Another Exciting Week in the Mission

We spent the first part of the week monitoring Tropical Storm Franklin.  Early reports said that the storm was headed for Belize.  We were preparing to evacuate the missionaries out of the areas of Corozal, Orange Walk, San Pedro, and Belize City for their safety, but with the change of the storm's path, the missionaries ended up staying put.  We were grateful to the local members and government officials who were advising us about the situation.   A year ago Belize was effected by Tropical Storm Earl with winds of 80mph and flooding.  And of course, in 1961 there was Hurricane Hattie that killed more than 400 people, left thousands homeless. demolished almost half of Belize City.

When a cruise ship ports off the coast of Belize the locals set up booths to sell their wares.  On Thursday when we dropped off a set of young missionaries to catch the water taxi back to San Pedro island, we wandered through the colorful booths. All the merchants recognized us as missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and had kind things to say about our church and our missionary efforts.  The merchant pictured below liked talking to me about our teachings of life after death.  I was happy to testify that death is not the end of our existence, and that we will continue to live as families in the hereafter.  You can read about these teachings by clicking here.

We live about a mile from the beach and we've taken several early morning walks there.  We have seen some interesting sights.  I decided to take some pictures of unusual signs we have seen along the path.    

We asked a woman who was also walking along the path to take our picture at the Belize sign.  We ended up walking and taking with her for a while. We enjoyed learning about her roots in Belize.  She was born in Belize City the year of Hurricane Hattie.  She descried her family's memory of living through the storm.  When she was a young adult she moved to Chicago and has lived there ever since.  She told us she is one of 9 children.  She and her siblings have returned to Belize this week to gather and make decisions on how to care for their aging 91 year old mother.  I told her about my experience working with my siblings as we set up care for my mom before her death last year.   Again, I testified of life after death and that I'd be with my parents again someday.

As you recall a nice fisherman gave us some lobster tails last Saturday.  I am proud to say that I researched on Youtube how to prepare and fix the lobster tails and we enjoyed them for our dinner on Monday.  (notice the third step of applying melted butter, so of course they were good)

Our official assignment is to serve as MLS missionaries or  Member Leader Support missionaries.  Yesterday we were happy to attend the Orange Walk Branch and worship with the church members there.  After church we were able to train the leadership in the different branch auxiliaries.  I met with the Primary and Relief Society leaders.  Elder Magnusson met with the Bishopric, Elder's quorum, and Sunday School leaders.  Elder and Sister Adams met with the Young Men/Young Women leaders.   

During the Primary training meeting, I was able to show Sis. Janet Checkio teaching a primary song from the Friend Magazine, Build An Ark.  She modeled principles of teaching children that everyone one us can use no matter what our assignment is with teaching children (including teaching our own children and grandchildren).    

    

You can also see the above video by clicking here and going to 9:20

You can find the written music to Build an Ark by Marianne P. Wilcock by clicking here

Below is the Friend Magazine's rendition of the song

You can also see the above video by clicking here.  

During our Relief Society Training we focused on the visiting teaching program.  As we met, we discussed what it means to minister in the Savior’s way as we do our visiting teaching.  I enjoyed focusing on the Savior's example of ministering "one by one".  (see 3 Nephi 11:15)