Missionary Pioneers
Elder and Sister Noorlander
Elder Noorlander standing with the Rojoche family: Abraham with his wife, Estela, Basilia, Tomas, and Sotaro. Read Abraham’s letter to Elder and Sis. Noorlander after returning from their mission.
Picture caption: Elder and Sis. Noorlander standing in front of the chapel in Patcizia, Guatemala not long after arriving in the mission field (1973). They lived in the chapel for the duration of their mission. Sis. Noorlander used the kitchen to cook a lot of meals for missionaries and members, including little children like Chepe.
Sis. Noorlander with Sis. Per and her children, wearing a shirt woven by Sis. Per. They are standing in front of a home paid for with LDS Fast Offerings. 1974.
A Mission to Remember
The Noorlanders were called to Guatemala to provide the native Indians with hope. They found the people living on one meal a day consisting of corn tortillas. The Noorlanders went to work. Miracles happened.
This is their story, including a report by Elder Noorlander presented to the Presiding Bishopric of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Twelve Years After the Mission
The Noorlanders returned to Guatemala in 1986, twelve years after they completed their mission. Sis. Noorlander described what they found on the last page of her photo journal:
“What a difference twelve years make. The co-op was exporting vegetables, the members had shoes on their feet, and they didn’t go to bed hungry anymore.”
Dan Noorlander sitting in front of a beautiful waterfall when he and Dorothy visited Guatemala, with friends Bob and Lily Sorenson, 12 years after returning from their mission.
Dorothy Noorlander (1974): “Me looking out over Lake Atitlan. It was beautiful, and referred to as the ‘Waters of Mormon’ by the missionaries.”
“And now to you mature brothers and sisters: we need many, many more senior couples. To the faithful couples now serving or who have served in the past, we thank you for your faith and devotion to the gospel of Jesus Christ. You serve willingly and well and accomplish great good.”
Pres. Thomas S. Monson: Missionary Work.
This inscription was removed from a plaque, presented to Elder and Sis. Noorlander by the Benson Institute, BYU.