Elder and Hermana Pitcher in front of Stake Center/Mission Office/ PEF/ Family History Center. The building is absolutely beautiful and functional. The combined usage of the facility is ideal. When new missionaries arrive, they are delivered here. The Mission President interviews them, has a orientation meeting and then they meet their Trainer. Then of they go to conquer the world. When Elder Pitcher served here in Santa Ana, there were just 2 small rented chapels and with just 6 missionaries. Currently there are 75 missionaries serving in this city. We were invited to talk to the group and tell them what changes have occurred since Elder Pitcher had served many years ago. Pres. Cordon drove us around the city and showed us 8 very nice chapels, 3 of which are Stake Centers. Sta. Ana is considered to be a Center of Strength, meaning solid leadership, continued growth and activity. 2% of the population is LDS. If a second Temple could be built in this country, it would be here.
Here you see President Poloski Cordon with his wife and the Pitchers . We are in front of their home. It is very, very, nice. The Pres. has an nice office to work in. He uses it for interviews and preparation. He has 2 large boards with each missionary shown with their picture. He creates all the transfers here. We were sworn to secrecy because we saw what would be transpiring on Tuesday. This will be their last transfer. They are finishing up their 3 years of service. Their youngest daughter is with them. She is 14 years old. She doesn't want to leave her friends here and return back to Guatemala.
We met this man at the hotel where we stayed. He saw our name tags and came right up to us, thanking us for our service here. He was born in Santa Ana but moved to the US when he was 11 years old. This is his first time back since then. He had spent a week in El Salvador looking around and attending the Temple in San Salvador. Many times he had tears in his eyes as he told about the changes. He especially teared up as he spoke of the great blessing to have a Temple in El Salvador.
When he was in his early 20's he met three young ladies who introduced him to the gospel and also encouraged him to get an education. So, he headed for Utah State in Logan where the missionaries taught him the gospel and baptized him. We were able to talk with him for about an hour as we waited for the Mission President to pick us up. (We consider this one of those tender mercies that have happened frequently while we have been here.) One of the 3 young women he met was named Janice Pitcher from Smithfield Utah. Of course she is a cousin of Elder Pitchers. This man had actually been to her home and met her family. He remembered where the home was located and what color it was. We have Elder Pitcher's mom looking into finding this lady.
These are the ruins in Chalcuapa. The name of the ruins is Tazumal. They were fun to look at. We happened to be there on a day that must have been field trip day for several schools in El Salvador. The children ranged in age from about 3 years to high school students. We were told that there was an opening on the left hand side that went under this pyramid where bones were found. Which meant it was a burial site. They also said human bones had been found buried on the top, so they believe there were human sacrifices.
This is one group of children on a field trip. Notice the little ones on the front row.
We encourage all of you to plan on serving a mission as a couple when you grow up. There is place for everyone to contribute in some way. Please do not let the opportunity pass you by while you are making other plans. We feel so very blessed to be serving here and now. We are living in a promised land, amongst a chosen people. It is not just a case of random luck of happenstance that we ended up here. Love to you all, Elder and Hermana Pitcher
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