THE MISSIONARY THAT WOULD NOT QUIT

A few things first.   For P day here the missionaries play a lot of soccer.  Almost every chapel has a combo soccer/basket ball court.  We were with a zone when they were getting a soccer game going.  They asked Gary to play goaly.  He felt all impressed until he found out the reason they wanted him because he is so big!  He could just lay down and fill the entire goal.

We travelled to a liittle mountain town called Leguna Seca to do temple recommends.  For branches that are not part of a stake, but, in a district, Gary has to do a temple recommend interview after the branch presidents interview.  We had a really hard time finding this chapel.   Finally, we saw a little sign that said, La iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los últimos días, on a tiny obscure building.  It is about a large as an American Front room.   The toilets are the kind you find in camp grounds.  We waited a while, then a man approached us.  A nice looking man, but in very dirty clothes.  He is a counselor in the district presidency.   He was with his mom.  She is what they call here, a "tipico".  Which means, they dress in the original Indian style.  Both were very nice.  The mom had 12 children, but several had died.  Then, the branch president showed up in dirty work clothes and his "Tipico" wife.  As usual here, the had very few teeth.  However, we have a hard time describing the fine spirit of these people.  They are knowledgable, solid, Mormons.  They told us that this is the smallest church building in all of Guatemala, and, with the largest membership.  They cram 48 members in this little building.

The Other set of Sister missionaries, hermana nielson And hermana terry had their first baptisms:  a Grandma And her grandson.  A wonderful baptism.  Two elderly ladies were there.  They are recent converts.  They are really great, but, no teeth and they have a particular smell about them.  The insisted that we sit by them. (See pictures).

We were called by the Rio Blanco district president to travel to Rio Blanco, a harrowing experience, and do a missionary interview.  When we finally got there, we met two delightful sisters.  Both single, one is the primary president in the branch, the other wore a missionary plack.   They told us they lived two and a half hours away.  They travel back and forth on narrow and very hilly dirt roads to attend church.  And, travel four hours on a rickety old bus to get to the temple.   Their dedication was overwhelming.  They come from a family of seven children.  Four girls and three boys.  Three of the girls have served missions.  The parents do not support their membership in the church or their missions.  Gary interviewed the returning missionary.  She cried.  It is very hard for some missionaries to come home to parents that don't welcome them and are not happy with their service,  We finished the interview, and the branch president asked for her plack, she would not give it up!   For these missionaries that have no family support, the mission is so very dear to them.  On the mission they get all kinds of support and love.  It is very hard for us to think how they feel coming home.  These sisters are wonderful examples to us of full commitment to The Lord.   We have included a picture.