Ned & Mary in Guatemala

 Final Day in the Area Office We were invited by the Area Presidency to join their weekly meeting on Tuesday. We were invited because we were leaving. Two other couples were invited because they are new. Area President Godoy (from Peru) is fourth from the left. To his right, is his first counselor Elder Giuffra who is from Chile. To the president's left is his second counselor Elder Olsen who is from the US. They are all Seventies who serve until they are 70. Their secretary, Elder Olea is at the far left of the picture. He is originally from Chile but married a gringa and has lived in the US for some time. The couple on your right are the Clarks. They are originally from California but have lived in Canada for some time. To my right are the Bowens. They are from Utah. He is a retired surgeon and is helping with medical needs on missionary applications and with missionaries in the field. Following that meeting, we went to lunch with the Communications team.  Karen (next to Mary) is

  Taxisco, February 4, 2024 Today was our last day in the branch we have been attending almost all the time we have been in Guatemala. Also, for the past 10 months, I have served as 1st counselor in the Branch Presidency. These are the branch members and missionaries who stayed around for a little while after the meetings. We will miss them. Today I ordained the young man in front of Mary and he passed the sacrament. He came on his own and is a wonderful young man. We went to visit Nora (seated) and her daughter Andrea. Nora is the one who had her left foot amputated and isn't recovered enough to go to church yet. We were glad to say a proper goodbye to these two wonderful, faithful women.

Back to my high school years. This cool mannequin is wearing the same shoes I wore in high school. I have a pair now, thanks to Dallin and Jocey, who are committed to perpetuating my coolness.

  Our Walking Places in Guatemala This is a typical line of houses in the gated community where we usually walk. As you can see, they all have stout, block and steel fences surrounding them. You would almost never go to someone's front door to knock or ring. Rather, you ring outside the fence and they speak with you before deciding to open the gate. This picture was taken February 3, 2024. Notice all the beautiful greenery.  This is a little park in the same neighborhood.  It is this beautiful year round. This is a very nice playground next to a nice apartment building.  It is very nicely landscaped. Occasionally, we will walk a little father to a park this is very full of all kinds of beautiful plant life.  This is an inadequate representation of the beauty in this area.

 The New Coban Temple, January 2024 We went with three of the Communications Department people to Coban as they prepare for the open house of the new temple. One evening, I decided I had better eat what is considered to be the most traditional meal of Guatemala. It is a chicken leg stuck in a bowl of soup, black beans mixed with something that I wasn't able to identify, 3 tamales, rice and another side dish. I enjoyed it, but feel no need to have it again. Here is a photo of the new Coban temple.   It is small with only one ordinance room, one sealing room and a baptistry. It will be a huge blessing to the people in this part of Guatemala who have been very faithful in making the long bus trip to the temple in Guatemala City. 

  Travel Statistics for 2023 Google Maps Timeline reported today the following for 2023. The four countries were Guatemala, Belize, Panama (flight connection to US for Lucy´s funeral).  These accounted for the flying kilometers. Over 7,600 miles of driving in Guatemala   should qualify one for sainthood. 😇  Should I be creeped out that they accumulate and store all of this information?