Once André had gathered a core group, they began meeting together regularly. At first, there were only four families and friends.
"We would meet often, sometimes daily, mostly at my house," André says. "We studied the books the mission had sent us and the Bible and the Book of Mormon."
"It was a beautiful time," says Araceli Duran. "We were very united. We would gather each week to study."
"It is something that I will never forget," says Jeanneth, "because there was such a sense of unity, such a feeling that our Heavenly Father loved us and knew that it was now that we needed to get together."
They depended on each other, taught each other, and built their faith together. Soon their efforts were recognized, and an official branch was organized in early 1998.
Over time the branch grew, and the members needed more space. They rented a small house and then moved to a larger building that had been a hotel. In this larger building they grew to nearly 100 members attending. Although the branch grew through activation efforts and people moving in, much of its strength came through converts.
Oswaldo Villón and his wife, Rosario, are such an example. Rosario was baptized in 2000 and has served as Relief Society president, Primary president, and Young Women president. Oswaldo, baptized just a year later, serves as elders quorum president. For both of them, the Church brought a complete change of life.
"The Church saved me," explains Oswaldo. "Before, I lived in the world. I wasn't an alcoholic, but I drank like I was. When I joined the Church, these 25 people were my family. We were as united as could be. And we worked hard to help the branch grow."
Through the tireless efforts of Galápagos members, sacrament attendance often hovers between 100 and 120 members. In September 2009 they were rewarded with the dedication of a chapel.