The Martins wanted to take several local couples out for lunch at the Granchef buffet to thank them for their help and friendship during their mission. They also invited several senior missionary couples to accompany them. We enjoyed a wonderful meal and an even better time all together as friends. You can see Tim Martin standing above. Below are several shots of the food.
Here are Nancy and Tim Martin below...
The Martins pose with the Torals. President Toral is the Kennedy Stake President and also a member of the ward we attend. His wife is a temple worker. President Toral's job is to be one of the engineers in the Temple.
You know this couple. We are happy to be here in the temple and with these great people.
The Martins are with the Estrellas. Victor and Katy are senior missionaries from Quito serving here in the Guayaquil Temple.
The Martins with the Veras. He is the first counselor in our bishopric. He is a taxi driver and often takes senior missionaries on outings when it fits in with his other commitments. His wife, Emy, is a temple worker and so is Brother Vera.
The Martins with Alfonso Valero. He is the second counselor in our bishopric. His wife, Mariana, was not able to take off from work. She works as the principal and a teacher in a school for special needs children in another city. They both work every Saturday morning in the baptistry. We all get a chance to work with them. They are marvelous and we always have very, very busy Saturday mornings with several stakes and their youth coming each week.
The Martins with the Calderons. Consuelo and Juan live in our building and Juan is an employee responsible for the building and all of the people who come to stay overnight and attend the temple. He is so kind and attentive to everyone. Consuelo has cancer. Her faith is incredible. She is back working in the temple. They have two daughters, both are returned missionaries. One was married last week in the temple and the other is engaged. She has a bottle in her scarf that is dripping into her intravenously but she is always beautiful and happy and doing well.
The Martins with the Bottorffs. Dolores and Clare are on their fourth mission. They served a proselyting mission in Loja in the south of Ecuador. They were temple missionaries here several years ago. Then went to the Family History Library in Salt Lake and now have returned here. Wonderful people. She has many musical skills and Clare is a great photographer. They are from Ohio.
Martins with the Johnsons. Byron and Nova are here for the second time. The first time they worked in the baptistry most every day and Nova went home in a wheelchair because of her back. They wanted to come back and are making it all happen. Byron broke his hip on Christmas Eve but his bone is healed and he is working his way back to full mobility. He just has a cane for balance at this point and is doing great. Nova taught Spanish in high school. They are from California and live in Oregon now.
When we saw these I had to have one. They made it for me while I watched. Delicious! It has some chocolate and caramel sauce inside as well. Hurrah for crepes.
The Latin couples conspired with the waiter and they brought this little cake to the Martins. Nancy and Tim had revealed that it was their 46th Wedding Anniversary. The waiter asked Grandpa to write out "Happy Anniversary" in English for them. The other couples insisted that they conform to Ecuadorian tradition and take the first bite of the cake together. They did.
It is a privilege to get to know such wonderful people.
Jeri and Lewis Pettingill
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