This was an especially proud day for our mission, 5 July 2009. We have mentioned often the Sihuapan Branch in the Los Tuxtlas District. The mission president presides in districts. On 4 November 2008, we sent two missionaries to this branch. There had not been missionaries there for some time. There was only one active man in the branch and he was the branch president. He struggled. Attendance ranged from 12-15. The branch was dying. The goal was to rescue the inactive members, find and activate or baptize a branch presidency, and find others to baptize.

We sent in Elder Lopez and assigned him to serve as branch president. His counselor was Elder Seth Bowen from Santa Rosa Valley, CA. The former president was called as president of the elders quorum, but got angry after a short time and swore not to return to church until Elder Lopez was transferred. Elder Lopez was not transferred until he went home in July. These missionaries, and Elder Jacob Ricks from El Dorado Hills, CA who replaced Elder Bowen, raised the attendance to an average of 55. The high was 72 one Sunday. There is not room for that many in the casa de oracion. They overflow into little classrooms.

The missionaries got up at 5 a.m. to teach 5:30 seminary. They re-activated men, women, and children. They helped people learn to pay tithing. And they baptized. One of the new tithe-payers is Hno. Bis who is standing on Elder Lopez' right. Next to him is Hno. Tadeo, his brother-in-law. The elders met with these re-activated brethren for weeks, training them from the institute manual, "Principles of Leadership."

When they were ready, Hno. Bis was called as branch president, Hno. Tadeo 1st counselor, and Elder Lopez 2nd. We went to the branch for services on July 5th for the sustaining and setting apart of the new presidency. Elder Lopez went home on the 30th. Pres. Bis is 100% active and continuing to grow the branch. Average is now at 60. We are looking for property to build an official chapel.

Sidenote: I saw the former branch president at a training recently. He is slowly working his way back.


This photo is the youth Sunday School class. The boy to Elder Lopez' left was batpized the following week. The boy in the corner is the son of the former branch president. He is 16 and is preparing for a mission in two years. Mexican boys can serve at age 18.