Happy New Year...2009

Things are quiet, here. We have not done anything unusual, nor do we plan to go anywhere for a week. The very quiet is a relief. There is a peaceful feeling about routine, and we are grateful for a moment to breathe and catch-up.

The most wonderful thing has occurred and that is that we are out of glasses. More will be coming in a few weeks, but the clinic we had scheduled next week will likely have to be canceled due to lack of inventory. This is wonderful, to think that over a thousand pair of glasses have been distributed. There will be a percentage of those glasses that will be lost, sat on, forgotten, or unused; but there will be a huge number of those glasses that will help someone to read, sew, comb their grandchild's hair, cook or in someway improve their life in a small way. We read in the Book of Mormon that "by small and simple things are great things brought to pass". Perhaps these glasses won't be a means to "great" things, but they are truly appreciated by many and will be a help in numerous small daily tasks.

Christmas trees in malls and streets are coming down this week. Students are ready to go back to school in a week or two after the three month holiday. It is still the dry, very dry, season. We are beginning to long for a few raindrops.

The more we learn about the Maya the more fascinated we become. I may never know the connection to the Book of Mormon for sure, but this land seems to be a double image. We see the present, but there is a shadowy past that seems to faintly stand behind every hill, every tree and in some ways, every person we see. Traditions and culture constantly hint of something ancient and, yet familiar, because of our study of the Book of Mormon. For example, Guatemalan jade is beautiful. Like Chinese jade, it is between 7 and 8 on the hardness scale. It's toughness and density is close to that of a diamond. It is difficult to sculpt, yet it has been exquisitely crafted in objects that have been discovered by archeologists. There are several kinds of jade, but two are especially interesting to me. There are two types of jade called nephite and jaredite. I'm sure this are scientific nomenclature but who decided to call this mineral those names? Curiouser and curiouser!

Lake Atitlan, each time we see it is more beautiful. Could this be the "waters of Mormon"? There are sunken cities along the shore with columns and homes. Divers are discovering communities beneath the waters near the shore.

We live in a geologically active area. I can hear the plates grinding together off the Pacific shore in my sleep. Of course, I really can't, but I think about this often. Central America, and Guatemala, particularly is the product of forces that are still dynamic.

If I talk about "simple things" I must mention this story. When we came on our mission we knew I would have trouble with my left foot, but we thought that perhaps we would be blessed to have that decline delayed. Blessings and prayers have not been answered in the way we thought. Pain and deformity has, while not stopped me in any way, has been a worry. So, we have left this problem to the Lord. A day or so ago, we passed a kiosk in the mall selling "Crocs". I'm sure everyone knows what those are. I have seen my grandchildren wear them. I bought a pair and brought them home. From the minute I put them on I have been able to walk. I don't know if I can explain the humor in this, but it is also a lesson. I asked for a physical miracle and the Lord, probably with a smile on His face, led me to a shoe store instead.

And on to the next week....