We had a wonderful drive to Estipac Sunday morning.
It is a two hour drive south, to visit this sweet Branch.
Elder Albrechtsen and Elder Ramirez are serving there now.
We had quite the full day ahead of us, with the
Branch Conference to attend to, and then we raced back
for President to finish his interviews and then continue
with our farewell evening with our 18 returning
missionaries this transfer.
One thing we noticed along our way were these cactus trees.
So. Unusual.
I didn't quite catch his nod and wave back to us as we
slowed down to ask if I could take his picture.
just sweet.
As we drove to the chapel, I remembered, right as we
passed the bull ring, (which I wished I would have taken
a picture of, but didn't), that on our last visit here,
is where we saw brother Gaspar walking to
church with his little black puppy right beside him.
That little puppy stayed right outside the
church house and waited for his owner to come back
out. Well, here he is again, a little bigger, and this time
with his little friend.
Bless their hearts, these two faithful pups waited right
there in the lobby during the whole meeting, and their
owner sat right by the back door to keep an eye on them.
Here is this sweet, faithful man, brother Gaspar.
A picture of the Estipac Branch for our Mission History
The primary children
President Casteneda, President Clayton's
first counselor in the mission presidency.
With the Estipac Branch President, President Corona
on the far right, and his first counselor Brother Ramirez
on the far left.
With Elder Albrechtsen and Elder Ramirez
With President Clayton
I love to greet Sister Sanchez each time I come.
What a devoted sweetheart she is.
I loved seeing the lessons and teachings of the gospel
firmly manifested on the chalkboard.
On the way home, we saw a shepherd taking his
goats across the field and down the road a bit, then,
they turned down a side street and were gone.
The shepherd's dog was leading the group.
The man, when he saw that we had stopped, came over
and talked English with us for a bit. He was so proud
of the English that he knew and kept looking at our
missionary tags and saying lds...lds, I know you.
ok...... we saw so many stray dogs today,
and sadly we saw a mother with her several puppies
scrounging around.
I'm not going to lie....it's hard to see.. it really is.
We finished our apples, and President stopped to see if
he could coax one over to have the last of our apple.
Of course they would not come. They are
so beaten down and hungry and scared to come to anyone.
Maybe they will come find it after we go. We hope so.
