Sunday June 25, 2023

Hello once again from Tela Honduras.  This is the church where we meet here in Tela.  I took a picture of the Telamar branch building but it is not on my phone, so I don't think it really took a picture,  I'll get a picture for next week.  They are both nice buildings for here.  They are not anything like what you would find in the US but for Honduras standards they are nice.  Both have been here a long time.  This one in Tela is a little bigger than the one in Telamar but they are both similar.  All the buildings here are concrete structures with tile floors so everything echoes greatly inside.  There are several children who like to run around and scream as they are having fun so it sounds so much louder than it ever would in a USA building with carpet and noise suppressing walls.  Reverence is a concept that is totally different here than back home.  In sacrament meetings it is always said here after the sacrament is passed, the same as all places I suppose,  everyone is thanked for their reverence.  And during the sacrament it really is normally quiet.  It is just a different world here.  The way people talk to each other here is still taking time to get used to.  They raise their voice and use their arms and facial expressions, you would think they were in some sort of a fight to the death.  At times even at church, in classes or just wherever.  It is a different world.  But, nevertheless even though they talk loud and shake their fists, they go on loving each other, I suppose.  There are others though that do get offended and won't return because of such and such.  The talk that President Nelson gave last general conference is so very important for all of us.  Each and everyone of us need to forgive and try and put contention out of our lives.  Peacemakers are needed. That is a big challenge here. "I urge you to be a peacemaker now and always" President Nelson said.  That is such an important principle if we are to prepare a people and a place for the Savior to return to.  I was thinking as I was listening to a loud conversation today that I wonder if everyone during the millennium will all get along great all the time.   This branch has had problems for a while now with so many members that don't want to come to church.  Everyone has their own reasons but it just isn't the most loving kind, thanks for coming, type branch.  There are as many reasons for not coming as there are people.  The Telemar branch had a branch conference today and the Stake Presidency was there today and they made an appointment for the leadership of the Tela branch this afternoon.  They are aware of the issues going on here and are just trying to help everyone to try and get along and love each other a bit better.  It was a good "Come to Jesus" meeting with them this afternoon.  I don't know if anything will change but we will do everything we can to try and show more love and concern to everyone here.  Because in reality everyone who will and can come out to church is needed and loved.  We need that feeling or we don't really want to return.  

We went by this church the other night and so we had to take a picture, this is one of the nicer churches I have seen here, I am guessing it is Catholic but I am not sure.  

We had a birthday party today after church for this young man, his name is Anthony, he turned 11 today, he and his brother Josué are going to be baptized this coming Friday night.  We are looking forward to that.  

We saw this place this week, it is a local cafe,  should we stop in and eat?  I don't think so, we will pass on this one. 

An average street in the evening with the kids out playing in the street.

The Elders were walking down the street when they were confronted by this drunk guy that was not so very friendly to them.  They ignored him and soon got to our car where we raced away while he was still yelling at us.  Lots of fun experiences.