March 7, 2009

Hello family and loved ones,
It has been two weeks again, so Id better write a letter at least a short one. Here is Spencers report (direct quote): Weve had colds. Its been pretty uneventful.
He is right about the colds! Im just a few days ahead of him and Monday it will be two full weeks. Im completing a course of antibiotics (because of bronchitis) but Im not better, so I guess it is a virus. We have managed to continue teaching our classes and preparing our lessons, but other than that we just sleep, cough, gag, and sleep some more. Colds are called grip in Spanishand these colds definitely have a grip on us!
We have a new Bishopric in the Ward. The Bishop was sustained several weeks ago, but without counselors, because the names hadnt been approved in SLC. Last week he got counselors. Bishop Leonel Rodriquez, Counsellors Leonel Barrera (who is the only member in his family. His wife and daughter attend, but arent baptized. He is a convert of about three years.) and Fernando Mora (he is either single or his wife is inactiveIve never seen any evidence of a wife at church). It is interesting to be in Latin America. All three men are fantastic and the ward should bloom under their leadership.
The weather has been really crazy. Some mornings are really coolperhaps in low 50s with lots of wind and humidity in the air. It has been cool even to us. The locals are freezing! But the afternoons are in the 90s. The dramatic weather changes dont help our colds.  But this too, shall pass.
Our investigators are only lukewarm at this point. The young elders are going to make some visits and see if they can light a fire in them. Great peopleand we still have high hopes for the Vargas family. We did have a baptism in the ward this weekthe wife is a doctor and the husband is an archeologist. They are great people. I hope they keep the fire alive.
Students seem to really enjoy our classes. The numbers are really highboth at the church and at CUNORI. The attendance fluctuates, but it would be interesting to know how many different people we have taught since the year started. Spencer doesnt even attempt to keep a roll in the church class. The kids class that I teach at the church has never been advertized, but every week I get more students from just word of mouth. Attendance fluctuates there also, but the numbers are between 6-12 most weeks. That is a fun, but challenging class, because I have to create those lessons too. I have found some resources on the internet and from going through materials we have here and adapting them to kids. Sometimes an idea comes to me during the classand those flashes of inspiration are usually the best activity of the night.
We received news this last week from Dennis Call (who bought Phil Larsens cabin) that when he and his son went on snowmobiles to check all of the cabins, they found that a big tree had broken off and fallen over on our cabin. That wasnt our best news! We are waiting to get news on what it will take to fix it. We arent sure if it broke thru into the toy room or not. Curt Gillespie, from Vernon, is going to check it out as soon as he can get up therehe will probably have to borrow a snowmobile to do it.
Spencer has started spraying for ants and the fumes are killing me, so I have to get out of this part of the housethat is one way for him to be certain I keep this one short!
We love you. We miss you. We are counting down the days until Nathan and Christena get here! 28 days! Yeah!
Love,
Mom/Jeanine