Christmas in our apartment

Today we received a package from Rachelle's family that she sent down with the a family visiting another missionary couple. We we WILL have something to open on Christmas morning. We are still hoping to receive copies of testimonies from kids and grandkids. That will be the best Christmas present possible. When we arrived home from our Christmas deliveries, we had received one ourselves! We have a NEW washer and dryer unit in our apartment. They installed it today while we were gone. When they took the old one out in early September and joked that we'd get it back for Christmas, no one dreamed it would literally take until Christmas! This does make a wonderful Christmas present for us! We are happy campers!

Merry Christmas from Spencer

Dear Friends and Family, We wish that you and yours have a wonderful Christmas holiday. I remember so well the pressure I felt when I had my kids alone. My desire was that each felt loved and happy with their Christmas. I felt that I would have gladly exchanged places with their mom after she was taken, rather than bear that responsibility alone. Now the gifts and the tree mean nothing to me, and my desire is that each of you can make your dollars stretch and that you teach your children the spirit of giving. We can't teach them enough about Jesus and his birth. And, that's not a trite statement. Today, Monday the 22nd, the temple missionaries took food and blankets to a needy branch up in the mountains. Maybe you could use these pictures to teach the kids the real meaning and spirit of Christmas. These people had lost most of their crop this year because of the lack of rain. They were waiting for us to get there!

More about the Choki Rama

When we arrived they were have a Christmas spiritual program in the chapel waiting for us. There were some sisters outside cooking a BIG pot of stew over an open fire and some tamales in the coals. After we passed out all of the Christmas gifts it was time for their Branch Christmas Party/Meal. Everyone brought their own bowls and got in line to receive some from the big container. Then they sat on the grass or basketball court to eat. No one had utensils. They just used fingers to get the large chunks and drank the broth from the bowl. There is a cute albino boy in one of the families. There were no tables to clean up or floors to sweep. Even the little children ate the stew with enthusiasm. Personally, we were glad we brought our own lunches. One family there with nine children walks one hour (each direction) to attend church. Another family walks an hour and a half. When it was time to go home they loaded the packs on their backs and started out. We were able to give some of them a ride part of the way in the mission pickup. It was a wonderful experience to provide Christmas to these people.

#Sharing the Gift of Christmas

Monday night was a great activity--we spent several hours making baby blankets to share with the families of a very poor branch up in the mountains. Spencer helped sort some that were already done and spent six hours washing them the next day. We have also prepared food boxes with basic foods as well as treats. We have enough to give to the entire Choki Rama! I love how tiny the Zaldanas are-- they sat in one chair together (side by side) and tied the blankets together--none of the North Americans could have accomplished that feat! We will be delivering them on Monday. It will be a beautiful experience filled with Christmas love and good cheer.

The traveling washing machine

In early September, our stackable washer/dryer broke--well just the washer part--it wouldn't spin out the water after rinsing. When they took it out, I asked when I'd get it back and they laughed and said for Christmas. The guys here couldn't fix it. They called in a technician and determined they needed a part from the USA. It didn't come. We have joked a lot. In October I suggested they buy a new one and save that unit for parts, since there are seven other units just like it in various apartments in the building. But still they waited for the part to arrive... I think it did come on a slow boat from China. Well, amazingly, the day before the inspection from SLC visitors, they fixed it and returned it to our apartment. We had lots of fun jokes going back and forth. As they left, everyone wished me an early Merry Christmas. The next day I washed a load of clothes in it and it was great--but the dryer didn't heat. Carlos offered to buy firewood for us to hang clothes over. They took the unit out again, robbed a fuse from a dryer downstairs and returned within two days. I was happy. Last night we washed a load of clothes--or we tried to--the washer only hums, doesn't add water and doesn't use the detergent in the drawer--basically, it doesn't work again. I think it is jinxed! Today at our Christmas Devotional, I told the temple engineer about it. He said he'd get the technician again, but after the program he told Spencer that they would buy a new machine--tomorrow. I'm not holding my breath--but it would be nice. Wish they had done it in Sept. or Oct. All of the other missionaries have working units (except the Latin couples in the studio apartments--who only pay a stipend to live here). I've been sharing laundry facilities with them and with all the towels and bedding used by guests who stay here. Just thought you'd enjoy a picture of the traveling washer/dryer. That is my saga!

Spencer's report

Dear Family and Friends, It's the middle of December. I hope all is going well at your house. We've been very busy trying to cover all the basics here. I've put in some extra time at the temple. Jeanine has had some doctor's appointments that have taken extra time--first visit, then the lab for half a day, then back to the doctor the next day. Even though we've had some long hours in the temple there have been some special moments that make it ever more rewarding. This week we've had Elder Carbajal here and other visitors from SLC for inspection and training of the new presidency. I was able to check recommends of all them when they arrived. Friday, while officiating a session (which includes leading the prayer circle) a couple visiting their native Guatemala, but who live in North Caroline, approached me and thanked me for the special prayer. It's nothing to brag about, but it validated my efforts and made me feel good. The coordinators are selected from the native workers and rightly so. We will move on, but they will remain here to grow. Lately, I've felt validated when they use me for special assignments. Maybe they haven't noticed that I make little mistakes now and then. I think Jeanine and I both were so relieved to learn from the Dr. that her health issues would not require surgery on her gall bladder right away. It's reassuring because neither of us want to shorten this special mission. Although, she'll have to face that prospect when we return home. Jeanine has suffered pain in her back, head and abdomen, but she has remained valiant in her service at the temple. We love you all, family and friends. Time is going by, isn't it? I hope temple attendance is part of your life too. I believe in it! Spencer

Health Report...

Report on my health: I’ve promised some of you an update, so here goes: I have been on antibiotics and a bladder astringent for one month and will be for five more months. So I haven’t had more symptoms of the chronic UTI and should be OK until we get home. I have had overwhelming headaches for six weeks or so. Taking analgesics three times wasn’t cutting it. I attributed them to allergies since they are in the area of my sinus. We accidently discovered I was reacting to the poinsettias. Since those are now gone the intensity of HA’s has decreased but not gone away. When I went to the doctor for my abdominal pain, she noted that my heartrate is pretty low. She feels like that with my height and the high altitude here, and a low heart rate, that might be a cause for the overwhelming headaches and fatigue. She wants me to see a cardiologist. I’m not completely convinced… Besides what would I do? I’m not getting a pace maker put in while I’m in Guatemala and probably the problem can be resolved at a lower altitude. Besides, I still think the allergies are a big part of it and when I get home I will resume my allergy shots to boost my immunity. The other taxing problem has been severe abdominal pains—especially after I eat. Sometimes I have nausea, but not all the time. I was pretty sure it was gall bladder. She sent me for blood work and an abdominal CT scan. It confirmed the gall bladder problem. Dr. Cifuentes says I can wait until I get home to get it out. That was a relief. The radiologist and Dr. Cifuentes both think I should have an endoscopy, because there may be scar tissue or sutures or something from surgery 26 years ago. I’m OK with doing that. It isn’t scheduled yet. In the meantime, she gave me a prescription for a pill to take before breakfast and supper. It seems to be helping, so the pain is lots less and not as frequent. So, that is VERY good news. Just a funny side note: More than half of the radiologists comments were about my back, [OK, so I have rotation, scoliosis, arthritis and degenerative discs] which of course showed up in the CT scan. I have lived with that for all of my adult life, so that is old news and not what I wanted addressed. Dr. Cifuentes was looking at the film and commented, “Hermana, your back is very… (long pause) impressive!” I just laughed and said, “Yeah, I know—it is nice to be impressive in SOME area. I’m including a picture of my bruises. The lab had used my only good vein. So when they needed to inject dye for the CT scan they tried twice on my left arm and twice on my right wrist. Pretty impressive bruises, but they don’t really hurt. I’m just glad they got it in! So… bottom line, back is the same, abdominal pain is decreased and manageable and headaches are better than they were, but still there. I can live with all of it and will just keep soldiering forward! Onward Christian Soldiers!!! PS: You better all be praying for me to come home safely or Spencer might bring home one of his "girlfriends" in the pictures from last week! :)

Birthday and other goings on in December

Sunday was a WONDERFUL birthday celebration. I was able to visit and/or view all six of my kids and several of Spencer's. That was the best present I could have asked for. Janae sent me a JibJab card everyday for the week leading up to it. Nathan sent about a half dozen on my birthday--so I was well loved and remembered. I spoke to several of my siblings in the days before and after, also and they are great conversationalist, so it is always a treat. Thank you all so much! Then to top it off, the First Presidency scheduled their Christmas Devotional Broadcast on my birthday. I hooked my computer up to a TV upstairs in an open area by the apartments of the other missionaries. We connected to BYUtv and watched the rebroadcast of the Tabernacle Choir with David Archuletta and then the Devotional in English. The Latin missionaries watched in an apartment right by us. Afterwards we all got together and had yummy, rich chocolate cake and ice cream, along with finger sandwiches and chips. Spencer even bought candles and balloons. It was fun. Saturday we had big crowds at the temple. A Primary came for our charla. Spencer included the temple's outdoor nativity in his walk around temple grounds. He made donkey, cow and sheep sounds and thoroughly entertained kids. While he had that fun, I had to be the bad guy and move people off the tables in the comedor (DR)and guard it for the kids. That was NOT particularly fun! But the kids loved the nativity and temple pictures. The wards that came in excursions Saturday were mostly from the mountains and there were a lot of women and girls in traditional clothes. We are always enchanted by the "tipico traje". Prior to our charlas Spencer goes around to invite the kids to come. I do a warm-up activity with a ball. The child that catches shares a blessing or the name of someone who loves them or something along those lines that relates to the lesson. The kids love it. Occasionally a toddler doesn't want to relinquish it and that is an interesting challenge! This month the focus is to name gifts (blessings) we have received from Heavenly Father--which ties in with our discussion of real Christmas gifts. There is a secret about Spencer that you might not know--he loves the women and I have proof! Here are a few pictures of him and the women he loves to visit with: Monday was shopping day. We went to the mercado (open air market) together. Families who are vendors have to bring their little ones with them. We found one napping under the table. Spencer told the parents they need to find a bigger box! The temple now has hundreds of poinsettias planted. It is amazing to see both pansies and poinsettias blooming at the same time! There is also a nice, bigger than life size nativity set up and they pretty much built a stable for it. We don't have the extensive display of the Mesa Temple or Salt Lake City, but it is nice. I had to give away my poinsettias (to the Distribution Center). I guess I am allergic to them and they were creating some major sinus headaches and problems. That made me sad! This is just a fun spontaneous picture of a bride that had left the temple. You don't see dresses like this very often--either here or at home. Brides are always beautiful, but when they have just created an eternal family unit, it is a special, radiant beauty. This is long enough, so I will sign off tonight. We love all of you!!!