SUNDAY, MAY 18, 2014

Sunday we were up by 4:20 (for me)and later for Spencer. Six sets of missionaries loaded into three cars and headed to El Distrito Tiquisate at 5:30 AM. It took 3 hours to get there. Then we met priesthood leaders who joined each group. Our drivers dropped us off at the smallest branch in the district--La Noria--and then traveled a little further to their branch. The chapel we attended is VERY tiny. It had one large room that could be partitioned off into two rooms, a small room in the back and the Branch President's office. The bathrooms were not attached and were in the back. They were very clean--better than many in the large chapels we have attended. The church built the chapel, but we don't own the land. There is a fairly poor dwelling on the same piece of property. The Branch President didn't have any counselors there. He is only 28 years old, he's married, but has no children. He has been a member for 11 years. A counselor in the district presidency and his wife were there and taught the classes (Gospel Doctrine and Relief Society). There were two missionaries and the two of us and 16 other members. We had been looking forward to visiting this district because they are the ones who brought the entire district Primary to the temple recently and we taught them. We figured no matter what branch we visited, we'd see children we had taught, but not so--this branch has no Primary children. Sigh. The rains have started so it was amazingly green. This district is further south than Guatemala City and further west. It is really hot in this area. Here are some pictures that demonstrate the "greeness" of the rain forest. Bananas are plentiful in this area. You can see a tree with bananas growing, some growing in a yard and a load of them in the back of a truck.