Sunday, November 3, 2013

One of the auxiliaries set up a very large artificial Christmas tree in the chapel foyer some time during the block today.  There are no decorations on it yet, but it looks pretty.  It feels strange, however, because it is 80+ degrees outside nearly every day and it certainly doesn’t feel like the Christmas season.  Everything is green and the flowers bloom perpetually.

The missionary and presidency couples who left for the two-week break have started returning and by tomorrow, everyone should be back.  It's nice to know there are other people around now.  Soon the buses will start bringing people doing temple excursions and the building will be full and bustling!!  

I met a woman in the building today between meetings who has been here doing detail painting work in the temple and was leaving today to fly back to Utah.  She does the detail painting in lots of temples.  She had just left her 25-year old daughter at the MTC the day before coming to Honduras.  She said there was such a big difference between all those little kids (the 18 and 19-year old missionaries!) and her daughter who had her Master’s degree, had studied abroad for a semester, and was a CPA.  She had done a foreign service project and thought that that was her mission, but the idea to go on a “regular” mission just kept after her until she decided she’d better go.  She will be serving in El Salvador and already speaks some Spanish.

Choir practice is still fun, but I’m going to take a pillow for the piano bench next time.  The practice lasted over two and a half hours!  They just keep going and going and going . . .   I don't think our ward or stake choirs at home would stay that long for a practice, but no one here seemed to mind or be in a hurry to leave.  The cute and energetic director kept them working hard, too!  

Fast and Testimony meeting was good today and I find that I am recognizing more words and phrases all the time if I really concentrate.  Don’t ask me to speak, however!

One of the counselors in the bishopric asked Glade today if he would give a 15-minute talk next Sunday in Sacrament Meeting on “The Blessings of Going to the Temple.”  He said if you have stories or ideas you would like to share, he would be happy to hear them and they might get retold here in Tegucigalpa!  He came home from Church and started getting his ideas together right away.  He likes preparing and giving talks, so even though this one will be in Spanish, he will enjoy the experience.

We love being here and know that the Lord’s blessings are flowing to us and our family.  We are so grateful to be here serving in this sacred temple in this beautiful country with these loving children of God who live here.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true and it is filling the earth.  We are happy to assist people in the work of salvation that they are doing for their families. 

Thank you so much for your prayers, emails, and encouragement.  One of our most precious blessings is knowing that our children are temple worthy and are raising their families in righteousness and serving the Lord.  We love you so much and love you for loving and supporting each other.  You are all the best!!