Visiting With Friends

As we pass by the children of Succotz, I enjoy giving them paper treasures that I keep in my purse.  Their reaction and smiles as they receive their simple gifts bring me much joy.  

If you want your own set of paper treasures in your purse, you can get the links off our family blog by clicking here.  

Last Sunday we were able  to attend  church in Santa Elena.   In Primary we learned about why we are baptized as we read John 3:5:   Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

After their lesson on baptism, the children enjoyed coloring a picture of Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist.  They also learned the song, Baptism, which is featured in the video below.  

Children love to put together this 12-piece puzzle of John the Baptist baptizing Jesus that I also keep in my purse and take out when they have an opportunity to put it together. 

It's a small world after all.  While in Santa Elena we ran into Shane Walden of Rexburg, Idaho, a neighbor of our son-in-law's parents. He'd left sub-zero temperatures of Idaho to come to our 98 degree climate.

We've had the privilege of teaching the Jimenez family of Benque Viejo as they prepare to go to the Guatemala City Temple. Here they're reading from the Bible, 2 Chronicles 3:1-2, as we learn about the purpose of temples, ancient and modern. 

You can also see the video by clicking here

Lloyd Chi, one of our Pathway students, shows us the missionary badge he wore while a full-time missionary in Guatemala among the Kekchí-speaking people. Kekchí (or Q'eqchi'), an ancient Maya language, is still spoken by some in Belize. 

The Belize zone leaders and sister training leaders came to Belize City this week to receive training via telecommunication from our mission president in El Salvador. These strong young missionaries coordinate the work of their peers in this country. 

While in Belize City, Elder Magnusson enjoyed visiting again his good friend Aubrey Cadle. Aubrey is a veteran tour guide and expert in Belizean history and archeology.   

We were also so happy to be invited to the birthday party of our dear friend Margaret Cardinez. Margaret was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints this past December. 

The flora of Belize is unique and beautiful, and always captures our attention!  We saw this unusual red flowering plant in Belize City.  The flower reminds me of a fuzzy red pipe cleaner.

Serving With All Our Heart in Succotz

On a morning walk on the road behind Succotz village--the day after Valentine's Day--we came across this shadow in the road. We looked closely at it, and loved it! 

The countryside is beautiful around Succotz. The bush is cleared to make way for farms and an occasional small dwelling. A couple of months ago we accompanied the sisters as they taught a man who lives in this remote house.  

A landmark in the town of San Ignacio is the Hawksworth Bridge. Imported from England and erected in 1949, this single-lane suspension bridge connects the twin towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena.

This week, six excellent missionaries departed Belize to return to serve in El Salvador. Here we wait with them in the airport to bid a sad farewell. But, soon their replacements arrived and we were happy again!

Elder Pendleton (right) and Elder Zavala (left) chat with a local artist in Benque Viejo who has been commissioned to paint the Belizean flag on a sign post on one of the main roads.

With our missionaries of the San Ignacio district. Elders Chiesa (left), Elder Pendleton-district leader (middle), and his companion, Elder Zavala, are new to the district.

An Apostle Teaches the Missionaries

Elder D. Todd Christofferson, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, visited Central America this week and spoke to the over 400 missionaries serving in the three missions in El Salvador.  Our missionaries gathered to Belize City to listen to Elder Christofferson via the internet.

As we watched Elder Christofferson speak to us on the television screen, we noticed the painting above us on the wall. It is of Jesus Christ ordaining His ancient apostles. Why must God's restored church have living apostles?  Find the answer in the New Testament, Ephesians 4:11-14. 

Since the meeting was conducted in Spanish, Elder Magnusson sat behind and translated for Elder and Sister VandeMerwe. The missionaries grabbed a lunch bag as they left the meeting to return to their areas.

Not all of our work is spiritual, but it all is important! Here Elder Magnusson makes some needed repairs and preparation of the house in Benque Viejo that will soon be re-occupied by missionaries.

The house looks out over the Town Hall of this historic area on the border with Guatemala.

As Sister Kruyer and Sister Donakey taught a member how to do family history on the computer, I occupied and played with her adorable son.

The missionaries of Dangriga, Belmopan, and Maya Mopan are trained by their district leader, Elder Hicken.

After the district meeting, we took Elder Pendleton and Elder Winget to lunch at a new rotisserie chicken restaurant in Belmopan.  The chicken was just as good as Costco's.

Leaving the Cayo district towards Belmopan reminds me of my California roots and the city of Twentynine Palms.

Smiling in Succotz

We are starting our 4th month of living in Succotz, a couple miles from the border with Guatemala. Succotz is hilly, with rocky roads, and the people are amazingly friendly.

As we walk around the village, I love to hand this picture to some of the children as we pass by. (Our young friend, Mcklein, demonstrates smiling very well!)

The words to the Primary song, Smiles, is printed on the back.  I remember singing this song as a Primary child at church many years ago.  It is fun to see the children's faces light up when they turn the frowny face upside down.  

Smiles

by Daniel Taylor

1. If you chance to meet a frown,

Do not let it stay.

Quickly turn it upside down

And smile that frown away.

2. No one likes a frowning face.

Change it for a smile.

Make the world a better place

By smiling all the while.

Speaking of smiles, Maria M. in Santa Elena was baptized on Saturday.  Most of our chapels have indoor baptismal fonts; Santa Elena Branch chapel does not. So, an outdoor, portable font was used.  Sister missionaries Thompson and Holdsworth had the opportunity of teaching Maria the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

Inside the chapel, while we waited for all to gather, we watched a video portraying Jesus' baptism. After the service, the baptismal font was drained, dismantled, and put away.

This short video depicting Jesus' baptism--narrated by young children--shares our Biblical teaching of this important step in our lives.

You can also see the video by clicking here

District meeting this week in the Cayo District. From right to left-- Bullet Tree elders, Succotz sisters, and Santa Elena sisters. Absent are the zone leaders of San Ignacio who were working in Belmopan.

As cold, ice, and snow drifts grip much of the United States, Belize dropped to a "low" 58 degrees the other morning. We're smiling as we enjoy the reprieve from the heat!

This bottom picture could be someone from Succotz (village next to San Ignacio) in 58 º weather or someone from Chicago with wind chills at minus -50º.