Hosanna and Hallelujah

 Another week has flown by and Easter is happening on Sunday! Last Sunday was busy. We had an extra hour of sleep because here in the southern hemiphere we are heading into fall so our clocks fall back. The biggest bonus for us is that we are closer in time to our kids so it is easier to set up times to call. 

The downside is that Argentina and Chile don't change so we messed up our English Connect 2 class because we didn't clarify whose 18:00 hrs we were meeting at. So grateful for patient people.

We have also started to have people for lunch instead of dinner so we don't have to rush them out to have class. We have two new missionaries in the area Elder Ensign from Traverse City, MI and Hermana Yardley from Syracuse, UT. We enjoyed BLT's, lots of salads and Brownie Pudding or Hot Fudge Cake, whichever you call it, and ice cream. We also took a trip to the roof to show off the view.

These pictures were Sunday while the midwest was getting snow.

Monday Ken left to pick up our supervisor at the airport and make the 3 hour trip to Villarrica. Due to the monetary amount involved and that approval needs to be sent up the line, our supervisor needed to visit the hospital. Chris stayed at the office and worked on paperwork. She also shared hummus with some of the ladies at the office. Here humus is dirt but Chris told them that dirt wasn't one of the ingredients. Ken returned about 7 pm. just a little worn out.

Also on Monday Chris finally received her Paraguay phone. Everyone can still call and text her on her US number. It will be helpful when going out of the office and home to have data so she can use google translate, Bolt to get rides, maps and call people.

Tuesday we visited with Banco de Ojos again for the same reason, their project is for a big ticket item. It is amazing how when people see things in person and talk with the people themselves there is a better understanding of the organization's needs and the diligence of the directors. We also visited a government office that deals with nutrition. 

Wednesday was a busy day at the office trying to get things done before all of South America takes off on vacation(Paraguay-Thurs, Fri; Argentina- Thurs.,Fri, Mon. Tues.). We also missed an entrega ceremony for a school in Argentina because it was too far and we didn't have enough warning. They received audio visual equipment from the Church to help them move into the 21 century.

We were invited to a birthday party with our friend Oscar whose organization helps with the wheelchairs. It was an asada and it started at 8, but we didn't eat until 10 pm and returned home by midnight. Yes we are wild every now and again for a good purpose. 

Chris was asked to bring dessert and it was a hit. As with most of her recipes she had to make due with what she could find, a Paraguayan version of scotcheroos.

Just noticed that this picture confirms this dessert is a fruit or vegetable, right?

Thursday it was quiet at work and we were able to get so much done because we weren't interrupted. It was just the Myers and the guards. For lunch we had Pizza Hut delivered and shared with them. That was a treat for all of us. 

In Paraguay where the majority of people are Catholic on the Thursday before Easter they cook all day and celebrate with family at a Last Supper. Then Friday through Saturday at 3pm all they can eat is chipa. Then Saturday evening they begin celebrating the Resurrection.

Thursday night we headed to the temple. A group from Brazil was there so instead of them wearing headsets because there were too many, only those of us who wanted to listened to the session in Spanish were given headsets. Not going to lie, we were both switching between many different languages as we listened to the presentation of the endowment.

Friday some of the restaurants were closed in Paraguay. We just continued to work on paperwork and called it an early day.

Saturday Chris is speaking at a baptism. Trying to work on her Spanish. Some moments are better than others.

Spiritual thoughts for this week.

1) Studying the last week of Christ's life begins with Palm Sunday where people lined the streets and shouted "Hosanna" meaning "save us." Some of those people misunderstood how Christ would save them and left off following Him becuase He didn't do what they thought He should. It is easy to point fingers at them but do we have misunderstandings about how Jesus saving us should look like in our lives? Do we give up on Him because salvation doesn't look a certain way in our lives?

2) Heavenly Father didn't include Jesus' Atoning sacrafice in His plan of salvation so He or us would focus on our sins. He included it as a means to help us and stay focused on the process of what we can become through Him. He is not about our mistakes but about our growth!

 

Full moon from our balcony