And then it was September!

Here we are - nearly a year since I received my mission call!  I still remember the shock of a call to Puerto Rico - had never thought of an assignment in the Caribbean - what a choice experience!  On the 13th, I will have completed 8 months already!  I looked back over my planner to see where the past month has gone.  Thanks to a special friend for reminding me to update this blog.....a bit humbling to know that there are folks who are interested in sharing this journey!

Well - the month of August - Week 1 was mostly missionary visits - variety of complaints; Week 2 - Dave and Steph arrived on 8/13 and we toured the island until they had to return home on 8/18.  We tried to fit as much as possible into that time - started with a trip to Fajardo to catch the Ferry to Vieques island.  SWA had temporarily misplaced a suitcase which we picked up enroute.  We knew we would be too late for the 9:30am Ferry anyway, but spoke to a family from PA who had been there at 8am and all tickets were sold by then.  We caught the 1pm Ferry - chose to ride on the second level since there were larger windows - not a good choice with the rock/roll of the choppy Atlantic.  We enjoyed another overnight stay at Casa La Lanchita.  One of my tasks was taking an iron, rice cooker and baking dishes to the Elders assigned there.  Dave had a great time utilizing his Spanish language skills with the Elders from the Dominican Republic and Argentina.  Ironically, Dave's favorite companion from his mission in Argentina was Institute teacher and mentor for Elder Colmenares.  After Dave and Steph took a tour around this small island, we met the Elders for lunch - the trip back on the Ferry was much better and we stayed on the bottom floor with minimal windows (a bit like the Jaredites???) and played Phase 10.  The next day we drove around the entire island of Puerto Rico with stops at the Arecibo Observatory, San German Elders where we got a bag of fresh avocados from trees in their front yard, and Ponce (pork and chicken pinchos - grilled and served on a stick) and helado (great frozen treat - cross between ice cream and sherbet).  In the evening, we met other senior missionaries for dinner at an Argentine restaurant.  Dave enjoyed familiar foods and had an opportunity to chat with a waiter from Cordoba, Argentina where he had served.  We ended up eating at The Crepe Maker twice while they were here - Steph's favorite!  Week 3 - more missionary visits.  The last week of the month, I flew to FL again to visit Mom.  She was getting a bit weary of a long summer - when the 'snowbirds' go home, the activities in her neighborhood slow down.  We had the opportunity to go to the mall for shopping and pedicures, a trip to the Chiropractor, dinners out and odds & ends that she wanted to do while I was there.

Sisters Boucher, Eakle and Wentzel met me at the airport when I returned from FL and we joined the 'special meeting' at the Mission Home (BYU football on TV and yummy food! - about 14 old/young missionaries :o)

Well, I didn't think I had much to write about......

The Outlet at Route 66/Rio Grande, PR

Inside the Mall - many familiar name-brand stores

Mall Carousel

Looking down the driveway from the Rio Grande Elders' House - hard to tell, but it is like climbing a rock wall without a Jeep

Dave/Steph in Esperanza, Vieques, PR

L to R - Elder Colmenares/Argentina, Elder Jenkins/Utah, Elder Paniagua/Domican Republic, Steph and Dave

Dave/Steph in front of Arecibo Observatory dish, etc.

 Looking forward to my next visitor - Heidi will be visiting from Salt Lake City in mid-October!  Should be a bit cooler by then although we had really good weather when Dave and Steph visited as well.....