Thanksgiving Week, Great Volunteers-The Calls

We had a great week with Rich and Lee Ann Call, their son David and dental assistant Lisa Allen.  Dr. Call has been coming to Guatemala for about 12 years now and going with his group associated with Hirsche Smiles into villages above Chicimula. He worked at our dental clinic for a couple of days several months ago with Lee and Peggy Olsen and Ken Allen .  They helped us with a group of future missionaries.  Paul and I went to Chicimula for a week to work with their group a month ago and had a great experience. We started out the week with missionaries and future missionaries in the morning and dental students and mi casa children in the afternoon.

 

 

 

 

This Young Man found himself with a handsome

new smile Wednesday after Dr. Fillmore altered a

few of his front teeth. 

He was very happy.

 This cute little boy Paul worked on Wednesday

afternoon  was cold.

 After he was through he wanted to come in and watch one of  the older boys!

LUNCH AT TACONTENTO

 Thursday morning I stayed home and made 150 roll for our Thanksgiving feast with all the senior missionaries, mission and temple presidents and the area presidency. 

  I did the rolls after I had a minor disaster and chopped my own hair off. 

I was just going to trim about an inch, then it wasn't even on one side, and then the other.

  When I was finished my hair was several inches shorter and I will finally have to find a hair dresser to fix the damage.  I don't know why I do this but I'm not a very fast learner.  

I've done it 3 times and every time it has been a disaster.  

Paul and the Calls and Lisa worked all morning on CCM missionaries before the Thanksgiving Feast at 3:00 in the afternoon.  It was a wonderful feast and we had a nice visit with everyone.  President Clarke had Dr. Call cornered working on his missionary committment skills.

 Rich and Lee Ann Call with David and Lisa and Paul and I

 Paul's Thanksgiving Pie

 President and Sister Clarke leaving us with an inspirational message!  We are so grateful for their leadership!

Dic and Jennifer Johnson and Mary Ann and Darryl Bethea our illustrious lawyers

 Carol Mask dishing up leftovers to take her native temple missionaries who stayed and worked for the American Temple workers so they could come to the Thanksgiving Feast.

 Vicki and Herb Wallace who organized us.

 Mary Ann Clarke and Mary Anne Bethea. (You think she looks a little like Linda Phelps.  Well she sounds just like her too.  They are the Cooley Sisters.)  and Then we have Jennifer and Dic Johnson.  She often saves my sanity.  I am so glad she is here.  Even if she does leave once in a while and cause me to suddenly be an accompianist for Sacrament Meeting.

This is our scarey Parking Place when we went to the market on Friday afternoon after working all morning.
We were able to use a larger car to transport our visitors.  It is rare that one is available so we were lucky.

 One of the active volcanos from a street in Antiqua where we took our visitors on Saturday.

 Lee Ann and Rich having a meeting of the minds about their purchase at the Wood Factory!  

They made a good decision.  Lee Ann got her bowl of apples!  Good move Rich!

 Market outside the market

 Lunch at Santo Domingo.  You remember the parrot paradise Brian?  It is also the place the adventure with Flat Stanley happened when the parrot plucked him out of my hand and dropped him in the water and Paul had to save him for Sister Mask's grandson.

President and Sister Mask.  Carol always looks like a movie star.

 Our weekly flowers.  They were gorgeous!

 There are so many blessings to be thankful for.  This is definitely not a hardship mission. The living and social conditions are wonderful.  I am grateful for my friends at home.  We are so grateful for those things we sometimes tend to take for granted.  I can cook anything I want, make bread, rolls, pies, and cake.  The weather is wonderful and the people we associate with everyday are an inspiration.  I love the mi casa boys and girls.  They are so trusting and loving.  They are always trying to help me with my language.  The missionaries we treat are so grateful and so fun to be with. It is a blessing to be able to help so many future missionaries on their way.  I am in awe of Paul and all the adminstrative things he does that he has never liked to do.   He manages everything so well.  The scheduling can be a nightmare but he keeps it going.  I have always been grateful for the music he has collected over the years and plays all the time.  It is a wonderful blessing to have here.  It makes our apartment home. Those little things make a big difference in our lives.   I am so grateful for my greatest blessings; husband, children and grandchildren.  My grandchildren are amazing people doing amazing things.  That is because they have parents who have a vision of who they are and who they can become.  I'm not sure why I deserve them but I am so grateful they are mine.  They amaze me more all the time.  We are grateful for the gospel and the structure and safety and shape it gives our lives.  We are eternally grateful for Our Loving Heavenly Father who gave us His Son, Jesus Christ.  He loves us and knows who we are and what we need.  He gives us numerous opportunities to grow and to serve his children so that we can know Him.  Thanksgiving is a beautiful time to remember to have a Grateful Heart and move into the Christmas Season.  When you have a grateful heart you can't help but be a happy person.  My sister Marjean spearheaded an effort to collect things with the help of other sisters and my children  and some of their wives and some of my grandchildren for the girls at mi casa.  I will take pictures and post them when we hand them out.  Thank You!