HOME AGAIN.....THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!

We have been back for about two weeks now. It feels as if we have been gone for a good 10 years....and at the same time we have never left. What a mixture of emotions as we took off from Guatemala City on June 7th. We knew we were going home to friends and family....but really felt as if we were leaving family and friends in Central America. Our time there has been some of the most rewarding of our entire lives. We are so thankful for the opportunity to take a step out of life and have this experience.

Landing in the good ole USA

As we landed in Dallas it was so interesting to feel our reactions to being once again on US soil. The emotions are hard to explain...but anyone who has lived outside of the US for any length of time can appreciate how we felt. As we went through Customs, the agent looked at our passports and asked us if we were US citizens. Wayne looked right at him and said "si"....it was different to be speaking English.

The connection between Dallas and Phoenix was about an hour wait. Wayne saw and visited with an Elder who was returning to Thatcher and would be on our same flight. That was a blessed experience for both of them. When we reached Phoenix...we knew that our family was waiting. They had a sign and were all there! (Except Todd who was still in SLC for a couple of days). I had worried that our little ones who only knew us on Skype would not know who we were...but no trouble.....it took them about 30 seconds and they were running to us. What a joy to see them all again.

With the best support team in the world!!

We had a wonderful evening with all of them at our home. Our Stake President and dear friend Grant Walton came over and read our release letter to them all, and then talked about us wearing the name of Jesus Christ and being his missionaries for two years. He then had us take off our plaques....which I have to tell you was really hard for me. What a blessing wearing that badge had been for two years.

Getting to know Staci Elizabeth Gietz

The rest of the week was wedding...wedding...wedding. We had a great time and a beautiful day on Friday. Conner and Alissa were so ready to be married...and Alissa was so excited to be able to go through the temple. She was thrilled to be able to take out those covenants. Everyone had prepared so well that the reception went absolutely flawlessly....and we had a big party.

All of our girls at the temple

Dad and Alissa

Alissa and Conner with all our grandkids

We are excited to begin the next phase of our life. Who knows what will happen? We are looking into different opportunities to continue to be of help where we are needed. As I looked at the blog this morning I realized that this is about blog Number 300. I started this blog because I knew that I wasn't a very good journal writer. My next goal is to print and publish it for my family. Thanks for all of you who have read it, commented on it, and been such a support to Wayne and me during this mission.....the field is truly white and ready to harvest!!

ICING ON THE CAKE

Our last Saturday in Guatemala was busy but PERFECT!! We had a lot to do that day to get ready to leave....going to the bank, making sure everything was taken care of...etc. But we had a great surprise that happened to be the icing on the cake for us.

About a week ago I noticed on facebook that one of "our missionaries" from Honduras was getting married and would be here June 5th for his sealing. We immediately let "Elder" Cristian Orellana know that we would be there for him. Elder Orellana joined the Church by himself basically being cut off from his family. He worked for many years to go on his mission....and was one of the older missionaries. He was a consciencious missionary and didn't get into mischief. He just had a different perspective.

Our office Elders at Halloween
Elder Payne, Elder Eiteneier, Elder Perez and Elder Orellana

We met him and his bride at the temple and were able to witness their sealing. In fact we were surprised and humbled to learn that Cristian had asked for Wayne to be his witness. What an honor and a blessing for us to be there. As I gave him a great hug (which was okay now) I told him that he would always be a son to us. This couple will be a great asset to the Church in Salvador. They are both returned missionaries.

Hermano y Hermana Orellana

Her dress was gorgeous!!

Just a note.....in order to be sealed in the temple the couple is married civilly in their own country. This group then got on a bus and traveled all night to get to the temple in Guatemala from Salvador. They then had the sealing.....got on the bus and went back home. There were actually two couples from their Stake that were sealed. There were over 30 people at the sealings. No small sacrifice.

With our adopted missionary son

The other great thing Saturday was that Flor (the director of the girl's clinic) called us and told us that the girls had prepared a card for us. We went out to the clinic and all the girls gathered (as well as the dogs) to present their remembrance for us. They were so cute and it was hard for me not to cry. The only thing that helped me to keep my cool was the fact that I knew that the next girls to hug me would be my own.

Wayne with his friend the dog.....and all the girls

Flor had made a box.....all the girls had signed it. They gave me a beautiful scarf to remember them by. What a great day!!

Muchos embrassos

THE LAST PATIENT

With our last patient Hermana Paau from Panama

I found a book while cleaning out the other day that listed ALL of our patients while we were in Honduras. It is amazing to see the numbers of people that we have treated. This last Thursday we were able to treat our very last mission patient. It was fitting that it was a sister from the CCM. Her name is Hermana Paau and she is from Panama.

Hermana Paau needed to have three wisdom teeth extracted. Wayne was in heaven when he realized that his last service would be an angular, impacted lower wisdom tooth. I was thrilled that I knew what he was talking about.......it's been a good two years.

THE CLEANUP CONTINUES

Beautiful photo of our active volcano

The cleanup continues here in Guatemala after our two edged whammy last week. After Pacaya exploded ash and debris into the air....we were blessed with the first tropical storm of the active hurricane season...Agatha. As reported in the Church News all members and missionaries are safe and accounted for, but many members have lost their homes and are wondering about their crops for the season.

As we drove the streets of Guatemala City this week we saw people EVERYWHERE cleaning. They even had the army or national guard shoveling up ash. The people were instructed to just put it in piles or bags and they would come by and pick it up. They were NOT to wash it into the sewer and drainage systems...this would just cause everything to back up. I have been pretty impressed that things are as clean this quickly. Lots of bags around, but the main streets are for the most part clean.

One of the city workers
Everyone is wearing masks while they work...the air is a mess!!

Our main nuisance was the fact that the airport has been closed and we have been wondering if all will be well for our flight out. Things are back to normal at the airport...and barring any other volcanic activity we will be on our way tomorrow morning. Today I am hoping to do the report of all the things that we have done this last week.....so hopefully they will be in some semblance of order and make sense!!

Elder Fillmore on top of the clinic roof....
you forget that the ash is on top of everything!!

Our Tio Juan girls cleaning up the yard

The other part of this drama that has hit the international news is the giant SINKHOLE that appeared last weekend. This is actually in Zona 2 which is the area our dental clinic is in. All of you have seen the picture of the sinkhole.


What you probably haven't seen is the picture from the "other side". Notice the LDS church in the background just a half of a block from the hole.

FAREWELL

Greeting friends at the farewell

One of the great traditions that the Area Presidency has here in Guatemala is the farewells that they have for each couple that is leaving their mission or service in the area. Great that is....until it is your turn. This is traditionally a pot luck dinner (which you know is always the best food) followed by thanks and good wishes for the departing missionaries.


We were lucky to be able to share our farewell with Bill and Adele Blackburn. They will be leaving one week after we are. Sharing made it a little less painful to have all the attention on us. We did enjoy getting to see all the area people one last time......as well as being able to thank them for their influence in our lives.

Myrna and Rexene with the gorgeous flowers

The couples from Victoria Suites had composed a song to the tune of "Leaving on a Jet Plane". It was adorable and they had a great time singing it....

The Blackburns....the other departing couple

We are now officially sorting out the apartment and packing our bags!!!

BEAUTIFUL TREE

Just had to add this picture of my favorite tree in Central America. These are absolutely the brightest and most vibrant orange color. I loved seeing them in Honduras and was so excited to see one a couple of weeks ago when we were driving around.......the picture does not do the color justice!!!

EATING OUT

The first six months of our mission we NEVER ate dinner out. When the Blaisdells visited in January of '09 we ventured out to Chilis. Hopefully this was because of our lack of Spanish....but we have definitely made up for it since our move to Guatemala. Just this last week we have been able to go out two times.

After a temple session we went out with Dic and Jennifer Johnson to an Italian restaurant that is owned by their next door neighbor. He treated us to appetizers and insisted that we get the chocolate mousse. It was a fun evening....and Dic and Wayne looked great in their bibs.


This last week we went out with Dr Luis Contreras and his wife. He is the LDS dentist that has been so helpful in getting the clinic started. We have enjoyed getting to know him and appreciated all that he does.

With the Contreras and the Fillmores

ISMAEL.....FOUR ROOT CANALS

Meet Ismael Tecu. Ismael is one of our Tio Juan boys. Wayne has done four root canals on him these past few months. We finished up his work this last week. What a blessing this will be in his life. We have enjoyed getting to know him and doing this service for him. One of the fruits of our labors.......