Happy Birthday, Elder!

   Somehow I missed publishing the post about Earl and his birthday!  We were wondering what we should do to celebrate and decided to go to a nearby restaurant that we like.  A friend asked what our weekend plans were (The birthday was on Saturday, the day before the US Mothers' Day.)  We mentioned the restaurant and invited the couple to go with us.  Then we invited one more couple.  Soon we ended up with 10-12 people with some of them inviting others!  It was a fun evening.  Finished the dinner with homemade gelato that the restaurant features.  Earl had a good time and there was no stress!
\  The next day we were in Quisqueya.  Sister Miller, Primary President, had invited us to have dinner with them.  She didn't know about the birthday.  I had told her I would bring some dessert.  Just bought a small cake and some candles.  After a delicious dinner--sort of a pot roast with vegetables, we celebrated with the little cake.  I had brought Nutella (Dominican version) to spread on for frosting.  They REALLY liked that!  Here are a few shots of the event!

Brother Miller was not feeling well that day, so he was in the other room.  Left to right we have Yeime, the Millers' daughter, Sebastian, a nephew, Sister Nereyda Miller, Ashley, a niece and in front, the birthday guy.

Smiling Earl as taken by Ashley.

Gate Guard

  As we drive into our office parking area almost every day, we are greeted by this guard.  Sometimes he even salutes us and that is fun!  We don't know his name, but I did get him to let me take his picture one day.  Notice the necessary accessory in his right hand.  You look more authoritative with one of those.  Sometimes he refuses entrance to cars, but he has always let us in and even sometimes moved barricades so we could park when they were full.

Flamboyant!

  In the late spring--and still going--we see these flamboyant trees--that is really what they are called!  In Egypt we saw some hot pink ones, but the ones here are this orange-red.  They add even more color to this colorful country!  This particular one is just outside the park across from the temple.  We get to drive by it almost every day.

           

El dia de las madres!

   Here in the DR Mothers' Day is celebrated the last Sunday of the month.  This plan may be to give them plenty of time to advertise gifts for moms.  One lady in our branch got 2 mother's days because she got to talk to her missionary daughter (serving in Mexico) on May 11th and then to celebrate on the DR day.  I didn't really expect there would be much that day at church.  Earl had been asked to speak and I suggested mothers would be a good subject.  He gave a great talk (what I could understand of the Spanish), with stories of his mother and scripture stories.  Then we went to Relief Society and it was a whole new game!  Presents for everyone!  Of course, we have a small group, but the YW came in too  and they drew for their mothers who weren't there or for other sisters who are usually there, but not this time.  I took a picture of one and then they all wanted pictures!  So here are a few of them.  We drew numbers to pick a gift out of the right pile.  They  were small gifts, but wrapped well and all fun!

 

 

There were some artificial flowers there too, so we had to have a picture!  The lady with more flowers is Hilda, the Relief Society president.

Colonial Zone Saturday, Part 2

  Since the control of where pictures go is not up to me, but whoever controls blogspot, I became frustrated and decided to separate to a new post.  Our next adventure was a carriage ride.  The "powers that be" apparently like this picture and wanted it to be on top of the last post, but it didn't actually fit the story that way, so we'll see what they do with it this time.

We rolled along, seeing various sights.  I will try to include some and hope they allow me to put them in the order I choose.

The walking street in  the Zone--shops, restaurants, etc.

The gate at one end of the Conde, used to divide those who were "in" from those who were not.

Monument to the three Mirabel sisters, martyred in the effort to oust Trujillo, the dictator.

Ruins of a church/hospital built between 1503 and 1508, destroyed (by a hurricane, I think), rebuilt, again destroyed and left as a ruin.  Birds like the little holes in the wall for nests.  On the right on the wall is a dark oval which is a beehive!  You might want to click on this and enlarge it. It was supposed to be the first stone church/hospital (unclear when it was used as what) here.

                   

      We think this is called the Pantheon, memorial to some who have died and quite grand.  This soldier stands unmoving for two hours.  I couldn't do it for five minutes!  Discipline!
      We have previously toured the oldest cathedral in the Americas, also in the Colonial Zone and Diego Colon's (Columbus) large home.  They are on other posts.
       We finished our day with lunch at an outdoor cafe across the plaza from Diego's.  You can see his house in the back, as well as the sailing ship.

                   

   

                                         

Spanish Sailing Ship built in 1927

   A couple of weeks ago we had a Saturday to enjoy the colonial zone--which dates back to early 1500s during the first Spanish days here.  First, however, we toured a visiting Spanish sailing ship.  Parts of it were quite elegant--woodwork, etc.  One of the officers took us around and then we were able to see a few additional things.  Here are a few pictures:
   

     Scouts, check out these knots!  Important for sailors too!

Here we have an authentic Spanish omelet on an authentic Spanish ship!

It was breakfast for some of the crew and we peeked into the kitchen!

Next on the agenda--walking up and up and up the stairs to the colonial zone.

  Our friends, the Mortensons, were with us.  He was one of the first 10 missionaries into the Dominican Republic in 1978 and now they are back as a couple in the office.

Semana Santa--Holy Week

   Here in the Dominican Republic, this coming week is called Semana Santa--or Holy Week.  I'm glad that they recognize that it should be honored.  Friday is a day off work and NOTHING is open, we hear.  Even Thursday we have part of the day off.  These are government offices that close.  Most people go out of town--to visit family or friends--or to play.  We also hear that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints FLOCK to the temple and it will be soooo busy!  We may go over to help for part of the time.  They just need some people for mundane tasks.  I think it is great that these people choose to come then.
    Unfortunately, we are seeing the ads for Semana Santa sales--yes, everything from flipflops and shorts and t-shirts to appliances!  Very holy!
     It would be nice to think of this week as special and to treat it that way.  After all, next Sunday we honor the greatest event that ever happened on this earth!