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DETAILED ITINERARY: Day 6 -
Monday
FLORES / TIKAL and RETURN
The highlight of this area just 45-minutes from Santa Elena, Flores, is Tikal
dating from 600 B.C. to 900 A.D. It flourished for about 200 years
after Jesus time. It was abandoned about 350 A.D. which coincides
with the Book of Mormon people. (Mormon 2-28-29; 4:14; 6;19;21) There
are approximately three thousand separate structures in about 10 square
miles. Tikal is possibly close to or north of the location of the City
of Nephihah (Alma 50, 51, 56, 59, 62). It may be part of the Land
Southward, and was probably on of the cities where the "land
was covered with buildings" (Mormon 1:7). Tikal was about
the Last of the Mesoamerican Glory, Revealing the Mayan Civilization
in its Splendor. The ruins are among the most famous, extensive, and
breathtaking of all. Among other structures with striking Middle Eastern
similarities, you will visit the Great Plazas Temple I (Temple
of the Jaguars, a symbol of wisdom and power). Walking through the
jungle you cant imagine where you are going, then all of a sudden
there is a temple! There are various trees that have a pleasant sap
which keeps mosquitoes away. Paco has you pick fresh weeds and eat them
. . . for extra protein! It is a day full of many Jewish/Old
Testament Comparisons and many complexes of temples. There are ant
colonies, birds of every kind and woods beyond imagination. The jungle
walk brings us to Temple IV, beckoning us to climb. It is steep
but not hard because there is a hand rail. The view at the top, looking
out over the jungle canopy pierced by sky reaching temples, is worth
every huff and puff. Biblical religious sites were mostly on "high
places." The many steep temples surrounded by the beautiful jungles
are chanted at by the Howler Monkeys. In this Tikal Jungle
setting, we will have a wonderful catered lunch.
On this Monday evening, we have a Family
home Evening with Branch Members. It is a sweet experience (not only
the goodies)! They make food for us and we bring our evening meal from
the hotel for them. This is a time to build Bridges connecting
Cultural, Social and Spiritual Gaps between Joseph and Judah. It can
be a touching, humbling experience.
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