On our first Saturday in the new part of the mission, we went with the elders who work in the fishing town, Gutierrez Zamora, to a very remote pueblo called Calichal. There is a branch of the church there. About 15 years ago, 8 sets of missionaries came to the area for a short time. There are several other small pueblos and ranchos nearby. A couple of hundred people were baptized. A hurricane came through. Much of the area was wiped out. Most of the members left for the cities. The branch presidents wife says that there are now 43 members in the branch and that 40 are active. These are views of the town.


This is the main drag. There are a few other dirt steets like this.


This is the Calichal Branch meeting house. The walls are made of metal room dividers, expanded, and are left over from the remodel of another church building. So are the wooden pews inside. The roof is of plam fronds. The little structure sits right next door to the house of the branch president.


The flora is unique and beautiful. The kids I talked with said that there are wild parrots and toucans in the trees.


The man in the photo is the counselor and son-in-law to the branch president. His wife, mother-in-law, and daughter are also in picture.