Before the Deadline

Hola again from us . . .                                            September 30,2013

The Audits are finished 100% before the deadline and we were second in the world - Mexico always seems to beat the Caribbean and they have 5 times the number of units!   We are glad to get 100% in - many areas don't get that done.   Then it all happens again starting in January.  Now we are preparing for our 7 Assistant Auditors to gather here in November for a seminar.  We did this last September right after we arrived - so it isn't quite the "unknown" that it was then.  We just have to figure out the travel, meals, agenda for training etc.  We think there will be two visitors from the Auditing Department in Salt Lake here to contribute and observe.

Chuck flipping burgers and hotdogs

 for the DR East Mission lunch.

Last week we went to the East Mission Office to help with a bar-b-que lunch they were having for about 50 missionaries.  They regularly do this when asked - this time it was for two districts that were gathered.  Chuck was helping cook/flip the burgers and hot dogs - it was HOT!   They gave them a burger, hotdog, bag of chips and Klondike ice cream bar and they were happy campers!    A couple of elders that are avid BYU football fans had to stand on the stage and sing the Ute fight song . . . they lost the bet.  It was a fun time! 

We fly to Arizona this Friday and will enjoy being with Jason/Angela and family a few days.  We have some doctor appointments and will then drive to St. George and the Jera/Jordan house to meet newest grandson Miles at 3 months old and on to Pleasant Grove to be with Jenna/Lane and then our annual training in Salt Lake - which is the reason for the trip.  We are excited to be able to see all our "kids" except the Florida ones on this jaunt home.  We are really looking forward to it!!  One thing we will be hauling home is a 4 foot carved mask that we bought . . . Chuck thinks it won't be "any problem at all" . . . . we'll see!

Our work/life seems to be pretty routine these days with our schedule the same each week . . . which is good and we love all that we are involved in and the wonderful people we associate with.   

Broken helmet "fixed" with a rubber band.

It will be great to watch General Conference this weekend.  For our friends that have never seen a session of General Conference of our "Mormon"  faith - it is held twice a year in Salt Lake City and you can get full coverage at http://www.lds.org/.  It is always uplifting and timely for our day - teaching about gospel principles and encouragement in living the commandments given us by a loving Heavenly Father.

Cycle with a load of mops.

LOVE TO ALL . . . hope life is treating you well with wonderful blessings to recognize in your daily lives!!   xoxoxoxo Lots of Love . . . Mom and Dad, Chuck and Vickie, Grandma and Grandpa  xoxoxo

Chuck with Oswaldo - the day guard for our apartment building.  He is a wonderful helper to haul groceries etc.  Chuck teases him that he prays always for rain so he can wash our car! 

   

  

Family Elders

45th Anniversary - the office people  were so fun to stop, visit, get candy and think it incredible to be married so long!    

Hola family and friends . . .                                               September 15, 2013

The audit period is coming to a close and we are looking good - West Indies, Haiti, Santiago DR, East DR are all finished.  Puerto Rico, Jamaica and West DR are almost there. 

We are still really warm here in the DR and ready for cooler weather . . . however, we haven't noticed a whole lot of change this last year in the temperatures.  It seems to be more which fruit is in season! 

There was an outbreak of cholera that the Crismons (Welfare Couple) have been dealing with and trying to have some buckets put together of cleaning supplies for families - possibly 3,000 of them.  It is in a very poor area that the people struggle to have clean water.  It seems to drag on as they try to work with the agencies here.  Sorta scary stuff . . .

Their is a team of doctors/specialists here from the states this week to give Neonatal Resuscitation Training.   Dr. Jensen is the head of the team and we worked with him in Argentina.  Such wonderful people that donate their time and knowledge to come and help others.  We had them over for dinner and it was a fun visit! 

It is a joy to be here to welcome Elder Neeley and Elder Buehner to serve as missionaries here in the DR.  Elder Neeley is the grandson of my cousin and Elder Buehner the grandson of my brother.  Fabulous young men - happy and excited to serve and working hard to learn the language and all else they need to know to go out and teach the gospel when they leave the MTC.  Elder Neeley and his companion have been assigned to us on Mondays for their 4 weeks of training to teach in Spanish.  It would of been great to have Elder Buehner also - not to be - he is on a different schedule.   We will try and keep them supplied with some treats! 
  

Us with Elder Buehner

Us with Elder Neeley

We visited some underground caves with the Dunfords about an hour out of the city.  "Cueva de las Maravillas" was really pretty and interesting - such a marvel what can occur under the ground.  The caves were discovered in 1926 but just opened to the public in 2003.  There were many Taino Indian drawings - we have to admit to questioning some of their validity . . . but, the caves were gorgeous with well lit paths and railings.  

It was sad to learn of the missionary from here in the DR that was killed while serving in Colombia.  His stake president works here in the office and said his family was of course devastated.  He was their youngest child.  Chuck had sat in church by the DTA (Director of Temporal Affairs) for our area the Sunday after it happened and he reported having been up most of the night trying to arrange for the body to be returned home.  Hard, unexpected things.   

I have been asked to serve on an Area Communications Committee - I have to admit it seems a little overwhelming - but there are people coming from Salt Lake City to train in what they would like to see happen.  All I could say was . . . "I will try."  They said they needed my English input . . . ya think, it certainly wasn't for my Spanish! 

We know fall is in the air for some of you . . . ENJOY!  LOVE TO YOU . . . be good to each other  XOXOXO Mom and Dad, Chuck and Vickie, Grandma and Grandpa

I need a recipe for what to do with a cow head . . .

The guys on cycles scoot in, out and around and squeeze through traffic  . . . this guy came to a fast halt!