Hi! Day of our farewell, Office workers, boat trip with Seniors to Samana

Hi there! A few pictures--the MTC, the DR Temple, us & Pres & Hna Rodriguez at the temple.

Hey, it worked! I sent pictures. I will send more later. Love you!!

Nizao and Don Gregorio Branch

Tres Ojos (The Three Eyes)
An ancient ocean reef above ground.
Left to Right: Judith, Derek, Brent, Susan and Jim

Hi Kids and Grandkids!

Hi Everybody!  It's been a little cooler, at least at night, haven't needed the fans and air conditioning the whole night.  Wish we could ship you some of this heat--course with the mail system it would probably get there about as soon as you have your own heat.

     Today we drove to Nizao, for a district conference in our building in a big white truck.  The sister missionaries hadn't had lasagna for 17 months, at least the one going home soon, so we took lasagna and bread and veggies, not like at home, but it was the best we could do.  We met them outside their apartment so they could put it in the fridge then took them with us to the capilla or chapel.  The branch president was in shorts and polo shirt finishing cleaning the building and the district president was trying to make the computer work for the broadcast.  They hung black plastic garbage bags in the window slats so it would help darken the room for the broadcast.  Sixteen fans were blowing like crazy.  When it came time to start, there were about 12 people and 6 of those were the 2 sister missionaries and us and 2 elder missionaries  since the two branches were meeting together.  After the two hours there were probably 100 people.  People came at Dominican time, all through the meeting.  The branch President came dressed in church clothes about a half hour into the meeting.  We were very surprised.  We went early to get a seat!

     It was all in Spanish of course, but a very wonderful meeting.  The sister missionaries were called out randomly to lead and play the music (one finger on the piano/organ), the district president, the only one on the stand, pushed the buttons for 5 or so minutes to get his computer to work (we didn't know they had Internet in the building--maybe a dish outside, forgot to look, anyway, the meeting began.

     Sister Wixom the Primary General President spoke, then YMen General President David Beck, then Elder Craig Zwick of the Seventy, then Elder Russell M. Nelson.  I only got part, but the Spirit was so strong, coming all the way from Salt Lake to encourage, teach and lead these people.  It was awesome!  After, the sisters asked me to take a picture of the whole branch!  How fun!!!  I wonder if I can send you some pictures!  Anyway, keep working hard in your part of the vineyard!  You are each so wonderful!  We love you so much and miss you all so much!!!

Love,

Mom & Dad

Sunrise from top of the Casa

The Temple President took these pictures on top of the DR Temple near Angel Moroni.  (You can see the horn on the right.  I guess the seniors will be going up one morning for a sunrise picture.

(Note: Email below was sent from the temple president.)

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: JoAnn Bair <joannwbair@gmail.com>
To: Bonnie Larsen <larsenbp@hotmail.com>; Button <mhbutton@gmail.com>; "Casanova, Lydia" <lymado03@yahoo.com>; Diana Despain <diana_despain@hotmail.com>; "Dunford, Jill" <jilldunford@yahoo.com>; "Dunford, Jill & Robert" <robdunford@bellsouth.net>; E&S Cuenot <cuenotch@ldschurch.org>; "Eickbush, Pauline & Francis" <peickbush@aol.com>; "Haws, Edith" <edithhaws_560@msn.com>; Joanne Hammon <joanneh2010@gmail.com>; "Larsen, Dee " <dee.e.larsen@gmail.com>; Leavitts (Leon & Jane) <leonleavitt@gmail.com>; Leonor Hernandez <Leonorhernandez@ldsmail.net>; "Low, Dick & Wendy" <lowdwj@gmail.com>; "Mahon, Cozanne" <cozanne@me.com>; Merino <jjcmerino@yahoo.com>; Milagros St. Hilaire <milagrosdelcarmenacosta@yahoo.com>; "Munoz, Noel & Mixa" <noelo_calesas@hotmail.com>; Nancy Yturralde <nyturralde@cox.net>; "Rees, Kathy" <kathyrees10@gmail.com>; "Roberts, Mary Lou" <mackay22nd@gmail.com>; Ruckers <crucker@ldschurch.org>; Sandra Glazier <grandma@thecutestlittlefamily.com>; Schmidts <susanandjim6@yahoo.com>; "Schoop, Romulo" <schoopromulo@yahoo.com>; "Shaver, Cindy" <cindy.shaver@yahoo.com>; Tom Ferguson <patotom1@yahoo.com>
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2013 8:16 AM
Subject: Sunrise from top of the Casa

Dear Elders and Sisters,

I mentioned in FHE last week that I would open the door to the roof area of the Casa de Huespedes for anyone who would like to take some pictures of the Temple at sunrise on Monday next.  It did not occur to me at the time that the scaffolding will still be up around the top of the temple up to Moroni until sometime during the temple closure.  As such, we will delay the photo shoot until the scaffolding is removed.  I will let you know.

I climbed up to Moroni yesterday morning and took some pictures from the top of the scaffolding.  A couple of them are attached.  Moroni will be given a new coat of gold and then sealed during the closure.

President Bair

Hi, hope everyone is doing well!

Hi Everyone!

     How are you doing this week?  Here's a kind of interesting story:

Our 2 AP's were taking 2 sister missionaries and 2 elder missionaries to appointments in a the missions' big white truck.  A car ran into them.  The driver was having a heart attack!  They left the two sisters with the man's car directing traffic around it, the man was lifted into the truck with 2 elders in the back helping the man and the 2 elders in the front following a kindly motorcyle man who hurried them to the hospital.  At the hospital the man was given emergency help and 2 elders stayed with him until he was stable, and the two AP's hurried back to the scene of the accident to push the car out of the way, pick up the sisters and contact the authorities.  I asked how their day went--they said they saved a life.  Then they explained. 

"All in a day's work", I guess.   That's what you each do, you put out fires (so to speak) and help where needed. 

We pray for each of you night and morning and inbetween.  "Make the most of each day!" 

Love you!

Mom & Dad 

To Allen!

(Note: an email sent to Allen, describing a little about the lifestyle and mission in the Dominican Republic.)

 

Hi Allen!

     Thank you for your letter through Dear Elder!  It was so special!  It came when I was in Utah and Grandpa put it aside for me then gave it to me late. 

     We live in an apartment on the 3rd floor.  There are no elevators.  We walk up the steps and then unlock a metal gate and then the door.  When the elders first brought us, they took our heavy suitcases upstairs for us and sometimes they bring up our bottled water.  But we usually bring up our groceries ourselves.

    We park downstairs and outside under an awning.  The parking spot is very tiny and so I have to help Grandpa park a big white truck that belongs to the mission.  Sometimes the elders in the office need the truck so we walk home from the office, about 5 blocks.  Then they bring the truck and they have a hard time parking it too.  There is a big wrought iron gate to keep people out of the parking lot.  If you push a button, it opens so you can get your car out.

    It is usually pretty hot to walk to the office or to walk home;  but we see lizards sometimes on the flowering bushes or trees. 

     We love being here being part of  the Oeste Mission.  They had over 900 baptisms last year.  We have been sending letters to the new people who joined the church.

     I bet you are having a fun time in school.  We have been to your school with you haven't we.  We had a great time.

Keep helping your family, work hard in school and have fun!  We love you Allen!  You are a nice, fun, handsome boy!

Love,

Grandma and Grandpa Schmidt