Sep 3-9, 2017 - Volcanos in Guatemala, Antigua Tour, Ribs, Hospital Gifts, Antigua,

Week 3 ... Sept 3-9, 2017  

On the way to Church, a volcano burped   

On Sunday, we skipped our stake conference and went with the Framptons -- medical missionaries and next door neighbors -- to their assigned ward in a small town in the country, an hour and a half drive from the city. The way was very lush with vegetation. We saw three volcanos, one of which had emitted a black cloud of smoke! 

The people at the Siquinalá Ward were intelligent and had strong testimonies of the church. I was ready to take my turn on the podium, but they kept it busy. They had a very nice brick chapel with two interesting trees -- one with huge bunches of bananas ripening and another full of coconuts. 

Photo from the Internet that was very close to the way we saw two volcanoes today. 

Trip to Antigua, Guatemalan tourist Mecca

On Monday, our day off, the temple president drove us new couple missionaries to see the old city of Antigua, a favorite tourist destination. We saw and met many young missionaries who were there as tourists, on the day off. 

Ribs!

Free to new mothers

In Antigua, Sister Norman, Babette, and the other two wives delivered 50 hospital maternity kits to new mothers. The packages included a receiving blanket, diapers, soap,wash cloths, booties and head cap, and a card message from the church. We men followed them from room to room but stayed in the hall. The hospital was dark in all areas and appeared to be not very clean. The patients and their families seemed to be poor. 

Mornings this week

Every four months or so, we will be scheduled to work the morning shift at the temple for one week at a time. This week is our turn. This arrangement makes possible young missionary sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. There is a whole new slate of workers to meet and enjoy. 

5 hours in Initiatory, learned to talk fast

Unlike in the temple in Calgary, temple shift coordinators here tend to put you at the front desk or in Initiatory for hours, not just a half hour or hour. That was okay, I was able to get my speed in Spanish almost up to the speed of native speakers, with fairly good pronunciation. (Maybe, if you asked one of the men working with me, there would be another story.)

Good shift coordinator 

I was very impressed with the way Gustavo Miranda served as coordinator on Thursday. He prepared us three morning workers well for the day, with prayer, spiritual thought, meditation and then assignments. He repeated the procedure for the next wave of workers. It's difficult for coordinators to have these meetings, as workers don't always arrive on time. 

Watch repaired at Paiz mall

Babette was with me for a fairly long walk to the shopping mall in which grocery store Paiz is located. Officially it is known as Super Centro Comercial, Vista Hermosa. Babette bought an inexpensive Q25 shirt at one of the many women clothing stores. A young man, at a kiosk that sells watches and watch bands, replaced her broken watch buckle, for only 3 dollars. And he gave us a free smile. 

Earthquake? What earthquake?

The big Mexican earthquake, measuring 8.2 on the Richter Scale, was only 180 miles from where we live, but Babette and I were already in bed and asleep. We felt nothing. The Temple President and wife, next door neighbor, felt it and saw things shake. 

Started painting a fall scene

I got started painting with acrylics. I bought a cheap starter kit of paints and brushe from a dollar store, I wish I had my professional artist supplies from home. I am enjoying the challenge of making do with the limited resources I have. I'm working on a landscape you would not see in Guatemala: trees stripped of their leaves. Leaves fall frequently from trees here, as they reach their life expectancies, but they do not change colors and you don't see bare spots in the branches.