We had a senior mission couples' training this past week. We were reminded that we need to take time to "sharpen the saw". So we did just that and traveled as a group to explore the remote ruins at Caracol, close to the Guatemala border.
Discovered in 1938, Caracol was home to an extensive Mayan community, founded in AD 330, with numerous tall temples, stone structures, and monuments with ancient writing and illustrations.
Caracol is the largest placement of Mayan ruins in Belize, with many of the structures barely visible under the soil. The ancients abandoned Caracol around AD 900.
The ancient inhabitants of the Americas were expert in carving their political history on stone, and in engraving their religious history and teachings on metal plates.
The stones we found at Caracol; the translation of the metal plates we find in The Book of Mormon.
Inside the Río Frío Cave, on the road to Caracol. Elder and Sister Adams were dwarfed by this massive geological wonder.
Outside the cave, the Río Frío reminded us of our favorite family camping spot in Yosemite.
Not only did we enjoy the waterfalls, the sand fleas enjoyed us, as well!
Life can have it's ups and downs, especially on the two and a half hour road to Caracol. This video is just 10 seconds long, but you will get an idea of how our travels went on our way to and from Caracol. Pass the Dramamin, please!
This rainbow at the end of our drive was a beautiful reminder of our wonderful day.
In our training as couples we were reminded that Jesus ministered one-by-one, and that we should do the same. All have individual needs, and need an individual approach. In the song below, authored by Elder David A. Bednar, the admonition is to follow the Savior, and reach out "one-by-one". Click on the "See More" link below (in blue) to read Elder Bendnar's experience with writing the lyrics to the song, "One By One". Click on the arrow in the middle of the picture to hear the song.
In preparation for zone conference, the Corozal sisters came into town and spent the night with us. We always enjoy their visit when they come. They remind me of our own sweet daughters.
Their cute hairdos intrigued me. They said it was easy to do - they just tucked their locks into their headband.
On Thursday we gathered once again as a zone. The Belize zone consists of all missionaries serving in the country-- 16 elders and sisters, and four senior couples. President and Sister Adams are front row, to the left.
It was a great day of training and learning from each other.
Could it be a complete zone conference without missionaries' favorite foods for breakfast and lunch?-- sugar cereal and pizza! The cereal of choice -- Cinnamon Toast Crunch. The pizza of choice -- all meat.
Elder Jorge Luis Góngora, of Corozal, Belize, returned home this week from the Chile Osorno Mission. His father was very proud and happy at the reunion.
Belize was part of the Central America area conference, that was broadcast to the entire region. Elder Quentin L. Cook, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, presided. In Belize, members gathered in 5 chapels equipped with satellite receivers.
We attended in the Orange Walk chapel, where also the Corozal saints traveled south 45 minutes to attend. Speakers were Elder Cook, Elder Kevin Duncan, Elder Adrian Ochoa, Sister Sharon Eubank, and Elder Craig Christiansen. We were truly strengthened by their messages.
Afterwards we gathered outside for a photo of the Orange Walk and Corozal Branches.
With the Orange Walk Branch Presidency: President Nefi Gomez (center), 1st counselor William Stamp (left), 2nd counselor Antonio Novelo (right)
The Corozal Saints boarding the bus for their return trip.
Last Monday for preparation day, we went with the Belize City Elders to Altun Ha to introduce them to this ancient city of the Maya.
We're in a season right now with unpredictable weather. We left our umbrellas in the car, unsuspecting...the inevitable? While visiting a friend, fierce wind with a torrential downpour erupted, almost blowing their tarp and Elder Magnusson away.
This past week we were saddened to hear of the tragic school shooting in Florida. This headline on LDSLiving.com caught my eye:
Family of LDS Teen Slain in Florida Shooting Releases Statement, Testifies of Eternal Families and God's Love
I was touched by what the family wrote in their statement: "...While we will not have the opportunity to watch her grow up and become the amazing woman we know she would become, we are keeping an eternal perspective. We are grateful for the knowledge that Alaina is a part of our eternal family and that we will reunite with her. This knowledge and unabiding faith in our Heavenly Father's plan gives us comfort during this difficult time."
Elder Cook gave a talk in the October 2011 General Conference titled, "The Songs they Can Not Sing". Among other things he said:
...Sometimes tragedies are very personal. A son or daughter dies early in life or falls victim to a devastating disease. A loving parent’s life is taken because of a thoughtless act or accident. Whenever tragedy occurs, we mourn....We lament the things that will not be accomplished and the songs that will not be sung. Among the most frequently asked questions of Church leaders are, Why does a just God allow bad things to happen, especially to good people? Why are those who are righteous and in the Lord’s service not immune from such tragedies?... ...While we do not know all the answers, we do know important principles that allow us to face tragedies with faith and confidence...
His talk continues as he teaches the principle of eternal life which brought me comfort and peace.
Click here to read the whole message or watch it below.
Below is a new mormonmessage produced by the church. The Mormon Channel says this about the movie:
It is good to accept the fact that we simply don’t know all things. We can’t see everything, but our Heavenly Father can. We have been given the promise that if we will search for the truth, study it out in our minds, and ask with a sincere heart, it will be confirmed to us.
Heavenly Father is pleased with us when we seek to discover truths. He loves teaching us line upon line, precept on precept. As we strive to learn and have faith in Him, He will bless us to see things as they really are.
Charles Pratt is a friend who has suffered a major physical setback. Neighbors around him have rallied to help, showing the genuine love Belizeans have for each other. As shown in the video and picture below, we enjoy reading and discussing the Book of Mormon with him.
As sacrament meeting ended, some children heard Sister Magnusson playing a Primary song as the postlude, and came up to stand by the piano to watch, listen, and sing along.
Missionary leaders from Belize City (left) and Belmopan (right) gather in Belize's church administration center for training. They're examples of the unity and love companions have for one another.
It's fascinating to see that given rich soil and nutrients, coconuts actually sprout to create a new tree (left). Stuart Barton, a British soldier stationed in Belize 40 years ago, remained in Belize and put down his own roots. He found the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, has been sealed to his wife in the temple, and has sprouted to become a strength in the Belize City Branch.
Returning from home teaching visits.
When President Nelson was set apart as Prophet and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints last month, we became aware that he dedicated the nation of Belize for the preaching of the gospel in 1992. When we asked some of the original members of the Belize City Branch about it, we learned that Harold Smith (pictured below) was at the dedication, as Belize district president.
This is what the February 1993 Ensign article had so say about the occasion:
On 7 December 1992, thirty-six members and leaders of the Church gathered in a secluded, grassy garden on a farm a few miles outside of Belize City, Belize. There, Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated the nation of Belize for the preaching of the gospel…. …In his prayer, Elder Nelson dedicated the land “for the purpose of bringing a rich harvest of choice souls unto thee, our beloved Father.” He prayed that “missionary work may abound,” and that local leaders “may be able to inculcate faith among their members, to perfect their lives to the point where they may be able to receive the sacred endowment offered in thy holy temples. We pray that thou wilt help us to raise up a generation of obedient and faithful souls who will be worthy of all the blessings that thou hast in store for thy faithful sons and daughters.” Elder Nelson also invoked a blessing upon the country, its people, and its leaders. He prayed that the Church members would “respect their government of law and order and be good citizens of the land.” He blessed the nation’s resources—“the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, the flowers, the fruits, the vegetables, the natural resources, that they may abound and provide the needs of the people of this choice land, and even have enough to share with people of the other nations of the earth.” He also prayed that Belize may become a “haven of peace, a sanctuary of faith.”
For our last thought in this post, we'll highlight a new video that Mormon.org produced. This is what mormon.org said about the video:
What do Mormons believe? You likely have a lot more in common than you thought. Buckle up because you’re about to hear a lot of Mormon beliefs coming at you rapid fire. Learn more at Mormon.org https://www.mormon.org/beliefs
I was overcome with emotion as I did some preparation to teach the primary children in the Belize City Branch the song, "My Heavenly Father Loves Me". I was brought back to the feeling of peace that I had as I sang the song as a child, 55 years ago. My reaction reminds me of the power that music has.
Whenever I hear the song of a bird
Or look at the blue, blue sky,
Whenever I feel the rain on my face
Or the wind as it rushes by,
Whenever I touch a velvet rose
Or walk by our lilac tree,
I’m glad that I live in this beautiful world
Heav’nly Father created for me.
He gave me my eyes that I might see
The color of butterfly wings.
He gave me my ears that I might hear
The magical sound of things.
He gave me my life, my mind, my heart:
I thank him rev’rently
For all his creations, of which I’m a part.
Yes, I know Heav’nly Father loves me.
The pictures I used to teach the children the song were Illustrated by Audrey Schilaty and you can access them by clicking here.
You can learn the inspiration behind the song by clicking here.
This past Monday was transfer day. Our mission is unusual because we have missionaries serving in two different countries -- El Salvador and Belize. As the missionaries travel between the two countries, our home becomes the staging area on transfer day. We said good-bye to Sister Proctor who returned to her home in Texas after successfully serving her mission for the past 18 months.
Elder West was happy to point the Key West sign on a painting in our home. Elder West was transferred back to El Salvador to continue his missionary service there.
As we picked up new missionaries from El Salvador, this is a favorite photo stop alongside the sea.
A memory of this photo shot for me was when I parked off the road to wait for the missionaries to arrive from the airport. I sunk in a mud hole, and got stuck! Fortunately, several kind passerbys came to the rescue and pushed the car out before Elder Magnusson arrived in the van. The passerbys came and went so fast I wasn't able to get a picture of them. I did manage to hand them some homemade granola bars I had brought to share with the arriving missionaries.
My situation reminded me of a talk Elder Holland gave in General Conference in October 2008 entitled: The Ministry of Angels
...I have spoken here of heavenly help, of angels dispatched to bless us in time of need. But when we speak of those who are instruments in the hand of God, we are reminded that not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk with and talk with—here, now, every day. Some of them reside in our own neighborhoods... Indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mind.... ...My beloved brothers and sisters, I testify of angels, both the heavenly and the mortal kind. In doing so I am testifying that God never leaves us alone, never leaves us unaided in the challenges that we face. “[N]or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man [or woman or child] upon the face thereof to be saved.” Moroni 7:36 On occasions, global or personal, we may feel we are distanced from God, shut out from heaven, lost, alone in dark and dreary places. .....the Father of us all is watching and assisting. And always there are those angels who come and go all around us.....
In Orange Walk, it's sugar cane harvest season. Dozens of trucks line up to take their load of sugar cane to the processing plant. It's harvested by hand, or we should say, by machete.
Speaking of sugar, while in Orange Walk Elder Magnusson can't pass up going to his favorite spot to get a slushy, mixing the flavors of course. Here he introduces this important part of missionary work to the Elders.
For the past seven months, the main road through Belize City is undergoing road reconstruction. Potholes, dust, ruts, slushy mud, and slowdowns are the daily routine for this seemingly eternal venture. The end result should be nice, and we are anxiously awaiting for the road construction to end.
Looking out from our front door to the south, and to the north is a welcome sunny day that dries us out after a week of rain.
