District Conference in Llallagua Bolivia

August 22^nd:  Today was spent finishing blogging about our trip and working on new talks.   We got together with everyone that went on the trip and had a Mexican dinner at the Cardon’s to watch pictures that Bob had taken.  Afterward Pres. Crayk informed mom that he would not be able to go with us to the Llallagua District Conference this weekend and that we would be on our own. 

August 23^rd:  With the pressure of having to give 3- 20 to 30 minute talks this coming weekend, I spent most of the day working on a talk about our experiences in China and how God is in control and can do His own work.  This District is in the La Paz Mission, Pres. Quintanilla will be presiding and we will have to leave at 6:00am on Saturday.  Someone from the Security Department of the Temple will drive us in Pres. Crayk’s car.

August 24^th:  I finished my talks for this weekend at about 5:00pm today.  I have been nervous that I won’t have the right type of talks for a group of people who can’t come to the temple all that often because of the cost of traveling.  We watched that last episode of Downton Abby but half way through mom’s computer overheated and died.  Que lastima.  We will have to wait till we get back to see how it ends. 

August 25^th:  I woke up at 4:00am even though the alarm was set for 5:00am.  We left on time, 6:00am with Samuel Ramos as our driver. 

Much of the landscape looks like it could be Utah.

This could be southern Utah red rocks and all.

On top of the world.

The drive to Llallagua means we have to first drive to Oruro 12,179 feet above sea level which is about half way to La Paz and sits on the altiplano. 

The Altiplano 12,000+ feet above sea level.

It is 2 ½ hours of switch backs and we had to cross a mountain range with the highest pass at 15,111 feet above sea level.  That’s 3500 feet higher than the top of Mt. Timpanogos.  My ears did pop a few times. Cochabamba is 9300 feet above sea level.  Lhasa, Tibet is 11,450 feet above sea level and Llallagua is 12,779 feet above sea level. 

A mining town on the way to Llallagua.

The pigs were having a feast.

We arrived about noon.  It took us awhile to find our hotel.  Pres. Crayk said we would be staying at the Llallagua Hilton.  Not quite a Hilton, maybe only a 2 star hotel.  But Hotel Llallagua was clean and had 4 or 5 blankets on the bed and we would need them all. 

Llallagua Hilton.

Front desk at the hotel.

The Hotel courtyard this doubles as the laundry room.

Our room.

The heater / shower head that I could not get to work.

We went and had chicken for lunch in a place that most would question whether it was sanitary enough.  We then went and found the church.  The streets in Llallaqua are small and sometimes blocked with people selling everything. 

Llallagua's narrow streets.

Catholic church and crowed streets.

More crowed streets.

More crowed streets in Llallagua.

Lots and lots of Cholitas.

Natives in native dress.

We changed our clothes and got to the church about 3:30pm.  Pres. Quintanilla was already there and said he wanted me to speak for 30 minutes in the priesthood meeting and that mom and I could split 30 minutes in the Adult meeting.  He did not know yet how long we should talk in the general session on Sunday.  The priesthood meeting started with 4 men in the audience. By the end there were maybe 25.  I spoke on sacrifice in the priesthood session and I feel good about the talk.  Pres. Quintanilla followed me and said that obedience is better than sacrifice.  I’m not sure he understood the point I was trying to make.  Mom spent the time with Sister Marie Telles, the district relief society president,  in the kitchen with 2 heaters. 

Mom and her new friend Sister Telles.

I on the other hand had put on my blue sweat shirt that is my pajama top over my shirt and under my suit coat. 

This is just to show you my pajama top under my suit coat.

It had started to rain during lunch and it was very cold.  For the adult session they brought the 2 heaters to the stand and they helped, but Pres. Quintanilla and his wife never took off their winter coats.  There were about 50 to 60 members in assistance.  Mom spoke about being a covenant people and had her new friend, Sister Telles, help her by reading the quotes she had in her talk.  I used my new talk about some of our experiences in China.  I feel good about it and I could see a few people drying their eyes as I explained why I thought Mormons are always happy.  We got back to the hotel about 9:30pm and had a hot chocolate and a piece of bread, so much for dinner.  It was so cold, mom wore her fleece to bed and I put on an extra pair of socks.  We couldn’t see our breath but it had to be close.

August 26^th:  We didn’t want to get out of bed it was the only place that we could stay warm.  Mom wanted me to figure out the eclectic heater for the water that is part of the shower head, but alas I couldn’t make it work.  Needless to say we didn’t shower; in fact I didn’t even shave.  We went to breakfast and had a cup of hot chocolate and a piece of bread same as our dinner last night. 

We are ready for breakfast.

We walked to the church and we were told we had 15 minutes to split between us. 

Mom really liked the flowers.  Sunday morning.

Well, after the meeting started, the Mission Pres.’s wife leaned over and told mom to talk as much time as we wanted.  The first speaker had not showed up, so mom talked for 15 min. and I talked about 25 minutes.  I said that I love following mom because she always has the ability to bring the Spirit.  Mom talked about the growth of the church and I spoke about the temple and how to prepare to have a better experience in the temple. The chapel was filled with over 200 saints.  I felt like we both spoke with the Spirit and did a good job. 

Right after the closing prayer Sunday morning  session.

We went back to the hotel and had lunch and then got in the car and never stopped until we were back at the temple at 6:30pm.  Just over 5 hours.  We went to bed at 9:00pm.

Llama crossing.

Larry the llama.