We had the yearly primary program today. You know, the one where every child in the primary has a few lines to say and they all take turns reading or saying them. In between the little talks there is always lots of singing. Well, it's pretty much the same here as it is in the US.
The primary presidency was concerned about Matt and Elly having to speak to Spanish, so they translated their parts into English. I told them that Elly and Matt could handle it in Spanish. We (mostly Karen) worked with them for about a week and they got their parts down pretty good. Elisabeth even recited her's from memory! A few kids didn't show up, and Elly actually ended up two parts. She did really well. We had an investigator their for her first time and she brought two of her grandchildren. So the primary presidency put these kids to work and had them hold up a sign! It was really quite amazing!
The church building was bursting at the seems, there was literally standing room only. The branch president explained that a year ago there were only about 45 members attending this branch. Now we have about 80 people coming. The goal is to become a ward around February of next year. The branch president is projecting 120 active members by this time next year. Next week we will be meeting in a new building just down the street from where we are now. It is much larger and should have plenty of room for us. Once we become a ward, a new chapel will be constructed. The land has already been purchased. The only problem with the new location is that it is right across the street from the new Catholic church. It is called the "new" Catholic church, because the old Catholic church was badly damaged in an earth quake about 30 years ago. The old church is right in the center of town and is very prominent, pretty much anyone who comes to Puriscal ends up taking pictures of it and posting them on the internet. Don't believe me? Google "Puriscal Costa Rica pictures" and see what you get… but I digress. The reason being across the street from the catholic church is bad, is because of the noise. There is a lot of singing and bell chiming that goes on.
