One of our February Preparation Days...

Our P-Day, Monday, February 13, 2012
We drove up the mountain toward the El Boquerón Volcano, with a stop at the look out point. 

We thought this old cart was interesting.

Elder Wall and Walt posed in front of an owl they had on display.

That saddle swing was right on the edge of looking down. You can see some of this city of 2 million behind us. San Salvador is the capital of El Salvador. "San Salvador" means "Holy Savior" in Spanish.  "El Salvador" means "The Savior."



Next, adventuresome Walt climbed up higher to get a better view. His scardycat wife was not about to follow.



Then we drove on up the mountain a ways to "Las Brumas Grill and Café" which used to be a hacienda--a very large and elegant hacienda I might add.
   The husbands announced that this would be the "Valentine Lunch" for their sweethearts, because they all had shifts the next day at the temple.

  

For some of us gringas....well, mostly me, who are not very bilingual, it was nice that the menu was in both Spanish and English.

They had tipica food (local to the country) of refried beans, pupusas, rice, lomo (rib steak), and...



Regular choices like rib eye steak, baked potato, corn, carrots, and egg plant.  

After they took my steak back two times to grill it enough, it was great!  Walt got salmon--so we did our typical he had half my steak and I had half of his salmon.

 

Here's our four Sr. Temple Missionary Couples and Us: 

Elder Dave and Hermana Marilyn Gibbons are in front.

Elder Trent and Hermana Arlene Kitley...

Elder Frank y Hermana Diane Wall...

Elder Lon y Hermana Nancy Thompson...

And us...Pte. Walt Petersen y Hermana Eileen Petersen...

Before we piled in the Odyessy to make the 30-minute drive back to the temple grounds, we stood in front of the big fireplace and a nice waitress took our photo.  That's a photo of the front of the haciends above the fireplace.

It wasn't crowded at all today, but they were gearing up for the next day, and were opening at 8:00 a.m. for breakfast, which is usually only on Saturdays and Sundays. (Sadly they open on Sundays...as do most places now a days.  Many have chosen to ignore that "the Sabbath is the Lord's day...)
       They told us their experience has been that they would be full from morning to evening on Valentine's Day or Día de San Valentin in Spanish.
    They have 28 acres of grounds....many beautiful flowers and trees, playground and playhouse for kids, wild turkeys, swans, even a cow.
               That evening we had a great family home evening hosted by the Kitleys. Elder Kitley gave a lesson on showing how The Plan of Salvation is almost always introduced by starting with The Creation and Adam and Eve.  He chose 4 scriptures to verify this:
2 Nephi 2, Mosiah 3, Alma 22, and Mosiah 16.  We had a great discussion on these references.
     Then he said since it was Valentine's Day Eve, he wanted to close with some thoughts about love and quoted from The Radiant Life by Truman Madsen. 
He also quoted Paul in Galatians 5:22 "...the fruit of the Spirit is love..."
       Sister Kitley served delicious homemade lemon bars, and added a chocolate for everyone.

     It was a peaceful and relaxing day for all of us.