Ned & Mary in Guatemala

The Trip Home - 2/08/2024   I thought I might hand out the last of my Jesus cards on one of the flights home so I had Mary take this photo. I am glad to have this picture to remind me of an important part of my Guatemala mission. I handed out approximately 700 Jesus cards in just under 18 months in Guatemala. In the beginning, I gave one to each cashier with whom we interacted in a store and with others who helped us. As we walked, I would hand one to various people we encountered if I felt prompted. Each time I gave one out, I pointed to my name badge and commented it was because of Jesus that we were there.  We were very excited to be met at the SLC airport by April, Emmett, Alli, Brooke and Maggie. It was a happy reunion and an opportunity to play with grandchildren. With that, I end the blog for our Guatemalan mission. Serving that mission truly has blessed us.

 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 Mar...

  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?

  Christmas Eve and Christmas Day - 2023 I was responsible for the Christmas Eve Sacrament meeting and organized one like what I have experienced in the U.S.  We sang Christmas hymns, and in between, I had several people read Christmas passages from the scriptures. It turned out well and the branch president asked me for the program because he wants to do it again next year.         Here is a photo of some of the members and missionaries that stayed around after the meeting. That evening, we had a Christmas Eve gathering with the other senior missionary couples in our building. We first had a potluck dinner that was delicious. The Turleys hosted it and she put in extra effort in decorating for it. After dinner we read scriptures from Matthew and Luke about the birth of the Savior and then watched the most recent Church nativity video. As part of that gathering, we went caroling on all floors of our apartment building. Elder Turley accompanied us on the...

 Christmas Events - 2023 We made it back to Guatemala after Lucy's funeral just in time to participate in the Christmas devotional put on by the Area Presidency and their wives for the Area employees and missionaries.  Afterward, they provided a very nice lunch in the large building next to the chapel. The brother who used to be in charge of the cafeteria in the Guatemala MTC (now the Area Office) provided the meal. He and his team do a great job.   After the meal, we went to the Area Office to help set up for the Communications Department Christmas breakfast they were to provide for influencers (government, religious, service) in the area.  The wives of the area presidency and others were in charge of the decorations and the table settings. They did an amazing job, as you can see.   Here is a view of the group before all arrived. For fun - a site you don't see in the US anymore. Someone using a pay phone to make a call.    

 Communications Department Christmas Party - Dec. 2023 The communications department had their Christmas celebration last night. The gathering was held at a large community which has a mixture of commercial and residential facilities. It is upscale and very nice. Everything is basically painted white with tile roofs. Behind us you see the CocaCola tree that changes colors and designs frequently. Here is another example of the many, very decorative looks it takes on. These are the four full-time employees in the communications department, Daniel, Karen (the director), Jeniffer and Christian. Here we are having dinner at a Mexican restaurant located in this large complex. Mary and I had chicken tacos. I asked the server to bring me the lemonade type he preferred so he brought me strawberry lemonade. The whole complex was decorated quite nicely. This is another example of the decorations. Mary had made banana bread for everyone that they were excited to receive.

Torre de Valle Apartment Building Christmas Party 2023 The management of the apartment building in which we live put on a Christmas dinner and gathering. We all contributed a small amount. We hear that most of the apartments in the building are occupied which would indicate that the turnout for the dinner was rather light.That could be because the invitation process wasn't very effective. We only heard about it because another couple told us. Up front are most of the employees of the building who were all asked to make a comment. The gentleman to your right is the General Manager.

Guazacapan District Christmas Party -  December 9, 2023 A week ago, the District in which our branch is located (Guazacapan) held a Christmas party.  We have a new district presidency, all of whom live outside the district, and they are bringing about a lot of positive change.  Before the party, we participated in the Seminary and Institute graduation. Here are the four graduates with Priesthood leaders. The young woman in blue, Allisone, is from our branch and is very sharp. I think she has a promising future. Our branch president is on her right and the new district president is on his right. The District Christmas party was well done and well attended. There were three MCs for the program part of the party, and this good brother was one of them. He is a former district and branch president.  As you can see, he has lost a leg. He is also blind. He is laughing which is not rare for him. In spite of his considerable physical challenges he is a cheerful, outgoing man....

Lucy Louise Lunt, October 25, 2008 - November 18, 2023                                                                                                 Lucy, apx. 6 months                                                            Lucy, age 14 Late Friday night, we had gotten a family text from Chad saying that Lucy was in the hospital due to a mucos plug that the nurse wasn´t able to remove. Her heart had stopped, but they were able to revive her, and things appeared to be improving. The next morning, we got the text that she had passed away around 11:30p.m. after ...

Light the World Giving Machines 2023 Giving Machine season is here again. This year, however, the Area Communications team has four players besides us so our involvement has been less. The day before the launch, I was at the mini-warehouse where we store the three machines all year. I was there to give access to and to help those who came to prepare the machines. Here is a photo of those who came to change the surface coverings on the machines. After they stripped two of the machines, we learned that we only needed to replace the thin part on the front and one side. That is what we did on the third machine while regretting the extra time spent on the other two. The next day we held the kickoff at one of the malls in Guatemala City. Here is a photo of the three members of the Area Presidency with representatives from each of the three organizations to be benefitted by Giving Machine contributions this year.  Here is one of the cards that will be dispensed by the machine when someone...

Two new granddaughters! Margaret (Maggie) Lee was born to Seth and Alli on September 2. She is their second daughter. Layla Mae was born to Melanie and Joe on November 15. This is their eighth child. We are so grateful than moms and daughters are doing well. We count that a true blessing. One of the hardest parts of serving a mission is being away when special events like this take place. We can't wait to see them in February.