BORDER CROSSING

For the past few years there has been so much talk about our borders and how easy it is to cross into the United States illegally. Last week we had an experience that would rival anything that the United States has to offer in border crossings.

We had the opportunity to travel to El Salvador with the Tilleys. They were going to visit with the people who are in charge of the construction on the temple there about the security issues for the temple. We were to go along for the ride. After going to Honduras a couple of weeks ago we realized that our passports needed some visa work. We arranged for the person in charge (Francisco) at the Area Office to pay the appropriate fines and get us ready to be able to cross the border without any issues.

Waiting at the border between Guatemala and El Salvador

NO PROBLEMO!!

We left in the morning and hit the border crossing about 11am. After about 15 minutes of the guys inside the office, Rex and I were wondering if they had run into problems. Sure enough...they were not going to allow us to cross out of Guatemala and go into Salvador. WHAT???? It appears that the people who took our fine money had forgotten to stamp the receipt. Sure enough...we had paid, that was apparent...but there was not the official government stamp on our receipt. Are you kidding me?

It seems also that Jim and Rex needed an update and government stamp on their official residency visa. We sat there for about 2 hours, and when it became apparent that we were not going to go to Salvador that day, we turned around and went home.

Wayne and Jim AFTER dealing for two hours with the border officials
BIENVIENDOS......HAH!!!

We at least had a good sense of humor about it all. We thought it was really interesting that we could not leave Guatemala....yet how many Guatemalans are in the US sending money back here so their families could live?? I hope that we will be able to try again in a couple of weeks.....we really want to be able to go there....will keep you posted.