Thursday, October 23, 2014

September 2014 Saving the Turtles



September was a big month for us. We had a baptism, 2 branch parties, we saved the turtles and we had an engagement and a new baby. All of that in 30 short days.

This is the piƱata that Hermanas Cuellar and Chavez made for our branch birthday party. I had to make the cakes. I don't know why I didn't take pictures of them. I guess because they didn't look like something Aunt Jolynne would make. At any rate everyone around here thinks I am related to Betty Crocker because everything I make is "amazing"
We told the property manager of our place that we and the hermanas would be willing to paint the cement fence around our house if he would get us the paint.  He was glad to take us up on that and the six of us painted for hours one day. Unfortunately when Dad took them home they got some paint on the upholstery of the car. It took me almost as long to get it out as the painting took. Ha!

This is Marianela Rodriguez. She was our first baptism. I am happy to report she is still on fire with the Gospel and everything she can learn about it. We will take her to the temple in November to do baptisms for her grandparents

This little guy is Angel Prado. Dad also baptized him the same day. His parents are members but still aren't married so they asked Dad to preform the baptism. He IS married.

This was our District in September. Two of our Sisters have since gone home. This is the group we took to Save the turtles. We drove the sisters. The Elders had to take a bus. It is about an hour an a half from here.

Guanico Abajo was quite a beautiful place.

You can see why the missionaries might want this to be their P-day every week

All of the "saving" had to be done in the middle of the night so the evening was just spent relaxing.

The tracks in the sand are made by the female turtles who drag themselves up onto the beach to lay their eggs in the sand. The night we were there there were probably 60 sets of tracks we could see in the sand

These turtles were weighed and measured and tagged before they went back into the sea.  I'll bet they will think twice before coming back here to lay their eggs.

Just to give you an idea how big theses Mama'a are.

They dig their hole and then lay their eggs--between 80 to 120. Then they cover them up and drag themselves back to the sea. We touched the eggs. They look like round, hard boiled eggs but they are softer. They have no shell when they are first layed.

You can see their tracks going back out to sea. Dad and one of the workers at the station took a little, somewhat dangerous hike out to this rock off in the distance.

Big news for our family. Dillon and Emily Hedelius got ENGAGED and will be married in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple on December 30. I don't know  how he ever talked her into it. We are so happy for them both
At the branch beach party Dad wasn't planning on swimming, of course, so he didn't bring a suit. But as soon as he found some takers that were willing to go in with him you couldn't get them out of the water---clothes and all! Anyone surprised?

At first it was really hard for me to be gone when the babies came. Now I am just happy they get here safely. Little Abel Lawrence Flake was born on Sept. 25. Congratulations to Justin and Kelsey and their family.  Our third baby born since we left on our mission.