We began with 10 days of training. Seven at the Missionary Training Center in Provo Utah then three days in Salt Lake City at the Church office building learning specific training to our job in Honduras.
Bottom row- instructor Sis. Bateman, Sis. Greer, Sis. Moleff, Sis. Nehring, Sis. Emett
Emetts- New York Seneca Lake Mission- Seneca Lake Girls Camp
Greers- Honduras Tegucigalpa Mission - Self Reliance & Perpetual Education Fund
Moleff's- Thailand Mission - Family History Specialists
Nehrings- Provo Utah Mission- Member Leadership Support
The Church has a 3 pronged approach to help people in developing countries become SELF RELIANT.
1- SELF RELIANCE- Help them find jobs by discovering their interests and talents, learning how to promote themselves, preparing a resume, searching for a job, interviewing, etc. www.ldsjobs.org
2- SELF EMPLOYMENT - If they already have a business then helping them improve their business skills. A huge percentage of the world is self employed and many don't have basic business skills. Through a 12 week course they will learn and practice new skills to improve or start their own businesses.
3- PERPETUAL EDUCATION FUND- If they desire or need additional education for a specific job but don't have personal or family funds for it then we help them apply for the Perpetual Education Fund. This fund allows them to have a small loan with the understanding that they will make small payments during their education and then larger payments once their education is completed. pef.lds.org
Our office in Tegucigalpa is in a large Church Education Institute of Religion building across from a major university- UNAH. We enjoy working with the young adults of Honduras.
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| Some of the institute staff. |
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| Our office |
Just East of our building is the Basilica for the Catholic church. Look in the far back center.
Clyne & Ann Long with us at Tegucigalpa LDS Temple
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Nacional Parque de Picacho
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| Unfortunately Dad is the only one that smiles while he sleeps! |
SEMANA SANTA
No work this week as everything is shut down for Semana Santa- (Holy Week). We went to a National Park called El Cristo del Picacho today that has a big Christus statue that looks over the valley. The gardens surrounding it were beautiful. We also went into the old City center & walked around. It was a busy place. We toured a cathedral.. Later this week we will head back down there to see all the Alfombras they will create in honor of Christs last week. Just in case you aren’t familiar an Alfombra it is a huge “carpet” made out of sawdust. It is colored & decorated very ornately. They create several of these carpets down the streets. Then in the evening they have a parade and walk thru these carpets destroying them with the several stations of the Cross.
They then walk through these beautiful Alfombras (carpets) with the stations of the cross.
There's always room for Jello,,, or I mean Baleada's which are a local favorite.
It is like a quesadilla with beans & cheese. The tortilla is thicker & softer than a regular tortilla.
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
Our apartment is in a very nice neighborhood called Trapiche.
It is well guarded by handsome young men who earn about $10 per day. Their shifts are long but they are always smiling!
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| Our unit within this 6-plex is $750 per month including utilities! Not bad. |
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| Birdhouse shaped ficus trees anyone? |
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| Any color goes here! |
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| or if you can't decide which color to paint your home just go with both purple & green! |
Elder y Hermana Long who we replaced. They gave us a wonderful foundation!
Hermana Smart and Hermana Farrer are mission nurses & our dear neighbors
LA BRIGADA
or medical mission came to our area so we visited them.
www.smilesforcentralamerica.com
Their mission is:
To provide dental and medical services for young Latter-day Saint men and women in Central America to help them prepare to serve full-time LDS missions
and
To provide love, care, and support for our neighbors in Central America through a variety of community service projects for orphanages, children's cancer hospitals, maternity hospitals, a dental school, and families in need.
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| Look closely & you'll see our good friend Dr Stu Boyse! What a surprise to run into him. |
Valle de Angeles
We took advantage of another day off due to a holiday and travel an hour or so up into the mountains to visit Valle de Angeles. The scenery was beautiful and there was a small town filled to brim with tourist souvenirs.
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| Our audience while we ate at their restaurant & I'm sure it was also their home. |
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| Lunch first with Pupusas made right beside our table! |
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| Walls of pop bottle lids made up this beautiful artwork! |
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| Flowering trees make this magical place blossom in an otherwise harsh environment. |
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| Tuk tuks just like in India! The cabbies were asleep in the back waiting for their next fare. La Tigre National Forest |
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| La Tigre National Forest borders Valle de Angeles. It was strip mined for many years making it an eye sore. In the 1980's it was declared a National Forest & re-planted. Today it is a beautiful place. |
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| This family lives right up against the steep drop off into the canyon of La Tigre National Forest. They certainly have a million dollar view! That is about all this little family has but they were happy to smile for us. Culinary Treats! |
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| Mat was determined to make his own peanut butter. This 2nd attempt was perfect!!! |
TRANSFERS.....
Typically transfers happen to young missionaries.
Typically they are within the mission boundaries.
This is not a typical transfer....
It all started last Thursday, May 8th when Mat received a cell phone call from Margie at Elder Dallin Oaks office. Mat sunk to his chair. She asked if we were available for a video conference with Elder Oaks on Friday. We have both been sick to our stomachs since then. Elder Oaks was jovial & tried to put us at ease during this “exploratory visit”. After he checked on the well being of each family member he said he thought he would share what we were being considered for, Mission President of the Xalapa Mexico Mission. He then gave us his home & cell phone numbers in case we had anything we felt we had forgotten to tell him stating we could call him over the weekend. He said if we were not who the Lord had chosen then he would call us back. Otherwise we could plan on another video conference with a member of the First Presidency. ……
One extremely long weekend later……
We received an email from President Eyrings office. She arranged the video conference for Wednesday afternoon. Ugh more waiting. President Eyring made it short and sweet. Elder & Sister Greer you have been called as Mission President of the Xalapa Mexico Mission for a period of three years beginning July 1, 2014.
So we are packing up to return home for a short month!
We will see you soon.
