This week has been a big week for prospective missionaries in all of El Salvador. A group called "Sonrises de El Salvador" are in town. Once every three years, this group comes to El Salvador to help the prospective missionaries get ready for their missions. These are dentists, doctors, nurses and technicians who pay their own way and bring their own supplies. The dentist chairs and other big equipment are stored in Honduras and are delivered to whatever country has its turn that year. Each ward calls "parents" for one young person between the ages of 16 1/2 to 25 who are interested in serving a mission. These "parents" help the youth fill out mission papers, visa papers and passport papers. They make sure they are at the church for their appointments with the dentists and doctors.
The Stake center in Illopongo is set up as the headquarters this year. These dentists do everything from cleaning teeth to implants and bridges. We were shown a film of their last visit in 2010 and were amazed at the things that they accomplished in just 5 days. This year they will pass their mark of treating over 1,000 youth. (Just heard that they treated 1077). The oral surgeon performed more than 300 procedures. There are about 130 people who have given up their time to share their talents and expertise this year. They are doing a great work here for people who probably haven't ever seen a dentist or doctor in their young lives. Pictures of the "clinic" in the stake center in Illopongo. As you can see, there were no chairs that would rise up to fit all the tall dentists, but Shayla, you could work real easily here. It really was back breaking work for a lot of them.
On Thursday 103 of them came to the temple. They scheduled 43 for the 7:00 AM session, 32 for the 8:30 session and 28 in the baptistry. All the missionaries had to be there as everything was in English for them. It was a wonderful morning. It was the first time we had heard the ordinances all in English for almost two years. Wow. The spirit in the temple was so sweet as our El Salvadorian friends worked so hard to speak English and meet the needs of these North Americans. As the group left, they literally gave us the "shirts" off their backs as they donated their temple clothes to be given to Bishops for people who can't afford to buy them. As they put the clothes in a basket, the women all apologized for not having them cleaned and pressed. We missionaries spent from 11 to 2 washing and preparing these. We then returned to the temple for the PM shift as they continue to be so short of workers that some evenings, it is only the missionaries who are left in the temple to close. It was a real long day but one of the best days we will never forget.
Sister Clark continues to have health problems. We are all praying that she will soon be feeling better as the Walls only have two weeks left and we really need her help in the evenings.
Wish I could tell you about all the experiences that this group of dentists had, but this letter is getting way too long already. We send our love to all. We are so thankful for people who are willing to share all they have to help our dear friends here in El Salvador. We love these sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father. Love Lon and Nancy, Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma
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