Remember the Alamo!

We had the great opportunity last week to attend a Mission Leadership Seminar for the North America Southwest Area in San Antonio, Texas which is about 3 1/2 hours from Houston. The first afternoon we met at the San Antonio Temple. It is very small but so beautiful! There is a lot of stained glass throughout the temple, and the temple president told us a story of how during excavation they uncovered a small cavern. The missionary that was the site manager climbed down in and found a few big stones and he brought them up. It turned out that they were Agate and they were cut and used in the stained glass. There was enough that they used the rest in the temple in Rome.

After the session we met outside for a group photo. Many of the mission presidents and area seventy already knew each other, but we were just happy to be there!

This is a view from the San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk where we stayed. We have always heard how charming San Antonio is, and it was fun to finally be there.

                 They had a fun gift for us in our room with a lot of fun Texas things in it!

On the second day we had meetings in the morning, and then went to see an IMAX movie about the Alamo. It must be a pretty old film, done by Keith Merrill, but it was well done. Then we strolled around the Alamo and the surrounding Gardens.

The plaque said this Live Oak tree was planted in 1912 - and it was moved here when it was already 40 years old!

Here is John waiting for the movie!

We met for dinner at Casa Rio which is one of first restaurants

to open its doors to the Riverwalk.

After dinner we went for a boat ride. Elder Soares (one of the current 12 apostles in our church) and his wife were on our boat. The poor boat guide was a semi-lapsed member of our church and he was SO nervous! He finally settled down though and we had a very nice tour.

The weather was beautiful, it had been pretty warm but there was a little breeze and we got a few sprinkles of rain. They had given us ponchos in case it really rained hard, but the storm waited until we were back at the hotel.

It feels very European along the Riverwalk.

There is some great artwork along the way.

We loved the mosaics.

 They were gearing up for Halloween and Dia de los Muertos so they had a casket parade one evening where they were giving out treats to children in costume at each restaurant and store front.

The Riverwalk includes 12.3 miles of restaurants and shops. 

              Another stunning mosaic! This was done for the 1968 World's Fair that was held here. The Mosaic pieces were brought from all over the world!

San Antonio

It was fun to take walks along the Riverwalk!

This is a fun stone amphitheater built into the hillside. It faces a stage where apparently a scene from "Miss Congeniality" was filmed.

This was a great Mariachi band - we tried to get a video but they finished their song just as we got going! The cultural events were so much fun but the meetings were a spiritual feast! We were blessed to be taught by Elder Pieper, Elder Ochoa, Elder McKay, Elder Alliaud, Elder Teixeira, and Elder Soares.  We were immersed in the spirit of the Holy Ghost and were strengthened by the instruction and strong testimonies shared by the leadership, mission presidents and their wives. Elder Soares radiates the spirit and we were honored to be able to meet him and to be included in the training seminar. Seeing the mission presidents, their wives, area seventies and other authorities greeting each other reminded us of the joyous reunion of Alma and the sons of Mosiah we recently read about in the Book of Mormon as recorded in Alma 17:2-3 ". . . Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God. But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God."

At church on Sunday one of the sister missionaries came up to me and asked if I would like to lead the singing. I told her that Elder Davis is much better at it  - so here he is leading and singing in Spanish!  We both can see a little bit of progress understanding Spanish at church. We are still pretty quiet there but hopefully we will become more comfortable with speaking!