Back to the Temple & Barrio El Tumi

We went back to the temple this week after our two week break.  It was slower than we would have anticipated after a two week closing but we are in the middle of the Peruvian summer.  

On Friday, 1/5,2016, we were invited to a sealing the the Smith family, Jauan Carlos and Deysi.  They were inactive for many yeas.  They received a VIP invitation to the temple open house because Juan Carlos works for the government.  they didn't think much about going and just left the invitation on the table.

When the Elders came to visit them they noticed the invitation and that it was a VIP invitation, which made it special.  The missionaries talked them into going.

When they went inside the temple they couldn't believe how beautiful and magnificent it was.  They felt a special spirit there and decided they wanted to come back and be sealed as a family.  They became active and worked on their goal.  They received their own endowments several weeks before they were sealed.  They also have a little three year boy who was sealed to them.

Juan Carlos & Deysi Smith with their missionaries and friend Amy Becerra.

On Sunday we went to Florencia de Mora and attended the El Tumi ward at 10:00 AM.  Bill bore his testimony and I played the piano.  There were lots of people we know from the temple in this ward.  One is Luz Bastos.  She led the singing.  She is one of our favorites. She is always happy and comes several days a week, serving as one of our coordinators.  She has a daughter on a mission in Arequipa, Peru right now and two sons.  The Florencia de Mora ward meets in the same building at 8:00.  We know people from both wards.

The Bastos Family


These are President and Sister Tapia's daughters, Adriel and Adely.
They had blessed Adely's baby in the Florencia de Mora ward at 8:00.
We ran into them in the breezeway as we were coming to church. The baby's name is Amaris and he is 1 month old.

Hermano Rodriguez and his daughter.
They are both temple workers.  He calls Bill his Maestro (teacher)
because he helped train him when the temple first opened.

These elders serve in the El Tumi Ward.

These two elders serve in the Florencia de Mora Ward.

The Baitas from the Florencia de Mora Ward.

Sunday night was the Super Bowl.  Bill was grateful for modern technology so he could watch in on the Sling Box from Providence, Utah as the Denver Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers.

Lady Gaga sang a beautiful rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner".

On Monday we met the Marlers and the Senior Missionaries at TGI Fridays for lunch.  It is always fun to get together.

The Lunch Bunch.
Hawses from Hooper, UT; Hartmans from Logan, UT; Sister Angell from Rexburg, ID; Sister Vaughan from
St. Gorge, UT; Marlers from San Diego, CA; Nields from Snowflake, AZ; Gomez's from Arequipa, Peru and
Fackrells from Bountiful, UT

The Nields, Gomez's & Fackrells

Me & Bill with Sister Angell & Sister Marler.

President Marler always has his camera ready to capture
that kodak moment.

Jan and I - deep in conversation.

Real Plaza Mall

We ran into Franco Figgini at the mall.  He went on a mission to Chile
and works in the temple.

We stopped and bought a watermelon on the way home.  We share it with the Hawses.
Since Wayne was in the front seat he got to hold it.  The trunk was full of groceries
we had bought at PlazaVea after lunch.

We came home and found them washing the fence around the temple.  It actually
rained the next day but the rain is never strong enough to clean the fence.

The fridge is getting full.  Bill bought the map and I tend to pick up magnets as we travel.

Today was our granddaughter Bekah's 6th birthday. She is a precious little girl with such a sweet little spirit.  We were able to talk to her on Skype.  She was going to have birthday pie.  She was born during a snow storm in Kentucky but told us there is just a tiny bit of snow today.  We love you and miss you Rebekah Christine Hartman.

This is Bekah with her high brother, Brigham.  She is
about 2 months old. 

And here are a couple of more recent pictures of Bekah, around 3 and 5 years old.
I don't have one of her today but will add it later if I get one.

February 1st was our little Max's 5th birthday.  He was also born during a snow storm.  
He has been a fun addition to our home and is living with our daughter's family in Utah while he patiently waits for our return.