Thank You for Remembering Us

[30 June 2016]

In anticipation of our returning home early, in July of this year, we wanted to go and see Hna. Elva Lopez one more time. Her sweet, gentle influence on me as a young missionary literally changed my life. She is and was such an example of strength and faithfulness. Life in Bolivia hasn't been easy for her, raising her family as a single mother, but she has never wavered.

Molly and I with our sweet friend, Elva Lopez.

As we visited with her, she told me simply and quietly, "Thank you for remembering us." From my perspective, I thought, "How could I possibly have forgotten about you." The us, I feel, being more than just her and her family, but Bolivia, and the church here, too. In many ways, it is still a young and somewhat fledgling group, even with so many stakes and wards. Many of the first generation of members here are still alive, and they remember "their" missionaries fondly.

But, the growing leadership of the church here in Bolivia are second and third generation, more and more. Returned missionaries, young men and women who have grown up in the Church. Brothers and Sisters who have seen the rich and deep blessings of the gospel, of covenants and ordinances, of the temple in their midst.

It has been such a blessing to us to have been able to come here now. Some people talk of the sacrifices of a mission, of being away from home and family, of missing important birthdays and anniversaries. We, though, have seen many rich blessings come to our children and our parents, in spite of illnesses and trials.

So, as I heard Hna. Lopez issue that quiet, sweet, humble statement of gratitude, I felt a debt of gratitude as well. Thank you, Hna. Lopez, for remembering me. And thank you, Heavenly Father, for remembering all of us.

Incachaca and an Apostle's Influence

[June 20, 2016]

The big event this week was going to Incachaca. It is about three hours away on the narrow windy road through the canyon that the big flotas and trucks take to Santa Cruz. We rented a bus for the 11 missionaries, our guide and her husband. It was very comfortable. We left around 7:30 am and got home around 3:30 pm.

Valley north of Incachaca

The double line in the highway, much like the stop lights here, is a suggestion. If you can pass go for it. We only got honked at once when we were passing a truck and the truck was matching our speed. We made it just in time for an oncoming truck to get by and honk his horn.

I'm so amazed at these mountains. Like the ones outside of La Paz as we went towards Las Yungas, the sides are full of lush foliage and flowers. It was so beautiful.

Incachaca is in the jungle. Before we got there we stopped off at a beautiful place. It is a trout farm with beautiful water ways, fountains, water falls and ponds filled with trout. There was a thatched roof gazebo and a pavilion where you can eat, lovely baño facilities and running water with soap and paper towels. We stopped there to place our order for lunch.

Trout Farm and Restaurant "El Conquistador"

At the trout farm - lush.

The restaurant.

Then we headed up the beautiful jungle road for our destination. The road was lined with beautiful Vinca flowers  and big "scatterflat" ferns and Tarzan vines and lots of other greenery. There were yellow flowers that grew amongst and in the trees, banana plants, fern trees (big huge ferns growing out of tree tunks). We learned that the Tarzan vines grow from the bottom up as well as from the top down.

Incachaca is a beautiful place. You walk a narrow, sometimes very steep trail, through this jungle. There is a river that runs through it that creates water falls. The first one is "Ventana del Diablo"or the devils window. Taking some switch backs you see it again and it is called the "Garganta del Diablo"or devil's throat. Here you could climb down and get a good look at the throat of this powerful rushing water. At the next set of switchbacks it is called "Velo de la Novia"the bride's veil. This was a beautiful water fall.

Garganta del Diablo

Velo de la Novia

We took photo ops and rested now and again for everyone to catch up. The scenery was amazing! Years ago there was a hydroelectric plant that took advantage of all of this water. However, it couldn't support the communities below so they closed it down. The plant is still there with all it's equipment etc. We took some pictures here. Charlie's dad will be interested to see them. We even got a group shot all 11 of us outside the building. Very interesting.

Inside the hydroelectric plant - now defunct

Meters and dials - and Molly.

This next climb was pretty steep but worth it. We crossed a rope (cable) bridge. It seemed a little rickety so we went two at a time. The river below was beautiful.

To the "Inca Bridge"

The cable bridge - yes there are slats missing!

 I wish I had the words to describe the beauty.

We were happy to get back on the bus and head for our fresh trucha "trout" lunch. It was very tasty and the portions were very large. You could order it "plano", or whole (with the eyes still in it) or Chicharon style cut up and  "crispy". We had ours crispy. It came with rice and a potato and a salad of finely cut up carrots, tomatoes, onions and cucumbers. You could put oil and vinegar on it. I just put salt on mine. Due to the jungle humidity, the salt did not come out of the shaker so we just opened it up and poured some into our hands.  They brought out some yummy green sauce like llajua and I put that on my rice too. The whole thing was delightful and delicious.

Trucha Chicharón

On the way home, we stopped at San Isidro, a little touristy town. There was  a big lake and a boat for tourists to climb on and take pictures. It is very quaint looking, maybe not water worthy though. Our guide Ruby said it was used on Lake Titicaca and on lake Cuña Cuña and on Alalay before it got there. They also had big swan paddle boats for the tourists. There was a man watering the soccer field with a hose, the end of which was in the lake. Other than him and about five dogs (who were our welcoming committee), the town looked pretty deserted.

Will it float?

The road home was lovely. I took lots of pictures of the little houses and farm land as well as some of the people. I don't want to forget how they live and work so hard.

A cemetery.

A church in a little town we stopped in for snacks.

Farming the hillsides.

We love working in the temple everyday. Everyday is different. We love the work we do and we love the people we get to meet. Charlie made another connection with a sister in the baptistry on Saturday.
This sister came to the temple with her twelve year old son. He had recently turned twelve, and had been ordained a Deacon. He is serving as the Deacon's Quorum President, and wanted to come to the temple to do baptisms for the dead.

Charlie visited with the mother while her son was changing his clothes. He learned  that she was the niece of one of his missionary companions here in Bolivia forty years ago. She told him that both of her parents had also served here in Bolivia at about the same time. As they were talking about missions and missionary work, she told him that her son was planning on a mission, and that he had been doing so since he was three years old. Charlie asked her how that came to be.

She told him that Elder D.Todd Christofferson had come to a Stake Conference here in Cochabamba some nine years ago, or so, and that after the meeting, she and her son had crossed paths with him. She told him that Elder Christofferson had greeted her three year old son, who asked him if he was an apostle. Elder Christofferson  replied, "Yes, I am," and then he asked the boy if he was going to be a missionary. He replied, "Yes, I am."

It's sweet to see the influence this man had on a little three year old boy even 9 years later.

We are so grateful for these experiences that we are having here. We feel this mission is such a gift and blessing in our lives that we will cherish for always.

Odds and ends - Miniature Golf?

[12 June 2016]

This week wasn't quite as exciting as some, but I figure I better keep up the weekly tradition (or close to weekly). Here are the highlights:

Grandchild number 14 was born this week. Congrats to Becky and Paul and their sweet family. He's really cute - lots of dark hair. Molly thinks that's because his grandparents are Bolivian!

On Monday, we went on a long hike up into Tunari Park. We actually found a long-unused miniature golf course. Quite interesting:

Panorama of a miniature golf course in Tunari Park. Quite strange.

We also got a good panorama of the Cochabamba valley from up there:

Cochabamba valley

We started back on the morning shift this week, as well. We only see those workers about once every three months, so it was good to be back. They are all such sweet people. We love working with them.

On Thursday, President and Sister Jensen invited us over to help them preview some videos that the primaries of the Universidad Stake made. The Jensens were asked to judge them, like the Oscars, only these are called the "Moronis". They couldn't get some of them to play on their machine and asked me to come over and see if I could get them to play. Once I got them working, they thought it would be a good idea if we helped them to judge them.

We were so impressed with each video. The costumes, scripts, music, acting and themes were so well done and well thought out. We even took home some yummy lemon (lime) cake that Sister Jensen had made, so it was like a night out at the movies with dessert! Lots of fun.

This time of year is a bit slow at the temple, because kids are in school. But, on Saturday, we had a couple of groups show up in flotas from Santa Cruz and Oruro. The morning sessions were full, which was very enjoyable for us. There were also three young ladies who received their endowments - two in preparation for missions, and one to be sealed. The Baptistry was full as well, with young people who had come on the flotas.

In the evening, we walked over to R&R's and got a rotisserie chicken. For 50 Bs (about $7.00), you get a freshly rotisseried chicken (we watched them pull it off the grill), along with two bags of llajua (hot salsa). That will last us most of the week.

One last picture. It is getting on into winter here, and the leaves are falling from many of the trees. They don't turn colors like back home, but they still seem to flower. Here's a picture of a tree here at the hospedaje that Molly likes - not just because of the purple flowers. Isn't winter great!

First week back and another connection.

[3 June 2016]

It was so good to get back to Bolivia, especially Cochabamba and the Temple and our dear friends here. We love serving in the temple. We felt loved and missed as we returned to the temple and were welcomed so warmly.

All the sisters were concerned about my wrist and wanted to help me with everything.

Two sweet sisters from La Paz, Hna. Umei and Hna. Charca, told me to use manzanilla on my wrist and hand for the swelling and to help with the healing. So I looked it up on line and found out that it is chamomile and has a lot of very healthful and healing properties and scientific studies have shown that chamomile is good stuff. So we bought some at the feria and I have already used it twice. Three times a week is recommended.

Manzanilla/Chamomille

In our first week back we have been to Los Castores for Salteñas,  IC Norte for food etc. The feria for produce and of course our favorite, La Cancha.

Friday the 27th of May was Bolivia's Mother's Day, Dia De La Madre. Wherever you go in the world, people love mothers. It is a great  honor and privilege for me to be a mother to my children who are such wonderful people. I am also so grateful for my amazing, wonderful, perfect mother.

One day in the temple I was thinking a lot about my dear mother. There is a sister worker, Hna Eguino, that reminds me of her. She is so loving and smiley and energetic and spiritual and fun. I was telling her about my mother that particular day. She could tell I was really missing my mother and she said she would be my proxy mother while I'm here in Bolivia. So sweet.

So I crocheted Hna Eguino a necklace for Dia de La Madre. I was grateful that my broken wrist didn't get too much in the way. It was probably good for it. I "typed" her a letter and included a picture of my mother and me so she could see how beautiful and little my mother is .

Hna Eguino cried when I gave her the gift. She loves the North Americans and is so grateful for us. She spent some time in the US when her son was very sick in Primary Childrens Hospital.

Charlie was asked to play the piano for the choir of the Villa Graciela Ward for their Ward Conference. They put a lot into their Ward Conferences here and this sweet choir had been learning two "two part" songs without a pianist. They used their cell phones to learn their parts. The director was Hno. Chavez who is a temple worker and a good friend. He was very happy we made it back from Utah in time for Ward Conference. He has a good ear and feels the music and is a very enthusiastic, good director. Bolivians are not known for their musical abilities. But they are enthusiastic participants. Sister Chavez asked me to sing. I didn't even hesitate, I felt honored to participate with these sweet people and I really enjoyed it. The songs were "Love One Another" and "Lord I would Follow Thee". The sisters wore white blouses and dark skirts and the brothers wore white shirts and red ties. One of the sisters made folders for our music. Royal blue construction paper with a yellow stripe on the side and a gold cut out of Moroni. The High light was a little 8 year old boy who  sang "Love One Another" while the choir hummed our parts. He had such a beautiful sweet voice and he knew how to project. You could hear him throughout the chapel and he didn't strain at all.

We enjoyed attending the Villa Graciela Ward Conference.The Bishop's talk was so sweet. The theme was about being a lantern to those around us. "Ajustemos las linternas los perdidos la verán: al errante  marinero ayudemos a salvar" and the scripture was : Juan 2:10 "El que ama a su hermano permanece en la luz, y en él no hay tropiezo" You  could tell he really loves his flock. The Stake Pres. message was sweet too about the theme. There were quite a few temple workers in that ward and it was sweet to see them. The choir added to the spirit of the meeting. Charlie was asked to play for the whole meeting. I'm so grateful that my companion is so willing to share his talents and that people can count on him to do so.

We celebrated Memorial Day with a potluck/barbecue with all the missionaries. We even had a Memorial Day trivia game along with candy prizes.

On Tuesday, we went down to La Cancha. On our way, a young woman stopped us. She saw our name tags. She had just returned from a mission to St. George, Utah. She was so cute and energetic. And on the way home from La Cancha we took the B Bus. A young, very handsome couple got on the bus. She had a guitar and he had a harmonica. He announced them and they sang some songs for us. They both had very nice voices. After a couple of songs he went around with his open back pack for donations. This happens frequently and the bus riders are usually very generous.

Selling pasta, grains, flour, etc.

Selling bananas.

Flowers at La Cancha.

Fresh squeezed orange juice on a street corner.

 Charlie made another connection from his mission this week. A sister in the last session got sick and had to leave. Her husband (Cesar Mendez) left the session to be with her. Charlie was able to talk with the brother while he was waiting for his wife. They discovered that Charlie knew the brother's dad from his mission and even has a picture with his dad and older brother and him as a two year old.
We are so grateful for these tender connections as well as the great experiences we are having here.

Hno. Mendez on the left, his son Cesar on the right in 1975.

Catching up: Five weeks at home, broken wrist, and a wedding!

[23 May 2016]

Well, we’ve got some catching up to do.

We left Bolivia on April 18th due to the wedding of our daughter Emily. The intent was to spend two weeks in Utah, culminating with her wedding on the 30th, returning to Bolivia on May 2nd.

But, as they say, the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray. So did ours.

Week 1
We arrived in Salt Lake City at about midnight on the 18th, grabbed a rental car, and headed home to our condo in West Valley City. Emily and Sam were there waiting for us, which was very fun. We visited briefly, then went to bed.

On Tuesday, the 19th, we went up to Woods Cross to visit our daughter Becky, followed by a trip across town to Centerville to visit with Matt and Lisa (our son and his wife) and their family. They added a daughter to their family last August, whom we had obviously not been able to hold and love. Molly really wanted to get to know little Violet.

We arrived, and Lisa and Matt came out to greet us with Nicholas, their 3 year old. We had only been there about 5-10 minutes when Molly, after kicking a soccer ball to Nicholas, fell backwards on the driveway and broke her wrist. It was a complete fracture of the radius, with a displacement of the bone. Fortunately, Matt knew exactly where to go, having broken a bone in his hand only a few weeks earlier.

We went to the Centerville Urgent Care clinic, where they X-rayed Molly’s wrist, gave her some pain killers and a splint, and sent us on to the Emergency Room at the University of Utah. While there, they set the bone and splinted it with a more permanent splint. Both before and after setting the bone, they X-rayed it at the ER, and the X-Ray technician spoke Spanish, which made Molly a bit happier.

In setting the bone, they had to numb Molly’s forearm, wrist, and hand with Lidocaine. To get enough in her arm to numb it completely, they put a tourniquet on her upper arm. That prevented the Lidocaine from getting into her system and causing other problems. According to Molly, the tourniquet hurt worse than the broken wrist.

Molly's hand and wrist just before getting the bone set in the ER.

That was Tuesday. Not as successful as we had hoped to be. We had yet to visit our newest grand-daughter.

We spent the rest of the week visiting family – Molly did get to hold Violet on Thursday, which helped ease the trauma from Tuesday. Wednesday was spent visiting with my parents in Orem, our daughter Stacy, Emily, and her fiance, Scott. We had dinner at the Brick Oven restaurant in Provo.

Thursday, as indicated, we visited Matt and Lisa again. We held Violet and played with the boys. Finally!

Molly holding Violet for the first time! The splint and sling
got in the way a bit, but they both loved being together.

On Friday, we visited Molly’s Aunt Lilly. She lives in Draper in a care center. It was nice to see her.

We filled spare hours helping Emily get ready for her wedding and visiting family. Sunday, we went to dinner with Scott’s mom and his step-father, then went over and visited with one of Scott’s brothers and his family and his dad. What a sweet family.

Week 2
On Wednesday of the second week, Molly got her wrist evaluated by an orthopedic surgeon, who informed us that she really needed surgery to place a plate in her wrist to align the bones correctly. We scheduled that for May 2nd – the day we were supposed to return to Bolivia. The follow up for the surgery would require us to stay here an extra two weeks, after which, if the doctor felt good about it, we could reschedule our return. We contacted our Temple President, President Jensen, and requested a three week extension to our stay, which was granted.

Molly's hand before the Dr.'s evaluation.

The big reveal. The bone alignment was not optimal, thus surgery is required.

We were also able to visit with a good friend from American Fork, Miriam Alvez, and her kids. She fed us a wonderful lunch. We were also able to visit my parents again.

Thursday night we had dinner with all our kids and their families, short Seth’s wife, Shalana, and their three children. Seth had come out from Wisconsin, and Holly and Jeff and their family had come from Missouri to be with Emily.

Friday evening was Emily and Scott’s “Pre-ception”. Stacy helped decorate, and we all helped set up tables and chairs. Sam provided the music. Scott’s nephews and nieces helped in the kitchen – it was fun to watch their interactions. Many friends and family came. It was fun to see many of the members of our old American Fork ward, and some dear friends from our Jordan Meadows ward.

Saturday was the wedding at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. While we all waited in the sealing room for Emily and Scott to come, Molly went around hugging everyone. When Emily and Scott came, she was still hugging and kissing folks, and the sealer asked what had happened to the mother of the bride. We all indicated that she was just doing missionary work.

The wedding was very special. It was so fun to see family and friends their to support our sweet Emily in her new life. Seth took pictures of everyone afterwards, and in his usual way, made it really fun. We had a nice luncheon afterwards.

The new couple with their moms at the temple.

Holly and Jeff and their family had to leave right after the luncheon, and as always, our sweet little Dani cried, which made all of us cry. It was so fun to be able to visit with Holly about her farm in Missouri, and talk to her children about all the fun they are having.

We visited our Jordan Meadows ward on Sunday. We hadn’t informed the Bishop that we were going to be there, so he was surprised to see us. In the afternoon, Molly’s sister, Mel, and her husband, Duane, came by to visit us. We hadn’t seen them in about two years, since they were serving a mission in New Zealand when we left for Bolivia.

Week 3
Monday, May 2nd, instead of flying back to Bolivia, was spent at the U of U hospital with Molly’s surgery. As they finished, and she started to wake up, the nurses kept reminding her to speak in English so they could understand her. When I first learned Spanish in Bolivia forty years ago, I was told that you could feel successful in your learning when you realized that you were dreaming in Spanish. Nobody said anything about waking up from surgery, but I figure that Molly must feel very comfortable with her Spanish since it has become the language of her subconscious!

Post surgery.

On Wednesday, the post-surgical splint was causing a lot of pain in her pinky finger, so we called the doctor, and he said it was OK for me to loosen up the wrap on her wrist. That helped a lot. We also got a sweet visit from our daughter-in-law, Shalana (Seth’s wife), and their daughter, Zoey. If we had gone back to Bolivia on Monday, we would have missed them. It was so fun to see them.

On Friday, we went up and visited with Matt and the kids. Lisa was at her chemotherapy appointment with her parents. They came home in the afternoon, so we got to see them, as well.

On Saturday, we got to go to the new Provo City Center temple with Stacy. It is very lovely. The restoration of the old Tabernacle was so beautiful.

On Sunday, we got to go to Becky’s ward and I got to stand in the circle while Paul, her husband, ordained their son, Gordon (our oldest grandchild) to the office of Deacon. It was sweet to hear his special blessing on their son. Another blessing of the broken wrist. We also got a visit that afternoon, from another of Molly’s sisters, Jo, and her husband, Pat.

Week 4
On Monday, May 9th, we drove to Fallbrook, California, to visit Molly’s mother. We got there late, so we just got a hotel room, and went to visit her Tuesday morning. We hadn’t told her we were coming, so it was a surprise. Molly’s mother just hugged her and cried.

Molly and her mother, with Sissy.

We spent the whole week there, just visiting, except for a brief trip down to the beach in Oceanside, just to get our feet wet in the surf and walk on the pier. One fun thing about Fallbrook was the market there. The announcements overhead were in Spanish, and there were products on the shelves that we have seen in the ICNorte market in Cochabamba. It felt a little like we were back in Cochabamba.

On the Oceanside pier with a friend.

Saying goodbye. Molly with her mother and sister.

On Friday, we returned home to West Valley. On Saturday, we tried to go to a Spanish session at the Mt. Timpanogas temple, but got the times confused. So we went to a regular English session. Since Molly was still in a cast, she needed help, and it was sweet for her to have sisters in the temple ready and willing to lend her a hand (literally).

On Sunday, we went to church with Stacy, where she sang in a mixed octet with other ward members. She has a beautiful voice. The number they sang was truly beautiful.

Week 5
On Monday, May 16th, we had lunch with Marina Valdizan, with whom we had served in the Temple in Cochabamba. She returned from her mission in February. It was fun to see her again and visit. Her brother owns the La Carreta restaurant in Orem, which serves native Peruvian food. It was very tasty.

On Wednesday, Molly had her follow up appointment with the surgeon. He said everything was looking very good, and gave us permission to leave the country. Hooray! The Occupational Therapist in his office made a brace for Molly's arm, and gave her a bunch of exercises she need to do five times a day for the next four to six weeks to get her mobility and strength back. Her brace is purple!

The purple brace - looking much better.

The brace is two-toned. Molly's favorite color.

On Thursday, we tended Matt and Lisa’s kids while Matt took her to her chemotherapy appointment. They also found that the spots on her liver have shrunk, but have not disappeared. Matt came back while Lisa’s sister-in-law stayed with her at the Hunstman Center. He went back in the afternoon to pick her up and bring her home. It was good for us to be there with them.

On Friday we had dinner with my brother, Richard, and his wife, Karen. It was very good. We all went together to the viewing of my Aunt Barbara who passed away this week. She was 85, and my memories of her and her family are very sweet. We talked at length with my cousin, Bob, and his wife, Diane.

On Saturday we called my mother, who celebrated her 87th birthday. She has been such a strength and help to Dad through these past years with his physical struggles. They make such a good team, and such wonderful examples to their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Sunday was spent listening to Emily and Scott speak in their Sacrament Meeting, and then visiting with Matt and Lisa again, along with her parents. Matt gave her a very special priesthood blessing.

And here we are on Monday, May 23rd, in an airplane flying to Dallas, Texas, on our way back to Bolivia, finally. We have really missed being in Cochabamba, and serving in the Temple each day. We have missed all the sweet associations we have with the missionaries, and all the temple workers. It will be nice to be back to our Cochabamba home.

At the La Paz airport, at 5:00 in the morning, with a nice
cup of hot chocolate to warm us up.

Special Temple Workers Devotional

[April 17, 2016]

Sunday April 10th  about 3:30pm we took the 3 bus down to the University Stake Center for a Temple Devotional for all temple workers and employees and their spouses. We got there about 4:30. It started at 6. The Escaleras were there along with another sister. A few more trickled in and about 4:50 we were able to get inside the gate and at 5:00 we were able to get into the chapel. By this time there were about 30 or more of us including about 12 missionaries.

We missionaries were asked to sing a musical number. Charlie found and arranged a medley of Families Can Be Together Forever and I love to See the Temple. I was asked to direct our little choir of 12. As none of us are professional singers by any stretch, my goal for the choir was to bear our testimonies as missionaries of this great work that all in attendance believe in as well. Also to express our love for these beautiful, faithful, Bolivian brothers and sisters that we serve with every day in the Temple.

We were going to practice at 5 before it started. Charlie wanted to practice on the piano beforehand as he was going to play for the congregational hymns, which is why we got there so early.

We were able to practice and get our seating situated. Presidente Garcia of the Temple Presidency was so sweet to share his personal hymn book with me as there were no hymn books in the chapel and I was leading the congregational singing. I left him a thank you note in his book.

I'm so grateful  that I got to lead the singing. The chapel was full to overflowing with wonderful, dear people that I know and love as well as their spouses that I didn't know so well, but some that I have met. I couldn't stop smiling at them and nearly cried, my heart was so full of love for these dear, faithful people. I did go down before the meeting to use the rest room and hugged everyone in the chapel that was there so far.

The choir did a great job. They looked up often and they smiled and sang from their hearts. I think we were all feeling the same thing. Love for this work and these dear people. I felt especially grateful that I got to stand in front of them and see their smiling faces and feel the spirit in which they sang.

President Jensen and his wife spoke, and then two of the Quorum of the Seventy assigned to this area spoke. Next was our turn to sing. After we sang we heard from Elder Hugo Montoya of the Area Presidency. He gave such a powerful, moving, talk. He loves temple work and you could feel that in everything he said. He served for many years as an ordinance worker, which he loved. When  he was called to be a General Authority he asked President Monson if he could still still serve as an ordinance worker in the Temple. He was given permission. He was amazing.

The whole meeting was very inspirational, even if I couldn't understand all of it, I could feel it. There were lots of hugs afterwards. Many of the workers that come once a month for a week from La Paz and Santa Cruz came for this special devotional.

In the picture below, we're standing with Hna. Zambrana. I had warned Molly about complimenting Bolivians about things in their homes, clothing items, etc., but she wasn't thinking one day when Hna. Zambrana came wearing a very colorful sweater. Molly complimented her about it, and sure enough, Hna. Zambrana gifted her the sweater right there in the Temple. Fortunately, it fit Molly very well.  In the picture at the bottom, Molly is modeling the sweater.

Molly and I with Hna. Zambrana.

Molly modeling her new sweater.

More Adventures and Sweet Experiences

[April 8, 2016]

While Charlie was coordinating the afternoon shift at the temple  I ventured out of the gates and for the first time in 9 months went alone. I just went to the little store across the street to buy some juice. Percy Avila was the guard. He was surprised to see me without my companion. We talked briefly. I also went to the distribution center here.

Once "safe" back home, I washed the bottles of juice. Then I proceeded to make pancitas (little breads) from the recipe that Hna. Altamirano gave me. My first authentic Bolivian bread recipe. Very yummy.

When we got home from our shift one afternoon there was a package for us at the office. A dear sister that I met in the temple who was staying in the hospedaje left it for us.  It was two kinds of sweet breads. One big round one that looked like it had a "tree of life " design and the other was something I've always wanted to try. Everywhere we go we see these big round donut-like breads that are covered in a thick, gooey, white sweetness. Very interesting and very sweet of her to think of us.

We finally found the pizza place open. We have tried several times and it has always been closed. You can see the big round brick ovens from the sidewalk. It was delicious and so fun to watch them make it. There were about four working at the same counter space. They are very generous with their toppings and the pizza cooks in about 5 minutes due to the hot temperature of the oven. We also watched them make a big calzone that they cooked on the edge of the oven, for a longer time of course. It was very interesting and delicious. I think we've found the place to satisfy my pizza cravings.

On Monday we had a real adventure. We went with the Hills, Russells, Hno. Angle (Sue Ellen, his wife was sick) and Hna. Butler. Hno. Hill arranged for a driver with a nice big van and a guide who was a daughter of one of the gardeners here at the temple. We left about 8:00 and got home around 3:30. We would not have been gone so long if the main roads hadn't been blocked due to some disgruntlement in the workforce of Cochabamba who caused the bloqueo. We went up towards Mount Tunari, a mountain close by. The scenery was beautiful. We drove through some interesting and quaint little towns. The road was narrow, windy, and paved with cobble stone. We saw lots of llama, alpaca, sheep, some donkeys, horses, one bull and a few cows. Sister Butler and I also saw some really cute woolly worms.

The summit was about 15,000 feet. We stopped up there for lunch by a lake. There weren't any trees to speak of at that high altitude and the "grass" was little clustering plants clinging to the ground mixed in with beautiful, delicate, tiny flowers. We sat on big rocks to eat our lunch until it got extremely cold with the wind and the cloud it brought with it.

Eating lunch by the lake

A panorama near Mount Tunari.

We thought we were headed home and finally found the pavement "ahhhh", when our guide decided we needed to find a route to Liriuni that wasn't blocked off. We stopped and asked someone for directions. Back to the cobble stones and the narrow winding road. We found the turn off which was dirt now and more narrow and steep. We even forded a stream where people were washing their clothes.

Liriuni is a balneario or spa. With natural hot springs to keep everything warm and healthy, they have two large pools, one with a scary cement slide that was not in use. There were some families vacationing with their kids and swimming in the pools. They had small rooms you could rent with your own tiled hot tub. There were also rooms with twin sized beds for longer stays. It was a regular resort up in the middle of these gorgeous mountains. Somehow people find their way through the narrow windy roads to this "fun" vacation spot. There was also a comedor (dining room) and a gift shop of course. By our standards it looked a bit run down, but it was still being used and people looked happy to be there.

[In the picture below, you see the BAÑO - they had toilets, but you had to carry a bucket of water in with you to pour in it to "flush" it.]

Liriuni "Resort"

It was a fun day. Another reason to love this place.

One of my Temple assignments this week was the sealing coordinator, which means I get to welcome and help the sisters who are coming to the temple for the first time as well as help those who are being sealed. Hna. Camacho was one of these sisters. She was receiving her own endowments and then being sealed to her living 98 year old mother and deceased father who died three years ago at the age of 95. 

Her sister was her acompañante (escort)  and her nephew was proxy for her father. Such dear people, the Spirit was very strong the whole time with them, especially in the sealing.  I love these experiences.

Another day I was assigned the Baptistry.  There were 8 boys and 8 girls. They were a very talkative, not disrespectful, just talkative, group. After Pres. Mogrovejo gave the bienvenida (welcome), I gave the instructions. I felt inspired to testify that this is the House of the Lord, He loves them and will give them inspiration and even revelation if they are reverent. They were quite receptive and cute. It was a good experience. Hno. Chalmers was in charge and his wife Sally came down to help me. They are cute together. A good example for the youth to see.

On the home front our  Danielle Renae Freese had her 7th birthday on the 5th. We enjoyed Face Timing with her before she went to school. We even got to see the yummy pink cupcakes that her mother was making for her to take to school.

We love visiting with our children, grandchildren and parents each week via the internet. What a great time to be a senior missionary.

We even got to view all of General Conference in real time via The Temple President's satellite service from their home. We enjoyed every minute of it.