131124 The Temple

We recently volunteered to be Temple workers one day a week in the Santo Domingo Temple.  The Santo Domingo Temple is the 99^th temple constructed by the Church and was dedicated on 17 September 2000.  It is a beautiful temple and a privilege for us to have this opportunity to serve there in Spanish in addition to the humanitarian mission we are serving.  We hope to continue serving in the Mesa Arizona Temple in Spanish when we get home.

 

The Temple has been and is central to our lives.  We acknowledge and give thanks to God for the blessings that have come to us for this life and promises for the next because of commitments made in the Temple and would that everyone could have these same blessings.  We feel blessed to be able to serve for a short time as temple workers in this beautiful sacred Temple.  

Today is a special day for us as related to the temple.  Today, 24 November 2013, marks the 42^nd anniversary of our marriage in the Arizona Temple in 1971!  We have had a wonderful marriage and have been blessed with 8 children and 19 grandchildren.  We have 1 grandchild whom we haven’t even seen yet.  Evan Andrew Haws was born while we have been in the Republica Dominicana.  Several little grandchildren probably think we are just characters on the computer screen since that is all they know of us.  We look forward to getting acquainted again.  Our travel home date is 15 February 2014.

This week was not very eventful but here are a few scenes from our week.

 

The city of Santo Domingo has been improving the city park across the street from the Temple for the last 2 years.  It is nearly finished with running and bike trails, children’s play area, exercise plaza, pit for iguanas, gazebo for artists, walking trail for the caves, etc.  Unfortunately, we do not live close enough to be able to use it every day.

There was a dinner at the bishop’s storehouse where we live to honor those who have served so wonderfully and to pass the baton from one stake president in charge to another.

                                    

President Christian Olivero and his wife that were in charge.

Pres. Valentin Valdez and his wife who are now in charge of the storehouse

Which couple has the biggest smile?