THE DEAD BATTERY

Elder Hendershot, Elder Tomkinson, Elder Mears

We have been expecting the car battery to go out any minute. You know the feeling...it just doesn't turn over easily when you try to start the car. And you just hope that you don't wait too long to get it changed. Well we went out the other morning to find our battery DEAD without any possibility of resuscitation. Wayne tried baking soda, cleaning off the cables...all sorts of tricks...but it just wouldn't turn over.

Luckily we were seeing one of our office missionaries in the clinic that morning. We called them and told them to stop by and pick us up. We put the battery in their car and went to the clinic with the two that were going with us. We knew that we needed to get the battery replaced that afternoon. (Thank goodness our office shares a building with SEARS)...

Our Assistants to the President Elder Gomez and Elder Mears
with Elder Bourne and Elder Hendershot

Just as we were finishing up in the clinic we got a call from Elders Hendershot and Bourne. They said that they had a new battery for us and that they were coming to the dental clinic to pick us up and go and replace the battery. What a great surprise and a great set of missionaries. This is just the quality of young men that we deal with here in the mission field.

THANK YOU ELDERS HENDERSHOT AND BOURNE!!

FOURTH OF JULY

Elder and Hermana Adams, Curt Whitaker and the Tomkinsons

I have to admit that I totally forgot about the Fourth of July. It was just another day of the week....until Mary and Curt Whitaker called and invited us over for a BBQ with some of the Embassy people. What a great day it was. It was so fun to be with all of those people from the United States and their families. Hermana Adams and I especially loved being with the little ones...and holding babies again. The food was wonderful, the company great and the slip and slide was a hit!!! We did talk a little bit about Wayne missing his fireworks......but.....What a great fourth!!

Good old 4th of July FUN

Earlier in the day we went to the hospital to take Elder Contreras and his companion Elder Gonzalez home. Elder Contreras had some minor surgery the day before and needed to spend the night. On the way home they were hungry and opted for "Kentucky" (KFC). Elder Contreras had never eaten Kentucky...they don't have it in Guatemala where he is from. What a perfect thing for the Fourth of July....tasting Kentucky Fired Chicken for the first time!!

Elder Contreras and Elder Gonzalez with their "KENTUCKY"

CHANGES ARE ANNOUNCED

Elder Galindo and Elder Ayau calling changes to the Zone Leaders

This week was changes...and I decided to blog it from a different angle...the OFFICE. The week of changes brings much activity at the office..but the most exciting part is to see what is going to happen to the Office Elders who are due to be transferred out. The anticipation is comical...and of course we enjoy seeing them wiggle around and tease them just in case their "time isn't up". This week Elder Ingleby and Elder Orellana were up to leave. Elder Orellana already had his replacement in the office and was training him.....but Elder Ingleby was still waiting to see what would happen...

Searching the board for new assignments

Tuesday morning we got to the office and the APs were in the President's office making calls for all the official transfers. The office elders were allowed to go into the office and look at the assignment BOARD. Elder Orellana is going to go to Talanga and be a Zone Leader. Elder Ingleby is going to Siguatepeque as a District Leader. They will be great leaders for the mission.

Maria Emilia sleeping while mom and dad are working hard

We were able to see Elder Mautauma today again. He was in the office when we first got here and is going to be Training again. He is a delight to be around and it was like seeing one of our own children. He is going to help reopen an area of the mission that has been closed for awhile. We want his family from New Zealand to know what a great missionary he is and how proud of him we are...(they read the blog every week)!!

Elder Mautauma with President and Sister Gomez and his new companion

IT'S AN EPIDEMIC!!!

Talking to Elder Gomez about his toenails

We have an epidemic going on in the mission. Not of flu, not of strep throat, not of croup....We have an epidemic of INGROWN TOENAILS!!! Over the past couple of months we have seen more missionaries with this problem. I am getting to know Dr Funes (our plastic surgeon that takes care of this problem) better and better. Not that it isn't a legitimate concern for missionaries. They are in shoes 24/7. They walk through puddles and their feet are wet alot of the time in the rainy season.

The problem comes in cutting their toenails. President Gomez has suggested that we have a power point presentation on how to take care of their toenails. Wayne is going to serve as the toenail model and we are going to show them how to cut their nails. Just last week we were explaining to a missionary how he should do this. Wayne just couldn't get his point across.....so he whipped off his shoes and used his feet and toes as a visual aid....

Wayne using his toe as a visual aid
to help them prevent the "agony of de-feet"

We had no idea that we would be preaching toenails.....

INGLEBY IS COMING.....WITH POUCH

Santa Ingleby and Elder Guymon delivering pouch to Elders Mautama and Sorensen

Missionaries love mail. That has been evident this past week as Christmas is approaching. The office has planned to take tomorrow and deliver packages and letters to all of the missionaries. They will be able to do most of the mission in one day. Elder Tomkinson and Elder Ingleby (our secretary in charge of materials...including mail) along with his companion Elder Guymon will leave Tegucigalpa tomorrow morning around 5:30am. They have the pouch (letters) to deliver as well as needed household items: ie refrigerators, stoves, etc. Hopefully things will go smoothly and they will have a fun day.

Today the office elders sang a song in honor of this event tomorrow. Here are the words:

THE CHRISTMAS MISSION SONG

You better watch out,
You better not cry,
You better keep rules,
I´m telling you why,
Ingleby is coming with pouch.

He know when you are teaching,
He know when you are not,
He know what you are doing now
with your neighbor and your comp.

Oh, you better watch out,
You better not cry,
You better keep rules,
I´m telling you why,
Ingleby is coming with pouch.

Words by Elder Santos

Watch the following video and enjoy the accents...listen carefully!!! We love our office Elders!!

Elder Orellana, Elder Ingleby, Elder Guymon, Elder Payne, Elder Ayau and Elder Godinez!!

ZONE CONFERENCE....NAVIDAD STYLE

President and Hermana Gomez

There is nothing like spending Christmas in the mission field. There is nothing like spending Christmas with 150 or so 20-25 year old missionaries. The spirit is wonderful. I am learning to love this season in a whole different way. Our Zone Conferences this month were a little different than usual. Hermana Gomez really likes to treat the missionaries at this time of year. She prepares a lunch that is a feast. We had pork chops (two per missionary), macaroni and cheese, salads, bread and brownies with ice cream to top it all off.

What a feast!

I love this picture with all of the suit coats on the chairs!

We worked hard to have the Cultural Hall decorated and set up when they came in for lunch. We brought our tree, and I made centerpieces for the tables. (You did not misread that....I really did make them...it was a missionary miracle!!) Elder Tomkinson had music playing. Hermana Gomez had made bread for each of them to take home and they received a mug filled with candy. Wayne and I gave them each a toothbrush. It was really fun.

President Gomez handing out Christmas cards from the First Presidency

They were definitely physically and spiritually fed. They are so excited to be able to call home to their families (as we all are), but they are so thrilled to be here doing this work during this time. President keeps reminding them that there will be many Christmases with family, but few where they are on a mission full time. They have the right perspective as missionaries should.

These two pictures show all of our missionaries over the two days

of Zone Conferences...we are in the bottom picture in the front

After lunch we had a musical and scripture reading program. Each Zone prepared a song to sing for the season. Missionaries read from the Scriptures the story of the birth of Christ, and we sang carols in between. Hearing the hymns in Spanish was amazing. I am going to include many pictures so that you can spot your favorite missionary......










A special thank you to all of our office elders...Elder Orellana, Elder Payne, Elder Guymon and Elder Ingleby as well as to the APs, Elder Godinez and Elder Ayua for all their extra help these two days!!

One more week.....

TEARS AND SMILES

Crying at the airport

I am hoping that you will indulge my journal entry type blogs as I record the comings and goings every six weeks of missionaries. It is a major event in the mission and we never get tired of the feelings and excitement that these times entail. We said goodbye this week to six missionaries and hello to eleven. It is getting harder and harder to say goodbye to these missionaries. Thus the title Tears and Smiles. We had just finished saying goodbye to our four missionaries going home to the United States....Elder Waldron, Elder Miskin, Elder Shumway and Elder Hall. Hermana Gomez and I were in tears (remember I have only known them for 4 months...she has seen them grow their entire mission. In fact this was one of the first groups that they welcomed when they entered the mission.) when President Gomez announced...okay stop the tears, we need to put on smiles...the new ones will be here in 10 minutes. We literally walked down the stairs, dried tears and greeted new missionaries.

Saying goodbye
Elders Hall, Shumway, Miskin, Waldron
with President and Hermana Gomez

Saying Hello

These new missionaries are going to be a powerful force in Honduras. We received 7 new missionaries from the Missionary Training Center as well as 4 from the CCM in Guatemala (including 2 hermanas). Today we helped orient them and tried to answer all the questions that they have. We were especially busy because the 7 missionaries from Provo were tentative in their Spanish. As soon as they get here, they realize how much they need to learn. President Gomez took the time to have each new missionary bear his testimony for one minute. It was humbling to hear these missionaries bear testimony in Spanish. They are ready to conquer the world.

Elders Sagers, Prescott, Hendershot, Lloyd, Summers, Rose and Sorensen

Elders Roca and Vasquez Hermanas Molina and

One of the most fun parts of the day is watching the trainers receive their assigned greenie. We especially like this part because we know so many of the training missionaries now. It is so exciting to watch them get so excited about who they are going to train....say hello...goodbye to us...and off they go. We will see them again in about 2 weeks.

New Trainers
Elders Mautauma, Davis, Eietneier, Kartchner, Hanson

ELDER BOURNE AND ELDER DAVIS

Elder Davis and Elder Bourne at the hospital

This past weekend we have had an Elder in the hospital. Elder Bourne arrived from the MTC about two weeks ago with a virus that he just couldn't get rid of. He has been fighting a cough, getting better and then getting worse for the last two weeks. Friday we told him to go to the hospital emergency room where we met him and his companion Elder Davis.

Just a few observations about these two missionaries. We have learned from other Elders in the mission that Elder Davis is a hard-working missionary. We have decided that the other Elders are the best source for these observations. He and Elder Bourne are in a new area and have started teaching there with gusto and zeal. When we got to the hospital and realized that Elder Bourne would have to stay a couple of nights, Elder Davis didn't even hesitate. He got on the phone, let their contacts know what was happening, went back to the house to get things that they might need, etc. When we asked when Elder Bourne wanted a blessing, they informed us that Elder Davis had already taken care of that before they ever left the apartment.

These missionaries are living in a foreign country with less than perfect living conditions. They are eating different food, taking showers out of buckets, and walking miles every day, yet their enthusiasm for the gospel and the message that they have to share is unsurpassed. We had to make them promise that Elder Bourne would not go "running" this afternoon to make up for the lost time that they had this weekend.....there will be plenty of time for that when he feels better.

Getting ready to leave the hospital

I worried that Elder Bourne would not be able to learn the language as quickly with a Gringo companion....but what an inspired companionship this is. They are perfect. The language is coming and Elder Davis was the perfect companion to get Elder Bourne through this first month. It never ceases to amaze me how inspired this program is and how the missionaries are blessed with just what they need. I am humbled every time I have one of these realizations. They really are in the Lord's hands.

IS THIS THE FUN PART??

Every once in awhile when we are involved in some mundane task, the dental school is closed again, or we are just thinking aloud we ask ourselves "Is this the fun part?" It has become a joke with us...every once in awhile we just look at each other and say it. We today we found the FUN PART.

Hermanas Julio, Osorio and Valverde
with President Gomez and our AP's
Elders Nicolosi and Waldron

We got up early this morning (leaving the house by 4:30) to take missionaries to the airport. We have 13 missionaries going home this week. Several of the missionaries that left today have found a soft spot in our hearts. We have gotten to know them from mission experiences, visiting their wards, at the dental school, or in the office. They are an exceptional group of missionaries. The group of eleven this morning included three hermanas...one from Columbia, one from Guatemala and one from Ecuador.

These missionaries were so excited and ready to go home. After paying their exit tax (necessary to leave Honduras), we were able to visit with them for a little while. We gave them each a Snickers bar in case they got hungry on the plane, and watched them leave. We felt almost like parents.

The departing missionaries

The arriving missionaries
They don't look too green!!

About 3 hours later, we were back at the airport. This time we were waiting for new missionaries. We have 16 coming in this week. It was so fun to be at the airport. On the same flight were 4-5 missionaries returning home to Honduras. All of the emotions of waiting for our missionary to return came back. Those families were so excited. After greeting their returning sons, the missionaries went to a training meeting for about a day and a half. They learn all about employment opportunities, the PEF, and life skills that will help them continue the path that they have started.

There are no words
(Notice the little hand hugging big brother)

We took the missionaries back to the office where they were fed (surprise) and then started learning about the mission. We took two to the mall to get new glasses this afternoon...and tomorrow we are helping with their training. I am giving the Health lecture and Wayne is doing the Security one.

President Gomez doing what he does best
Leading Missionaries

Our three elders from the States haven't arrived yet. There was a mix-up with their flights, and they are arriving in San Pedro Sula this evening, spending the night with the Mission President there and then taking a 4 hour bus ride to Tegucigalpa tomorrow morning. We are anxious for them to arrive. Thursday morning we say goodbye to Elder Nicolosi and Elder Chambers. They are working up until the last minute. Elder Chambers is the missionary that we took the picture of with holes in his shoes. Elder Nicolosi is the AP that has helped us get adjusted so much to Honduras. We will miss both of them. Here is a picture of Elder Nicolosi having Elder Rodriguez call his family to verify that they had his itinerary. He didn't even talk to them!

IT REALLY WAS A FUN DAY!!

SINGING AND TESTIMONIES

I guess that we have mentioned how amazing the people here are with their singing in the meetings. It is unbelievable how fervent their worship is through song. They sing each song in full voice, usually acapella. I feel like sometimes I am hindering them when I play the piano for them.

Today was our third testimony meeting in Honduras. It is an even more unbelievable phenomenon. I have never seen anything like these testimony meetings. It doesn't matter if you are attending a large ward or a small branch. Everyone bears their testimony. Today we were visiting a small branch in Guaymaca. It is about 1 1/2 hours from the city. There were probably 50 total people in attendance. Wayne and I had decided to be prepared, just in case there was a lapse in the meeting. He remembers how awkward that was when he was Bishop, and he wanted us to be prepared just in case.

Well.....when the testimony meeting time came, the people just kept on going to the stand....the first one was a young girl about six years old. There was not a break the entire meeting. One of the young boys that has attached himself to Wayne was sitting by us, and told me that we (he and I) were going to go and bear our testimony. I knew I had to...you can't tell a young boy NO...so he and I went to the stand. I actually got through it. (I have no idea exactly what I said, but noone laughed).

And we were worried about a lull in the meeting. It was the same way last month when we attended one of the wards in the city. People sat on the stand for 30 minutes to get their turn...entire families. I truly believe that we can learn something from their example. We need to bear testimony often and truly testify about the gospel. Watch your meeting this next month and see what happens...If there is a lull, take care of it!

Elders Gomez with their new convert

We were so pleased today with our two missionaries in Guaymaca. Elder Gomez and Elder Gomez (not a typo) are there. They had 4 investigators at church today, and one new member who was baptized just yesterday. What a spirit they bring into the branch. They taught the Gospel Essentials class on the Plan of Salvation. After the meeting block, we went to their house to chart on our map where it is. We did a surprise house check...and they passed with flying colors. They got Snickers to break their fast with this afternoon.

We enjoy our time with the Saints each Sunday. They truly make this experience rewarding. We are beginning to recognize members and are learning where the different buildings are.

OFFICE COUPLE

In Talanga with Elders Martinez, Suce and Euteneier

Because of a flood at the dental school closing the Clinic, Wayne and I have spent the past two days being the office couple for the mission. Wayne has decided that he wants to map (surprise) where all of the apartments in the mission are and all of the Church buildings. Thursday we took the two APs with us and went to several apartments in the city. While they were showing us the apartments, we were able to do some House Checks. For the most part, the apartments were fairly clean. I have been trying to teach the missionaries that there is a difference between clutter and filth. One apartment, however was horrendous....you could smell the bathroom almost from the front door. Wayne instructed them on how to clean it....even letting them know that you actually have to use cleaning agents to clean...not just twirling the toilet brush around.

Ready for House Checks with Elders Nicolosi and Waldron

We got a good start on mapping all of the apartments. Both of the current APs (Elder Nicolosi and Elder Waldron) will be going home before the end of November. We want to be able to use their knowledge of where everything is before they leave. Hopefully between conference sessions today we will be able to put the maps on paper.

Thursday afternoon we helped one of the Senior Couples go to the hospital for some testing, and then drove them home that evening. Elder and Sister Rivera are from here in Honduras. They are serving in Guaymaca, which is about 2 hours from the city. They are the couple that had the baptism of a family of four early on in our mission that we wrote about. We had a delightful time with them (they speak no English).

Elder and Hermana Rivera

Friday we left the office early with Elder Euteneier to do House Checks in Talanga (while mapping the apartments), Guaymaca and Campamento. Wayne also had appointments to do Financial Audits in Guaymaca and Campamento. Elder Euteneier was along to help with translating problems and to learn about the Audits. What a delightful day we had with this missionary. He is from Las Vegas and has been on his mission for about 8 months. That means that he will be leaving about the same time that we do. He is in charge of all the records in the office...baptisms, making sure people are married before they are baptized, etc.

In Campamento with Elders Davis, Euteneier and Paramo

Wayne was able to complete one audit. We met an adorable family there whose dad was working on redoing the doors for the building. They are the Mejia-Flores family and had three adorable little girls. The oldest one, Nicole, is turning eight this next month and is so excited to be baptized. She and her little sisters (five and two) spent about 15 minutes singing Primary songs to me. I showed them pictures of my little girls at home that are the same age as them. It was so fun, and a great day. They are the third generation of members in their family. Their grandfather was there and we also got to visit with him. He was so proud of his family and their church membership. He lost his wife last year and was telling us about the fact that she is going to meet him after he dies. What faith and knowledge the gospel brings to people.

The Mejia-Flores family
Nicole will be 8 this next month

Refinishing the doors for the building in Campamento

We are so looking forward to conference today and tomorrow. What a spiritual boost it is for all of us. The Church is true and we have living oracles that can let us know what we need to do.

TACO BAR

It seems that there is a universal law with missionaries. They can and will eat anything and everything. Last week for Honduras Dia de Independencia we had the office missionaries over for a taco bar. Wayne has perfected the salsa that he has been working on for a few months, and we made tacos with all the trimmings.











It was amazing what these eight missionaries ate. We fried up over 50 taco shells…hard and soft ones. They ate all of those and we didn’t even count the flour tortillas that were consumed. They were great. We had chips and salsa, tacos with everything, dips, etc. To top it off there were HUGE brownies with ice cream and chocolate syrup. What a feast. What a great group of missionaries.

SAGA OF THE PACKAGE

Who would have thought that getting a package from there to here would be such a trial. Sara has been trying for about a month to get me some hair color. Most of you know that there is a fine line between the day you might need color and the day that IT HAS TO BE NOW! Well, I have passed that line a couple of weeks ago.

We sent a package (thanks to Amy) here about two weeks ago. That in itself was a nightmare. It was unbelievable expensive to send (I won’t even tell you how much it was…it was so terrible). Once it got to the country they held it at customs. Not sure why, perhaps because it was dye and hair product. By the time we found out about it, we needed to claim the package that day to avoid a US $700 charge. It took two of our office Elders six hours one day to get the package. It also cost an additional $50 or so to get it. What a nightmare.

Now…if we can just get Wayne to do the color this weekend. The next step is getting someone who can cut hair.



Here are Elder Perez and Elder Euteneier. They are the Elders who spent a whole day getting the package. They were rewarded with homemade chocolate chip cookies.
THANKS ELDERS!!!

WE LOVE THOSE GUYS!!

Elder Mautama

This is Elder Mautama. He is from New Zealand. He is one of our office elders. Elder Mautama loves the gospel and loves missionary work. He has just received a package from home from the Young Men in his ward. They sent him letters of encouragement and telling him how much they admire him. All he could say in return was how much he loves them and how they support him.

It is amazing to us how much these missionaries love to teach. They would rather be out on appointments in the rain than sitting in the office doing paper work. Last week we went to church with Elder Mautama and his companion, Elder Mears. They were like proud parents during the investigator class. Everytime their contact participated, they were beaming. We love missionaries. We love to watch them and their enthusiasm for the gospel. Wayne is teaching them that sometimes we have to do our duty (their office work)...it makes the fun stuff that much more fun!!

Elders Mears and Mautama

Elder Mears is leaving the office this week. He doesn't care where he goes...the further away from headquarters, the better. He is a great missionary, and will be able to help wherever he serves. News flash...before I published this we learned that Elder Mears is going to be a trainer for the newest missionary to arrive in Honduras! He will be great!