A Guatemalan Family Farm

After our visit to the Regional Hospital in Cuilapa yesterday, we were all invited to the farm home of Brother and Sister Pitri outside of Cuilapa.  They have a small, but nice, home on property on a mountainside.  We drove up an unimproved dirt road for a few miles to reach their property.  It was fascinating seeing how they live.  They get all their water from collected rain water, purify their drinking water by setting clear water jugs out in the sun, and grow a variety of tropical fruits and plants:  mango, limes, mandarin limes (didn't even know they exist--they are the color of mandarin oranges inside, but taste just like regular limes), lemons, oranges, guanabana, maracuyá, bananas of various varieties, including purple ones, plátanos, another fruit like a plátano whose name I can't recall, nuts, coffee, and many more.  They live in a tropical paradise!  We had a nice lunch and visited with these wonderful people.  It was enjoyable and interesting.

Our Visit to the Regional Hospital in Cuilapa

Yesterday morning, we accompanied a group of Senior Missionaries to the Regional Hospital in Cuilapa to give baby kits to the mothers of newborns in the maternity ward of the hospital and some gifts to the children in the pediatric unit.  It was an interesting drive down through rural areas on the road to El Salvador, CA1.  We drove through the towns of El Cerinal and Barbarena and finally arrived at the hospital in Cuilapa.  It is rated the third best public hospital in Guatemala, but it isn't a place you would want to have your child receive care.  The conditions of the hospital were nothing like you would see in the United States.  It makes you wonder why a country that has malls as nice as anything in the States has hospitals like the one we visited. Some say it is because there is drug money behind the malls and government corruption keeps public funds from getting to the hospitals.  I have no idea if there is any truth to that, but the difference between the malls and the hospitals is stark.  But the children in the hospital were beautiful, and Sister Smith was in her element sharing the gifts we had brought with the babies and their mothers.  She even suited up to visit the babies in the nursery.  She said that should be her job, just to hold and care for the babies in the nursery.

There were sights, however, that tore at our heart strings.  Two little infants in the hospital had been abandoned by their parents.  One infant boy of Quiché (a Mayan people) parents had serious heart problems, and his parents had left him, presumably because they felt they couldn't care for him.  The other was a little premie in an incubator whose twin had not survived.  He too had been abandoned by his parents. These two will be sent to an orphanage for adoption when they are healthy enough to leave the hospital.  Their chances for adoption, however, are not good.  The international adoption system in Guatemala was entirely shut down in 2008 due to widespread corruption, kidnapping, and baby selling.  In its hey day one of every 110 babies born in Guatemala ended up in the United States for adoption, many stolen from the birth parents.  Lawyers/notaries in Guatemala charged $35,000 plus expenses for every one of these babies placed for adoption, almost 5,000 per year.  It was big business, and subject to corruption.  Now since 2008, the system has been shut down while reforms are implemented.  So the chances for adoption of these and who knows how many children like them are bleak.  It broke our hearts to think of these two little ones abandoned like that.

Dental Clinic group

Today we say goodby to Dr. Call.  Elder Call was the brains and muscle behind getting the dental clinic here in Guatemala built and running.  This clinic was somewhat of an experiment.  It was built with humanitarian money and volunteers.  However it has served our LDS full-time Missionaries and future missionaries here in Guatemala and surrounding countries for the past 5 years.  We also serve 2 orphanages and one school.  It has and is staffed by full-time senior missionaries and donations from individuals and humanitarian groups.  Because of the success of this clinic the church has now put into motion the construction of a church sponsored dental clinic in the Philippians.  Dr. Call's hard work and dedication has paid off.  He is not alone in this.  All those that have served in anyway at this clinic for the past 5 years have had a big part in it's success.  This clinic has and is blessing the lives of all that have received services here.  From the full-time missionaries and future missionaries throughout Central America to the children we serve that see the church in action in blessing their lives and the lives of others.  I am so grateful to be able to rub shoulders with faithful dedicated people such as these.
Dr. Call is the one in the middle on the back row in the light blue tunic.

Preparing for Our First Christmas in Guatemala

Christmas is wonderful time of year!  As we approach our first Christmas in Guatemala, I thought I would share what we are seeing and learning about Christmas here.

Much is the same:

In some ways Guatemala looks very much like Christmas at home.  There are Christmas decorations all over town with the decorated Christmas trees and lights we are used to seeing at home.  The stores are decked out in Christmas decorations just like we see at home.  There is a huge Christmas tree (mechanical one, not a real one) in the plaza at the Obelisco, and Christmas programs are all around us just like at home.  We watched the First Presidency Christmas devotional (via BYU TV) just like we do every year at home.  We had a wonderful Christmas devotional and luncheon at the Montúfar chapel yesterday for all the Church employees and the Senior Missionaries who work in the Area Office.  It was beautiful and very much like home.  We attended a Christmas party for our ward last night, just like we would have done at home.  We will have an Office Christmas party on Monday for the legal office.  Things really slow down at Christmas time, just like at home.  We have a small decorated tree in our apartment, and we listen to Christmas music every day.  We are excited to have Robert and his family visit us at Christmas time.

But some things are very different:

It is sunny and nice every day here, more like a Christmas in Hawaii than what we were used to in Salt Lake.  At our ward Christmas party last night, we had very tough, thin beef and chorizos (a spicy sausage), frijoles (refried black beans), rice, corn tortillas, salad, and horchata to drink.  It was a typical Guatemalan meal.  All over town there are stands selling fireworks, mountains of fireworks, and every night there are fireworks going off all over the city.  This will culminate on Christmas Eve (Nochebuena) with a spectacular fireworks show all over the city at midnight, or so I am told.  At first this seemed quite a strange way to celebrate Christmas to me.  We certainly don't have that tradition at home.  But as in all traditions, there is some truth underlying it all.  In the night before He was born there was no darkness on this land; it was as light as at mid-day.  And a new star was seen in the sky.  This Christmas Eve the people here will light up the sky all night with their fireworks.  He is the Light of the World, and they will celebrate His birth with lights in the sky.

All over town, we see traffic stopped as processions walk down the streets carrying one of their Saints, the Virgin of Guadalupe or the Virgin Mary or another.  This is a very Catholic tradition and quite strange to us.  We are told that on Christmas Eve, families will gather and eat mountains of tomales and drink "ponche" their traditional hot fruit punch.  Late that night after the fireworks, the children will open their Christmas gifts.  Both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day along with New Years Eve and New Years Day are holidays.  I'm sure there will be many other things this Christmas that will be new to us.

But for us, this Christmas will be like all Christmases, a special time to remember Our Saviors birth and worship Him.  He is the gift of Christmas, and we love this special time of year when the world joins us in Honoring Him.  May you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

The Chacón Family

Last night we had a dinner invitation from the Chacón family.  Brother Chacón is the Stake Patriarch in the Molino Stake and the family are members of the Santa Luisa Ward where we attend we church.  They live in a small home not far from the church where brother Chacón has lived all of his life.  He is a convert to the Church of more than 50 years, and his family is an example of the remarkable difference that the Gospel can make in the lives of people.  His children have served missions (the youngest is still serving in Salt Lake City) and are faithful members of the Church.  The Spirit in their home was wonderful.  We visited all evening, and I enjoyed very much getting to know them and hearing Brother Chacón's testimony.  He is a CPA and works for a subsidiary of General Electric, but notwithstanding that, their circumstances are humble by American standards.  As a young man he was challenged in his poverty to live the law of tithing, and he tells of going for a walk in the street and weeping.  He could barely care for himself and his family, including his parents, but He told His Heavenly Father that if He wanted him to pay tithing, he would do it, but he would need His help.  He began to pay his tithing and shortly thereafter was blessed with a job opportunity that more than doubled his income.  He bore a strong testimony of the law of tithing and how it has blessed his family.  We pay tithing with faith, not with money.

Our Trip Home to Honor Markel Allen Caldwell

After only two days in Belize, we received the sad news that Mary Ann's father, Markel Allen Caldwell had died at about 11:00 p.m. on Monday, November 16, 2015.  In Belize we had no cell phone service, and no-one at home had any way to contact us to let us know of Markel's death except by Facebook and email.  I was out visiting with our attorneys when Mary Ann stumbled onto the news by computer.  She was all alone that morning in a foreign land and couldn't talk to anyone.  She had messaged me several times during the day, but I hadn't been anywhere where I had wifi, and that was our only method of communication.  In the early afternoon, we stopped at the Church Office in Belize City, and I discovered Mary Ann's messages about Markel's death.  I quickly handed off our remaining appointments that afternoon to my assistant, Set Quinonez, and hurried back to the hotel to comfort Mary Ann as best I could.  The rest that day was a rush as we obtained permission from the Area President, Elder Duncan, to return to the United States for the funeral.  Because we had driven a car into Belize, I had to drive the car back to the Guatemala border and leave it at the Church property in Melchor de Mencos across the border and then return to Belize City to catch a flight out the next morning.  I had to get to the border before they closed, so Luis Ochoa, the Country Coordinator in Belize, and I drove to the border in separate cars at breakneck speed.  We later returned together to Belize City, and I got the chance to hear Luis' compelling life and conversion story.  After a late night haggling with on-line airline ticket sellers, we finally got flights booked to return home.

During our time at home, we visited with Nadine and her family, participated in Markel's funeral, and stayed with Ben and Melanie in a condo in Payson where we got to have a nice family dinner and spend some time together.  We later travelled to Preston and spent Thanksgiving with Dannan and Melanie and their family.  On Friday after Thanksgiving, they headed to Jackson Hole to ski with Ben and his family, while we headed back to Guatemala.  Saying goodbye again was no easier than the first time.  In contemplating the loss of Grandpa Caldwell, I wrote the following:

I lost my father when I was 17. Ever since I met and fell in love with Mary Ann Caldwell when I was 21, Markel Caldwell has been a father to me. He was an honest, hard-working man of few words. He let his works do the talking. In the early years of our relationship I would at times see his temper flare, but over the years I saw him soften, develop great patience and a loving heart. He was generous, forgiving, and kind. He was most tender in his prayers for his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, when he would often be moved to tears. He taught me by example to plumb a straight line not only in work but in life. I will miss him terribly, but I hope to honor him by living my life as straight as he lived his. I love you, Markel.

The Adventure

Last Friday morning at 6:30 a.m. We left Guatemala City en route to Belize City on assignment to meet with our attorneys there and with new law firms in an effort to resolve legal problems in Belize. We drove down El Martí and Jacobo Árbenz Guzmán Highway, the winding highway to the Atlantic, as it descends from the highlands plateau on which Guatemala City sits to Lake Izabal, the largest lake in Guatemala.  On the far side of the Lake, we turned north through Rio Dulce on our way to the Petén and Flores, a small, historic town on an island in the middle of Lake Petén Itza.  The drive was long and tiring, as drives in Guate are prone to be, but what an interesting trip.  We passed through so many Guatemalan cities, towns' and villages.  There was never more than a few miles between settlements.  We winded along the Rio Grande or Rio Motagua most of the way to Izabal, and for the first time we saw large agricultural projects and even large tractors.  These were obviously large operations of agribusiness, not the little hand tended plots of the Maya we had seen on our trip to Atitlán in the highlands.  In the long road into the Petén, we had to be in constant look-out for túmulos, big speed bumps across the highway as you approached each little village.  They are such big bumps that if you hit one unexpectedly at too much velocity, you can do serious damage to your car.  After about 9.5 hours of driving, we arrived in Flores.  It is a beautiful little island city with cobblestone streets and traditional buildings.  It was a place where the Maya held out against the Conquistadors.  The lake, Petén Itza, is karstic, as are the other 20 or more lakes across the Petén, and its level varies in about a 20 year cycle.  It is high now and the north and east sides of Flores are flooded.  Flores is a tourist town that caters to the waves of tourists from all over the world that come to see Tikal, the famous Mayan Ruins a little north of Flores.  We stayed in a tiny little room in the Casona de la Isla with a view of the lake.  Flores was a lively little town at night.

On Saturday morning,  we drove to Tikal.  As we entered the park, we hired a Mayan guide who speaks English to show us the ruins.  His name is Josue Castillo.  He grew up in a small Mayan village near Rio Dulce, speaking his traditional Mayan dialect at home, learning Spanish in school. He had to leave his home as a teenager, because he wanted an education.  The government only provides six years of education for the children, and after that the family has to pay for schooling for their children.  The poor families can´t afford that, and it is rare for the poor children to get more education.  They are expected to work and the help the family survive.  Josue left and worked his way to an education, even learning English and becoming a tour guide.

Tikal is an amazing Mayan Ruin site.  Sitting atop Temple 5, the tallest building in the Mayan world, you look north across the Petén, across the heart of the Mayan empire.  It is an impressive sight.  The ruins are layered across the centuries being built over the structures of earlier times.  The oldest ruins of the Lost World date to 600 B.C.  The size of the site is astounding, and only a small part has been excavated.  We will post some pictures of the ruins when we get a chance.

The next day, on Sunday, November 15, we attended a regional conference for Guatemala with the Petén Stake, the newest stake in Guatemala, created just a couple of weeks ago.  They have a beautiful stake center, and the Saints there were impressive.  Elder Bednar was the presiding authority at the conference.  Afterwards we drove to Belize.  The border crossing is an experience in itself and took us an hour to get through the whole process, including the fumigation of our car.  On the Belizean side of the border, everything changes--the language is English, the tradition is British, the houses have yards, the cattle are Angus and Hereford rather than Brahma.  It was amazing how much things changed when crossing that border.  That afternoon we had torrential rains and the highway (that is really an exaggeration for this rough, pot-holed road), which follows a large river, Rio Mopán an later the Belize River, was flooded in many places.  We made crossings of these flooded areas, sometimes with water nearly up to the doors.  It was a dangerous and difficult drive into Belmopan, the capital city of Belize.  From there the highway is really good on over to Belize City.  We had our hotel, the Raddison, entered into Waze, the GPS navigation system people use here, but it took us to our hotel in a circuitous route through the worst parts of Belize City.  It was dark by then, an we felt a little disconcerted trying to find our hotel.  But finally we arrived, safe and sound, after this drive which can only be described as an adventure.  We are grateful for the Lord's protecting hand!

Make the Sabbath a Delight

It has been another wonderful week in Guatemala.  I can't describe the joy we feel from being involved in the work of the Lord.  Friday evening we went to the temple with our assigned ward, Barrio Santa Luisa.  I worked with the few brethren who came to do baptisms for the dead with the youth of the ward while Sister Smith did a session with some of the women of the ward.  There was a great spirit in the baptistery as there always is; and I enjoyed doing the ordinances in Spanish for the first time in more than 40 years.

While we were waiting outside the temple for the bishop to arrive with the youth recommend, Brother Bernabe Suret and I had some time to visit.  He is the first counselor in the ward, and a humble, hard-working man.  He builds houses for a living, and he builds them from the ground up-- he is skilled in concrete, plumbing, electrical, roofing, painting, and every other construction trade.  I was saddened to hear what has happened to the construction business in this country over the past decade.  In earlier times a builder could make Q2,000 per week plus bonuses doing construction work.  But since about 2004, the business has collapsed and now these skilled workers make barely Q600 per week with no bonuses.  It is very difficult for them to survive on such meager wages.  I pray that these oppressive conditions will change so that these good men can earn a decent living for their families.

Today we attended Stake Conference for the Molino Stake.  Elder José Maravilla, an Area Seventy from Nicaragua, was the visiting authority, and he gave a very inspiring account of his conversion to the gospel.  He grew up in very small town in Nicaragua, and ran a small business doing oil changes on cars.  When he first was exposed to the Church, he attended his first sacrament meeting in a small, "horrible" rented house with very few members.  He told of being curious and anxious to see what was covered by a white cloth at the front of the room.  When the American missionary pulled back the cloth, he saw both the emblems of the Savior's sacrifice, and he was so anxious to partake of them.  He explained that as a child in his former church he had repeatedly asked why he could not partake of both emblems of the sacrament.  When the elder blessed and distributed the sacrament, he offered the emblems to everyone except Mr. Maravilla.  He told how crushed he was when he could not partake.  Later the elder explained to him that he must first be baptized to make these sacred covenants.  He told of the inexpressible joy he felt after his baptism when he and his wife and their child partook of the emblems of the sacrament for the first time.  He said he has never missed an opportunity to partake of the sacrament since that time.  May we all love the sacrament as this humble servant does and partake of it gratefully with a broken heart and contrite spirit at every opportunity.

Elder Maravilla next told us of his trial as a new member when he was taught about keeping the Sabbath day holy.  Sunday was his busiest business day, when he made more money than all the other days of the week combined.  He was in competition with a bigger, more established business across the street, and when the elders told him he needed to close his business on Sunday, he was sure that if he did so his business would fail and he would not be able to provide for his family.  He took the matter to the Lord, and in faith, he closed on Sunday.  His competitor ridiculed him about his decision and sought to take away his customers, but Elder Maravilla's business did not fail.  The Lord prospered him.  He made an offer to buy the larger building on the corner that belonged to his competitor, but the man said he had no need to sell to him.  Elder Maravilla said he prayed to the Lord that he would give the man a need!  For two years he saved, and one day, the man came to him and said he had a need and wanted to sell the building to Elder Maravilla.  He bought the building, improved his business, and this main corner in his small town became known as Maravilla corner.  It became the junction of two main roads between neighboring communities, and everyone referred to the junction as Maravilla corner.  Elder Maravilla testified that he was blessed and prospered, because he kept the Sabbath day holy and kept his covenants, partaking worthily of the sacrament each and every Sunday.

Baby project

One of the senior missionaries humanitarian projects is providing new born baby kits to the state run hospitals. The women that come to these hospitals to deliver their babies usually come with nothing to take the babies home in. The hospital gives them a diaper but that is all.  If anyone or organization would like to gather/collect some of the items listed it would be greatly appreciated.  THE ONLY CATCH IS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE THEM COLLECTED AND DELIVERED TO OUR SON IN MANTI, UT BY DECEMBER 10, 2015.  HE CAN THEM BRING THEM TO US HERE IN GUATEMALA. 
This is what we typically put in our Newborn Baby Kits.  A flannel receiving blanket, can be either single layer or double about 40 or 45" square, a onesie, short sleeve, printed, color or white in size 0-3 months, a pair of socks, the roll top ones are best because they stay on their little feet, Walmart has them in packages of 3, a hat either hand made or purchased newborn hat, wash cloth and a bar of Ivory or dove soap. Everything is put in a gallon size ziplock bag.
Occasionally we receive burp pads, diapers and pins, toys, coloring books and crayons, etc., (we can always use coloring books and crayons) which usually go separately to the regional hospital where they are given to babies or children in the hospital with illnesses.  We try to keep the kits as standardized as possible to avoid hurt feeling.  We include a card identifying it is a donation from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that we print up here from the official church logo.
If you can help please let me know.  Thanks Mary Ann (Hermana Smith)

The Changing of the Guard

Today after Church, we attended a devotional for temple workers and their spouses where the outgoing Temple President and Matron, the Burks, spoke along with the incoming President and Matron, the Normans from Salt Lake City.  Elder Kevin Duncan; the Area President, was the concluding speaker. It was an inspiring devotional.

President Norman spoke of how the temples have two great purposes: (1) to provide the ordinances of exaltation to the living and the dead, and (2) to provide a House to the Lord where He may manifest himself to His people.  On this latter point, President Norman quoted D&C 109:5 and 110:7:

5 For thou knowest that we have done this work through great tribulation; and out of our poverty we have given of our substance to build a house to thy name, that the Son of Man might have a place to manifest himself to his people.

7 For behold, I have accepted this house, and my name shall be here; and I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house.

He taught us to go as do the Prophets and Apostles into the Temple to receive personal revelation, for the Lord will manifest himself to His people in His house.

Afterwards we hurried to the Area Office to set up for the Break the Fast dinner with the Senior Missionaries, where the Presidents and Matrons also came and we got to know them a little better.  We had a great meal as usual.  It is wonderful to serve with so many dedicated and consecrated couples.  The Normans have served three missions; this is their fourth.  The Kirks too have served several times.  They have missed 7 of the past 8 Christmases with their children and grand-children.  It is amazing to see the commitment and dedication of these Saints.  It is a testimony of the truth of this work.  What else would impell so many to sacrifice so much?

Our Trip to Lake Atitlán

Yesterday we ventured out of the city into the heart of the Maya at Lake Atitlán.  Mary Ann has some pictures to share.  The drive was incredibly beautiful!  We got to see Mayan agriculture here for the first time, and I was astounded.  Every square foot of the country side seemed to be under cultivation no matter how steep the hills.  Each area was divided neatly into small plots with a great variety of crops in every stage of growth from newly planted through harvest, all at the same time.  And eveywhere there was corn, 10 or 12 feet high by appearance as we drove by.  Every bit of the work from planting to harvest and even to transporting the produce to market was done by hand with hoes and machetes as far as I could tell.  The abundance of produce everywhere was mind boggling, and everything they grow was so big by our standards: big corn, big squashes, giant watemelons, huge carrots, etc.  Simply amazing!

Lake Atitlán is a jewell nestled among the surrounding volcanoes and ringed with traditional Mayan villages where everyone, men, women and children, is dressed in traditional Mayan clothing.  We had a great lunch at the Hotel Atitlán and enjoyed their beautiful gardens and collection of parots and parakeets in a beautiful array of colors.  We drove some of the streets of Panajachel (the lake-side tourist town known to the many just as "Pana"), some of which were too narrow to get a car down, but were traversed by the "Tuc Tucs"--little three wheel motorcycle like taxis.  We mixed with the locals, who were only too willing to help a couple of Gringos find their "way", and we took a public launch across the lake to the village of Santiago.  Lining the main street were the ever present vendors of traditional handcrafts and the annoying and persistent women selling their weavings and fabrics.  The old Church in the center of town was built in 1547 and the central plaza was a bustling marketplace--a Chapine farmers market.

We started for home by 4:00 in hopes of getting back before dark, but the heavy traffic made that impossible.  Driving here is not just setting the cruise control and relaxing.  It is more like a three hour roller coaster ride, and that can be pretty exhausting.  Doing it at night was a whole new dimension!  I can't recount the number of cars I saw with no tail lights at all.  What a ride!

People of Corn

When I arrived in Guatemala and began to get to know our staff here in the office, our Legal Administrator, Set Quiñonez, told me one day that he is a man of corn and I am a man of wheat; he is Chapín and I am Gringo.  I had never thought of that, and found his comment interesting but strange. But as I have become more acquainted with the culture and customs here, particularly of the Mayan people, I have come to understand more of what he meant.  Corn or maize is everywhere, and the people eat corn tortillas with every meal.  A specialty is roasted corn on a stick, "elote", with various sauces and spices smeared on it.  The ears of corn are huge and with a different shape than we are used to seeing in the States, and they come in many different varieties and colors.  While doing some research yesterday on the indigenous people of Guatemala, I came across this article about the Mayan's fight against Monsanto. Here is a passage from the article that gives you an idea of just how endemic corn is in their culture:

Sacred crops

Sololá is one of the agriculture centers of Guatemala, with a majority of the population relying on the growing of maize, beans, coffee and other crops. The department also has one of the highest indigenous populations in the country, with 96 percent of the population identifying as Kaqchikel, T’zutujil, or Kiche Maya. Maize is sacred to the Maya; their cultures and societies revolve around it. According to the Kiche Maya creation story, the Popol Vuh, the gods made humans by grinding the different colors of maize.

As is written in the Popol Vuh, “There was a consensus (among the gods), and it was decided what would come of the red, yellow, black, and white maize; it is from these that they made our bones, our blood, and our flesh.”

The protection of seed is thus of the utmost importance for the indigenous peoples of Guatemala and across Mesoamerica. “We cannot live without our corn,” said Acetún of the indigenous municipality. “It makes up all of our lives. We consume it for our food, we sell it, it is us.”

Rafael, a campesino from the Kaqchikel Maya community of Pixabaj, Sololá, explained, “The people here are Maize … We are not French. We are not anything else. We are Maize; we are Maya.”

As the protests mounted, women took the lead in organizing for the defense of maize. In Sololá, women created a seed bank to archive and protect the various varieties of heirloom corn for future generations. “The women of Sololá have taken the lead in organizing to save and protect our heirloom seeds,” said Pocop. “It is our responsibility to preserve our traditional seed, and to pass along the traditional ways of doing things.”

http://wagingnonviolence.org/feature/guatemala-indigenous-communities-prevail-monsanto/  

A Beautiful Day in Guatemala

It is a Beautiful day in Guatemala.  The sun is shining with a few high clouds.  I just finished a nice walk/jog.  I still haven't gotten use to the rules of the road here.  Pedestrians Do Not have the right of way even in a cross walk or a red light.  I don't step out into a cross walk to cross the stree if there is a car right there but if it is 30-50 yards from the cross walk I am inclined to continue walking. Some drivers get very annoyed when I do that and the Guate's think I'm a bit crazy. I just keep forgetting, I have survived so far.

A Special Witness

Another week has flown by.  Today was our P-day, but we just exercised in the morning and did shopping and errands this afternoon.  We are both pretty tired from our labors.  We helped Paula Wood get the shopping done that she needed to do in preparation for a VIP breakfast and the November Break the Fast gathering (that is the dinner we all have together as missionaries on fast Sunday).  They have family coming in this week to visit, so she needed help getting the shopping done while her husband worked today.

I posted a picture of our missionary group earlier in the week.  We had a Zone Conference on Thursday and Elder Jose Alonso addressed us along with a couple of the Sister Missionaries. All the talks were great.  Elder Alonso shared personal experiences as a general authority at General Conference when the three new Apostles were called and sustained.  He told how in a meeting with the general authorities, President Monson stood and testified that the Lord, Jesus Christ, had given him the names of those who were to be called as the new Apostles.  He spoke of his own witness that that was true, and told of meeting the day of their call with Bishop Stevenson, where he seemed distracted and detached.  Later when he saw the new Apostle after his call was announced, he testified that he saw a light in his countenance and perceived that the mantle of the apostleship had descended upon him.  I too received a witness during conference that these new Apostles were called of God and not of man.  It was not a political, racial, or cultural decision; it was revelation from the Savior.

Elder Alonso then talked to us about listening to the voice of the Savior, feeling His Spirit, and seeing His face.  This is our quest in life, to become like Him so that we can become like Our Heavenly Father.

Guatemalan Buses

MaryAnn Posted to Facebook: October 17 at 2:44 pm

Here is a very small representation of the buses. There are many more colors.

A Guatemala Holiday

MaryAnn Posted to Facebook: October 20 at 5:48 pm

Today is a Guatemala holiday. Bob didn't have to go to work so we did a little sight seeing. I've included a picture of the Palacio, (the main Guatemala government building) and a church on the plaza. Also the rickety red buses.

Okay, two firsts today. When we were at the plaza there was a crowd gathered around a person performing. Bob and I were able to look over the heads of the people to see what was happening. The second was watching a movie at the theater in a reclining chair and restaurant service. Yes as senior missionaries we can do many things a youth can't.

Our Friends

A Humble People: October 17

Posted to Facebook: October 17 at 1:18pm

I wish I could describe what I see here in Guatemala but sometimes pictures can help. Here is a picture of the type of vehicles we often, everyday, see on the roads. I often wonder how they are being held together.

Eruptions Today on the Volcano of Fire: October 7

"Eruptions Today on the Volcano of Fire" Posted to Facebook; October 7 at 7:36 pm 

Mudslide in Guatemala City: October 3

Posted to Facebook: October 3 at 9:32 pm by: Robert Smith

"Our hearts go out to those who have lost loved ones in the terrible mudslide east of Guatemala City."

Beautiful Guatemalan Flowers

Bob Posted to Facebook: October 20 at 10:22am

Elder Steven E. Snow

One of the really enjoyable things about working in the Area Office is that on Monday morning each week there is a devotional for all the Church employees, leaders, and missionaries.  These have been very uplifting and inspiring.  Today, however, was even better.  Elder Steven E. Snow, the Church Historian and Recorder, along with his wife, Phyllis, and his assistant, Richard Turley, were here to conduct a Church history tour of Central America.  Each of them spoke at this morning's devotional, and their talks were great.  They took the Lord's command in D&C 21:1 that there shall be record kept among us and applied it to us inividually as well as to the Church.  They taught us that we each need to record our life, faith, and work in the Church and share our story with our family to build their faith.  Elder Snow told us about all the wonderful things that are going on in the Church History Department, from the new Church History building and its new exhibit, to the Joseph Smith papers project, capturing international history of the Church, making our history available to everyone on-line, and to a new four volume History of the Church that is being written by Richard Turley and his team for publication at the end of 2019.

After the devotional, I got the chance to chat with Elder Snow for a minute.  He remembered me from years  ago when Paul Graf and I rented office space in the Snow Nuffer building in St George that he and his law partner, David Nuffer, had built across from the old court house.  It was nice to get to talk with him.  He and his wife are great people.

Still Raining!

This is our third straight day of heavy rain, and it isn't expected to let up until Wednesday!  Flooding has been reported in various parts of the country.  I hope we don't have another devastating landslide. It would take years to accumulate this much rain in Utah.

We've been in Guatemala a Month!

October 18, 2015

Another incredibly busy week has passed and we find that we have been in Guatemala a month already.  My work has been interesting and challenging, but what has impressed me most is the feeling of joy from knowing I am helping do the Lord's work.  There are so many awesome people here involved in this work, as missionaries, members, leaders, and Church employees.  There is such a wonderful spirit about them.

Yesterday we ventured out exploring the city a little more.  We drove down the road toward El Salvador and got caught in the usual traffic jam--traffic congestion is really a problem in this city.  We then went by a new exclusive development called Cayala.  The chasm between rich and poor is much greater here than we are used to seeing back home.  The rich places like Cayala are as nice as anything in the States, but the poor areas are another matter.

Yesterday afternoon we attended the baptism of a sister in Barrio Santa Luisa.  It wasn't directed with the precision we would expect, but the Spirit was strong.  President and Hermana Crapo, the mission president and his wife from the Guatemala East Mission, attended as well.  Hermana Crapo accompanied us to Church today in Barrio Santa Luisa for the confirmation.  The ward is small, but there are faithful members there who have strong testimonies of the restored Gospel.

We had dinner last night at Applebees, just one of many American food chains that are here.  King of them all though is McDonald's--there is one of those on every block (well not that many, but you get what I mean).  We have found a couple of local places that we like: San Martin and Saul Bistro.

My 5 am Wake-up Call

MaryAnn Posted to Facebook

I was just looking back over my journal entries. There are a couple I would like to share but I don't know how much of my personal experiences you might be interested in knowing. I guess it is best to share now rather than having them surface when I am dead.

Written 10/5/15: Every since BYU education week (Aug. 17-21) I have had strong prompting that if I truly wanted a closer relationship with Jesus Christ and to receive the gifts of the spirit that I need, I needed to follow Bro. Bartholomew's lead and get up early in the morning to prayer and study the scriptures. Several times over the past two months I have been awakened, I believe by the spirit, early in the morning between 4-5:30. I have had a voice in my mind suggesting I get up. I heeded the prompting a couple of times but the rest I ignored, kinda.

Well, in conference this past weekend counsel was given by Elder Lawrence to ask the Lord:
What is keeping me from progressing? Well, I asked and I was told to get up early each morning so that I can have the quite time I need to pray and study.

Last night one of the things I prayed for was to have the Lord/Spirit wake me up at 5. I mentioned in my prayer that on other days I had been awakened at 4 & 4:30 but that I felt 5 was early enough. I was awakened at 5 am exactly. I got up. I have to acknowledge that it was a miracle, tender mercy, divine signature? It was the Lord letting me know He will awaken me if I will but get up!

Here is another interesting tid bit. We were counseled to Ponderize a scripture each week. Well, I was gilded to D&C 98:1-2. It is about "patiently waiting upon the Lord". This evening I decided to up date my prayer list. I haven't even looked at it for over a month or two. One of the line items on my old list was me asking for help to be patient and wait upon the Lord. I had completely forgotten about that being on the list. I left that one on my list.

Two Miracles

MaryAnn Posted to Facebook:

Let me begin by saying I did not drive for the first two weeks we where here because of the heavy, heavy traffic, the pushing and shoving that people do while driving, the buses, let's just say you better get out of their way and the motor cyclists. Then there is the road network? About 80% of the roads are one way so you have to know which ones to use. There is a saying here, you have to make three rights to turn left. So that complicates things a lot. The signage of streets is limited at best. Much of the driving and knowing where you are is done by memorizing land marks. Then if you miss a turn or get on the wrong road it could be "years" before you are found and there is no way I could ask for help because I don't have the language skills (in Spanish).

The following two miracles happened on 10/9/15.

I drove to the Temple by myself without any problems but coming back the drive was not so flawless. I began my drive back correctly but then two buses pulled out in front of me. Well, I let them because I wasn't about to fight with them over the road even though I should have had the right of way. That's not the way of things here in Guatemala. I needed to be in the right lane to take the "exit" off the road I was on and merge onto another road. The buses were in front of me and going slow. I had a clear left lane and thought I would have the time and space to get around them and back into the right lane. I didn't and as I got almost to the merging lane I could not get back into the right lane in time and found myself on the wrong road. I told myself, stay calm, and began looking for a way to turn around. I drove for a bit and realized turning around was not going to happen anytime soon so I took the next exit to the right, hoping that would give me a way to turn around. Once I took that exit which was kind of a "horseshoe" turn I felt I was in real trouble. By now the pray in my heart and mind was in great ernest. I didn't know what to do but stay calm. I soon saw a driveway I could use to turn around in and took it. I got turned around but was still very unsure of where I was or where I was going. I just kept praying and the next thing I knew I saw a road sign which I recognized. I followed it and was right back on the road I needed to be on. I don't know how to say this, once I was on the wrong road each turn and turn around was a direct answer to my prayer for help. I can't say that I heard a voice or felt really strongly feelings about the last two turns but I know the spirit was guiding me. I was and am so, so, so grateful. I could have been so very lost.

The second miracle was getting to Bob's office with his birthday cake. I had driven one time while Bob gave me directions. But when it came to me driving alone I was not sure I could get there. As I sat in front of our apartment building ready to go I had to wait for the traffic to clear. Just as I was getting ready to merge into traffic another car pulls out in front of me. As I looked I thought it was Bob's "boss"? So I pull in behind him. I wasn't totally sure it is him but I remember the first few turns and as I followed he made the turns I knew were correct so I followed. As I continue to follow I began to wonder, I'm going the right way? Now things don't seem familiar. I began to question, I'm following the person I thought it was? Now this part of the route doesn't seem right. I said to myself if this is not right then I am somewhat lost. But I determine to follow a bit longer. We (I) soon end up at the office. The person I followed was Bob's "boss". When I asked him later if he knew I was following him he said, no. Another miracle. I would not have made my way to the office if I hadn't had him to follow because I totally didn't recognize the last part of the drive.

View from the Office

Bob Posted to Facebook

Another view from the office showing both the "Volcan de Agua" on the left and the "Volcan de Fuego " in the distance in the center. You can't see it very well in the picture but the Volcan de Fuego still has smoke rising from its cone this morning.

Two Videos in Antigua

Some Photos from Our Trip to Antigua

The Sabbath is a Delight

Today we attended Barrio Santa Luisa for only the second time, and I had the opportunity to bear my testimony in Spanish.  I met a new Sister Missionary from the far northern part of Colombia who was part of  the Colombia Barranquilla Stake.  When I told her that I was the first missionary in Barranquilla in 1972 and that there were only 4 members of the Church there then, her eyes lit up with excitement as she told me they are going to build a temple there soon.  I let her know how excited I am about that as well.  What has happened in the Church all over Latin America in my lifetime can only be described as miraculous.  What a blessing to be a part of the Marvelous Work and Wonder that God is doing in this part of the world as He prepares a people for the return of His Beloved Son!

Antigua, Guatemala

Yesterday we had our first P-Day where we could see some of Guatemala, so we ventured off to see the old capital city of Antigua.  It was a beautiful and interesting drive over the mountain to Antigua, and our day there walking the cobblestone streets, seeing the historic buildings and the ruins was so much fun.  The Santa Marta earthquakes of 1773 destroyed the beautiful old city and caused the Guatemalans to move their capital to its current location here.  The city of Antigua Guatemala is maintained in its historic state, and it is a popular tourist site.  One of the truly interesting, but really indescribable experiences of the day was walking through the maze of corridors in the main marketplace of Antigua.  The market covers several acres and has literally hundreds of individually owned booth-like stores packed in the market side by side in every direction.  They sell literally everything imaginable!  The fresh produce, grains, meats, and flowers were incredible, but there are booths selling clothes, shoes, housewares, electronics, fabrics, and just about anything you would find in a department store.  On the streets the Mayans, wearing their traditional clothing, sell their beautiful handicrafts, arts, and hand-woven fabrics--they really are very beautiful.  We had lunch at a traditional Guatemalan restaurant, but "comida tipica" is going to take some getting used to.  It was such a great cultural experience!

When we figure out how to share the photos we will put them up here.

"Ponderize"

My scripture for the week is:  D&C 4

1  He aquí, una obra maravillosa está a punto de aparecer entre los hijos de los hombres.

2  Por tanto, oh vosotros que os embarcáis en el servicio de Dios, mirad que le sirváis con todo vuestro corazón, alma, mente y fuerza, para que aparezcáis sin culpa ante Dios en el último día.

3  De modo que, si tenéis deseos de servir a Dios, sois llamados a la obra;

4  pues he aquí, el campo blanco está ya para la siega; y he aquí, quien mete su hoz con su fuerza atesora para sí, de modo que no perece, sino que trae salvación a su alma;

5  y fe, esperanza, caridad y amor, con la mira puesta únicamente en la gloria de Dios, lo califican para la obra.

6  Tened presente la fe, la virtud, el conocimiento, la templanza, la paciencia, la bondad fraternal, piedad, caridad, humildad, diligencia.

7  Pedid, y recibiréis; llamad,  y se os abrirá. Amén.

Fresh Cut Flowers

I love the fresh flowers here.  These really haven't opened yet, but aren't they beautiful, and so fragrant too!

Just Two Weeks in the Mission Field

October 3, 2015

We have so enjoyed gathering with other Senior Missionaries to watch General Conference today. What wonderful and inspiring messages we have received! Thanks to the miracle of the internet we can watch the sessions live.

We have been running as fast as we can since we arrived in Guatemala two weeks ago today. We are starting to get a little more settled and comfortable here, but it has certainly been a big change in our lives! This bustling city suffers from traffic gridlock, and you really can't appreciate what that means from a U.S. perspective--driving here is something from another world. Thanks to my experiences in Colombia more than 40 years ago, I am handling it pretty well, but Hermana Smith hasn't given it a shot yet. The other night we went to a PriceSmart store (like a Costco) and got caught in rush hour traffic. It took us an hour and a half to drive back home! We won't make that mistake again.

We went to the temple last night, and I participated in an endowment session for the first time in Spanish. Felt like I was going for the first time again.

The work in the office has been most interesting and challenging. Doing it in Spanish across 8 foreign countries makes it all the more difficult. I have been working out a lease for a new meeting house in Gangriga, Belize, frantically trying to help two missionaries being thrown out the country by immigration authorities, working on getting approval to file a lawsuit to prevent a neighborhood association in El Salvador from blocking our members access to the chapel, advising leaders on child abuse cases (hearkens back to my former work), appointing new corporate officers in Nicaragua and Belize, and a host of other things. The Area Legal Counsel has been in the U.S. and I have been hopping. I certainly have felt needed.

I love being engaged in the Lord's work and knowing that I am helping build His kingdom on this earth. When we are on the Lord's errand, we can count on the Lord's help.

What a week!

We will have been in Guatemala a week in the morning, but so much has happened so fast that it feels like we have been here for a month.  We are getting settled in our new home and trying to learn our way around this incredible city (and that is no small challenge!).  I have been running as fast as I can at work with interesting cases in Nicaragua, El Salvador and Belize this week.  My head is spinning with the language, trying to express myself and to understand others has been exhausting, but I can see progress already.  It has rained most of the week as we are in the peak of the rainy season.  We have met so many wonderful people!  This is truly the Lord's work, and it is a great blessing to be a part of it.

First Day on the Job

Post by MaryAnn

This was the first working day of our mission. Bob went to his office and I went to the Dental office. The church has a dental office that is staffed by missionaries and some volunteers. The office cares for the young missionaries and orphans. The missionaries preparing for missions, even as far out as a couple of years, plus missionaries that are presently preparing to serve, the ones at the MTC (CCM here in Guatemala) and the ones serving in the area. There are several orphanages in Guatemala that the office serves.

Today I learned how they do the computer data logs. I was very comfortable with the work. It was a joy to work with the Curtis's, Elder Call and Sis. Wood. Sis. Wood and I did the computer/ paperwork, Elder Curtis and Elder Call are the dentists and Sis. Curtis helps assist the dentists. The Curtis's are in their 70's and the work is very taxing on them but they are here doing it with love. Very impressive.

This evening we attended the senior missionaries FHE. They meet each Monday evening have a lesson, refreshments and visiting. It was inspiring.

Our apartment is very nice. Much larger than I expected. Two bedrooms both with their own bathrooms, one half bath and a small room, maids room, with its own small bath. Hardwood floors throughout and nice furnishings. The kitchen is fully supplied. Again a very nice apartment. A person could get spoiled here.