Afternoon excursion to local cathedrals

After two straight Mondays of speaking to sister missionaries in the Tegucigalpa Mission, we had a more leisurely day today and in the afternoon were able to participate with other members of the temple presidency and other senior temple missionaries in an excursion to see some of the more prominent local Catholic churches.  Photos follow:

Don and Virginia with President and Sister Amado and mission president Carlos Hernandez and wife with a group of sister missionaries to whom we spoke on February 10.

Don and Virginia in front of the main downtown cathedral, the Cathedral of San Miguel.  Note recent paint job.

Another shot of the same

Inside the Cathedral of San Miguel

The Basilica de Suyapa, situated prominently on a hillside on the other side of town from the temple.   It is mammoth, but much newer and less ornate than the downtown cathedrals.

Inside the Basilica de Suyapa.

Inside the Basilica de Suyapa.  It doesn't look as big in the photo as it actually is, unless you notice how little the people in front are (including Virginia).

One of the many lovely stained glass windows in the basilica.

Woman who crawled on her knees from the far end of the basilica to the front, presumably as part of a petition for divine favors of some sort.

Elder and Sister Bassett in front of the Iglesia de los Dolores downtown--the most ornate and one of the oldest of Tegucigalpa's churches.  It was closed so we didn't get to see the inside.

Don and Virginia in front of the Iglesia de los Dolores

The LDS Institute of Religion (just below the Burger King sign), as seen from the Basilica de Suyapa.  The Church had originally proposed building the temple on the grassy spot just left of the institute, but our Catholic friends felt it would detract from the Basilica's prominence, and the Church withdrew its plans.  The temple is much better where it is.