Another Visit to Quiriza

[31 May 2017]

We went for (what we thought would be) our last time to Quiriza. I love going to Quiriza. I love the drive (even in the tiny vehicle with no shocks on the scary road), the scenery is spectacular. I love, love, love the people. I love Hna. Isabel and all her and Diogenes' children and grandchildren and great grandchildren. I love how Isabel puts treats high up in her sleeve for her great grandkids to discover when they are at church. They always find them. She is so cute with them. She told Charlie to just leave me here in Quiriza. I really wouldn't mind living there, but I have to see our children and grandchildren and our mothers back home.

We got there about 8:30 in the morning. I thought church started at 9, but President Roly said they actually start at 10. He rang a bell on the outside of the church (the kind of bell you would imagine a church to have with a tower and a rope that you pull) about 9:20, I guess to wake everyone up and then again at about 10 minutes to 10 to tell them to get over here, it's time to start.
There weren't very many members at church today. It is harvest time and some were working. Here is a picture of all who were in attendance.

Back row: Elder and Sister Lyon, 3 girls (I don't know their names) Marlene, Teodora, Branch President Roly Flores and his son in front of him hiding behind Diogenes
Front row: Eulalia, Milena and Melvin (children of Lilian and Ernesto), Miguel and his son Eynar (who was baptized in the river), Lilian, Ernesto with their baby girl, Isabel and Diogenes

Everyone is related to Isabel and Diogenes in this picture. The furthest relationship is Eulalia (she is the mother of Miguel's wife Nancy.

Dary Luz, Dario (who was baptized in the river
with his uncle Eynar), Nancy, Teodora and me.

I couldn't leave without saying good bye to these dear people. They weren’t in church today.
I was glad we took Teodora with us to visit. She is Isabel's daughter-in-law. She and her husband, Gualberto (#3 of Isabel and Diogenes' children) live in Rama Tupiza and go help their parents harvest and plant the crops. They have a motorcycle that they ride to Quiriza from Tupiza. I would love to see her in her cholita skirt with an aguayo on her back holding on to Gualberto for dear life. She doesn’t like the drive and says it is scary. She gave Nancy a hard time for not coming to church. Charlie calmed it all down with his sweet, kind, wise way, and I bore testimony of having faith in Jesus Christ. I'm so glad we stopped.

We bore our testimonies in Sacrament Meeting. I was glad we got to do that. We will miss these dear people.

Isabel takes care of all of the flowers and plants around the church. She told me about how 8 years ago she was very sick. They went to Cochabamba to see a specialist. The Drs. told her they would not operate, it was too risky. Through her faith she is healthy now and at 80 has climbed the fence in the back of the church to get in to water the flowers. She promised the Lord to serve Him and taking care of the church yard is her service and it is beautiful!

Gutierrez family: Carolain, Flori, Armin, Esteban, Alan, Andy

This is the Gutierrez family. We have visited in their home a number of times. Armin is their youngest and this picture was taken at his baptism.

Baptisms are no exception to the Bolivian custom of starting very late. Armin and his father were on time, but no one else was (besides us). As I sat watching what seemed to me to be disorganization, I realized no one was stressed by it. They did their job or sat quietly listening to the music. Their patience with the circumstances and each other helped to invite the Spirit. We were all just happy to be there.

I love the practice here of having the person who gets baptized share their testimony. President Alfaro always has the person who is the quorum leader or RS/YW leader or as in this case the Primary President welcome them. Then he gives them an official welcome.

Primary President Nohelia with Armin.

It’s fun to be in a place long enough to see the children grow and the progress that is made in seemingly small ways. For instance. The Relief Society President in Rama Tupiza has some wonderful ideas to reach out to the sisters. One of those ideas is what she calls finding the lost sheep. On a certain day the sisters will divide up and go visiting the sisters who have not been coming to church. We made sheep out of pompoms to give them (I think to go along with a poem or sweet note). We are also going to make some traditional Bolivian cheese bread to give them. The activity was scheduled for a week or so ago, but the only sister in the branch who has an oven big enough to make the bread was out of town, so we had to postpone the activity for when she gets back.

On April first the Relief Society in Rama Tupiza started reading two chapters a day in the Book of Mormon. We are going to have a Spiritual feast at the end of June. Whoever can answer the most questions from our reading will win prizes. I love being one of the sisters here.

We finally have two piano students that are progressing and come to lessons on a regular basis. Since they both come at the same time, while Charlie is working with one of them at the piano, I drill them on their notes. Hopefully they will keep at it. They both have a keyboard in their home that we were able to get them by way of some generous people who donate keyboards and the church’s piano instruction manual for people like this. I have taken music at church for granted. It makes such a difference in the reverence and in helping you feel the Spirit. It also makes such a difference in the congregational singing.

Charlie has also made himself available at the church every Tuesday and Thursday evening for anyone who would like help with their Family History. So far, just a few have taken advantage of his expertise and time. But those who have come have really benefited. One of the biggest problems is their lack of access to computers. So, frequently they have forgotten their account information. Helping them to recover their account and continue working in FamilySearch is one of the biggest helps.

One day the Primary President came to get help with her LDS account. Charlie helped her and also showed her the resources that are available to her on line as the Primary President.
The young man that we mentioned in the last entry who was baptized has been reading as much as he can about the temple and family history among other things. We were able to spend some time with him, sharing information and answering his questions about Patriarchal Blessings and the Temple Endowment.

A 14-year-old girl not of our faith was attending a youth activity and introduced herself to Charlie and said she thinks her parents are members. Charlie was able to find her parents in the records and we even went and visited them at her request.

One day when we were downtown a young woman was coming out of a store and saw our name tags. She and members of her family were baptized some years ago but stopped going to church after her father passed away. She invited us to come to her home. So we did. I think she would like to come back to church but is not sure how to go about it without offending her family.

I love these sweet experiences where we just happen to be in the right place at the right time. 
One of our friends who served with us in the Cochabamba Temple talked about a place near Tupiza where he served part of his mission 50 or so years ago. They rode horses to Tupiza once a month to buy their month’s groceries and necessities. The town is called Chifloca. We were returning from Quiriza one day and Charlie asked Adolfo, the driver that transports the missionaries and others to and from Quiriza, if he would take us out to Chifloca. He was happy to do it and knows the people there. What an adventure. It probably hasn’t changed much in the 50 or so years.

The road was even more narrow and windy than the road to Quiriza. I just relaxed and when needed closed my eyes. The scenery of course is spectacular. Charlie sat in the front this time in the seat with the broken back. It lays backwards when the shaking in the vehicle has been enough to loosen the lever that holds it up.

We met a darling older woman. She and Adolfo spoke in Quechua. She told him that her husband remembers the missionaries and that she would show us where the chapel was. She was very adept at climbing this hilly, dirt and rock landscape. Her husband, Rafael Abán, came and talked to us. He was a cute older gentleman. He told us that he remembers the missionaries and that he almost got baptized, but the missionaries were pulled out of Chifloca before they could baptize him.

Elder Rojas and Elder Vergara went with us. They really enjoyed talking with Rafael and would like to come back.

Our transportation to Chifloca. It’s even smaller than it looks.

Adolfo talking to the wife of Rafael Abán.

The elders talking to Rafael Abán. 

The building that served as the chapel in Chifloca according to Rafael.

There are so many good people that are searching for answers and the peace that comes from knowing they have found truth.

A couple of elders go out to Quiriza every Friday afternoon and stay in the church where there is a room for them. They are only there till Sunday afternoon. While there, they try to visit the little outlying communities.  It takes them 2 1/2 hours walking one way to get to some of them.  For some they have to cross the river (about knee deep sometimes). They have repaired some bicycles that were at the chapel, but the tires keep going flat. So sometimes, they use the bicycles but end up walking them back to the church.  

I wish we could take the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ to every person in every little community in the valley there. I know that The Lord knows where they are. He knows the righteous desires of their hearts and He loves them.

Conferences, Sweet Friends, and Families

[May 4, 2018]

We enjoyed watching General Conference in English in the Secretary’s office at the church with our English-speaking missionaries. This picture also includes their Latin companions. We feel right at home watching conference with 18-20 year olds. It reminds us of the old days with our children at home.

The missionaries in Tupiza getting ready to listen to conference.

Conference was wonderful and exciting. For me, it was full of hope. Hope for the future, hope for the church, hope for families. The changes that were made will really bless the members here. They are working to implement them.

We also loved having General Conference on Easter Sunday. We didn’t see a lot of the celebrations here, because we were at the church most of the time with Conference. We did see some people setting up stations of the cross down town.  I made a traditional Bolivian orange cake for the occasion.

I had a good visit with our landlord Nora about Easter and the sacredness of the holiday. She feels the same way about the sacredness of the day. I think she appreciated hearing stories of our “Easter Becky”. (We preferred to not emphasize the Easter Bunny, but to focus on Christ. Our oldest daughter, Becky, used this as an opportunity to do special things to remind her brothers and sisters and parents about what Christ did for us.)

We didn’t do much in the way of April Fools day.  One of my young friends, 11-year old Salma, tried to make me believe her mother was in the hospital having her baby. When I found out she was teasing me I had to tell her about April Fools day. (Her mother did deliver a sweet baby girl a week or so later).

A couple weeks later we had our District Meeting (which is like Stake Conference). I love having all 5 branches together. We have grown close to members from each of these branches. We were asked to get a musical number together for the conference. Charlie had arranged a medley of “I Love to See the Temple” and “Families Can Be Together Forever” while we were serving in the Cochabamba Temple. He put the music and the words on WhatsApp (which is the preferred form of electronic communicating here). That way the people from Uyuni, Villazón and Quiriza could hear about it and participate as well.

Our first practice was right after General Conference. We had a lot of people attend. They sounded really good. We had a couple more practices during the week after Noche de Hermanamiento of each branch, with a final practice 30 minutes before the Conference on Sunday.

As people came for conference I invited them to sing with us. Our last practice was probably 20 people, most of which came from Uyuni, Villazón and even some from Quiriza. Our mission president’s wife even sang with us.  There were about 30 members who ended up singing for the conference. I was so touched as they sang. It was beautiful and heartfelt.

Charlie and I were asked to bear our testimonies and I told them how sweet it is for us to see all of them together, how I feel like family, that families are forever and that I will never forget them. I don’t know how they could take that as we are leaving soon, but they did. After the meeting a lot of people asked us when we are leaving, and many wanted to take our pictures. We were even invited to dinner. At least they understood my Spanish, even if not my meaning. So here are some of the pictures from District Conference:

President and Sister Montoya

 

The Mendoza family from Villazón.

The Villalobos family from Villazón.

This is another family from Villazón, the Villalobos family. The girl next to me, Nohelia, left for her mission to Brazil right after the conference. She lived in Tupiza while she was going to college so a lot of people here were able to see her off.  

Abigail, Cassandra, Nohelia, and Sandra - Young Single Adult (JAS) friends.

These are some of the Young Adult girls sending Noelia off.

Hermana Davila, grandaughter of Clementina, Clementina, Hermana Lyon, and Hermana Teresa

These are some of our favorite sisters. Rocio Davila, Clementina Tejerina and Teresa Orellana. Teresa is the Relief Society President in Rama Tupiza and Clementina is one of her Counselors. Hermana Davila is the wife of the District President. They are amazing and faithful sisters.              

The Arce children and grandchildren from Titioyo.

These darling people live in Titioyo. They walk two hours to attend church in Quiriza. Or they walk three hours to attend the Tupiza branch where their father attends. Filipe is a counselor in the branch presidency in Quiriza. Mirtha is the one that often walks by herself the three hours to Tupiza. Rosario, with the braids is the mother of the two young girls and Reina is on the right. I met Reina the first time we went to the branch in Quiriza and was so impressed with her comments in Relief Society and we became fast friends. We just missed their father. He is one of the most faithful members in the Tupiza Branch.

Eduardo Vedia, District Secretary

This is our dear friend Eduardo. He is the District Secretary. He loves to pick Charlie’s brain. We have enjoyed him in our home often for dinner and a visit. He is very intelligent and has a strong testimony.

Vickie (Presidente Davila's daughter) and Vanessa (grandaughter of Clementina)

Vanessa and Vickie. Two little girls in Rama Tupiza that love Elder Lyon.

Rama America Relief Society. Left to right, front to back:
Ruth Lopez-RS President, Magdala, Maria Luz Romero with Sarai (sister of Ruth)
Maydee Sanchez, Elizabeth Sanchez, Marcelina Ibañez (mother of Ruth and Maria Luz), Felipa Tiñini
Lucia Huarachi (wife of branch President), Clemencia Miranda
Prima Cuevas, Sirley Huarachi (daughter of branch President)

One Sunday after Relief Society in Rama America I asked the sisters if I could take their picture. I love these sisters.

Prima Cuevas Isnado

This is Prima. I like to say she is my twin, because I aspire to be like her. She is loving, spiritual, an immaculate house keeper, fun and very funny. She was one of the first members to greet us in Mercado Campesino the first week we were here in Tupiza.

Sandra Solanchs

This is Sandra. She is 19 years old, a convert of about 4 years and the only member in her family. She is very faithful and willing to do anything that is needed. She is serving as the Primary President right now and is getting ready to serve a full-time mission. She will be greatly missed.

Ruth Lopez and Benjamin

This is little Benjamin and his mother, Ruth, the Relief Society President. He is getting ready to lick a squash called chayote. A couple of sisters planted a lot of squash and corn in the planters behind the church. On this day after the block of meetings we all went out and harvested. They broke the big ones up and passed them out. 


Here are some more pictures of Benjamin’s family. We wrote about them in our last blog entry.

Jorge and Sarai Lopez

I get to hold this sweet little Saraí every Monday when we do our laundry. She always smiles and talks to me even though she is so little. I think she is telling me all about my new grandson that will soon be born.

Benjamin, Jorge (dad), and Jorge (son) Lopez

I love this picture. Little Benjamin is in front wearing Elder Lyon’s sun glasses, his dad Jorge and brother, also named Jorge. Drinks are sold in plastic bags with a straw. Jorge is drinking mochochinchi. It has a little dried peach in it for flavor and to eat. Motorcycles are a common mode of transportation. It is not uncommon to see a young family of 5 on a motorcycle. They are such a smiley family. No matter where we are, when Benjamin sees Elder Lyon, he yells “Lyon!” and runs and jumps in his arms. And Jorge gives the best bear hugs.We have gotten to know this family pretty well. In fact, we learned a week or so ago that they were sealed in the temple while we were serving there. They recognized us. It was our second week serving in the temple.

When Saraí was born I wanted to make her something. But of course, I couldn’t leave out the boys, so I decided to crochet them some lions, because we are Lyons and maybe that would help them remember us.

It took a while to make them and I learned a lot with each one. I would work on them whiIe I waited for Charlie when he had a meeting or during Relief Society in the other branch. A sister asked me what I was making and when I showed her the picture on my phone they all wanted me to teach them how.

These sisters know how to crochet very well and they make very beautiful things, but they are not used to following a pattern. I didn’t realize that, until I had translated the pattern and gave out copies. I learned a lot of new terms (different from the Spanish terms I found on the internet). It’s been fun. I know I have learned the most.

The Lopez family.

Here they are with their lions.

Benjamin with his friendly lion in an aguayo.

Little Benjamin is carrying his in an aguayo on his back

We left 14 grandchildren when we came on this mission. We do miss them and are very grateful for Skype and the ability to see them and talk to them. When we go home we will have two more grandchildren that we have not yet met in person. We have adopted quite a few grandchildren while we have been here. Even one of the elders calls me Grama (when he comes to eat at our house he says our house smells like his grandmother’s cooking- so I take that as a high complement).

The missionaries with Gerson at his baptism.

The baptism of Gerson with all the missionaries in Tupiza.


One night an unusually tall young man in the Tupiza branch asked Charlie if he could borrow his suit coat. He needed to take a formal picture and suit coats are not all that easy to come by in Tupiza, especially if you are Elder Lyon’s size.

Miguel Palenque and his grandparents.

We didn’t realize that we were going to get a ride to our house to pick up the suit coat. This is the mode of transportation we took. The picture is taken in front of our house. The tall young man is standing up in the back. His grandmother is sitting in the back and his grandfather is driving. That is my seat in the front. Charlie had one just like it on the other side. With these bumpy roads I was afraid I would pop right out of the seat. What an adventure.

Virginia and her husband. They live in Cochabamba.

This cute little lady cornered us one Sunday and asked if we could meet her at the bus terminal the next day. She had something she wanted to give us.

Her name is Virginia. She lives in Cochabamba. I remember her. She and her husband have been out here working in the fields. She gave us a big bag full of choclo and goat cheese. Choclo is a type of corn that they eat a lot of here.

I took some to our landlord and asked her how to prepare it. She said it was very nice choclo and was already cooked. There are different ways of preparing the choclo, but her husband said he likes it in a salad. So I cut up some tomatoes, onions, green peppers and locoto peppers topped with some lime juice and salt and pepper with the choclo. She sliced me off some thick slices of the goat cheese and told me to fry it. Goat cheese doesn’t melt and it was really yummy. I gave most of the choclo and the rest of the cheese to them.  

Elder Smart - son of my cousin Lois Smart from Salt Lake City.

Before we left for our mission we learned that Charlie’s cousin’s son had just left to serve in the Cochabamba Bolivia mission. We have been hoping to be able to meet him while we are here. He just arrived in Tupiza last week and we are really enjoying getting to know our very own Elder Smart.


There are so many dear people we would love to tell you about, but It will have to wait. They will forever be in our hearts. As our dear 80-year-old, fence climbing, Isabel from Quiriza told me, when we get to the other side of the veil we will have to find each other and if I see her first I am to yell “Isabel!”.

Diogenes Martinez, a great-grand daughter, and his wife Isabel.