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.