The Prologue

Before we are completely immersed in Ecuador I would like to report our happy experiences just before we left the USA. We enjoyed our last meal at our favorite restaurant, El Gallo Giro. Most Spanish speakers do not care for Mexican food. They don't like spicy.

We were set apart by our stake president, President Jensen, surrounded by our Idaho family members. Leiann told me years ago that he reminded her of my Dad somewhat and I agree. He is at the end of his 10 year service and will be released the Sunday after we leave.

We had the opportunity to go to the temple in Boise with Troy for the first time. He reports to the Ghana, Accra MTC the first of next month.

We moved out of our house so a tenant could move in on September 1st. Susan and her family welcomed us into their household. We loved spending time with them, attending vollyball games, reading scriptures and the most unique experience -- a stuffed animal wedding and reception, meticulously planned and carried out by Sarah and Lydia and involving many neighborhood friends. The young man in the suit coat played "The Entertainer" as the bride entered the room and went down the aisle you see here.

We spent several days with Nancy and her family (more volleyball, soccer, football and scripture reading) and were able to spend time with Rosie as well. We saw Morgan, the BYU student, on Saturday only because she doesn't live at home anymore. It was a treat that Scott was in town for the weekend to help Katy celebrate her birthday. We were able to spend time with them and also Jeremy and Kasey. Nancy's children thought that if Katy was at their house, Holly should be there too. But it is a little harder to stop by when she lives in VA now. Time with family is a treasure.

David Evans took us on Sunday afternoon to go to our hotel. Heather and Ronin and her dad, David arrived on Monday to pick up our car. (We hope it is behaving well back in California. Before we owned it, it belonged to Jennifer and Aaron who took very good care of it. Jennifer tells me that her name is Harriet.) David (my brother) was kind enough to drive to Salt Lake to visit with us one evening after our training in the Salt Lake Temple to take us to the store to buy an electric razor and visit for a while. We were taking him to dinner when Lewis stepped out at just the right time for David to pay! Thanks, David. We enjoyed a little one on one time. Morris family events usually involve large groups of people, which we love, but smaller groups allow for more conversation. Ecuador is more special to me because my brother went there on his mission.

It was a wonderful experience for us to be in the Salt Lake Temple for our training. I assume this change is because there is no room for anyone but the young people who need to have the MTC experience in Provo. Our group of about 25 couples was heading out to serve in temples all over the world. Amazing. We spent most of our time in a chapel inside the temple as well as participating in ordinances. We were also privileged to go to the fifth floor assembly hall where the temple was dedicated and the general authorities meet before every general conference. There Elder Walker of the Temple Department talked to us as we sat in vintage perforated metal folding seats on the Aaronic Priesthood side of the room. It was a wonderful three days we spent there in that amazing building that was so lovingly crafted for 40 years by our pioneer ancestors. We go out to serve the members all over the world who are pioneering in their own ways and continuing a strong tradition of faith and love and hard work also.