El Salvador Temple dedication

This weekend we were able to participate in the dedication of the San Salvador, El Salvador Temple by satellite.

Fun fact - My mission trainer will get married there, probably before the end of this year. She leaves the mission in 1 week. Also, we saw the mission president`s sister-in-law in the crowd, which was cool.

It was a very beautiful ceremony. And it truly did feel like we were in an extension of the temple, which was very refreshing. Made me miss the states a lot though too--haha. It was all in Spanish, except the speakers that don’t speak Spanish (Like Elder Eyring) who needed translators. I am so glad I know English cuz there were a lot of things he said that didn’t translate over quite as much. I’m glad I can hear these things spoken exactly how they meant to have it expressed. Yayyy!

The dreams of so many people have now been realized. There is now a temple in El Salvador... there is a temple much closer to Nicaragua (less expense in tripping). And not only the dreams and prayers of the members there have been realized, but also of all missionaries that ever served there, including my mission president, President Arredondo, and my cousin, Kerri Rustad. The president cried.. together with his wife. It was a very touching moment. Apparently President was working on the temple projects in El Salvador and Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, before he was called to be a mission president. I was so happy for the people when I heard the dedicatory prayer specifically made for that country, at that time. I know that that prayer will be realized.

Central America is progressing....leaping forward. One day, missionaries will be leaving from Central and South America to the states and rest of the world just like how right now the western part of the states is doing. It’s cool to be a part of. You really get a sense of how you are only one inch of the grand journey. It’s so cool.

God lives. The temple is the literal house of God. Temples are a place to give gratitude, a place to receive the light of understanding being taught by the Spirit, and a place to feel more profoundly the love of God for each of us. I encourage all of you to go to this house of illumination this week. Don´t go with problems this time. Don`t go expecting anything in particular. Go with an open heart and just.. feel. Be prepared to listen and FEEL what is happening.

Miss you all.
See you in 134-ish days (I’m now charged with reading D&C backwards in accordance with how many days I have left in the mission, so that’s how I know how many days it is)
Love you all.

the FIRST Hermana Rippstein (from my immediate family)