Since it is Ladies day out you will have to read a letter from the man of the house. I just finished cleaning the house and in the middle of the laundry and will get this letter out. We are fine and felt nothing of the earthquake down here. We had some great thunder storms yesterday that woke us up from our nap, but read the news of the Dominican Republic. We saw the storms on the news. We didn't get any of that storm either.
We are doing well and are finishing our last week before the 2 week break and then will head for Guatemala to visit the two temples there and go to Atitclan, which they think are the waters of Mormon depending on the author. Someday in the next life we will know for sure.We are looking forward to that visit. We will do that trip by ourselves and then come back and reload and go to
Honduras with the other missionaries. They said that they could only take one week of us not the two. It will be a rerun for us as we were there a year ago with the Book fo Mormon tour, but this will be the last time we can go as a group because they start going home in January. We want to go also while we have a visa and can. We renew in February and if it is like last time we will be home before the visa is renewed. In march the temple in Honduras will be open and we hope to get to it before coming home.
We got to watch a little of the olympics and hope to get to see some of the BYU and BSU games this year. All depends on schedules. I have had the opportunity to do some good reading while I have been here and hope to read all those books that I should have read long ago. Now I think I have most of the answeres I needed to raise our family and myself but it would have been nice to have had that knowledge at age 24.
We enjoy our challenges and the many miracles that we see each day. We have had challenges with the health of the missionaries and especially our dear President but all are on the mend and doing great. We see miracles every day that strengthens our testimonies. To know God lives and that his Son is our Savior is great piece of mind. To know that families are an eternal joy and that through the atonement and our works and his grace we can have great joy not only in this life but for the eternities.
We love you all and really would enjoy hearing from a few more people to know if you are still alive. Have a great week and may you have joy in all that you do. Love Lon and Nancy Mom
and Dad Grandma and Grandpa
temple
Monday, August 27, 2012
Monday, August 20, 2012
One Year Anniversary!
We arrived here in El Salvador one year ago on August 17th, 2011. We were reading some of our first impressions and a few things have changed. We were never going to be able to walk to the store because the traffic was so crazy and fast across the main intersection that we had to cross. We now not only cross that intersection with ease, we walk about 20 minutes further to the "mercado" for fresh fruits and veggies. Grocery shopping took hours because we had to read every label and really search for the items we needed. We now know all three stores and can run in and get whatever we need very fast. It does take all three stores because one won't have what you want but the other one will. And fruits and veggies are fresh on Tuesday, not on Monday when we usually shopped at first. We now walk over on Tuesday's to get the good fresh veggies and fruits. We don't have to struggle quite so hard now to understand. Somedays we actually feel like we understood everything that was said. Our first Sunday here was Ward Conference and a "young man" played a violin solo and the piano. Rene is now one of our dear friends whomakes sure we get to the symphony and choir
practices whenever our schedules at the temple allow. And today was Ward Conference and Rene and his brother played a violin duet for us.
Tuesday will be the one year mark for the opening of the temple. We think that we missionaries have done our job because we have a lot of well trained ordinance workers now and the work in the temple is going well. We have new workers almost daily and a lot of sickness and just plain difficulties with getting to the temple by a lot of the workers so we know that missionaries will be needed here for a long time to come. But we think it is that way in all of the temples in Central America. There is a big need for Spanish Senior Couples for Temple Missions now as more temples are opened in this part of the country.
We had a 5.3 earthquake on the 14th. It moved the temple. Even the locals took notice of this one. It is a real weird feeling to have the walls move. The nickname of El Salvador is "the hammock" as
this ground moves a lot. But there was no damage and the work went on without any interruption.
We are preparing for our two weeks when the temple will close for cleaning, the first two weeks in September. We are going to go to Guatemala to see the two temples there and visit Lake Atitlan. I will share our trip with you when we return. As for now, we have one week of the AM shift and one week of the PM shift left before the closure.
We send our love to all with best wishes for a great school year for all the kids and the parents who have to help with the homework. We pray that you are well and happy. We are enjoying our mission and just wish the time would slow down a bit. Have a great week. Love Lon and Nancy, Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma
practices whenever our schedules at the temple allow. And today was Ward Conference and Rene and his brother played a violin duet for us.
Tuesday will be the one year mark for the opening of the temple. We think that we missionaries have done our job because we have a lot of well trained ordinance workers now and the work in the temple is going well. We have new workers almost daily and a lot of sickness and just plain difficulties with getting to the temple by a lot of the workers so we know that missionaries will be needed here for a long time to come. But we think it is that way in all of the temples in Central America. There is a big need for Spanish Senior Couples for Temple Missions now as more temples are opened in this part of the country.
We had a 5.3 earthquake on the 14th. It moved the temple. Even the locals took notice of this one. It is a real weird feeling to have the walls move. The nickname of El Salvador is "the hammock" as
this ground moves a lot. But there was no damage and the work went on without any interruption.
We are preparing for our two weeks when the temple will close for cleaning, the first two weeks in September. We are going to go to Guatemala to see the two temples there and visit Lake Atitlan. I will share our trip with you when we return. As for now, we have one week of the AM shift and one week of the PM shift left before the closure.
We send our love to all with best wishes for a great school year for all the kids and the parents who have to help with the homework. We pray that you are well and happy. We are enjoying our mission and just wish the time would slow down a bit. Have a great week. Love Lon and Nancy, Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma
Sunday, August 12, 2012
"Elote Loco"
We have been treated to a new culinary experience that we want to share with you. In fact, if you think it looks like something you would like to try, we do know how to make it and can make you some when we get home. However, you do have to start with corn that is picked when it is in the dent, not fresh and young and delicious. (George told us that he is picking corn and eating it out of his garden now and we are licking our lips remembering how good it tastes.)
Last Monday, the 6th of August, President Majano's daughter and her husband Alex decided we missionaries needed to experience "Elote Loco",crazy corn. They picked corn from their neighbors garden. It has to be white corn as the yellow has too sweet a flavor for this dish. They boiled the corn, put skewers in it and picture #1 spread a mixture of mayo and mustard all over the corn. Picture #2 shows drizzling first the brown or barbecue sauce then the red or plain ketchup. Picture #3 You then roll the corn in shredded cheese, never cheddar, always white. This is the finished product. We were all a little afraid to take the first bite. Picture #4. It definitely was interesting and not like anything we have ever eaten before. All of us finished one ear because we do not want to offend or hurt anyone's feelings, but we hope we never have to eat "Elote Loco" again. It was not good. The mayo and mustard were so strong and the corn so tough that it really was hard to get it down. The Majano's and the Rivas's ate at least two ears, loving every bite. We will stick with "pupusas".
We started our week on Monday by being at the temple at 4:30 AM for the special day for the La Libertad Stake. It was a great day, well organized, and well attended. But it really made our week long, serving 6 days instead of 5. We haven't gone anywhere, not even to the grocery store. We are getting our rest back and look forward to another week on the PM Shift with no alarm clocks!!!!
Because of our schedules, we didn't get to see much of the Olympics. Elder Thompson was able to read about it on the internet. Who would have ever thought that the Thompson's would be thankful for the internet? We would be lost without it here. Felicitaciones a Mexico por haber ganar el medalla de oro en los lympicos en futbol.
We send our love to all. We hope you have a great week and are well and happy. We continue to love our mission, the friends we are making here, and the opportunity to serve in this temple. We have been so blessed. May God bless each of you with those righteous desires of your hearts is our prayer. Love Dad and Mom, Lon and Nancy, Grandpa and Grandma
Last Monday, the 6th of August, President Majano's daughter and her husband Alex decided we missionaries needed to experience "Elote Loco",crazy corn. They picked corn from their neighbors garden. It has to be white corn as the yellow has too sweet a flavor for this dish. They boiled the corn, put skewers in it and picture #1 spread a mixture of mayo and mustard all over the corn. Picture #2 shows drizzling first the brown or barbecue sauce then the red or plain ketchup. Picture #3 You then roll the corn in shredded cheese, never cheddar, always white. This is the finished product. We were all a little afraid to take the first bite. Picture #4. It definitely was interesting and not like anything we have ever eaten before. All of us finished one ear because we do not want to offend or hurt anyone's feelings, but we hope we never have to eat "Elote Loco" again. It was not good. The mayo and mustard were so strong and the corn so tough that it really was hard to get it down. The Majano's and the Rivas's ate at least two ears, loving every bite. We will stick with "pupusas".
We started our week on Monday by being at the temple at 4:30 AM for the special day for the La Libertad Stake. It was a great day, well organized, and well attended. But it really made our week long, serving 6 days instead of 5. We haven't gone anywhere, not even to the grocery store. We are getting our rest back and look forward to another week on the PM Shift with no alarm clocks!!!!
Because of our schedules, we didn't get to see much of the Olympics. Elder Thompson was able to read about it on the internet. Who would have ever thought that the Thompson's would be thankful for the internet? We would be lost without it here. Felicitaciones a Mexico por haber ganar el medalla de oro en los lympicos en futbol.
We send our love to all. We hope you have a great week and are well and happy. We continue to love our mission, the friends we are making here, and the opportunity to serve in this temple. We have been so blessed. May God bless each of you with those righteous desires of your hearts is our prayer. Love Dad and Mom, Lon and Nancy, Grandpa and Grandma
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Happy Fiestas Agostinos!!
We found out that we had a national holiday starting the first of August and lasting through the 6th. We asked people what we were celebrating. We were told that it was the birthday of San Salvador, that the government was lazy and wanted a holiday in August since they didn't have one, and that it was the day that "El Salvador" (the Savior) came to San Salvador. We were not sure which explanation to believe so we checked the internet. This festival dates back to 1525, the year that the city of San Salvador was founded. They celebrate with the fair coming to town and parades. On Thursday, the police put on the parade. On Friday, the business put on a parade. On Saturday, the Military put on the parade and on Sunday, the religious ceremony and parade takes place in front
of the national cathedral. It includes a spectacle known as "la bajada" or the descent. An old wooden image of Christ is paraded through the streets and then lowered inside a wooden shell. There the
sculpture's purple garments are removed, and Jesus emerges from the shell dressed in gleaming white robes, a symbolic representation of Christ's transfiguration. We were driven past one of the fairs on Thursday evening. We were not allowed out of the car to see this one up close. It is free to get in and not a safe place. It was huge, with big roller coasters and all kinds of fair rides, food venders of every kind and shops selling anything and everything. It was raining but still had people every where.
On Saturday afternoon, Carlos Figueroa and his mother-in-law took us to the other fair. This one is within walking distance of the temple. It is safe and smaller they said. We have never seen so many
people in one place in our lives. We saw a band with dancers performing the national song and dance, picture #1. We tried to get a picture to show how many people were there, but pictures just can't
show it all. Picture #2. This fair took up a whole city block. People were standing in line for 2 to 3 hours just to take a ride on one roller coaster. We now know how sardines feel in a can. There was music and clowns and food and food and food. Grandma insisted that we try some chorros, fried dough covered in cinnamon and sugar. We really enjoyed that. It was in the low 90's with about 80%
humidity and no air in any of the buildings. We can say that we experienced the "feria" but were glad to get out of the heat, the crowds, and the noise.
There is one great thing about the holiday, the people throng to the temple. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday were wonderful in the temple with bus loads of people each day. Monday is the last day of
the holiday and we have one stake who have scheduled the morning at the temple. We have to be there by 4:30AM to help whereever needed and they are supposed to be gone by 1:00PM. With 8 to 13 buses coming. It will be very surprising if they are gone by then. It will make a very long week with out a P-Day.
We want to send a belated Birthday wish to my little brother, Dick, and to Robert Otteson. Sorry we missed your days and hope you had a great birthday. We send our love to all. We are doing great.
We do get tired by Saturday but with your prayers in our behalf we are keeping up with the schedule and enjoying every day. Primary music went well today and only one more week til Sister Broadbent returns. We pray that you are happy, healthy, and enjoying every day of your lives. We are saddened to have lost two friends, Chuck Jensen and Dr Harold Lloyd. Have a great week. Love Lon and Nancy, Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma.
of the national cathedral. It includes a spectacle known as "la bajada" or the descent. An old wooden image of Christ is paraded through the streets and then lowered inside a wooden shell. There the
sculpture's purple garments are removed, and Jesus emerges from the shell dressed in gleaming white robes, a symbolic representation of Christ's transfiguration. We were driven past one of the fairs on Thursday evening. We were not allowed out of the car to see this one up close. It is free to get in and not a safe place. It was huge, with big roller coasters and all kinds of fair rides, food venders of every kind and shops selling anything and everything. It was raining but still had people every where.
On Saturday afternoon, Carlos Figueroa and his mother-in-law took us to the other fair. This one is within walking distance of the temple. It is safe and smaller they said. We have never seen so many
people in one place in our lives. We saw a band with dancers performing the national song and dance, picture #1. We tried to get a picture to show how many people were there, but pictures just can't
show it all. Picture #2. This fair took up a whole city block. People were standing in line for 2 to 3 hours just to take a ride on one roller coaster. We now know how sardines feel in a can. There was music and clowns and food and food and food. Grandma insisted that we try some chorros, fried dough covered in cinnamon and sugar. We really enjoyed that. It was in the low 90's with about 80%
humidity and no air in any of the buildings. We can say that we experienced the "feria" but were glad to get out of the heat, the crowds, and the noise.
There is one great thing about the holiday, the people throng to the temple. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday were wonderful in the temple with bus loads of people each day. Monday is the last day of
the holiday and we have one stake who have scheduled the morning at the temple. We have to be there by 4:30AM to help whereever needed and they are supposed to be gone by 1:00PM. With 8 to 13 buses coming. It will be very surprising if they are gone by then. It will make a very long week with out a P-Day.
We want to send a belated Birthday wish to my little brother, Dick, and to Robert Otteson. Sorry we missed your days and hope you had a great birthday. We send our love to all. We are doing great.
We do get tired by Saturday but with your prayers in our behalf we are keeping up with the schedule and enjoying every day. Primary music went well today and only one more week til Sister Broadbent returns. We pray that you are happy, healthy, and enjoying every day of your lives. We are saddened to have lost two friends, Chuck Jensen and Dr Harold Lloyd. Have a great week. Love Lon and Nancy, Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma.
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