11/30/2012

  So today we went back to the grocery store and when we parked Scott saw the security guard.  He wanted to talk to him about the tire incident the other day.  So as it turns out it is not unusual for that kind of thing to happen.  He smiled and said it happens all the time.  Great!  We were parked in front of a cement wall so our "guardian angel"  probably pulled up beside us, opened his door so no one could see him and cut the brake / let the air out of the tire.  When Scott took the tire to be fixed they could not find a thing wrong with it and when he told them what had happened they all told him he had been duped! The security guard said if it happens again call someone else to come and help you then he doesn't get the business.  But when you don't know anyone else to call to come fix your tire or fix the brake line you are more apt to let him do it anyway.  So what can you do?!
  We picked up some turkey burger today - it is really good!  I have never seen it at home.
   The power had been off today for most of the afternoon.  I wonder if they will ever have dependable power in this country.  Everything in the fridge gets warm but to date the freezer has kept things frozen.
    This isn't a normal night for us to go to the temple but we had a meeting out of town on Wednesday so decided to go tonight.  Have never seen so many people at the temple.  They had to divide the group into two sessions. We saw lots of new people working there that we don't usually see.  The Leavitts were over our session though - just love those two.  What a privilege it is to be so close to a temple!
    One think I love about this country is you see Christmas scenes all over the city.  There is no one throwing a fit because someone happens to mention Christ. It makes you realize how much our country has changed.  When good is called evil and evil is called good we are in trouble.  Thank heavens we have the gospel to guide us.

11/29/2012 Institute Choir?

   We left at 9:00 this morning for the Institute to get set up for the Choir class.  Just so happens, as it always does here, that four young women and one guy showed up.  The guy wasn't the one there Tuesday and two of the girls were new.  Tom wasn't feeling well today so he didn't come.  So Scott took over and tried teaching them how to sing.  I thought he did a pretty good job for someone who has never even sang in a church choir!  He feels good about having more to do.  These students are delightful.

These are the Mahons who also come to help with the class - since they are the ones who volunteered us!
   After Institute we drove home, had lunch and drove back to the Casa for our 2:30 class.  They were all there today!  Then at 4:00 we had Elder Hammon's Spanish class and were going to have ours at 5:00 but decided since there were few there that we should plan the refreshments for Monday's Family Home Evening instead.  That was a nice change...  Sister Merino was telling us about being called to be Mission President in Honduros.  It was hilarious! They are the mental health people for not only the entire Carribean Area but also Central America so they spend alot of time on the phone counseling missionaries.
   We came home to no power again.  It must have been off all afternoon because the food in the fridge was warm.
    I have been trying to get this picture for the last couple of weeks because it is so funny.  Here we live just through the block from some kind of barracks for the presidential guards.  They run by every other morning or so to keep in shape.  We soon realized there were two groups:  an older group and a younger group.  Every time the older group runs by they are followed by an ambulance with it's lights flashing - in anticipation of being needed.  I missed most of the men but here is the ambulance:

11/28/2012

Just got home from a hair-raising trip to the outskirts of the city to meet with a music leader and her Bishop.  Those guardian angels must work overtime here!  As we squeeze between two cars with less than and inch to spare on either side I am amazed to come out unscathed.  Scott must have great depth perception because I just know he is going to scrape up the side of the car trying to get through the streets but he doesn't.  We got lost on our way out to the Los Angelos barrio but we still made it there just as the sister and her Bishop arrived.  Thank heavens our GPS worked because we drove through some areas you could not believe they would build a church in - but they did.  The church building once again was the bright spot of the area. 
   I spent the day organizing and printing off more information to give to the ward music people.  Most of it is in the church handbook but they don't see it for some reason.  Scott went to the Casa to pick up his phone that Alexis had been working on. Apparently there is something wrong with the SIM card. Surprising that it isn't smashed in the parking lot as I know that is what Scott would like to do with the phone! Oh how I appreciate having working cell phones at home.

11/27/2012

Interesting day.....  It began this morning when we got to the Institute to figure out the choir class.  The Mahons came but Tom Bourke (?) was late coming.  I want to get a picture of him next time.  He has traveled and lived all over but is originally from Ireland.  There were three girls that came to sing in the choir and when he started working with them it was amazing how within an  hour he had those girls pretty much singing in tune with the piano.  He brought some kind of a flute that he played to show them where the notes were to sing, transposed on the piano as he realized they couldn't sing soprano.  He is such a gifted musician and actually a great teacher too. .Of course he has taught music for well over twenty years  He is what you think of when you hear the "music specialist" term.  Who knows what we are!!!  He was baptized over the weekend and is so animated about the gospel it is heartwarming.  He should do one of those "I'm a Mormon" spots because he can't say enough about how the church has changed his life.  Mitt Romney was the focus of his investigating the church.  It will be great to work with him and learn from him.  The kids came up after class and said they want to learn how to play the piano - some of them have been trying to teach themselves.  So guess that will give us another class to teach which is great.
   On our way home we stopped at the grocery store.  When we started the car and drove down the parking lot hill Scott realized we had a flat tire.  We pulled into a parking place and sure enough - the right front tire was flat as can be!  We had just got out to look at the tire when a beater car pulled up next to us and this "mechanic" looking guy got out and said he had seen us pull out of the parking space and saw the tire was flat and knew we were in trouble. Then he proceeded to take of the tire.  Found a leaking brake fluid drum along with the flat.  The amazing thing was he seemed to have all of the tools and things he needed in his car.  Except he had to go get a new piece for the brake drum.  So we were feeling like the most blessed people in the DR or wondering if the whole thing was a set up. Still don't know but are so grateful we weren't in the middle of traffic on the freeway or city streets when the tire went flat.  We would never have known where to go or how to get to the place he bought the part.  He left his cedula card (Dominican ID card) with Scott so we would know he was legal and trustworthy.  It was just insane that he happened to be right there with everything he needed to fix our car just as we realized the tire was flat.
  Sister Lee and Naomi came for piano lessons.  We left to do two sessions at the temple.  Both sessions were very small with two women and two men (including us!) and the next three men and three women.

11/25/2012

 Was to tired last night to blog so have a tiny bit of catching up to do.  Saturday is pretty much a study and lesson day for us.  Did get a few loads of washing and some cooking done also.  Washing here takes constant attention as the only thing it does automatically is spin around.  Other than that you have to turn on the water to fill the wash tub, pull the clothes apart from the knot they get in  so they will get some what clean, drain the tub, fill it up again to rinse, rinse the clothes by hand, drain the tub, put the clothes in the spinner, set spin timer then when done get them out and find places to hang them to dry.  So you have to be right there! Then you hope it is not so humid that they won't dry.  But other than that I am grateful to not be scrubbing clothes on a rock in the street as we have seen others do. 
   We went out to Hainamosa for lessons to find a ward activity in the room we have lessons in and the tables we normally use filled with homemade crafts.  They certainly were having fun!  We found some tables and went back to the Relief Society room and actually had a good lesson.  Maybe we should teach in the smaller room all of the time.  Elder Esplin was there.  He really thought he would be transferred but wasn't - I personally am glad he is still there.  He's doing an awesome job there.  They have another baptism next week so I will see him again when I play for the baptism.  Jose, one of our music students and the Young Men's president in his ward was the bouncer guarding the door because all of the neighborhood kids come in to play and get refreshments whether they are LDS or not.  They swarm in the courtyard to play basketball, baseball, and just have room to run around.  The naked man was between the two sides of the road - I can't imagine why someone hasn't either turned him into the police or found him some clothes!  He was there yesterday when we passed there too but you would think no one ever noticed he is totally (almost) naked.  He does have some  kind of a thing tied around his waist but no lower than that.  BIZARRE!

  Sunday morning we left to pick up the kids at 8:30.  We keep wondering if we are doing the right thing by taking them without their parents but once we get them in the car we realize they need the affection and attention we give them.  Perhaps they will remember as they grow older something that will make them want to change the way they are living.  Maybe not....When we got there a neighbor/extended family member was ready to come with us but Alta Gracia's kids weren't there.
Oglidia came out with the kids to tell us they hadn't had water for 11 days and they might be getting a little today.  Sure enough, as we came back there was water running down the little channel they have on one side of the street and the kids were throwing it at each other with buckets while others were trying to catch what they could and were washing off the street.  On one side of the street, which is barely wide enough for one car, there was a three foot wide and deep hole where they were trying to fix the pipe.  Needless to say, it was a  pretty harrowing drive for me - not Scott- he loves driving in scary places!

Carlos, Gregory, Maria AltaGracia, Alta Gracia Maria, Eliana, Cati

   On the way they were working on this building  - Scott says it was a Latin American cement pump.

On the ground level they mixed the cement by hand then with a shovel they threw it up to the next level of the scaffolding (?), then those men would do the same thing up to the next level, then those on top would take their shovels and throw if over to where the man on top was standing and he would put it inside to make the floor for another level.  And we think it is hard work when we have cement poured and we just have to help smooth it out!
 We dropped the kids off at home and drove back to our apartment to get some lunch and the books and table we usually put in the back seat but have to leave at home so the kids will have somewhere to sit.  Grabbed them and left for San Crystolbol.  It is such a pretty drive there.

Both sides of the road are covered by trees and climbing vines.  They even have mountains up here!!

This was the  Canastica Ward's first day with the keyboards and you would have thought someone had given them a million dollars.  They were grinning from ear to ear! It was such fun to see their excitement.  This is a big class though, we need to round up three or four more tecladas. (Notice all of the men)



It seemed that we barely got everything set up and it was time to take them all down and head out to Oriental.  They made our high counselor, who had been so good to help us, a bishop so we're on our own.  We did decide to have a recital to give the students something to work for so we'll see how that goes..... Sarah,one of my favorite students who speaks English, was very sick with the flu today.  She came anyway which probably wasn't the best choice.  I volunteered my husband to take her home but her parents were both at the church.  She wanted to stay where her mother was because "she just felt better being where she was".  I thought that was sweet coming from an 18 year old or any age for that matter.

11/23/2012

  Black Friday was peaceful in our apartment!  I spent the day studying and working on the music program. It has been such a cool day here - probably in the low eighties but it feels cool compared to what it usually is. We haven't even used the air conditioner.
  They posted the lottery winners across the street in the tienda which has brought about a flurry of activity with people checking their numbers.  Still no dominos 24/7!  Got to love that...
   We are coming up on the nine month mark.  That is half of our mission and we still have so much to do!  What a learning opportunity this has been. 

11/22/2012 Thanksgiving

  I must be one of the most blessed women on earth! To have an amazing husband that is such a great example to me and takes such good care of me over in this foreign land, to have been able to be a mother on this earth to ten terrific kids with ten great son and daughter in laws, to have twenty nine super grandchildren - and to know if we didn't have the gospel in our lives, none of these things would be lasting.  To have wonderful friends that are such great examples to me of how I should live my life is such a blessing.  We had six of our best senior missionary friends to dinner today for Thanksgiving.  How blessed we have been on this mission to live and work among such good people.

Elder Leavitt and Elder Despain

Despains, Yturraldies and Sister Leavitt

Sister Leavitt and Sister Despain

Elder Yturralde lecturing Scott

Sister Despain and Sister Yturraldie

The Leavitts, the Yturraldies, and the Despains are wonderful friends!  We all pledged not to long for home but to enjoy the day - and we did...  And once again I realize that if it weren't for the gospel we would never have gotten to know these people.   Elder Yturralde and Scott are so funny.  They constantly give each other a bad time-in the picture above Elder Yturralde was lecturing Scott on the art of doing dishes!  The Leavitts and the Despains are temple missionaries so they live in the Casa.  Of course the Yturraldes keep us company in this never dull apartment complex. 
   I am so grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of LatterDay Saints.  It is the tie that can bind us all together eternally if we choose to live it's principles.
   
  

11/21/2012

The dominican "delivery van"

This is on one of the busiest highways in the city.  These people have amazing balance or maybe it is just that we don't see them when they fall off the truck with the cabinets!

I have talked alot about the shoes here.  Thought one day I would just take a camera to a public place and snap pictures of people shoes but when I was in the mall with Scott we passed a shoe store so decided to take some pictures there instead.     They wear these 6" heels with jeans or other skin tight pants as well as with skirts, shorts, etc.  This is just a few pair but you get some idea.  I did read in the paper today of a toe surgery you could have that would enable you to wear these shoes with less discomfort.  

This is Scott's favorite street vendor.  The only one we see in costume!

Spent this morning getting together packets of information for two of the stake presidents from Puerto Rico that are here for the week with some of their people to attend the temple.  With my  lack of computer skills it took a long time to get them together and printed off so we could give them to the presidents when we met with them this afternoon.  When we got to the meeting a young man was playing the piano - amazingly well!  He said that he had taught himself to play through UTUBE. The Teschs from Huntsville are here serving a mission ( Garth taught Seminary in Morgan) met with us also.  Sister Tesch is doing an awesome job with the music in Puerto Rico. It was fun to visit with them!

      We are having three couples for Thanksgiving  dinner tomorrow.  I am so grateful to have choice friends to celebrate one of my favorite holidays with.  It fills a little of that emptiness of missing my family.                                                                                                                       

11/20/2012

   A busy Tuesday night at the temple.  We went to the 5:00  session thinking we could do two sessions and it was so busy we left and went outside to wait for the 6:00 session.  It was actually a fairly cool night with a little breeze blowing - it  was nice.  Pres. Rodrigues from the West Mission was there with his elders who are leaving tomorrow.  The Browns were also there.  Elder Mejia was there (he helped teach Tati and some other friends of Scott's)  and he told us that his home ward is Tres Brasos.  That is where we go each Sunday to take William's family so we were all excited.
So many of the missionaries here are from other sections of the Caribbean area.  They haven't had many North American missionaries here since we have been here.  We may see more with the change in numbers of missionaries.
    The Despains dropped by today after walking down to Costilla Adan.  They invited us to go have dinner there with them for Thanksgiving but we had just bought a turkey and stuff for dinner here so they are going to come here.  I am missing home and my family.  Since being here I have wondered how those people in the spirit world survive without being able to call home and talk to the people they love so much.  I guess they have a much broader perspective because I am sure that love is still in their hearts.
     One thing I know to be true is:  Without the gospel we have nothing. I am so grateful in this time of  darkness surrounding us we have a beacon of light.

11/19/2012

   The day began with something I really dislike - contention.  I had just finished exercising and couldn't find Scott anywhere.  I figured he was just visiting some of his friends.  Well, that wasn't quite true.  Soyla had called to have him come down and talk to her about the gate.  I think she has herself in hot water and thinks we can bail her out.  She insisted we pay for the entire gate repair or she would call a lawyer.  Scott told her to go ahead because he had a lawyer.  Who that is I don't know!! So that left both of us a bit upset.  Then Joel called and said he would come look at the electricity problem in the kitchen and check on the gate problem.  When he came he was so down looking and come to  find out someone had broken into his home and taken all of his valuable stuff.
He went down with Scott to check out the gate situation and said the whole thing was ridiculous and Scott shouldn't pay a dime to her.  He, of course, does not trust her either.  This could drive me crazy if I let myself think about it.  Joel called her and told her she was crazy and it wasn't any damage that Scott had done that had ruined her gate.  I doubt it made any difference but we will see.  Sometimes I think they should pay us to live here! Joel said he would send an electrician over to work on our kitchen problem at 8:30 tonight.  Of course you know what that means - some time in the future.
  We went to both of the Spanish classes - now we are learning about subjunctive conjugations. 
Brother and Sister Tesch from Huntsville are in Puerto Rico serving a mission.  Brother Tesch taught at least two of our kids in seminary.  Sister Tesch is doing an awesome job of helping with the music in Puerto Rico.  We will be meeting with them sometime this week as they are staying here for a week to do temple work.  It looks like so much fun when these stakes come from far away and stay together at the Casa for a week. 
    We had FHE in the Mental Health Center - the Marinos.  The lesson was out of the Book of Mormon on how the prophets, as great as they were, still felt despair and depression.  A very interesting lesson from a mental health perspective. 
    Then believe it or not, on our way home Joel called and said an electrician would be at our house in half an hour.  AND HE WAS.....We now have power in the kitchen and the sun room!  We are hoping to have the elevator fixed next.......

11/18/2012

Time is marching on!  It has been a crazy day with nothing turning out the way it was supposed to  - or maybe it just not as we had planned it.  We left early to pick up William's family for church and found when we got there that none of them were going.  William had not sold all of his goods and they had not had water or power for the week and so Ogaladia (we now think that is how she spells her name) had to stay home and get washing done for the week.  We had tried to call before we left but couldn't get anyone to answer.  So then we headed back to the city to go to our ward.  We haven't been there for a long time.  It was so good the hear a lesson in English.  They had the primary program - they have two primaries  - one Spanish speaking and the other one English.  There are about equal amount of kids in both.  In the English speaking group they had a little just barely 3 year old who knew and acted out every song.  It was hilarious!  She absolutely stole the show.  The program was wonderful and I am so grateful we got to be there for the Primary Program.
   Our India neighbor who went to our ward last week with the mission leader was going again today with the Lees. She only speaks English so I wondered if we could get someone to translate for her.  The missionaries took care of her in Sacrament meeting.  Her kids had been to Primary last week and sang in the program today.  She is very outgoing and wasn't shy about answering Relief Society questions and signed up for some Christmas craft.  She says she is going crazy here because she worked while in India.  She has no car and does not know Spanish so that is very isolating.  The kids are still home and don't start school here until January so at least she has some company.  I wonder if she and our Nepal neighbor could be friends.  Both of their husbands work for the United Nations. 
  We finally got home after 7:00 so had been gone for 11 hours.  Our classes were both short a few people today but that gave us a chance to do more one on one teaching

11/17/2012 Elder Esplin - baptisms

  A normal hot, muggy day here!  Studied this morning and prepared for our lesson and to play for Elder Esplin's converts baptism.  It has been so interesting in the six months we have known Elder Esplin to see how much he has grown. He is such a good missionary, everyone loves him.  He is expecting to be moved this transfer so we will miss seeing him.  We were talking about Nanette's family and I told him I had talked to her this morning and she told me Bobby is going to have another baby.  He was so funny.  "You mean no one told me.  I have to find out from someone in the mission field".  He obviously cares alot about them.  He even remembered Jake from the days way back that he went with the Browns to Cedar City.  Playing for the baptism was such an experience - as usual.  You keep wondering if you are missing half of the notes or they are not singing the right notes!  By the end of four verses we were pretty much in sync though.  The Young Women sang a hymn - I have no idea what it was.  They didn't have an accompaniment of any kind and I didn't recognize the hymn as anything I had heard before.  That doesn't mean it wasn't a familiar hymn though.  You would just have to experience the music here to get a good feel for what goes on....

Elder Esplin and Anderson, one of our students who is in the ward Elder Esplin has been working with.  The young men in that ward really look up to Elder E.  I hope he realizes that.  Anderson is actually our best student in the Hainamosa music class. 

 We usually stop on our way to class at one of the fruit stands to buy fresh pineapple and bananas. 
This is Scott trying to get two pineapples for the price of one - didn't work but he did get them cheaper than the man wanted to sell them!

11/16/2012

 Two exciting things have happened today:
1.  I heard Scott in the kitchen talking fairly loudly in Spanish while I was in the office/bedroom studying.  It went on for quite sometime and I was trying to figure out who it was because the workers never stay that long.  I thought it must be Soyla coming to tell us we were in trouble for something.  Frank, our favorite night security guard is gone.  Don't know what happened to him.  We are starting to wonder if as soon as Soyla realizes some one has formed a friendship with us, she fires them.  But then Scott opened the door and asked if I wanted to come out and talk to William!  What a happy surprise.  We have surely missed his big happy smile.  He gave me a big hug and told me his new business was going well and he would not have to work on Sunday so he would go to church with us.  He seemed so happy!  It was great to see him again. 
2.  And this is really exciting - I was getting ready for bed when I realized there was no click, click, clicking of dominoes across the street.  How wonderful is that?! Don't remember the last time I went to bed without the clicking of dominoes.
 

11/15/2012

The highlight of the day was when the missionaries said they would sing the closing song if Scott would play for them. Even though he plays well he hasn't played for anyone to sing.  He started then got lost and stood up and said he couldn't do it.  We kept telling him he could do it and finally he decided to try again.  He did a good job and the kids sang beautifully.  It was very touching actually.  These three have brought much joy into our lives here.  The two boys really could go on by themselves but when Scott mentioned that to them they refused.  Katy is far behind them but she is learning.  Today she wanted to know all about Scott and I.  Where we met, etc. etc.  When Scott told them he was a rancher they immediately wanted to visit the ranch and ride the horses.  Won't they be disappointed!  Four wheelers are much easier to ride though.
   We had arranged with William to pick up his family and take them out for dinner tonight.  His new business is going very slowly.  The drive out there was miserable with the traffic but we finally got there and called as we turned to park by the school in front of where they live.  He was still at work (selling fruit and vegetables) and wanted us to come another night.  We should have called just before we left!  So we trekked back across the city to get back home.
    Each time we drive at night we pass many of the street vendors pushing their carts home for the night - many on foot, many with bicycles, and some with horses.  They are right in the traffic with the cars and have no lights so you can't see them.  How weary they must be after walking all day selling their goods then walking miles and miles to get home for the night. There isn't much for them to go home to. We have been so blessed in our travels because hitting someone in the streets has got to be common here the way they walk out into the road with the traffic.
   

11/14/2012

   Tuesday is study day - along with any other time we are at home!  We had just had lunch and got ready to run to the store when the intercom phone rang.  It was Sister Lee and her granddaughter who were coming here in five minutes for keyboard lessons.  Apparently Scott had talked to Sister Lee but had forgotten to tell me and forgotten they were coming on Tuesday.  We had planned on doing two sessions at the temple after we shopped so that really threw us off!  It worked out really well though because Sister Lee wanted to have lessons herself but could really teach herself with this course the Church has - but like most of us - didn't find time to do that.  But for her granddaughter she would take the time to bring her each week.  So the good part is she gets to learn along with Naomi.  One interesting thing about the Dominicans is if they make a mistake anywhere in the piece they are playing, they start over again from the beginning.  There is NO concept of starting on the measure you made the mistake on.
   We did get to the temple for the two sessions.  The Leavitts came and did the last session with us.  I just love them!  As we walked through the halls to the dressing room where there are many pictures of Christ, I felt a renewed peace about what is happening in our country.  Not because it is or will be good but rather because there is purpose in all things. Romneys did amazing missionary work and were an example of the faithful LatterDay Saints we should all be.  We are beginning a choir at the Institute with a 60 year old man who is being baptized next week because he saw the Romneys on a news program, then watched the debates and decided he wanted to know more about the church.  How many more people have been touched by the Romneys?  Many I am sure!
  Back to the temple sessions - I had such a headache by the time we were through I don't know if it was trying to listen to and interpret Spanish for three hours or if it was something else.
   So today we did make it to the store.  Passed a guy coming down the stairs and he said they were going to fix the elevator tomorrow.   I will believe it when I see it!  Sure would be nice though.  Still have no power in the kitchen or the sunroom. Can't imagine what has happened to Joel but he has promised to come three or four different times and he never shows up.  Darn - we thought he was going to be different!  Haven't heard any more from Soyla about the gate but I am sure we will.  She collects the homeowners fees and is supposed to use them to maintain the buildings but for some unknown reason she never has money to fix things. No one has ever seen her books or financial records so ....... 
   At the temple tonight there were just three people in the session  Scott and I and one other man.  I have never been the only woman in a session before.  Plus the Despains were working that session so it was special.  Sister Depain is one of those women you meet and instantly feel you have known before.  She is wonderful!
   Here is a picture of the family downstairs that are here from India and she wanted to find an English speaking church that believed in Christ.  We sent here with the ward mission leader last week and she wants to go again this week.  The problem is Brother Rappley can't go this week and we have other commitments so we will have to get someone to interpret for her. 

                                             Dr. Reetha Dinesh - Aron and Tabitha

11/12/2012

   Since weekends are almost our busiest times, I spent much of today doing laundry and cooking.  What amazes me is that no matter what I do I cannot get clothes clean in our washer.  I've tried Clorox, vinegar, color saving bleach, a special bar of soap they use here.  You just as well wash  the clothes by hand because if you want them clean you have to scrub them until they are spotless - then you put them in the washer and they still come out looking like they had never been washed.  We go to pick up William's kids and their laundry is laid out on top of the tin roof of their house.  It can't be that clean but they always look brilliantly clean.  I tried pulling the curtains back and hanging Scott's shirts in the sunshine to see if that would help - it did seem to help a little.  I know much of the problem is the way the washer works.  The clothes are always wound up in a ball inside it. 
   Then this afternoon we had our two Spanish classes and FHE with the Roberts.  The Lowes are back from Canada for a month.  No one will be here to replace them so they are spending a month here, a month at home, a month here, etc until March. 

   I'm including some pictures I took the other day.  Here you always see young and old men that have only one leg.  The people here say it is because the government will pay for it if a wounded leg is removed but not if it is fixed.  Now that is sad! Here they wear hats with material that hangs down around the sides and back to protect them from the sun.  They are usually begging or trying to sell something in the road to make enough money to live.  They also seem to have many people born with deformities.

This depicts the three methods of travel here:  the car, the motorcycle and the horse drawn wagon - don't have the bikes though.

Believe it or not, this is a functioning taxi!  We just pulled up along side of him in our travels.  A wing and a prayer must be this guy's motto. ( The rest of the car looked a little better)  

11/11/2912

   Found out yesterday that there was a woman and her two children from India that live a floor down from us that wanted to find a church to attend that has English in because she has always attended a church and wants her kids to grow up with a fear of God.  She says the kids will be fine if they are taught to fear God.  Her husband works for the United Nations and is stationed in Haiti so comes to visit on the weekends.  Anyway we have William and Alta Gracia's children that we pick up on Sunday mornings so we arranged for Brother Rappley, who is the ward mission leader and the director of all of the Institute programs in the area, to pick her and her 9 and 11 year old kids.  Her daughter, 9 years old, sang me a song about the bubblies you get from having Christ in your heart - it was wonderful!  I don't know what church they have been attending.  All three of them sing.  So they went to the ward we live in to church.  She sent us a "thank you" email for  arranging a ride for her to go to church.  She told Rappley that she wanted to go back next week.  They only speak English and Brother Rappley is a great interpreter.
     We got to Williams house to pick up whoever was going to Church.  We got there around 8:40.
Williams two girls came out.  Scott went back to check on Gregory and Olgivia to find Gregory had gone down to get Alta Gracia's kids and Olgivia peeked out around the door curtain and had just gotten out of the shower but wanted to come.  I was grateful to have the girls in the car with me - I actually felt safer!..After 10 minutes she came out, I forget how tiny she is, and Gregory had come back but the twins of Alta Gracia's were going with us and were still on their way up the road.  By the time we got everyone in the car it was 9:40.  So much for being on time! Never a dull or sure of anything moment around here.
    As we drove in the parking lot Wilton was guarding the gate.  When Scott asked if he wanted to come warm up his food he said he didn't have any so Scott invited him up to eat with us.  Problem being we only had twenty minutes to eat, load the car, and get back on the road for two lessons. He actually did enjoy the hamburger casserole - they usually don't like our food.  Maybe it's the hunger factor!
  One sweet thing happened today.  We got back in the car from the Tres Brasos meetings and there was a phone call Scott has missed from William.  When Scott called him back he said he had just called to tell Scott that he loved him.  He is busy trying to set up a fruit and vegetable stand along one of the main streets here.
    We have been so blessed in our travels.  During our San Cristobol lesson as I sat and watched Scott explain how to lead 4/4 time I realized that those people probably think he really knows what he is talking about and has had alot of experience.  Not so!!  He plays so well now that he really can share his learning to play experiences.  However he has always been a gifted learner and not many will pick up playing as quickly as he has or will practice the many hours he has practiced. 
    Got in the car and headed back across the city to Oriental for another lesson.  Many of the kids in this class have done very well.  Most of them are playing prelude, postlude, special numbers and accompanying the hymns for Sacrament meeting.  Sometimes only with one hand but they do it!
   Home at last!  Another trip up the stairs with our music "stuff".  I wish they would get that elevator fixed.  Solya is probably trying to punish us!  Nothing is impossible here.....
    

11/10/2012

   Missed last night and have some pictures - on  my camera in the car- down the stairs with no elevator so will put them on later.  We did have dinner last night with the Dunfords, the Ruckers and the Buttons at the Dunford's new apartment.  It was a relaxing and much needed time for us all to decide we would live through Obama being president for another four years. 
   Yesterday was our annual bull sale so it was a bit hard being here but the kids were great to keep us up on what was going on.  With the nasty weather and the summer drought I thought it would be a very bad year.  But we were very blessed to have super sons and son-in-laws, not to mention the daughters and daughter-in-laws that did a great with the dinner and what ever else needed to be done.  It turned out to be one of our most successful sales.  What  wonderful blessings have been ours since we decided to come on a mission.
   Today we worked on the things we needed for our lesson in Hainamosa.  These students never have anyplace to practice and can't seem to get to the church during the week when the building is open.  Some are doing very well with just lesson time to practice - but you have to wonder how much better they would be if they could/would practice. I am very grateful for a mother that made me take lessons and practice!  I know she must be smiling now.
    At Hainamosa we had three people there at starting time.  Elder Esplin came in  to say hi.  He and his companion had two baptisms - one this week and one next week.  Since we had no students I asked him if he wanted me to play for them at the baptism.  When I got to the room they had brought in this keyboard that they haven't had the cord for and has not been played for years.  It was quite an experience!  Between that and wondering if I was playing the wrong notes half of the time it was a bit nerve wracking.  Finally realized it wasn't me, they just weren't singing on key because they usually don't sing with an accompaniment and don't know how to sing the notes.  I volunteered to play for him again next week but I am taking my own teclada (keyboard).
   Soyla fired another employee here.  The night guard - Tony.  We can't figure her out.  Just waiting for her to find some way to kick us out.

11/8/2012

   It is amazing to me how the sadness of the election, the choices of our people, just keep hitting you in the soul.  It is almost like the soul knows something on a deeper level than you know.  I've found myself on the brink of tears many times and haven't even been thinking about the election so I know there is something deeper that recognizes what is going on and what we as a country have lost.
   We had our music lesson today with Alwin and Jose.  Alwin was my responsibility.  He was to have mastered four hymns in the Simplified Hymns so I could direct.  It is much more difficult to try to watch and keep with the music director than it is just to play.  And sure enough - he could play them very well until Jose started to lead for him - then all went downhill fast!  These are such great young men.  Had a good talk with Jose#2 who is finishing his bachelor's degree in psychology and was presented a scholarship to continue his education.  He is tired of school though and would like to work for awhile before he works on his masters. Katty still wasn't there - it's been three weeks and it is so hard for her to learn.  These kids have so much going on it is very hard for them to find time to practice.
   Went to Wendy's for a salad for supper. My salad was great but Scott didn't like his hamburger.  Not like the Wendy's at home he says.....
    The bull sale is tomorrow.  Scott has turned into such a worrier about everyone and everything but seems to be doing ok with the kids doing the sale.  We pray it goes well and no one gets hurt!  The women on the ranch are amazing - all willing to help make food for the lunch before the sale.  And have been helping in other ways too.  I can't think of the bull sale without thinking of Sheri and how much help and fun it was to have her there with us every year.  She'd better be darn busy where she is!  I know without a doubt that she is busy taking care of everyone and everything - just like she did here.
  

11/7/2012

What a sad day for America!  Scott thinks despair defines his feelings about the election and our country. I think it serves as a wake up call for all of us to get our homes and our lives in order because we are going to have to have unequaled strength to endure these last days.  We can be so proud of having a candidate with the integrity that Mitt Romney has but  integrity just doesn't seem to be that important any more. That is so very sad.  Scott and I moped around most of the day then decided we had better go to the temple where we could feel some peace and hope.  We did two sessions and on the way home I asked Scott if he felt better.  "No, not really." was his answer.
I guess what I feel is determination to do and be better.  The temple film has a stark reality.  Satan may think he has won a big one but little does he know that it is all part of God's plan anyway and he will not win in the end. Now is the time for us to be strong not weak!  
   Tonight in one of our sessions there were four women and one man (Scott)  One of the women was older and couldn't seem to keep part of her temple clothes on.  There was one woman between her and me and the woman was trying to help her.  When she finally realized it was to no avail she giggled out of frustration.  Then she couldn't stop.  She was shaking in her chair trying not to laugh and you know I am such a follower - I can never resist laughing with someone who is laughing, or crying with some one who is crying.   The temple matron had given up trying to help. I turned the other way and tried to focus on something besides the shaking chair next to me.  It worked but took about all of the focus power I had!!  I felt sorry for the giggling woman because she was so embarrassed but just couldn't stop.  Every once in awhile a little squeak would come out of her trying to suppress any noise.
  It is wonderful to be in the temple with our friends.  Most of them work a shift or two at the temple or are full time temple workers. 
 Nothing new here - thank heavens.  Still no power in the kitchen, and no elevator.  We are just waiting for Soyla's next move.

11/6/2012

  I'm starting early on my blog today because I am so uptight!  I keep telling myself that the Lord is in charge and whatever happens in our country will be what He wants for whatever reason.  That helps me alot!  One of the senior missionaries sent us a voting story that just made it more clear what we have to lose in our country.
   Anyway the day hasn't been much better on other fronts as well.  We haven't been able to get ahold of the guy who is in charge of fixing things in the apartment so we still have extension cords going from our bedroom to the kitchen to keep the fridge going which you have to unplug every time you want to use the stove or the microwave or the toaster or the mixer . . . .We are just blessed to have electricity somewhere.  Then the Orange Co. called - the internet service we cancelled five months ago - and told us that our account is still active and we owe them for five months of service.  You have to have a special box to get the service which we took back to them when we cancelled the service.  They said the box was no good to them so we brought it back but haven't used it.  Then Wilton came up from downstairs - we are missing William - and said that Soyla (the manager of the building) wanted Scott to come talk to her about the gate he had barely backed into last week.  She had a repair man there and he had this huge bill that she thinks Scott should pay.  He knocked the gate a little to the right in the track.  The track itself is all rusted out because of the rain.  He said he would pay half but that is all.  This is after he paid Soyla what the apartment owners have not paid for six month in back dues to  so we could have gas.  So he came up 8 flights of stairs because we have no working elevator and found tools, went back down and fixed the gate so it will close.  Soyla was standing right there and didn't say anything.  Wonder if she will kick us out?    Are we supposed to move out of this apartment?  I guess if we come back from the temple and find all of our things in the parking lot we will know it is time to move on...
   Well we are back - our bags weren't in the parking lot so we still have somewhere to sleep tonight!
 

11/5/2012

Today was a study day until afternoon when we had Spanish class.  It is a much more relaxed class for me since I usually know what Scott is going to teach.  And the saving grace for me today was I actually understood most of the Spanish in our FHE at the Bairs.  There were two native Spanish speaking couples that I could understand.  Halalooyuh!
    It is still damp here - always.  You hang clothes to dry and for two days they feel like they are still damp.  Even dry clothes feel damp. I baked cookies and some of them were not as done as they should have been but I thought if I left them out on the table they would firm up.  What a joke! Not only did they not firm up, the tops of all of the cookies were damp to the touch.  So different from at home.  Just  have to freeze them I guess.
    The Schmidts from Layton are here working as office people in the West Mission.  When I talked to Hannah the other day she knew them and said to ask them if they knew Doug Sill.  So today the opportunity arose when they came to class.  Sure enough - he even remembered having Hannah in school when he was a principal.  Both he and his wife were excited to hear Hannah is married to our son and they have a new baby.  Not nearly as excited as we are!!
   

11/4/2012 Sunday again!

  Have you ever been in the middle of hundreds of people and felt all alone?  That's how it is for me by the end of Sunday.  Everyone knows what is going on but you - it is such a lonely feeling.  This experience gives me much empathy for those who feel this way!  I am doing much better at communicating but still don't understand alot of the local speakers.
   In our many travels today I was reminded of the women here who, when it is raining, wear shower caps and grocery bags over their hair.  It is not unusual to see them in the store or on the street.  Those and the huge four inch rollers they wear to straighten their hair!
   We went to pick up the kids for church today and William came with two of his kids.  Scott was so happy to have him go with us.  I don't know what he will do for a job but we are praying for him.  So I went to Relief Society.  During the church meetings people and kids leave and go to get a drink of water.  They come back carrying a glass full of water which the kids are usually spilling - but no worries because all of the floors are tile.  They don't have drinking fountains.  They have 5 gallons water containers that they put on a stand that the bottles fit in and have a spigot of some kind that allows the water to come out. Plastic cups are stacked on top that's how they get drinks during church. This is a big ward with many little children who are allowed to run around during Sacrament meeting which makes it difficult to focus on the speaker. (For ADD people like me!) We dropped William and kids off and came back home to grab some lunch and all of the things we needed for two lessons.
   The directing lessons in San Cristolbal are always fun because it is mostly adults and they try hard to learn.  We were late leaving and so got to Oriental a little late but there were only three students there.  It must have rained very hard there because we drove a mile through water deep enough to make the car stall.  Thank heavens for tender mercies - we made it through!  I expected the water to start seeping in through the car doors.  We created these huge waves and everyone standing in their doorways obviously thought we were crazy as they shook heads at us in disbelief.  I certainly thought so too!   When we pulled up to the church one of the men that had just gotten out of his vehicle saw the front of our car and started to laugh and point.  Lo and behold, when I got to the front of the car Scott was pulling grocery bags of garbage from the grill of the car.  They must have been somewhere in the water because we didn't see them while going through the water.  (Of course I had my eyes closed most of the time waiting for the engine to die). Thought most of the kids would not be at the lessons but they showed up eventually!
   I have a few pictures of hurricane related things.  The paint on the walls and the rust on the fan -
since the walls are cement with many coats of paint the water runs from the window down the wall and leaves big bubbles in the pain.  Anything that can rust, will.  The metal chairs in the sunroom are all rusted as is our fan, the salt is coagulated in the salt shaker so you have to take off the lid and clean off the layer of salt covering the holes, and the clothes in the closet all smell like mildew - actually found some mildew on four of Scott's slacks. So much for the pictures - when I tried to download them it said there were over 900 pictures to download.  That's every picture I have taken for the last year and all but seven have already been downloaded!  So will have to have Sister Yturralde help me figure out how to change that.

11/2/2012

    The day began with Danny knocking on our door to tell us they were turning off the gas again because they had only been paid by the apartment owner for two months and still owed for four.  The manager of the apartments, Soyla, was determined to turn it off.  Scott convinced Danny that they were just punishing us, not the apartment owner by shutting it off.  As we left to go shopping William and Danny were in the parking lot talking to her.  We didn't stop because Danny was standing behind her and kept wagging his finger "no,no,no"  so Scott figured we would only cause more of a problem.
So we didn't really know if we could cook dinner or not.  So came home from Price Smart with a pizza big enough to eat for a couple of days!  We did pass all of the Christmas decorations on the street for sale:

      I was studying Spanish and Scott was practicing on the keyboard when someone knocked loudly on our bedroom door.  Scott leaves the family room door open because the iron gate is closed and he likes the breeze.  We have never had anyone come in and knock on the bedroom door - our office with air conditioning.  Scott went out  then came right back in with William.  William had just been fired and was almost in shock. Soyla, who has been known to do some dastardly things, fired him because there were two apartments for rent here.  She had some kind of a deal with the owner of one that she got some money each month if she got the place rented for him.  Well William did not know that and showed both apartments.  The renter took the apartment that was not the one she would get paid for and she was mad.  Scott and I both feel just terrible.  Scott took William over to see the Lee's
because they are apartment owners here and they said Soyla had the authority to do whatever she wanted.  How sad!!  William just sat and cried and both Scott and I wanted to cry for him.  I can't even imagine this place without William and his great big smile.  We have really grown to love him.  Maybe this is the Lord's way of helping him find a job that would allow him to go to church on Sunday with his kids.  It just all too sad to think about.
     The Eickbushes called to see what we were doing - they wanted to go out for dinner.  I knew how upset Scott felt and I wasn't much better so we would just mope around the rest of the night if we stayed here.  We went to this place called Sqinas or something like that.  We had heard they had good food there but had never been. We ordered different varieties of hamburgers.  They were all very good!  Then went to a little ice cream shop next door that my granddaughter Gracie would love because it was all done in bright orange and white.  I guess there's nothing like good food to take your mind off problems , unless it is good company.  I will never forget the day that Sheri died and I had been crying all day so looked like witch hazel(whoever that is).  They just stopped in to say "hi",  It truly was a tender mercy for both Scott and I.  Not them I'm sure!