B and J's big adventure: Fair Day

On August 15th it was a holiday in Guatemala. It is called dia de la Feria, which is Fair Day. The temple presidency had asked us to come in early that day because many people would be off work because of the holiday. When we arrived at about 5:40 in the morning there was a long line of people waiting to get into the temple. President Harris, 1st councilor, and his wife were there. The Harris were in a panic because the other temple missionaries had not come yet. So we got ready for the day. The Zamora's, one of the missionary couples came and then President Harris started to let the people in who had been waiting in line. We got one session going at 6:00 a.m. with us officiating. Other workers came and other things started going. It was one of the busiest days for a week day that we have had since being here.
On our session there was a man who was probably in his thirties who had a condition, I would guess like Turrets Syndrome, where his muscle's in his body would involuntarily move, so he was in constant motion. I thought how hard that would be to get a good night sleep or eat or write or other daily things. But, he was the one who was happy and had more enthusiasm and was encouraging others. What a good example he was of not feeling sorry for himself or not doing things because of his condition.
There were six sisters who were going through the temple for the first time. As I was helping those sisters I thought of our granddaughter Stephanie. We were able to go through the Portland temple with her before we came on our mission and before she left for her mission. I also thought of our granddaughter Camille who will be going through the temple for the first time this coming week. We will not be able to be with her. As I thought about them, some very tender feeling filled my heart and it was hard to hold back the tears. It almost brings tears to my eyes as I write. Jed will be going through the temple before we get home from our mission before his mission. I'm sure we will be thinking of him when that time comes as well.

On the lighter side. There have been some funny things that have happened that make us laugh. One of the north American temple workers here, a big man probably six foot four inches, was asked to go to an assignment, so he grabbed a coat, thinking it was his and put it on. In reality he had taken Blair's suit coat and put it on. He has a prayer written in Spanish to read. When he arrived at his assigned place he searched the pockets and realized that he didn't have a prayer. That is when he looked to find out he didn't have his suit coat on. This is the Elder who, when they first arrived, came home and told us that he had been told to ask for the last name which in Spanish is apellido. He doesn't hear very well even with hearing aids and thought they had told him to say, "what is your burrito". One of the sisters was upset this week because we had been told that we should eat only in the designated area in the temple. She was eating where the people who come to the temple could see her eat. It reminded me of the song "No, No, They Can't take That Away from Me". That made me laugh.

Last night, Saturday, we had a pot luck activity here after the temple closed for the night. All three of the temple presidency were here. There were twelve couples and the two single sisters temple missionaries, so twenty six of us. There was plenty of food and some good visiting.

Today we invited the Smiley family. They are with the U.S. Embassy and have been here maybe two weeks. I was showing their oldest daughter some pictures on my camera and burned the corn and Sister Barlow made some jello that didn't set up so we had steak and potatoes with a green salad that Barlows had on hand and we had made some sugar cookies for the two girls to frost and put dinosaur sprinkles on. We totally enjoyed each others company. Here are a couple of pictures of them and us.