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
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