Finishing the Mission Tour

During our first few days in the mission, we held meetings with four zones of missionaries, so in our first full week we needed to complete our tour.  Our mission is fairly large geographically, so this is no small task.  Monday the 3rd of July we began the drive out to the coastal city of Esmeraldas, which was supposed to take 5-1/2 hours, but with the traffic, road hazards (some of the roads had eroded due to the earthquake, etc.) and Blake's stopping for treats and fruit stands it took about 7-1/2 hours.  It was an adventure!  

Here are some shots of the scenery.  

Our Assistants introduced us to red bananas and iced coconut milk. 

We spent the night in Atacames, and had a little trouble with the Waze app, which works very well in Quito, so couldn´t find our hotel.  After driving in circles, we found two little grandmas sitting out in front of their house and asked them where to find Hotel Club Del Sol.  They pointed us in the general direction of the place ("está por allá").  We still couldn't find it and drove around a bit more until we saw the grandmas again and one of them said, "I will walk you there."  We gave her some of our chocolate and fruit we bought earlier to say "gracias".  Here is a view from our hotel...right on the beach but we didn´t have time to enjoy it this trip. 

We woke up Tuesday morning and felt a moderate earthquake.  Felt just like home...earthquake California style.  We got ready and drove back to Esmeraldas for the zone conference.  Every time this seems a bit overwhelming and like we are exhausted, we walk into a chapel and see the faces of these darling missionaries, and it so lifts our spirits.  They are a remarkable group of young people.  

The coast is hot, sticky, humid, muggy, and poor, and all of these missionaries feel like it is such a privilege to be there.   We each gave our talks (in Spanish) and Cole and I played a piano duet.  Funny to play a duet and have one of the keys fall off in my hand when playing! 

It was wonderful to visit with the missionaries as Blake did his interviews.  The stories that these missionaries tell are inspiring...many of them (especially those from South America) are new members of the church of just a year, serving and hoping and praying that their family will join the church.  You can't help but get teary eyed when they describe their home life situation and their desire to bless their families through their service here.  Here are the missionaries we met in Esmeraldas.

After a nice Ecuadorian lunch and the interviews we got on our way, hoping to make the long drive to Ibarra before dark.  The drive from the coast to Ibarra would not be too bad, except for the fact that there are really no places to stop along the way...just little shacks on the side of the road, people selling bananas and coconuts,and lots of stray dogs. It will take a little while to get used to the many dogs running wild everywhere and the very young kids walking and playing by the side of the road.   

Our little caravan of two cars didn't get to our hotel till about 9 pm again.  I decided that the drive is like driving through the mountain pass between St. George and Mesquite, but with only two lanes, lots of dogs, houses or shacks, children, and chickens!

Wednesday was full of two zone conferences.  One in Ibarra that morning and then on to Otavalo (a half hour away) in the afternoon for two more.  Otavalo is famous everywhere for it's indigenous people who are incredibly faithful to their culture, but who have also joined the church in droves since the church came here 50 years ago. It has one of the oldest and largest markets in South America where the Otaveleños support themselves with their beautiful handiwork.  Many beautiful saints in their native dress and long braids walking the streets.  One of the church members stopped by and brought us some gifts because he heard we were coming.  

As we walked into the chapel, the missionaries all shouted a welcome chant they had memorized and had posters made and hugs and handshakes were shared.  It would be difficult not to love them.  The kids and I left right after the the conference and did not wait around for interviews so we could drive back to Quito in the light.  About a two hour drive, we were thankful to get back to the mission home.  

I found someone taller than Blake!  There are actually three missionaries right now that are taller than he is, but all will be going home this month or next.

Thursday morning we had to wake up at 4 am to catch an early flight out to Coca, in the jungle, or selva.  I thought we would be flying in a puddle jumper but was so thankful for the fact that we actually had a big plane to take us there.  Coca is a little town, built up when the American oil companies came here to explore.  The economy is a bit depressed there now due to the oil slump.  

We took a little taxi to the chapel (a little house converted to a chapel) about 5 minutes away.  We have two small branches of the church out in the eastern part of the mission (they call it "el Oriente").  Both branches are small...average attendance of 90 in one and 110 in the other. 

They are thankful to have built a little baptismal font recently in the Coca building so they don't have to baptize in the river, which sometimes has snakes and crocodiles.  Ugh.  The elders there were such a remarkable bunch.  They don't fly out there like we did.  They take an 8 hour bus ride through the mountains.  It is a big compliment to be sent out to the orient since they are so far removed from the rest of the mission.  Only missionaries who are self-sufficient and obedient can go there.  You could really tell they were a good group. 
  

Travel tip:  if you want exotic cuisine...come to Ecuador!  Dallin, Cole, and Blake tried fried tree worms, or larvae.  The indigenous people come into Coca selling any thing they can to make money and fried worms are one thing.  Bethany and I were happy to be the photographers.  One of the Assistants ate one live (and wiggling!).  Cole did not want to bite the crunchy head and was forced to.   Other exotic things we have heard a lot about...cow's foot soup (not bad if you remember to shave off all of the hair on the cow's foot), pig hide soup, fried bugs, intestines, etc. I think rice and beans sound pretty good to me.

We took the evening flight home and got back completely exhausted from our long trip around the mission.  But, Friday we would start the verifications (the training of the 5 week missionaries) at 9 am.  Blake and I gave some training and then drove with the missionaries up to a hill top overlooking the city....Panecillo.  The view is stunning.  You can see volcanoes, city, hills, greenery, etc., all in the distance.  

Panecillo is where President Spencer W. Kimball dedicated Ecuador for the preaching of the gospel in 1965.  We have the prayer that President Kimball gave and read portions of it with the missionaries and had them share their testimonies.  Very inspiring thinking of President Kimball being here.   

Friday afternoon we started exit interviews since we have such an enormous group of missionaries leaving this time...28.  Kind of funny for our first group to leave since we just got here.  Most of them are North Americans leaving so it seems like our mission is becoming much more native Spanish speaking.  Kind of painful since my Spanish is still so difficult.  

Saturday we got some chores done and went to the home of a wonderful family from St. Louis. It was so good to talk to someone about their transition to Ecuador who understands what we´re beginning to experience.  Cole was glad to talk to American teenagers. They had some good suggestions about piano teachers and English seminary class.  

That evening we attend a baptism for a young lady whose grandparents are members of the church.  She was thrilled to join the church.

Blake needed to read emails from all 184 missionaries and prepare for the transition of outgoing and incoming missionaries and their assignments to the various congregations, and has found that those things take a lot of time!  He was up quite late Saturday night going through the process for the first time.

Sunday, we attended a local congregation´s meetings and then returned to the mission home for additional exit interviews.  The missionaries in the office staff have been more than amazing.  They have helped so much with the transition.   They are here right now helping with exit interviews, handing out passports and travel plans.  

Cole, Bethany and Dallin have been very helpful. Cole bakes chocolate chip cookies for the missionaries when they come over (he will have to help me with the high altitude baking), and Bethany and Dallin have been great talking to the missionaries and helping them feel at home.  One of the sisters swooned at the chocolate chip cookie she ate and said it was a little slice of heaven, or home, to her.    

We have grown to love this beautiful country and its people, and especially our missionaries.  What a blessing it is to be here.  Not without its transition issues, but we are learning and growing each day.

Dana