Sunny, Hot and Humid, Love it!

We have had an eventful week in the life of our Temple President, President Petersen. On his 78th birthday, he was having cake with a few of the workers in the break room of the temple when he stepped back and his leg gave out and he went down hard, hitting his head on the tile floor. He admitted later that his back had been bothering him and he was afraid that an old basketball injury was giving him trouble. His son, also a doctor, convinced him to get an MRI. Before we got the results of the MRI, he fell 3 more times and was using a walker by Thursday as his leg wouldn't hold him up. He has a bulging disk in his back that is pinching a nerve. The neurosurgen here said that he has a 1-2 week window for surgery before the nerve is dead and cannot be fixed. That would leave him using a walker from now on. The Temple Department got them on a plane on Friday morning, the 27th with an appointment with a Dr. Rich in SLC today, Monday at 9:00am. He is on blood thinning medicine for his heart so he cannot have surgery until all the Coumadin gets out of his blood. Please include him in your prayers. We miss them both so much and want them to be able to return and finish their mission here. We are praying for the micro-surgery and that they will be home in a month. Luckily Brother Carbajal was here at the time. They have called Elder and Sister Gibbons to be assistants to the Presidents. They will take President and Sister Petersen's shift at the temple. It was fun to work with them on Saturday as they took their first turn. You could just see the mantel that has been given them to accomplish this new assignment. The shift coordinators will miss them as workers on the shifts but at least if they have time they can help when needed. Free enterprise is alive and well here. On Monday Lon walked over to the housing project to check out their progress and on Tuesday we walked by and there was a new restaurant opened up, over night. The restaurant Bambo picture #1 is now open serving pupusas and rice and beans daily. As the big construction trucks fly by and the dust and bugs fly by, we don't think we will be trying it out soon. Our temple gardeners have been busy trimming trees and planting new flowers in all the beds. The tree trimmers were fun to watch. Picture #2 shows Herman with his machete. He cuts the branches with the machete, using it as an ax. Then the rest of them bundle up the branches and carry them off of the temple grounds into the forest. Picture #3 and #4. It sure would be faster to pile them into a pick-up and haul them off, but then someone wouldn't have a job. We are on the AM shift this week. Tuesday is Labor Day here so we are expecting a huge crowd at the temple. It is hard to believe that it will be May 1st. We pray that each of you are healthy and happy. We are enjoying the sunshine and the work that we are doing here. Life is wonderful. Please keep President Petersen in your prayers and thank you for your prayers in our behalf. Love to all, Lon and Nancy, Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma.