LOGROS Y EXPERIENCIAS MAS IMPORTANTES DE LOS 50 AÑOS

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Click para:  MISION CUMPLIDA Y REFLECCIONES ULTIMAS 
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LOS LOGROS Y ACONTECIMIENTOS MAS IMPORTANTES ATRAVEZ DE LOS 50 AÑOS
NOTA:  Ahora sigue la version en español, con adiciones agregadas en ingles--que tienen aspectos no mencionados en la traduccion al español, algo de las cuales tendran que incorporarse en lo de español--con todas las fotos-- que poco a poco voy a traducir al español....mientras tengan su leccion de ingles. 
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El lema atravez de los años fue una combinacion de dos dichos muy famosos: 

"NUNCA, NUNCA, NUNCA SE DE POR VENCIDO!"  

Y

 "…porque has visto tu debilidad ….seras fortalecido!"   

Nota:  Para el Prefacio y Introduccion,  la version de ingles sigue abajo:

TWELVE STRONG...key supporters  in our half century  effort, with sprinkled in other major "supporting actors"

FIRST and foremost, my father, DR. ARIEL A. ANDERSEN,  who blessed my life in so many ways, and actually got me started right on our second attempt to leave for Guatemala, when he humbly accepted my request for a Father's Blessing, and was faithful to his blessing giving his all to help until his passing 16 years later in 1983.
Others in the family likewise were generous, like my older brother, Marlo, one of the major contributors in the first years, and even persisted right up past the Golden Anniversary, with an extra donation.  I can't mention everyone as the list is long, but crucial were those in the first years, like:  The very first contribution from WESTON KILLPACK,  and his Highland High School LDS Seminary, a onetime thing but critical to help us get started. 
Then my friend since the first day of my mission..... 

SECOND,  TOBY PINGREE, who was a big-time helper from before the Foundation was organized and who would later bring on board others from his family at critical points in the history;  

After my parent's passing, others from the family took up the baton:  Uncles, cousins, and most of my children, and of special note--

THIRD, also right up past the end, my 2nd cousin JOSEPH JENSEN who became the greatest contributor.  

But there were others like: 

FOURTH, who I called "The Most Persistent,"  DOUG CAMPBELL and his wife Rinez, then;  

FIFTH, he we call "The Most Incredible,"  HAL POULSEN & wife, NEVA, and  so many more, for whom I'm most grateful as all helped in a great cause.  My cause became your  cause too, and all of you deserve almost all the credit;

Others were key "supporting actors"  in crucial ways, like my old fishing buddy, Bob Allen & wife Lucette,  then, dear ex-missionary companion and life-long friend,.......

SIXTH, C. JESS GROESBECK,  who stuck with us for several decades, many years as Chairman of the Board of the Foundation, including when there evolved a lot of controversy.  

Let me add here one we could call another important "supporting actor" whose statement was extremely motivating and quite unexpected  by well known, STEVE COVEY, who in like 1977 when one of the Vice-Presidents of BYU,  attended a special fireside up Hobblecreek Canyon, and at the end said something like: 

 "I came here expecting to find an Albert Schweitzer type, but found someone who just didn't talk theory, principles and dreams, like the rest of us do, but more like a modern Brigham Young, who actually is doing what he says he believes." 

Then 7th through 12th from a star studded list of the following:

SEVENTH,  LDS Apostle EZRA TAFT BENSON, who had also been Secretary of Agriculture in the Cabinet of President Dwight Eisenhower, who impressed me, prior to us going to Guatemala at a BYU Devotional,  when he said, "If I were  young again, I'd go south!"  Then once in Guatemala in 1968 when I was working on one of my purposes of going to Guatemala, which was,   Get out on the front lines combating  the threat of communism that was coming close to turning Guatemala into another Cuba,.  which effort involved me showing a USIS documentary, "Revolution Betrayed," about Cuba, and  created fear in Mission leaders that the Mormon chapel might be bombed in Coban, and I was instructed to desist.  I rather wrote two LDS  General Authorities in Utah, that resulted in two interesting replies:

One, from a high level,  said to just read the Church's statement about communism and then shut up!  The other reply was fascinating, from Apostle Ezra Taft Benson, congratulating me for my efforts and basically telling me, "GIVE THEM MORE HELL!"

EIGHTH,   SPENCER W. KIMBALL, who has to be mentioned in this  PREFACE,  who in 1971, when criticism was mounting from people who "had a spirit of competition, rather than of cooperation, collaboration and gratitude,"  in a private interview encouraged us to persist and said to....  "not pay any attention to criticism as such had also happened anciently to Ammon and his companions who were 'laughed to scorn' by their own people."  

NINTH,  Regional Representative,  HAROLD BROWN, for the LDS Church, who was a true friend and came to us in "the moment of greatest need,"  in 1973 understanding completely some negative things that were happening, and not only repeated the advice given by Kimball, but was the first to begin calling me a "Modern Ammon," and completely saw through the negative reports  and gave us encouraging news, promised his support, and even later when my life became even more controversial, engaged with me in a long and frank conversation and not only understood, but promised his continued support and in doing so likely sacrificed the possibility of continuing his rise in leadership--volunteering to be a Trustee for the Foundation and persisted until age-related 

conditions ended his effective life.  See item #11. 

TENTH,  ENRIQUE RITTSCHER, also a one-time  Regional Representative,  the first key Guatemalan  of crucial influence and help, and one of the great men of my experience who was a genuinely honest  man and true friend--who helped and encouraged us in many ways.  He understood clearly why in the eyes of some I became controversial, and he persisted as a sincere friend--and I can add that when he perceived injustice in any form would boldly speak up and refuse to be silenced.  This eventually made him controversial too that evolved into what surprised some in the religious community, but not a shock to me

ELEVENTH, FEDERICO VELIZ PACAY, a dedicated and devout Catholic who became early on my partner in helping his people, and persisted  for 42 years--and counting, and is for me THE VOLUNTEER OF ALL VOLUNTEERS,, explained with more detail in item #14.

TWELFTH to complete my list of real heroes representing the Mayans, MIGUEL MAX, one of my first vocational students, but who didn't last long  as I needed help quick, and so he also became my "first supervisor,"  my leading companion pursuing cattle rustlers in the mountains, the first to come dashing into our evening family hour announcing "the guerrillas are here," the first Maya/Poqomchi resident of Valparaiso to be called as a local missionary for the LDS Church, first to become my manager, then elected President of the Valparaiso Cooperative in an effort to help the Indians become owners, and then my counselor in the Alta/Baja Verapaz LDS District, and much more.  Seen to the right when meeting him in 2016 after years of separation.  No other words but to say, I'm grateful for him, love him and have him in my prayers always. 

NOTA IMPORTANTE:  Después de unos años de trabajar en Guatemala un amigo me visitó contándome de unos chismes, entre gringos en la capital y en los EE.UU., hablando de mis FRACASOS en Guatemala.  Decían que #1 era el CINE CHAPINLANDIA, y #2, LA GRANJA LA CABAÑA.  Unos  años después  uno decía que VALPARAISO era el único lugar de éxito para la Misión, mientras que el siguiente  decía que era un "fracaso."  Uds. tendrán que juzgar quien tenia razon. 

1. POR 6 MESES EN EL PRINCIPIO, MANEJAR UN CINE AMBULANTE--CINE CHAPINLANDIA, EN LA REGION MAS AISLADA DEL PAIS, INCLUSIVE: -- Chicaman, San Miguel Uspantan, Cunen, Sacapulas, Aguacatan and Nebaj, exhibiendo películas educacionales y comerciales de calidad a 50,000 personas.  Mi picop con toldo también se convirtió en una CLINICA AMBULANTE, puesto que no había servicios médicos efectivos en esa aérea donde Vivian 200,000 personas. Así pude agregar experiencia a mi especialidad del Ejercito como Médico Especialista y me preparé  para después hacer miles de tratamientos médicos cada año .  También el toldo fue como una BIBLIOTECA AMBULANTE con folletos disponibles sobre la agricultura, higiene, prevención de enfermedad, etc. porque en dicha región no  existía ninguna biblioteca--hasta como 1982-83 cuando en colaboración con la organización AYUDA, logramos construir una Biblioteca en Cunen.  

DEL INGLES:

Here I am unloading the frame for our 9' x 12' movie screen and getting

ready our theater--which was an old abandoned Catholic Church, in Chicaman.

Above is a  picture of Cine Chapinlandia--in Sacapulas, with a view of the spectators in the outdoor patio of the Catholic Convent  which was our theater and where we spent the night with the priests and nuns.  A most memorable experience was had with a surprisingly  young and beautiful "Mother Superior," who one night
 surprised me in my camper  reading the BIBLE
  which stimulated  a great conversation. 

NOTE:  The Traveling Movie--Cine Chapinlandia.  Yes, it finally had to end as the initial .10 and .15 cents charge was too much for most of the poor villages, so we reduced it to .05 and .10, concerned more for getting a large audience and serving the people, than profit.  However,  the need of supplying every town with benches--made during the off-week, and the rough roads that always required pickup repairs, and also in between it all, a quick trip to Guatemala City  (and back then it was an 8-10 hour journey, fording quite a few streams, etc.) to get from the USIS, Canadian, Japanese, & Israeli Embassies more educational movies, and another commercial one--all of which  caused economically a loss. 

But, it was so enlightening for so many people, and provided me with invaluable experience in so many ways--that I became convinced that if I was ever like, say, a mission president, or supervising the Peace Corp, I would have teams of missionaries, or volunteers, doing precisely that in isolated areas with the goal of bringing enlightenment to every town in my area, along with it being in harmony with my "agricultural approach to helping a needy people,"  cultivating friends all over the country, helping people in whatever way they  needed and were ready for,  and preparing entire areas for even greater things.  

But,  our initial capital of $4,273 was disappearing--but the $500 loss over  6 months was covered by the first donation from Salt Lake City's Highland High School LDS Seminary, directed by my old friend, Weston Killpack.  So, to support the family , I needed quick to find a piece of land, have a vegetable/fruit garden, and get a business started that would support us.

OF GREAT IMPORTANCE:  The spirit of Cine Chapinlandia lived on for all our years in Guatemala, showing many movies, in many places, to instruct, entertain, and eventually we produced our own educational videos  to  awaken, inspire  and enhance the lives of all, as explained in item #24  In the beginning this included  movies educating the public about the menace of communism--which was one of my purposes:  Get out on the front lines to combat what almost converted Guatemala into another Cuba. More on that in item #24.

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DEL INGLES:  TOTALMENTE NUEVO

2.  THE 1st COMMERCIAL POULTRY FARM IN NORTHERN GUATEMALA, gossiped about as our 2nd FAILURE.  Note: Somewhere in the History Summaries I talk about and quote a friend who visited us and told us about all the "failure" gossip. 

By December 5th just such an opportunity presented itself by a "Capitain Penny"  from Florida who had just  bought a 50 acre farm in San Juan Chamelco, 30 minutes south of Coban,  and had a few laying hens ready to produce, but then due to an emergency had to return to the U.S.  

We took over, and quickly learned about poultry,  doubling the production, only to learn no one in Coban wanted our white eggs--famous then for very pale yolks.  I made an emergency trip to the city and with poultry suppliers I had already learned from, found a solution, mixing an additive to the feed and producing dark orange yolks and tasty eggs.  After breaking our eggs open to potential customers, contracts were made for all our eggs. 

A bonus from the family business in Provo, Utah, due to work I had done prior to leaving for Guatemala, made possible doubling again the production and creating what was called the "First Poultry Farm in Northern Guatemala,"

Other circumstances had us being the only producer of eggs in the area, with people lining up in front of our house waiting for me  to come with the eggs, and in 30 minutes we were sold out every day.  

Note:  As a "Rodeo Clown"  and also a sort of nutty Don Quijote, I was soon known--humorously to me--as the "poultry expert" in a vast area of Guatemala, with my only previous experience being when moving to Utah in 1952,  and with my new teenage  buddies from the Oakhills II Ward, stole a chicken one dark night, took it to my girl friend's house  (Janet Beck) where she cooked it for us--it was awful!   

But, by then we had quite miraculously acquired the Valparaiso Plantation and I became too divided.  Everything we were doing at the farm we could do at Valparaiso even more efficiently, so sold the poultry farm for the same amount spent on it, with the profit being:  
1.)  Effectively supporting us for 10 months;  
2)  Giving us an incredible education in all aspects of agriculture in Guatemala; 
3). Becoming acquainted intimately with the people of Coban and the quirks of marketing in rural Guatemala; as well as  
4)  knowing the important suppliers in Guatemala City; 
5.) Financing our beginning at Valparaiso; 
6.) Plus 9 pregnant cows and a bull we drove overland following mountain trails to Valparaiso, which soon were 19 head, and less than a year later, with a loan from my long-time friend and brother, Toby Pingree, the herd grew to 69 and soon to 100,  and then, as a cattleman,  failed as a "Rodeo Clown," not being able to save several employees put in the hospital by our mean Jersey  bull--we soon sold for slaughter, but replaced with Toby's help by a much better, and gentler Brown Swiss bull. 

NOTE FOR LDS PEOPLE:  Out of the supposed "failure" with the poultry farm, was also harvested, so to speak, a dedicated alcoholic, Manuel Ajanel--seen below with his wife Julia in their home,  who continued with us to Valparaiso and years later, after a time as LDS District President, became the Patriarch of the Coban LDS Stake.

Wow, with all kinds of guidance and blessings from the Lord, what an incredible "failure!"

But, forgive me, you can make the decision for yourself.

THE POULTRY PROJECT, moved to Valparaiso, and eventually had main emphasis on  broiler chickens, which project employed for many years, young men, as well as women who did the dressing and preparing for sale at our store in Coban in bags we designed you see below.

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3. Desarrollar y aplicar EL METODO DE LA VIDA BUENA para ayudar indígenas prosperar,  todo basado en La Filosofía & Principios de la Vida Buena, que muchos, como misioneros Mormones, decían era el sistema más eficaz para ayudar a los necesitados. Funcionó en Valparaíso, Chulac y otros lugares.  Muchas explicaciones con detalles se encuentran entre los Documentos Históricos, Ensayos/fotográficos, etc. en el sito de la Fundación.

DEL INGLES: 
Developed and applied the GOOD LIFE METHOD of helping needy Indians, all based on the Philosophy & Principles of the Good Life, that many, such as Mormon missionaries, said was the most effective way to help the needy.  It worked at Valparaiso, at Chulac and other places around the country. Many explanations of the details are found in the Historical Documents, Historical Photo/Essays, etc.

Above we see the evolution of the educational process to teach 

The Philosophy & Principles of the Good Life

NOTE:  This "Method" is mentioned often in this listing, but not explained.  Let me do so as simply as possible:  THE PHILOSOPHY: The present Indians are descendants of a progressive empire and great people, some called "The Greeks of the New World,"   but who fell into a period of darkness,  yet have a prophetic destiny in the last days of,  "coming out of darkness into the light & blossoming."   But to do so they have to come to understand and apply THE PRINCIPLES:  Which are simply, CLEANLINESS, PROPER NUTRITION, LIVING IN HEALTHY HOMES, UNITED FAMILIES, EDUCATION FOR ALL, INDUSTRY--BUT LEARN TO WORK MORE PRODUCTIVELY, & last, SHARE WITH OTHERS the GOOD LIFE being achieved. 

NOTE FOR LDS PEOPLE:  Out of the supposed "failure" with the poultry farm, was also harvested, so to speak, a dedicated alcoholic, Manuel Ajanel--seen below with his wife Julia in their home,  who continued with us to Valparaiso and years later, after a time as LDS District President, became the Patriarch of the Coban LDS Stake.
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4.  UN MILAGRO BIBLICO ABRE EL CAMINO PARA LOGRAR LA CONFIANZA  de la gente para empezar a tener éxito.  Durante los primeros  17 meses de ser dueños de la Finca Valparaíso, durante los cuales me estaba matando haciendo esfuerzos grandes a ayudar a la gente, aceptando los hijos varones de los colonos como alumnos vocacionales para enseñarles como trabajar mejor y pagándoles medio sueldo,  mas cosas útiles que necesitaban como machete, azadón, una navaja, pantalón, camisa, botas, etc.  Además cada domingo en la noche enseñarles películas introduciéndolos al mundo moderno--para algunos nunca habían visto un cine.    caminando por todos lados a encontrar enfermos en los ranchos, y tratar a los enfermos, pero frustrado porque escondían los enfermos de mi resultando en 8 niños muertos en 1968, y ya íbamos para 8 mas a mediados de 1969. A pesar de nuestros esfuerzos no tenían confianza en mí, no creyendo que tenía buenas intenciones.

Luego, en julio de 1969 conseguí varios galones de medicina para parásitos internos, y invité   a todos un domingo a venir.  160 llegaron--casi la mitad de los residentes de la Finca, y íbamos dando la medicina, cuando llegó  Chavela con sus dos hijitas, Marta y Macaria, que por algo empezamos a llamarle "Elvira," de cómo 1 año  de edad.  A la nena le di una dosis pequeña, pero reaccionó  violentamente, vomitando y luché   para calmarle y pensamos que resultó bien.

Luego,  invitamos a los interesados a pasar adentro de la bodega para ver por primera vez una película religiosa, "El Hombre en Busca de la Felicidad."  Como  60 quedaron.  El hermano Alfredo Rodas, mi administrador, explicó en Poqomchi la película, y sentimos que fue bien recibido el mensaje.

Al terminar de enrollar la película, me di cuenta que había un grupo de mujeres rodeándole a Chavela quien tenía Elvira en sus piernas completamente tapada con su perraje.  Todas estaban llorando porque Elvira se había muerto.

Rápidamente me arrodillé   enfrente de Chavela, destapando la nena y busqué   señas de vida.  Su cuerpo estaba frio y no había ni pulso ni respiración.  Le tomé  en mis brazos diciendo a todos que íbamos a orar.  Generalmente mis oraciones son muy cortas pero esta vez en el nombre de Jesucristo seguía orando como si fuera una bendición Patriarcal en que le prometí que iba a vivir y cumplir con propósitos importantes.  Luego, terminé, abriendo mis ojos.  Sentí calor en su cuerpo, y suavemente estaba roncando. Había un espíritu silencioso de reverencia y sin decir nada Chavela recogió si nena y desapareció entre la obscuridad de la noche. Siempre con un silencio perfecto todos se fueron.  Yo sentía tan débil que me tenían que ayudar a caminar a la Casa Central.  Parece que durante la oración fuerza se había ido de mi cuerpo para entrar en el de Elvira dándole vida.

El día siguiente la noticia se regó   rápidamente entre todo el Valle de Paraíso y a las aldeas vecinas, diciendo:

"Hay en Valparaíso un curandero nuevo con mucho poder como nunca se ha visto. Algo está pasando en que podemos confiar!"

Eso fue un comienzo nuevo.  Ya no se escondían sus nenes enfermos, y empezamos a hacer muchos tratamientos, y luego clases para enseñarles  como evitar la enfermedad, y de 1970 en adelante todos tenían su letrina y empezó un periodo de 3 años sin ningún muerte en Valparaíso.

DEL INGLES:

 A BIBLE-LIKE MIRACLE OPENS THE WAY TO GAIN THE CONFIDENCE OF THE INDIANS…to begin having success.

In the first nearly year and a half of being owners of the Valparaiso Plantation I was killing myself with intense activity trying to help what seemed like a people who were perfectly happy with half of their children dying, as well as adults dying of tuberculosis and other terrible diseases--which was all normal for them. 
I had accepted their teenage boys as Vocational students--in classes half of each day, and paying them half wages along with giving each useful items they needed, like:  A machete, hoe, rubber boots, a pocket knife, pants, shirt, etc. We called this "LEARNING WITH A SHOVEL...or a chain saw, a garden cultivator, tractor, chickens, hog, cattle,  a fish net, and more,"  as shown below:  Each getting half a day experience in each project  for a month on a rotation basis--and ending knowledgeable at the end of a year  in each. 

On weekends I was introducing all to the modern world showing a Sunday evening movie (for many their 1st). And, hiking the slippery trails visiting homes to find and treat the sick, but frustrated because most of them would hide their sick and dying babies from me.  In spite of incredible efforts they didn't trust me as their centuries of experience with what they called "ladinos" (tricky, shrewd European types)  had always used them in one way or another.   

Then, in July 1969 I acquired several gallons of internal parasite medicine and invited all to come one Sunday afternoon.  160 came (about half of the residents) and we were busy giving the medication when Chavela arrived with her two little girls, Marta and Macaria--who somehow we came to call Elvira.  Elvira was a baby in Chavela's arms and we gave her a tiny dose, but all of a sudden she reacted violently, vomiting.  We got her normalized, so we thought.

After the treatment we invited those interested to see a movie--the first religious movie shown which was "Man's Search For Happiness," with about 60 who filed into the warehouse to see it.  Alfredo Rodas, my manager, translated it into Poqomchi and it seemed like the message was understood and well received. 

After the movie I rewound the film, and then noticed a group of women surrounding Chavela who had Elvira on her lap, but completely covered with her shawl.  All were crying as Elvira had died.

I quickly kneeled before Chavela, uncovered Elvira and sought for a sign of life.  Her tiny body was cold, with no pulse, or signs  of breathing.  I picked her up and stood telling all we were going to pray. Generally my prayers are simple and short, but this time in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ it went on and on as though it was a Patriarchal blessing, promising her life, and all kinds of good things for her future. Then I finished, opened my eyes to look at Elvira who was softly snoring and there was warmth in her body.

There was a hushed silence of reverence among all.  Chavela, without saying a word, gathered her baby in her arms and they drifted off into the night. Not a word was said as all exited the warehouse and headed to their homes.  I was so weak I couldn't walk to the Central House without help.  Apparently strength was drained from my body and transferred to Elvira giving her life.  

The next day the news spread like wildfire all over the Valley, and to the neighboring villages:  

"In Valparaiso there is a new Medicine Man with strange powers.  Something is happening that should be trusted!" 

That was a new beginning.  The Indians stopped hiding their sick babies and children from me, even asking for treatments.....

........and soon classes started teaching them how to avoid sickness and death, and after we discovered effective methods of teaching CLEANLINESS & NUTRITION, explained next--along with an additional handful of events, and initiatives--of most importance organizing the Indians to save their own,   death stopped at Valparaiso for a period of 3 years.

Here we are 48 years later having lunch in Elvira's home in the Valparaiso Community--she seen to the right, her daughter serving us while several grandchildren are to our left playing.  If I recall correctly she also  had a son at that time on an LDS mission.  In the picture to the left is my partner & traveling companion, archaeologist, Garth Norman, then Federico Veliz, and my daughter, Aura.

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5. CREACION DE METODOS UNICOS PARA ENSEÑAR LOS TEMAS CRITICOS DE LIMPIEZA & NUTRICION CORRECTA, ambos principios de la Vida Buena.  

Con la necesidad critica de LA LIMPIEZA, falta de la cual--no existía ni una letrina entre las 39 familias originales de Valparaíso--convirtiendo  los ranchos y sus sitios en "incubadoras de la enfermedad y la muerte," con un promedio de 8 muertes anuales.  Luego intentamos enseñar  la medicina preventiva comenzando con  el mundo invisible de los microbios--que resultó en que se pusieron los indígenas a reírse a carcajadas de nosotros.  Así que fue necesario demostrarles por criar microbios en platos Petri, usando agar nutritiva contaminada con manos sucias, agua sucia, polvo, tos, etc.  Luego, a los dos días enseñarles las colonias de microbios que habían crecido que tenían mal olor, y luego enseñarles  los microbios con un microscopio.  Así llegando a la conclusión que existían esos "monstros invisibles" que crearon malos olores, pudrición, y la enfermedad, y en un año  logramos todos los sitios familiares con letrinas y paró la muerte por 3 años!

Para enseñar  la NUTRICION, y que "somos lo que comemos," hicimos experimentos nutricionales usando pollos de engorde, con 4 parejas, cada pareja dada de comer un alimento diferente: 

 UNO, maíz blanco molido--que nutricionistas dicen:  "No es capaz a sostener la vida humana" que representaba la dieta de los indígenas; 

DOS, maíz amarrillos molido, alto en vitamina A;  

TRES. concentrado para pollos de engorde, representando una dieta balanceada;  

CUATRO, una pareja dada a una familia para soltar con sus gallinas, pavos, etc.  

LOS RESULTADOS:  

Pollos de MAIZ BLANCO--pequeños, poco aumento de peso (4 oz.), apariencia anémica--a veces muertos, y económicamente PERDIDA.

Pollos de Maíz Amarillo, el doble de aumento de peso (8 oz.), pequeños, pero bonitos y saludables, una pequeña ganancia económica.

Pollos de Dieta Balanceada, gigantes con 4 lbs. 8 oz de aumento de peso (72 oz.), muy saludables y una ganancia grande. 

Pollos sueltos en un sitio familiar, pérdida de peso o muertos.  

Fue fácil traducir los resultados a la necesidad humana de comer una dieta balanceada.  Luego nos pusimos a enseñarles  maneras económicas de hacerlo, que, junto con mas LIMPIEZA, y otros factores, comenzamos un período  de 3 años  en Valparaíso sin ningún muerto.  La muerte de nenes solo empezó otra vez a mediados de 1973 por causa de interferencia burócrata en las maneras en que el grupo religioso Mormón estaba trabajando en unión para ayudar a su propia gente. 

DEL INGLES:

The Petri dishes showing colonies of microbes are along the front of the table.

Obviously, my father, a bacteriologist, helped us design this method 

and sent/or brought to us the equipment we needed.

Teaching NUTRITION,  and that "we are what we eat,"  we did nutrition experiments with broiler chicks, using 4 pairs, each fed different diets: One, white ground corn--that nutritionists say "is not capable of sustaining and supporting human life" (representing the typical Indian diet);  Two, yellow ground corn (that is high in Vitamin A); Three, commercial broiler feed--representing a balanced diet; A pair taken home by a family and turned loose with their poultry.

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6. Evolucionando de nuestros esfuerzos familiares por casi 3 años , mi padre y unos amigos organizaron lo que llegó  a ser conocido como La Fundación de Desarrollo Indígena, ahora LA FUNDACION GUATEMALTECA, para ayudarnos con los aspectos altruísticos de nuestra vida en Guatemala.  Eso no había sido una parte de mi plan original lo cual fue de establecer un negocio agro-comercial, empleando y entrenando tantos indígenas que fuera posible, y luego de nuestra ganancias y tiempo libre,  aplicar los principios salvadoras del Método de la Vida Buena que me fue revelado cuando era misionero en Cobán en 1958.

Pero la Fundación y sus donadores atreves de los años  hicieron posible mucho más que hubiera sido posible solos.  Así que la Fundación fue decisiva, y estamos profundamente agradecidos por la sociedad generosa que hizo posible, como se ha dicho, "SALVAR A MILES, Y AYUDAR CON EDUCACION A MUCHAS DECIMAS DE MILES!"   Ha sido una de las bendiciones grandes de mi vida ser por medio siglo el Director voluntario, sin-sueldo por todos estos años, y tener que sostenerme a mí y familia por "el sudor de mi frente," en vez de recibir un pago para gastos de vida, que francamente es un sueldo, como es común en muchas iglesias e instituciones caritativas.

DEL INGLES:

The Foundation, and all its many donors over the years have made possible much more than me and family could have likely done on our own.  So the Foundation was crucial to say the least, and we are deeply grateful to all our partners who donated over the years to help make possible this effort.  It is the greatest blessing of my life to have  been the volunteer non-paid Field Director, and trustee for all these years, working to support myself and family, rather than receiving some kind of living allowance or wage as is common today in most churches and non-profit organizations.  

My father, Dr. Ariel A. Andersen, founder of the Foundation that earned authorization by the IRS as a non-profit organization in 1970.  For most of our history he was the main contributor, having sold the family business, ANDERSEN SAMPLERS & CONSULTING SERVICE, and then spent the last 14 years of his life as a non-paid volunteer managing the Foundation.  

He is the most virtuous  & generous person I have ever known, who helped make the Foundation's history a great success,  having.....

  "Saved thousands and helped many tens of thousands receive an education." 

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7.  En 1972  la Finca Valparaíso llegó  a ser conocido como EL CID--El CENTRO INDÍGENA DE DESARROLLO,  que fue por  sugerencia de un alumno sobresaliente, DANIEL CHOC, quien dijo que EL PROGRAMA DE DESARROLLO TOTAL, fue la mejor manera de ayudar a su gente.  Daniel también llegó  a ser el primer misionero SUD de tiempo completo en la historia de Guatemala y también el primer Cakchiquel 

En 1979 sociólogos del gobierno estudiaron el CID y en un informe detallado del INDE, dijo que Valparaíso era:

"UNA OASIS DE ESPERANZA Y JUSTICIA PARA LOS POBRES!"

Indígenas mismas estaban trabajando en unión para salvar a su propia gente

DEL INGLES:

Our sign at the junction of the highway from Guatemala City to Coban, that became known--and is still known as, "The Crossroad of the CID"  -- "El Cruce del CID" 

NOTE:  If you look carefully to the left through the uprights of the thatch hut, you can see one of the many mounds and ruins of what archaeologists have determined  Valparaiso as being an  Ancient Fortified City  mentioned in the Indians original Sacred Book

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8.  UNO DE LOS RESULTADOS DEL PROGRAMA VOCACIONAL Y DE TOTAL DESARROLLO, salio del CID el primero misionero indigena de tiempo completo de la Iglesia Mormona, DANIEL CHOC,  y fue también el primer Cakchiquel. Luego, el primer misionero Poqomchi de tiempo corto y de tiempo completo, asimismo el primer misionero de tiempo completo Q'eqchi', y el primer misionero tiempo completo de Chulac, explicado más adelante.

DEL INGLES:
ALONG THOSE SAME LINES VOCATIONAL STUDENTS FROM THE CID, became the first full-time Indian LDS missionaries for three important Indian language groups:  The first from the Cakchiqueles (Daniel Choc), the first Poqomchi full-time missionaries--short term & full-term, the first full time  Q'eqchi'   missionary, and the first full-time missionary from Chulac explained further along as the fastest growing Indian  LDS unit in history.

          Daniel Choc   Crisanto Chiquin & Pablo Cal   Felix Rosales        Arturo Coc

1st full time Cakchiquel  1st full time short term Poqomchi  1st full time Q'eqchi'   1st from Chulac

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RELATED TO THE LDS CHURCH & OTHER MISSIONARIES 
 FROM IMPORTANT INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES: 
 Q'eqchi', Poqomchi,  & Cakchiquel,  

The actual first from Coban and the Q'eqchi' language was Sister Carlota de Yalibat, who you'll notice from my "Checkered" autobiography was a key influence in my life from my time as a missionary in 1958.  On being transferred elsewhere, I told her that she would one day become a missionary, and introduced her to Elvira and family who she should teach first.  

That did happen when she was called a few years later as a "local missionary" and did the first preaching in  Q'eqchi'.  On doing so her lesson was surprisingly well received, and Sister Yalibat asked what Elvira thought about it.  She replied,

"The time Elder Andersen and his companion prayed for me when I was sick, the Lord appeared to me and told me that the time would come when I would be taught  what he was preaching and that I should believe because it is true."

The next native "local missionaries" called in Alta Verapaz were from the Poqomchi language, at Valparaiso in 1971, when Miguel Max was called, along with Carlos  Yat Valdez, and became companions to two Cakchiquel  vocational students from Patzicia, Gonzalo Cujcuj, and Daniel Choc.  We see them below, Miguel on the left, in the middle-- Gonzalo & Daniel, then Carlos on the right.    

Especially successful as missionaries were Carlos and Daniel, I recall with 26 baptisms.  Miguel went on to become the first resident of Valparaiso to become a Supervisor, then Manager, soon after the  President of the Valparaiso Cooperative, and in 1976 became my counselor in the District Presidency--and I must add that Miguel Max is remembered by me as one of the three most outstanding Guatemalans of my 61 years experience in the country.   Carlos, in 1976 when the Valparaiso Branch was organized (for the 3rd time!) became the President, and from 1981 until Valparaiso was sold in late 1993, was the Manager. 

As mentioned above, Daniel went on to become the first full-time Lamanite LDS missionary in Guatemala, then in 1976 lost his life in the aftermath of the Great Earthquake.  Gonzalo would eventually become for a time a full-time employee, and married Florencia Rivas, Supervisor for many years of the Central House.  They live today in Patzicia

9.  COLABORANDO Y FINANCIANDO EL HERMANO CARL JACOB EN SU PROYECTO DE ESTABLECER EN EL ALTIPLANO CENTRAL de GUATEMALA LA PRODUCCION DE FRESAS.  

DEL INGLES:
  

Carl, with Juan Carlos on his shoulders teaching the  growing of  strawberries  with the cooperative we helped established in the
Las Mercedes hamlet of the Saquiya Village, Patzun.  See mid-#15

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DEL INGLES:  NUEVO

10.   THE "LAS VICTORIAS DAIRY"  THE LARGEST IN NORTHERN GUATEMALA--but had gone bankrupt--We acquired it in another sweetheart deal on February 2, 1972, confidant that we could turn it around:

Let me quote the pertinent portion of the email notice mentioning it sent on January 6, 2018: 

You might have noticed in the first draft of the  list of Accomplishments & Experiences, none of my personal, agro-business activities that laughably a couple of supposed "experts"  said were "failures," but which were really some of the greatest adventures of my life that supported us and made possible serving as a volunteer the Mayan Indians, with your generous help and encouragement. 

Let me just end...PLEASE FORGIVE ME...by bragging about just one--that sort of represents what  all of my Lamanite vocational student/graduates, & children, converted into incredible workers, managers, supervisors & working companions all accomplished, represented below with one picture resulting from us taking over a bankrupt dairy with 3.5 liters/cow/day production--a disaster, which 21 years later was 16.5 liters/cow/day production, with one cow, Suzana, producing a record 12 gallons of milk in one day, and two of our cows, and a heifer all defeating in a Livestock Show the Central American Grand Champion of the Jersey breed.  Here they are with three of my incredible children: Julie with MAJA, the new Grand Champion;  Dave with MILADY; and Rich with WALESKA--a heifer. They all defeated the Central American champion.

Many things were done to turn the dairy around, for example receiving key  help from  Dan Noorlander in item #11 where you see his picture. Key in increasing production was solving the -non-clinical  mastitis problem in 80% of the herd, and solving the critical mineral deficiency in the otherwise healthy looking pasture grasses--but lacking important mineral due to constant rains in the area.  Commercially we eliminated glass bottles,  door to door deliveries and credit sales with everybody having to buy their milk at our store.  Our  disposable plastic bags made that possible, seen below--another first in the country, designed with the lovable Jersey cow inviting all to use our milk, which almost all of Coban did for  many years.

Maria del Carmen, who joined our family as a teenager early on, eventually took charge

of our store in Coban and managed it to the end--acquiring her was another 

of our most important accomplishments .

The quick email response from our friend & supporter was:

Cordell

What you did in the dairy industry was amazing.  I used to be in the dairy business while living in Cache Valley  Utah  & what you achieved in such a short time is truly a miracle.  I’m sure you had heavenly help to make this happen.  This is no  small thing.  May the lord continue to bless you  for all you have done.  We love you. 
 Douglas &  Rinez  Campbell

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11. APOYO ESPECIAL Y DECLARACION SORPRENDENTE--QUIZAS EL PUNTO HISTORICO MAS IMPORTANTE DEL MEDIO SIGLO DE ESFUERZO: A pesar de resistencia misteriosa a nuestros esfuerzos exitosos en 1973, el líder visionario, Representante Regional de la Iglesia Mormona, Harold Brown, visitó  Valparaíso porque había oído de La Misión que "algo estaba mal en Valparaíso con el Hermano Andersen!"  Al llegar de sorpresa primero,  pidiendo una gira y explicación completa del esfuerzo y sus resultados, luego en un discurso ante una capilla totalmente llena, reveló que hubo críticas  del esfuerzo, diciendo que todo fue una equivocación,  y fue el primero para llamarme, "Un Ammón moderno," explicando que mis motivos eran igual a los de Ammón en la antigüedad.   Después en una plática privada me dijo: 

"Su trabajo en Guatemala ha sido de influencia  entre las Autoridades Generales de la Iglesia obligándoles a establecer Servicios Mundiales de Bienestar. Este experimento esencial tiene que seguir y prometo mi apoyo."

Primero, me hizo sentir que uno de mis dos propósitos de ir a vivir en Guatemala para,  "Experimentar con una idea de cómo ayudar eficazmente a Indígenas Mayas y otros necesitados Guatemaltecos, y ser un estimulo a acción con individuos competentes e instituciones con fondos grandes…"  ya se había cumplido y pudimos regresar a los EE.UU. pero el hermano Brown insistió en que siguiéramos con lo que llamó  "el experimento," y prometió su apoyo, inclusive dijo que haría lo posible a informar a las Autoridades de la verdad de mi persona.

Aun desde el principio en 1967, cuando en boletines destaqué la verdad que nenes Santos de los Últimos Días en Patzicia y otras ramas indígenas, estaban sufriendo desnutrición, enfermedad y muerte. Llegó a ser aun más conocido cuando una pareja de misioneros (no había de "bienestar" todavía), Stan y Selma Watts fueron mandados a Patzicia en 1970, pero sin saber los desafíos que iban a enfrentar.  Pero en su primer Culto Sacramental, yo, por casualidad estaba allí y les describia la situación que no pudieron creer.  Así que les dije que al final del culto con las madres saliendo, destapando sus nenes íbamos a encontrar por lo menos 2-3 nenes tan enfermos que si no se hiciera algo iban a morir.  Y así fue, y ellos se dedicaron a hacer lo que pudieran pero había muchas reglas que no permitían hacer lo necesario, y así en su frustración solicitaron permiso a pasar sus últimos 6 meses de su misión en Valparaíso donde pensaron que iban a poder hacer una contribución mejor.  Para lograrlo, tenían que aceptar ser relevados de su misión. 

Así que pasaron meses con nosotros ayudando en muchas maneras, aun estaban allí cuando por primera vez los guerrilleros aparecieron cerca del Cruce.  La reacción de Stan, quien había sido un "Marine," me dijo, "Vamos Cordell a ver que están haciendo esos tipos!"  El dia siguiente, con mi amigo Luis Gonzalez, le conseguí un revolver .38 y asi formamos una pareja feroz que daba miedo a los 

El 22 de diciembre de 1971 se despidieron y se fueron en sus dos motos, y en Utah ayudaron a dar publicidad de las necesidades urgentes de los Lamanitas y que la Iglesia en alguna forma tenía que hacer algo.

DEL INGLES:

Here the Watts are on their first visit with us, coming all the way from Patzicia.  

You can see in the background the construction of the Cultural Hall built 

where previously there was a flower garden

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Durante 1971 también pasó algo importante de mucha influencia.  El Dr. James O. Mason, Director de SERVICIOS DE SALUD SUD, me pidió el favor de llevarle a conocer Valparaiso y el Proyecto de AYUDA en Cunen. 

 DEL INGLES:

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Asi que en junio fui a Guatemala a recogerle a el y el Presidente Glade. En Valparaiso, después de la gira y una explicacion detallada de lo que estabamos haciendo y sus base filosoficas y principios (de la Vida Buena), y creo una reunion con la gente.  Los dos pasaron la noche durmiendo en una de las camas (angostas) de dos pisos construida por alumnos vocacionales (como David y Augustin).  Al Presidente Glade, algo gordito,  le tocó la de arriba y durante la noche no aguantó  la cama y Glade cayó encima del Dr. Mason--por lo cual, creo, que el Presidente Glade nunca me perdonó, pero el Dr. Mason pensaba que todo era bien chistoso, y llego a ser una persona de influencia que apoyaba todo lo que estabamos 

Mas o menos durante la misma epoca el primer Misionero Agrícola, Daniel Noorlander, incansablemente molestaba a los lideres con sus criticas y sugerencias. Una fue que La Misión necesitaba un Supervisor de Servicios de Bienestar y sin que supiera yo, propuso a las Autoridades Generales mi nombre y mi candidatura fue discutida en la Reunión Semanal de las Autoridades en el Templo, pero rechazada por mi reputación de hablar con demasiado franqueza y ser algo rebelde.  Hermano Brown me confesó después que nunca pudo lograr buena comprensión de mi carácter con las Autoridades, solamente con el Presidente Arnold de la Misión.

DEL INGLES:
What Harold Brown told us had  been developing for several years with a number of key issues. In 1972  the first "Agriculture Missionary"--Dan Noorlander, was called and sent to Patzicia, which famous Lamanite branch had at times been highlighted by us in newsletters reporting many sick and dying LDS babies and children. 

Dan Noorlander, wasn't permitted by leaders to help the only dairy run by mostly members of the LDS Church at Valparaiso, but,  as a world renowned dairy expert,  he came anyway and in one quick visit helped move the Lecheria Las Victorias to success.

Also two nurses--"Medical Missionaries,"  were called and sent to Patzicia, but I'll confide that they were totally frustrated as they were told they couldn't treat, just teach. One of them, reportedly, came near to having a nervous breakdown because of it.

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Luego, cuando en 1974 hicimos nuestro primer viaje de regreso a Utah después de 7 años de dedicacion en Guatemalan y entre muchos discursos, presentaciones, entrevistas en radio y TV,  el Director Dr. Mason de Servicios de Salud,  me invito a que presentar un programa de transparencias de la Fundación ante el Comité de Bienestar de toda la Iglesia--Primer Obispado y Presidencia de la Sociedad de Socorro. 

 La Presidenta Barbará Smith llegó  a ser la primera  y única persona en toda mi experiencia para criticarme por enseñar  fotos de niños desnutridos, enfermos, y muertos acusándome de haberlo hecho injustamente para asustar a la gente y hacerles sentir obligados a donar.  Le contesté  diciendo, "Pero así es la realidad del sufrimiento de nuestros hermanitos Lamanitas, la mitad muriendo antes de cumplir 4 años!"     Dr. Mason me defendió, y luego el Obispo Featherstone, paró    y con una voz fuerte dijo:  "Si es asi, así debemos mostrarlo".

Después  fui invitado a platicas con personal del Departamento de Servicios de Salud, que se alargon a 4 horas, que en poco tiempo fue juntado con Servicios Mundiales de Bienestar, pero me pidieron mi análisis franca, y mis sugerencias como mejorar el programa.  En poco tiempo muchos de mis consejos fueron agregados al programa, básicamente los Principios de la Vida Buena.

 NOTA:  Servicios Mundiales de Bienestar, lo cual hermano Brown insistió que habíamos inspirado, ahora se llama Servicios Mundiales Humanitarios.  

IMPORTANTE:  Hermano Brown persistió con su apoyo, aun después cuando mi vida se puso más controversial--que le expliqué   con todo franqueza, resultando en que el ofreció  ser de la Directiva de la Fundación y siguió con su apoyo hasta que complicaciones de ser anciano terminó  su vida efectiva.

12. LA PRESENTACION MILAROSA EN VALPARAISO  de LA GENERACION LAMANITA de La Universidad de Brigham Young:  Cuando se publicó el itinerario de la gira del Hemisferio Americano del grupo famoso,  fue una sorpresa ver entre ciudades capitales de los países Latino Americanos, presentaciones en "La Finca Valparaíso," y "la Ciudad de Cobán!"   

Resulta que en nuestro primer viaje de regreso a Utah en 1974 después de 7 años de trabajo y aventuras en Guatemala, fui invitado a la oficina de la Directora de Programas, Janie Thompson, y pude ayudarles a organizar su gira, en cambio por hacer presentaciones en Valparaíso y Cobán.

Como descrito en detalle en nuestros Documentos Históricos, la presentación del 2 de julio de 1975 fue pintada como "MILAGROSA," porque la presentación se llevó  a cabo al aire libre en un teatro natural de la región--famosa por tener 13 meses de lluvia cada año!  Así que durante la presentación había arriba del escenario una ventana abierta al cielo, pero rodeada de tempestades. 

 Vez tras vez venia desde la Montana de Frio aguaceros con puras cortinas de lluvia, pero vez tras vez se agachaban cabezas en oración, y al abrir los ojos, las cortinas de lluvia se habían desvanecidas.  Después de pasar, no sé cuantas veces, al hacerlo de nuevo casi al fin de la presentación, se aumentó  mi confianza y pedí aun un poco más tiempo para que los 1,200 espectadores pudieran regresar a sus casas  sin mojarse, y así fue. 

Al empacar todo en los pullman o autobuses lujosos y ya estar en camino a Cobán, al fin se soltó el aguacero.  En Cobán la presentación en el Gimnasio Olímpico a cargo de Carl Jacob, también fue un gran éxito con el gimnasio lleno de 3,000.  

Pero, tristemente dos días después en el trabajo de limpieza hubo un accidente en que perdimos nuestra hija "Pepita" o Michelle quien había cumplido sus dos años el día del concierto.  El servicio funeraria para ella se llevó  a cabo en la Capilla Mormona de Cobán, totalmente lleno de hermanos y amigos.  Fue enterrada Pepita en Valparaiso.

Michelle "Pepita" was buried  at Valparaiso--her marble plaque provided by Dan Noorlander

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Un mes después,  La Generación Lamanita, al terminar su gira en Sud América, regresó para dar un concierto mas en honor a Pepita en el teatro más grande de la capital, con una ceremonia también para adoptarme a mí como miembro de la Tribu Navajo con un collar simbólico.  

13. APARENTAMENTE PEPITA LLEGÓ A SER MI ANGEL GUARDIAN --  Sus múltiples intervenciones para literalmente salvarme aconteció la primera vez un día cuando tenía que ir temprano a la capital, y como a una hora de camino al estar amaneciendo el día, me dominó  el sueño  y me dormí, el picop girando descontroladamente  a la derecha saliendo de la carretera para caer en un barranco, cuando de repente una mano me pegó  en la cara despertándome, habiendo oído la bofetada en mi cara, y sentido  literalmente el punzante de la bofetada, todo a tiempo para poder girar rápidamente el volante para regresar a la carretera y salvarme de una muerte segura. Siempre he creído que el Señor, cumpliendo con su promesa, permitió que Pepita pudiera intervenir a preservar mi vida. Será  bonito algún día comprender claramente que pasaba en tantas experiencia de ese tipo.

14.  LA EXTENCION DE NUESTRO TRABAJO INCLUYE PROYECTOS MULTIPLES VECES EN TODAS LAS 33 ALDEAS DE  SANTA CRUZ VERAPAZ--en el sitio de la Fundación en el internet hay reportajes fotográficos de todos esos proyectos atreves de los 50 años.

DEL INGLES:  
THE EXTENSION OF OUR WORK HAS PRODUCED MANY PROJECTS IN ALL 33 VILLAGES OF SANTA CRUZ VERAPAZ--IN MANY OF THEM MULTIPLE TIMES, from life saving medical treatments, construction of medical clinics, construction of schools burned down by the guerrillas & others, adding on classrooms & kitchens for many schools, building of homes in special cases of neeed, sponsorship of the Indian Folklore Festival for 14 consecutive years, providing for many years  educational materials for students in all the rural schools--for example, for 5,300 children last year, etc.  

After the first 8 years, my companion in all of this, and eventually our volunteer-Regional Director, was my friend and brother, Federico Veliz (Pacay) who worked with me for 42 years (and we are still doing it together--now without the Foundation) as the most dedicated man to his people I have ever known, or heard of.  Thus, I have called him:  THE VOLUNTEER OF ALL VOLUNTEERS! I'll insert below a photo of Federico, who is with one of the Indian Queens we aided in her reign.

The sum total of all of this dedication make this: 

THE GREATEST AREA OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE FOUNDATION

  This category alone could easily fill a book, including incredible adventures, confronted with death threats by Ladino land owners who didn't like us helping the Indians, an attempt to force Federico and me to join the guerrillas or die--which eventually was lifted as a friend became leader of the guerrillas in our area and instructed his troops to leave us alone as we were effectively helping the people.

Then the  unbelievable heroic efforts by our Indian companions doing things probably none of us gringos could equal, etc. For photographs of the hundreds of projects, see at the top right of this website:  SUCCESS STORIES, plus the many YouTube videos, photo/essays, reports and newsletters.   

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15.  EL GRAN TERREMOTO DEL 4 DE FEBRERO de 1976 QUE MATÓ 25,000 -- Fue un golpe duro a las 3:00 de la mañana que al principio solo pudimos entender, por emisoras de radio de Honduras y otros países de Centro América, que decían, "Todas las emisoras de Guatemala están en silencio….como si fuera que Guatemala estuviera muerto!" 

Pero Valparaíso estaba vivo y también Alta Verapaz con solamente 14 muertos, pero lo urgente era de buscar cómo sobrevivir aislado de lo de más de Guatemala.  Así que el primer día, imaginando que no íbamos a poder recibir nada de la Ciudad de Guatemala,  mandé  nuestros vehículos a Táctic, San Cristóbal, Cobán y San Pedro Carcha a comprar toda el concentrado disponible para ganado y avicultura con que llenamos la bodega.  También por no tener electricidad y sabiendo que era critico seguir manejando la lechería y la avicultura con ponedoras y pollos de engorde--porque Cobán dependía de nuestros productos, conseguí autorización del Gobernador de Alta Verapaz para llenar todos los toneles que teníamos, y que pudimos comprar, con gasolina para el transporte, y diesel para nuestras plantas eléctricas de emergencia.

El extremo norteño de la troja cayó, y las paredes interiores de la Casa Central fueron muy dañados, así que ninguno quería dormir allí, y hicimos un gran en campamento en la cancha de futbol donde nos encampamos mientras que construyéramos todas esas paredes de madera.

DEL INGLES:

The north end of the barn. walls made of adobe, had collapsed.  The interior walls of the Central House were all damaged so no one was willing to sleep there.  Dr. Buz Sandburg, seen below, from Salt Lake was visiting and didn't know that in a quake you get outside quick.  So he just rolled over, pulling the blanket over his head and ended up covered with plaster, but OK.  Buz is seen to the left.

Jim Penrod and some of his kids were also visiting, sleeping in their van and slept right through the disaster until being awakened by all the people who had fled from the house with their blankets and were screaming and carrying on. 

Jim Penrod, seen in the middle with a couple of his kids--they slept through the quake in their van!

Luckily it was the dry season, so we set up a sort of refugee camp--seen above  at our soccer field where everyone camped out  until we replaced the interior walls with wood.

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Luego, unos pocos días después, llenamos el microbús Plymouth con cosas donadas por nuestra gente de Valparaíso:  Chamaras, ropa, medicinas, y comida, y Gonzalo Cucú y yo nos fuimos para Patzicia y Patzun. Donde, por una cadena de experiencias espirituales atreves de un mes, creía que me tocaba ayudar a construir una vida nueva para los de Patzicia. 

La Carretera del Atlántico estaba destruida y tuvimos que llegar a Guatemala yendo por Zacapa, dando la vuelto por la frontera del Salvador, para luego llegar de allí a la Capital, y luego a Patzicia.  Encontramos casi todos los amigos de allí con necesidad sin que alguien había llegado a darles auxilio, y comencé muchos tratamientos médicos haciendo una lista para médicos enviados por la Iglesia Mormona quienes tendrían que seguir los tratamientos.

En el camino de la capilla encontramos un gran grupo de gente que venían obviamente enojados.  Nos dijeron que fueron a la capilla para pedir ayuda, pero por no ser miembros de la Iglesia fueron rechazados.  Les explique que tenía que haber un mal entendido, y allí mismo repartimos todo lo que habíamos traído desde Valparaíso.

En la capilla los médicos y enfermeras decían que tenían instrucciones de solo mantenerse en el sitio de la capilla para tratar a heridos y enfermos que llegaban allí, pero les asusté  con la lista de docenas y docenas que ellos tenían que seguir tratando o gente iba a morir. 

Así comenzaron nuestros esfuerzos a ayudar, pero al fin busqué lugares donde no había llegado auxilio, y donde la gente no estaba contaminada con la idea de recibir todo de regalado sin ningún sentido de agradecimiento, ni de dedicarse a ayudar a su propia gente.  Fue en el Caserio de Las Mercedes de la Aldea Saquiya de Patzun, donde desarrollamos un programa de ayuda que por varios anos se llamaba El Centro Indígena de Desarrollo--EL CID No.2.  Cada dos semanas llegó  a ser mi 2o. hogar, durmiendo en un gran Centro Cultural de estilo típico, con techo de palma, y piso de tierra que habiamos construido con la gente para centro del esfuerzo.  Era suficiente grande para caber todo la población--varios cienes de residentes,  donde teníamos reuniones, dando programas de la Filosofía y Principios de la Vida Buena, películas de cine, clases de alfabetización, y al fin organizamos allí una Cooperativa de Crédito con su propia tienda. También ayudamos a organizar la gente del caserío y la aldea y construimos una escuela provisional que fue la primera escuela en el Altiplano Central a comenzar de nuevo clases para los niños. 

DEL INGLES:

 few weeks before I was prompted to begin making a weekly trip to Patzicia for some reason.  I had arrived on a cold, dark Mutual night with only 15 in attendance. I asked one of the Mitch boys, who was in charge, if he wanted my help to wake up the members, and he excitedly agreed.  

  

A week later, to a  very large group seen above,  I began slide and movie presentations of the Good Life, in which they could see that they were in many ways still living with the elements of the curse, outlined in 2 Nephi chapter 1, and needed some help to, as the book says, "come out of the darkness into the light" and begin to "blossom."  The night of the earthquake I had promised to be there to show them how to begin blossoming with a new life.  But, Buz and Jim arrived, and so I sent a telegram saying I'd be there a couple of days later.  If I had of been there that night, I would have likely been sleeping where I usually did, with my foam pad on the stage where sometimes missionaries also slept.  One, an Elder Ellsworth, was sleeping there and when the heavy cement roof beams collapsed he was pinned under one for hours and badly injured. 

Back to Gonzalo and me making our first trip to the main area hit by the quake:  The Atlantic Highway was destroyed, and so from the junction of the Atlantic Highway with the Coban highway, we had to head for Zacapa and swing way around by El Salvador and then back to Guatemala City, and from there it was a wild drive up into the Highlands with landslides everywhere.  In Patzicia we immediately began visiting all the members we knew and found dozens injured and sick.  No aid had got to any of them, and I immediately began treatments, making a list I would leave with the doctors and nurses I understood the Church had sent. 

As we neared the chapel we found a large group of people coming our way, and it seemed they were angry. They told us they had gone to the Mormon chapel to get help,  but were turned down since they weren't members.  I tried to smooth over the situation telling them there must have been a misunderstanding, and opened up the van to distribute among them almost everything we had brought from Valparaiso. 

At the chapel compound they had tents set up.  We told the doctors and nurses of dozens of members in need we had began  treating.  They told us they had been instructed to not leave the chapel compound, but just treat those who came to them. I gave them my detailed list and tried to make it clear that people would die if they didn't get out of the compound and continue the treatments. 

Thus began our efforts to help, which basically were not too well received by the foreign helpers and leaders,  which was very disappointing to me as quite frankly my being moved to begin visiting and preparing the Mormon people to build a new life, had me quite convinced I should have had something to do with the reconstruction, but…never give up was my motto.   So, we soon began looking for a more remote area where help hadn't got to yet, and where the people had not been contaminated with the idea of receiving everything for nothing and not really doing anything to help themselves and their own people.

We found such a place in the Hamlet of Las Mercedes in the Saquiya Village of Patzun,  where we developed an aid program that kept going for several years with a united and humble group of Indians that worked with us to build right in the middle of the hamlet a Cultural Center of typical construction with polls and wood the Indians would get from the surrounding forests. The roof was thatch, the floor was dirt, but it was large enough for all the area Indians to fit for meetings, and which  became my "home away from home" where I would spend every other week. We called it the Centro Indígena de Desarrollo--EL CID No.2. 

From the beginning we had meetings to understand the needs and get organized, but just usually with the men in someone's home.  With the Cultural Center, we really got moving with Good Life classes, educational and good quality commercial movies, illiteracy classes, especially for the women, and we organized a Credit Cooperative that had a Cooperative Store, and of course there were many medical treatments, saving many, and improving the health of the whole community.  But right from the beginning we worked with the community leaders to build a temporary school for the whole Saquiya Village, and it became the first place in the entire country to start classes again.

During my week in the Central Highlands, I spread out from my "home away from home" at Las Mercedes and got a project started in rural Patzicia among very needy LDS families, and in Comalapa, began working with another friend, Rigoberto Miza to organize a Cooperative where I began giving Good Life lessons. 

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Siempre una parte de mi actividad era de tratar a muchos enfermos, y también de allí extenderme a establecer proyectos en la parte rural de Patzicia, y en Comalapa colaborar con un buen amigo y hermano, Rigoberto Miza, ayudándole a organizar una cooperativa donde enseñaba lecciones de la Vida Buena. 

NOTA:  Trágicamente los de la extrema derecha, en su desesperación de vencer a los guerrilleros, apoyados por Fidel Castro y Cuba, interpretaron equivocadamente el cooperativismo, como comunismo, y los grupos clandestinos derechistas que llamaban "La Mano blanca," al fin asesinaron  9 de los directores de la cooperativa y sus familias.  Solo escapó  el hermano Miza y su familia que se escondieron en el Peten hasta terminar el peligro.

IMPORTANTE:  Para el tiempo del terremoto, Daniel Choc,  mi alumno vocacional/supervisor del tractor/misionero local  había llegado a ser el primer misioneros indígena de tiempo completo en la historia de la Iglesia Mormona en Guatemala.  Trabajaba en Sumpango al tiempo del terremoto.  Luego, en la reconstrucción después fue parte de un grupo de misioneros botando edificios dañados en Patzun, cuando trágicamente murió al caer una pared encima de él.  Así terminó el plan mutuo que él y yo teníamos de establecer después de su misión un Centro Indígena de Desarrollo en Patzicia con él como Director. 

16. LA ORGANIZACIÓN DEL DISTRITO DE ALTA/BAJA VERAPAZ -- Al ir recuperándonos del terremoto en 1976, se oyó rumores que el Presidente Arnold, de la Misión, venía a visitar con algún propósito. 

Cobán y Valparaíso habían sido parte del Distrito de Zacapa, y años antes del Distrito de la Ciudad Capital.  Cobán había sido una Rama desde como 1956, cerrada en 1970, para luego ser Rama otra vez en 1974.  Valparaíso había sido, primero, en 1968 Una Clase de Seminario (no oficial), en 1969 una Escuela Dominical y Sociedad de Socorro,  luego en 1970 una Rama por una semana, después de 1970-73 un GRUPO, en 1973 una Rama, y luego en 1974 abandonada--pero salvada por mí de 1974-76 mediante MI HORA FAMILIAR.  Querían en 1975 ponerme como Presidente del Distrito de Zacapa, pero porque Alta Verapaz estaba muy lejos de Zacapa, sugerí mejor organizar el Distrito de A.V. que no querían hacer. 

DEL INGLES:

My dear friend Carl Jacob had joined us and was there in case our first native manager, my young vocational student graduate, Miguel Max--seen with Carl on the right,  needed help. To try and save the members he began using my two work vehicles to transport everyone to Coban for meetings, and paying bribes coming and going to the police as the vehicles weren't authorized to carry hordes of people.  It was pure hell for the poor members to meet their work commitments and also be active.  I was shocked on my return, and tried to keep the system going, now also with the Plymouth van the Foundation had got for us to be able to return.  But all of a sudden the members couldn't take it any longer, and one day only two showed up to go to Church--Miguel Max and Santiago Caal Max.  On return, we found the Priesthood, led by the Branch President (of Coban branch) destroying on the soccer field the team from Tactic.  It was over!

Then I tried to save our people by not going to Coban anymore, but having a FAMILY HOUR, and invited all to attend. Soon everybody was active again, and with the missionaries not having any success in Coban, they began visiting Valparaiso and all of a sudden many  baptisms were reported by the Coban missionaries, who, in a January Mission meeting in the Mission Home, were congratulated by President Arnold for "many Coban baptisms."  A missionary raised his hand and informed a surprised Mission President the baptisms were all from Valparaiso.  Thus a rumor soon got to us that he was coming, likely to organize our Family Hour into a Branch--again, for the 3rd time!

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De 1975-76 los misioneros en Coban desde 1974 no estaban logrando nada y empezaron a visitar en Valparaiso  con nuestra Hora Familiar llegó a ser el lugar de mas bautismos.  Luego en una reunion de misioneros en la capital, el Presidente Arnold felicitó a Coban y los misioneros por sus muchos bautismos, pero un misionero levantó la mano para sorprender al Presidente Arnold diciendo que los bautismos eran de Valparaiso.  Asi empezamos a oir que ya venía el Presidente Arnold a hacer algo. 
Le escribí diciendo que no estaba bienvenido en mi propiedad si no estaba dispuesto a platicar con franqueza de todas las malas decisiones e injusticias atreves de los años.  Por influencia del amigo, Harold Brown, el Presidente Arnold tenía ya una actitud positiva, así que llegó  a platicar  honradamente de toda la confusión e injusticia y luego, en vez de condenarme por criticar lideres de la Iglesia por sus decisiones,  me llamó  para ser Presidente de un distrito nuevo, el Distrito de Alta y Baja Verapaz, autorizándome a organizar otra vez una Rama en Valparaíso al sentir inspirado  a hacerlo, lo cual hice como en mayo de 1976.

Luego, dijo algo como,

 "Valparaíso es el único lugar en toda la Misión donde hay logros y progreso positivos, así que quiero establecer en Valparaíso un Centro de Entrenamiento para Misioneros de Bienestar donde las parejas podrán pasar dos meses participando en su trabajo ayudando a la gente, y así estar preparados para trabajar bien en la Misión. ¿Acepta?" 

Acepté y inmediatamente empezamos a construir tres casas tipo A en la Colonia, donde las parejas podían vivir durante sus dos meses.  Para mientras, mandó  la primera pareja, los Barnett, quienes vivían en la Casa Central mientras que termináramos la primera casa-A, y al fin llegaron a estar convencidos que lo que estábamos haciendo era "la obra de Dios extra-oficial."

Un poco después llegó un nuevo Presidente de Misión, John O'Donnal, y el inmediatamente suspendió la inspiración del Presidente Arnold, terminando el Centro de Entrenamiento de Misioneros de  Bienestar, dejándome con el gasto de tres casas nuevas mas todo un programa de entrenamiento que había creado.

Hubo grandes conflictos con el nuevo Presidente O'Donnal, quien en total contradicción de la actitud de Arnold y Brown, no miraba nada de valor en Valparaíso, ni en la Fundación y los 9 años que habíamos dedicado en Guatemala.  Fue una renovación y intensificación del espíritu de competencia y en vez de colaboración, cooperacion y agradecimiento.

Busqué como seguir por 3 años como Presidente de Distrito, y a pesar de la actitud de O'Donnal, se logró  sembrar buenas semillas como veran en el final de este párafo y el punto siguiente.  Al fin la Rama de Valparaíso, que todavía sufrió con ser abandonada como por 4 años durante los cuales otra vez fue salvada una vez mas por nuestra Hora Familiar,  para al fin  otra vez llegar a ser una Rama, y hoy en día es un Barrio.  La región, al fin llegó  a ser La Estaca de Cobán, y la Misión de Cobán-Guatemala, con el trabajo en el Polochic, que se explica más adelante,  evolucionando  a ser tres Distritos, 29+ Ramas, y ahora La Estaca de Senahu, y los Distritos de Chulac, y El  Estor.

DEL INGLES:

I wrote objecting, telling him he wasn't welcome unless he was willing to talk frankly about all the confusion and injustice that had been going on for years. 

The CONFUSION & INJUSTICE?  Coban and Valparaiso had been part of the Zacapa District, some 200 kms. to the southeast through rough mountains.  Earlier in 1956 on,  the Coban Branch had been part of the Guatemala City District. Then in 1970 it was closed, and transferred to Valparaiso, where in 1968 we first had an un-official SEMINARY CLASS, then by 1969 a SUNDAY SCHOOL & RELIEF SOCIETY, but in 1970 the Coban branch was transferred and became the VALPARAISO BRANCH by Mission President Clark, but a week later new Mission President Glade accused me of having made that change without authorization and threatened Church sanctions, so from 1970 to 1973 the Valparaiso Branch became a GROUP--but said to be "the only Lamanite Church unit that wasn't a parasite to the Church,"  and "pays more tithing to the Church than any of the Wards in the Guatemala City Stake!"  But, as a GROUP we developed,  following the Priesthood Manual, a Group run program, with encouragement from Spencer W. Kimball, with a donation to help from the Foundation, and authorized by the Salt Lake City Church Financial Department, that was all part of the 3 year period of no death at Valparaiso, plus a leading baptizer in Guatemala.  Yet, that was opposed and erroneous information was forwarded to Salt Lake that was believed and "due to widespread misunderstanding" at the highest level of Church leadership, stopped the effort, discouraging the members and basically stopping the effort.  But in that difficult 1973 period the VALPARAISO BRANCH was organized again, but with instructions that destroyed the branch president and all the good, with babies dying again. 

The only thing that saved the 6 year effort was the sudden visit of Harold Brown, who rather than using the bureaucratic way of blaming problems on the lowly servants, he looked honestly at everything including the leadership, and promised his support….but it took some time to finally convince, at least President Arnold by 1975, and early 1976, that I wasn't a lost cause. 

President Arnold promised to have an open mind and discuss all the confusion, apparently including my suggestion to a Mission counselor in 1975, who tried to call me to be the Zacapa District President, countered by my suggestion of organizing a more logical Alta Verapaz District.  So President Arnold arrived in April of 1976 and we had a long visit.  He then said he knew the Lord wanted the ALTA VERAPAZ DISTRICT to be organized with me as District President.  The new organization was for a year the Alta & Baja Verapaz District, then with the division of the Mission, just including Alta Verapaz. 

He then said: 

 "Valparaíso is the only place in the Mission where positive accomplishments and progress is being made, so I feel inspired to establish in Valparaiso a TRAINING CENTER FOR WELFARE SERVICE MISSIONARIES, where missionary couples will spend two months at the beginning of their missions helping you with your projects and thus be prepared to be productive where ever they are assigned.  Do you accept? "

I accepted and we immediately began construction, with Foundation help, building three A-frame homes where the couples would live.  

President Arnold didn't want to wait for the homes so the first couple, the Barnetts, were sent soon after.  We fixed up a simple room for them in the Central House.  Within two weeks they became convinced that what we were doing was "the un-official work of the Lord."

But a new Mission President, John O'Donnal, immediately cancelled the "inspired" program established by President Arnold, leaving me holding the bag with the 3 homes under construction, and an entire training program I had written up to be able to meet the inspired hopes of the previous mission president.  We never heard from the Barnetts again. 

Where President Arnold had recognized Valparaiso as "…the only place in the Mission where positive accomplishments and progress is being made"  the new Mission President saw nothing of value and recommended I "end the Foundation, sell Valparaiso and go to the South Coast, buy a plantation and make some money!"
Apparently our modest life, and living with and helping Indians, wasn't very impressive for O'Donnal and other leaders.
One such humble meeting was a District Conference I directed, but presided over by Elder William Bradford.  It was held open air in the "Lamanite Generation Ampitheater"  with a small sugar cane thatch roof giving shade to the leaders, with sawdust covering the ground.  To that point it was the largest Church meeting in history for the area with 456 present.

There followed three years of conflict, as once again reared its ugly head the spirit of "competition, rather than collaboration, cooperation and gratitude,"  but I nevertheless  found a way to effectively direct the work in my area of responsibility, basically using the Method of the Good Life with my District full time, short term missionaries,   and District Welfare Service Missionaries, all of whom I could call and supervise as District President,  and with miraculous guidance from the Lord, great progress was made by these humble people, along with sowing the seeds of great progress for the future.  Above is seen, right to left:  My counselors, Miguel Max, Jorge de Leon, me, William Bradford, John O'Donnal, Maria, and Carmen O'Donnal. 

Important Note: From 1967 to 1979 as a "local Missionary," and then also as District President, I was never told what proselyting methods to use, but was free to follow the inspiration of the Lord.  Even in the beginning of President Glade's mission--1970 to 1973, before outside influence deteriorated the relationship, he invited me to make a presentation to the missionaries working with Indians, explaining how they could be more effective.  After I was finished, he admitted they couldn't do as I was suggesting, and said to me, "You be our Indian Mission.  Find a way to make it work!"    We did exactly that.

Once again Valparaiso was organized as a BRANCH, even though years later it was abandoned again, but kept alive with our FAMILY HOUR  for a few years, until it was finally organized again as a BRANCH--part of the COBAN-GUATEMALAN MISSION, and then on January 22, 2017 organized as a WARD in the COBAN LDS STAKE. In addition, work during my District Presidency in the Polochic area using the Good Life Method,  described next. 

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17. LA EXTENCION DE NUESTRO TRABAJO AL POLOCHIC -- salió como resultado de la aplicación  del Método de la Vida Buena por un par de misioneros quienes conocían bien el sistema.  Uno era un joven misionero de tiempo completo, pero de plaza corta de tres meses, llamado y sostenido por m,í como Presidente de Distrito. Fue entre gente que no me conocían y con quienes no tuve ninguna influencia.  Fueron directores de la Cooperativa de la Finca Chulac situada en las montañas  muy remotas arriba de Panzos y el Valle del Polochic.  El esfuerzo desde el principio resultó  en los 5 directores volviendo a Chulac. cada uno con un ejemplar de su Libro Sagrado original, y como también eran catequísticas que manejaban la Iglesia Católica,  el domingo siguiente, después de dar la misa, presentaron a la congregación su Libro Sagrado, con una explicación que aceptaron. 

Atreves de los siguientes años  hice 70 viajes a Chulac en vehículos de doble tracción de la Fundación, y con proyectores, planta eléctrica, y herramientas de la Fundación y del CID de Valparaíso.  Construimos una capilla provisional, pisos para letrinas para la gente (no había ninguna en Chulac), y a los 18 meses organicé  la Rama de Chulac con 160 miembros, y también la Rama de Senahu--porque de Chulac nos extendimos a otros pueblos y aldeas como con la Iglesia del Príncipe de Paz en la Finca Saxsuja, y la Finca Santa María Acetla, que llegó a su conclusión cuando las congregaciones pidieron ejemplares de su Libro Sagrado original y 260 ejemplares fueron repartidos--todos pagados por los recipientes.

Mucho de eso fue logrado por llamar, por primera vez en la historia de la Iglesia Mormona en Guatemala, Misioneros de tiempo completo pero tiempo corto de tres meses, como también por primera vez Misioneros de Bienestar de Distrito, quienes eran Miguel Chub, Gustavo Ramírez (72 años),  Judith Ovalle y Cristina Andersen.  Otro aspecto de importancia crucial, por primera vez también, era la creación de un sistema de reuniones combinadas para poder atender en un domingo Chulac y Senahu.  Eso fue antes de existir tal sistema en la Iglesia

Resultando de dicha aventura de dos años--por las cuales fui regañado  por un líder de la Iglesia, pero hoy en día para la Iglesia Mormona hay:  Una Estaca, y dos Distritos con muchas ramas.

Vale la pena agradecer a la Fundación y sus donadores porque sin ellos, y sus vehículos, plantas eléctricas, proyectores, herramientas, medicinas, etc. la historia habría sido muy diferente, así que a la Fundación y sus donadores doy mis gracias profundas por haber ayudado a hacer posible "la aventura misionera más grande de mi vida!" 

DEL INGLES:

Much of that was accomplished  by calling  Full-time, short term native missionaries, as well as, District Welfare Service Missionaries, both for the first time in the LDS history in Guatemala, which according to the Manual I could do as a District President without consulting the Mission President.  The Welfare Service missionaries were, the men:  My vocational student from the Tanchi Village,  Miguel Chub, as translator,   and 72 year old Gustavo Ramirez, seen below as a "itinerant  dentist," working with me as a team, my job doing the medical treatments.   
On our 3rd trip to Chulac, at the request of the 5 catechists who ran the Mass, and who were also the first to accept their original Sacred Book and begin preaching from it in the Mass, wanted us to take charge of the meeting, after the Mass.  Elder Bringhurst who was proficient in
Q'eqchi'  spoke first, and at the end of his sermon, teaching as Ammon did anciently, he asked how many accepted their newly found Sacred Book and be baptized. Four hundred hands were raised high.  We ended the meeting with our group singing in the dialect and in Spanish, I AM A CHILD OF GOD.  Our group: Gustavo, Miguel Chub, Miguel Max, Dr. Bob Blair and several of his kids, and Bringhurst and companion.  

Judith Ovalle, and my daughter, Cristina Andersen, were the first two Distict Welfare Service missionaries, and part of our team for the weekends of intense activity at Chulac, at Senahu, and then at the Saxsuja Church of the Prince of Peace down in the Polochic Valley, pictured below.   Another "first" was following the dictates of the Spirit and creating  a combined meeting schedule  (when such didn't exist yet in the Church)  to make possible my team helping in Chulac, and then travel 2 hours to Senahu to help the work grow in Chulac and Senahu, using our District Welfare Service missionaries who made up my team.  After Senau, we would go down out of the mountains to Saxsuja where I was invited to preach in evening meetings every two weeks.

At the Church of the Prince of Peace I had introduced myself as the Director of the Foundation for Indian Development and their brother,  resulting in us  working there for 18 months preaching--using very carefully the Good Life Method  and when they were all asking for their original Sacred Book, 200 copies were distributed among them.  They then took us to another chapel up in the mountains at Santa Maria Actela, where our friends from Saxsuja had already prepared the way and in a meeting with 160 in attendance, 60 more books were distributed, and I was asked to then give blessings to babies, children and some old folks.  It continued for around an hour,  one after another  in a great spiritual banquet of love and faith.  

Note:   Gustavo was also teaching me Q'eqchi'  and it was to begin that meeting that I gave my first prayer in the dialect.  

 Out of that great two year adventure--in  the remote Polochic area,  I was harshly reprimanded, 
but persisted and  there are today for the LDS Church:  Two Districts, and one Stake.  It goes without saying that without the cooperation of the Foundation and its donors that provided 4x4 vehicles, generators, projections equipment, medicines, etc.  the history would be vastly different, so you all have my profound gratitude for making the "best missionary experience of my life" possible.

Oh, y se me olvidó decir que 11 años  después, hermanos de Chulac me vinieron a pedir ayuda para la educación--porque a pesar de sus años como Santos de los Últimos Días, muchos no sabían leer y escribir todavía y la única escuela allí fue demasiado lejos, así que los niños tampoco estaban recibiendo una educación.  Así que de 1990-93 se hicieron otro montón de viajes haciendo una escuela en la Aldea Seococ y empleando un maestro hasta que el Ministerio de Educación se encargara de la Escuela.  Y, durante la construcción en Seococ, oímos de la Escuela en Sajonte, al otro lado de la montaña, donde luchaba Santiago Ical como maestro sin sueldo.  Así que nos dedicamos allí también, pagándole su sueldo, mejorando la escuela, llevándole muebles, y dejándolos con una planta eléctrica, televisor, videograbadora, y videos educacionales.

DEL INGLES:

During that period, we learned of another school on the other side of the mountain in the Village of Sajonte where Santiago Ical was heroically struggling to teach the children but with no wage and he was at his extremities.  We began paying him a wage, helped remodel the school, get them furniture, and in the end left with Santiago a generator, TV, VCR and educational videos.  Finally the Ministry of Education also accepted our request to take charge of the school and pay Santiago.   

Santiago, by the way, never became LDS, but was so outstanding he became my representative at the huge Chulac Cooperative Plantation, with 2,000 native residents. 
It had been developed many years before by Germans as a coffee plantation when they had to take to the area machinery, piece by piece on mules following the mountain trails, carving out of the wilderness a touch of civilization, but at the time of World War II, Germans became suspect with plantations being confiscated by the government, Germans either sent back to Germany, or to concentration camps in the U.S.  Eventually the government run plantation was turned into a cooperative with a government appointed manager.

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18.   LA INFLUENCIA CLAVE DE LA FUNDACION EN LA OBRA MISIONERA DE LA IGLESIA MORMONA EN ECUADOR: 

En 1976 el hijo misionero del Director Ejecutivo de la Fundación  en Utah, el Dr. Roberto Blair, me escribió contando de su lucha para empezar la obra misionera entre los indígenas de Ecuador--estaban escupiendo en sus caras, apedreándolos,  aun fueron metidos en la cárcel.  Me preguntó  como trabajaba con los indígenas en Guatemala para poder tener éxito?  Le escribí contando nuestras experiencias, y nuestros métodos.  
Un año  después Dr. Blair me hablo muy emocionado describiendo como la Misión de Ecuador había llegado a ser la misión indígena más sobresaliente de la Iglesia, y me ensenó  un boletín que, según el, indicaba nuestra influencia en el éxito.  A consecuencia de eso, el Presidente de la Misión de Ecuador pidió un favor que fuéramos allí para tener reuniones con la gente y los misioneros para ayudarles comprender como tenían que seguir. Así para finales de agosto de 1977 el Dr. Blair y yo volamos a Ecuador, donde presenté programas visuales a los misioneros en Otovalo, en la casa del líder indígena más sobresaliente, y de ultimo en la Casa de Misión en Quito con todos los misioneros de esa parte de la Misión.  El Presidente fue hasta exagerado agradeciéndonos la visita cuando nos llevó al aeropuerto. 

DEL INGLES:
 A year later Bob Blair excitedly showed me an Ecuadoran Mission newsletter describing how the Mission had become in just one year the leading Lamanite mission for the Church in all of the Americas, and pointed out our influence as described.  Consequently the Mission President requested we make a visit to help them know how to continue. 

That resulted in Dr. Blair and myself in late August 1977  making a visit to Ecuador, putting on firesides in Otovalo for the missionaries there, in the home of the leading Indian leader, and then in the Mission Home for all the missionaries in the Quito area.  

The Mission President was profuse in thanking us as he took us to the airport.  

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19.  En octubre de 1977 fui invitado al Banquete de la Asociación de Graduados de la Universidad de Brigham Young donde me otorgaron LA CONDECORACION DE SERVICIO DESTINGUIDO, por la cual los donadores a la Fundación merecen las gracias porque sin su colaboración generosa poco habríamos logrado.  Como bromo después fue dicho:

 "Cordell, entre todos quienes han recibido este condecoración es el más joven,  el menos educado, y más pobre, además de ser el menos probable a repetir!"

DEL INGLES:

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20.  ¡EL ESCANDALO INTERNACIONAL DE ADOPCION DE NIÑOS! -- En los primeros meses de 1977, el Presidente de la Misión SUD, John O'Donnal y su esposa, Carmen, nos pidieron que nos encargáramos de un proyecto de adopciones que tenían varios años de hacer en sociedad con Children's House Internacional de Lago Salado, Utah.  Le dije que no pude por estar muy ocupado, pero mi esposa, María, ofreció hacerlo. Así, yo llegué a ser su taxista..  Los O'Donnal nos explicaron el proceso que María tenía que seguir trabajando con un primo de Carmen quien era un abogado. 

Supusimos que todo era legal, y María se puso a trabajar con la colaboración de la hermana Hortensia de Ovalle de Cobán, quien iba a encontrar madres necesitadas que querían poner en adopción sus hijos. Dentro de pocos meses habían procesado varios niños, y ex-presidente de la Misión, Harvey Glade, vino a llevar uno a los EE.UU.

Para septiembre, después del viaje a Ecuador, teníamos pendientes dos niños que se quedaron bajo el cuido de Florencia Rivas, la Supervisora de la Casa Central. María pidió el favor al hermano Carl Jacob a ayudar en caso que la Hermana Ovalle encontrara otro niño, y también de estar pendiente en Migración para los pasaportes de los dos quedando con Florencia.

Un poco después Ovalle encontró otro, y con la madre y el nene fueron con Jacob a Migracion con un amigo de Jacob quien era abogado--porque el primo de Carmen estaba de vacación en Europa. En Migración entregaron documentos para el nene nuevo y Jacob pregunto por los dos pasaportes pendientes.  Pero de repente fueron rodeados por policías y llevados a la cárcel, acusados de "trabajo ilegal de adopciones." Por 5 días o mas el asunto era NOTICIA DE PRIMERA PLANA en la prensa nacional.

PRIMER DIA: Jacob y Ovalle en la cárcel, la prensa anunciando, "BANDA INTERNACIONAL DE ROBA NINOS CAPTURADOS."

SEGUNDO DIA: después de llevar a cabo una redada en la casa de Jacob encontrando boletines de la Fundación, la prensa anunció "LA FUNDACION de DESARROLLO INDÍGENA, Y SU  DIRECTOR, CORDELL ANDERSEN, EL CEREBRO ATRÁS DEL ROBO DE NIÑOS--SU DIRECTOR ANDERSEN ESCAPÓ DEL PAIZ Y BUSCADO POR LA FBI EN LOS EE.UU!"  Me llamó un amigo periodista, avisándome que estaba pasando y aconsejándome a no regresar al país porque había orden de captura para mí en todas las fronteras y en el aeropuerto.  
Oyendo que supuestamente la FBI me estaban buscando, llamé a la Oficina de la FBI en la Ciudad de Lago Salado para informarles que me tenian que estar buscando, y no sabien nada de eso.  Luego, me reuné con varios agentes en Lago Salado para contarles lo que estaba pasando, y la verdad del asunto, resultando en que se reyeron a carcajadas, diciendo que cosas exageradas de ese tipo eran comunes en Latino America.  Se pusieron en contacto con la Embajada en Guatemala enviandoles un informe, y diciendo que sabian donde estaba yo si me necesitaban por algo.  

TERCER DIA:  La prensa anunció, "REDADA EFECTUADA POR POLICIA JUDICIAL EN FINCA VALPARAISO DEL SR. ANDERSEN -- MIGUEL MAX, ADMINSTRADOR, Y FLORENCIA RIVA, SUPERVISOR DE CUIDAR NINOS ROBADOS CAPTURADOS Y EN LA CARCEL"  

CUARTO DIA:  Ovalle y Jacob fueron llevados a la Penitenciaria Federal--EL PAVON, y Ovalle confeso que los quienes comenzaron adopciones era John O'Donnal y su esposa Carmen, y asi apareció en  primer plana en la prensa:   "LA IGLESIA DE LOS SANTOS DE LOS ULTIMOS DIAS EN SOCIEDAD CON LOS LADRONES DE NIÑOS"  Los O'Donnal fueron ordenados a esconderse y no decir nada, a pesar de la hermana Jacob rogándoles a confesar y librar su esposo y Ovalle. El primo de Carmen fue aconsejado a no regresar a Guatemala de su vacación. Miguel Max y Florencia Rivas solo pasaron un día en la cárcel. 

QUINTO DIA:  Enrique Rittscher, Representante Regional de la Iglesia SUD, fue ordenado a pagar una página en la prensa y negar que la Iglesia tuvo que ver con el asunto, y echar toda la culpa a mí.  Resistió, diciendo que la Iglesia no tenía que ver, pero defendiéndome a mí y la Fundación, pidiendo una investigación antes de condenar gente inocente.  El me conocía, y fue un hombre honrado y un verdadero amigo.

Mientras, mediante el periodista, conseguí un abogado y además de pagarle bastante, le di $5,000 para repartir entre las personas indicadas, y después de dos semanas Jacob y Ovalle fueron librados de la cárcel, y la orden de captura para mí fue levantada

Los O'Donnal y Children's House Internactional no habían cumplido con las leyes para tener la autorización requerida para trabajar con adopciones.  Pero, ni los O'Donnal, ni CHI aceptaron públicamente culpa por su trabajo ilegal, y nunca estuvieron dispuestos a  ayudarme con los miles gastados. 

En enero el Presidente O'Donnal me vino a platicar en asuntos del Distrito, pero yo le pregunté porque no había dicho la verdad a las autoridades para no hacer sufrir gente inocente.  El me contestó, "No pude arriesgar ir a la cárcel!"

Luego, le conté la historia de Les Miserables, y Jon Val John--quien no permitió que un hombre inocente fuera a la cárcel en lugar de él, PORQUE ERA UN HOMBRE HONRADO!  Para el fin de la plática estaba negando que él y su esposa nos habían pedido encargarse del trabajo de adopciones, y aun dijo enfáticamente que ellos nunca hicieron trabajos de adopciones!  Me asuste oyéndole y tuve la impresión que tenía un problema serio mental. 

Unos meses después, la Autoridad General encargado de la Región, llegó con el Presidente O'Donnal para una Conferencia de Distrito, y me pidieron una plática.  Comenzó con la Autoridad amenazándome con ser excomulgado de la Iglesia "por causa de tus trabajos ilegales de adopción que habían destruido la obra misionera en muchas partes de la Misión!"   

Le pregunté si quería saber la verdad del asunto, y me dijo que estaba dispuesto. Mientras que yo explicara la triste historia, O'Donnal  tenía su cabeza agachada mirando el suelo.  Al terminar con mi explicación, la Autoridad, un poco pálido y asustado, preguntó  a O'Donnal si fue la verdad mi explicación, y el, sin levantar su cara del suelo, movió su cabeza indicando que fue la verdad. 

Sin embargo la misma Autoridad, junto con O'Donnal en la noche de la Conferencia, repitió la misma mentira, más otras, a los misioneros que trabajaban en mi Distrito. Eso se ha repetido muchas veces en Guatemala en Lago Salado. El "taxista" sigue culpable!

DEL INGLES:

Soon a problem occurred when a mother left her baby with Maria, and then disappeared before legal papers could be signed.  The O'Donnals suggested to Maria a maneuver they had used that was illegal, which we refused to do.  

Right after the Ecuador trip explained in item #12, while we were on vacation in the U.S.,  with Carl Jacob filling in for Maria, he and Sister Ovalle were arrested by the police and thrown in jail, and eventually transferred to  the Federal Prison--El Pavon.  We were headline news in Guatemala for at least 5 days:  

FIRST DAY:  Jacob and Ovalle, in jail for "International Baby Smuggling."   

SECOND DAY: after raiding Jacob's house and finding Foundation literature, headlines were, "Cordell Andersen, Director of the Foundation for Indian Development, the Ringleader, Just Escaped the Country & Sought by the FBI in the U.S.!"  I was called and warned by a newspaper reporter to not return to the country as there was a warrant for my arrest at the borders and at the airport.   Hearing that supposedly the FBI was after me, I called the Salt Lake City office of the FBI told them they were supposed to be looking for me--which they knew nothing about.  So a meeting was arranged and I had a session with several agents telling them what was was being reported as headline news in Guatemala and what the truth of the matter was.  They thought it was all pretty funny, and commented that such  ridiculous "scandals"  were common in Latin America.  They contacted  the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala to give them their report and that they knew where to find me if there was any need.  

THIRD DAY:  "Valparaiso raided by Judicial Police: Manager,  Miguel Max, and Supervisor of the Central House, Florencia Rivas, captured and in Jail."  

FOURTH DAY:  now in El Pavon, Ovalle panicked and said the Mormon Mission President had started the effort, so headlines became, "LDS Church a partner with the Foundation in Baby Smuggling Ring!"  The O'Donnals had been told to go into hiding and say nothing.  The lawyer was in Europe and advised not to return.  Sister Jacob contacted the O'Donnals and begged them to come forward, tell the truth and get innocent people out  of jail, but they refused.

FIFTH DAY:  Enrique Rittscher, LDS Regional Representative, was ordered to pay for a page in the newspaper, deny the Church had anything to do with it, and blame it all on me.  He resisted, yes saying the Church wasn't involved, but about me advised people to wait until the matter was investigated before judging me and the Foundation.  He knew me, was an honest man and a true friend.

In the meantime, through the newspaper man, I employed a lawyer, and, in addition to paying him a hefty fee, sent him $5,000 which he distributed  among the right people and after two weeks Jacob and Ovalle were released and the warrant for my arrest lifted.

The O'Donnals and Children House International had apparently never complied with the laws to acquire authorization for such work in the country.  Neither the O'Donnals, nor Children's House International, ever accepted responsibility, nor helped with the thousands of dollars spent.

In January of 1978 I had a visit with the Mission President and on asking O'Donnal why he hadn't come forward to tell the truth  so innocent people wouldn't suffer, he replied, "I couldn't risk being put in jail!"  I immediately remembered the story of Les Meserables and Jon Val John--most will get that point as it deals with a true honest man.  By the end of the conversation O'Donnal was denying he and wife ever had anything to do with adoptions, much less had asked us to do it for them. Strange...something seriously wrong.  

A couple of months later, with O'Donnal present,  I was threatened by a General Authority with excommunication, "because of your illegal adoption activity that destroyed missionary work in many areas!"   I told the truth, and O'Donnal, refusing to look me in the eye, nodded his head in agreement that  my recounting was correct. Nevertheless, the next night, that false story was repeated by the same leaders in a Missionary Meeting for Alta Verapaz missionaries,   and to others in Chulac. Apparently the false story even got to the LDS Church office building, and was believed as I was in 1979 accused of the same by a leader in Salt Lake City--and, likely it is still believed to this day, "the 'taxi driver' is guilty!"   This, I'm just not capable of understanding.   Apparently among some, "The seriousness of the accusation, is much more  important than the veracity of the evidence!"  

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21.   ESTABLECIMIENTO DE LA COMUNIDAD DE VALPARAISO EN 1980-81, ayudando a cada uno de los 39 colonos originales, o sus viudas, a ser dueños de su propio terreno y ayudarles a construir sus propias casas--y para 3 viudas, construirles su casita.  Asimismo ayudar igual a las familias de mis empleados de tiempo completa quienes habían sido mis alumnos vocacionales en el principio.  Después, ayudar con la construcción de un sistema adecuada de agua potable para cada sitio, como también la instalación de electricidad en toda la comunidad.  Las 160 vidas salvadas en los primeros años mediante los miles de tratamientos médicos, la enseñanza de la medicina preventiva y ayuda para que todos tuvieran una letrina--todo siendo de influencia  en cada familia actual con abuelos, padres o hijos salvados en cada familia de la comunidad--sin lo cual no existiría hoy en día dicha comunidad!

DEL INGLES: 

Later  the LDS Church purchased properties I had donated to 5 Indian families and constructed a beautiful chapel complex that dominates the Valparaiso Community.   

During the first years, after selling Valparaiso,  I helped them create a potable water system with a water line coming from 2 miles up in the mountains.  I was often invited to put on firesides in the homes of my brothers and sisters, and medical help was also given.

Below, we are seeing the community from the east above the highway.

Here we are seeing the community from the west, zooming in from 

what was the Central House

It is obvious that all the homes have electricity which  was mostly achieved  by the community organizing and working together, but at one point they had to take their meters for calibration all the way to Zacapa--200 kms. to the southeast.  They borrowed my diesel GMC work vehicle.  The driver was Jose Caal, who for several years I continued to employ as my carpenter.  

On that trip along the Atlantic highway there was an awful accident.....

.....Jose ending up in the hospital. The other six, including Mauricio, we see to the right were injured, but alive.  The truck was obviously in  bad shape, and cost me $5,500 (Q.40,000) to repair, but it was never the same.  So, I obviously made a good contribution to them getting electricity installed in the entire community, including in the Mormon chapel, constructed a few years later, which you see high on the hill dominating the community.

The 160 lives saved through thousands of medical treatments, and teaching of preventive medicine, in the first years, included from every family someone:  grandparents,  mothers and fathers, and children, saved from death--without which the Valparaiso Community wouldn't exist today.  

In the early days of the new century the youth contacted me and wanted me to help them understand their history.  So I went to work and created a 43 page photographic history with 275 photos, and sent them a few copies.  Below, is one group gathered in the Mormon chapel, the missionaries providing a digital projector with which they were shown their history, the first page of which I'll insert below.

In Februay 2017 Garth Norman and myself visited the Valparaiso Community and had a meeting with the people and talked to them about the Ancient City of Izapa, and it's connection to the Ancient Fortified City of Valparaiso. Up on the wall they had a display a picture of which I'll insert below, showing still a good relationship with the people as brothers and sisters to whom I dedicated a good portion of my life.

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20.  EN REPRESENTACION de  La ORGANIZACION AYUDA  en 1981-82 puse en orden la contabilidad y organización de una COOPERATIVA de CREDITO EN PATZICIA entre hombres Mormones.....

.....y empecé a ensenarles la Filosofía y Principios de la Vida Buena, luego ayudé  a 34 de los hijos, que no estaban estudiando, a ingresar en la escuela pública con una ayuda mensual para sus útiles y gastos.  

DEL INGLES:

..........and as I was teaching, learned that most of the children of the Cooperative were not attending   school, so developed an educational program helping 34 Indian children, seen below,  to begin studying.

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21.  También en REPRESENTACION DE AYUDA, EMPEZÉ A SUPERVISAR SUS PROYECTOS EN EL LEJANO PUEBLO DE CUEN, en aquel tiempo una Zona de Conflicto, y cuando desapareció la organización AYUDA por la insurgencia, mantuvimos los proyectos en Cunen por 10 años--que eran:  10 Escuelitas Pre-escolares de Vecindad, la Construcción de una Biblioteca, y una Clínica Dental.

24.  CON EL ESPIRITU de CINE CHAPINLANDIA, FUIMOS LOS PRIMEROS EN EL PAIS PARA ALQUILAR LA VERSION de 16mm. DE LA PELICULA, LOS DIEZ MANDAMIENTOS, Y EN COMO UNA SEMANA EXHIBIMOS EL CINE A 10,000 PERSONAS, desde la Finca Valparaíso, la Finca Cooperativa Chulac, Un Grupo de Alcohólicos Anónimos en San Cristóbal, El Proyecto de la Madre Teresa en la Ciudad de Guatemala, y La Estaca SUD de la Ciudad, La Capilla Mormona en Patzicia, y en La Penitenciaría Federal EL PAVON--donde de repente me di cuenta que estaba enseñando a mas de 1,000 convictos la historia de cómo escapar de la esclavitud!

DEL INGLES:

We're missing Patzicia, & Alcoholics Anonymous--but it was a frantic 8-10 days, 

yet extremely satisfying

The end of Cine Chapinlandia, didn't mean the end of using educational and commercial movies--which eventually became also making our own educational videos,  to teach, entertain, and cultivate friends in all kinds of places, like:  Chapels of the LDS Church,  and other churches , like, the Prince of Peace in Saxsuja, and plantations as seen above, plus at jails, hospitals, many schools, Cooperatives, many groups in homes & communal halls in village areas, in the Army Base in Coban, in public parks, and even using the white wall of the Catholic Church in San Cristobal where over 1,000 would gather. 

This included from the beginning efforts to fulfill one of my purposes in going to Guatemala:  Combat the threat of communism that was coming close to turning Guatemala into another Cuba.  That effort created fear in Mission leaders that the Mormon chapel might be bombed in Coban, and I was instructed to desist.  I rather wrote two LDS  General Authorities in Utah, that resulted in two interesting replies:

One, from a high level,  said to just read the Church's statement about communism and then shut up!  The other reply was fascinating, from Apostle Ezra Taft Benson, congratulating me for my efforts and basically telling me, "GIVE THEM MORE HELL!"

Last of all, the opening picture, used a lot, showed our camper with our small aluminum boat on top.  We also had an Evinrude 9.5 HP outboard motor. Sure, it was used to go fishing once in a while (and almost catch a record 27 lb. large mouthed black bass), and entertainment at our own lake. 

But I'll confess here something for the first time:  I also envisioned, sort of joking, that eventually we might have to flee the country like the Trap family from THE SOUND OF MUSIC  had to do climbing up over the Alps to get to Austria, but with us it was to get in our boat and escape down the Chixoy River that downstream becomes the Usumacinta that forms the border with Mexico and empties into the Gulf of Mexico.  Remember, only a "Rodeo clown," or "modern Quijote" would think of such!

You see it to the right covered with volcanic ash on my return from the 1966 trip with Garth Norman, when I "spent more on soda pop than on gasoline" to get through Mexico, due to struggling with my first malaria attack. 

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25.  POR 32 AÑOS MANEJAMOS EN PATZICIA UN COLEGIO PRIVADO A BASE DE LA FILOSOFIA Y PRINCIPIOS de la VIDA BUENA, con aproximadamente 1,600 graduados, algunos quienes llegaron a ser doctores, abogados, contadores, maestros, veterinarios, y 5 Sacerdotes Católicos, misioneros mormones, un Obispo, y un alcalde.  

26.  EN 1986-87 CONSTRUIMOS LA ESCUELA ARIEL & INES ANDERSEN DE CHULUC, un caserío de la Aldea la Canoa, del Municipio de Patzicia, y por 30 años hemos pagado el sueldo de un maestro, ayudado con el mantenimiento, construido la cocina, el sistema de agua potable, sanitarios con inodoros y tanque séptico, instalación de electricidad en toda la aldea, y más.   

DEL INGLES:

Below is seen at the School, Humberto Xicay, our Director in Patzicia for 30 years, along with Toby Pingree, donor to this work even from before there was a Foundation, and since, along with his brother, Dr. George Pingree,  who made a large donation that supported the Patzicia School shown in item #25  for 10 years.

To the right are seen  brick structures  protected by cute little thatch roofs.  On top of the structures are marble plaques, very common in such projects, giving credit to those who made possible the project.  One to my parents--seen above,  in whose names the school was built and is known.  The other gives thanks to the many who helped:  The Foundation, the Patzicia Mayor & government, Humberto, and the people of the village.  

Note:  You might have heard there were some people from the U.S. who began the rumors imagining these structures were  altars  where I had taught the Indians "to worship me and parents," even "lighting  candles and burning  incense!"  A handful of key individuals in Utah actually believed the gossip resulting in seriously harming people in Guatemala.   When the Indians heard  this they all had a good laugh--except for the ones hurt!

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27.  EL PROGRAMA de MEJORAMIENTO del MAIZ ENSEÑANDO A LA GENTE COMO PUEDEN MEJORAR SUS VARIEDES PROPIAS DE MAIZ, AUMENTANDO LOS RENDIMIENTOS Y LA CALIDAD.  La clase de maíz usado fue la variedad criolla de Valparaíso llamado VERANERO, lo cual atreves de 6 años  y medio aumentamos el rendimiento de 50 a 650 libras por cuerda (de 25 varas), logrando tres cosechas en un año, y doblando su calidad nutritiva de vitaminas--todo sin uso de químicos, más bien abonos naturales/orgánicos.

DEL INGLES:

The Indians in said  1/9th of an acre had an average of only one plant with two ears.  We began with seed from that plant, crossed it with seed from a superior ear that had the right coloration  and patiently developed seed that produced plants with multiple ears--as seen above on the left, even a growing percentage with 3 and even 4 ears of good size and qualtiy.  Then worked on improving the color and vitamin content from the normal red, to a rich golden yellow, which we proved was a vast improvement in vitamin A content.  Then we worked on improving it  so a high percentage of plants  would mature in 3-1/2 months rather than the typical 4 months, making possible 3 harvests per year.  

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DEL INGLES:  NUEVO

28.  MY BIGGEST MISTAKE --BUT A GREAT SUCCESS -- THE FARM OF THE HOLY MAN--LA FINCA DE NAHUAL GWINAK: Towards the end of 1993 the Valparaiso Plantation was sold, due to a number of critical factors.  In the previous years we had organized the Valparaiso Community , as described in item #21, so the people would be alright. 

For the first time in my then  26 years of residency in Guatemala I was in a position to use  my 60% share from the sale building my own.....sort of "dream home," using a lot of natural wood to give it a rustic flavor.   First, we bought an 18 acre property near Santa Cruz Verapaz that was 95% planted in coffee.  I wasn't interested in producing coffee, but believed I had to  maintain the production to continue employing the Indians who had worked there for years.  

In the picture on the right you can see in the background some of the nearly 18 acres of coffee trees.

If you are shocked that a Mormon  would be producing coffee, so was the case with one quite orthodox Mormon visitor.  I was quick to note his concern and told him, "But we grow the decaffeinated variety."  He seemed greatly relieved, not getting my joke.  If this still bothers anybody, maybe you can realize intentions are critical, and mine was that the processors would use my coffee to produceDecaf!   If they didn't, it was their problem.  (still sort of joking)

When I say "we" I'm referring to me, and my five children I would spend the next 20 years raising alone as a Mr. Mom. I had lost their mother, Maria Elena, my 2nd wife, due to complications in her life. The children were--with ages at that time in 1994:  Aura Marina, 11; Cordell Ammon "Lito," 9;  Jesse Benjamin, 7, Nephi, 3; and Mahana, 2-1/2.   I'll insert a picture below of me with them in the new house, a  year or so later.  You'll notice in the picture that us Mormons really do have horns!

Aura had been brought to me dying by her mother, and saved twice. After the second time, at 15 months, she was  left permanently with me.   She is still in Guatemala, just having finished with our help her Master's Degree in Social Work.  Soon we hope to reunite her with the family in the U.S.

Mahana's mother died giving birth to her in the Valparaiso Community, and the father, who had 3 small children to take care of by himself, asked me to save and raise the baby. By 1998 the legalities were met and they became my adopted daughters. 

.....and here's Mahana's story from birth, when I got her, to graduation from Springville High School -- She went on to graduate from Stevens Henagar College  and is one of those "angels" that go around making house visits and taking care of the needy.  At our farm they all  had to be protected, night & day.

In the middle of the rolling hills of the farm we built our home where we were hidden from public view. Logs I had cut at Valparaiso with my chain saw, were hauled to the farm, actually
called there a "plantation," albeit a small one.  The boys chose the name derived from the wonderful Poqomchi legend of a creator/God who had visited the Indians  anciently, so, the name became PLANTATION OF THE HOLY MAN --LA FINCA de NAHAUL GWINAK.  In the entrance I created the Museum of the Holy Man, you'll see in item #29.   

Below is the "dream home."

Theoretically, capital left over--after the construction, was to be invested for our support.    I already missed the lake we created at Valparaiso where I would swim/bath daily, so a small swimming pool was constructed.  All my years of being out of contact with the world--except for my Zenith shortwave radio, was remedied with a quite large dish antenna that gave us everything we could have ever wanted and more.

Our neighbors over the next few years were attacked and robbed at gun point, and my kids would often see suspicious looking men lurking around seemingly checking out the house from the concealment of the trees.   So, one year, when we were making a good profit, we used the excess  to build a security fence all around the house compound to protect us.  As the boys grew up, they were trained, each with their small handgun (Walther .22, Berreta .25, and Seacamps .32)  to help me defend ourselves in event that the bandits decided to take us on as a challenge.

The home came to be the place where the Indian queen candidates and visiting queens from other areas, would gather with us every year and I would show and explain the Museum, the Legend of the Holy Man, and introduce to them the  Philosophy & Principles of the Good Life.  The Mayan Priestess, Dona Ana, would orient and guide them in Poqomchi,  preparing them for their  Festival participation.  

Just outside,  at the entrance,  I placed a Mayan altar brought from Valparaiso--seen to the left  with me and our guard dog, Goku, praying for our production and safety. 

A real serious problem arose as the house ended up costing twice what the architect had estimated and our capital for investment disappeared.  This left us with no income. So, I had no choice but to put on my learning cap and become a relative expert in the coffee business. A technician from the government's ANACAFE was contacted and Zoel Sierra came to help me with the  basics and we became good friends.  With what he taught me, along with my basic understanding of agriculture in Guatemala surviving and thriving with it for then--26 years,  I  began working overtime  plowing forward to turn 18 acres into a profit producing business to support us. This was unheard of in a country where coffee plantations were like national parks covering mountains and valleys, each with many hundreds and thousands of acres planted.

By 1996 the Guerrilla War was over with--a Peace Accord brokered by the United Nations, but there was a serious problem.  Young men, who for years had been fighting the war, knew only how to use a gun, so many of them turned into thieves, highway robbers, and formed marauding, well organized  gangs, specializing in robbing others at gun point, killing with no mercy or concern whether their victims were helping the poor or not,  with  kidnapping  a specialty, and soon drugs increased the problem as Guatemala was a bridge between Columbia, Mexico and the U.S. 

All my children were enrolled in schools in Coban, and to protect them--early every day I would take them, then return to work.  At noon I'd drive again the 30 mile round trip to pick them up.  I couldn't let them out of my sight.  There was too much danger of a kidnapping, especially for the children of a "gringo" everyone assumed was a millionaire. 

I didn't sleep well at night, and was always alert for danger, often laying down dressed in black clothing with my running shoes on.  At times I would have to slip out the back door carefully to see what the dogs were going nuts over, or to see why they all of a sudden had gone silent--perhaps poisoned, opening up the way for an attack.  

One night at about 10:30 the excited barking of the dogs had me on alert when just outside of my window on the other side of the security fence, the dogs barking was all of a sudden answered by a loud guttural roar that startled me--something I had never heard before.  In the next couple of days I first learned that a neighbor had heard the same and his goat had disappeared. Then I heard from Mormon missionaries, coming back to Santa Cruz from Coban one night,  were totally shocked seeing a black panther cross the road.  In my Chulac experience I recalled Rafael Maas telling me having actually seen in a remote part of the plantation a fight between a jaguar and a rare black panther.  Apparently one had for some reason wandered up into the high country visiting our area briefly.  Quite a unique experience.  

 Sometimes the kids would all join me in my huge king sized bed, like you see them doing below.  

If you look carefully, you'll notice Lito's small .25 caliber Berreta near him on the cabinet. 

 Note:  "Lito" comes from Cordelito, the diminutive in Spanish.  Both he and Jesse, years later would become Marines and serve 3 tours in the Middle East. 

But, I also  had to do the improbable during the day applying my strategy to do better than anyone thought possible growing coffee, and by our first harvest had doubled the production of what was already a  fairly productive farm for its size.  So, once again we had profits to support us.

We all worked, especially at harvest time,  as it didn't seem right to me for all my employees to be harvesting on  cold, rainy days--very common in that area, with us in our warm, cozy house.  So, we'd put on our rain gear and join them, trying our best to be as productive as them.  I doggedly tried every day to equal our best picker--Teodora, who was only 14 years old, but nobody ever  equaled her, much less beat her.

This, and in other ways, like inviting them to our home for movies, and for Christmas, created a personal relationship with our workers,  and so we became endeared to each other.  Then, on a supervisory trip to Guatemala  in 2016, I was invited for a special lunch and presentation at the Chicoyoj II School  where  my then grown up champion picker surprised me, representing all my pickers from 14 years ago,  with a nicely wrapped present--which was a simple,  typical bag as an  expression of gratitude for the way we worked  and helped each other from 1994 to 2002.. It's hanging in front of me now and always, more precious and important to me than any trophies, plaques, or diplomas.   Below you see me with her and her children when giving me the gift...which is seen on the right.

We eventually tripled production and  Zoel told me it was the best yield per acre in the country.  We had plenty of profit to support us, and continue working with Federico in Foundation projects--with money left over.  So I went for what Zoel said just wasn't possible--QUADRUPLING THE YIELD  by investing in all the ways I knew would work.

All was going well, but.....then Vietnam entered the world coffee market with cheap coffee that brought the price down to half of what it had been.  Many coffee producers in Guatemala panicked and everyone was trying to sell their plantations--dirt cheap.

With that problem, plus a few others mentioned below, we decided to pack it in and return to the U.S.--for me, after 35 years of continued residency in Guatemala.  But, it was a bad time to try and sell a property, so we kept working and continued to make a profit by just not investing  anymore in our trees.  Production continued  high for two years on the back of what I had invested to have healthy, productive trees.  But the 3rd year would be different with hardly any harvest at all.  

Everything was more dangerous with the bad economy, and then I was attacked in Guatemala City, mentioned in the closing paragraphs........

.......followed three days later by my wood working shop being broke into by thugs who took over $7,000 worth of tools.  I reported it to the police who told me what I had to do:  "Get a couple of shotguns, hire some guys, and when the thieves come again, kill them, dump their bodies somewhere and tell no one!"

Every day I was confronted with just that, and daily I would fine-tune my shooting ability, but also do it  so that anyone within ear range would hear that  I was well armed.  Especially that effect  worked with a 9mm. fully automatic sub-machine gun that would shoot a frightening 30 bullets in less than 2 seconds.   I was told that they already knew I was ex-military which had them hesitating some. 

If they came I had a plan--a sort of quixotic plan:  When the thugs decided to take me on as a challenge, I had it all figured out how to win, and as I was  picking them off one by one, my boys would wake up, get their little guns,  and help me finish them off.  Then while my little boys were helping me load the bodies in the pickup to go dump them somewhere, Aura and Mahana would be mopping up all the blood.  Of course the Guatemalan way, as I already explained,  repeated to me over the years by the Army and Police,  was  "to tell no one."   

That I didn't ever want to happen, even though I knew it would eventually if we continued, so when the chips were down, a buyer appeared and  we sold, and by 2002 returned to the U.S.

It wasn't quite that simple, as the buyer still owed me the last payment of around $29,000, and soon, to my dismay,  I learned he was the No. 2 drug lord in the area.  I had to be careful, but with the help of a good lawyer, he finally finished paying me 2 years later on one of my supervisory trips.  At that time he sold it to one of his partners in crime.

 A few years later, I was given the news that the Army had raided the farm, and in my "dream home"    found huge quantities of drugs and automatic weapons and the government took over the property that the drug lord had cleared of coffee  planting pasture grass for his horses.  I understand the last owner is still in prison.

At the beginning of this section the heading says:  "MY BIGGEST MISTAKE --BUT A GREAT SUCCESS."  What did I mean?  

First, to build and live in what for the area  was a large, luxurious home--but out of harmony with my philosophy to live simply and use all I had to help the Indians (in the spirit of the New Testament parable of the "Rich Young Ruler").  The basic philosophy comes from Jacob 2:13, 17  of the Indians Sacred Book--the BOOK OF MORMON, which says:

"And the hand of providence hath smiled upon you most pleasingly, that you have obtained many riches;  and because some of you have obtained more abundantly than that of your brethren ye are lifted up in the pride of your hearts and wear stiff necks and high heads because of the costliness of your apparel......ye suppose that ye are better than they.

"Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar [friendly] with all and free [generous] with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you."

Apparently among us "believers," there are different levels of interpretation for whatever reasons--as we are all free to choose how we apply our faith.  One interpretation, at one extreme of the spectrum, was offered me by a leader who said, 

"Don't try so hard to help these people.  They are getting in their earthly life what they deserve, as they were inferior spirits in the pre-existence.  On the other hand those of us experiencing prosperity have every right to live it to its fullest!"   

I wanted to scream my  objection, but I did my best to be respectful of his position, and tried to change the subject--then fascinatingly jumped out of the fry pan into the fire!  One day I'll make public that incredible encounter--my journal dedicating 14 pages to the  report.  

But,   obviously I have a different level of interpretation of the scriptures, and should have rented a small home sufficient for our needs,  invested the capital to produce enough for us to live on, with a lot left over--enough every month to finance ourselves projects to help the needy.  

Second:  Yet the challenge of  learning  a new aspect of agriculture and actually be very successful--was for me very invigorating, while at the same time employing many people I was able to help and came to love, all of which made it A GREAT SUCCESS.

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29.  EL MUSEO del HOMBRE DIVINO--NAHUAL GWINAK--establecido primero en la Casa Central de la Finca Valparaíso, y después en mi casa en La Finca  Nahual Gwinak, cerca del Municipio de Santa Cruz Verapaz.  El nombre se refiere a una leyenda Poqomchi de un Dios/Creador blanco, barbudo, quien les visitó antiguamente enseñándoles a vivir en amor y harmonía, haciendo milagros entre ellos, y luego al irse les dio la promesa que algún día iba a regresar, tal como esta explicado en el Libro Sagrado original de los indígenas.   Todo eso fue demostrado en el museo, además de haber descubierto atreves de los años que Valparaíso es tierra sagrada habiendo sido en la antigüedad una ciudad fortificada de importancia. 

DEL INGLES:

 This was the Museum at Valparaiso in the Central House

THEN AT THE FARM OF THE HOLY MAN 

"the tiniest, but  perhaps the most important museum in the world."

The top part is believed to actually be half of the exterior portion of a mold to make pieces similar to the one underneath. 

When we sold the farm and packed up to leave, all the artifacts were carefully wrapped and packed into very tough vinyl containers, and along with the altar, were left with Federico Veliz.

Hearing that we were leaving, the Mayan Priest from Santa Cruz asked if he couldn't have the large depiction of Christ appearing anciently in the Americas. He explained that for him it was a perfect representation of their Legend of the Holy Man -- La Leyendo of Nahual Gwinak.  I was pleased to give it to him and happy to hear that it took a place of honor in his ritual room.

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Y de ultimo que en cierto sentido fue el primero….

30. COLABORACION CON EL ARQUEOLOGO GARTH NORMAN CON SU PROYECTO DE LA CIUDAD ANTIGUA DE IZAPA Y EL MONUMENTO DEL ARBOL DE LA VIDA:   Todo comenzó en 1963 cuando le conocí a Garth durante mi primer viaje de regreso a Guatemala después de terminar mi misión en 1958.  Esa amistad nos llevó  en 1966 a que me pidió a llevarle en mi picop y ser su fotógrafo en una expedición a Izapa, cerca de la frontera de Guatemala, cuando usando el método de fotografía nocturna logré buenas fotos de los monumentos, principalmente del Árbol de la Vida que voy a insertar abajo. Además de las fotos que Garth ha usado atreves de los años en sus publicaciones científicas, logré enfermarme con paludismo la primera vez (la segunda fue en Chulac), y tuve que manejar solo hasta los EE.UU. tratándome con medicina, sin poder comer--solo tomar aguas gaseosas.  Eso fue el viaje en que he bromeado diciendo que pasé por todo México gastando más en gaseosas que en gasolina!   Garth después siguió con sus estudios, publicando varios libros científicos, y llegando a ser el experto mundial en sitios como Izapa y otros relacionados.  Mientras yo en 1967 fui a vivir en Guatemala, cumpliendo el año  pasado 50 años desde que cruzó  la frontera EL CUERPO DE PAZ PRIVADO DE LA FAMILIA ANDERSEN, también con nuestros grandes descubrimientos arqueólogos y aventuras increíbles y milagrosas entre mis hermanos Mayas..

Luego, casi 50 años después nos encontramos por pura casualidad en el parqueo del supermercado de American Fork, Utah, y hemos hecho de nuevo una sociedad para terminar lo que comenzamos hacer hace más de medio siglo.  Varios reportajes de lo que hemos hecho juntos en Izapa y en Valparaiso estan en el sitio de la Fundación en el internet. 

CONCLUSION:  Es poco declarar que este "PAYASO de RODEO"  ha gozado de mi vida aventurosa en Guatemala, inclusive logrando experiencia con las enfermedades más mortales, como, tuberculosis, neumonía, tifoidea, tétano, paludismo y mas, luchando para salvar a otros, y luego a veces tratándome a mi mismo también.   Luego varias veces a penas escapando de los guerrilleros; persiguiendo ladrones de ganado en las montanas; una vez, junto con mis alumnos vocacionales y empleados que se convirtieron en mis hermanos en la fe literalmente peleando con invasores de la finca que logramos meter en la cárcel;  luego, viendo cómo defendernos de criminales organizados, "LOS COLITAS," que nos amenazaron con quemar la Casa Central--y yo resuelto a eliminarlos--armado con el rifle Browning .22 que me papa trajo de su Mision en Australia en 1928--pero cargado con cartuchos letales "Terminators" de Israel (no disponibles para el publico) y pistola ParaOrdinance .45, vigilando la finca noche, tras noche para emboscarlos y eliminarlos como hizo Ammón en la antigüedad con los rebaños del rey; 






....... y de ultimo peleando con delincuentes en la 6a. Avenida de la ciudad, que con la ayuda de Jesse a los 13 años y medio logramos ganar solo perdiendo mi pantalón que hicieron pedazos a fin de lograr lo que tenía en mis bolsas--y dejándome casi desnudo rodeados de espectadores asustados de ver un gringo viejo vencer los criminales--historia publicada, junto con otra experiencia,  en la revista COMBAT HANDGUNS, enero de 2001.

Pero, a pesar de todo eso y mucho mas atreves de los 50 años de aventura, lo mas difícil fue de  tratar con burócratas gringos que tenían un espíritu de competencia en vez de un espíritu  de colaboración, cooperación y gratitud!

Sin embargo, no cambiaría nada de las experiencias de medio siglo para tesoros terrenales, y estoy profundamente agradecido que tardé 35 anos hasta regresar a mi tierra, como dijo la viejita en el principio, "con la cola entre las piernas," pero que ella predijo en el principio que íbamos a solo aguantar 6 meses!

UN MILLON DE GRACIAS A TODOS, ESPECIALMENTE A MI FAMILIA, QUIENES ME AYUDARON A LLEVAR VIDA A UNA GENTE NECESITADA, AYUDANDOLES A SALIR DE LA OBSCURIDAD A LA LUZ, Y COMENZAR A FLORECER

OREMOS TODOS QUE NUESTROS ESFUERZOS SEAN MULTIPLICADOS MUCHAS VECES ENTRE LOS QUIENES PUDIMOS GUIAR A

"LA VIDA BUENA." 
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SI QUIEREN VER MUCHAS FOTOS DE LO ANTERIOR, MIRAN  LOS TRES ENSAYOS FOTOGRAFICOS QUE SIGUEN AQUI:
 Episodio 1:1967-68 "La Aventura Entre los Maya de Guatemala" COMIENZA"

Con 88 fotos

Episodio 2:  1969-70...con 176 fotos...LA AVENTURA QUIXOTICA CONTINUA...

"Viviendo de crisis a crisis!" 

 Episodio 3: 1971-72...LA AVENTURA QUIXOTICA CONTINUA: Una Gran Formula para el Exito  Con 275 fotos

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AHORA....a dedicarme a concluir tambien 

"antes que sea demasiado tarde"

mi: 

PROYECTO de LAS UINTAS ALTAS VIRGENES  

Mi lema caminando mas de 3,000 kms. explorando dichas montanas virgines, ha sido las palabras famosas de Winston Churchill...solo agregando una palabra por tener mas que 80 anos: 

"NUNCA, NUNCA, NUNCA SE DE POR VENCIDO...

..FACILMENTE!"

Todavia me falta la caminata mas larga en agosto cuando voy a estar en camino a cumplir 83 anos, luego el libro descrito abajo en ingles.....hagan la lucha a comprender como su leccion de ingles de hoy!
The conclusion being first an e-book--with abundant color photographs,

 and later a simplified print version, both unique as the--guide book, both for hikers, backpackers, horse & goat packers, plus a guide for auto tourists doing a 500 mile loop tour--will have intertwined throughout the fascinating history, legends, tall tales, and importantly the survival stories…of those who didn't make it and why, and my survival  experiences and why I've survived and in my 83rd year will  crown the effort  with, for me,  en epic no-resupply backpack of the entire Highline Trail following the spine of the Uintas from Mirror Lake to near Flaming Gorge.

The Preface, and Introduction are finished, with most of the 500 Mile Loop Auto Tour chapter also finished, but I've got to now focus on getting it done as I'm convinced through it lives can be saved, and everyone's enjoyment hugely enhanced of our Creators magnificent swath of color and wonderment we call the

HIGH UINTA MOUNTAINS

 Website:  www.cordellmandersen.com  

 Email:  cordellandersen@hotmail.com
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