Hello, All  --  This probably will be my last post from Bolivia.  We leave one week from tomorrow, and I can't really imagine having time enough in our last day to post anything.  However, we will be attending a musical presentation this evening and I may get some photos that simply must be shared, so check back next week and see if there is anything here.  :-)    Meanwhile, some photos from the last two weeks . . .

First of all, two weeks ago (October 12) we were practicing for a special devotional to be held here at the temple on October 19th, and after the practice, Elder Calder took this picture of our "hospedaje missionary choir".  L/R  Myself, Elder Jim Calder, Sister Rosa Lara, Sister Ann Calder, Sister Lynda Westover, Sister Celia Benitez, Elder Glen Westover, Elder Tim Parker, Farron, Elder Eduardo Benitez, Elder Don Runquist, Sister Karren Runquist, Sister Teresa Delgado, and Elder Juan Delgado.  We are standing in front of the beautiful temple doors - of which you'll see some close-ups below. 

 

Elder Calder then took a picture of each couple separately,

so I thought I would share those with you.  He takes GREAT pictures. 

 First, the Delgados - Juan and Teresa - who are from Arica, Chile.

Just FYI, Juan worked for the government in Chile and only retired 2 or 3 years ago.

Next, Elder Tom and Sister Merna Summers, from Idaho Falls, Idaho.

They did not sing in the choir because they both had colds,

but luckily they came up to have their pictures taken. 

FYI, Elder Summers was with the FBI for 30 years.

Sister Marina Valdizan from Peru by way of Provo, Utah (where she has lived for 20 years),

and Sister Rosa Lara, a native Bolivian who has lived in Argentina for almost 40 years.

Sister Valdizan is a cosmetologist and Sister Lara was a nurse.

Glen and Lynda Westover, from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
Glen is our resident chiropractor and has saved Farron a LOT of pain in the last year.
Working on the computer all the time when he only has the use of one eye has caused Farron to have terrible neck and shoulder problems.  Glen has been our lifesaver!

Karren and Don Runquist, from Cardston, Alberta, Canada.

Don was a physical therapist and Karren ran the office for him.

Eduardo Benitez (originally from Ecuador) and Celia Benitez, a native Bolivian.

They too have lived in Provo, Utah for over 20 years before coming down here as missionaries.

Just realized I don't know what Elder Benitez did for a living.  I know Sister Benitez worked in retail.

Elder Jim and Sister Ann Calder, from Provo, Utah.

Elder Calder is our nearly-professional photographer.

He is a CPA and Tax Accountant (he has two offices.)

Ann still teaches part-time in the Education Department at BYU when they are home.

And last of all, the two of us.

Here we are with a young couple who were married for time and all eternity

on Friday, October 24th.

They are from Yacuiba, Bolivia - about a 20-hour bus ride from Cochabamba.

The next major event was our "farewell dinner" with the North American missionaries.

(Elder and Sister Parker aren't in the picture, because he was sick.)

We went to Chifa Lai Lai (Chinese Lai Lai) and the food was great.

Even better, we had this little room all to ourselves 

and we had a round table so we could all talk to each other.

This was Saturday night, October 25th.

L/R:  Jim and Ann Calder, Tom and Merna Summers,

Lynda and Glen Westover, and Karren and Don Runquist, with us seated in front.

(We got out of the temple late, so we didn't even take time to change clothes -

just came in our suits.)

This afternoon - Saturday, October 27th - we had a farewell luncheon at the temple president's house,
just for the presidency and the Cabreras.  Elder Rene Cabrera is the Temple Recorder.  We love him and his wife Teresa; they are WONDERFUL.

President Luis Garcia is first counselor in the temple presidency.

His lovely wife Rosario is first assistant to Sister Jensen.

Rosario has been a wonderful help to me.  

She helps me when I can't remember a word I need in Spanish,

and I translate for her when she doesn't understand something Lona says in English.

 Last but not least, a picture of all of us

in the dining room at the president's house.

L/R:  me, the Garcias, President and Sister Jensen, and the Cabreras.

Okay, that's it for today.  Have a safe, happy, healthy week . . . y vayan con Dios!

No blog post today, sorry.  We are very busy - running around like crazy trying to get everything done before we leave in 3 weeks - but we're not doing "picture worthy" stuff and we're certainly not doing any sightseeing.  I'll try to have something for you next week.

Hello, All --

I am sorry!  I don't have anything supremely interesting to tell you today.  It's been a good week - and the weekend was wonderful since we were able to watch General Conference both Saturday and Sunday at the President's house.  No photo ops, though, so I'll share the September photos I haven't shown you yet.

First of all, Elder Westover's birthday was September 18th but for one reason or another, we didn't celebrate on his birthday, so on Sunday, September 21st Sister Westover made two great big cakes and invited everyone in the hospedaje to come and wish him a Happy Birthday.  In this picture, President Jensen is on the left, then Elder Westover, Elder and Sister Runquist, and with their backs more or less to us, Elder and Sister Calder.

Same group more or less, but adding Sister Valdizan nearest the camera on the left,

and Sister Jensen enjoying the chocolate cake, on the right.

The Benitez' came a little late, so this is picture mostly for them.

Sister Westover is at the bottom right with her back partly to us.

The Paredes' came late, too, but there was still cake left so they are enjoying it here.

This is really a random shot and I know it's very dark.  I was at IC Norte (the grocery store) and saw this little cholita with her traditional (and very "un-color-coordinated") outfit so I tried to take a quick picture.  The flash was slow to operate, hence the darkness of the photo.

Can't remember exactly which day it was, but one lovely afternoon in September 

we decided to ride the bus down to where this enclosed walkway crosses the avenue,

and then walk across the walkway to the Cine Center for lunch.  

This is what the walkway looks like from the bottom of the metal stairs 

you have to climb to enter it. 

This is what it looks like from the top of the stairs, just before you enter it.

The Runquists went with us; they are just about to enter the "tunnel".

 Inside the tunnel.

From inside the tunnel, looking back toward the entrance.

I couldn't take a picture looking out because the plastic covering is too scratched and dirty.

Emerging from the tunnel on the other (south) side.

Going down the metal steps to ground level.

Looking back from ground level on the Cine Center side of the avenue.

The Cine Center building is to our right, out of sight.

Two weeks ago we were coming back from church in a taxi and we saw this herd of sheep grazing just across the street south of the temple grounds.  The white house and green lawn you can see on the right is the President's house and back lawn.  If you look closely - or preferably zoom in - you can see the cholita who is there to watch the sheep.  Can you imagine even this small a herd of sheep grazing in the downtown area of your city?  (Actually, we're not really downtown, but we definitely are in a totally-populated and urban suburb.)  Crazy.

Lastly, we're in the rainy season now (just starting)

and I took this through our living room window one rainy day two weeks ago.

The fuzziness is due to the screen on our windows,

but I loved the sight of the Angel Moroni against the dark sky.

Sort of symbolic of our times, don't you think?

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