FABULOUS FEASTS

FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS FEAST

On Monday we were invited to the birthday party of Maria Cecilia Garcia Rodriguez. We attended with the senior missionaries from the Santiago North mission: Hermana Grange, Hermana Cook, and Hermana Mendez. Cecilia is a member of our church who has lived all over the world. She has a service heart and looks for opportunities to help others wherever she goes. Her home reflects her bright, vibrant personality. Her walls are covered with her paintings. She also hand paints her tablecloths and pillow covers as well. We sang three happy birthday songs: one from the US, then the Chilean version, and a Columbian version. It was a delightful get-together made even more interesting because it was the birthday girl who invited us all. It was refreshing. In the US we usually wait for someone else to throw us a party, we might think it would seem self-centered to plan our own birthday party. But not here. It was a delightful beginning to our week. We each left with a small painting she had made for us. It was a feast of friendship and fun.

FRIDAY DATE NIGHT FEAST
We enjoyed a delicious Indian feast at Rishtedar restaurant with Élder and Hermana Lindquist and Élder and Hermana Ruiz. Notice the bindi jewels the women were given as we entered the restaurant. It is a Hindu tradition that dates to the third and fourth centuries. The bindi is traditionally worn by women for religious purposes or to indicate that they are married. Also, notice the silver bowl and warm water that was poured over our hands after dinner. What a lovely tradition. We enjoyed the long walk home.

FAMILY FEAST
We received a package from our daughter this week. Just seeing our address written in her writing made Sister Lamb tear up. And inside we found love notes from our six-year-old granddaughter Daphne. It was filled with many treasures including chocolate pudding and tomato paste. Other children and grandchildren have tried to send love notes, but they have not made it through the mail system. We are thankful this package arrived.

SPIRITUAL FEASTS
We had the rare privilege this week to be taught in person by an apostle of Jesus Christ, Elder D. Todd Christofferson, and his wife Kathy. Elder Patrick Kearon, a member of the presidency of the Seventy accompanied them. On Wednesday they met with a small group of senior missionaries and the church employees from the office we work in. We were able to shake their hands and have a short conversation with them and then they surprised us by stopping by our office. They said they wanted to see us in our work environment. The next day we attended a meeting with all the missionaries from the Santiago North and East missions where we were taught again. It truly was a unique spiritual feast. What a blessing to have a prophet and twelve apostles on the earth today. We will treasure the memory of these two days forever.

FATHERS DAY FEAST

It is always so enjoyable to have our sweet sister missionaries in our home for dinner. We have been going with them on teaching visits to new members’ homes which has been a delightful experience. Élder Lamb requested chicken puffs for Father’s Day dinner- a Grandma Dare tradition. That was no small feat since we cannot buy Pillsbury pop-up rolls or Stovetop stuffing in Chile, so the dough and stuffing had to be made from scratch. And FYI each individual carton of cream cheese is kept in a locked plastic case at the grocery store. They were delicious. We may never go back!

Hermanas Riz (Guatemala), Gonzaga (Ecuador), Allred (Utah), Neumann (Argentina).

Our hearts are turned to our good fathers on this special day. They became good friends after we married. We miss them and know they are doing great things in heaven together. To all the fathers in our lives – our Heavenly Father, my husband, our fathers, fathers in law, grandfathers, great-grandfathers (through the examples and histories they left us), our sons, son in law, grandsons, brothers, brothers in law, uncles, cousins, nephews, friends, teachers, prophets, and apostles who have mentored us, taught us, and loved us along life’s journey – thank you and Happy Father’s Day!

Abrazos, Élder y Hermana Lamb, (aka Ed & Debbie, Mom & Dad, Pop Pop & Tu Tu)