Mission Presidents Training at Casa de Campo.

Near La Romana, Casa De Campo is a huge resort area with three or four golf courses, hotel-size rooms, small homes and large homes.  Some are right along the ocean and look magnificent from the ocean-side.  The Mission Presidents were trained by a visiting General Authority from the missionary department (Elder Clark) and by the Area Presdency.  They had three long days, but all seemed enthusiastic.  We went over on Thursday to present to the Mission Presidents' wives, as they are the Mission Medical officers, my main contacts.  It was fun to meet everyone, and they all seem excited to have us come on mission tours.  Even Pres. Joseph, from Haiti, said we should come and thought that there would be no problem.  We will see what the other powers think, but I would like to go there and see the conditions for myself.

Besides our presentation we had lunch time and informal times to meet and talk together.  Luckily most use English well.  They are such great people, and younger than I would expect for the most part.  Pres. Alvarado, from Puerto Rico, was a missionary in the Tampa Mission in 1990, when we were in Ft. Myers.  So he knew many of our friends.  He has already been a Stake President too. 



Pres. Alvarado and I at the swim up bar in the pool.  He got a referral from one of the waitresses while we were there.

 Once we were done there we headed to our villa, a really nic house with pool on the golf course.  It is very open with sliding doors and large, open windows.  Our bedrooms were air-conditioned.  It was fun to have so much room and the kitchen was good for our meals.  There was a cart path along the ocean we could walk to and the homes are amazing. 


Cindy at the kitchen window, lots of fresh air.



Cindy and I at the entrance to the Villa.

On Friday afternoon we went to the beach, it is a short drive from the house.  The coast along the home sites has a few sandy patches but is mostly lava rock, and not really accessible.  We had a great break and had a good time with our friends.  We both were glad to get back home though, back to our work routine.