Couple Has "Feeding the 5,000" Experience While Serving a Mission in Guatemala


By: Cecily Markland


While serving in the Guatemala City South Mission, Spencer and Jeanine Brown, of Prescott, were impressed with the humble, yet grateful, attitudes of the people there, as well as with their love for the temple and their commitment to attending. Photo courtesy of Jeanine Brown.




While serving in the Guatemala City South Mission, Spencer and Jeanine Brown of the Bradshaw Ward, Prescott Stake, spent a great deal of their time teaching English, giving five ongoing classes to medical students and university employees and four classes at the church as well.

Yet, while they taught, the couple also learned lessons of their own about the Guatemalan Saints and their humble approach to life.

The couple spent the entire 18 months of their mission in Chiquimula, where, after a summer with very little rain, and when the first crop of corn and beans did not survive, the people were in dire circumstances.

"Many children (mostly under the age of two) died from malnutrition," Sister Brown says. "There is no Bishop's Storehouse there and the people mostly 'just survive.' Even the leaders often have to do without the basics in life."

While living in Chiquimula, the Browns were assigned to serve in the nearby Esquipulas Branch.

"Spencer was really needed because you can count on one hand the Melchizedek Priesthood holders. We spent every other Saturday there, visiting less actives ... and generally supporting and encouraging the members."

The Browns also served as temple workers. Every other Friday morning they got up early, took a four-hour bus ride to Guatemala City, then paid $10 to stay in one of the homes the Church provides for temple patrons who have traveled a long distance. The Browns worked one shift on Friday and another Saturday.

"Temple attendance is an inspiration in Guatemala," Sister Brown says. "Many busloads of Saints are there every weekend."

Weeks before Easter (Holy Week) and before and after Christmas, when businesses are shut down, "there are often 200 Saints waiting for the temple to open at 5 a.m. They wait patiently in line (that winds through the parking lot, onto the street) until they reach the recommend desk. After presenting their recommend, they receive a plastic chip that lets them know which ordinance room they will be in and are given an approximate time to return."

"Saints may have traveled 12 hours on the bus," Sister Brown says. "Some members wait more than three hours just to attend an endowment session."

Saints in the Esquipulas Branch have difficulty hearing General Conference as well. Many simply do not have the means to travel the hour and a half by bus to Chiquimula for satellite broadcasts. In April 2009, only 10 branch members attended.

In October, Sister Brown says, "we told the branch president we would provide lunch to the members who attended so they could enjoy two sessions of conference."

The branch also offered to pay the $4 per person for transportation.

"I thought I'd better cook enough for 40 to 50 people," Sister Brown relates. "I spent the entire week preparing. ...I loaded everything with lots of vegetables to bless the lives of those who are undernourished (a high percentage of the branch membership)."

"We fed at least 60 branch members ...14 missionaries, some children from Chiquimula that sneaked into line, two families from Chiquimula that were waiting in the chapel, without food, for the next session to begin. I'm sure we fed at least 80 people, and we still had food left over," she says. "It was truly like living the miracle of feeding the 5,000."

"It was wonderful to be a part of this little miracle, but the most rewarding part of the day was knowing that these many Saints were able to hear the prophet and the Church leaders speak to them. Our hearts were touched."

The Browns, who returned home in April, encourage other couples to serve missions.

"The need is significant, and the rewards are great," Sister Brown says.

For pictures and other experiences, see www.spencerandjeanine.blogspot.com.