                 }
         }
         
-        // load messages
         self.loadMessages(query: self.getMessageQuery())
-
     }
     
     

        return 0
    }
    
    // numberOfItemsInSection: Total cells
    override func collectionView(_ collectionView: UICollectionView, numberOfItemsInSection section: Int) -> Int {
        return messages.count
    }
    
    // cellForItemAt:
    override func collectionView(_ collectionView: UICollectionView, cellForItemAt indexPath: IndexPath) -> UICollectionViewCell {


    
    /*===============================================================
        viewDidLoad
     ===============================================================*/
    
    override func viewDidLoad() {
        super.viewDidLoad()
        
        inputToolbar.contentView.textView.becomeFirstResponder()
        
        // Setting the senderId to the currentUser id so that we can differentiate between incoming and outgoing messages
