Thursday, August 14, 2014

          It is a beautiful evening as the day draws to a close on patrons milling outside near the temple entrance sharing the experiences of the day.  One group from Nicaragua left just after noon but another group is here taking their place.  People just keep coming and coming and it is so wonderful to be a part of the work they are doing.

         Good Night.  Love to each of you.

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

         No news is good news and also, I’m out of ideas for the blog.  The sessions were full today, and the work just keeps moving forward so that is good.  People are still loving and kind, acting in faith, and making sacrifices.  All is well.  Good Night!   

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

         My good friends, the nurses, have finished their missions and left Tegucigalpa today for their respective homes in Utah.  It will be sad to not see them come to the temple anymore, and I am really going to miss them.  Getting to visit with them always brighten my day and gave me perspective.  They will not be replaced with more nurses since there just aren’t enough medical people to go around to all the missions.  So the mission president’s wife will be in charge of the health of the missionaries.  In the U.S. there would be lots of support; here it is a little different.  But the Lord will watch over them and make up the shortfalls.

         There were thunderstorms late last evening and we opened the windows to enjoy the ambiance.  Right now it is a beautiful, calm evening, @ 9:50 p.m. and 75 degrees with intermittent clouds! 

         Good night!  Be safe; be happy; be good!!  

Monday, August 11, 2014

         When I was walking this morning I happened to look up at the temple spire and noticed a big black blob on Moroni’s trumpet!  I kept looking and realized that it was one of those giant vultures that are continually swooping around the grounds.  They must nest in all the forestry of the hill we live on.  After another round of walking I looked up and saw that this bird had been joined by a friend who was perched and preening on the very tip of the horn!  In my mind I was shouting at them to get off from Moroni and go find a tree!  Then as I watched, the bird on the rim seemed to fall right off and swooped away—followed by his friend!

         There were some nice compliments tonight at FHE about the music at last night’s recital.  Getting some “warm fuzzies” now and then is a good thing, and it also justified the practice time.   Accompanying is just so second nature to me and I loved being a part of the groups that did so well.

         We are going to read from “Preach My Gospel” now and then read some Spanish from the “Liahona.”  We are ready for another week.

All is well—Good Night!!

Sunday, August 10, 2014

         Relief has washed over me this evening since the recital is behind us now.  It was a great program and I’m so happy to have had the chance to participate and help with so many numbers.  The numbers with the flute and viola were my biggest concern and they turned out great—not perfect, but rewarding.  Gina and her brother are such talented musicians and it was a treat to have them perform and get to play with them. 

The program was long but there was great variety with lots of beginning piano students playing with teacher back-up; vocal ensembles including Primary children, Young Women, and senior missionaries, a beautiful sister duet, and a mother and son duet; and instrumental ensembles including a flutaphone solo and our piano duet.  Pres. Cazier, a beginner, played a hymn on the keyboard; and Sister Amado debuted with a hymn on the piano.  The final presentation was by the young students—fifteen or so—playing the “bells” (pipes cut into different lengths for the notes of the scale that were struck by a bar creating a beautiful tone) with four hymns while the congregation sang a verse or two of each.  Pres. Cazier cut and made all of the “bells.”  

Sister Cazier has worked very hard to bring music to the lives of these families.  Most don’t have any means of practicing at home and lots of the music was copied by hand by the teachers.  She made time in her schedule to help anyone who needed it. 

Sister Ocampo surprised us with a home-made pizza for our dinner today after Church.  It was so thoughtful, especially with her having a house full of company.  It even had pineapple on it, so Glade was happy!

It rained on and off again today—a real treat for me!  And tonight I’m grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for my precious family, for my awesome husband, for the wonderful friends made here, for the privilege of working in this beautiful temple next door to us, and for the many lessons learned from the experiences of this mission.

Love and prayers coming your way!!  

Saturday, August 09, 2014

         The viewing/funeral services for the baby who passed away yesterday continued today and I was told that those events last for 24 hours.  Therefore, I didn’t get some much needed practice time on the piano before going to the temple.  After our shift, however, I was able to practice with the Ocampos for their mother and son vocal duet, the son and his family who are singing the new Primary song from the 2014 Sharing Time theme, and also his flute solo.  He is a true “music major” and an excellent musician.

         It was fun to go the Ocampo’s apartment to practice late this afternoon.  Their son, the flautist, and his family are visiting from San Pedro Sula.  The President’s apartment, of course, is much larger than ours in order to accommodate visitors and guests that the temple president might be called upon to entertain.  Anyway, the “house” was filled with family, little kids playing, someone watching television, the mom and grandma baking a birthday cake in the kitchen, and Pres. Ocampo practicing his new skills on the piano, and it all felt wonderful—just like our busy and hectic days at home when a dozen things are going on all at once.  And in the midst of the activities, we practiced three different numbers on their nice electric piano.

Later tonight, about 8:30 I was able to go to the Church and practice with Gina for her viola solo.  There were several days during this last week and the week before when the church was not available for me to practice.  So, the preparation will be lacking a little.  But tomorrow will come and go and we will all pray a lot and just do the best we can.

         We heard thunder this afternoon and watched the wind whip the rain in sheets across the parking lot and egg-beater the poor leaning palm trees.  Tonight, all is calm.

         Love and prayers to you for a spiritually renewing Sunday.

Friday, August 08, 2014

         Another Friday arrived and with it came some very sad news for a young couple here.  Their new little baby was born pre-mature and developed serious complications.   He underwent surgery last night, but I think he was just too tiny to survive the trauma and passed away this morning.  We know the grandfather who is a stake patriarch and comes to the temple often.

         Laurene and I went to the chapel to practice our duet for Sunday’s recital this morning when we learned about this family’s tragedy.  The services they have here are so different from what we know.  A bishop’s wife told us that the chapel would be open all day and people would be coming and going all during that time.  There was a more “formal” funeral at about 11:00 a.m.  A CD provided a few Primary songs in the background while people visited.  I have never seen such a tiny little casket and it just broke your heart to look at it. 

         We ended up playing our duet—a very nice arrangement by Sally deFord of “My Heavenly Father Loves Me”—and it seemed nice to have live music.  Sister Ocampo and I were going to practice her song at the chapel as well, but that was pre-empted, too.  So instead, an impromptu group including the Ocampos, our bishop and his wife, and a couple of other people sang several songs from the Primary Children’s Songbook and I played for them.  It was very nice.  Everything was so informal and protocol seemed to be missing, but people just seem to “go with the flow” here and everything works out fine.  They really love and care about each other.  It was just so sad and we felt bad for this sweet young couple. 

         It was a great day in the temple, however; and I saw many sweet sisters who have become my dear friends—both workers and patrons—and I loved the exchanges of smiles and hugs that really make my day and keep me going.

         Hug your children tonight and may we all count our many blessings.

Thursday, August 07, 2014

         Glade visited with a coordinator today who told him stories about his life.  At the age of 12 years, he was living on the streets getting a little work here and a little there to support himself.  He had no family—don’t know why—except for an uncle who helped him with money to travel to nearby countries in search of work when he was about 15. 

When he returned to Tegucigalpa later he was again living on the streets and looking for more work.  He found a job, but at one point was accused of stealing, which he didn’t do. He was threatened with torture and was turned over to the police.  An investigation took place and he helped the police learn that he had been set up by the director at his work and one of the director’s relatives.

After he was cleared of the charges, the police director helped him get a job with the Ministry of Finance.  He worked hard and put himself through school.  He started at the lower end of the job scale and worked his way up at the Ministry of Finance from one level to another right to the top.  He worked there for about 26years and is now retired.  Because he worked there for so long, he knows people in high places and it has kept him from being mugged or robbed.  He is about 67 years old and has never been sick a day in his life.

That was rather a whirlwind sketch of what Glade told me.  He said the man talked about mile a minute (very fast) and he could hardly keep up listening to him.  His sharing was shy of details, but it still made an interesting story of hardship, and hard work to overcome his situation.  When I hear stories like that, it stops whining in its tracks!!

Good Night Everyone!   

Wednesday, August 06, 2014

         Our session with Pres. Cazier and Family Search lasted about an hour and we were amazed and overwhelmed.  This is definitely a life-long project and one that will never be finished.  I just hope we understand it enough to do a little good, find some family names, and get them ready for the temple.  There will never be enough time because a person could spend days, weeks, months, and just keep going.  It’s fascinating!  We will need refresher lessons here for a while till we get the hang of it.

         Sweet dreams, and love and prayers headed your way!

           

Tuesday, August 05, 2014

         Cockroach Story Number Two:  When Glade was finished for the day, he went upstairs to his locker to change into his street clothes before going home.  Each cubicle has three full-length lockers and four short ones.  His locker is a tall one.  He put his key in the lock, turned it, and opened the locker.  There on the inside of the door about eye level was a big brown cockroach just clinging to the metal!  Amazingly it didn’t flee, which is so typical, but just stayed there on the door.  He searched frantically for a “weapon” and finally grabbed his glass case and whapped it!  Well, of course, it disappeared and he couldn’t find it any place.  He gingerly lifted each sock and checked in his shoes—no cockroach.  Next he cautiously lifted his lunch bag and zooooooooooooom, that bug was on the run.  He grabbed his shoe and whapped it again—this time scoring a hit!  He scooped it up in a tissue and that was that!  It is a good thing it was in his locker and not mine.  I will be so nervous for days now!

         While I was on the treadmill this morning, I listened to Pres. Packer’s talk from the April 2013 General Conference which was just two weeks before we left on our mission.  It was such a great talk and it kept me inspired all day.  I also watched several Church video clips on my kindle, which I haven’t done much before, and found them to be wonderful.  It was a nice change from just listening to music, although that is a good option, too.

         Love and prayers to you all!  Good Night!  

Monday, August 04, 2014

         Glade was just checking out the bruises on his knees from his fall the other day and discovered they were detectable, but not serious.  His knuckles are healing and there is no sign of injury to his head whatsoever.  He is blessed.

         FHE tonight included several Church video clips on Family History.  Of course, they were in Spanish so I didn’t get much from them; but Pres. Cazier is going to help us get started on some research Wednesday morning.  We gave him our seven-digit ID numbers (although most of them are letters not numbers) and names and numbers of our parents and grandparents so he can get a head start on how to help us.  We are excited—yes, WE—as in both of us J  We will probably be looking for lots of cousins, aunts, and uncles.     

         We were just sharing a hearty laugh together as we talked about the music here in this part of the world.  I am playing for about seven numbers for the recital on Sunday, and am playing for Sacrament Meeting, too.  The other ward—maybe I mentioned this already—has no one who can play, so they use a recording of the hymns on a CD for Sacrament Meeting.  They make do the best they can.

There was a reason for our mirth which I started out to describe.  When they sing without a keyboard, the chorister usually sings the first line of the song which reminds people of the tune and gives them a pitch.  Then everyone joins in from the beginning.  When an authority from Salt Lake visited our temple not too long ago, he suggested that the daily training meeting be started with a hymn.  So they have complied.  The problem is that there is no keyboard to provide accompaniment.  If one of the sisters leads and knows the hymn, she might sing a phrase and then they start together.  If one of the brothers leads, he just says “one, two, three” and then they all start to sing—each one with a starting pitch of his or her own choosing—and heartily.  Not meaning to be irreverent—but it is sometimes just hilarious and we can hardly sing for cringing and smiling at the way the hymn sounds.  Some have probably never heard or learned the hymns correctly, but they sing with all their hearts, just the same.  I hope it doesn’t sound like I am making fun of them—just observing their predicament and appreciating their efforts to raise their voices in song.  I would love to teach people to play, but that hasn’t been in the cards.  We love them to pieces for their heartfelt efforts!

We worked hard today and are ready for another week.  Glade went to the gym and it was my pleasure to exercise outside!  Glade also did 2½ hours of continuing education on his computer for his license renewal in October.  He probably won’t need it, but is going to be prepared—just in case.   Everything is clean and we are rested—sort of!  It was a great day!

Love and prayers to all of you.  Good night!

Sunday, August 03, 2014

         Sister Pavon finished her service as a temple missionary at the end of the week and will be returning to her home in San Pedro Sula.  I will miss her so much.  She is one of the first temple workers we met here; and although she speaks no English, we have become such good friends and she has always been so friendly and kind to me.  The language barrier did not keep us from being friends; and I will miss the smiles, the hugs, and the Spanglish banter between us that helped keep me going!

         The Relief Society teacher asked about ten women to come to the front of the room during her lesson this morning and I was one of them.  I didn’t understand what she wanted us to talk about, but Sister Cazier said to share something about doing missionary work and how it makes people feel.

         Well, I was the last “woman” standing and began my comments with an apology in Spanish about not speaking the language and then proceeded in English to share my feelings about how important a good example is in missionary work.  As we act in faith and our testimonies grow, the Gospel becomes part of our being; it becomes who we are.  We are expected to stand as witnesses for Christ at all times, in all places, and in all things.  We must never “check our religion at the door” but live it to the fullest in every aspect of our lives.  Then when people look at us, they will recognize light and truth.  Has anyone ever said to you, “Are you a Mormon?” or “You must be a Mormon!”?  What a compliment to be caught living your religion and letting others see in your life something so special that they want the same thing in theirs.  What a perfect invitation to introduce someone to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  May we always live so that our example shines with that invitation.  

Saturday, August 02, 2014

         One by one the buses filled with tired patrons this afternoon and, leaving behind a trail of diesel fumes, rolled down the hill to start their long journeys home.  Some groups have spent a night or two here, but one group left their town at 3:00 a.m. today, spent several hours in the temple, and then left the parking lot for the return trip 1:00 p.m.  They were all pretty tired but feeling blessed to be able to make the trip.  At least they were on a bus and didn’t have to drive—hopefully the bus driver slept during the day.  We often see the drivers stretched out on the concrete next to their buses trying to get some zzzzzzzzs!

         We are both exhausted and so ready for a rest.  We feel healthy and take good care of ourselves, but we really reach our physical limits with five long, busy days in a row.  We couldn’t be getting old or anything!!!

         All is well.  Hold to the Iron Rod and Follow the Prophet!  Love to you all.  

Friday, August 01, 2014

         After our busy, busy day at the temple, Glade decided to walk to the City Mall and then stop at the store for a few groceries.  An obrero who was leaving about the same time offered him a ride; and since it was pretty hot outside, he gratefully accepted.  At the mall he found computer paper, which we are nearly out of; an insulated lunch carrier to take to the temple instead of green plastic grocery bags; and his giant protein powder drink mix from GNC which is always a percent off during the first week of the month. 

         With the “mall” list completed and heavy laden with his parcels, he started his short walk to the grocery store where he would “check” those purchases at the front of the store while shopping.  The sidewalk is narrow, uneven, and in places broken.  Traffic on the busy street is an arms-length away and the sidewalk is always crowded with people and today was no exception.  Well, all of a sudden, he tripped on broken incline and went down!   His hands were full so he couldn’t really catch himself very well and one knee and a few knuckles took the brunt, followed by his head.  He had his cap on and that saved him breaking the skin on his head.  It sounds worse than it ended up being, but he had people on all sides of him coming to his aid and asking him if he was all right.  He said everyone was very concerned and very kind.  It’s amazing, but he didn’t even raise a lump on his head and his bleeding hand soon did okay so he could remove the napkin wrapped around it.  He doesn’t seem much worse for the “wear” tonight, thank goodness.  I’m sure it was because of the prayers I sent upward for him as he left.      

Thursday, July 31, 2014

         A stand-out circumstance in being here is that we never get bored or run out of things to do.  The few hours we have before or after our 7 ½ to 8 hour shift every day get filled up so quickly and we never seem to have enough time to finish all that we would like to.  I had hoped for a lot more time for Gospel study, but Spanish study has somehow trumped that and I am behind.  Exercise takes a big chunk, too; but I guess that is what keeps us going!

         It is goodbye to July and we will welcome August tomorrow.  It doesn’t really matter here since all the months are basically the same; but I love the chance of seasons we have at home and just knowing that it is August in Idaho feels good to me. 

         Good Night Everyone.

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

         Glade and Brother Valladares visited their second family tonight.  Both families they home teach are single mothers with children who come to Church, but neither have been to the temple and one mom has a twelve-year-old boy who is ready for the Priesthood.  So, already they have made a positive impact on these two families and the plans are underway for helping them move forward in the Gospel.  It will be great to watch their progress and give them support.  Both families live in gated and guarded communities where ID is left at the gate with the guards when visitors enter.

         Brother Valladares has had a change in his responsibilities and now is overseeing only the stakes North of Tegucigalpa and maybe some into Guatemala; but he is still gone on visits nearly every week-end for three days.  Sometimes we forget the demands made on the men who serve in positions that keep them so busy. 

         It’s hot and windy here with just an occasional short rain shower.

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

         This was a very slow day for temple work since the patron numbers were very low.  It is rather peaceful when that happens and there is more time for pondering and observing.  I love these beautiful people who have so much love in their hearts for each other and share it with me.

         Glade received a Home Teaching assignment a few weeks ago and he made a visit tonight to one of his families.  His partner is an Area Authority Seventy who oversees the Church in Nicaragua, Honduras, and Panama.  Obviously, he travels a lot but does come to our ward now and then.  His wife is the sweet lady who directed the stake choirs and the big Christmas program I played for last year.  He is one of the few people here who has been a member all of his life.  They plan to visit the other family tomorrow night.

         Gina gave me more music to learn for piano and viola.  It is really working me, but it feels good.   Good Night, Everyone!

I just had to add this photo today since the little yellow daisies that surrounded this palm tree
have been replaced suddenly by these geraniums!!

Monday, July 28, 2014

         I love Mondays in part because I can exercise outside instead of in the confines of the laundry room.  Not that having a treadmill and access to the AC in that laundry room are not blessings; it’s just better to get outside and feel free and breathe new air.  I took my phone, which functions as my camera, and took a few pictures of the morning’s happenings on the grounds.  They are not exciting, but some I wanted in my journal.  Glade went to Casa Campo so he wasn’t around to get into the photos.  

This is the site where last week I posted several men with picks and shovels hand digging this ground.
There were no workers this morning, but this is what it looked like.  It is across the street from the upper guard station.
 I don't know yet what is going up here.  

These are our friends who wash and polish and shine every non-living item around the temple.

The man with his back to us is the hedge trimmer.  It is all done by hand with a tool that looks like a pair of scissors!

Here he is again clipping away.  It looks like another tree in the foreground will need to be replaced, too

These guys are the parking lot scrubbers!  The grease spots from all the traffic and buses are getting ahead of them.

The parking lot looks pretty big when you have to scrub and hose every inch of it--this is only a small portion.

Several trees have had to be replaced and two new ones came on the lot this morning.  This man is digging the hole for one of the replacement trees.

You know me, I just have to add a few flowers!  This plant forms hedges everywhere and they are beautiful!

More flowers--the yellow ones replaced the poinsettias which I hope get returned and replanted in December.

Some of my favorites--wish I knew what they are called.

More of the same

Glade said that these big palms look like someone planted giant pineapples!

The guy in the green is still digging the tree-hole.

This pretty blue flower covers the plants that form a bigger hedge North of the grounds.

This is where we live--Casa de Huespedes

Here come the new trees--delivered in this pick-up truck.  The first one is being lifted out leafy branches first.

They are all working together to get the new tree in straight and just right!!

They probably wondered why in the world I was taking all these pictures!

It's straight now--so fill in the hole, quick1 

A view of the terracing down the hill that usually goes unseen unless you are at a high vantage point.

Sunday, July 27, 2014

         A rehearsal for Sister Cazier’s music recital was scheduled this afternoon.  When we left the building on the way to the chapel, we noticed several buses and lots of cars in the parking lot.  What we think was another missionary activity was taking place and the building was full of people in meetings.  The room where the baptismal font is located was empty so the practice was moved there.  Missionary work takes place on a whole different level here and we love seeing all the people who come to learn about the Gospel.  

         A young sister missionary, new to our ward but serving in her 15^th month, spoke in Sacrament Meeting today.  We talked with her after the meeting and learned that she is from Orem and has grandparents living in Idaho Falls.  Their last name is Beard (said like a man’s beard).  Her grandfather is an attorney and her grandmother is a music teacher.  I have heard her name in the music circles in Idaho Falls and Glade knows of her grandfather.  What a small world it proved to be again.  This couple is now serving their second mission in Salt Lake City.  Their first was in Washington D.C. and they were in a Spanish Ward/Branch.  Her grandmother didn’t speak any Spanish, and after a few months—the sister missionary said—she just gave up.  Well, I only relate this because it helps to identify the difficulty of the language challenge that many senior couples face—especially the sisters—and never really conquer.  It helps me feel better about my own situation, my constant study, and the small successes that come from faith and diligence. 

         Love you all so much; hope your day was renewing.  Good Night.

Tegucigalpa, Honduras; partly cloudy with thunderstorms; and 75 degrees @ 8:30 p.m.  

Saturday, July 26, 2014

         The temple was full of people today with loads of baptisms and people bringing names of family members to do work for.  It was exhausting but as always felt good at the end of the day to know that so much temple work had been done. 

A sweet young woman from our stake, the Loarque Stake, showed Glade her Family Search papers and told him about the work in family history she has been doing for the past seven years.  She is twenty-nine now and has a little baby so her work has slowed a little; but she used to spend three hours a day on family history.  She started doing this work when she was single and has found over 3,000 names that she has submitted for temple work.  In the beginning she did the baptisms herself and then left the names at the temple for others to help with. 

I am so excited to learn how to use the new family history programs, but fear that once I get started, everything else will fade into the background.  Getting hooked will be way easy for me and right now I should still study Spanish although who knows how I will ever use it.  It is something fun to look forward to.