September 12th through September 18th

 September 12^th through September 18^th: Monday did the usual stuff, shopping and family history.  In the evening, we had Mark and Paula Wood and President and Sister Morris from the Missionary Training Center to dinner before Family Home Evening.  The Wood’s gave a presentation about religious freedom.  Mark is the area legal counsel and has been working with Costa Rica to help them draft new religious freedom legislation.  It was very interesting.  Tuesday we had the morning shift and Wednesday we had presidency meeting in the morning and then we had the afternoon shift. 

Wednesday the day before Independence Day all the schools have a parade with a torch that must be lit from a central flame.  It makes for a very bad traffic day.

Thursday the temple was only open in the morning.  It was Guatemala’s Independence Day.  After the morning shift, we had lunch for all the people who live here at the temple.  We went and purchased rotisserie chicken and then we just had pot luck for everything else.  We ended up having an impromptu talent show.  We all had a good laugh.  

Thursday President Ziga and his wife and his mother and his son arrived to pick up their daughter who was finishing her mission.  I got to know President Ziga while we served in Oaxaca.

We bought 6 chickens and it was delicious.

Lunch and our Independence Day celebration.  The Guatemalans all sang their national anthem for us.  It was very moving. 

We had a great celebration.

The Guatemalans singing their national athem
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Then it turned into impromptu singing which was a lot of fun and provided some good laughs.

More singing
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The 15th was Ken and Eve Winkfield's wedding anniversary.

Friday we had the evening shift.  Saturday we got up early and drove with Sally and John Price, two of our temple missionaries to Senahu for their district conference.  I needed to be there by 2:00m so we left at 6:00am.   It was just over 6 hours of driving, almost 2 hours of it on dirt roads, very bumpy and washed out in places. The Area Office let us take a large Mitsubishi 4X4 and it really made the drive a lot easier.  The pictures I think will give you a good idea of the trip.  

They are widening the road on the way to El Rancho.  They are really moving a lot of dirt.

Once we hit the dirt road we encountered rocks that have been washed down the mountain and mud puddles.  The 4X4 really liked the puddles.

Enjoying the puddles.
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Along the dirt road we had lots of small waterfalls.

And in a number of places where we had to cross small streams.

Some of the falling rocks were as large as the car.

When we got to Tucuru we encountered a parade and had to be detoured down a side street.

They were crowning a Mayan princess for Tucuru.

Here is the princess.

Her crown was quite elaborate.

One of the traditional ways to wrap their hair.

The chapel in Tucuru.

Some of the dirt road was pretty good.

Around every corner there were beautiful vistas. 

It is the rainy season and there are also a lot of waterfalls.

Looking back on the Polochic valley climbing the mountain to Senahu.

I went to a meeting with all the branch presidents and had the opportunity to talk to them about the temple.  The Price's and mom went to the market.  

This is a local taxi for going between towns.

The Saturday market in Senahu.

The Saturday market in Senahu.

More of the Saturday market.

Everyday stuff, fans to keep the coals hot, kindling wood and bananas.

Some of the street food for sale on market day.

The Saturday Market.

Here are two shoe shine boys having a contest to see who can do the best shoe shine.

We then had the adult session at 5:00 and after which we went to dinner at the hotel.   There are not a lot of options in Senahu.  

The choir Saturday night.

Sitting in the park after dinner.

Sunday I had priesthood meeting at 8:00am and spoke and then at 11:00am in the general session both mom and I had the opportunity to speak. 

Priesthood session.

The choir for Sunday.

The choir singing in Kekchi.

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Sunday session.  Over 1000 in attendance. 

We took a drive in the afternoon to the top of a hill overlooking Senahu where they have their cemetery.  It was a beautiful view and the valley is enchanting.  

View from the tower on top of the cemetery hill.   You can see the lds church on the left edge.

The tower they built for a better view of Senahu.

Three girls who were enjoying the view with us.

Mom and part the cemetery.

Part of the Senahu valley and our 4X4.

The chapel. Our hotel is the yellow building with the red roof    just behind the chapel.

Senahu from the tower.

Senahu in the background.

They grow corn on very steep hills.

There was a soccer game and either these people did not want to pay or there was no more room.

More spectators for the game.

We stayed the night and head back on Monday.  We had a great district conference with more than 1,000 in attendance and really felt the spirit of the people.  All the meetings were in Kekchi and had to be translated into Spanish for us and our talks had to be translated into Kekchi because many of the older members do not speak Spanish.  What a blessing to be able to visit and be with the saints all over Guatemala.

This was the yard of our hotel.

Selling firewood door to door.