhibition.  He was quite charming and asked why we were walking and how often we did it  He said he would never have time to do that.  He plays the piano, guitar, French horn, and cello and practices two hours every day!   His sister was sitting with friends on a step with the French horn.  “Practice, practice, practice”!  J 

          One younger sister passed out just before a session started and had to lie in the hallway by the door for almost 30 minutes.  When she could get up with help, she was assisted to the sofa in the bride’s room, covered in crocheted shawls that the obreras wear to keep warm, and watched over while she slept for the next hour and a half; and then recovered.  It caused a bit of a flurry.

            

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

          This was a slow morning with fewer people than we usually see come to the temple.  The less hectic pace allows us time to look around and take in the beautiful surroundings we are blessed with every day.  The paintings are marvelous and most include the Savior.  The designs and artwork in the ceiling borders and on the walls add so much to the aura of the rooms and hallways.  The intricate glass-work on the huge windows creates magic with the penetrating light and makes it dance in dozens of directions.  I noticed today while walking in an empty hallway that it always feels very sacred within those walls.

          Having to get up early in the morning creates a stressful sleep pattern.  Knowing it will be a short night and worrying about the alarm not working always make it hard to get to sleep.  So, we are both sleep-deprived today.  However, exercising and house-keeping kept me busy enough this afternoon to not nap.  Tonight should be better!

          We were asked to share our favorite scripture last night at FHE.  Glade gave one for both of us and it is Moroni 7:45-47 about charity.  So this is the thought for the day: 

          “45.  And charity suffereth long, and is kind and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

          “46.  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth.  Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

          “47.  But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.”

Monday, June 24, 2013--GP

          P-day today.  Forget about sleeping-in.  At 6:00 a.m. the lawn mower starts outside our window.  With the temple closed it is a busy preparation day for the yards, gardens, and temple.

I did my usual four miles and ½ hour of back strengthening exercises.  Later in the morning, I called a taxi to take us to a “super” [grocery store] to buy groceries.  We have five different ones we have been to: 

1.  La Colonia, where we went today, which is about the size of Broulims, and a $10 taxi fee/with tip.

2.  Deprova, a smaller store with some specialties and a $5.00 taxi ride. 

3.  Walmart, a $14 taxi tab and a smaller food section than most.   

4.  PriceSmart, a $17 taxi ride, a cousin to Sam’s Club where we do have a membership, and

5.  Another one, close to the PriceSmart, which I don’t remember the name of. 

We can get about anything we can get at home but will pay as much or more for the U.S. food as we would at home.  We would pay quite a bit less for Honduran products.

We both studied Spanish for 2 ½ hours and then attended our weekly home evening.  We’re “prepared”!

Checking out with the groceries.

I took this photo from the backseat of the taxi on the way home.  It is a very common sight and one that makes me wonder about the safety factor and how in the world anything requiring wiring works!!

Sunday, June 23, 2013

          The older missionary couple from Wyoming came to our apartment this afternoon to watch the Church Missionary broadcast with us.  It was broadcast to our chapel, but it is more comfortable “at home.”  Besides—I wanted to hear it in English.  Glade found it on the BYU channel, but it was BYU’s international channel so it was in Spanish.  I went to my laptop and tried to bring it up on lds.org, but there were problems with the internet so that didn’t work.  Then I decided to try the “Mormon Channel” and low and behold—there it was.  So we watched it on our TV and heard it in English on my laptop—perfect!  While we were getting it set up, we heard it in Spanish and it was really odd hearing Spanish words in a foreign voice come from the apostles lips!!

          Did any of you see this two-hour broadcast?  It was wonderful.  It will be re-broadcast if you are interested.  Glade said it was called “Hastening the Work of Salvation” and it was beautifully done.  It was very inspiring with lots of video clips of personal experiences and stories along with informative counsel about how missionary work can be improved.  The weight falls to the members and the counsels.  If you have the time, it is worth it to watch this.

          We love the family blog and hope you all have time to post something at least occasionally.  It keeps us in touch with you and you in touch with each other.

          Only one more week in June and then the summer fun and travel really get under way.  All of you, please be safe—and be happy.  Love to Everyone!!  

Saturday, June 22, 2013

          Saturdays are a little shorter since we start an hour earlier.  The crowds and buses head out soon enough in the afternoon or evening to make the long journey home before it gets too late.

          I visited with a sweet young girl who spoke English and was in the temple to do her mother’s ordinances.  She was doing a session for her mom and she was so happy to be there getting it done.

          Glade and I did the last session tonight as participants and it was an interesting change of pace and point of view.  It’s so nice to do that once in a while.  

          We are going to love taking a break from the routine we follow every day and enjoy our Sunday tomorrow.  Hope you all enjoy yours as well.   

         

Friday, June 21, 2013

          Glade took a couple of pictures this morning of the progress on the house being built on his walking route.  They are posted below.

          Glade and I were able to do a session together this evening.  I love it when that happens.  It was a busy one with seven sisters and three brothers receiving their own endowments.  What a blessing for these people.  They came with their friends and family on a large bus but we didn’t hear from where.

          Pres. and Sister Ocampo’s married daughter, Gina, was serving in the temple today.  Three of us were talking (she speaks good English and the other sister next to me was the 80-year old North American sister missionary) while waiting for the next activity, and she shared her testimony of tithing with this story:

          Her parents took her to Utah, Provo I think, from Honduras and basically left her there to make her own way.  She had to find a job to pay for housing and schooling.   She was having “economic” trouble and had been to her bishop who was helping her with commodities from the storehouse.  She was able to find a job and carefully saved her money all through the first month.  At the end of the month, she took her tithing to the bishop.  It was the first time she had ever had a job and the first time she had every paid tithing.  The bishop said:  “No, you don’t have to pay tithing; we are helping you and you don’t have to pay.”  But she insisted, telling him that she needed the promised blessings from paying tithing.  He finally relented and let her pay.   

          A short time later, fees for school in the amount of $200 were required and her bank account was at $0.  She didn’t know what to do.  She headed to work, but kept having this impression to go to the bank.  She said to herself again and again, “Why would I go to the bank?  I know there is no money there.”  However, the feeling persisted, so she turned around and went to the bank.  She walked up to the teller and sheepishly asked how much money was in her account, knowing it was at $0.  The teller looked it up and said she had exactly $200 in her account!   She had no idea where it came from, but immediately asked for the money and was able to pay her fees and continue on in school.

          That is quite a testimony for a first-time tithing payer.  But she has never missed paying her tithing since and knows that the windows of heaven will open and pour out blessings more than we can hold if we obey the law.  

The walls are going up!  Brick first!  Rather tight quarters, but it will make a home for someone.  The bricks are stacked where the kitchen and living room will be.  The bedrooms are on the right and go from front to back,  There will be a porch where the bare dirt is on the left and stairs will go up to the roof where good use is always made of that space as well.

This is a new guard at the station at the bottom of the hill.  Glade talks to all the guards and they are all his friends.              I'm sure this one will soon become one of his friends as well.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

          It is 9:30 p.m. and we just walked into our apartment.  Glade hurried to the TV and was able to find the end of the basketball game.  Miami is ahead and he is not happy!

          Today’s assignments required me to be on my feet nearly all day and a painful blister grew on my toe!  We have been here for two months and this is the first time that has happened!  I can tell my age when I have to stand constantly for 1 ½ to 2 ½ hours at a time—especially in the evenings.  It is exhausting.  Hummmmm—must need some “toughening up”!

          There was trouble with the large heavy curtain again today.  Glade was able to step in, report it, talk with the engineers, and follow-up in the next session (since the engineers didn’t follow through) and hold up the broken part with one of those long poles that they use in clothing stores to hook high-hanging clothes.  He saved the day!!  It should get fixed tonight and be ready to go tomorrow.

         

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

          “Count your many blessings” was my theme for the day and I went to an expert for definition.  Here are a few thoughts from our prophet that I’m sure are familiar to you.  He has given several talks on gratitude and it is always inspiring to read them again. 

The Profound Power of Gratitude 

Pres. Thomas S. Monson September 2004

We are thankful for blessings we cannot measure, for gifts we cannot appraise, “for books, music, art, and for the great inventions which make these blessings available[;] … for the laughter of little children[;] … for the … means for relieving human suffering … and increasing … the enjoyment of life[;] … for everything good and uplifting.” ⁸

The prophet Alma urged, “Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.” ⁹

The story is told of a group of men who were talking about people who had influenced their lives and for whom they were grateful. One man thought of a high school teacher who had introduced him to Tennyson. He decided to write and thank her. In time, written in a feeble scrawl, came the teacher’s reply:

“My Dear Willie:

“I can’t tell you how much your note meant to me. I am in my 80s, living alone in a small room, cooking my own meals, lonely and like the last leaf lingering behind. You will be interested to know that I taught school for 50 years, and yours is the first note of appreciation I have ever received. It came on a blue, cold morning, and it cheered me as nothing has for years.”           

We owe an eternal debt of gratitude to all of those, past and present, who have given so much of themselves that we might have so much ourselves.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

          “Count your many blessings” was my theme for the day and I went to an expert for definition.  Here are a few thoughts from our prophet that I’m sure are familiar to you.  He has given several talks on gratitude and it is always inspiring to read them again. 

The Profound Power of Gratitude 

Pres. Thomas S. Monson September 2004

We are thankful for blessings we cannot measure, for gifts we cannot appraise, “for books, music, art, and for the great inventions which make these blessings available[;] … for the laughter of little children[;] … for the … means for relieving human suffering … and increasing … the enjoyment of life[;] … for everything good and uplifting.” ⁸

The prophet Alma urged, “Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.” ⁹

The story is told of a group of men who were talking about people who had influenced their lives and for whom they were grateful. One man thought of a high school teacher who had introduced him to Tennyson. He decided to write and thank her. In time, written in a feeble scrawl, came the teacher’s reply:

“My Dear Willie:

“I can’t tell you how much your note meant to me. I am in my 80s, living alone in a small room, cooking my own meals, lonely and like the last leaf lingering behind. You will be interested to know that I taught school for 50 years, and yours is the first note of appreciation I have ever received. It came on a blue, cold morning, and it cheered me as nothing has for years.”

          We owe an eternal debt of gratitude to all of those, past and present, who have given so much of themselves that we might have so much ourselves.