Greetings from El Salvador

Hi Blogging World!

For the last 6 days I have been out of the internet loop. I have not checked my email, blog, and (brace your selves) facebook! I didn´t plan to either. However it is monday night and that means it was time for me to write Tressa. I am not about to let being in a forgin country stop me from sending her a hello. But once I got on my email it was just second nature to type in facebook.com and by the time I realized what I was doing it was to late. So I figured I might as well blog too.

I am here in El Salvador and having quite the time! The poor man in the lobby of our hotel, I am sure, wants me to make this quick...so I will try. It has been over 4 years since last time I was here eating real papusas and shewing away stray chuchos. I thought I knew quite a bit about El Salvador, but on this trip I have seen a side to El Salvador that I have never seen before. I have been back less then a week but it feels like it´s been two. This trip has been extremely enriching but also mentally draining. Holy cow! My eyes have been opened to the corruption in the government and the injustice I did not know was happening when was here last running around with the orphans. (They don´t talk about politics much.) It´s hard to hear and take in. Especially about a country that I love so much. But I have been inspired by the resiliency of the human spirit and the wonderful things that can happen when people work together for a common good.

I am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. I am grateful for the safety and comfort it has given me. It gives me something to hold on to in times I have lost all other hope. It also seems to be something the people of this country have clung to as well. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church and I am so grateful for the prophets guidance and leadership.

Anyway, there will be pictures to come of course. I have had a fabulous time and wont come back the same person.

What's in your wallet?

One of my favorite stories to tell when asked about my top worst dates is when I went out with a kid named.....well it started with a "G" and ended with a "uillermo". Yep. It was quite the name. One of my favorite parts about this date was when he ran out of things to say and in his nervous efforts to fill the silence emptied all of the contents of his pockets on to the table at the restaurant and proceeded to tell me about every item found on the table and in his wallet.  I heard about the comb he carries, the gas station the receipt was from, and the gum he spit out right before he picked me up. Oh and who could forget the wadded up tissue from last week's cold? It was quite the treat. Then he asked me to empty out the contents of my purse and continue this activity. I declined explaining "Over the mysteries of female life there is drawn a veil best left undisturbed".

Last year in May I was called to the primary. In august I decided I needed to switch purses and emptied out the one I was currently using. I laughed at the contents and took a quick picture. All of the things I used in primary. Tonight as I was in a rush to walk out of the door I poured the contents of my bag out onto my bed once again to get rid of extra weight. The contents made me smile yet again. So in the spirit of laughs and bad dates I will push back the veil and share with you the oh so mysterious contents of my purse.

August 8, 2011

The thing that gets me the most are the ear plugs and the exacto knife. I mean let's be real now. You never know when you are going to need either one of those things around children. They are MUST HAVES! ;-)

January 2, 2012 (I can't believe it's 2012!)

I lost the exacto knife and scissors (and apparently an earring), but as you can see, not much has changed. Funny enough, there was no wallet or money either times! My purse has gotten larger but only so I can accommodate the atlas and extra koosh balls. Who knew 8 year olds were so in love with geography!? With the silly putty, candy, and tissues constantly in tow, at first glance you'd think I was a mother. No. Just a prepared primary worker.