Webelos and Arrow of light awards

On Tuesday Conner got his Webelos and Arrow of light Awards. We are so proud of him! He has worked so hard to earn these awards. I can't believe that I don't have a son in Cub Scouts anymore!! 

Scriptures and missions

I am reading in the Book of Mormon in the Book of Alma about Ammon and his brethren's mission to the Lamanites. On Alma 27:4-14 it talks about the bond missionaries and converts have. The Anti-Nephi-Lehi were converts to the gospel and loved Ammon and his brethren very much and Ammon and his brethren loved the Anti-Nephi-Lehi also. In verse 4 it says that Ammon and his brethren were treated as though they were "angels sent from God to save them from everlasting destruction." Ammon and his brethren "were moved with compassion" and wanted to help the Anti-Nephi-Lehi so they would not be destroyed by their enemies. These missionaries blessed their converts and helped saved them physically and spiritually. I am a convert and I do feel the same way towards the missionaries that taught my family and baptized us. There is a bond that will last forever and you are thankful to them for bringing the gospel to your life.

Just recently we have come in contact with some of the families that Brent met and baptized on his mission. I have enjoyed reading their comments about Elder Hanson.  They love Brent and I can understand it. One sister in particular, Sister Verbeck, was moved to tears when we messaged her a picture of her baptism with Brent. This is what she wrote: Me emociona ver las fotos de los días en que me bautice por Elder Hanson y Elder Mendoza, angeles que me prepararon para mi bautismo, nunca los olvido.Están presente en mi vida siempre."Gracias." It means: "I am excited to see pictures of my baptism day, when I was baptized by Elder Hanson and Elder Mendoza. The angels that prepared me for my baptism and I never forget them. They are always present in my life. Thank you!" Just like in the scriptures, Brent and his companion Fernando Mendoza are considered angels that brought her the gospel. I spoke with her son, Carlos, who said that in their home they always talk about "Elder Hanson". It is funny that I spoke with Carlos' wife, Tania, on Facebook and she is excited to meet, "the famous Elder Hanson" in June.

Sister Verbeck's baptism

Verbeck family

It makes me happy to see the love that these people have for Brent and the love that Brent has for them. I am so proud of Brent for serving a mission and bringing the gospel to the people in the Trujillo Peru mission. 

Puschner family

Puschner family at the temple in Lima, Peru

Brent baptized the Puschner family. A year later when his parents picked him up from his mission, they went to the temple and Brent was the proxy for sister Puschner's husband for the sealing. He had died a few years before her baptism, leaving her with her 4 young children.

For our honeymoon in1988 we went to Peru and I got to meet Sister Hankammer in Viru. Brent baptized her.

When we went to Peru for our honeymoon, we went to church in Viru. Here is the branch in Viru in 1988. Viru is now going to be a Stake.

 We are so excited to be able to go to Peru this summer and to participate in all the activities surrounding the Peru, Trujillo temple dedication. So many of the return missionaries from Brent's mission (Trujillo Peru mission) will be there. The Peruvian members are very excited and waiting for all of them to come!

El Dia de los Tres Reyes Magos/Three Kings Day

Conner collecting grass for the camels. I love seeing him enjoy this tradition just like I did when I was little.

Grass and water bowls for the camels. Growing up we used a shoebox for the grass but a bowl works just as good.

His little gift from the Three Kings.

Cubs Scouts Pack meeting. Next month he gets his arrow of light and Webelos patch! 

Receiving his culture and language pin and belt loop.

Trip to Ponce, Puerto Rico

Last weekend I flew to Puerto Rico but it was a very fast trip. Landed at 2 in the morning on Sunday and returned to Orlando and landed here at 5 in the morning on Wednesday. It had been almost 4 years since I last went for my mom's funeral so it was great to go back. I did not waste any time while I was there. Even though I got hardly any sleep, I went to church the same morning I landed.  I figured that it was the best place to see a lot of my friends at the same time. That Sunday was the primary program so I got to see a couple of friends I grew up with because they had come to see the program.

With my friend Elizabeth Puig. We were in primary and YW together.

These are some of my childhood friends that were in primary and mutual with me and my brother and sister in law. From left to right, Anita Echevarria (we were in middle school together but she was not a member of the church at the time, she joined later and married my friend from church Jose Puig), Orlando Ruttell, Elizabeth Puig, Miguel Alvarado, Miguel Velazquez, me, Carlota, my brother Jose, and my sister in law Rosalba Rosales.

I had to take a picture of Elder Bateman and Martinez

The 4 Elders in my brother's ward Ponce 1. Elder Diaz, Martinez, Bateman, Medina

Jose Puig, Anita Echevarria de Puig, Elizabeth Puig, Miguel Alvarado, my brother Jose and me.

After church we traveled to Cabo Rojo the city where my grandmother was born to visit my uncle Guillermo Sotomayor (my mom's brother) and my aunt Aida (his wife) and also to meet a cousin of my mom's that I had never met but found out about him and that he loves genealogy. I had met a missionary mom, sister Boren, on facebook who's son is serving in Cabo Rojo and I told her that I would try to find him. I got the phone number to the Elders in Cabo Rojo from the Elders in Ponce. There are two sets of Elders in Cabo Rojo and the number I had was for the other set. I called them and they gave me the other phone number. I called and Elder Boren answered!!! I told him I was on my way to Cabo Rojo and wanted to see him. I told him where my uncle lived and he said it was in his area and that they were actually going to walk passed there!! As we were turning the corner of my uncles condominium I saw the Elders. I had just sent a text to them to tell them we were almost there, and I saw he was reading his text haha. I opened the window and said to Elder Boren "Are you reading my text?" He looked up and was happy to see me, obviously he had no idea what I looked like. I am so happy that it worked out!! It was easier than I thought it would be to see him. I was thankful that my uncles condominium was in his area and that he was going to be walking by it at the same time I was going to be there. I know what it is like to have a son or daughter on a mission and I really wanted to take a picture for his mom. I quickly sent it to her via Facebook. She answered right away, I was reading her message as Elder Boren and his companion Elder Webb were walking away. I did not tell him she wrote back, he was already on his way to do his missionary work. She was so happy to know he was doing great. My brother gave both of them a hug, because I could not and we told them it was from their moms!

Elder Boren and Elder Webb in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico

WIth my mom's second cousin, whom I had never met and my mom never met. He loves to do genealogy. 

Visiting my uncle Guillermo and Aunt Aida. We call my uncle, Tio Willie. From left to right, Rosalba, my brother Jose, Titi Aida, Tio Willie (my mom's brother) me, Mariela (my cousin's wife) and my cousin Guillermo (we call him Willito)

On Monday my friend Taili Colon came to see me at my parents house. I have known Taili since we were in Kindergarten and we were in the same classes from kindergarten until the senior year in HS. We are more like sisters.

My niece Cristina is studying culinary arts and loves to bake. These were so good!

Also on Monday we visited my mom and dad's grave.

And my grandma and grandpa Sotomayor's grave, my mom's parents. Their graves are very close in the La Piedad cemetery.

Also on Monday we visited my mom's half sister, my aunt Ana Sotomayor. She turned 100 years old this past summer. She is in good health and still lives alone. She said she takes care of herself and the house and still cooks and does everything. When we got there she said she was about to take a shower. Which worried me a little because she is alone and if something were to happen no one is there to help her, but that is how she likes it. Her house is well taken care of and very clean. There is a lady that comes at night to sleep in the house so that she is not sleeping alone but my aunt makes fun of her because she said she sleeps and really doesn't take care of her at all.

La Plaza de Ponce. This is the old firehouse in Ponce and it is a historic landmark.

Behind the Parque de Bombas de Ponce (Ponce's firehouse) you can see the cathedral. I did not have time to go take a picture of the cathedral, I was just across the street from the firehouse getting some little souvenir for Conner. I will have to go back again someday and take a picture. I have driven by this place so many times but kind of taken it for granted. Your perspective changes as you get older and you learn to appreciate things more. This was my first trip back since my parents have both died and it was weird to be back and my parents not be there in Ponce. Things just were not the same.