EDMOND—Members and prospective members in Ecuador, Peru and Chile visited with Latin America Regional Director Carlos Heyer from May 13-29 as he traveled through their countries. Mr. Heyer said, “The purpose of this trip was three-fold. We visited the members, inspected some Feast sites, and talked to members and prospective members who want to return.”

In Ecuador, a country whose atmosphere, city sounds and a flavor of life are reminiscent of Mr. Heyer’s native Mexico, the regional director met up with Local Elder Francisco Luna who traveled from Colombia. The two ministers visited with four Ecuadorian members and two prospective members.

The next destination was Peru, another country that Mr. Heyer said has similarities to Mexico, with desert areas and jungles more inland. Peru has a significant cultural influence from Japanese and Chinese nationals and immigrants whose business keeps the economy and exchange rate stable, he said. With Local Elder Luis Farias, who traveled from Chile to Trujillo, Mr. Heyer visited 10 members and met with two prospective members and three former members who are counseling to return. Mr. Heyer shared that John Mantilla, one young man in the congregation, has been attending with his mother for many years and has been receiving Church third-tithe assistance for him to finish school: He recently earned his industrial electrician technician certification, which opens doors to a better future for him and his single mother, who has raised him from infancy.

The group kept the Sabbath at a member’s home and kept Pentecost in a rented room at a hotel. Mr. Heyer and Mr. Farias then visited three possible Feast sites in the area. Peru had recently experienced significant mudslides, making it difficult to find a suitable Feast site.

Mr. Farias also accompanied Mr. Heyer to Chile, the continent’s southwestern most nation, and a country with a more European culture, including German-influenced architecture. Mr. Heyer described it as a “different world: Different from any other region that I have visited in South America.”

The exchange rate between the Chilean peso and the United States dollar has changed for the worse for the handful of Chilean brethren there. In addition to fewer job opportunities and a declining tourism, rising prices have meant that traveling for the Feast is more difficult for the handful of members in Chile, Mr. Heyer said.

The Latin American region will have three Feast sites this year. These sites are open to members who speak Spanish. Mr. Heyer said that members who are fluent in Spanish are welcome to apply for transfers to Spanish-speaking Feast sites.

Mr. Heyer also reported that the mP3 players that members have been using since January 2017 to receive recordings of Bible studies, sermonettes, sermons and announcements have been working well and have been a “life saver” solution to the diminishing reliability of the postal system.

“The young people are facing strong opposition from all angles in the school, and those graduating face trials in the workplace to work on Saturdays,” Mr. Heyer said. “It can be difficult for a teenager to be focused. It is a blessing for the teens to go to Philadelphia Youth Camp. It is inspiring for them to make a push to learn more English and to apply for Armstrong College. But the embassies have strict regulations, and it is very hard for the teens to travel.” He asked members to pray for the young boys and girls in the Latin America region.