Week 37, Primero de Julio - Coronavirus changes everything

The President of Guatemala called for a nationwide day of prayer and fasting! 

Not only did the missionaries join in this national day of prayer and fasting for Guatemala, many of their families at home (including Elder Walbom's family) joined the citizens of Guatemala in asking for God's help at this time.

Guatemala City

With Elder Walbom and all the other missionaries in Guatemala being quarantined in their apartments due to a mandatory shut down to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease, they were not able to contact their families (normally they video chat via Hangouts) this past week.  Instead, their families were sent an email explaining the situation in which we were given our missionaries' direct apartment phone number.  We were told we could call them a couple of times each week during this quarantine.  Unfortunately, Elder Walbom does not have access to a the internet at all in his apartment, so he couldn't send an email himself, or even any pictures.  

When we contacted Elder Walbom he seemed in good spirits.  The missionaries had received a strict schedule to adhere to during the quarantine, which included things like scripture study, language study and outdoor exercise each day.  It also included contacting by phone those with whom they are teaching the gospel.  As such, Elder Walbom told us that he and Elder Lopez had called a lady named Maritza who they first visited around the beginning of the year but hadn't had much contact with since that time.  While speaking with her, they asked if she'd had a chance to read any of the Book of Mormon.  During the conversation, Maritza surprised the Elders by indicated that not only had she been reading the Book of Mormon, but that she believed what she needed to do now was be baptized! (Usually the missionaries have to at least do the asking.) She will have to wait, however, for the quarantine to be lifted first.

In closing, families of missionaries were also told that all missionaries in Guatemala would be returning to their home countries as soon as possible, where they would undergo 14 days of self-quarantine and then be temporarily assigned another mission in their home country. We have not received anything specific from the church, yet. Elder Walbom is quite sad to be leaving Guatemala, but we are certain that the Lord will put him where he needs to be at this time and that he will continue to find and teach those who are prepared to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Guatemala City

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