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!