Colonia...Special Memories with Special People

Monday, May 12, 2014

We received permission to travel into the other mission and drove to Colonia to see Hermana Masas.  She was one of the few members that lived in Colonia when Mike served there his first time.  It was a new branch and he served as the Branch President and the Relief Society President.  His companion was his counselor and the Primary President.  It wasn't too long before Mike found Hermana Masas and called her as the first Relief Society president. She had joined the church in Montevideo and then moved to Colonia and didn't realize that the church was there in Colonia.  She has been a strong pillar of strength as Colonia has moved from a branch to 2 wards in the last 40 years.   

From a small branch with 6 active members to a full chapel
with 2 wards.  This is where Mike served for 6 months.

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The following pictures are just shots while traveling through the countryside.

El Puerto  - The Port

Containers without end!

I think my Casio Keyboard is in here somewhere.
I ordered it from SLC about 3 months ago!

Containers being moved.

It is raining.

Leaving Port

This building is the most modern building I have seen.

Next to this modern building is the train station.

Train station...not used much anymore.

This building belongs to Antel.
They are the only telephone provider.

And right next to Antel live the poorest of the poor.

People live in these make-shift houses, by an old warehouse.

Not the best of the cruise ships I have seen.

On a main highway you will often see...

... a horse pulling a cart.

John Deere is alive and well here in Uruguay.

Electricity generating windmills.

Colonia is a tourist town. The river crossing is here to get to Argentina.

These cobblestone streets brought memories of missionary
bike riding back in the day.

We had a nice day and enjoyed this quaint little town.

Feliz Dia de las Madres

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Feliz Dia de las Madres!

Mother's Day is celebrated here in Uruguay.  We had a very busy day.  My emotions were held in check until in Sacrament meeting we sang "Love At Home".  After I got through that the rest of the day was great and rewarding!

Refrigerator magnet from Relief Society

From the Young Women

From the Primary

It was during Relief Society that all the above gifts were given.  First the young women came in then a few minutes later some Primary children delivered their gifts.  Relief Society handed theirs out at the end of the lesson.

From Sister Hawley
Uruguayan Flag

From Sister Zegarra and Sister Schaelling

My Mother's Day Present  A Waffle Maker...Only one store had this.. not a common item

After church we set up Mike's laptop at the mission office for the Elders to use so that the could Skype with their mothers today.  We then delivered a carnation and a Mother's Day message to Ema, Ivana, Yisel and her sister.

After that, we visited a facility that cares for senior citizens and delivered carnations to the elderly women there.  I thought they would be inundated for Mother's Day but not so.  It was a small facility that cares for about 15 people. 10 were women.  Those that had their faculties to comprehend were very appreciative of the flower and the short visit.  Mike has so much compassion that is expressed to them with his smile and of course his spanish language.  It is wonderful to watch.  

When we got home, I fixed green chile enchiladas for dinner. I had been saving the green enchilada sauce that Kammi sent me for a special occasion.  So today was the day!  The sisters came over to use my laptop and Skype with their families.  It was so wonderful to share that experience with them.  We were able to say hi to both of Sister Zegarra's and Sister Schaelling's families.  They each get 45 minutes to visit.  So after that fun, we all ate dinner together.  

We called home to everyone and had a great visit.  We also visited via facetime with Mom and Dad Burnett thanks to Teri.  They have been very sick recently and Dad could only talk a little bit before he got frustrated with not being able to communicate properly.  They are not home, but in a rehab facility.