A 30-Year Service Project and Pizza

If you go to a particular house in San German, Puerto Rico on a Sunday afternoon - approximately 1 o'clock, you will find a sweet couple making homemade pizza with the freshest ingredients for the missionaries who serve there and for those who might need some extra love. This is the Olmo Family and they have been doing this - every Sunday - for more than 30 years.
Yes, 30 years!!!

We have been recipients of the Pizza Pleasure on Sunday several times:
When we were living there 25 years ago, with three children under the age of 3, we were guests many times. Then when we went to visit for a vacation - again - pizza with the Olmos. This weekend, we were blessed to be there again, this time as full-time missionaries.

I asked the Olmos to show us the secrets of Perfect Pizza. So they let us join them in the kitchen to partake in the preparing of the pizza. This experience, serious, gave me the itch to start a similar tradition in my home. What an example of love and service for us and so many.

And yes, we have a deep rooted connection with this good family. President Olmo who was the San German Branch President of the church at one time, now serves as the patriarch for the island of Puerto Rico. The Olmo boys were in my husband's (Kyle) Young Men's Quorum when he served as Young Mens President. I had their daughter, Magda, in the Primary (25 years ago). And this is also the family who adopted our college daughter, Kendy Jo, for six months when she wanted to have a cultural, study-abroad experience. Sister Olmo's mother (age 93 pictured above) - cooked for Kendy Jo and ate lunch with her weekly. The Olmos are like family. The oldest boy, Tomas Olmo, is currently our Stake President of the Toa Baja Stake. Life is a circle indeed!

We are blessed to know the Olmos - and when I get home - you will probably find me making Homemade Pizza every Sunday. 

We love the Olmos! 

For the Birds

If you could be any animal in the world, what would you be? Having been an elementary teacher for many years - this was inevitably part of a discussion during the school year - thus I have always known - I would be a bird.....to fly  - to live in the trees - to be above it all - Oh! the life!

This weekend - P-day Week 16 - we went to Marquesa Park where we experienced the most amazing thing ever: a natural butterfly garden and an aviary filled with tropical birds! These pictures are the real deal... WE took them, although they could pass as "pretty as a picture postcards".  

 I loved getting up close to the birds to notice every detail. Their colors, features, and personalities were right there to observe. These "twins" were right as we walked through the door. Don't they look fake?

The multi-colored ones were breath-taking! I was surprised how many there were.

My favorite? One large, beautiful, milky-peach-colored bird was peacefully sitting there and I got closer to appreciate its beauty. It seemed to connect with me, because it hopped right on to my arm! We had been instructed not to touch the birds, so I was a bit surprised and didn't know quite what to do. However, it was so sweet and lay its head on my shoulder! It was such a precious experience for me. It brought me to tears. After awhile, the supervisor came over and helped my newest friend get back on the post. 

I believe that every animal, plant, and living thing in nature fulfills the measure of its creation by bringing joy to another person or living thing. Sometimes I am overwhelmed with the spirit and I am brought to tears when I encounter an animal or living thing in nature. This was the case yesterday.

On the fifth day God created every creature - all the animals great and small. How grateful I am for the blessing of animals - these magnificent birds brought me great joy.

Genesis 1 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

²¹ And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

²² And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.

²³ And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

God is great!

El Yunque - A Piece of the Garden of Eden

sur·re·al·ism

səˈrēəˌlizəm/

noun

1. 1.

   a 20th-century avant-garde movement in art and literature that sought to release the creative potential of the unconscious mind, for example by the irrational juxtaposition of images.

P-day Week 15 was rather surreal as we basked in the sunlight peaking through the over-grown jungle in El Yunque - Tropical Forest of Puerto Rico, a National Forest Reserve. The "Canopy"  - the very tippy top of the forest - Elder Young said was his favorite view. I have to vote for the waterfall. A long walk to get there, but worth it for sure. What is your vote?

Did you know that Elder Young is afraid of heights? This was quite the conquering for him to peak out of this fortress. For me it is the ocean, because I almost drown once. So last week when we were snorkeling, I met my fears. If you are not uncomfortable, you are not living. Right?

And how could anyone ever believe that there is no God? This beautiful world is His handicraft and it manifests His love for us everyday!

The Church is True!  GOD lives!!!

Adopting - Joy on the Mission

One important calling we have on the mission is "adopting" missionaries from time to time. I have to say that for me, this is always precious time aka life-time memories! 

Adoption

Missionaries go in and out of our lives almost everyday, but there are some with whom we just "connect". Our bond is strong  - and we know it will last for this life and the life here after. For one reason or another, God made our paths cross and we walked together for a time. Often we get Elders in our home because we have 24 bunk beds and the sisters often stay with the Mission President. But once in awhile when the President requests, we get sisters.  

This Sister stayed with us for a few days, waiting for her new companion to arrive. We made cookies to take to all of our investigators. She made us fresh guacamole  and homemade quesadillas. She is from Mexico. I am so grateful for her because she has been my tutor in the Spanish Language and my progress has escalated. 

As you may or may not remember, I am the housing coordinator for the mission. This means that day to day, I am in missionary apartments helping teach about cleaning/organizing, doing inspections, and bringing needed items.

Well, about a month ago, I told all the missionaries that if they would report by email after they cleaned on P-Day, I would put all those reports in a bowl and we would have a drawing for a blender! They ALL want one so bad, but the mission doesn't provide them.  This is the group of elders who won!  They were so excited! Slowly - and but true - we are getting the apartments up to a better standard. 

Last week, we had the privilege of having Elder and Sister Anderson with us, Area Caribbean President and wife.  We "feasted" for three days - hearing him minister to the mission. I learned so much - words cannot describe the feelings and transformation within my mind, heart, and soul. 

At the Zone Conferences, I showed a "BEFORE AND AFTER" video of the apartments. The Andersons loved it so much they asked to use it at an Area Mission Presidents Training Conference. 

We are so blessed to break bread with so many outstanding people here on the mission. Our life is full and we are so happy.