Tuesday, December 03, 2013

          The cold windy weather has finally passed and it couldn’t be more beautiful outside.  I just finished my walk and wished the darkness had waited so it could have lasted longer.  Something about the season has attracted huge grasshoppers, brown ones and green ones that must be four-five inches long.  When we went to the temple early this morning, two workers were sweeping them off the temple walls and off the sidewalks!  I hope they are gone tomorrow—they looked like they could fly and I had to dodge some tonight, giving warnings as I passed by them to stay put!

          A nativity is being put together on the lawn just inside the lower guard station, and on my walk tonight the smell of fresh cut lumber wafted all around and smelled so good.  It was a little nostalgic in that it reminded me of my dad.  He often worked with wood, cutting at his table saw or on a plank supported by saw-horses.  Does anyone know what those are?  J  Anyway, it evoked strong and loving memories of my wonderful dad.

          The temple was just humming with activity today and was filled with lots of workers and lots of patrons. This evening, two buses arrived filled with young people who are, as I write, meeting in the chapel across from the temple to begin some kind of a symbolic 40-day fast related to family history work.  It would be nice to know details about their project. 

An FBI agent who works at the Embassy here and who is from Washington state in the USA was here with his wife who was just called in her ward across the city as a Young Women’s President, and he was telling me about them.  This couple has been here since August and she is learning Spanish.  She is basically home all day and can get some focused study to help her.  It was nice to chat with someone from “home” and in English.