GUATEMALA CITY BEST WESTERN
Darrel, Chris, and Christopher Armstrong left Cincinnati for Guatemala City on Friday, 8/21/09. We enjoyed our stay here--the complimentary breakfasts were great!
STELA OF CONQUERING WARRIOR
We spent the afternoon learning of the Mayan culture at the National Archeology Museum and Popol Vuh Museum. Mario, our LDS taxi driver, also drove us around Kaminaljuyu in the city, possible site of the city of Nephi.
SEEING ADAM AGAIN!
We met our son and Elder Carpio on Saturday morning--how sweet it is!
MEETING ELBA AT MC'D'S!
It was sweet for Adam to get to see Elba again. He had taught her at the first of his mission. She is preparing to go to the temple. We enjoyed amazing mango smoothies at McDonald's.
ADAM WITH MARCO AND JENNIFER AT THE TEMPLE
Recent converts, Saturday afternoon was their first trip to the temple, where they did baptisms and confirmations.
EL FRUTAL 2 CHAPEL
On Sunday morning, we met Elders Carpio, Armstrong, Debora and daughters at church.
DEBORA WITH TEMPLE DRESS
We gave 20 temple dresses and several pairs of pants to new members to help them make the temple a goal. White Elegance donated these discontinued or irregular clothes, which brought much joy.
BOOK OF MORMON FIGURES A HIT!
Kids just love the Book of Mormon figures from Latter-day Designs (www.lehi.com)
CHANGE MEETING FOR GUATEMALA CENTRAL MISSIONARIES
On Monday morning, all departing missionaries and those to be transferred and their companions brought their luggage to this meeting at a stake center, where new assignments were announced and good-byes were said.
TAKING PICTURES OF DEPARTING MISSIONARIES WITH THE BALDWIN'S
After interviews, dinner, and a testimony meeting, departing missionaries pose for a last mission picture with Pres. and Sis. Baldwin Monday evening.
FAMOUS SANTA CATALINA ARCH IN ANTIGUA
We rented a car Tuesday morning and headed for Antigua, which was the Spanish colonial capital of Central America until it was largely destroyed twice by earthquakes in the 1700's. It is a charming tourist mecca.
CONVENT OF THE CAPPACHINAS, ANTIGUA
GERONOMO FAMILY, JOCOTENANGO
We loved visitng folks in Jocotenango, which is next-door to Antigua. Adam and his companion worked to re-activate this wonderful family. Their son and daughter just received mission calls to Peru.
JOCOTENANGO WARD ENRICHMENT MEETING
We passed by the chapel and joined a well-planned Relief Society activity teaching how to make onion rings and tooled metal pictures.
"POPULAR! I (DON'T) WANT TO BE POPULAR!"
From Antigua, we threaded our way through lovely highland views to Chichicastenango. With very few gringos in town for the Thursday market day, we had a veritable flock of women vendors hawking their beautiful woven goods and vying for our quetzales (money). One lady followed Chris for 1 1/2 hours! These Mayan descendants proudly wear their native dress. Many worship at the Mayan altars inside the dual-religion Catholic church.
VIEW OF LAKE ATITLAN
We drove on from the market to Lake Atitlan. This most gorgeous of lakes is ringed by three volcanoes. Some feel it may have been the site of the Waters of Mormon.
ATITLAN FERRY
We ferried across the lake to the village of Santiago Atitlan.
VIEW OF LAKE ATITLAN NEAR THE NATURE PRESERVE
We stayed at the lovely Nature Reserve just west of Panajachel, where coursing down the mountain in view of the lake on a zip-line was a thrill!
BISHOP BARRIOS' FENCE!
From Panajachel, we drove southeast to Santa Lucia. One of the stories we didn't hear from his e-mails was about the day Adam surprised a robber in their apartment. Wielding two of the elders' kitchen knives, the guy chased down the street after them. Unable to rouse the bishop, the elders jumped this fence to safety.
SIPACATE!
We spent Saturday night on the Pacific Ocean in Sipacate, where Adam also worked.
LA GOMERA BRANCH BUILDING
We enjoyed going to church and visiting families in La Gomera, a very special place to Adam.
After church at La Gomera Branch, Guatemala
BROTHER MENA GUIDES US AT TIKAL
We returned the rental car in Guatemala City, then caught the 9-hour overnight bus ride to Flores, where Eric Mena met us at 6 AM with his VW van, sporting its nickname, "Deseret," painted on the hood. He took us to our hotel to freshen up, then on the Tikal. He was a great guide!
The Great Jaguar Temple, Tikal, Guatemala
The extensive ruins rising from the jungle floor are truly amazing. The site dates from Book of Mormon times.
CLIMBING THE SCARY STAIRS OF THE TEMPLE
AUTHENTIC HUMAN SACRIFICE RE-ENACTMENT (lol)
CHILLING AT THE HOTEL AFTER AFTER DOING THE RUINS
Actually, the boys were just resting up to join in the fun playing soccer with local kids.
THE NATIONAL ANIMAL OF BELIZE
We bussed from El Remate to the Guatemala/Belize border, cleared immigration, then took two local buses to the middle of nowhere to stay at the Belize Zoo, where we had a night tour.
ADAM MEETS APRIL, THE TAPIR!
HANGING OUT WITH THE LOCALS
Elder Armstrong being licked by a jaguar
"Junior" enjoyed licking heads for the salt (he doesn't seem to be enjoying the gel, though!)
OUR NEIGHBOR
At the Belize Zoo, we stayed in the "Pond House," built on sticks over a pond where this guy and 23 other crocodiles call home.
WATER TAXI TO CAYE CAULKER
From the Belize Zoo, we journeyed to Belize City, where we caught the water taxi to one of the 400 islands of Belize's barrier reef, the 2nd largest in the world.
CAYE CAULKER, BELIZE
We stayed at Louise's Maxhapan Cabanas on Caye Caulker. Louise provided bikes for us to use to explore the island.
SNORKELING IN THE CARIBBEAN WITH NURSE SHARKS!
Christopher and Mom went snorkeling--it was amazing to get up close and personal with sharks, sting rays, a manatee, and beautiful tropical fish in the warm, clear waters of the Caribbean.
BARRACUDA BROTHERS!
We went fishing in the Caribbean with a commercial outfitter. With sardines caught in a net as bait, the boys were taught the finer points of going for the big fish. After sacrificing a number of sardines, they each hooked a barracuda . It was great fun to record them both working at the same time to reel them in!
CHRISTOPHER AND HIS JACK!
After a mighty long struggle, Christopher landed this amberjack!
The sun sets on our Guatemala/Belize experience
Many centuries ago, Pericles declared to the citizens of Athens: "What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others." It was a joy to witness the influence Adam has been on the lives of many people in Guatemala, the happiness that comes from embracing the restored gospel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and to experience the culture and wonders of this area of the world. We have been blessed. . . .
