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.

 

 

Snippets from my journal

We went to try to buy envelopes for the tithing. We are out of tithing envelopes. The stores in town don't have a box of envelopes for sale. Hopefully they will get a shipment before the weekend. And they always need batteries for the remotes for the TV screens and the air conditioning. We also each got an ice cream.

We bought tamales on the way home. Lewis liked them. They look like Mexican tamales but are wrapped in banana leaves instead of corn husks. I wasn't very impressed but then I don't like the others very much either. Thank heavens we have a chunk of chocolate for dessert.

Lewis went to buy lumber and cement blocks with which to build a shelf to hold all of the manuals that he took out of the office. He found boards. He had to go out to the artisan area to buy blocks. He bought a saw and paid for a lot of taxi rides and help to unload everything. But he got a big shelf built and all of the manuals off the floor. After breakfast/lunch we went to the chapel and he worked more on the paperwork. Brother Villon came again and worked with Lewis organizing the clerk's office.  

We sorted out all of the books on the new shelves and put them in categories. Lewis had me organize all the pictures "in the library". They were all in a plastic bag. Lewis was destroying all financial records older than three years and two notebooks became available. I got almost all of the Gospel Art into the plastic sleeves of the two notebooks along with the index so they can be found. There are still a lot of pictures from the lesson manuals. I will keep working to sort those out as well. Brother Villon came to work for an hour or so in the office with Lewis and they got more done on the financial records.

I have been reading the history of Joseph Smith written by his mother. It is fascinating and has so many interesting details about the lives of her family. I am enjoying reading it. I need to remember that any sacrifices I might make are very small indeed. 

Angela Calapucha and Marianita Becerra and Karen Macias made Fanesca - the traditional Easter soup. Fanesca is a special soup with supposedly 15 different grains and peas and beans in it. It also has a special salted and dried fish but they took some soup out for us before the fish was added. So nice. It is a fairly big fish that they cut open, lay out flat, salt heavily and when it is almost dry, some people hang it on the clothesline to finish drying completely. The dog was tied up the day they had a fish out drying near where we live. It is an Ecuadorian tradition and the dried fish is for sale all over Ecuador at this time of year. (It smells awful.) But the soup was good. 

The women worked all morning in the heat over an open fire behind the chapel to make the soup. They have a huge pot and placed it on several stones - there are hundreds surrounding the church. They cooked it over an open fire. People started showing up about 1:00 and they served 30-40 people. There were several new members and non members and old members and children and it was very festive and fun. If you serve food they will come. 

The soup had a lovely broth with lots of grains and vegetables. To serve it they added a cooked strip of ripe plantain, a chunk of hard boiled egg and a strip of cheese. They also had juice that was very good. Lots of work went into that meal. The three women from the ward spent all day, cooking, serving and cleaning up outside the church in the sun. And they did the dishes in the big pot with a hose. I tried to help clean up. They said I could help clean the chapel tomorrow but I wasn't dressed to wash dishes with them outside. The provided a very welcome activity for the ward. It was appreciated by all who came.

I am having a great birthday. The sister missionaries baked me a banana cake and brought it to our meeting this morning. I even had balloons! We had been invited to go to lunch at a members house today and while we got lost on the way, we finally made it. We were in a cement block house but nicely plastered and painted on the inside. The roof looks like a Chipotle restaurant--the shiny corrugated metal they use for a false ceiling. But in this case it is the real ceiling and roof and there are no problems with the openings at the eves because there is no glass in the windows either. She has a stove that is much better than mine at home. Her brother who lives in Florida was there with his blond American wife and bilingual daughter. His birthday is today also. Who knew I would ever spend my birthday in the outskirts of Bella Vista above Puerto Ayora on the Island of Santa Cruz in the Galapagos Islands?! We even saw a "wild" tortoise near the roadside on the way back down the hill. That was a cool birthday present. 

We had church at 8:00 this morning because the medical and dental team were going to be using the building on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. But they changed the plans at the last minute and the company who was sponsoring the doctors wanted them to hold it in another location. So the people who were at church on time last week came at 8:00 and the rest of them came at 9:00 when we were finishing up. Lewis gave a great talk on family history and explained that our emphasis on families and temples is because we know that life after death is as real as our lives here on the earth. Sister Dengue also spoke about the Savior so they did remember it was Easter Sunday. Also a young man talked about tithing. 

I sat next to Menardo who came to church for the first time. We sat in on one of his lessons last week. He is a sweet 18 year old who really cares about religion and knows that our church is not highly regarded by the other churches in town but he has felt something special in his lessons and wants to know more. I think he enjoyed church today. Sunday School class is always good. Narcisa is an excellent teacher. Relief Society was also very good. I was nervous as one of the newer converts who is not socially well adjusted asked if Joseph Smith was a prophet and then she asked if she could bear her testimony. I wasn't able to understand everything she said but she did bear a testimony and while it was long the teacher handled it beautifully and made everyone feel comfortable. She invited one of the Sister missionaries to tell a little bit about Joseph Smith and said it is always good to ask questions when you want to learn. 

The teacher then told us that long ago, Narcisa (the Gospel Doctrine teacher) worked across the street from where she worked and they were acquaintances. Somehow they were discussing religion and Narcisa asked her if she would like to learn about Mormons. Sister Rosario Villon said "Yes" and the missionaries happened to be passing nearby and they called them over and made an appointment. She has been a member for 14 years. Her children told her it wouldn't last long because she had been a member of two previous churches but she bore a sweet testimony and said she is here to stay. It was a great meeting.

More snippets

The Hermanas spoke in Sacrament Meeting and did a great job. Flor taught Sunday School again. I really like her. She is self assured and  humble. She looks and acts like she is everyone's best friend and people respond to her. I need to be more like her.

We went to our district missionary meeting and the elders had a couple of well planned thoughts and presentations. The presented the mission goal of 600 baptisms in the month of April. March ended with 395. WOW! When we were in Quito, the Quito mission was happy when they broke 200. We did a roll play and I was the investigator. They plan to teach about keeping the Sabbath Day holy every day this week and commit people to coming to church to participate in General Conference. 

We went out hunting for prospective Melchizedek Priesthood holders. We looked in all the wrong places and then found a guy who was helpful and told a taxi driver where to take us. We were looking for an artist's park which it turns out is way out of town and a place where there are about 20 big open sheds where individual artisans stored their supplies and made their products. This is not a souvenir market. This is where carpenters make furniture and  large cabinets and serious stuff. There was also a big shed that served as a cafeteria because we were a long ways from town. We were looking for Luis XV. We found a sign with that name but no one was there. We asked at a nearby one and the man we were looking for was inside. Lewis talked with him and invited him to come to church on Sunday to listen to General Conference. He said he would come. I had stayed in the taxi so that the driver wouldn't leave us. It is a long way back to town.  One success. We shall see if he does come on Sunday. Will we recognize him if he does?

The taxi driver took us back to town. He charged us $6 but it was worth it. We were studying the maps and lists on the sidewalk when the YW's president came by. We asked her a couple of questions and she suggested we talk with Marianita. She was headed to her office and took us with her. Marianita has a business taking care of legal matters and selling real estate. She is a long time member and has lived here for many years. She spent at least an hour with us and gave Lewis lots of helpful information. She knew of several people who have left the island and could tell us who was active and who was not. She gave us names of active members who would be able to find less active member that they are related to. She was so kind to share her time with us. It will be a good help. 

We bought stationary to write thank you notes to the people who were so kind to us during the evacuation. The taxi driver asked us when we got out of the car, "What time did you say conference started?" Maybe...lots of people will come and watch General Conference.

We went to the church. It took several tries each to get four out of five new photos uploaded to Shutterfly. I have not been able to complete a download since coming here but I am getting some things backed-up. I have a lot of new photos for instance. I am just deleting most of my general newsletters and emails and the Feedly stuff. I cannot keep up here. And the time I do have is so inefficient I can get little done. Do you think it might help break my addiction? Probably not, but I will find out I can live without reading everything. I am so glad we can keep in contact somewhat with our family. Skype does not work but we can read and send emails. Leiann sent me an email saying she really liked the birthday cards for Bryce and Troy. Yea for thank you notes. 

We went to visit Raul Acosta again. He was not home. We waited in front of his house for 1/2 hour to see if he came home. No luck. We each got an ice cream cone. We talked with President Banchon and got the keys to the clerk's office so Lewis could try to correct some of the errors on the membership records. He cannot send anything out without the Branch president's approval so he can only do little stuff. He removed the Garner's records. They left a couple of years ago and are now serving in the Area Office.

We found Sister Navarro at the church with a new companion! Things move fast in this mission! Sister Campbell got a phone call last night and left this morning. So did Elder Cabrera. New missionaries to get acquainted with. So sad to have lost the last two but the new ones will be great also. They are scrambling to find the baptismal clothing and get things ready for Gladys's and Kevin's baptism after conference on Sunday. We had leftover vegetable soup with rice and avocado and bread. 

Today is Saturday and the beginning of General Conference. We went early and Lewis worked on the branch computer for a while. It took me several tries but I finished uploading the last birthday card I had made. He set up the broadcast equipment as well. We had 40 people come to listen to the first session. It was wonderful. I even understood most of it. We met the Degel family, Rosa Pisco and lots of people I have seen before. It is good to recognize a few people now. I took notes and stayed alert for most of the talks. There was one big lapse where we missed the song and most of one talk and part of another one but most came through very well.

We went to the "kiosks" to eat lunch. We sat at a table with a young woman and learned that the oldest daughter of the Branch President is her friend. We had soup with bola, I wasn't so sure about the bola but the broth and the vegetables were very good. We had seco de pollo, which is a sauce over rice with a piece of chicken. There was a fried madura (ripe plantain) also. I am learning to like them. It was all good and we had juice too. I can never eat all of the rice that is served. When we got back we had a prayer with Pte Banchon and the family of Pte Tite and the missionaries to begin a branch fast for the less active. I love General Conference, even in Spanish. Lewis went to the Priesthood session but I stayed in our apartment. 

On Sunday after the second session we all gathered in the room with the font. The room was packed full. Lewis and I sat in the hall. It sounded like Kevin was going swimming before they opened the doors to the font. He enjoyed being in the water I think. His mother was baptized as well and they were both confirmed because it would be week until Sacrament Meeting. It was a lovely meeting and Gladys looked very happy.  We were at the church until about 6:00. We were happy to go home and have scrambled eggs for dinner. Conference attendance was:  Sat AM 40, Sat PM 47, Sat Priesthood 27 (San Cristobal 10) Sun AM 84 (San Cristobal 37, Sun PM 50  -   not bad I'd say.

Journal snippits from March in Galapagos

I thought I would share some snippits from my journal from the first weeks of our mission in the Galapagos Branch:

On our first Sunday we got ready for church and I packed my missionary bag again because we had taken it apart to pack the suitcases. It has straps like a backpack and a wrap around the waist for support as well. The sisters make it look easy but I am still learning how to put it on. It is like baby wearing but less damage if you drop it.  (There was a woman in church with an 18 month old strapped to her back the whole of Sacrament Meeting. He clonked her on the head with his toy but he stayed in there and didn't make noise for the whole meeting. She couldn't sit back in the chair. He could stand on the seat of the chair but he stayed put and was quiet. I was impressed. The way they wrap supports the baby under their bottom and again across the top of their back. I don't know how they do it but apparently the mom goes about her regular life and the baby goes with her on her back instead of inside in the front. It is like pregnancy never ends but now you have to feed and change the baby.)

We and the missionaries had all been invited to go to the home of the Elder's Quorum president for a merienda. Fabian Delgado, the Elder's Quorum President left the church with us and we went by two taxis to his house. It was completely dark in the tiny passageway that leads back to their home. It is very humble. Tiny, a bed in the living room, cement floor and walls, plastic table and chairs. We could see one bedroom. I hope there were more. Apparently he lives there with his wife, his daughter and her boyfriend (they explained that their daughter was living in sin), his wife's mother and her sister and a dog and a cat. There was another couple there from the ward as well. The husband is the new branch financial secretary that Lewis spent time with last night. The Delgados proudly told us that they have had all of the missionaries who have come to Santa Cruz into their home for a meal. We were pleasantly surprised that the meal we were served was very good. It was not attractive but the rice was seasoned with basil and milk and cheese and was yummy. The thin slice of beef was highly seasoned and very good also. There was also a salad and chicken but I was full after the plate of rice and meat. Lewis talked about marriage, how to invite people to change and the importance of the temple. It was a very pleasant evening and the missionary hours were over quickly and we needed to get home. We put the sisters in a taxi because their apartment was further away. We walked home with the Elders. We had no idea where we were but it was not long before we were at the Elder's apartment and we only live another block away. We made it.

The sisters picked us up at 6:00 PM to go to visit the Family History Consultant, Yuliana Bajana. She is a young wife and enthused about her calling. She is a new convert of 4 years and loves FH because she was very close to her grandmother who died the year she joined the church. She has done the work for her grandparents and is delighted to continue with all of her family that she can find. She is from Guayaquil and is able to go back and forth occasionally so she has been to the temple. We made a standing appointment to meet with her every Wednesday beginning next week. She has a laptop which she will bring and we can answer her questions and go over the training materials.  The sister's came back with us to our apartment and had watermelon. They loved it and it did taste very good to have cold watermelon when it is so hot even at 7:30 at night. They are out working until 9:00 each night. -- Yuliana and her husband have since gone to Guayaquil and have been sealed in the temple. She came back radiant and will start teaching the family history class in Sunday School. Her husband is Thomas, who is the ward mission leader and his mother is the Relief Society president. 

The RS celebrated all those who had birthdays in Jan, Feb and March. They honored those women and then did lots of dancing with games where you had to partner with a different person or three people or five people. They would have one woman dance with a broom and when she dropped the broom, everyone had to change partners. Those who were left with the broom when the music stopped had a penalty to pay at the end. One had to sing as if she were in an opera. One had to do a dance. One had to act like a monkey. Everyone was a good sport and there was a lot of laughing. Some of the women there would be comfortable in any of our wards and one or two have a lot of missing teeth and ratty clothing. The range of woman is very broad but they were all participating and happy as far as I could tell. I was impressed. They served chips and crackers and cheese and pieces of cake and Koala Kola. Then they went to Karaoke with a special microphone that hooked up to the church TV. The sisters got into it and sang lots of songs that I had never heard of - naturally - they are in Spanish. The sister missionaries left at 9:00 and that seemed like an good exit for me as well. Lewis was happy to leave the boring game he was playing with the Elders group. The RS always has more fun than the Priesthood quorums. I was impressed with how many women came and felt that they really did love and care about one another. Good job, Galapagos Branch.

Lewis has been asking all of the taxi drivers if they know why members of our church are called "Mormons". They do not know and he tells them about Mormon, that he was a prophet and lived here in the Americas about 1600 years ago, and the compilation he made of the records of the other prophets here in the Americas. He tells them that the Book of Mormon is a confirmation that the Bible is true and another testimony that Jesus Christ is the son of God. He explains that it tells of the visit of Jesus Christ here in the Americas after his resurrection and that he set up his church just like he did in Jerusalem. Some of them are quite interested. He has given away 3 BofM's and has told several to ask the young missionaries for a copy. Some are definitely not interested but they are the minority. One driver said, "That is an incredible story." Yes, it is. And if it is a true story, it is very important. It is my testimony that it is a true story and it is very important for all of us. 

Love to all,

Elder and Sister Pettingill aka G'ma and G'pa Pettingill