The Pacific Ocean is beautiful

     For our monthly p-day outing this month, President Lopez wanted to show us the coastal route and take us to Acajutla.  We first drove to La Libertad, the fishing warf.

Liza Wegkamp went with us.  She and husband are back after being gone for almost a year.  He works for a company here.  They have lived here on and off for 12 years.  April is the hottest month of the year here and boy was it hot and humid.  We have never tried dried fish, but here it is a real delicasy.  This picture is the fish laying on tarps along the seashore to dry. 

The drive along the coast was up and down and through 5 tunnels, without any lights in the tunnel or on the vehicles. 

There are lots of dairy's in this area, a big dairy being around 20 cows, and sugar cane everywhere.  This stretch of the seashore is where the surfers come as the waves are nice for this.

As we entered Acajutla, we were met by Bishop Juavier who became our guide.  Acajutla is the port city that has been fought over for centuries.  First the Pirates, then the Spaniards in 1524, another peasant uprising in 1932 and finally the civil in 1980-1992.  The port itself is closed to the public, but with the help of Bishop Juavier, we were able to enter.  Being right on the Pacific Ocean, the heat and humidity was the worst we have felt.  This picture is of the employee parking lot.  With bikes and motorcycles, you don't have to have such a big parking lot.  They have over a thousand employees here. 

Their main exports are sugar, coffee, and balsom.  One of their main imports is vehicles.  They were unloading some while we were here. 

 

There were three Taiwan battle ships anchored and the big cargo ship from Panama loaded with 600 vehicles unloading. 

 

The city itself was one of the smaller cities we have visited and the Bishop was so thrilled to show us the new church building that is being build.  Right now, the ward meets in a house but soon,  their new chapel will be done. 

They are expecting to move into it in May, but this is El Salvador and things are never on time so we figure June or July.  This ward comes to the temple faithfully.  We are so thrilled for them to finally be getting a chapel. 

 

     We have lots of other photo's from our trip to the ocean, but cannot send them all.  We met more warm and friendly people in this area as in the rest of El Salvador.  They may not have much physically, but their spirits are so loving and we always feel so welcome where ever we travel.  Money does not bring happiness.  We can choose happiness or misery by our attitudes, not by our possessions .  We are so thankful to be serving here.  We love the labor in the temple and are so happy.  We send our love to all.  May you have a great week and are finding true happiness by the attitude you are embracing is our prayer.  Love Lon and Nancy, Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma