Grateful for...

Technology!

I don't know how we lived without caller ID. I'm so glad I can look at the number on the phone and then tell Hannah, "It's for you! Answer it yourself!" I've also screened lots of political calls, and once in a while it has been handy to see who called and maybe didn't leave a message. It also helps to answer the phone knowing it's likely going to result in a food order, thus eliminating the surprise factor. lol

But the best is still the internet and computer technology that allows me to touch bases with my family in Honduras. This photo shows Mama and Papa...Francie and Jose Angel with a couple beautiful granddaughters.

Que buena!

It has been so fun to catch up with the Meza family from my mission. It's so gratifying to know how they have been for the last 25 years and to see the things they have done. I was chatting with Francy tonight. She told me that she was Relief Society president for four years and now is working in the other Relief Society meetings as well as teaching the temple prep class. Her husband is an assistant in the high priests. They are preparing for a temple trip to Guatemala on October 20. She says they go every year and she loves being in the temple. I know they are excited to have connected with me as I am with them. This technology is great! I need a current photo of them. This is the best I could do from their facebook albums.

Nancy (I think), Francy and Jasmin

Francy and her son Manases when he was on his mission--coming or going, I'm not sure which

And with all this Spanish floating around on my facebook I think my English is slipping a little. I was filling out the conducting sheet for Relief Society today and wrote for the lesson "Faith en Cristo" ha ha!

The Best Thing

First...

The friends we stayed with in California were an older couple who lived in the ward Tom grew up in. Hank was Tom's bishop at one point. His wife, Colette collects nativities and had hundreds of them on shelves in the garage.

Colette gave this nativity to Tom because Tom's mom made it.

She gave me this one because I served my mission in Honduras. This nativity is from Honduras.

Best of all...

While we were in California I checked my facebook and found a message from a girl whose family I taught while on my mission in Honduras!

This is the Meza family: Jose Angel (dad), Francisca Blanco de Meza (mom), Nancy (smallest girl) and Jasmin.

Jose Angel and Francie took the lessons for a long time. We should have dropped them several times, but we just couldn't because they were such a great family. Jose Angel had studied with the JW's for two years. He was very careful to study everything out to be sure of the move he was making. Finally, they committed to be baptized and I was transferred out of the area just before that happened. I kept in touch with them for a couple years after I came home.

Here's the Meza family on the day they were sealed in the Guatemala temple. Both parents and Jasmin have been active in the church ever since. Manaces served a mission in Costa Rica and is now 24 years old.

I keep thinking of the story that was told about a general authority who served a mission in his youth and only baptized one person. Yet, how much good came from that one baptism?

I wasn't the one who first introduced this family to the church, but I played a part in their progress. How much has happened because of my role in that? Already six people in that one family have been influencing those around them. Add all the others I taught and it is mind-boggling.