Happy New Year, welcome 2019

Before I go into 2019, I need to finish up with 2018.  On Saturday morning the 29th, we had another Capilla Abierta for the La Reina Ward.  They choose 10 - 1pm.  We thought that was not a good time but that is what they choose so we were there at 9am to get set up.  The young missionaries were so excited to get to do this.  The ward council were all there in force.  The bishopric sat at the front door ready to welcome all who came.  This is one of the wards where we were not able to present our power point to the members due to their Ward Conference, Stake Conference, and only Sacrament Meeting last week.  The members did not come or invite their non-member friends.  The missionaries brought one man off the street and we had two less active families attend.  The youth of the ward had come on Friday and cleaned the chapel to get all ready so they were able to give service.  So we were able to touch a few hearts and hopefully plant seeds.  Hopefully the Bishop will not give up but schedule another one next year.  The young missionaries were able to do two tours so they have now had practice on what to do for the next one.

six of the young missionaries serving in La Reina

We got home around 2:30 and took a much needed nap!

I showed you the garbage containers on the streets last week.  Now I will explain how we get rid of our garbage here.

Right outside my front door is this little door.

You open it up and will see this iron box

It opens up and you have a garbage shoot to drop your garbage into.  Kind of like a laundry shoot only you get rid of your garbage very easily.  You just can't have too big of a bag or it won't fit.

We went to church today in a new ward.  We thought that the Cristobal Colon ward would begin at 10 and we wanted to say good-bye to Elder Saldarriago so we went there.  However they started at 9 so we were late and didn't get to hear him speak.  But we did get to say good-bye as he leaves at 6 in the morning for home.  We will miss him.  He has helped us so much in the office.  So we waited for the Las Condes Ward to begin at 11 and visited there.  The wards here in the Cristobal Colon area are quite wealthy and a lot of the members have gone on vacation as it is summer and school has ended for their summer break. 

On Monday we went on the pouch run with the Hughes so we can learn how to do it as they are leaving next week to go to California for the wedding of their son.   

We were able to celebrate the New Year with friends.  We invited the Hughes and the Wallace's over for lunch on the 1st.  We made crock pot sweet and sour chicken without the crock pot (they don't have them here).  We used the oven instead and the meal turned out perfect.  Hermana Wallace brought home-made rolls and we all enjoyed them!  The Hughes provided the ice cream with toppings for dessert.  Then we played Phase 10

We had a wonderful day and the New Year has begun!

This week we sent home 13 missionaries and 9 new ones arrived.  It was transfer day so the office was full of missionaries all day.  We worked on our pension files at the office must of the day.  

One of our pensions was robbed.  The 4 missionaries that lived there found out that the young man next door, who they were teaching, had robbed them.  They went to his house and found most of their stuff in his room.  He has threatened to kill the missionaries.  The police were called and the church security told us to get them out of the house.  We have moved them to other zones, changed their phone number and closed up the house for now.  We had to transport Elder Torres and Elder Bravo to their new pension.  They are new Zone Leaders in Alicahue and have never been in this zone before.  We inspected their pension while we were there and will go back on Saturday to get the rest of that zone inspected.

Thursday we did three service calls on pensions.  We found out where the ants were entering one home, then to another pension where the Elders were complaining that the beds in the pension were "unsafe".  We discovered a spoiled Elder who didn't like his new transfer and wanted a new apartment.  He has a great companion and hopefully his attitude will rub off on the spoiled one.  We just have to remember that these young missionaries are just boys and we have to be patient as they grow into mature missionaries.  Then we spent a few hours with a set of Hermana's who had a few problems with their pension.  Of course these three pensions were in three different zones so we spent a lot of time traveling from one to the other.  Got home about 6 but accomplished our missions today.

Friday morning we went to the temple and did a session.  Then Lon was baptized for three of our ancestors.  It was a wonderful morning.  We miss the temple so much.  This was our P-day, 4 hours in the temple than back to work.

We spent the afternoon in the office trying to put together a power point to teach the missionaries how to clean and take care of their pensions; including the refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers, and toilets.  We are hoping to get it put together for our new missionaries on Monday.  It will depend on how busy Elder Gonzalez is.  Without his help it won't get done.

Saturday we started out at 9 and inspected and repaired 5 pensions.  We have now completed 70 and only have 4 to go.  The last four are scheduled for Wednesday.  We got back at 3 and went with the Hughes to get some groceries and then some supper. 

 It has been a busy week and the time goes by so fast.  Elder Thompson enjoys being able to fix things in the pensions and getting out of the office.  It is good to know the pensions and who to call when there are problems.  As one young Hermana told us, "I am learning so much for when I have my own home."  We are saving the church a lot of money as well as we don't have to spend hundreds on service calls to adjust a toilet or change broken hinges on cabinet doors.  

Well, I have rambled on enough for this week.  We are being watched over by angels.  We are driving all over this huge city with traffic that is horrible and we are being blessed.  Thank you all for your prayers in our behalf.  You are all in our prayers as well.  We love you.  Have a wonderful week.