THE YEARS LEAVE MEMORIES OF THE TREES

                 OUR MISSION WAS FOUND IN 1964.  I CAME IN 1966 WITH TWO 
                 LAY MISSIONARIES, FROM THE DIOCESE OF HELENA, MONTANA.  
                 FOUR PRIESTS CAME FIRST.  THE LAND WAS MOSTLY COFFEE 
                 TREES BEFORE WE BEGAN CONSTRUCTION OF MISSION HOUSES.
                 THE CLINICA MAXEÑA WAS CONSTRUCTED.  "MAXEÑA" IS FROM
                 THE MAYAN QUICHE LANGUAGE; IT TRANSLATES TO TOMAS.  THE
                 TOWN IS SANTO TOMAS LA UNION.  OUR PARISH IS SAINT
                 THOMAS APOSTLE; OUR TOWN FIESTA IS DECEMBER 21ST, EACH
                  YEAR.

                  TREES WERE PLANTED, A FEW NATIONAL TREES OF GUATEMALA,
                  "LA CEIBA"! THIS IS A FAMOUS TREE.  I REMEMBER WHEN ONE OF 
                  THE PRIESTS PLANTED ONE, FROM A BRANCH OF ONE, AND SAID 
                   I AM GOING TO SEE THIS FIFTY YEARS FROM NOW.  HE LEFT, I 
                   DID NOT AND THIS AND A FEW OTHER LA CEIBAS, GREW HIGH
                   TOWARDS THE SKY, AND WITH ENORMOUS BRANCHES.  WE HAD
                   FIVE LA CEIBAS ON THE PROPERTY.  FOR SECURITY WE CHOPPED  
                  TWO COMPLETELY DOWN.  ONE THE ROOTS WERE ROTTING AND
                  NEAR THE ROAD! OTHER TREES WE TRIMMED!  WE HAVE FIRE
                  WOOD FOR THE "POOR", FOR OUR OWN CLINIC COOKING AND 
                   FOR USE DURING OUR TWO EYE SURGERIES IN NOVEMBER AND
                   APRIL!  THE OPTHAMOLOGICAL SURGICAL TEAM ARE IN 
                   NOVEMBER AND APRIL.  ONE TEAM FROM MONTANA AND THE
                   OTHER FROM CALIFORNIA!  STAY TUNED TO MY BLOG.  THANKS!