Let the Fiesta Begin!

The annual, three-day Succotz Fiesta kicked off on Friday. This nearly 100-year village tradition boasts rides, food vendors, fireworks, games, DJ and dancing nightly until 4 AM right across the street from our house! Fun!! 

Experience Fiesta live!

Fiesta begins with the coronation of the Queen of the Fair by last year's queen, Marianne Lopez. She is attended to by Queem Omoruy and her sister, Karine Lopez. All three are members of the Succotz Branch.

Our Cayo missionary district met this Wednesday in the Succotz Chapel with three missionaries new to their areas.  We set new goals for this six-week period, under the direction of our new district leader, Elder Hicken (far left).

These missionaries are at the airport preparing to leave Belize to return either to El Salvador for more service, or to their homes, having completed their missions  Their service has been extraordinary. They admit that the growth in themselves is nothing short of a miracle.

Elder Aaron Varga, from our home ward in South Jordan, Utah, is welcomed this week to El Salvador by our mission president and Sister Adams. Hopefully, Elder Varga will be able to experience a transfer to Belize during his mission!

We hosted the patriarch from Guatemala City, Brother Lynn Justice, for several days in our home as he met with members from the Cayo District.  We share our love for eating watermelon, and especially this very sweet melon that he helped pick out.   

The Escobar's from Benque Viejo is a special family whom we enjoy visiting and reading the scriptures with. They're originally from El Salvador where Brother Escobar was a sergeant in the army.

The Succotz Branch recently held a Returned Missionary Expo, where members who have been missionaries shared their experiences in the other countries where they served. A common theme was their love for the people, and how much they grew and matured as ambassadors of Jesus Christ.

Youth Camp is coming! Our first planning meeting of leaders for Camp 2019 was held, with great enthusiasm felt by all. From right to left- Evelyn Woods, Ardis Allen, Amin Salazar, Hilberto Casanova, Tyron Thompson, Paul Woods, Elder Magnusson.

Super Moon in a Super Week

This past week in Primary we read from Matthew 12:10-13 about how the Pharisees questioned Jesus on why he healed the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath.  The answer is found in Matthew 12:12 which reads:  Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.

We talked about what good things we can do on the Sabbath.  Then the children drew their ideas on a coloring page.  We also learned about how to prepare for the Sabbath by learning the song, "Saturday Is a Special Day".

With one of my young friends, as we stand outside her mom's small store on the hill above our house.

As we were visiting with her mom, the daughter asked me to play with her.  When I said, "Okay, what should we play?" she suggested that we could collect bottle caps. We decided to stack them.  

One of our opportunities is to teach the seven classes to church members who are preparing to do temple ordinances for the first time.  Brother Martinez was baptized just a few years ago. A widower, he is looking forward to receiving his temple endowment in the Guatemala City Temple, and to being "sealed" for eternity to his wife of 52 years who passed away three years ago. The  knowledge of this sealing opportunity is found in Matthew 16:18-19  and has been restored to the earth in these latter-days. 

This video below contains a brief explanation of sealing couples and families in the temple.

The Lopez family is a strength to the Succotz Branch and to the entire village. Leovany Lopez (knelling) is branch president. He and his wife Jenny (second from the left) are parents to four wonderful children. His mother (standing behind him) and several more of her children are active members of the branch. Our sister missionaries join in the photo.

Did you see the "super moon" a few nights ago, occurring with the spring equinox? In Succotz, the moon was very large early in the evening, looming just above the horizon, beautifully illuminating our street.

Elder Chiesa and Elder Price, our super zone leaders, continue their super work under the super moon. Elder Chiesa is from Uruguay, Elder Price from Utah. 

We still try to go on a walk each morning. The back road behind Succotz cuts through the bush and is hilly enough to give us a welcome workout. Why do I wear a skirt, you may ask?  It's way cooler!!

Our son Sam and his wife Makelle recently visited Elder Magnusson's mother who is almost 93. Grandma Magnusson was a senior missionary herself with Grandpa 30 years ago. She says she's anxious to see us again...and, we are to see her!   

Modern Apostles Testify of Christ

It was fun to capture this lovely shadow as we walked along the promenade in Belize City last week.

We ended our week by attending the Belize City District Conference.  The messages were inspiring about ministering and the powerful effect of the Book of Mormon in our lives.  Here the choir is singing a beautiful postlude hymn as the conference concludes.

Our members gathered from Corozal, Orange Walk and Belize City to attend the conference.  The  San Pedro branch on the island participated via internet transmission.

Before President and Sister Adams returned to El Salvador, they were happy to meet Rodrick and Margaret Cardinez.  The Cardinez's have touched many lives through their service in the educational system throughout the years in Belize City.

Our neighbor Olivia Pat, who's the librarian in Succotz, and her daughter Katia gave us beautifully embroidered appliqué mats that they made.

Last week, in conjunction with the Rome Italy Temple dedication, today's living Twelve Apostles  and First Presidency posed for this historic photo in the Visitor's Center adjacent to the temple. They stand in front of marble statues of the Christus and His first Twelve Apostles. President Russell M. Nelson (center), whom we sustain as God's prophet today, is flanked by his two counselors.

This is what President Nelson said as he posted this picture to his Facebook page:  More than 2,000 years ago, our Savior Jesus Christ ministered to the world, establishing His Church and His gospel. He called Apostles and gave them the decree to “go ye therefore, and teach all nations.”
In our day, the Lord’s Church has been restored. The Savior stands at the head of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As modern-day Apostles of Jesus Christ, the message we share today is the same message that Apostles shared long ago—that God lives and that Jesus is the Christ.....

The Church Newsroom posted this video of the First Presidency and each of the Twelve Apostles sharing their testimony of Jesus Christ:  As special witnesses to the world of the divinity of Jesus Christ, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shared their testimony of Christ by recording excerpts from the original document, "The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles."   We enjoyed listening to each apostle as they spoke.

The Living Christ document was originally published on January 1, 2000.  It commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ just over two thousand years ago.

In Succotz we live across the street from the school and community soccer field.  I always enjoy watching the different activities that go on from time to time. One afternoon I heard a lot of joyful laughter coming from the field.  I was happy to see the school children running around flying kites on this breezy March day.     

The Pope Hosts President Nelson in Rome

The Deseret News reported on a historic event that happened this weekend:  In the first-ever face-to-face discussion between the heads of two global churches, Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic Church and President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints met yesterday at the Vatican.  "The differences in doctrine are real and they're important," President Nelson said, "but they're not nearly as important as the things we have in common — our concern for human suffering, the importance of religious liberty for all of society, and the importance of building bridges of friendship instead of building walls of segregation." President Nelson was invited by the pope for a private audience in conjunction with his weekend trip to Italy where he will dedicate the Rome Italy Temple on Sunday.   (You can take a virtual tour of the Rome Italy Temple at the end of this blog post)

The above photos were released by the Vatican.

Our friends, William and Graciela Jimenez of nearby Benque Viejo, were recently sealed in the Guatemala City Temple. Already married civilly, William and Graciela traveled to the temple where they were "sealed" for time and eternity in a beautiful and sacred ceremony, and their three children were also sealed to them.  Those who are sealed in the temple have the assurance that their relationship will continue forever as they are true to their covenants.

We were privileged to teach the Jimenez family the six classes that prepared them for this most important step in their lives.

Zone conference was held this week for all the missionaries in Belize. President Adams flew in from El Salvador to preside at the conference.

It's always exciting to meet every six weeks with the other senior couples and missionaries of Belize to be trained and motivated by our mission president and his wife.

We joined with the other senior couples in preparing and serving the zone conference lunch.

As a unique treat this week, the senior couples along with President and Sister Adams visited Cahal Pech, a set of Mayan ruins situated on the hill overlooking the town of San Ignacio. (From left to right: the VandeMerwe's, Adams', Magnusson's, Jensen's)

Archaeologists first discovered the site in the 1950s but excavation didn’t begin until 1988. Researchers believe that Cahal Pech was occupied from 1200 B.C. to 900 A.D. and includes temples and residential structures.

As part of his Belize trip, President Adams also conducted training for the two district presidencies. From left to right: Cayo District President Amin Salazar, Mission President Eric Adams, Belize City District Presidency 1st Counselor Paul Woods, Belize City District President Hilberto Casanova, Elder Magnusson.

We've been patiently waiting for the opening of La Popular Bakery in the neighborhood where we were living in Belize City.  In our visit to the city this weekend for the district conference, we were elated that the bakery opened yesterday! 

The "Crocodile" (a pastry) appears to be a regular product.

Take a virtual tour of the Rome Italy temple.

Island Travels

We were on assignment this week once again to the town of San Pedro on Ambergris Caye. We paused to admire the beautiful coast at sunset. 

Returning from San Pedro we stopped at Caye Caulker to visit some church members. An island about one mile wide and five miles long--an hour by boat from Belize City--Caye Caulker was once a remote fishing village but now is a popular destination. It is the home to about 1,500 residents whose primary occupations are in tourism.   

Caye Caulker is smaller and quieter than Ambergris Caye and San Pedro Town. Mode of travel is limited to bicycle, a few golf carts, and lots of walking on the packed sand streets and lanes.

Elder Magnusson discusses our visit with our friend Frank Ross, elders quorum president of the San Pedro Branch, who resides on Caye Caulker. Frank conducts regular ministering visits with the church members who live on the island. 

  

As a way of training Primary leaders in the Maya Mopan Branch, I recently taught singing time to these children. To start our lesson, we read Matthew 5:16   Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.  What was the song we learned? Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam, of course!

Elder Chiesa, originally from Uruguay, is a zone leader in our area. He recently was transferred to Belize from El Salvador, and so he just received his new badge in English. Elder Chiesa has made remarkable progress in learning English so he can communicate effectively in this country.  

No, we didn't attend a funeral. It was district conference this weekend and this gorgeous arrangement of native flowers graced the chapel.

Our church produced a new video this past week that is titled:  Migration: A Yearning for Home. Many species are innately drawn to return to their location of origin.  Are human beings different? And, where is home? Watch and see.