mi querido el salvador

I was sad last week.  On August 21, the first LDS temple in El Salvador was dedicated and I had planned to go.  But I didn't make it.  I'd made my car rental reservation, my hotel reservation (using Wayne's sister, Leos' employee discount - awesome) and planned to be gone only two days, leaving the kids with Wayne.  But things just weren't working out.  First, the flights started slowly filling up.  Then midweek, Tali got sick and we found out she had croup.  She was extra cranky and clingy and breastfeeding was her only comfort (my original plan was to wean her by going. . . but I didn't want to leave her being sick).  Anyways, after a long two days of trying to get on a flight and taking care of my sick child, I finally just decided it wasn't gonna happen. . . and maybe wasn't supposed to happen right then.  And though I was sad, I'm okay with it now. . . or at least I'm working on it:)

My time as a missionary in El Salvador was one of the most special and most-memorable times of my life.  I'm so ecstatic they have their own temple now.  A year after my mission, I returned to El Salvador to attend the wedding/sealing of a family I taught as a missionary.  Of course, then, we had to travel to Guatemala to go to the temple.  Now, the people of El Salvador can do the important work for themselves and their families right in their own country.  I'm so happy for them.  Even though I didn't make it to the dedication (Bummer!), I know Wayne and I will visit the temple and my dear friends in El Salvador soon.  I'm definitely looking forward to it!

San Salvador, El Salvador LDS Temple

* {I want to remember this and have no where else to write it} I'd written to tell my friends and families in El Salvador that I was coming for the dedication.  After everything went down the way it did, I told them I wasn't going to make it.  Later that day, I received this letter from my dear friends, the Torres family.

Mi madre dice que esta muy agradecida con usted por querenos tanto y por querer tanto a este pedacito de pais.  La quiero mucho Hna. Alisa. La queremos mucho.  Juan Carlitos hijo dice que la estara esperando para conocerla mejor y conocer a toda su famlia.  Dice que la quiere mucho!!  Se que pronto vendra.  Aca todos la queremos y su foto y la foto de su familia esta en nuestra sala donde hacemos la noche de hogar. . . y todos los que visitan la casa dicen, "Quienes son ellos?" "Quien es ella?" Y mi mama dice, "Ella es un angel que visito nuestro hogar y estuvo por un tiempo aca en El Salvador."

Which means. . . 

My mom said she is very grateful to you for loving us so much and for loving this little piece of country. I love you very much, Hermana Alisa. We love you very much. Juan Carlitos Jr. [He was just a little baby when I was there. He is now ten years old] says he'll be here waiting to get to know you better and to meet your whole family.  He says he loves you very much. I know you'll come soon.  Your picture and the picture of your family are in our living room where we do our Family Home Evenings . . . and everyone who visits us say, "Who are they?"  "Who is she?" And my mom says, "She is an angel who visited our home and was here for a time in El Salvador.

And that's when I started to cry. 

I love you my dear El Salvador. I hope to see you soon.