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DAY
1 – DAY 2 – DAY
3 – DAY 4 – DAY
5 – DAY 6 –
DAY
7 – DAY 8 – DAY
9 – DAY 10 – DAY 11 – HOME
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DETAILED ITINERARY: Day 2 -
Thursday
A wonderful buffet breakfast begins at 6:30 A.M. Come a little early so the breakfast chef can prepare your omelet just as you like. The fresh papaya and pineapple are just heavenly! Our Guatemalan guide, Francisco Sagastume (Paco) Will Meet Us at Breakfast Urging Us to Be Ready to Leave at 7:00 A.M. In order to have enough time to experience the fun and spirit of this day, please do your best to be on the bus directly outside the entrance at 7:00 A.M. The day begins at the Guatemala LDS Temple. Feel free to walk around . . . we hope to meet the Temple President. Enjoy several shady places to ponder the beautiful grounds and sacred setting. This is a great way to start the day! Then we are off to the Relief Map of Guatemala City . . . giving you a grand overview of the Book of Mormon Lands. There you can see where Lehi and his family likely landed, where two possible locations of Zarahemla are and where the Waters of Mormon (that we will visit this afternoon) are located. The Relief Map gives you a perspective of thousands of square miles . The map stretches to the surrounding countries of Mexico, Honduras and Belize. You’ll get an amazing overview of what to expect in your tour this coming week. It gives you a feeling of the vast land and the millions of inhabitants that must have covered the Book of Mormon Lands. It also reveals a sense that Guatemala City, the prominent modern city of the area, is the Ancient City of Nephi. Next we move on to the ruins of Kaminaljuyu (600 B.C. – 300 A.D.) This is the center of the ancient City of Nephi. Daniel explains a Middle Eastern type Three Stepped Temple and ceremonial center, built after the manner of "Solomon’s Temple (2 Nephi 5:16). You will see what is left of three tiers, likely representing the Telestial, Terrestrial and Celestial worlds. This is built in the same physical manner as Solomon’s temple and its courtyards. The temple at Kaminaljuyu lies on the outskirts of Guatemala City in what is considered to be a part of the Land of Lehi-Nephi. As we walk the ruins and read the scriptures, Daniel reveals how the ancient Israelites lived in a temple society. The people of the Book of Mormon also lived in a temple society with the House of the Lord in the center. The Temple was built first . . . the essence of the community, the heart and focus of daily life in Ancient America, just like Jerusalem was the center in early Biblical history. Kaminaljuyu is an active dig. You walk into it, experience it and then applying the principles of archaeology imagine the various levels of civilization that lived before. Imagine, you are walking into the ancient City of Nephi! Next, you’ll make a two hour scenic Road Trip Through Mountains, Jungles and Delightful Little Villages while hearing about the Book of Mormon journeys . . . to here and there. The terrain now is very similar to the Book of Mormon times. Lunch is a bit later this day, so bring snacks you like. Arriving at the beautiful waters of Lake Atitlan to review the account of the Waters of Mormon, we will immediately have lunch . . . great food and very charming surroundings. Then we go to the shore and cruise the waters of Atitlan. It is very similar to the Sea of Galilee . . . blue water with mountains surrounding it. The mountains are higher, but the flora and fauna are similar. We take the time to read the account of the Waters of Mormon in Mosiah 26, spending about an hour on the lake. It is peaceful as we read about the beginning of the church and create vivid images of these people, long ago. We talk about the missionary activities of Alma . . . we see how easy it was for him to hide in the jungle wilderness from King Noah. Wealthy Europeans have built beautiful villas at the lake’s edge now. Next, we are off to the charming village of Santa Catarina Palopo. Here we walk through the open market . . . there is time to be on your own here . . . about a four-block walk to the bus. This gives you about an hour to explore the quaint shopping stalls where you will find beautiful scarves, clothing and the local souvenirs. Best of all, this is where you will find Weights that correspond to the Nephites system of money! (Alma 11:5-10) Compare these to the Book of Mormon weights and measures: Amnor, Antion, Ezrom, Limnah, Onti, Senine, Senum, Seon, Shiblon and Shum. It is the only place that they are found and are still actually used as weights and measures. You may want to buy several sets. Let us know how many sets you may want so that Paco can have the vendors stock up in advance! Daniel will give you a paper describing the Book of Mormon values of the weights. The trip back to the Marriott in Guatemala is about 2 1/2 hours. It is a somewhat windy road and the scenery is spectacular! You’ll ascend and descend thousands of feet. There is time to sleep on the bus (be sure to bring a good neck pillow). We will also have some music and related discussions. This is the time to get some very Interesting Background on "Paco," his family and family history. His father was very involved in the freedom and independence of Guatemala. Paco is a very engaging fellow. He speaks English well, having served an LDS mission in Los Angeles. He is a Church leader so he is able to Discuss the Church and its Growth in Guatemala. We cruise through and may stop at villages as well as seeing the LDS Stake Center where Paco serves. We usually see the missionary Elders or Sisters along the way. Many of the locals know and love Paco. This is a wonderful time to begin to Bond with the People, developing a love for and camaraderie with them. |
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