We had our final week in El Salvador - Oct 26-Oct. 31, leaving at 4:00 a.m. for the airport...
October 27 - Monday
Oh, first I'll share some fotos from our last week in El Salvador.
Despedida/Farewell #7 - Asado = Bar-b-que... (Gabriel doing the grilling below)
They also kept everything clean and in tip-top condition, including the main floor of the annex building which had a cafeteria, Family History Center, Distribution Services, and nursery for the temple, along with the temple enclosed area, which also included a stake center.
I think our huge parking lot must be the cleanest in the world--it was scrubbed often with those big round swirling brushes.
The temple grounds had--apart from the above--ten gardeners who kept the trees, plants, and flowers growing and blooming, and the grass mowed or macheteed, including a long entrance way of palm trees, plants and flowers from the redondel (round-a-bout) from the street of Espiño y Pedregal up to the entrance gates.
We so appreciate all the help of these Church Service Center employees during our three years and three months there.
Second row: Edwin, ___, Romel, Russo(Hugo), Hugo, Alberto, Alex, Gabriel, ____, ____, Victor, Cecilia, Maria Elena, Rosy, ____, Hno. Bonilla, Santos, Ricky, Jaime López. (Can someone help me fill in the blanks of the names I don't know. Thanks.)
That Monday evening, our final Family Home Evening was
hosted by Presidente Eduardo y Hna. Consuelo Alas.
After an inspiring lesson about the Savior, they served
the delicious apple struddles from San Martin's Bakery.
October 29 - Wednesday
Our 8th and final Despedida was given to us by
Herbert y Daniella Hernández Castillo
on Wednesday evening, 29 de Octubre
a dinner at Herbert's mother's home.
Herbert laughed and laughed when we told him we didn't
eat Sushi. I said that because several times on
Wednesday nights they took Daniel y Kelly for
Sushi when it was "2for1" every Wednesday.
His mother's home is beautiful with a fantastic view
from high above the city.
It was also fun to have Waldo y Silvia Reyes there.
They have done so much for us during our three
years in El Salvador.
They have done so much for us during our three
years in El Salvador.
And Herbert's father came in later.
Here's our last typica El Salvadorian meal of pupusas of cheese and beans, plus some empadadas.
We stood just outside the patio, hoping to get some of the city lights in the background, but it looks like we blocked out the lights.
You can see Daniella's cute bump of twin boys at 6 months along.
They are due Feb. 19, but will probably come earlier.
They are planning to name them: Herbert Daniel y Sebastian _____ (can't remember the middle name).
Here are Herbert y Daniela as they brought us back to the temple grounds. They are very dear friends. Walt performed their sealing in the temple in May 2014. She was baptised in March 2013, three months after they were married. Herbert joined the Church sometime in 2010.
October 30- Thursday
We walked through the Temple President's apartment one last time. They had put up a different painting in the office/den
We walked through the Temple President's apartment one last time. They had put up a different painting in the office/den
of Jerusalem viewed from the Kidron Valley.
A painting like this has been in the lunch room at the temple, but I was obedient and didn't take a photo of it.
I was so glad I could take this photo of it as it is now in the apartment. We were in Jerusalem for ten days in Nov. 1989, arriving late at night. When we awoke and looked out our window,
this is pretty much the view we saw.
However, as we learned in our stake conference,
it's not just in the Holy Land where we can walk where Jesus walked, but also in our temples we walk where Jesus walks.
this is pretty much the view we saw.
However, as we learned in our stake conference,
it's not just in the Holy Land where we can walk where Jesus walked, but also in our temples we walk where Jesus walks.
The new temple president and matron of the temple, Presidente Luis y his wife Hna. Juliette Chaverri arrived in the late afternoon from Costa Rica.
We had a short orientation with the new presidency and their wives (as instructed) and then all had dinner at the Hacienda Real.
Hna. Chaverri had fallen the 5 days before they came and was having too much pain to walk, so was in a wheelchair.
Presidente Chaverri is in front of Walt and me.
It was such a downpour when we were ready to leave, that we couldn't go out to the car for an hour.
We were mostly packed, but anxious to finish and close our three suitcases, and put our laptops in their cases.
Presidente y Hna. Chaverri together.
The First Counselor and his wife--Presidente Alonso y Silvia Figueroa. They are the parents of our Bishop in the Barrio Campestre. [He became the next temple president.]
The Second Counselor and his wife--Carlos y Hna. Estela Montepeque. His parents and siblings have had a great
influence on the Church in El Salvador.
We finally got home, finished our packing, and got to bed
at 1:00 a.m. before we had to be up in two hours.
Here's one of the night security guards who took the photo above.
He handed me a gift from the gal who runs the Distribution Center.
And we are at the airport...where missionaries had just taken a missionary going home...so we had lots of help
at 1:00 a.m. before we had to be up in two hours.
October 31 - Thursday
Most everyone on our apartment floor came to help us take down our luggage and told us goodbye for the last time.He handed me a gift from the gal who runs the Distribution Center.
getting our luggage inside.
And our temple recorder and great friend who has driven us many times to this El Salvador Airport...
but always before we were going to return...
The young missionaries waved "Good-bye" to us.
...landing in Salt Lake City two hours late because of a light on the wing having to be replaced before we could take off from Los Angeles.(Sitting in a plane on the tarmac for two hours is not fun.)
It's always a relief to buzz through customs.
Setting foot on U.S. A. soil again--for always--was a great feeling.
Here's Samuel as a super hero.
Her version was going to be: "Four is enough. 91/2 years sufficient.
Just say no."
But John thought it should rhyme, so this is what he came up with: "After Four
"No More"
Mexico Merida Mission - Mission President y wife 1995--1998
Guatemala - Medical Advisor for Central America with
10 missions helping to keep 2000 missionaries healthy 2005-2007
South America South Area - 12 missions helping to keep 2,300
missionaries healthy in Argentina, Uruguay y Paraguay 2008-2010
President and Matron of the new San Salvador El Salvador Temple
July 2011 to Oct 31, 2014
We do plan to stay home now.
November 1, 2014 - SaturdayWe were off to Idaho for our granddaughter, Katie Fisher to be sealed to Parker Anderson in the Rexburg Temple.
We are thankful for Gary driving us, along with his sons, Jacob and Isaac.
We had a brunch at the Fishers, then to Church with them. I was coughing so much from the bad cold I got two days before we left, so I didn't go.
Julie helped organize Thanksgiving weekend with everyone volunteering for assignments.
We pray you have had a peaceful and restful Sabbath Day.
As we learned last night from Elder Per Malm, Quorum of the Seventy, in our stake conference that the devil is allowed to only tempt us within the bounds the Lord has set. He cannot take away
any blessing earned, quoting Elder Richard G. Scott.
Then he told us that Boyd K. Packer said: (my paraphrasing) You will not make a mistake without being warned.
Elder Malm closed with: We can be in control of our Spiritual Destiny.
Heavenly Father loves each one of us.
Jesus Christ is our Redeemer and Savior.
The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ, along with the Bible.
President Thomas S. Monson is the Prophet for each person living in this world.
In the Temple--the House of the Lord--restored priesthood ordinances seal families for time and all eternity.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true restored Gospel of Jesus Christ on the earth today.
Of these truths we testify, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Walt & Eileen Petersen 16 November 2014
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