Today I am remembering my father - Arnold G. Albertson - on the 101st year from his birth - December 8, 1912. I am a separate post about him, which will be down from this post.
This week we continued working in the temple--which is the reason for our being here. We also had two fun dinner invitations plus the Gringa Brunch.
Today, after our 3-hour Church block ended (9:00-Noon), Walt went to Santa Ana (an hour drive) for a Regional Correlation Council scheduled for 2:00-6:00p.m. I hope he gets back in time for the Christmas Devotional which will be 7:00p.m. our time.
Here we are just coming out of Church today.
Everyone likes to talk with President Petersen.
I served dinner for temple missionaries and two couples who are also working in the temple. We had Hawaiian Haystacks.
We only had 11 at dinner today. Steve and Cristine Beaton on the right are here from Canada and work in the temple on Tuesday and Thursdays. The other days they are helping the PEF misisonaries in the Employment Center, which is about to be turned over to the stakes I understand.
I didn't get everyone together because some got out the door before I got the group photo taken.
Everyone helped clear off the table, and then that sweet Hna. Marilee Clark stayed and loaded the dishwasher till it was full, then did the rest of the dishes and pans by hand. This is all so appreciated!
Hno. John Kerr helped me figure out how to make a PDF file. I am so thankful for his going the extra mile to do this.
Then he took dinner over to Kari, who wasn't feeling well right after Church. Her orthopedist here was happy with the progress on her broken arm from the surgery he did on Nov. 28, after she tripped on the uneven sidewalks as they were walking to the temple on Nov. 27.
Just before the Kerrs got a taxi to go back to their apartment, I got a photo of John and DeVar in the Haroldsen's apartment. Hno. Kerr is our Sunday School teacher in English and taught us a lot about Zion today. He is an excellent teacher.
Yesterday was a fun day with no shift...we were invited to lunch by Presidente y Hna. Hintze of the El Salvador San Salvador West/Belize Mission. They also invited the 6 stake presidents in their mission boundaries and the Area Seventy and his Executive Secretary, plus the wives.
We enjoy being with our new friends here in El Salvador.
Here are Presidente Kai y Hna. Diane Hintze from Salt Lake City.
Their mission home is a beautiful apartment on the 22nd floor of a new apartment building about 10 minutes from the Temple.
Here are those who were able to come:
Presidente y Hna. Hintze in front. Back: Presidente y Hna. Alfaro, El Sal San Sal La Libertad Stake; Presidente Petersen; Penelope y Sergio Oliva, Executive Secretary to the Area Seventy; Elder y Hna. Duarte, Area Seventy; Presidente y Hna. Menjivar, El Sal San Sal Cuscatlan Stake.
The Hintzes gave each guest a precious, small wooden nativity from El Salvador, a little box of Habanero hot sauces from Belice, and a Hershey bar from the U.S.A. They also gave each couple a container of a variety of foods.
They served turkey with cranberries, mashed potatoes, Waldorf salad, a Jell-o apple salad, seasoned bread, and a rich chocolate cake, followed by the local hot chocolate drink.
It was a happy time of getting to know everyone better among these new friends.
We got home about 4:00, then that evening we were invited for dinner by Dale & Lisa Wegkamp. We always enjoy being with them, and were delighted that Elder Joseph & Hna. Marilee Clark were also invited.
Lisa served chicken cordon bleu, tiny glazed potatoes, green beans, tossed green salad with poppy seed dressing, and a yummy Oreo-ice cream dessert. She was planning to serve a hot garlic bread, but we distracted her while she had it under the broiler and it went up in flames. It made for an added adventure.
Among Lisa's many, many talents is quilting and she had just finished a Christmas table runner and matching place mats.
We have been blessed in meeting many wonderful people during our 4 missions served in four different countries: México, Guatemala, Argentina, and El Salvador.
Saturday, December 7, we remembered Pearl Harbor Day--68 years ago. And we also remembered our granddaughter, Anna's 13th birthday. Anna is the daughter of David and Julie. She has 3 brothers.
Friday, December 6, Delena Markland came to cut my hair. She is a great beautician and we are so thankful for her coming to our home to help keep us from having "bad hair days."
With Delena is Melanie, a darling Young Woman from our Campestre Barrio (Ward), who helps Delena with her twins.
Thursday, December 5....
TIME OUT Walt just got back from Santa Ana (yea, earlier than I expected he would. It's only 6:20 and the meeting was scheduled to go till 6:00. He said they left a little early before the meeting ended. But he hasn't had lunch nor supper....so I'm going to give him a Hawaiian Haystack that we saved for him.)
Back. We went to the Christmas Devotional. It really brought in the Christmas Spirit.
Back to Thursday, December 5...
We had several van loads of full-time young missionaries come to do temple sessions. As we we walking back from our our 5:15a.m to 2:30p.m. shift we saw them load up and head back to their Santa Ana Mission. These young Elders y Hermanas bring a great spirit to the temple when they come.
Wednesday, December 4...
Heidi turned 17. Can't believe it's been 17 years since our "HoHo Mexico" when all our family came for Christmas our middle December of the three we were in Merida, Mexico as Mission President and Wife. Heidi was just a 2-week old baby when they came. Heidi's on the far right of the three sisters. She has 3 sisters and 3 brothers.
Wednesday was our day with no shift, but Walt had the Temple Presidency meeting for 2 hours in the morning, and the first Wesnesday of each month my assistants to the Matron and I also attend. After we walked down to see the Nativity that is set up each Christmastime on the grounds in front of the temple.
Here's the temple behind us.
Tuesday, December 3...I didn't get any photos on this day. We had the afternoon shift in the temple from 12:30 noon to 9:30p.m.
The photo below is Walt helping me walk in the thick grass down to the Nativity.
Monday, December 2...We had the Gringa Brunch at Shaulee Curtis's home. We shared family Christmas traditions. We are thankful for Lisa Wegkamp picking us up. Everyone brings delicious food to share.
We gathered by her tree for a photo...Lisa Wegkamp, Marilee Clark, Eileen Petersen, Shaulee Curtis, Janis Nielsen.
Then Stephanie Dawson was able to join us...
That evening Walt and I hosted a Christmas Dinner for our temple missionaries and our full-time temple worker couple.
It helped begin this Christmas season...
Front: Sharon Haroldsen, Walt, Eileen, Dora Winter, Kari Kerr, Marilee Clark. Back: Roberto Caballero, Irma Caballero, DeVar Haroldsen, Jerry Winter, John Kerr, Joseph Clark.
We love and appreciate them so much!
And that was our first week in December in El Salvador.
We hope you have had a peaceful and restful Sabbath Day.
We testify that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
He is God's only Begotten Son and the Savior of the World.
Don't forget to see the post below about my father.
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