Red Rider BB Gun Christmas Story

     Life in San Salvador is full of interesting stories. It is easy to tell the poorer of the people at the temple by their dress. Most of the poor do not have air conditioning and they just freeze in the temple. I will try to set the scene for you so you can visualize dear Sister Guzman. Remember the scarves that we make with the wooden looms that have the nails in a circle and you crochet a scarf? Sister Zysett in our home ward made dozens and dozens for the humanitarian project. They are not thin but thick and very warm for very cold weather. These looms are used here all the time and almost everyone has one of them. Now remember the scene in the Christmas Story when the mother is dressing the younger brother for school and she puts on a sweater, jacket, snowsuit, and then wraps the scarf around and around his neck and face? Well that scene came into view when Sister Guzman walked up to me inside the temple. She had a white blouse on, then her dress, a sweater, a shawl, and then this thick scarf wrapped around and around her neck clear up to her chin. Now mind you, Sister Guzman is only about 4 feet tall and a little plump and really has no neck. I had to fight back the giggles and I broke out in a sweat just thinking how hot she should be in that get up. She worked her 8 hour shift dressed like that, trying not to be cold. And happy, she gives you a big toothless smile, she has no front top teeth, a big hug and is off to help where ever she can. She is typical of about half the workers on each shift. Those big bulky scarves are all over the temple on both worker and patron. I told Lon it will be interesting to see if our blood thins and next year I am one of those women dressed to face the cold temple air conditioning.

     We had a week where the temple was almost emply, with both patron and workers missing. We were very discouraged until we found out why. Satan is busy trying to stop this work. The buses were on strike demanding more money from the government because the mobs or gangs were charging the buses more money not to rob them. These people rely heavily on the bus system. Having never lived in a big city, we are not familiar with this problem. We are learning to be more tolerant with people arriving 10 minutes to an hour late because their buses were not running on time. The bus strike is over and people are once again filling the temple, except for the 7PM session. Even our temple workers seemed to disappear about 7:00pm. Satan is trying another tactic. The bus stop is right in front of the Multi Plaza where we walk to and shop, just around the corner from us. There are armed guards all over the place during the day, but they are employees of the Multi Plaza and when the store closes, there is no longer any protection there. We know of at least 18 robberies that have taken place as our friends leave the temple to go home between 9 and 10pm. It just breaks our hearts that these good people, who have nothing, have been robbed. The temple presidency were considering not having a 7pm session, but have turned it over to the Bishops and Stake Presidents to find a solution. This week, the temple has been full and people are arriving in buses, mini buses, and in groups for safety. It has been wonderful. I think we have won this battle with Satan. It will be interesting to see what he hits us with next.

      The attached picture is of Brother Fiqueroa and his wife. He is a native of Puerta Rico and she is a native of San Salvador. They are typical of the people here. We have every color in the book, from real black to real white. We have the Mayan influence, real short; the Almec influence, slanted eyes oriental looking; the Spanish invaders from Spain influence, white skinned and blue eyes. They are truely a mixture. The architecture definately has the Spanish influence with the big cathedrals. It is a very interesting country. At times it is easy to forget that we are in a third world country because we live in this protected, beautiful area. Back to Brother Fiqueroa, he is blind. He works in the temple two to three days a week and is amazing. The only problem is in the break room after he has eaten his lunch, we have to clean cause he can't see if he spills or not and he usually does. He used to be a chef so he and his wife brought lunch for all the missionaries. He made his own recipe of teryacy chicken(I have no idea how to spell that) and shrimp chow mein. It was wonderful. He is in the states now trying to find help to be able to see again. Hopefully he will be successful but we do miss him.

     Well, I've rambled on enough. We are enjoying our mission and look forward each day to serve our new friends in this beautiful temple. We wish each of you a safe and happy week. Watch out for Satan, he is real and working hard with his best weapons, discouragement and selfishness. Be happy and content. All our love, Lon and Nancy