Week 84 from Mexico

3 April 2011

Hola! What a great weekend. It was great to be able to listen to conference though we had a bit of a problem with the morning session on Saturday. Our Internet connection at home just wouldn't stay connected and they were having troubles getting the English at the Stake. The Clark's connection was better so we watched the Saturday afternoon session at their house. They finally got the English to work at the stake center so we went there for both sessions today. Saturday evening we sisters visited at the Clark's while the brothers went to the Priesthood session then had ice cream sundays afterwards when they came back. The Clarks and Riggs are real basketball fans so they were watching the finals while we ate the ice cream and on Monday our FHE activity will be watching the final game. Brother Riggs is getting the project from the office to project on the wall from the computer.

We were on morning shift this week at the temple and were substitutes for three days. On Tuesday we were surprised to have a couple come for their own endowments and to be married and sealed. It was an honor to be able to help the young sister. She spoke a little English so that helped with giving her the brief instructions befor the session. I'm still spending a lot of time entering informaiton on the temple workers and getting them organized and their attendance marked.

Last week we got new ordinance cards with several changes in the Spanish translation. Now I'm going to have to basically memorize the initiatories all over again. It was hard enough the first time. But, at least everyone is having to memorize the changes along with me. If nothing else it is getting the workers to slow down a bit and not speak so fast.

With the below-freezing temperatures this last winter many of the beautiful Boganbilla or Bougainvillea trees were killed. For the last several weeks they have removed them all from the temple grounds. I was so sad to see them go. Unlike last year, when I thought the frost killed them but they revived, this year really did them in. Also the groundcover plants surrounding the temple were damaged even more then last year and still haven't revived so I suspect they may have to removed them as well. They even removed the two small trees that were in planters at each side of the entrance. I'll attach some pictures.

Elder Arce called this week and told us that our visa's have finally ready to pick up from the immgration office. We've only been six months as illegal aliens. At least we're getting them before it's time to leave. We'll be going tomorrow to pick them up, which will probably take several hours so I'll take some crocheting to work at as we wait.

Our son, Jarom, pulled the greatest April Fool's joke of all time on many of us on Facebook. His wife is expecting their fifth child in a couple of weeks. But, he posted a picture of a new born baby and annouced that it was a girl. Well, many of us fell for it only to find out that it was his April Fool's on us. With two girls and two boys they chose to not find out what this one is so that they can be surprised. So, we are still waiting to hear when our 30th grandchild arrives. Will it be our 13th granddaughter or our 18th grandson.