Member Co-op
Becoming One with Our Friends
Ensign Article – April 1975
“As the first agricultural missionaries to serve outside the United States, Brother and Sister Daniel Noorlander were in some respects, pioneers.”
“As President Harold B. Lee said, you can’t have a good member of the Church who’s hungry...”
“Although Brother Noorlander ‘didn’t know what to expect’ when he was first called, his meeting with the priesthood members of the branch in Patzicia, Guatemala, where he was assigned, was fruitful. The branch formed a successful cooperative and work was begun on six acres of Church-owned land next to the chapel. The members also continued to farm their own sharecropping plots, but incorporated better methods.
“Some experimental crops were planted, rabbit raising was introduced, and dairy goats were sent in. Later, a carpentry shop was added to the cooperative.”
Elder Noorlander having lunch with the members of the co-op. Pres. Pablo Choc (in white hat) kept the co-op books that Elder Mario Salazar set up. Pres. Choc had only a third grade education.
Members planting at the cooperative. Elder Noorlander formed a priesthood co-op with Elder Mario Salazar. Each member worked at the chapel one day a week.
Rabbit hutches designed by Elder Noorlander.
Elder Noorlander and co-op members with their new shipment of goats. Brother and Sister Boyden were responsible for getting the goats.
Co-op planning meeting. Pres. Pablo Choc has the broken arm.
Elder Noorlander with five co-op members and Elder Rasmussen (newly arrived missionary) building pens for the animals.
Elder Noorlander and Bro. Mich looking over the feed they are growing for animals belonging to the co-op.
Abraham Rojoche letting Branch members get vegetables from the co-op garden on chapel grounds.
Elder Noorlander working the 10 acres of land at the chapel to start some agricultural projects. A few members had small blocks of land where they grew a little corn. In order to get started, Elder Noorlander paid them what they would get for the sale of their corn at the end of the year.
Elder Noorlander cutting feed for the animals from a plant he found, and then had analyzed in the United States. It was full of nutrients good for the animals and grew like crazy.
Elder Noorlander working on a Catholic man’s horse, which was almost dead from eating too much corn stalk. The first thing he did was say a little prayer. Then he ran a hose into the horse’s stomach. When the man tried to pay Elder Noorlander for saving his horse, he said, “No, I’m a missionary.” The man responded, “The Priest charges!”
One of the cows Elder and Sis. Noorlander bought from Cordell Anderson. Basilia Rojoche and her little brother and sister are watching the calf and its mother with great interest.
