Monday, January 19, 2015

         Brother and Sister Castañeda, faithful workers in the temple, hosted a going-away luncheon at their home today for Pres. and Sister Amado who will finish their service and leave two weeks from today for their home in Guatemala, and for us, too, since we are so close to finishing.  All of the couple missionaries and the temple presidency were invited.  They served us an appetizer of fresh fruit followed by a meal of sliced, cooked potatoes; vegetarian lasagna, meatloaf, a pork dish, fresh veggies, and bread.  It was followed by bananas for dessert cooked in brown sugar with a little cinnamon and vanilla.  Bananas are prolific here and they cook and serve them in all different ways from being thinly sliced and fried like potato slices for “banana  chips” to being baked, or cooked like they were today in sugar.  We ate, visited, and took pictures.  As we were leaving, the hostess gave each of the sisters fresh flowers from a bouquet.  They were so very kind to share their home and a meal with us and recognize the service. 

         As we drove through the streets of the city, I gazed again in amazement at the poverty evident at every turn, the menagerie of box-like homes built one against another that stretches up the sides of the hills, the crazy traffic that seems to make up the rules of the road as needed, and the jumble of telephone and electric wiring that dangles from the sides of buildings and is wrapped haphazardly in large coils and connected to the poles—perhaps for future use.  Lack of rules and regulations doesn’t keep life from happening, however, and they seem to do just fine!!

         This week we will be back on the morning schedule and back to the challenge of trying to get to sleep at night.  Glade often takes a sleeping pill, but I can’t bring myself to try one. 

         Hope all is well wherever you are!  Good Night and may God bless you.

         Here are a few pictures from our luncheon.

Brother and Sister Gomez
They lived in the United States for several  years and speak English although
they spoke Spanish in their home there and in their community.  All of their
children and grandchildren are still in California.
Notice the potted poinsettias growing in the large planters.  This photo was
taken outside of the house in a patio/garden area.  They grow so many things
here year-round that we can't because of the cold weather.  

Brother and Sister Casceras who oversee the Guesthouse and take care of all the overnight visitors.  They also work one shift in the temple during the week.

Brother and Sister Navas who are from La Seba which is in
Honduras about six hours North from Tegucigalpa.

The Garden spot at the Castañeda's house.

The dinner line.  The hostess is on the right in the white dress.

Pres. and Sister Valle are in the front right and left,
Pres. and Sister Amado are on the far right,
on the back left are the Castañeda's daughter and Sister Ocampo.

The kitchen of the host family

Left to right:  Brother and Sister Gomez, The Peterson's,
Pres. and Sister Amado standing, Brother and Sister Navas,
the Castañeda's in the front center (she was caught chewing--sorry)
Sister Ocampo and Brother Casceras back right.

Castañeda's, Amado's, Peterson's

Gomez's and Amado's