This week has been extra special with the visit from Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve and Elder Ulisses Soares of the Presidency of the Seventy. They spent their first few days in Quetzaltenango and Retalhuleu, but were here in Guatemala City for the past two days. On Tuesday Rick was in meetings with the Area Presidency and the Brethren for eight hours during the Area Review. We had been preparing for months for this meeting and it went very well. Rick was particularly impressed with Elder Cook's desire to learn as much as he could about Central America--the people, the challenges, and the Church. Yesterday they held a meeting with all the Church employees. At the end the wanted to shake hands with all who were present. This meeting was followed by a session with all the missionaries from the three missions based in Guatemala City--about than 700 missionaries! And Elders Cook and Soares and the Area Presidency shook the hand of every missionary! They said they wanted to look each one in the eye! It was a very powerful experience, not only to hear the words of an Apostle, but just to be in the same room with all those missionaries! We of course know a fair share of them from the East Mission, and it was wonderful to see so many of them again before we depart. Rick had also arranged for two musical numbers from a trio of Elders serving in that mission.
Elders R, L, and G have been performing together for several months, Elder R (Honduras) on the piano, Elder L (Utah), vocal, and Elder G (Idaho) on the violin. In the fall the East Mission had made a wonderful video and used it for missionary firesides throughout the mission, sharing the plan of happiness, the mission of the Savior, and the restoration of the gospel. The trio provided the music, and they were wonderful! Each is very talented in his own way. The firesides were very successful at bringing members and investigators together to feel the Spirit, and many baptisms resulted from them. So we were so glad to have the opportunity to hear the trio again at the missionary meeting with Elder Cook. They performed
Oh, Mi Padre and
Be Still My Soul. This was their last performance together as Elder R finishes in two weeks. So this phrase works well for him as well, "What a way to end a mission!"
