Today is our Year anniversary!!

Hi Kids and Grandkids!  Today, the 24th of septiembre, is the anniversary of our arrival in the Dominican Republic (la Republica Dominicana).

When we left the MTC in Provo on Friday the 22nd, they suggested we get 4 more shots.  We went to the Davis County Health Department to get a Chicken pox, shingles, pneumonia, and flu shot.  Dad did fine, but I was laid flat!  The night of the 23rd Dad said, can you get on a plane in the morning?  So we left for the airport at 5 am the next day.  We arrived in the DR at 10:30, got out of customs and to temple housing about midnight.

     We have been on an adventure ever since!  The best part?  The missionary spirit!  The worst part besides the hot and sweaty and dirty water and bugs is leaving you all!!

Last night at Family Home Evening in the MTC/Temple Housing, Elder Wilford Anderson, President of the Carribean Area (29 countries with 5 plus languages--English, French, Creole, Spanish, and Dutch.)  He just answered questions.  How do the Temple President and Area President work together, who is over who?  The Temple President is under the First Presidency.  The Area Presidency are Seventies, an extension of the Quorum of the 12.

What is happening in Cuba?  He said there are 3 small branches there.  Someone in Venezuela brought a Liahona to Cuba.  They read it and began to start a church from what they found in the church magazine in the capital city of Havana.  They contacted the church.  Robert Whetton a mission president was sent there, he found people paying tithing, passing the sacrament, and singing in a  ward choir etc.  The land was dedicated for the preaching of the Gospel in February of 2012 by David A. Bednar.  He said the Church just slowly steadily moves on.  It will fill the earth.  (He said not to post it on facebook.)

     They asked about Haiti. There are 7 chapels in Haiti.  They were built with steel rebar and withstood the earthquake.  People flocked to the chapels.  He said Haiti is the fastest growing country in convert baptisms and the highest in retension!!--or keeping it's members active.  Anyway, we are old, slow, but smiling and enjoying (disfrutamos) ourselves! 

     Today 6 handsome elders were working hard, munching on gummies, peach rings, strawberry candies, and Hershey kisses (that is all your favorite flavors right?--we found at a local store. We visited as 2 were released yesterday--we will no longer have Ayudants take the mail to the south (Sur), besides that, we worked on missionary pictures to renew their visas, balanced the purchasing cards at Bank of America, entered missionary reimbursements, paid rent on 3 houses, filed some passports, and forwarded email, wrapped packages, and sorted mail.

     Anyway, we love you all very much!!  We are blessed to be your parents and grandparents!  Keep up the great work you are doing!

Love,

Mom & Dad   (Dad says we'll be home in 5 1/2 months!!)