Sopa de Gallo Indigo

It is Semana Santa this week and we want to wish each of you a Happy Easter. It is kind of nice to be in a place where the true reason for the Easter Celebration is so evident. The Easter Bunny takes a back seat to the Easter Processions and the beautiful "Afombras" or carpets made of flowers on the roads. They do however celebrate a lot about the death and forget the resurrection of our Savior. We are so thankful for His love for us.

     The temple is full this morning and we expect it to be busy all week with schools out and businesses will close Thursday, Friday and Saturday. We love to be busy. We continue to have all three sets of missionaries on the PM shift as the morning shift seems to have enough workers for now. We do miss working with the people in the mornings, but don't miss getting up before the sun comes up. I used to tell Ryanne and Gideon, Shayla's two, that they couldn't wake Grandma up before the sun came up when they stayed at my house.
 

      The Figueroa's told us that we had to try "sopa de gallo indigo" before we left. It is a traditional soup made with the rooster, not a hen. We thought we were going to their house for lunch when we headed out of town toward the beaches of La Libertad. They pulled into a roadside cafe and we wondered if this would be the time we got sick. These are the places we try very hard NOT to eat at.

 This is a picture of the soup cooking.

The round oven is where the chicken is baked. 

 The two pots are full of tomales cooking.

This lady is making and cooking tortillas.

As we walked back to our table, we looked out the back yard and there were "sopelopas" or buzzards  all over the place.

 We really wondered if we should really eat here. We figured the buzzards were waiting for us to fall over dead from the food.

The soup arrived and it had a thick layer of grease on top. You take your napkin and lay it in the soup to soak up as much of the grease that you can then dig in.  This picture is after the napkin. As we stirred the soup, thank heavens we didn't find any feet or heads, we just fished out the hearts, gizzards, and necks before we could actually start to eat it. It was delicious with potatoes, carrots, celery, and two or three other veggies that I didn't recognize or know the names of. It was served with tortillas, and followed with baked chicken and rice. Well, the buzzards were out of luck, we didn't die or even get sick. The food was very good and the company as always was great. The Figueroa's are such great people and really do take real good care of us. As you can see from the pictures of the buzzards, it is the dry season and everything is so brown. We have one month left before the rains will start. It will be good to see the green again before we leave.

 

      We are enjoying our new missionaries and trying to make the most of each and every day we have left with the Halls and Walls. The Halls only have about 4 weeks left and the Walls have about 7 weeks left. Where has these two years gone?

 

      We send our love to all. We appreciate your prayers in our behalf. We feel the extra strength that comes from your prayers as we fulfill our assignments here. We have been so healthy and have had the strength to serve every day. We have been so blessed. We pray for each of you daily. With love, Lon and Nancy, Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma

Botanical Gardens

      Well, our two week break is over and the temple opens today. YEA!! We were ready for some rest but two weeks without attending the temple is just way too long for us. We are ready and excited to return.

 

      This week we visited the Botanical Gardens. It is located in the volcanic crater right next to the flour mill where we got our whole wheat flour. The orchids were not in bloom yet but the wide variety of plants was amazing.

 The Clarks loved the cactus section. It reminded them of home, Arizona.

The bamboo trees were one of our favorites. They were huge!

There are fish ponds and a very big iguana living in the park. We didn't see it, but the Wall's did. This rich volcanic soil grows amazing plants. If the country would not build so many houses and keep some of the land to grow things on they wouldn't have to import all their fruits and veggies from Guatemala. There are just way too many people here for the size of the country.

 

Didn't get a chance to finish this yesterday. We got called to come to the temple to help with some Americans who were visiting our temple. It did feel good to be back to the temple. We love the work we are doing here.

 

The Alas's invited us to breakfast for pupusas in Antique Cuscatlan. They do not have a car and walk or ride buses everywhere so we were in for an adventure. We walked there, about a 30 minute walk. We again ate at Lillies Pupusaria then President Alas wanted us to experience a ride on one of the coasters that zip around town, usually overfull. He wouldn't let us on one of the school buses. We had to wait for about 30 minutes for the right bus to come along. While we were waiting, the shop across the street started making their tortilla's for the day.  The picture shows a mound of dough ready to cook. The ladies used a trowel as a spatula.

 This is the neighborhood we were waiting in.

 

The picture below is for my brother-in-law, Mike. We were not sure that the wiring was up to code. The coaster finally arrived and we climbed in, at a cost of 25 cents apiece. President Alas yelled hang on and off we went. We grabbed the overhead rung, poor Sister Alas was too short to reach it. You never knew when they were going to stop or start. It was a very bumpy squirrely ride. It is always fun to go with the Alas's because we get to experience how most of the people here live. They are very poor, but with the gospel in their lives, they are very happy and love to serve.

     We had a great Easter Devotional on Sunday. It is hard to believe that it will be our last here. We get to sing with the choir once more this Sunday for Stake Conference then that part of our experience here will be over. Lon will really miss the two hour practices every Sunday, NOT!!! But we will miss the people and the music.

      We send our love to all. We hope you are enjoying a beautiful spring. Tracy and his family are moving into Jerome this Saturday. Those in Jerome, please take good care of them til we return. Lon and Nancy, Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma

Velatorio

      Just wanted to share with you another custom that we have been part of this week. When Sister Alicia Colina passed away, we were invited to the "velatorio" the very night that she died, Friday the 8th. The dictionary says that this is a viewing or wake. We figure it is just a viewing and we will get to visit with the family so we are very happy to have a ride to the funeral home. We arrive around 7:30 pm and are in time to hear Brother Montepeque give a talk, then Marti, the husband, talks for about 15 minutes, we sing a hymn and have a prayer. A velatorio is more like a wake than a viewing. They served drinks and cookies and other pastels the entire evening. We left around 10:30 and there were still people sitting and visiting. They say that sometimes they are there all night.

     One of the hardest things here is not having a car so we can just go and visit or help someone. Monday morning, the 11th, was the funeral. We rode with Mariela Figueroa. The funeral was to start at 9:30. We arrived at the church at 9:20 and the gates were locked, all churches are surrounded by fences and are locked up when no meetings are taking place. We got in about 15 minutes later and found out that they had no piano player so I was fortunate to be able to actually DO something to add comfort and peace for the Colina family. I played prelude for 45 minutes before the family arrived and the three hymns in the service.

      When we returned home we found out that the sister of President Majano had passed away and her velatorio is that very night, Monday the 11th. President and Sister Petersen arrived home from the States at 8:00 pm and at 9:00 we all loaded into the van to go to the velatorio. President Lopez drove and the Alas's went with us, so we loaded 11 into our 8 passenger van. We got there as the son of President Majano was finishing his talk, then President Majano was to speak. Our Bishop came to me and asked if I would sing for them. I told him I didn't have a book and didn't know anything by heart. He found me a book and said pick a hymn. The book opened to "God be With you till we Meet again" so that is what I sang. Again I was fortunate to be able to DO something to add comfort and peace for the Majano Family.

 

      I am so thankful for the talents that My Heavenly Father has given me. I am so thankful for earthly parents who spent time and money to help me develop these talents. I am thankful for church leaders over the years who have given me callings to further develop these talents so I am able to share them without fear. Please don't think that I am bragging. I feel like Ammon when he said in Alma 26; " I do not boast in my own strength nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea my heart is brim with joy, and I rejoice in my God. Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things."

 

     What a joy it is to me to be able to share my testimony through music in a different language. Having only 5 minutes to prepare to sing for a funeral has to be a record. I am working on "O Divine Redeemer" and "The Lord's Prayer" in Spanish for this Sunday for the Easter Devotional. I know that it is only through His strength and help that I am able to do this.

 

      My dear family, thank you so much for all you do for us and for our children while we are away. We feel of your love and prayers daily and we love you all so much. We never know when it will be our time to return to our Heavenly Father so we just wanted to take the time to let you know of our love for our Savior and for all of you. May God bless you in all you do. Lon and Nancy, Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma

Tracy Got the Job!!

     Great news today. Tracy just landed a job with the Twin Falls Sheriffs Office as a deputy jailer. He has been looking for a job in law enforcement since October. We are so excited that he and the family will be living so close to us. Sarah has a job in Twin also! They have enrolled the kids in a charter school in Jerome and will be living in our house for now. He asked me to thank all the family that have been praying for him. He said that he didn't get this job on his own and thanks all of you for the prayers in his behalf. They have a lot of work to do now, with having to move us out of our house, move down, and get his ready for renters by the 25th.

 

      We lost a dear friend again this week. Sister Alicia Colina passed away on Saturday morning.

Marti and Alicia were both ordinance workers in the temple until his legs got so bad that he couldn't stand for long periods of time. He has diabetes and has not been well for a year. Alicia was the Young Womens President in her ward, she is the same age as I am. We are saddened to have lost another friend but are so thankful that we were here and got to know her in this life. We look forward to renewing our friendship in the life to come.

 

      On Friday, we went to visit Parque Bicentenario with the Walls and Halls.

It is the dry season so it is not as beautiful as it will be in three months, but we will be in Idaho in three months so we took the opportunity to visit it now while the Hall's are still here cause they were good tour guides for us. They leave next month. We walked only on the south side of the park cause it is huge and it was getting real hot by noon. The Bamboo trees were huge.

   It was an up and down trail through the trees

Right smack in the middle of the park is a group of shanties where people live. We can't believe that they didn't kick them out when they made the park. It has only been opened about a year.

 

      We have gotten to go to dinner with several of our friends this past week and have several more invites this week as well. It is good to visit with them now while the temple is closed. We do miss the temple and will be glad to get back next week. The Petersen's fly in tonight.

 

      As we drive around this beautiful country, we see street venders everywhere. This is a normal sight along any of the roads.

 It is sugar cane harvest time, and the trucks are everywhere, carrying the cane to the factories for processing.

Lon and Eric Behner went golfing for the last time here on Saturday. They went back out to Corintos and had a great day. The caddie got paid and left so fast that he forgot to give Lon his card so he is not sure what he scored this time. But he played with one set of clubs on the front 9 and a different set of clubs on the back 9 so he didn't expect to golf his age this time. But he had a lot of fun and gave away all his tees cause he won't have an opportunity to golf again until he gets to Jerome.

 

      We are well and happy and thank you for your prayers in our behalf. We know that we are being watched over and protected and given extra health and strength to be able to serve this mission. You are all in our prayers also. We love you Lon and Nancy, Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma.

Our Vacation Has Begun

     Our temple closed for the next two weeks for cleaning and repairs. We let our closest friends know that this is the time to take us anywhere they want us to see and we are having a few over for dinner. We need to use this time to say goodbye as we won't have the time or energy once the temple opens again. It is so strange to know that our time here is so short. The Petersen's flew out on Monday to Minnisota to be with family, especially a grandson they have never seen. They will return next Monday. We always miss them so when they are gone.

     Our new missionary couple, the Clarks, arrived last Thursday. They are great and will be a great asset to the work here. They are from Arizona. They came to the temple for the Saturday PM shift and they are not afraid to roll up their sleeves and dig in. This is their second mission to a Spanish temple, having served in Monteray, Mexico. There they were the only English Couple so they are thrilled to have a family this time, not only us, but Sister Clark's sister is the wife of the Mission President, the Glazers!!

     Today, Carlos Ortiz arranged to take us and the Walls on a trip to the center of town. (the Clarks were with the Glazers all day) We went first to the Presidential Palace.

He hired two taxi's to haul us around and the drivers and Carlos were our body guards and guides for the day. The palace is being renovated after a fire and an earthquake. They are not quite done yet but it is beautiful.  This is in the Blue Room.

The royal family doesn't live here anymore and most of the government business has been moved as well. It is more of a museum on the top floors with offices and a library on the ground floor. Below is the Red Room.

It has pictures around the walls of all the Presidents of the country in it. It was facinating to read about some of the history of El Salvador from the governments point of view. We visited the Yellow and Pink Rooms and the grounds were amazing. You will have to come to visit me when we get home to see the rest of the pictures though. I just can't post them all here, I think we took about 50.

     We were amazed that after we left the Palace, we actually WALKED right down the center of town to the Excuarter.

 This the the down town that no one has ever allowed us to even get out of the car to see. But with our drivers and Carlos, we felt very safe, except for Sister Wall. She was real glad to get out of here. The Excuarter is a huge market filled with hundreds of shops selling any kind of souvaneir you can imagine, and some you have never imagined. It was almost overwhelming because it was so big. Carlos made sure that anything we wanted to buy was at the lowest possible price.

     We send our love to all. We hope that spring will be kind to you and you will not have too much wind. We have decided that the Lord is preparing us for our trip home by sending a lot of wind here. Our backyard has been torn up and they are putting in a subdivision so we have dirt blowing, really looks like home. We can't even eat on our patio now because of the blowing dirt and loud machines that work 7 days a week. Have a great week. You are in our thoughts and prayers always. Lon and Nancy, Grandpa and Grandma, Dad and Mom