Journal snippits

The Primary President and another gentleman and a small child came into the room where I was at the church and I spent time showing the child photos of our grandchildren. The little girl had fun looking at pictures of Sarah who is not much older than she is. We ended up talking about missionaries and how hard a mission can be. Sister Ango's daughter has her papers in. She said she has told her, "Do not go just because you want to see a new place, or just to leave home or to try something different. Only go if you want to sacrifice and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ". So true. 

The council meeting went pretty well. I thought it bogged down a bit here and there but they are telling all the leaders that they will begin a monthly interview. The leaders did not previously know which counselor had responsibility for their organization. It will be a big step forward if they talk individually and each organization can discuss their challenges and concerns with a member of the presidency. They each received another list of all of the people who have been baptized in the last 2 years. There are five pages and only 10 are active. That needs to be improved! They need to call more people - a regular calling or at least have a specific assignment. We need lots more fellow shipping.  This branch is still mostly worrying about the next scheduled meeting and what do we need to do for that. They are beginning to lift their sights and see a broader perspective.

District meeting at 9:30. We expected Thomas to come at 8:00 to our apartment to get copies of the BofM reading chart to add to the material he is sending to San Cristobal. He did not come but he attended the district meeting so we were able to give him the copies then. It is great that he was at the meeting because he is the ward mission leader. Marcello was there also. We met Elder Castenada for the first time. He is our new district leader and a great guy. He is from Otavalo and has is hair in a braid as is their tradition. Each of the missionaries shared what they remembered best from the Mission Conference with Elder and Sister Uceda. He emphasized that we are looking for people not only to be baptized but to endure to the end, go to the temple and prepare to live again with Heavenly Father. He said everyone needs to be taught and supported so that they pray, read the scriptures and attend the meetings of the church. This needs to be the pattern of their lives in order to endure to the end. They were encouraged to involve the members in every lesson. They talked about rescuing the less actives and supporting the recently converted in addition to finding new converts. This is so important. I am glad it is being taught to the missionaries and they are encouraged to use their time for these purposes as well as finding new individuals. We have so many recent converts who are not attending church. The members must know the new people and include them and support them as they learn to be members of the church. It is a big change for most people.

Lewis spent a lot of time today fixing membership records and making a some charts and forms for the presidency. We made more copies of parts of the handbook for Pres Tite so he could counsel his auxiliary leaders. I joined a lesson with Gustavo Ortiz. He is very interested in religion and spends a lot of time praying. He is reading the BofM. I can't understand much of what he says. The sisters are great teachers. Hopefully they are understanding everything. In my uninformed opinion he wants to get baptized as soon as possible and that is a bit of a red flag. Went home and had dinner and returned for our appointment with Yuliana. Her class begins next Sunday and she wants us to attend and contribute a bit. We were not able to figure out how to recover a lost email address. Every time you click on a page it is at least a full minute to change pages so we cannot try things to see what might work. We will have to experiment someplace else and get back to her.  She is very sweet and anxious to do a good job in her calling. Elder Castenada interviewed another baptism candidate tonight and Lewis was the "companion". It made Elder Castenada very nervous when he keeps leaving the room. Joana is scheduled to be baptized on Saturday but there were some things that have to be cleared with the mission president. Hope that all went well. Her daughter, Precila, came in with us and looked at photos of Ella and Evan and Emmett. She loved the one of "Papa Noel".  She was interested in the nativity scene at the temple also. Very cute little girl. President Banchon was there for a meeting with the EQ president. Elder Espinoza went out with a new member Abaniz  Beltran while Elder Castenada did his interviews. This chapel is a busy place. Good things are happening.

Our taxi driver, Segundo, was very interested in Lewis' description of Mormon and the record of Jesus Christ visiting in the Americas. He said there were only primitive people who didn't even know how to write. Lewis explained that some of the indigenous people descended from a family from the tribe of Joseph who came with scriptures and an understanding of God and Abraham and the house of Israel.  He was very surprised and wanted to know more. Lewis went into the chapel and found a Book of Mormon for him. He is a neighbor of Jorge Whitley who is a fairly new member and very faithful.  

Lewis participated with the sisters in another lesson with Gustavo. Gustavo finally did get some of his pay from his former employer and will be returning to Columbia. He wanted to be baptized immediately but it doesn't work that way. The sisters will get his information to the appropriate mission in Columbia and they can finish the lessons and he can begin attending church there. I'm happy that he was able to get enough money to get home. His experience here was not what he anticipated but he is happy he found the Gospel. 

We made copies for more tithing receipts and helped the sisters get ready for the evening activity. Jorge came to the activity and Lewis talked with him about our taxi driver, Segundo, along with the elders because they all live in Bella Vista. Maybe something will come of it. The activity revolved around an iron rod experience for the members and friends and investigators. The turnout was good, the activity went very well except for the bad example of me (I followed the Branch President's voice and he led me astray!). Medardo (investigator)was there with his cousin. Daniel (most recent convert) and his family came. Gladys was not able to come because of a conflict with another commitment. People had fun and heard a brief discussion of faith, repentance, baptism, confirmation and enduring to the end from the missionaries and the young adults preparing to go on missions. It was a very good activity. 

I didn't sleep well with my infection problem so was late getting up. We forgot about our regularly scheduled Compromiso meeting on Saturday mornings. The missionaries were disappointed because they had a cake for Lewis. We went to the church and Lewis worked on the church computer. He is making little forms for the auxiliary leaders to submit names for callings and forms for activities and budgets and reimbursement and all that good stuff. I got my backup down to 18 files but it still hasn't completed. 

The YW came to make flowers for Mother's Day. We cleaned the church. I set up for the baptism. The elders couldn't find a taxi in Bella Vista and were about an hour late. Fortunately everyone else was there by then. Isabella was baptized and Joanna. Daniel was there and Gustavo and Medardo. Raul Acosta's daughter is back and she gave the closing prayer. Flor came, Sister Pallacio, Sister Ango, Sister Becerro, the Calapuchas, and Pte Banchon conducted. Fabian also came and several young adults. We sat there a long time but it was a good service. 

The sisters brought over Joana, Victor, Ariel and Pricila for FHE. We talked about the plan of salvation and watched the DVD For This End Was I Born. I think it is a bit graphic but the FHE was a good experience. Pricila didn't watch it anyway. She is a busy little girl but was just fine. Her brother was fascinated by the magnifying glass we had out. We had crackers and cheese and watermelon. They liked it all and gobbled it up. I hope their little family becomes completely active in the church and becomes an eternal family like we all aspire to. The dad is not yet convinced but he is open and beginning to seek. He says that he has friends who like to go out and drink once in a while and he would have to give that up.He does need to decide what is most important to him.

We went to the church in the morning to meet the missionaries. They brought the white pants from their apartment. Neither one will fit Lewis. He went to talk to Luzmilla and ordered a pair of white pants. She will make them for $25 and says they will be ready by 5:00 on Saturday. The sisters came with lots of new information for the membership records. They have been gathering more poste numbers and determining the street names for the members. Yea for the sisters. 

The sisters invited me to come with them so I went and we didn't get back until 5:30 or so. My infection is set back a couple of days but I enjoyed my time with them. The people they wanted to visit were not at home but they talked to everyone we passed. They encountered a man they had taught in the past. His 8 year old son came and joined the conversation and answered all the questions correctly. His dad was a little reluctant but they went through a whole lesson. Sister Schiller is wonderfully good. She is charming and lovely but doesn't let up. He agreed to come on Sunday with his family. He might just do it. He also admitted that he needs to get married to the woman he is living with. We stopped and spoke with everyone the sisters knew and found a woman who had been to church a couple of months ago but only once. She agreed to come to the activity on Saturday night for Mother's Day. We also saw a cat with a big chunk out of its haunch. Poor thing, but we were not able to do anything to help.  It was amazing to see the sisters work together and share the joy they feel in having the Gospel in their lives. Great examples. 

Lewis had Branch Presidency meeting. He ended up in the Clerk's office training Brother Herrera. I like Brother Herrera. I asked him afterward if Lewis was behaving himself and he said "No." with a big smile. Sister Elena Ango and Sister Angela Calapucha had a Primary presidency meeting. They have the sheet music for this year's Primary theme but not the music. It took an hour and a half but I was able to get it downloaded on Lewis' memory stick. She will ask Marcello (the younger) to burn it to a CD so they can learn the song. Sister Ango also asked us to come and visit with her daughter in law. She and her son and their two little girls live at the back of their house and are having difficulties and are discouraged and not attending church. Don't know that we can be of help but we can certainly visit and invite. 

The sisters called and asked me to do splits with them again. It is hard on my infection problem but I like to do it. I was with Sister Navarro. We first went to see Rosa Pisco. After some conversation she broke down crying and explained a problem I did not understand but I think she felt a bit comforted by Sister Navarro's words. Her son in law came in and ended that discussion but we ended up getting the information to correct his records and his wife, her daughter and the rest of the family. We even got the number on their electrical pole outside their home.

Next we were looking for someone on the new converts list. We ended up talking outside with a man who lived in the house about another lady with a similar name. Sister Navarro tried to invite him to church, his wife to the RS Mother's Day activity and his son and grandson to church as well. She is very determined. I was a bit out of my comfort zone because she was pressing him and he was saying that he didn't want to lie to her. He has listened to all the missionaries (Evangelistas, JWs, Adventists and the Catholics) and doesn't feel like there is any true religion. He thinks the only true Gospel is in the Bible as taught by John the Baptist. He thinks John the Baptist was the last person who had it right. I felt sorry for him but couldn't follow the conversation well enough to participate well. I said that is why we need a restoration of the gospel and authority of JC but he was losing patience. His very cute grandson was jumping to pull flowers from a tree growing in an empty basement and sliding on the loose stones and leaves. I was afraid he would fall into the basement excavation. He was pulling out the horn shaped parts of the flower and sticking them on his nose like a rhinoceros. He was adorable. A daughter, who is mentally handicapped was very entertained by having new people to look at and smile at. Their house looks like a cement cave with one saggy couch and a hanging lamp made out of an inflated blow fish. Very interesting experience.

Next we went to visit a lady who sells meat. She has a big band saw and a bunch of chest freezers. Sister Navarro invited her to the Mother's Day activity and to come to church. She was also reluctant to agree but Sister Navarro was dogged. I am certainly grateful to have been born in the Gospel. I am not sure I would have responded enthusiastically to the missionaries either. What a challenge to teach people who have heard the bubbly enthusiasm of young missionaries many times but have not done the work to study for themselves to see if there is merit in their message.

We went back to the church and added lots of good info to the records. Lewis appreciates their willingness to gather the additional information that is needed to have records that are complete and helpful. There was a beautiful canary in the women's bathroom. The poor thing was distressed and tired of flying about. We opened the windows all the way and finally he flew out.

 

More Snippets

Monday is P-Day so we decided to do a little sightseeing. But first we did some shopping. We went to the grocery store across the street from the Ambato Bakery and bought a flat of eggs, milk, mozzarella cheese, trash bags, almonds, raisins and granola. We are lucky we do not have to buy our water at the store and carry it home. We do have to be around at the random times someone yells "agua" outside in the yard and will deliver it to us in 5 gallon bottles. We have a holder that allows the bottle to fit upside down and has a spout. We spend a lot of time filling up smaller bottles to put in the refrigerator. The bakery was just taking the bread out of their ovens and it was too hot so we said we would come back. We walked up to the fresh fruit market and bought a watermelon and took a taxi home.

We ate breakfast, went to the bank and then asked a very nice man who was selling tours where the closest beach was. He explained how and where to take a water taxi to the beach that is on the other side of the port.  It is just a 5 minute water taxi ride and costs 70 cents each to be taken across. The little boat let us off and there is a path past a couple of hotels and several walled houses and then turns and passes more houses and leads to a lovely beach with a hotel behind it. There are mangrove trees and a little cove with white sand and while I didn't see any sea shells larger than 1/4 inch there are pieces of coral lying about. We passed a couple of areas that were roped off with signs that said that they are marine iguana nesting areas but we didn't see any marine iguanas. I saw finches, a couple of pelicans overhead and quite a few frigate birds flying in the currents of air overhead. We walked to the end of the beach and along a shady, rocky place under the mangrove accompanied by someone's curious dog. It was lovely and a great place to spend some contemplative hours but we were just recording memories and moving on.

We got back to the muelle and found a taxi driver who agreed to take us to El Chato where there are "wild" tortugas. He was a very nice young man who has been here for two years. He and his wife and baby live up in Santa Rosa near where we were going. He has worked milking cows from 2:00 AM to 5:00 AM every morning but he is liking the taxi driving hours better. He went with us to walk through the Premicias where we could see the larger tortoises. He was telling us that they like fruit and eat many plants. There are many fruit trees growing there. It is not an orchard. They are random among the other trees. It appears that all kinds of trees can grow on this island without care from people. They had some very large shells as well as bones from tortoises that have died on display. There were also sheets of what looked like roofing material that formerly covered the outside of the shell. It is quite beautiful up on the mountain. The rocky soil is covered with soil and plants and there are lots of large trees. It is much cooler and all of the greenery makes it very attractive. The turtles were just random. They are not caged and come and go as they please. We probably saw five all together and there was one as we drove out of the parking lot also. Very fun. Tortoises will always remind me of Galapagos. It cost $3 each to enter because it is private property. They also have a restaurant and a gift shop.

There are tunnels of lava up in the mountains. Our driver had another appointment but had enough time to take us to the entrance of one of the tunnels. He said it is the largest and has electric lights the whole length of it. We went down the steps and into the cave for a couple of curves. We were surprised how large it is. The shape is very rounded and there is water dripping from the ceiling here and there. It is cool and the lighting is subdued but it was comfortable and a nice experience to see it. There was no one around, no money to pay - just a cool place everyone could enjoy without fear or concern for safety. (I am impressed. Many local people say they love being here because it is safe and tranquil. It really is. I see not only bikes with no locks but I see scooters and motorcycles with the keys still in the ignition outside stores. Apparently people do not worry about being robbed.) They had a sign, a trashcan and well built steps with railings but that was all at the entrance. Anyone can go tour the tunnel at any time.

There was a young man signaling for a taxi that we passed on our way back down the mountain. Lewis suggested that we take him also and he was grateful. Not many taxis are available up on the mountain. He was going down to Puerto Ayora and there was plenty of room. He got out as we entered town. We passed our driver's wife and son waiting for the Chiva. He stopped and they climbed in too. A very cute baby indeed. They took us home and we were grateful for the fun time we had enjoyed learning more about this interesting island.

I wanted to send off birthday photos, so we went to the church to do use the internet. President Banchon and his wife were grateful that we were there because they had brought the dinner for the doctors and had forgotten their keys. It worked out because we had the building open. They had some leftover food and fed us when they were finished. It was delicious. We had a vegetable soup with some macaroni. They always have very tasty broths. They also served rice and a lentil menestra and fish. Lewis couldn't eat the fish of course but he liked the rest (Or he has at least learned to tolerate it. I really like it.) I felt bad though because they served me up a big portion of everything and I could not eat it all. I can never finish the lunches that are served in the restaurants. These people put away a lot of rice and I don't work hard and I shouldn't eat much. We really like the Banchons - great couple and now we know they are great cooks too. President Banchon said, "I love to wash dishes." He may have been telling the truth. I am not sure.  The foundation contracted with them to provide two meals a day for all of the doctors on their tour here. It looks to me like the doctors ate well. 

I am still reading The History of Joseph Smith by his mother Lucy Mack Smith on the iPad. Lewis has been reading other books as well. I am struck by how much the Smith family sacrificed. The whole family was persecuted for telling the truth. Would we have been as faithful? Could we have withstood the pressure? What courage and faith they maintained. We certainly complain about smaller trials than many people have withstood. We need more faith. We need to sacrifice to gain more faith. We need to keep all of the commandments and serve others - even when it is not convenient. What a great example that family has set for us.

We went to our district meeting with the missionaries. Elder Espinoza is 19 years old today. The sisters baked a chocolate cake with very thin apple slices in it. It was very good and we all enjoyed celebrating. We brought paper goods and a drink. During the meeting Elder Gates said he really liked Elder Pettingill's introduction of the gospel to the man who helped us when we were lost on Saturday. He asked Grandpa to repeat his question, "Do you know why we are called Mormons?" and his explanation. He did so. They were all excited about the simplicity and the ease of application. They have also just been asked to give a copy of the BofM to everyone who receives a first discussion or even before that if the person has an interest in reading the book. (They finally received the copies that have been on order for months.) They each took a turn practicing the same explanation but with their own twist. Each one was a bit different and each one was great. They were very excited and wanted to go an practice immediately. The left and came back about 20 min later having given out three BofM's and having made one appointment. Not bad.

They had also learned the night before that the four of them are flying to the continent tomorrow to attend the Mission Conference in Machala with Elder Uceda, the Area President. Edler Uceda is wonderful. They will love it. But Elder Gates will stay there and a new missionary will come so they don't have to pay the $100 over again for only a couple of weeks because Elder Gates goes home in May. So they are in a bit of an uproar because they have baptisms scheduled and interviews to do and appointments to change and lots to do today. It is never dull on a mission and you must always remain flexible. The only constant is change.

We went to the church and set up the computers so mine could be backing up. I'm not sure I will ever finish while I am here but hopefully it will all work out. We went to the hardware store to get another copy of the key to the Interview Room which is the Bishop's office. We went to talk with Marianita Becerra and she helped us with some more information about people who have left the island. We talked with Gloria Guilcapi and her son and they were able to add a little information. Some people are just not known by even the long time members. We will just do the best we can. We bought some rolls and yogurt for lunch. When we were home again Lewis got a call from Elder Gates. He needs a copy of the receipt for the boxes that were delivered to the church in order to get reimbursed for the money he paid the shipping company. Lewis went back down and got the information and let the mission office know the particulars. He will scan and email the receipt tomorrow. We had scrambled eggs and watermelon for dinner. I am reading Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith now. He speaks so formally but what a wonderful man he is. What a privilege it must have been to know him personally like some of my ancestors did.

We took another long sleeved white shirt to Luzmilla Magdallenes at her confections shop so she could turn it into a short sleeved shirt. Seems silly to pay $3 more dollars to turn a more expensive shirt into a less expensive shirt but will be worth it in this heat. We also went to the hospital because Lewis has been trying to contact Patricio Sayo. He was finally able to talk to his brother who said Patricio was with his wife at the hospital. We went there to try to find them but were unable to do so. Lewis called him later. They were home from the hospital. He said he would call Lewis when it was a good time to visit. He didn't call on Thursday so apparently his wife is not feeling well. She is not a member but a very devout believer in Jesus Christ.

We went to visit Raul Acosta. His mother was there. She is visiting from Guayaquil. She works in the temple and her husband is a sealer. We talked with her for a long time. She was hoping her son would come home and have to talk with us. Apparently he has been separated from his wife for something like 15 years. He is a school teacher and has been a counselor in the branch presidency in the past. He has been active and then he will drop out. Of course his mother would like for him to be active. She said there is a daughter who will return soon. She lives sometimes with her mother and sometimes with her father. She is active and maybe that will encourage him. We are trying to find prospective priesthood holders who are serious about the church and would like to make progress. We shall see what Raul thinks in the future. The mother said she grew up on Santa Cruz. Her mother is still here and I had met her last Saturday when we stopped at the home of someone the elders were helping to move. The mother of that girl is the sister of Raul's mother. The mother was telling us that when she was young a cement block fell from the ceiling of her mother's home and hit her on the head. She was in the fifth year of medical school and lost her memory and most of her sight and hearing. She had to wait three months until a boat came to the islands that could take her to the continent for medical treatment. Gradually she recovered her sight and hearing but she would black out at times and be completely unconscious. Over time she married and lived in Guayaquil. She said she was out in the yard with her 8 year old daughter who saw two missionaries who looked very hot. The daughter called them over and went into the house to get drinks of water for them. The mother and daughter questioned why they we in Ecuador and what were they doing. They ended taking the lessons and joined the church and have been faithful members ever since. Raul is the only one who is not sealed to them because he was unable to go on the trip to Peru to the temple. They decided to make the trip at all costs and she said it was not only expensive but very dangerous and they almost lost their lives on a high narrow bridge near the border. She is very grateful for the temple in Ecuador and told us about being called to be a worker. She has worked in the temple since it opened 15 years ago. I didn't recognize her but she worked on the day we were always in the baptistery. I do know who her husband is - I think. 

During Lewis' meeting I hung out in the Primary room with my computer. Marianita came too and set up her computer across from mine. I was able to ask her a few questions about the blog post I was writing about the island. She has lived here for 25 years. She said she had one of the first "cybers" when all that was available was dial up and it cost $4-5/hour to use the computers. She said the internet service is still bad but it is light years ahead of where it was when it began in the island. She was telling me about the branch. She said she used to live across the street from El Castillo and Andre Dengue lived next door to it. One day his wife Sandra recognized a book in Marianita's house and said her husband had one just like it. So they discovered that they were both Mormons. For years they tried to get support from the church but it took a very long time. They met in the Dengue's home and read the scriptures and from the Liahona. Finally the Quito Mission sent a senior couple here and he became the branch president. The group has grown over the years and now they have a beautiful chapel and lots of members on the records and more than 100 come to meetings here in Santa Cruz. There is also a dependent group meeting in San Cristobal that has about 40 members attending church. They are on our records and officially part of our branch. At the end of the presidency meeting President Banchon asked me to speak in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday.

The talent show was to start at 7:00. It started about 7:45 but it was worth waiting for. The big hit was three RS sisters dressed up as old ladies and then dancing with lots of wiggling and cool moves interspersed with complaints about back pain. Very funny. The big event was Snow White. Marianita was the wicked witch. She had a mirror on the wall and sent the huntsman to kill Snow White. He took her to the forest and brought back a fake heart. The mirror told the truth again so Marianita dressed as  a crippled old witch and gave Snow White a rose instead of an apple. It didn't kill her and she lived happily ever after with the dwarfs (adorably portrayed by the Primary kids in Santa hats and big rain boots.). There were young women singing, young men cleaning a statue and then throwing the "water" on the audience. The Elder's Quorum did a skit that told a joke that I didn't get. One family had visiting grandparents. The grandmother is an impressive orator and recited poetry for us. She also did a skit with great grandchildren that was very cute. The ending act was Marianita again. She chose four people to come up from the audience, to hold and pencil and repeat four nonsense (at least to me) statements about the pencil.  First they did it straight up and then very, very sadly and finally laughing hysterically. She chose the right people. It was very funny to watch. They got into it and are ready for "Que Hora Es" big time. Afterwards they served popcorn and juice. It was a very fun evening. There will be lots to clean up tomorrow afternoon in the church. I was surprised by how many people where there. There was no publicity that I recognized except one announcement at church.

Before church we were greeting people and Lewis asked me to question one man about his data in the ward list. He was upset and I didn't understand why he was angry. Sister Palacio came over to help. Turns out that this is the second time someone asked him and he is still listed with the name all wrong and as a woman. No wonder he was not happy. I think Lewis was able to fix it before the day was out. But we need to not ask him again with an old list in our hands. We found a woman listed as a man also. I think English speaking missionaries get confused - M is mujer (woman) not male.

I gave my talk and it was well received. Last week the branch president passed out papers from the Area challenging everyone to read the Book of Mormon individually and as a family for 15 min every day and finish the book before the end of the year. All who do so will receive a personal letter from the Area Presidency thanking them for completing the task. There was one page on heavy paper with 4 bookmarks printed with Pres. Romney's famous promise and a calendar and inspiration. Another page was a very nicely done chart to track all the chapters in the BofM as they are completed.  I talked about the opportunity to receive the blessings promised and told them about how our children's families read the scriptures in their homes. Different times and different approaches but the same wonderful results if we stay with it.