This is our angel Moroni while still at the manufacturers in Utah. Its being loaded into a crate for shipping. Currently it is on the site in storage. No, he's not real gold, it's just paint that's gold colored.

These are two of our twelve oxen at the manufacturers in Utah. They are placed at the base of the font symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel. These two photos are pictures of pictures that I took that were on the wall in Prime Interior's office next to ours.

21 months in El Salvador!

All is well. It's hard to believe we've been here this long and our mission is almost up! But, we are working on extending 6 months.....  There's no way we can leave now!! The temple is nearing completion and all the fun stuff is just beginning to happen.
We've had  a busy "winter" here, as work has progressed, so have the visits from those in the USA involved. Jim is busy 6 days a week.  I spend a few days at the office but I'm really not much help concerning construction or translations! I submitted my 100th photo album 2 weeks ago. Each album has about 75-100 photos. I take most of them on Friday and Saturday.
On many Sundays in the afternoons we travel the country giving stake firesides. We have given a fireside in almost all the stakes in El Salvador. We've done at least 12. There are at least 3 more stakes left that would complete all the stakes in the country.  We do a slideshow of the construction and Jim tells some great stories of experiences on the site. These times when we get to be with the saints are truly the highlight of our mission. The people are so great, so humble and faithful! We just love the members in the country. At every stake we deliver bags of clothing for newly called missionaries. (or whomever the Stake Prez feels is in need, and all are in need.....) This clothing has come from the states via suitcases brought down by our architects and family visits.  Every stake has between 30-50 missionaries serving. I often wonder when we travel to a new area, what will we find in this area of the country? And in every situation it is the same. Great, great, awsome people.
The best the last few months? Definitely giving the firesides is number 1! The greenery, the fresh fruit, and veggies, the new friends we've met are the best too. The worst? Well, the mold growing behind the mirror in the bedroom and in my shoes isn't too cool, but I love the rainy season. It's cooler, that's why it's called "winter".
We wonder how we will survive a REAL Montana winter when we get home!

Temple NE view. You can see the white waterproofing on the north side. It's progressing!

The first week in August is a holiday in El Salvador called Agostinos. It is a national and state holiday. We had very few people working during the week so we took a vacation! We visited the island of Roatan in Honduras. It's a short flight, 1 1.2 hours on a puddle jumper. Some friends we met here offered the use of their condo! Yeah! This picture was taken at Gumbalimba Park.

This picture too. Gumbalimba Park.

Our backyard or "garden" as they call them here. It is so lush and green because of all the rain. It's like a fairy garden! We cut the rose bushes down in May and left them on the ground. When the gardener came (he comes every 2 weeks, cuts the grass with a machete. $15.00) he stuck the stems in the ground and lo and behold, they started blooming and now we have little rose bushes everywhere with blooms! Amazing.

Checking out handwoven bedspreads for the missionary apartments in San Sebastian. The bedspreads have already been chosen and ordered, but I thought these would be nice additional blankets or "throws". The units have central air conditioning so blankets will be needed. I get to do the shopping to "stock" the apartments with linens, kitchen utinsels and small appliances. I've been doing a lot of price checking. I think the apartments should have a few items made in El Salvador.

Jim speaking at a BSA Court of Honor at the American Embassy. Jim was invited to give a brief talk on "strong foundations". He did a great job. Of course, he knows all about strong foundations, literally!

The temple tower. Jim is taking the photo from the bucket of the crane. The granite is almost complete on all sides of the tower. They are waterproofing the building right now and will be starting the granite at the base on the east side.