Pot Luck, Parrots and Future Plans

This week we enjoyed a pot luck dinner at the apartment of the temple president to say good bye to the Johnsons (our Area President who is going to be the new Area President in Mexico. He grew up in Colonia Juarez in Mexico and his wife, Leann is from Sugar City, near BYU Idaho.) We also said good bye to President Lee and his wife (He is an Area 70 and was a member of the Area Presidency and Chairman of the Area PEF Committee. He is also our landlord.)The Lees are moving north to Santiago to serve as the Mission President there. The Fletchers (Secretary to the Area Presidency) are going home, as well as the Bagwells (He served with Grandpa in the West Mexican Mission many long years ago) and the Goodmans (He is retiring from his job as the Area S&I Director). Did you know that CES is now S&I? The Church Education System is now Seminaries and Institute. Many wonderful people are leaving right now. There is a slow and constant turnover. No one is irreplaceable and we will take our turn to depart next month. It is a privilege to work with great people who are willing to leave their homes and families and give service in parts of the world that have less opportunity than our country. These are the Johnsons.

It is easy to get discouraged about the state of the world but there are many positive things going on and progress is being made within individual lives. And that is where it counts. Many people are choosing to contribute and build rather than complain and demand. Youth are finding ways to go to school and sometimes when they can’t find a job they start a business. People are learning to read. People who can read are choosing to read good books and learn new skills. People are serving and helping within their families and trading services with their neighbors. Many youth are stepping up to serve in church teaching and leadership positions because they have skills that are needed. Our little branch, Gonzalo just called José, who is 12, to serve as the assistant clerk. He is the assistant and the only clerk in the branch. The branch president can’t do everything and Jose is more skilled than several men much older than he is because José can read and write and is a responsible person. Many members of this branch grew up in Haiti and have never gone to school. It is very difficult to learn the gospel and serve in church callings without being able to read. You are so blessed to have that skill. Use it. Everyone is needed. Develop your skills and reach out to help someone. It isn’t necessary to leave home to make a difference.

We had our next to last Area PEF Committee Meeting. We accomplished a lot with that meeting but also learned that we sent out the wrong version of a letter to every priesthood leader and participant in the DR. Oops. So we spent two more days sending out the correct version. Maybe they will read it and pay more attention with two copies. We have had so much difficulty identifying payments...hopefully they will better realize the necessity of putting their loan number on their deposit slips!

I finally got a photo where you can actually see the green parrots in the green tree tops outside our bedroom window. Look carefully and you can see them. Just imagine that you can hear their squawking. Not a lovely sound but very tropical.

We had a baptism in the Gonzalo branch. Here is the group in front of the chapel before the baptism.

Here is a photo of Presidente Rodriguez and some deacons and wannabe deacons. They all took turns wearing the missionaries name tags.

We are planning a Lewis and Jeri Pettingill Family Reunion in June of 2010. We welcome your suggestions and hope you will come if you can.

And, schedule us for a grandparent visit so we can spend time with your little darlings and you and your spouse can spend time without them. This is a limited time offer...meaning we only want to stay as long as we and the kids enjoy it. I suspect the parents could enjoy it for months but we are thinking a week or less.

Love you, Mom and Dad P