Catamayo

Catamayo is part of the Loja District and is a 40 min bus ride. We have had three sets of missionaries there for quite some time and it is growing and getting stronger. President Jara is the Branch President. He works in Loja so he stays overnight in Loja frequently but he is willing to sacrifice his time and efforts to fulfill his many responsibilities. The chapel is very small and only holds seating for about 75. They often have 100 or more in attendance. The church has rented another building to use while they double the size of the current building. We enjoy visiting their branch and they are always very welcoming. I was very impressed that they rented a bus and 30 members came to see the Christmas Devotional put on by the mission this year.

Their climate is very different from Loja - much warmer and much less rain. The green fields are sugar cane but without water the hills are dry and brown.

 

These photos were taken in the town square where the bus stops.

 

 

I love these trees. They grow all over the Dominican Republic and are covered with these red orange blossoms most of the year there. 

 This is the little chapel. It is on one of the main streets in town. Most of the sidewalks are covered. Much more comfortable in the heat of the day.

 

 

 

Looks like the missionaries have an English class, judging from the blackboard above.
Below are a couple of the missionaries and some members helping someone get to church this morning.

This is President Jara (on the right) with one of his counselors.

The first Sunday we visited we were invited to go with the missionaries to the home of the Branch President to have lunch. There are three sets of missionaries in Catamayo. So that was 8 extra people for the biggest meal of the day. The grandmother was there cooking as well as the mom. It was so kind of them to invite us. It sounded like they invite the missionaries every Sunday. This is their home. The two little boys below are both adorable and President Jara treated them like sons. I do not know if they are or not. They look very close to the same age.

 

 

On December 2 we had a fun experience in Catamayo. The airport is located there and Hermana Quizhpe was returning home from her mission serving in the Ecuador Quito North Mission. Her mother lives in Loja so she flew here. President Torres asked Lewis to meet her at the airport, interview her and release her from her calling as a missionary. We got there nice and early. Her mother, two sisters and the husband of one sister plus some other family members arrived with a balloon and flowers. We learned a little bit more about this amazing young woman. She speaks four languages - Spanish, French, English and Mandarin Chinese. She was in China as a student when she applied for and was called on her mission. Unfortunately for Loja, she will be returning to school in the USA very soon but what a treat to get to meet her and her family.We went to the chapel which is close by for the interview.

 

 

We missed the homecoming of Colby and Jacey. We are so proud of our family missionaries. Can't wait to hug the two that are home and pretty soon...the five that are still serving.

 

Yea for missionaries. Welcome home Sister Quizhpe.

One more photo I took in Catamayo. These boxes were sitting right across the street from the chapel. My five girls know why I had to take this shot. For 14 years they got up early - very, very early - and helped fold hundreds of newspapers that we stuffed into banana boxes and apple boxes. Thank you again for your help every single morning!!!

Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa is about five hours north of Loja by bus. President Torres has asked us to visit there twice so far. We went to a Priesthood Conference and later to a District Conference. Lewis spoke at both. He is practiced and always does well. I was surprised that I was asked to speak at the District Conference. It was a good thing I was paying attention because I was in the congregation quite a ways back. There were several hundred people there. I never talk for very long but one of the missionaries said later that I did a good job. He is a native speaker so he must have been able to understand me. The first time we went we found that it was the anniversary of the founding of the city. We saw part of their parade but we had to stay an extra day because there were no more bus tickets available to get home.

It didn't match Melba's 4th of July parade but they did have horses.

 

 

 

This very nice family invited us to go to lunch with them. They had another mother and her children join us. It was lovely to enjoy a meal and learn more about their lives and church experiences. They were so kind to include us.

These are some photos of the central square.

 

 

After the district conference was over I took a few photos. These three children were sitting behind me. During the meeting they were definitely awake but by the end of the meeting they had all fallen asleep. I asked if I could take a photo and was told I should take the photo and please send it to President Parrales from the temple. The woman on the right is his mother. I did and he was pleased.

The District had a choir for the Sunday meeting. They had obviously been practicing because they sounded very good. They were happy to have had this opportunity to sing and had fun with photos after the meeting. This young man is a member of the family we went to lunch with previously. He sang a solo and did an impressive job.

 

 

Good job Santa Rosa. 

The Missionaries

The important people in a mission are the young missionaries. They are the ones getting up at 6:30 every morning and working diligently until they fall into bed at 10:00 every night. They have a partial day of free time on Mondays; to clean their apartments, go shopping, go to a "cyber" to write home to their families and cram in whatever else they might need to do. Not a few must do their laundry by hand. Then they are back to their investigators until it is time to go to bed again.

I am so impressed with their sincere efforts to be of service to others. They are not only obedient to all the rules, they are trying to obey with exactness. A mission for a young person is a unique experience. They will never again have as many constraints or need to be so focused on only one responsibility. They learn to really study. They learn to put others ahead of their own needs. They must be within view and hearing of their companions 24/7 (except in the bathroom). They are asked to write to their parents once every week. They are allowed to call home twice a year. They put their own lives on hold for 18 months (young women) or 2 years (young men). Most of them learn how to choose to be intentional with their time and their efforts for the rest of their lives. I am in awe of how well they do. They do it because they want to and they pay the cost of their mission.

Fortunately the senior missionaries have very few rules. We are supposed to be able to use good judgement (We try to live up to that.) and are counseled not to do more than we can manage. I tell the young missionaries that they will enjoy their second mission even more than their first. I remind them they need to choose their spouse wisely, spend 30 years or so together raising a family, remain best friends during all that busyness, so that finally they can have time together on their mission.  

Here are just a few of the missionaries we have been spending time with in the last three months:

These are the cute girls that moved into our apartment in Zamora after we moved to Loja.

Elder Gonzale and Elder Villca

Hermana Torres and Hermana Bytheway - we are celebrating Sister Bytheway's birthday after Zone meeting

Hermana Anzola and Hermana Campbell - Sister Campbell was with us in Galapagos

 Hermana Arellano (Great name, she is from Chile) and Sister Navarro who was with us in Galapagos too. She has gone home.

Sister Murri (fabulous violinist and multi-talented) and Sister Wiscomb

Sister Argueta and Sister Arnold. Nancy and David met Sister Arnold's family at a wedding and they sent greetings to their missionary. 

We were behind Elder Barney and Elder Archila. There is a very noticeable difference in height but both are powerful missionaries. 

Elder Saavedra and Elder Boden. Our kids grew up with Elder Boden's dad, Greg. His grandma was Lewis' employee for many years. 

Elder Henline and Elder Richards - Loja East Zone Leaders

Elder (oops, I can't remember) and Elder Cayax from Guatamala.

Elder Carmona and Elder Cabrera (Zone leaders in Loja West) checking something on lds.org. Thanks again Dan for the iPad. It has been wonderful!

Sister Hidalgo (Philippine heritage, born and raised in Canada, always cheerful) and Sister Tanner, our mission nurse and so kind.

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Elder Condori. Another year older.

The Pettingills with Elder Sanchez who is from Mexico. 

Priesthood Leaders

We are grateful for our leaders.
Here is the Presidency of the Ecuador Guayaquil South Mission in the living room of the Mission Home.

President Pettingill, Second Counselor, President Torres and President Pincay, First Counselor
Below is the new Presidency of the Loja District

President Orellana, First Counselor, President Benitez, President Garcia, Second Counselor
The Loja District has six branches. Four are in the city of Loja. The Loja Branch and the Jipiro Branch meet in the Loja District chapel not far from downtown. The smaller Pradera chapel above SuperMaxi in the south of Loja houses the Pradera Branch and the Argelia Branch.  Zamora is an hour and 40 minutes away. In the other direction is Catamayo about 40 minutes away.

The Mission brought a Christmas Devotional Program to Loja on December 12, 2014. The local TV station and newspaper sent reporters to the chapel to interview President Orellana, President Benitez and Grandpa. Grandpa is not used to being on TV. He kept looking at the man holding the microphone not the man with the TV camera. We don't have a TV so we didn't see the interview. 

This is President Benitez with his wife. He is very close to finishing his training to be a veterinarian. They are expecting their first child in January. Wonderful people. They and others spent long hours into the night getting the chapel decorated and ready for the Christmas concert. President Benitez is very well organized and a wonderful leader.