July 4th Independence Day - Senior Missionary Zone conference and 4th of July Breakfast.

Today a Senior Missionary Zone conference was held here at the Area Office.  Elder Carlos Amado spoke to us with respects to freedom of religion and about our great country and its constitution. He loves the US and he loves the church.  His time serving here will be up by the end of July after serving 11 years as General Authority.  Like me, he had to learn another language but for him it was necessary.  I am getting along quite well one way or another.  Elder Amado spoke of what it would be like if Jesus were here.  The Lord would love us all, bless the children, heal the sick, uplift others and admonished all to do the same so that we can return to Him at our appointed time.  It was a wonderful inspiring talk.

This is an image of a beautiful painting inside the San Salvador Temple.  On one side, a Lamanite girl and on the other a Nephite child both clutching his white robe.  This signifies his love for all and for the need of us all for his teachings and mercy.

Afterward the Temporal Affairs for the church gave us an amazing breakfast to help celebrate the 4th of July. The food was exquisite and very American.  The table decorations, very American.  Slides of America were shown on a screen along with the Mormon Tabernacle choir singing The National Anthem.  It brought tears to my eyes and a huge lump in my throat.  One of the office workers who worked on the planning of the breakfast told me, "Sister this is for you".  So grateful for this sweet gesture.

A Zoo in Guatemala City.

Saturday June 28 we were invited by Elder and Sister Harris who work in the Dental Clinic here.....doing a wonderful work on orphaned children..anyway you would think that a Zoo is a Zoo is a Zoo, but we were very pleasantly impressed. Very clean and very family friendly.  Even though it was a Saturday we saw school groups coming.  Quite a nice collection of animals, giraffes, elephants, bears, lions, birds..and other stuff. More pictures to come.

 Unusual species of tree at the Zoo.

 Just inside the entrance

 Hippo

 Osterich

 White Peacock

 Zebra

 Water Feature

Elder Tuft arrives at the CCM

As promised to Pamela Tyler Tuft, we met her son at the CCM and took a quick picture....but we were told after the fact that we should not do that.  Oh well.  Notice the Photo Bomber in one of the pictures.  I didn´t even see that guy.

June 20-21st Public Affairs Seminar which included Public Affairs specialists from all of Central America

Dinner at Altuna. Elder and Sister Bingham attending

On June 20th Public Affairs representatives from six Central American Countries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints gathered together here in Guatemala City for a Seminar.  Brother David Watson from Salt Lake who is the Director over Latin American countries came and conducted the seminar.  We had 20 in attendance.

All representatives from each country were met at the airport and shuttled to the Crown Plaza Hotel for their overnight accommodations for two nights.  Elder Burningham and myself were one of three drivers that drove the attendees from the hotel to the Area Office where the Seminar took place.  Friday night there was a Welcome Dinner and get acquainted meeting held at The Altuna restaurant where a delicious dinner of beef steak and rice was served.  As a special guest that evening, Elder and Sister Bingham of Humanitarian Services came and spoke of their work and how all countries can participate in the Church´s Humanitarian service when the service is once identified.  The Church encourages partnering with other religious organizations and charity organizations in getting help to all people regardless of their religion or their status. Their message was well received.

At the Seminar in the Area Office

Saturday morning and afternoon consisted of instructions and power point presentations by Brother David Watson of Salt Lake.  Training on the Corus Program for Mormon Newsroom Central America was held and ideas were shared.  All instructions were worthwhile and well received.

Saturday evening all of traveled to the Cayala Mall here in Guatemala City for an evening of Italian dinner and socializing.  It was enjoyed by all.

Julio Alvarado inspecting how his cake batter is doing.

 Cayala Mall - Beautiful place

Al and I at the restaurant

 Alejandra Funes, one of the attendees from El Salvador and myself at the mall.  She works in a Call Center and speaks English very well.

Luis Vallarino from Panama who was assigned by our director Julio Alvarado to translate for me. He told me he had been speaking English and Spanish since he was a little boy.

 Cayala Mall

 Cayala Mall

Tower at Cayala Mall

I felt particularly blessed to have become acquainted with Luis Vallarino from Panama who speaks English and Spanish very very well.  He was assigned to me to translate the Spanish to English.  As nice of a young man I have ever met and so very well educated.  He works for the church in the capacity of Seminary instructor.

Our Public Affairs Group at the Cayala Mall for dinner

Sunday morning we met at the area office for more instruction and we were further enlightened on how the Church Public Affairs department helps the public and public opinion leaders to better understand the mission of the church which is to assist and help all people with their needs and to bring others unto Christ.

There was an awards segment for the Sala De Prensa Newsroom for Central America.  Each country got an award for the "Best of Category" in their contributions to the Countries Newsroom for the Church.
The following are pictures of recipients and their awards.

The seminar ended about 12:00 noon and the attendees headed to the airport to travel to their various destinations.

I was so impressed with the love and good feelings we all had one to another.  Some spoke English and Spanish and some just Spanish only.  For me who is learning Spanish I felt a great spirit among all of us that I know I will always remember even though I am limited in language skills.

June 12th, Trip to Zacapa IMPROVING OUR HEMISPHERE AND HUMANITY THROUGH COMBINED EFFORTS closing ceremonies

IMPROVING OUR HEMISPHERE AND HUMANITY THROUGH COMBINED EFFORTS

Through the combined efforts of the humanitarian services of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the United States Army and Navy and the Guatemalan, Honduras, Columbia and Chilean armed forces, three schools were built.  Two were in Zacapa and one in Chiquimula, Guatemala.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Humanitarian division sponsored the funds for all new desks and chairs, teachers’ desks and book cabinets.

The closing ceremony for completion of Schools and medical clinics were held on June 12, 2014 at Camp Zacapa, the facility of the Armed forces of Zacapa, Guatemala. Along with the Humanitarian Missionaries Elder and Sister Bingham, those in attendance were US Army and Navy soldiers and their officers, Christopher A. Cruz, Commander US Navy, NGO/PVO Branch Chief, J-9 Partnering Directorate for the United States Southern Command for the Americas and SFC Carlo Ungo Martinez Team Sergeant for Civil Affairs Team Guatemala and Sargent Cruz of US Army.  Local community leaders and children of the schools were also in attendance.

The Humanitarian Missionaries, Elder and Sister Bingham were instrumental in connecting the church sponsorship for furniture and furnishings for all three schools were mentioned and appreciated.

 The Governor of Zacapa, Carolina Orellana and Military high ranking officers from both the United States and Guatemala spoke of their appreciation for all those who partnered in “Improving our Hemisphere and Humanity” through their combined efforts. Governor Orellana expressed her appreciation, “This project and those like it improves the possibility of people helping people. To help strengthen the relationship of soldiers, community and religious organization and civilians to improve engineering skills, field craft, administration of combined armed forces for 20,000 people of multi nationales. “Governor Orellana thanked all those who participated which included the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.   United States Brigadier General Salinas said “The combined efforts of government armed forces, community and religious organizations with projects for the good of humanity prove that ´Together we Can´.”

 Governer of Zacapa Carolina Orellana and Generals and officers involved in the building of new schools and medical facilities

US Army, Navy and Guatemalan Army troops at attention for the closing ceremonies

 School Children that benefited from the new schools built

 Old worn desks that were replaced through the sponsorship of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

New Desks

 Troops and teachers by side of school class rooms

 US Army and Navy officers at the new school

 Elder Bingham and School administrator in newly furnished classroom

 Elder Bingham and Navy Commander Christopher A. Cruz

 School rooms from afar

Teachers and administrators at the new furnished desks

 Service troops and administrator over school project

Elder and Sister Bingham inspecting new school

 Elder and Sister Bingham, Elder and Sister Burningham, Administrator over Medical Clinic, 

Christopher A. Cruz, Commander US Navy, NGO/PVO Branch Chief, J-9 Partnering Directorate for the United States Southern Command for the Americas and SFC Carlo Ungo Martinez Team Sergeant for Civil Affairs Team Guatemala and Sargent Cruz of US Army

 Camp Zacapa

Artillary and troops getting ready for formation