We will pass our 4 month mark in Madrid tomorrow! It's amazing how fast the time has gone by. We have turned the corner on summer and the wonderful fall weather has arrived. The leaves are turning colors and evenings are cool and clear. We have had our first real rain this past week, not a lot but enough to bring out the umbrellas. We have this really handy way of getting to the Temple when it rains. We take the elevator down to the parking garage below Temple Square, walk about 50 steps and then take another elevator back up. It deposits us into the foyer of the Temple! Dry as can be without getting wet from any inclement weather.
Our daily service in the Temple continues to be a wonderful and fulfilling time. We have met saints from as far away as Russia, Romania and Equatorial Guinea in West Africa this past week! We said goodbye to 2 missionary couples, one from Bilbao, Spain and another from Springville, Utah. We will be also losing 2 more American couples in November. There are 3 couples coming in November, 2 are Spanish and one American couple. Our Temple President and Matron, the Tenneys are leaving next week. The Somozas, from here in Madrid, will begin their service as President and Matron on the 29th. We have loved the Tenneys and will surely miss them but have also great become attached to the Somozas, who have served as Counselor the past 3 years.
My health continues to improve from my heart attack in Sept. The doctors have me on a diet and exercise program along with meds each day that is helping get back to 100%. I have actually lost over 25 pounds since we arrived. I am walking from 2-4 miles each day and feeling SO much better overall! I am grateful to all who have kept me in your prayers over the past 6 weeks! The Lord has been merciful and blessed us greatly for which we are ever so thankful.
Liz has been sick with a bad cold and flu this past week. She was too sick and contagious to even be in the Temple. She is better this weekend and hopes to return to work on Tuesday. After 8 days cooped-up in our apartment she's ready for some fresh air.
Last week we traveled out to Alcalá de Henares, the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes of Don Quijote fame. It's a suburb of Madrid about an hour by train. There they had their annual Cervantes Week and Midieval Faire. They claim it to be the largest outdoor fair in Europe. They block off the entire downtown area to traffic and set up hundreds of outdoor booths with crafts, animals, food, art and displays. There are puppets, men on stilts, jugglers and bands of minstrels in the streets. It was a most festive atmosphere and a fun excursion we made with our friends the Hawkins, Deschamps and Sister Melendez. We ate dinner at an Arabian Kasbah and laughed and thoroughly enjoyed the evening!
We send our love and warm wishes to all our dear family and friends. We miss you and love each one of you so much. We appreciate your calls, email and Skypes.
