Feasting-Monday,October 11, 2010

We had two feasts today.

We had a fantastic women's luncheon today at Carol Mask's home hosted by Dyan Steimle and Carol and our new arrival, Kay Rogers. Of course, anything Carol does is beautiful from start to finish. In fact, in case any of you are entertaining this month, I've included a few pictures of the table, dishes and napkins. They served fruit, rolls, and 3 wonderful soups, pumpkin, tortilla, and potato and had creme cheese and pumpkin roll for dessert.

The second feast was for family home evening--a spiritual feast at President and Sister Clarke's home. President Clarke shared some of his thoughts and experiences from October Conference and the special training received from the apostles. It was very inspiring and he reminded us that we are friends of Christ and that we should always keep in mind the spiritual purpose of our mission in whatever capacity we serve. I feel a renewed purpose in making sure that I find more time to study and learn those things that will help me remember my spiritual purpose. I am always so far from where I need to be. He reminded us that we should always have someone we are helping or rescuing. Elder Martino came a little late from picking up Sister Martino from the airport and shared some of his thoughts on always listening for the spirit in whatever we are doing. We cannot do the things we have been asked to do alone. We need to seek for miracles in our lives and recognize them when they occur. It was a wonderful evening and we were all spiritually well fed. Then, of course, Sister Clarke shared her culinary talents with us which are always superb.

My Birthday flowers and my Happy Refrigerator. I got a surprise package from my children; Sees chocolates, junior mints, pictures and letters from grandchildren. Paul brought me flowers,and took me to an afternoon movie! Later we went to dinner for my birthday with the MacArthurs and the Hatch's at our favorite Chinese restaurant.

Tuesday, we had a fairly normal day at the clinic. We tried opening our dental program and as usual it took about 15 trys for it to work. Then two of our future missionary patients didn't show up. That is what I meant by fairly normal. I had my Spanish class and had asked Paul to put the rice on so we could eat quickly . When I arrived home, he hadn't cooked the rice??? The Guajardo's had invited the Masks and another couple for dinner and had barbecued so much steak and chicken, they invited us for dinner also. That is also very normal--Brother Guajardo cooking a lot of meat and inviting others over. They know him well at the local Wal-Mart (Piaz-here) and bring out their best cuts of meat when he comes because they know he will only buy the best and knows what it is. He is fluent in Spanish, of course, so unlike the rest of us, he knows how to get what he wants. Paul had a 6:00 a.m. district missionary meeting and then a 7:30 p.m. stake meeting for the executive comittees and left right after eating and didn't get home until about 9:00.
We worked late on Wednesday and then Paul rushed to a meeting with the missionaries. We worked late on Thursday also and I stayed instead of going to my spanish class with the Toblers because the computer people said they were coming that morning to fix our computer and didn't come until 4:00 p.m. (No, they didn't fix the computer yet but they are thinking about it.) They did bring us a better surge protector. The students were a little slow that day so we didn't get out of the clinic until 6:30 so we stopped at Kentucky Fried Chicken for dinner. I didn't have the energy to start cooking dinner at 7:00. Friday, we exercised at 6:00, our normal time. We have added the treadmill on the roof to our routine when we can. Then, I went to my Spanish class and Paul picked me up to go to the temple.

Near the temple, Paul saw some daisies that looked like the ones in a pictures he painted of a Guatemalan Lady on her way to market when he was on his mission 40 years ago.

So we bought them.

Then we did our weekly grocery shopping at PriceSmart. It usually takes me about an hour and a half to wash everything and put it away. Paul framed a couple of Huipilas we bought to frame and created a nice new corner to our room.

Huipilas are the blouse that the women wear. Each village has their own design.

After dinner, we went upstairs to play Mexican Trains with the Hatch's, Arnolds and Brother MacArthur. His wife Sandy is in Idaho taking care of her daughter who had a new baby. Yes daughters, I know, you had to do it alone this time. She got special permission because her daughter has another little boy with cerebral palsy and needed a lot of help. Paul doesn't agree to play games very often but he did win twice, of course.
Today was a busy day. We exercised early in the morning and then I made bread while Paul vacuumed and ran errands and did a few good deeds. We went to eat seafood with some senior missionaries and then went to a big two-day expo of small businesses by church members that was held at our ward building. It had been advertised on the radio all week and was quite well-attended. We bought some tortillas and some delicious strawberries grown by a member. We'll see if we get sick. Strawberries are one of the things we have been warned not to eat. We'll see tomorrow if I disinfected them enough. So I spent the rest of the evening making freezer jam, cleaning up, and MAKING STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE FOR DINNER!. Yes, that is what Paul wanted for dinner. It was delicious and we are not sick---YET! Now I have to find room in my full freezer for freezer jam.

I took some pictures of Mi Casa girls; one with a new puppy, girls playing with Barbie dolls, and pictures of the girls crushing rock for the ball field clay.

We visited the Presidential Palace last Saturday and walked down to the first place Paul lived when he was on his mission. He first landed in the garage and then later they were able to move to an upstairs apartment.
I feel blessed to be able to be here in Guatemala, doing something very specific that helps young people in their lives, associating with the wonderful people I am privileged to meet here, taking spanish and learning even though it is slow. I am very grateful for this opportunity to serve with Paul. We are having some wonderful experiences and having fun along the way. It is not always easy but the challenges are good and hopefully will mold us into something better than we were before we came. Our children and grandchildren are beyond wonderful and meeting their challenges with courage and wonderful ingenuity.
Our Heavenly Father loves us, He is in charge. We are his children and He knows who we are and all will be right in the end. Anything we do to serve Him by serving His children will always be worth doing.
Paul read that Marion D. Hanks has this quote on his wall: "In the end we will find that the rules are fair and there will be some wonderful surprises."



This is for Benjamin and Jim!
We took a sunday walk where the embassys are and found this for our Tree Doctors!