Finishing December & 2013

I took this photo from the third floor where we live looking down on the first floor lobby. This is a family having their photo taken because the daughter was just set apart for her mission and she is leaving to travel to Peru. What a happy time that she has chosen to serve a mission but poignant because they are going to miss her for 18 months while she is far away. The missionary herself is excited and looking forward but sad to be away from those she will leave for the duration. We could empathize with everyone below.

The temple has been very busy during December and especially during the Christmas vacation for school kids. The baptistry has been packed and the adults have wanted to come before the end of the year also it seems. It has been busy and happy.

On Christmas Eve day we had an outing to Parque Historical here in Guayaquil. We hired one of the temple workers who owns a small school bus to take us. We left at 9:00 and found the park almost empty so it was peaceful and lovely. There is no admission charge and the park is very beautiful with mature plantings of many of the plants that grow in Ecuador.

In back, the Johnsons and the Pettingills. In front, the Bottorffs and the Martins.

 

 

 

Above are some of the animals we saw. There were lots of parrots as well as other birds. This species of deer is native to Ecuador. Here are 3, or are there 4,  2-toed sloths? This animal is a peccary (related to pigs), they travel in packs and can cause a lot of destruction. The lizard was just visiting the enclosures. They are great climbers and he had access to everything. The next guy is a tapir, related to horses (distantly) with three toed hooves and a strange nose. The last photo is of two otters. We watched as one of the workers entered the enclosure with a male otter in a dog crate. He was there to visit with the female. It was fun to watch them swim playfully with each other.

Another section of the park has re-assembled historical buildings. This was the home of a Doctor Coronel who was a wealthy shipbuilder. He, his wife and 11 children lived in this house, built in 1901.

Above is the Coronel house. It is situated right on the river. Lewis is studying the construction of the pavilion to see if he could build something similar for Sunflower Lane. You can see Brother Johnson climbing the stairs that cause a major problem shortly. I am taking a "selfy" in the mirror. The upstairs of the house, which they have opened up. Previously it had a lot of bedrooms on this floor. The view out of the windows is wonderful. You can see both the river and the park.

Brother Johnson was the first one to descend the stairs. The rest of us were at the top of the stairs and could not see him but we could all hear him falling from the landing mid way down the stairs. It was awful and so scary. His wife rushed down first and we all followed. He was lying at the base of the stairs on his back with an impressive pool of blood around his head. He responded to his wife and said he thought he was OK. He could move his arms and legs. Our guide immediately called for help on his radio. Grandpa and Brother Martin gave him a blessing. People from the park came and then an ambulance. The cut on his head was small. He said that his right hip hurt. They put him on a stretcher and then a gurney. Sister Bottorff advised Sister Johnson to request a specific hospital. (She had found out the hard way that the one they had used was very expensive and not very good.) Lewis went with the Johnsons in the ambulance. We were all a bit shaken but grateful that he was responding normally and his wife was lucid and doing so well after that shocking experience. We slowly moved toward the exit. Our young guide was so patient and kind. We got in touch with President Groberg to let him know what was happening. He and his wife were visiting people but would go to the hospital as soon as they could. Sister Johnson called us to be sure someone had their camera. So we were in contact with them. I had remembered to get keys from Lewis because I had not brought mine with me. We felt very blessed all around. It turned out that Brother Johnson had fractured his femur but not all the way through the bone. He needed surgery to put two screws in to hold it securely together. He spent three days in the hospital but then was released and is doing great. Not a lot of pain, just a lot of inconvenience. He has no cast. He can get around the apartment with a walker and has visited in the building with a wheel chair. His wife has been an amazing trooper and they say he should be able to resume his activities in a month. We realize that our lives can change, or end, in an instant and we need to be grateful and appreciate every day we have to enjoy during this life.That evening we had our Christmas Eve dinner together without the Johnsons but they were certainly in our thoughts.

The next morning was Christmas Day. The highlight was talking with all of our children. Being in the same family with our descendents is the best gift anyone could have. Thank you all for the emails and best wishes. We look forward to the time we can be with you in person but we are grateful that we can communicate even when we are far apart. We also enjoyed a delicious turkey dinner on Christmas Day. Sister Bottorff roasted a turkey and made the dressing and gravy. We all brought stuff and did indeed have a Merry Christmas.

I can hear the trash truck singing as it makes it's way down the street. I guess those guys must work even on New Year's Eve.

It is almost 2014!
Love, Los Pettingill