Semana Santa in Antigua, Guatemala

Semana Santa, also known as Holy Week, is celebrated the week before Easter.  We, along with a group of senior missionaries, traveled to Antigua (the old world capital and Catholic strong hold of Guatemala) to witness this fascinating event. It is probably the biggest holiday of the year with similar processions and traditions in various towns and cities throughout the country.

Easter is a very interesting time in Guatemala. You will not see one mention of Easter Bunnies or Easter Egg Hunts. For Guatemalans, Semana Santa is a pilgrimage of the Crucifixion of Christ. Theyse people are very reverent and solemnly dedicated to the traditions of this holiday.  A prosession goes down every street in Antigua in reverent reminder of the Crucifixion of Christ. It is quite a privilege to be a 'cucuruchos' and help carry the 'andas' (floats). Even children get involved.

The most extraordinary part of Semana Santa is the "Alfrombras" or carpets. As you look on the cobblestone streets you see 'carpets' all along the middle of the road. They are not really carpets but intricate designs made of plants, flowers, sawdust, fruits, vegetables, and other materials. They are truly a work of art.  They are exquisite! 

And, this is what it looks like after the procession has gone by...

Although Semana Santa was intriguing and beautiful, we could not help but think of the real meaning of Easter. Easter is 'a new beginning'...a 'rebirth'. Easter is the Resurrection of Christ not the Crucifixion. We are so grateful for the Atonement of the Savior, His Sacrifice...His Gift. As we use the Atonement daily, we too can have a 'new beginning' or a 'rebirth' in our lives and prepare ourselves some day to return to our heavenly home.

La Reunion Resort
March 2015

We spent a few days at this beautiful exclusive resort about 30 minutes above Antigua. It was so nice to relax and enjoy the beauty that surrounded us. We kept thinking..."There are some great perks being senior missionaries and this is definitely one of them!"
We were given a golf cart to drive around the resort. In the morning, we decided to take a walk but saw the volcano erupting so Spence ran back to the room to get a camera and quickly came back in the golf cart. After taking some pictures of the volcano erupting, we decided to drive so we could check out the amazing golf course. We are not golfers, but can certainly appreciate an magnificent course. Neil, we thought of you the whole time! Every turn of the golf cart and we literally would gasp at the view thinking nothing could top this until we saw the next one.

                                     Nothing more to say...just enjoy the view. We certainly did!

March 13 - 21, 2015
Area Review

We were blessed to have an apostle, Elder Neil Anderson, visit the Central America Area in March. Each year an apostle with a few other general authorities come to Guatemala to tour and receive a report on what is happening in the area.

One of the nice things about working in the office is that, occasionally, you are able to meet and even eat with them! We had lunch with the visiting authorities at one of our favorite restaurants, Splendito. They were gracious and asked us to join them in a photo. Of course, we said YES!

Joining them on their tour of Central America were Elder and Sister Maynes, of the Seventy, (behind Elder Lloyd) and Bishop and Sister Davies of the Presiding Bishopric. We spent three days with them. It was wonderful!
During their time here, they spoke at a mission conference to three missions whose mission offices are here in Guatemala City, the Guatemala City South, Guatemala City East, and Guatemala City Central missions. All three missions extend out of the city, but all missionaries were invited to come into the city and listen to an apostle speak. It was wonderful! The visiting General Authorities had all the missionaries come up and shake their hands, including the senior missionaries.

A very special perk was being able to see a few missionaries we knew personally. Being in the area office, we do not see the missionaries very much. Elder Sorensen, from our home stake and Elder Barlow...one of my former 4th grade students! I had hoped I would possibly see a former student while on our mission, and I did!

During the area review, we were able to visit a new stake center being built near Antigua, Guatemala. It is a newer version built more efficiently. One of our group pictures was printed in the Church News. I know, you are loving my hard hat. Not everyone got the message that the sisters did not need to wear that lovely hat...including me!

 Spence and Elder Sam Galvez (an Area Seventy and also a church employee over all the construction in Central America. Sam is a dear friend. His father and mother presided over Seth's mission, Panama, Panama City Mission. When Sam and his wife were called to preside over the Costa Rica Mission, they stayed with us in Sandy with their family and spent a week visiting the area sites. We spent Christmas Eve at their home.

While the brethren were working, the ladies shopped in Antigua. Spence and Elder Brereton were invited to go with us. A very popular place to shop is the Apple Factory. Do not ask me why they call it that, but they do and it is actually a wood shop.

 This man took a block of wood and made a beautiful piece of fruit right before our eyes. Yes, they make wooden apples here but so much more. Still not sure why the name, The Apple Factory.

From left, Sister Brereton (the other executive secretary's wife), Sister Duncan (wife of the area president), Sister Davies, Sister Maynes, and me. 

                                  Spence and I standing in front of the formal entrance to the city.

 Antigua is very unique to Guatemala. It is certainly a tourist town and brings in a lot of revenue to the country. It has very strict building and conservation codes which is unheard of anywhere else in Guatemala. It is so clean and uniquely pristine. Although it is rather plain with not much vegetation on the streets, when you walk through one of those doors you find a hidden treasure...you feel you are going into another world.
This is the entrance from the street to the Santo Domingo Hotel where the Breretons and we had lunch on our way back to the city.

This is a small part of of the hidden treasure you see when you step through its doors. There is also a lovely restaurant, 2 pools, gardens, ruins, museums, and a chocolate candy shop, just to name a few! It was once a Catholic convent but was demolished during an earthquake. Guatemala is a very active earthquake area. We feel them all the time...thank goodness small ones! It is just an accepted way of life here.

 We are truly blessed to be here and have the experiences we are having. We cannot believe that a third of our mission is done. We are certainly looking forward to the next two-thirds!