Children and music

The fewer number of children, the more they are able to participate in the sacrament primary programs. Last Sunday we attended the Tarqui ward primary program and heard one of the best programs we have ever heard. There were only twelve children, all dressed in clean sunday best, prepared by capable leaders to speak their memorized parts and sing their songs of the gospel.
In the afternoon we attended the Las Americas ward and listened to slightly more children perform,(about fifteen). One of the older girls did all the announcing of the program in a very professional-like manner. There always seems to be one little child whose performance makes the whole experience memorable. It's a rejuvenating experience listening to the children perform.
Sister Rigby prepared a traditional thanksgiving dinner for Ben, our nephew and Paulina, his friend on Thanksgiving night. It was marvelous with a whole turkey, dressing, mashed potatos and gravy, salads, two kinds of pie and ice cream etc. We wanted Paulina to know what a Thanksgiving dinner is like. I think she was very impressed. On the monday night before, we joined with the temple presidency and fellow missionaries for a thanksgiving dinner. Photos have been sent showing the menu items and the people who were present at the dinner. The sisters are from left to right: Sisters Torres, Perez, Fuhriman, Rigby, Betancourt, Rojas, Hewett, Busby, Diaz, Ripple, and de la Paz. The brothers are: Busby, Torres, Ripple, Betancourt, Rojas, Fuhriman, Perez, Hewett, and Rigby. There is a photo of Roxana and her son. She comes to an English Sunday School class to keep up with her english. She served a mission in New York and does very well with english. She takes her turn teaching the lesson.
There is also a photo of bus 13. These buses are very old and noisy but they get us there and back at a very reasonable price .25.
The power outages continue. Usually we are not affected here but the generator for the apartment building has not been functioning so we are on city power and subject to the outages that plague this community and country. Rain is needed to fill the reservoirs to run the generators that supply this country electricity.
We are looking forward to a simple Christmas here. Although our children, grandchildren and friends will be missed, we will be with new friends and enjoying the experience. May you also feel the warmth and love of the Savior, your family and friends during this Christmas season. May we live so that we may say..."that we lived after the manner of happiness."