This is Elder Tanner Jacobson of Herriman Utah, he is trying out his machete skills. The member (Maria Fabra) wanted it removed so it is a good thing! The Zone split, 4 Elders went to Maria Fabra's house and mowed her lawn and cleaned up around her yard and the others (11) went to help a person cut brush in a vacant lot next to her house. We have an odd number because one of the Missionaries brought a new member along for the project. Both of the projects went very well only 2 slight injuries. One cut finger while taking the stuff out of the trunk of the taxi and one stick in the face. Nothing serious! Everyone enjoyed the projects and the people really enjoyed the help!
This is (left)Elder Carter Hogan from Utah, in the red shirt is Elder Michael Morrison of Arkansas and behind him is Elder Curtis Merritt of Utah and some of the others patiently waiting for lunch to finish cooking. Elder Hogan is also showing off his index finger that he cut reaching into the taxi truck to get the extension cord out and did not realize that the newly sharpened machete was under the cord. He does not like the sight of blood and immediately had to have it bandaged or he would have pass out.
The table that seems to go on forever! We had 19 at the table and no one went away hungry! I BBQ marinated chicken and Janice and Hermana Taylor (right front) cooked baked potatoes, veggies, garlic bread and carrot cake and ice cream for dessert. It was a delicious meal and everyone loved it. We did have one that was not sure about the idea of cake and carrots mixed together but after he tried it he thought it was alright!
We had to wash the dishes in 3 shifts to allow them to dry. 19 Missionaries can make a lot of dirty dishes!
I did it! I turned 50 years old! Janice and I spent the day together visiting Ruben and we were even brave enough to go out to lunch at a restaurant. We have not ventured into may restaurants by ourselves, the rare times we do go we usually have a translator with us. But a new year and we went solo! The food was okay but after wards we went home and I peeled apples and Janice prepared the other ingredients and we made a tasty Dutch Apple Pie. It turned out great! It is one of my favorite desserts. You can see that I have a coat on in the kitchen. It has been very cold here and with the humidity the cold goes deep. In our house it is a struggle to get it above 64 degrees and that is only in the living room area. We do not heat the kitchen, bathroom, hallway and bedroom. I can only image how cold it would be if we had not weatherstripped around the doors and window and put plastic over the huge glass doors and windows in the front of the house. At least the wind blowing outside now does not create horizontal curtains anymore. But we live in a concrete box and when it gets cold it stays cold and when it gets hot it stays hot. But we don't have the rain coming down on us so that is a wonderful thing! 
