Quaker Heights Spanish Branch

The last 5 months in the mission field, we were assigned to the Quaker Heights Spanish Branch.  What a delight that was.  Of course, Eugene speaking fluent Spanish, was right at home.  However, I was not... in the beginning.  The only thing I could do was smile in Spanish.  And lead music in Spanish.  But everyone in the little branch was so wonderful and welcoming that it didn't take long to feel loved.  The spirit was so incredible and everyone was so kind.  After a couple of weeks with Eugene trying to translate everything, it was evident that we needed help.  So the branch president set up some headphones and a translator for me and his wife.  She didn't speak Spanish either and he was constantly translating for her too.  From that point on, we didn't miss out on anything.  Just as we were completing our mission, we decided to take our camera to church and get some pictures of some of the members out in the hall.  Here are just a few.  I wish we would have written down all of their names because now, 7 months later, some of them have escaped us.

 The top left picture shows some of the Relief Society ladies.  They are so delightful.  I wish I could remember all of their names.  Top right are Lee and Bea.  The center picture is Bella Wright (Relief society president) and her husband and two beautiful daughters.  And the bottom picture is the Andrade family. 

 Sister Delgadio (top left) was an incredible Sunday School teacher.  She and her husband were converts to the church and before the Spanish branch was organized, they attended church - in an English speaking ward.  Never understanding a word spoken, they attended faithfully for the children!  How we admired them!

 This lady had such a fun personality!  We were invited to their home a number of times for some good ol' Latin Fiestas!

Serving the Spanish branch was a wonderful experience for us.  We had expected to be called to South East Mexico on our mission.  A little confused when we weren't.  But this made up for not receiving a call south of the border.