Been home about two months. Mission officially over as we gave our return reports to the ward.

We have been very busy with unpacking, getting Social Security and Medicare back into place and seeing family.  This past Sunday was the 25th of October and we reported to our ward.  It went well.  Some of our family joined us for brunch at our house.  I made a breakfast casserole with fruit on the side.  Yummy.

Daughter in law Tansy Burningham brought over some flowers for us and a banner on the house that said "Welcome Home" .  Thank you Julie, Reed, Dallin and Shane and Jon and Tansy and the Barrus family for coming.  We appreciate the love and support.  We are grateful for the warm welcome we had back into the ward family.  It was great.  A Sister from Tonga made us some Ribbon leis for our homecoming.  It is so lovely.

Thank you to all who have read my blog

Put flowers in an owl vase no less.

This ends the blog for our mission

Missionary Goodbye dinner was held at another one of our favorite restaurants, Hacienda Real.

Our Good bye dinner was held on Saturday the 29th of August at Hacienda Real.  Somehow we didn´t get a group picture but it was wonderful and so glad to meet again with so many of our cherished friend.

Last Day in the office and tying up loose ends. Special friends we leave behind. Until we meet again.

We have met with all our Senior Missionary friends for one last meal.  Was welcomed by the Fillmore´s last night for a meal and a visit and a blog training session with Sister LeAnn Fillmore.  Also trained last Wednesday with Sister Diane Daly.  They will enjoy journalizing their mission with a blog.

Today we have cable to cut off, my cell phone to unlock so I can another service in the USA and just tying up loose ends.

Thank you all for reading my blog.  Thank you to my wonderful friends here in the office and for the Barrera Family for their love and support.  We have had a good mission here in Guatemala and we have enjoyed the weather, fresh fruits and vegetables and the wonderful restaurants that are here in the city.

The work here was so enjoyable.  We trained Public Affairs councils, met with Public Opinion Leaders, traveled all over Central America.  I wrote for Sala de Prensa Mormona Guatemala and connected with the other Central American countries with Public Affairs.  It was a great mission all in all.

We have so enjoyed the temple here and in other parts of Central America.

Guatemala City LDS Temple

Lilia Barrera with her family.  From left to right, Juan Fernanado (Juan Fer), Lilia, Sebastian, Jorge (Georgie) and the Princessa Isabella.  Our friends from the Montufar 

Ward.

Karen Rodas de Barerra and her husband Carlos and son Carlos Andres. We work with Karen in the office and we see her and her family at the Montufar Ward.

The Barrera family has two other sisters, Ingrid and Claudia Barrera and their families who are in the Montufar Ward.  They all speak English. There are many of the ward families who have been so kind to us and we have great memories of them.  Until we meet again.

Hermana Jasmer and myself.

Splendido Restaurant is our favorite

One last time we visited our favorite (but rather pricey) restaurant and were joined by three other missionary couples. A delicious time was had by all.

First couple front of table, Elder and Sister Daly, Second couple, Elder and Sister Lloyd, third couple, Elder and Sister Fillmore and then us at the end of the table.

Gettimg it together this week. Planning to come home on September 1. Training others in the office.

Because there is not another Missionary couple to take our place we are training Karen Rodas and Diana Garcia in Sala de Prensa, Opinion Leader programs and also Public Affairs Training program.

 This is Alberto Marves my neighbor in the office.  He has helped me with numerous translations.

Elder Al with Karen Rodas to the right of Al and Diana Garcia just next to her.  They will both help with the programs and when the new couple comes, whenever that is, they will train them.  I trained them both with the corus program for Sala de Prensa Mormona.

 

We haven't heard of a new couple yet.  We understand that some have been approached but because of health issues, no language skills or computer skills or just no interest there is not a couple called.

 

I can say this after all is said and done, that it has been an experience that has added greater perspective to my life and deeper understanding of our lives here on earth.  What I learned has been added to myself and to my husband Al.  There is no other way to gain these things.  When we return home we will apply what we have learned to continue on with our lives and to our children and grandchildren.

 

Seriously, it wasn't hard.  The Lord provides a way in ways unimaginable.  I am very amazed at the way things have been shown to us that we would have not found ourselves. I know you have seen lots of pictures of places we have been but you have also seen pictures of school children receiving school kits and mothers in hospitals receiving baby kits as they have nothing.  You have seen our trainings in Stakes.  You have seen the amazing Comfort Ship and the fact that the LDS Church has contributed to all these causes.  Public Opinion leaders see this through the efforts of Sala de Prensa Mormona Central America.  I loved writing the articles and publishing them for Sala de Prensa (Newsroom).  My computer skills contributed to this effort and I was able to learn some Spanish.  No I am not fluent but I did get around ok.    Heavenly Father lives and he knows us.  My testimony is that this is true.  In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

 

I loved my mission.  Glad I came.



One last trip with the Senior Missionaries August 21st to August 22nd. Out to the Beach on Monterrico, Guatemala

For our trip we first started out at 6 am, with the following Missionary Couples, Elder and Sister Curtis, Elder and Sister Jasmer, Elder and Sister Done, Elder and Sister Daley and Elder and Sister Brereton.  Our final destination was the Soleil Pacifico Resort which we hoped to see Sea Turtles come up on the beach to lay eggs.  But alas that did not happen but it was fun anyway.  Our first stop for breakfast was in Amatitlan to the Santa Teresita Hotel and Spa.  Very nice location and good breakfast food.

 

Just in case you think these 1 or 2 day trips are funded by the church.....think again.  We pay our own way and when we have a chance to travel it is with permission and we are holding the tab for our travels.

 

 Here we are ready to order our breakfast

 Just a sample of what the many spa pools looked like

 We found this really unusual butterfly on the walkway.

 Auto Safari Chapin

Yum

We got to feed the giraffes from our car.  This is a young one so his tongue was not black.

 Yum

Lions napping after they had their lion share which fortunately was not us.

 We took a ferry ride through the estuary to get to the main highway to go to Monterrico

 The River-estuary

 Got to the other side

 oops, Elder Daly's car battery died as he kept the air-conditioning on for a half hour

 Took a lot to push him off the barge

 gratefully Elder Jasmer had jumper cables that started Elder's Daly car and off we went

 Lunch at Dos Mundos

Setting up for our big crew for lunch at Dos Mundos.

From the bridge at the Hotel.  Beautiful Sunrise

 This adorable little girl was in the hotel restaurant and she is a cutie.  Had to get a picture of her.

 Can't get enough of the beautiful sunrise from the east on the black sand beach at our hotel.

 Elder Al the photographer

 Bright sunlight in the morning

Elder Al waiting for a wave to photograph

 Waves crashing on the beach

 Hotel shot in the morning by the pool

 The pool

 Gorgeous place

The walking bridge

Friends in our office. An official going away lunch on August 20th, 2015

We joined all of our office staff at the Restaurant Donde Joselito.  Lots of Steak and great people. 

We are really going to miss these people

 

 

Mayra our secretary on our floor helped Alma Cruz from the Travel department with the decorations on the table.  My heart was really touched.

Alica took a selfie with our lunch group.  So fun.

 This is the beautiful card made from pictures we took and other and a model of a bus from Guatemala for us to remember.

Many pictures to remember our time here.

The above wording says "Thank you for your Love and Service"