Christmas 2008

To All of Our Loved Ones, December 2008

This Christmas Spencer and I are serving a mission in Chiquimula, Guatemala. We arrived here on November 12th. It has already been an incredible experience. I love experiencing a different culture. We have found the people to be kind and warm. Our primary responsibility is to teach English. When the new semester starts in January we will be teaching four sessions to medical students and two sessions to faculty and staff at CUNORI (a branch of San Carlos University). We also are teaching four classes at the church (we recently added to the number because of the great diversity of ability among the different students). During the final two weeks of November we had many opportunities to meet and interact with the leaders of CUNORI and others in the community—thanks to the Limburg’s (who preceded us and set a high standard for us to follow). We have loved the people with whom we have interacted.

While there is a break in school, we are focusing a lot of our time on visiting less-active members or those who have special needs in the Ward. It has been very gratifying—and it has been an adventure learning our way around some of the more remote parts of the Ward. Christmas time has provided a wonderful opportunity for us to share our testimonies of the Savior—His birth, His Life and His Atonement. It also provides a time for us to renew our commitment to serve Him and be faithful in keeping covenants. We are the only missionary couple in the Guatemala City South Mission. What a blessing it would be if more retired members were willing to serve. The time until the second coming is one day shorter every 24 hours.

We have truly enjoyed the miracle of good health in being able to walk several miles everyday (especially since five months ago I couldn’t walk ¼ mile) and in being able to hop on and off of buses without mishap…well in reality, there have been a couple of times we weren’t sure where we were going—but they provided some great laughs and good life/learning experiences. J

The weather here is certainly much different than it was when we were serving a mission in western Kansas. That year we experienced severe ice storms, heavy snows and below zero temperatures. Here the locals think it is cold—because it gets down to the low 60’s at night and the 80’s during the day. When we tell them we think it is perfect, they laugh and say, “Just wait until March, April and May, when it is hot!” Now that will be an adjustment!

We have left behind our combined family of 13 children, 13 in-laws and 36 grandchildren. We appreciate their prayers and support. We really miss them, our siblings and Spencer’s parents very much. But we know they are all under the watchful care of our Father in Heaven. We love and appreciate our extended family and many friends. We love receiving emails. You can check our blog for pictures and updates. It is open to all visitors: spencerandjeanine.blogspot.com.

Love,Elder and Sister Brown (Spencer and Jeanine)