Their itinerary included five days in El Salvador and Guatemala respectively. Dr. Kirkpatrick was able to give a sermon and Bible study as well as a doctrinal lecture in the congregations of San Salvador and Guatemala City.

El Salvador

Dr. Kirkpatrick and the Walkers arrived in El Salvador Thursday evening, Aug. 31. The next day they toured San Salvador. The tour highlighted the great differences between the poorer and more affluent areas of the city.

Having traveled several times to Ghana, Dr. Kirkpatrick was struck by the similarities between these two developing nations. Though they are different nations ethnically, culturally, linguistically and historically, they face similar problems and challenges—especially in the economic arena.

El Salvador is also a nation affected by devastating earthquakes that occur on a much-too-frequent basis. This was highlighted in the tour by evidence of earthquake destruction still remaining as a result of earthquakes in 1985 and 2001. Dr. Kirkpatrick was sobered in viewing the site of loss of life and property from an enormous landslide caused by the earthquake of 2001 in Santa Tecla, a city near San Salvador.

On Sabbath, Sept. 2, Dr. Kirkpatrick gave the sermon in the morning in San Salvador. He spoke on God's great care and concern for us as individual members of the Church. After lunch, which was provided for the membership in the hall where services were conducted, Dr. Kirkpatrick presented a Bible study on lessons we can learn from the life of Solomon.

Dr. Kirkpatrick said: "The brethren in San Salvador are quite friendly and made me feel very welcome with their warm greetings! The brethren face great challenges economically, as unemployment is very high (over 50 percent) in their country. The brethren must also deal on a day-to-day basis with the prevalence of political violence, even 15 years after the end of a terrible civil war, which is still very much in the minds of the brethren.

"Despite all this, I was struck by the friendliness and good cheer of the people of El Salvador, and especially the brethren in the Church. In this regard, they set a splendid example of faithful constancy and endurance, which we who have so much more physically and materially can learn from."

The next day, Sunday, Dr. Kirkpatrick conducted a 2½-hour lecture on a doctrinal test that the members had taken before his visit. The brethren had been given a Spanish translation of the test, and a tabulation of the results of their answers had been sent to Dr. Kirkpatrick before the trip. The test, which is a 100-question multiple choice examination, had been given previously to elders and others in Ghana and the Philippines. However, this is the first time that it had been given to an entire congregation.

The purpose of the exam is to help those who take it focus on the plan of God as highlighted in the doctrines ("teachings") of the Church. The exam is constructed in such a way that "almost correct" answers are offered as alternatives to the "best," most complete and biblically-based answers to specific questions. This has the effect of reinforcing God's truth, and also showing how subtle is the enemy's distortions of that truth in many of the traditional doctrinal positions of this world's churches.

Dr. Kirkpatrick went through each question, explaining the correct answers and giving scriptures that support the correct answers. He was quite impressed by the seriousness and concentration of the brethren during this entire process. This was evidence of their desire to more fully understand the precious truths that God has revealed to His Church.

Guatemala

Dr. Kirkpatrick and the Walkers next traveled to Guatemala, which is only a 25-minute flight from El Salvador. Approaching Guatemala City Dr. Kirkpatrick wondered: "How did they build a modern, sprawling city on the top of these green and uneven mountains? It is a beautiful site from the air."

They were welcomed at the now-being-renovated Guatemala City airport by Luis Mundo and his wife, Dorita. Dr. Mundo has served for the past five years as pastor of United's six congregations in Guatemala, totaling over 500 brethren, following his retirement from a career as a pediatrician.

Dr. Kirkpatrick and the Walkers dined with Dr. and Mrs. Mundo Wednesday evening. Though language separated them, Dr. Kirkpatrick was able to get to know the Mundos, with translation assistance from the Walkers, and they enjoyed greatly some deep discussions about the plan of God.

The next day, Thursday, Dr. Kirkpatrick and the Walkers spent some time together at the Mundos' home, and at midday—joined by 15-year-old Sharon Mundo (the Mundos' youngest child)—they drove to the colonial city of Antigua, which was the former capital of Guatemala.

Much of the old city of Antigua has been preserved as a historical "museum," where people from around the world come to study Spanish, and its popularity as a tourist site has been enhanced by fine hotels and restaurants. This is the site of the Feast of Tabernacles in Guatemala, where nearly 600 Feastgoers will gather to picture a time when the entire world will be as beautiful and peaceful as this spectacular site.

On Friday, Dr. Kirkpatrick and the Walkers visited two sites in Guatemala City. First they saw an enormous scale relief map of the entire nation of Guatemala, highlighting its rugged volcano mountain topography. Then they visited the grand national palace, which houses the executive offices of the national government.

As a complete surprise to Dr. Kirkpatrick, he was honored by the tour guide with an invitation to participate in the "changing of the roses" ceremony—a daily solemn ritual, during which a fresh rose (symbolizing peace) is placed in the rock-carved hands in the central courtyard of the palace. The two hands symbolize freedom and peace. This daily ceremony has taken place since the end of the Guatemalan civil war in 1996.

Dr. Kirkpatrick spoke on the Sabbath morning in Guatemala City, gave the afternoon Bible study and on Sunday morning presented the lecture on the fundamental doctrines of the Church.

Sunday afternoon the brethren presented a beautiful and lively show of traditional songs and dances. Dr. Kirkpatrick and the Walkers were impressed, not only by the quality and talent displayed, but also by the participation of individuals of all ages. That evening Dr. Kirkpatrick and the Walkers were able to witness the wedding of two young Guatemalan members, with Dr. Mundo officiating.

Dr. Kirkpatrick and the Walkers flew back to the United States the next morning, appreciative of the opportunity to meet with our brethren and ministers in these two Central American countries. UN