Tuesday, January 18, 2011

We were up early to rendezvous with our excursion guide to go snorkeling on the reef. They took us to a reef about 25 miles south of Puerta Plata. It was a wonderful trip and another one of those memories we will never forget.






We were able to snorkel for about an hour on the reef. There were tons of fish everywhere. The guide told us to bring bananas with us. As soon as we hit the water we were completely engulfed in tropical fish! It was great, we had a great time.





Unfortunately all good things must come to an end. We had to check out of the Barcelo Hotel at 1:00pm and head back to Santo Domingo. But our two days were a lot of fun and memories for a lifetime.




Back in Santo Domingo we went to the Dominican Fiesta Hotel across the street from our hotel for dinner at their buffet restaurant. We were there coincidentally at the same time that Pres. Almonte and his wife Victoria were there with all 9 departing Elders and 3 departing Hermanas. Today is “Traslados” (Transfer Day) and Pres. Almonte always treats the departing missionaries to the buffet dinner at the Dominican Fiesta.





After the meal we all went outside on the steps of the hotel and had our pictures taken. Every one of these Elders and Hna.’s has a special place in our hearts. Hna. Johnson was crying as she hugged some of the Elders and Hna’s for the last time. We love our missionaries.





The Americans have to leave for the airport at 4:00am tomorrow morning.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Today’s big activity was to a place called “27 Charcos” (27 Waterfalls). We went there last July with our other son Jared & his wife and we were anxious to bring Jacob, Nathan and their wives there too.











27 Waterfalls is a national treasure of the Dominican Republic. It was worth every cent of the $25.00USD fee and tips per person to go there. Even though there are 27 falls we only did 12 this time and that was plenty.













We did the falls differently this time. We hiked a jungle trail for about 45 minutes to the 12th falls and then slid or jumped our way back to the first one. Last time we were here we climbed hand over hand and struggled our way up stream against the current before turning around to slide or jumped our way back down to the start. It worked out great for us.












After “27 Waterfalls” we spent the afternoon on the beach at the Barcelo Resort. Nathan, Valerie and I went snorkeling out on the reef. The water started out very clear and we saw a lot of tropical fish swimming around the reef. Later the wind picked up and was a problem, the waves were high and the water turned murky. But it was fun while it lasted.





At the Barcelo Resort all of our meals are included in the price of our room. They have a very large buffet cafeteria were we like to eat all of our meals. But tonight we made reservations at one of the resort’s other large Restaurants. These are different because they are not buffet style, we can order off of their menu and we are served at our table.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

This morning we attended a special conference for the whole Caribbean Area. It was presided over by Pres. Uchtdorf and both he and Elder Dallin H. Oaks spoke. The conference was broadcast live from SLC to all of the Stake Centers and District chapels in all of the Caribbean. Our sons, their wives and Hna. Johnson & I attended at the Piantini Stake Center here in Santo Domingo because they have facilities set up to hear the broadcast in English.

We experienced one of those “Tender Mercies” on our way to the Piantini chapel. I have only driven there twice before and wasn’t sure how to get there. But on the way we notice another Honda Odyssey Minivan exactly like ours with a family all dressed for church. Hna. Johnson said, they look like they are going to church too, let’s just follow them. She was right; it was a family of a church employee that works in “Centro de Servicio” and they led us right to the chapel.



The Area Conference was very good. Elder Oaks minced no words about what it means to live the “Gospel Culture”. He explained the duties and responsibilities of the members in the Caribbean attend their meetings, fulfill their callings, be good parents, pay their tithing, wear modest clothing and live chaste lives. It was a very good talk, something every member of the church needs to know and do, not just in the Caribbean but all over the world.



After the meeting was over we discovered a whole group of missionaries outside the building. We hadn’t seen them before because they attended the session in the chapel where the broadcast was in Spanish.




After the Area Conference we were off on our 3 hour drive to Puerta Plata on the northern coast of the island. We had reservations at the same resort we went to in July when our other son Jared and his wife came down to visit us.






We got registered, moved in, unpacked and were off to the all you can eat buffet, one of the 5 restaurants they have at the Barcelo. It was real good food. We all ate too much.