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.