Day 5- San Francisco El Alto and Quetzaltenango

We went to a small town where Tyler served called San Francisco El Alto, which is about 20 minutes from Quetzaltenango.  Friday's are the BIG market days.  The streets were packed full of vendors and people.  At many points, we were so packed in it was crazy.  We, as white, tall gringos, of course, stuck out like crazy.  The town is very authentic.  All the woman wore the typical Guatemalan dress, which was fun to see.  Tyler warned me about being pic-pocketed. I put our souvenir money in my front jacket pocket with it zipped.  Well, it happened.   They are good!  We lost 300 Quetzalas, which is about $35.  It is a lot of money for Guatemala though and I was so mad that all of our souvenir money was now gone.  That made me bitter towards the town and was ready to leave.

We headed back down to Quetzaltenango and toured the city more.  Tyler served here for a brief time.  Here he is checking out one of the places where he use to live.

 Here is a sight of one of the many volcanoes.

 Here is a beautiful courtyard by the city offices in the town square.

 

All the churches have large fences around them.

 Since all the churches have fences around them, it only makes sense that the temple has fences and 24 hour security.  We were so sad that we weren't able to walk around on the temple grounds.  This was the closest we got.... (so we thought.  We had a huge surprise on Sunday.) 

 We went to dinner with Evelio Vasquez and his family (the man who showed us around Rio Blanco the day before).  They are a great family!  The boy in the middle (in the gray sweatshirt) just returned from a mission.  Kimberly (in red) is getting ready to go on a mission.  Dolche (in blue) was getting married Thursday in the new dedicated temple.  The two boys in suits and red ties are still in young men's and had just finished the dress rehearsal for the Cultural celebration.

Evelio became a member when he found a phamplet about the church floating in a river.  After his baptism he would go to Rio Blanco and share the gospel.  He started it all in that area and because of him, there are now 2 wards and a small branch in the area.  He is a man of strength, faith, and testimony.  It was amazing to share a few days with him and to feel his love.