This has been a good week, but without any special "photo ops", so I thought I'd share some pictures of a Bolivian get-together we went to last month.

We were invited to the home of one of our temple workers, Lily Oroza.  She is a widow and I don't know what her husband did for a living, but whatever it was, he did it well.  I am kicking myself for not taking a picture of the "street" down which we turned from the main boulevard to reach her home. It looked like an easement or an alley.  It wasn't paved - only dirt and a little gravel - with high block walls on each side.  There was no street sign and there were no house numbers (typical here). There was absolutely no indication that we were in an area of nice homes; we really weren't sure what to expect. We stopped by a door in one of the walls, and when we went through the door, this is what we saw:  a lovely big lot with a beautiful home.

This is looking back toward the door in the wall.

 There were about 20 people invited and we sat on the veranda

 and visited while waiting for everyone to arrive.

This is another view of the veranda.

 And another view, looking back toward the entrance.

 Looks like Southern California, doesn't it?

Lily had planned this as a sort of "Family Home Evening". President Jensen gave the "lesson", which really was interesting because she had asked him to share reminiscences of the General Authorities, especially the Quorum of the Twelve, with whom he served for so many years.  By the time we had our closing song and prayer, it was almost dark and we went into the house for refreshments.

The buffet was all Bolivian dishes - several kinds of very dry bread (they eat it with hot chocolate here), a couple of apple-pie-like desserts, and a couple different kinds of small empanadas with cheese filling.

As you can see, Lily has a lovely home 

(and lots of collectibles in those glass-fronted cabinets).

She wanted pictures with each of us.  L/R Sister Rosa Lara, one of our temple missionaries (from Bolivia via Argentina), Karen and Don Runquist (from Cardston, Alberta, Canada) and Lily.

Our wonderful first counselor in the temple presidency and his wife:

Luis and Rosario Garcia

 Farron and me.

Lily (on the right) with Carlos and Amelia Pedraja.

Brother Pedraja was the first missionary to serve from Bolivia.

He was also the first stake president and a lot of other "firsts" I can't remember.

A number of years ago he had a back surgery that went awry 

and unfortunately now he can't stand up straight and is only about 2/3 of his original height.

That's why he looks so short sitting here.

Two of our temple workers - Luis and Jasmine Sandoval on the left.  On the right, our super-wonderful temple recorder (who is also an Area Seventy), Rene Cabrera and his wife Teresa. 

 And lastly, President Garcia and Farron at the left with Lily.

Those seated are Glen and Lynda Westover (from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho)

and a friend of Lily's whose name I don't know, sorry.

 

It was a new experience to be guests in a member's home - our first time - and we had a lovely evening.

That's all for today.  Have a happy, healthy, safe week . . . y vayan con Dios!