Our trip to Izapa and Tapachula, Mexico

Hi family and friends, Monday the 3rd we made a long but good trip over and into Mexico. The purpose of the trip was to leave Guatemala and return so that we would get our visas stamped and start a new 90 day period as a tourist. It seems that it takes about 90 days to obtain a temporary resident visa. The process hadn't been started soon enough when we arrived so they needed the window to start over. That having been said, we saw and did some very exciting things. On our trip towards Mexico we passed through some very high and beautiful mountain country. then when we dropped down out of the mountains into Mexico we crossed through an area where the rivers flow and there are plantations of coconut palm trees. The fruit of which is used to make coconut oil. Other agricultural production such as rubbe4r trees and sugar cane plantations was everywhere. The most exciting event was when we passed through a little town called Izapa and made our way to an obscure area where there are many stella, including the "Tree of life Stone" which is somewhat famous in the church is located. There is some controversy about it, but many church scholars believe it to be a representation of Lehi and Nephi's Tree of Life vision related in 1 Nephi chap. 8-11. We have a replica of it both in Prescott and at the cabin. [It has really deteriorated over the years and it protected only with a corrugated tin roof. The lady who lives by it says many "Mormones" come to visit.] This is a very unique and special sight in my opinion and one that most people would have to pay for a tour to come see. We then went on to Tapachula, Mexico. It was pretty hot there and this is only March! We went to Sam's Club and bought supplies; then we ate at a restaurant and returned to the border to begin the tedious process of getting all the right stamps to leave Mexico and enter Guatemala. We have shown pictures of the tuk-tuks--the little motorcycles with a canvas top for taxi rides. Well, at the border we saw a different version where the passengers sit in front of the motorcycle. The driver steers with his handle bars and that turns the carriage. I couldn't believe my eyes. I'll let Jeanine tell about our Saturday experiences. Tree of Life Stella More views of the stella at Izapa, Mexico. The load of boxes is being carried on a man's back. The different type of taxi-motos is shown in these two pictures. Pretty typical congestion in the roads as you make your way through towns. Highways don't have clearly marked paths thru town. You turn every which way and hope you find your way out of town on the other side.