Friends and Watermelon!

The Santoya's invited us to the new house Moses is building in Carmelita, a village outside of Orange Walk. Moses is a returned missionary who served in England. He and Clara are establishing a celestial home.

Harold and Elena Smith are pioneers of the church in leadership in Belize, and have lived a most amazing life in fishing, entrepreneurship, and industry, both in Belize and the U.S.

We were honored to be invited to the retirement celebration of Rodrick Cardinez, principal of renowned Edward P. Yorke High School in Belize City. Rodrick is retiring after 37 years in education, just as Elder Magnusson did two years ago.

Publics supermarket has been our preferred spot for grocery shopping. We met store manager Rajesh Verma (lower left) several months ago while searching for our favorite cookies. While we never found our cookies (and probably really don't need them), we did find a new friend in Rajesh.  With 11 years as manager, he puts his customers and staff (lower right) first. Publics is known for its variety of fresh produce--we get at least two watermelons and two pineapples a week!

Speaking of watermelon, we noticed a city crew working our street, clearing the sides of debris and weeds.  Returning home several hours later, their work was done, and the streets were well groomed.  My Publics watermelon was in the fridge, so I offered the crew some cold, sliced watermelon and thanked them for their hard work to beautify our neighborhood. They were very appreciative.

This song reminds us of Jesus’ many miracles during His life on earth as well as His miracles in each of our lives today through His Atonement.  This is a message that I am glad to share with my brothers and sisters here in Belize.  

You can also see the video by clicking here

“The Miracle”

by Shawna Belt Edwards

Jesus walked upon the water
He stilled the storm and calmed the angry sea,
With His hands He healed the leper,
He made the lame to walk the blind to see.
He fed a thousand people with a loaf or two of bread.
And when the ruler’s daughter died,
He raised her form the dead.

Jesus is a God of miracles,
Nothing is at all impossible to Him,
But I know this:
Of all his miracles, the most incredible must be the miracle that rescues me!

Jesus bled and died to save me,
A price that I could never pay alone,
When he rose again he gave me,
The greatest gift the world has ever known!

Yes I can be forgiven every time I repent
And someday He will lift me up to lift with him again.

Jesus is a God of miracles.
Nothing is at all impossible to Him, but I know this;
Of all his miracles the most incredible must be the miracle that rescues me!

The miracle that rescues you and me!

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day!  Although both of our fathers have completed their earthly missions, they will continue being our fathers through eternity, which gives Elder Magnusson and I great peace. 

 I am thankful that Elder Magnusson is the father of our children AND my eternal companion.  

Enjoy this father's day video produced by our church. We are grateful for the reminder that we have a loving Heavenly Father who cares for each one of us.

You can also see the video by clicking here

We were in Spanish Lookout this week checking out the location for our church's youth camps to be held in August. The Mennonites established and maintain a lovely community park and huge pavilion where the youth will set up their tents (out of the rain!)

We are familiar with Golden Corral restaurant in Utah. Didn't know we'd see one right here in Spanish Lookout, Cayo District as we drove home from checking out the camp.  It's even a buffet like the one in Utah.

Early this week, our mission president conducted training for the missionary leaders originating from El Salvador and transmitted to us in Belize City. This technology truly is an invention to further the Lord's work in these latter days.

I came across this map on the church's lds.org youth website. It reminds us that Christ's message, missionaries, and ministry is the same worldwide.  In the Church's 2017 Statistical Report, it was reported that there are 421 mission worldwide. We are honored to be serving in the El Salvador/San Salvador West/Belize Mission in the Central American and the Caribbean region.  

I found on this Wikipedia website the following list of how many missions there are in each region of the world:

   31  in Africa
   22 in Aisa
   35 in Brazil
   7 in Canada
   26 in Central America and the Caribbean
   43 in Europe and Russia
   34 in Mexico
   18 in Oceania
   22 in the Philippines
   59 in South America
   125 in the United States

Wikipedia also mentioned:  On February 1, 2018, the LDS Church announced boundary changes that will close 19 missions and open up 5 new missions, effective July 1, 2018. This will make 407 missions of the church.

A highlight of our week was when Elder and Sister Flake and their daughter's family joined us for lunch after they flew in from the States on Friday. We were so happy to meet their family and we know their grandchildren will have a memorable time with their grandparents this week.

Our loving Father in Heaven has beautified His earth--and especially His Belize--in ways we've never seen before! 

Planes, Pioneers, and Foundations

Today we needed to arrive in San Pedro at an earlier time than the water taxi could get us there.  There were only four seats in this small plane. It's just a 20 minute flight compared to our usual hour and a half boat ride. 

(Left) Leaving Belize City on this clear Sunday morning, ... (right) arriving in San Pedro. 

The San Pedro Branch Presidency. Front left to right: Albert Lammey, 1st counselor, President Henry Williams, 2nd counselor Pablo Valerio, clerk Frank Ross

It's always fun to visit Primary. The missionaries talked about baptism and joined in the coloring activity.

Elders Lukow and Richardson (left) serve faithfully in Orange Walk. Newly called zone leader Elder Reyes (right) joins Elder Eves in strengthening the work in Belize City.

Missionaries arrived in Belize in 1980. Soon thereafter, Olegario and Irene Leiva were baptized. They found the land for the chapel in Orange Walk, and assisted in its construction. Several of their children and grandchildren have served full-time missions. These Belizean church pioneers continue to find joy in doing temple work.

Wallace Belgrave, a retired builder in Belize City, is another pioneer of the church. He is shoring up his house built in the 1930's with a cement block foundation. In like manner, the restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the solid foundation for peaceable living and true happiness in our lives.

Another Week in the Mission

Special visitors from Guatemala came this week to conduct training with Belize church leaders. Elder and Sister McLemore also joined the Belize City missionaries for their weekly district meeting.

As happens each Wednesday, we counseled together in district meeting,  joined by the sisters via Skype from Corozal.  The missionaries' maturity in leadership, and understanding of teaching principles always impress us.  

Later, the McLemores, Brother Dávila also from Guatemala, and Frank and Natalie Ross from San Pedro island joined us for lunch.

The young men and young women youth leaders who are planning their respective camps this year gathered and practiced some of the activities they will lead at camp. 

I talked to two of the young men who attended the meeting.  As I asked their names, they told me George and Ivan.  I immediately thought of the wonderful men in Elder Magnusson's life: his father - George Magnusson and his grandfather - Ivan Magnusson.  I asked each of the boys how they got their names.  George (upper right) said he was named after his grandfather who died on the day he was born.  

Ivan (bottom left) said he was named after a family friend.  Elder Magnusson is pictured with this grandparents,  Ivan and Cula. (bottom right)

Speaking of names, we know that as we are baptized (like the young boy who was baptized this week below), we take upon ourselves the name of Christ.

 "I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives."  Mosiah 5:8  

On Friday night we enjoyed watching the "Be One" Celebration.  My favorite part of the evening was watching the Bonner Family sing a Medley of Primary songs.  

You can also see the video by clicking here 

Perhaps what we enjoy the most is meeting new friends. Ismael from Corozal, has been a member of the church for many years and loves to sail.

Leaving Ismael's house, we thought of how Jesus said He would separate the sheep from the goats.  We steered clear of the goat!  See Matthew 25:31-33