April 30th through May 5th

April 30^th through May 5^th:  Monday we visited an iguana preserve at the hotel.  They take injured and abandoned iguanas and raise them.  

We made some new friends at the iguana preserve.

Mom wants one of these as a pet--NOT.

We then drove about 2 hours to Belize City and found Simmons BBQ and had BBQed chicken for Chris’ birthday lunch.  We drove around to get a feel for the city and to kill time until we had to be at the airport. We decided to look for Silbert and Jennifer Gordon’s house in Waze.  We took a picture and sent it to them to reassure them that things were alright.  We had talked to them the night before and they had learned that thieves had broken into his shop and tried to break into their house.  They had decided that they needed to return Belize City two weeks early from their mission.  They are the first senior missionaries from Belize to serve a mission.  They have given faithful and dedicated service in the temple and we will miss them a lot.  

Simmons BBQ

The Atlantic Ocean 

We then flew back to Guatemala City, getting home at 9:30pm.  Tuesday we got up and were at the temple at 4:00am for the Antigua stake that brought about 250 people to the temple.  It is a holiday here and the temple was very busy until noon.  It was closed in the afternoon.  President Flohr came to the temple about 9:00 am and took over so we could go to the Don Justo stake center where they were doing the second day of a three day dentist brigade.  Every three or four years, about 100 dentist and assistants, doctors and support staff come to Guatemala to help the youth prepare for their missions.  It is a well oiled machine and they treat hundreds of people each day.  I got home from Belize with a tooth ache and I went up there to talk to Elder Hogge who works in the dental clinic that the church has here in Guatemala and was there helping out. I explained that I had had a tooth ache all weekend and I had been in a lot of pain.  They decided that they would do a root canal and put me at the head of the line.  After 3 hours I was all fixed up.  This brigade was amazing. They had 4 endodontists, 5 oral surgeons, 22 regular dentists, hygienists and 4 medical doctors working and all of these people pay their own way and bring all of their supplies.  They had people cutting hair, giving eye exams, doing physicals and taking their pictures.  They even had someone making “flippers”—a temporary tooth after an extraction.  Every room of the stake center was being used: a room with 8 autoclaves, a surgery room, a recovery room, a room with backup generators.  It was like a mini hospital.  Every year they go to a different country in Central America. We feel so blessed that we got this problem resolved so quickly.  It was no coincidence that they were here when I needed a root canal. 

The glasses made me feel like a rock star.

Waiting their turn to enter the building.

Need a hair cut?

This is a really impressive operation.

3 rows of dentists cover the gym.

Surgery Room

Hard to smile after my root canal, but many thanks to Doctor Fillmore and his daughter, Emma, for fixing my tooth.  David Sheets, on the right, is the man behind this great work.

Wednesday, we had presidency meeting and worked the afternoon shift.  Thursday we worked the afternoon shift.  Friday and Saturday we worked the morning shifts.  Sunday we drove 2 hours to Guazacapan for district conference.  Elder Maravilla from Nicaragua presided and we really enjoyed the conference.  

The chapel in Guazacapan.

L to R,  district president Grajeda, mission president Shumway, and me.  We all three served in Ecuador.  2006, 1981, 1971

District Conference

In the middle is Elder Maravilla.

The district president and his family.

This brother only has one leg and I think this is his daughter giving him a ride home.

There is a lot of vegetation by the coast.

Click below to ride with us.
Driving in southern Guatemala

We got back and were able to pass by our ward and the bishopric was still there and they were kind enough to prepare the sacrament for us.  

At our ward, we ran into two returned missionaries, Sisters Meacham and Berry.

We then went to “Break the Fast” at the area office for dinner.  We talked to some of our kids.  

Break the Fast Dinner

It was a great week and we marvel at the blessings we continually receive.  Taking some words from Oliver Cowdrey, “These are days never to be forgotten."