ONE DAY LEFT

One Day Left: 1 Last Summary of the Mission

Dad: It was challenging and hard because of the language, but that turned out to be a blessing in disguise. We were looking for ways to serve outside the temple... Humanitarian, anything! I didn't learn much Spanish, but was able to do all the ordinances in Spanish, and pray in Spanish in the temple. I read Mosiah 4:16-26 and tried to follow that counsel about caring for the beggars and the poor. We prayed for someone to help and every day, someone was put in our pah. We also tried to help the people in the temple as well. We didn't buy many souvenirs, but tried to use what we had to help someone else. There were some hard times, but looking back, I am glad I was able to serve here and loved all of the people we met.

Mom: I have always known that Heavenly Father knows our heart, but that was really reinforced here on our mission. I felt so lost the first two months... Trying to understand anything I could in Spanish and missing my family so much! In June, the bishop extended a call to work in the Young Women's and I felt a definite sense of belonging! We have a wonderful group of Young Women. I taught on Sundays and did activities on Wednesday nights and that has been a blessing to me here. I taught them how to tie a quilt and we made one of them for a lady in the ward who was having a baby. After that, I made several quilts and gave them away. We did some for the maternity hospital and the orphans here. I am not a good at memorizing, but was able to learn all the ordinances pretty quickly in Spanish, with the help of my Heavenly Father... And yes, I do understand what I am saying! I have had many sweet experiences in the temple, and with the people out on the street. I know that angels have been nearby in many situations. I have felt the prayers of family and friends, and I am so grateful for all the people I have met here. They will remain in our hearts forever.

TWO DAYS LEFT

Two Days Left: 2 of the Most Spiritual Experiences

1. On September 5th, Grandpa Barlow's birthday, he would have been 100 years old. We were doing sealings and felt his presence in the sealing room. Dad and I weren't with each other, but when we talked about it afterwards, we both had a conformation that he was there!
2. Having my family sealed together on June 11, 2013 in the Guatemala City Temple. I was impressed that we should do them that day and afterwards I said, "Happy birthday, Dad. I love you."

THREE DAYS LEFT

Three Days Left: 3 of the Best Foods Tried

1. Fruit soup... Served warm! The fruit and veggies are so plentiful and delicious!
2. Homemade corn tortillas cooed on a grill and eaten warm. They cook them outside and sell them 1Q for 4.
3. Rice pudding... Guatemala style!

FOUR DAYS LEFT

Four Days Left: 4 of the Most Influential People

1. President Carlos Amado, he was released in August, but previous to that, he was a member of the first Quorum of 70 and Area President for CA.
2. Abundio Muldando is 90+ years old and was formerly the Mayor of Guatemala City.
3. Otto Pérez Molina, the President of Guatemala. We didn't actually formally "meet" him, but we are good friends with his security team. We would get shout-outs and honks when they were driving him to work in the morning!
4. Our wonderful, extraordinary friends on the streets. Street sweepers, handymen, gardeners, security guards, fruit sellers, shoe shiners, little guy with down syndrome, and the rest! Too many to name them all! We got to say goodbye to all of them.

FIVE DAYS LEFT

Five Days Left: 5 of the Coolest Places in Guatemala

1. Rio Dulce, we traveled by small boat all the way up the Caribbean Sea at the end.
2. Tikal because of the truly remarkable ruins of an ancient Mayan City.
3. Antigua was the first capital of Guatemala. It was destroyed by two earthquakes and Spanish ruins.
4. Pacaya is one of the many volcanoes here. We hiked it and the next day, it erupted!
5. Lake Atitlan is a beautiful lake with little villages built all around it named for apostles. We did the zip line at Panihachel near here.

SIX DAYS LEFT

Six Days Left: 6 Things We Missed Most About America

1. Family and friends were missed so much!
2. Driving a car, although we did enjoy walking everywhere, too.
3. Clean air... The pollution here is thick!
4. The 4th of July, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
5. Chuck-a-Rama... Can you guess who thought of that one? ;)
6. And of course, speaking English. :)

SEVEN DAYS LEFT

*Having only a week left, I gave them a different topic each for each day, so we get a countdown and a recap of the mission.*

Seven Days Left: 7 Things You Will Miss Most About Guatemala

1. The sweet, humble, polite, industrious, hark-working, welcoming people

2. The weather! It is almost perfect all the time, even in the rainy season!

3. The volcanoes, one erupted for us today that we got to see!

4. The countryside out of the city. The beautiful flowers, trees, plants, little farms, and things growing everywhere.

5. The colorful native clothing, and the ladies carrying everything on their heads.

6. The beautiful babies, children, abuelitas, and abuelitos!

7. The fireworks! They celebrate everything with them, and they are awesome! Especially at Christmas and New Years!