Quito, Ecuador Temple

Quito, Ecuador Temple
Here is where we will be working until Feb. 2023

Welcome

Dear Readers,

We hope as you read this blog of our mission to the Quito, Ecuador temple you will feel the joy and happiness we are experiencing by being in the service of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We hope you can experience some of what we feel. Christine and I met in Quito, Ecuador 51 years ago while serving as missionaries. We are going home.


John and Christine

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Monday, January 29, 2018

January 22nd through January 28th

January 22nd through January 28thMonday we took some of the missionaries to the artisan’s market by the airport.  Mom needed some books for the temple workers to write a farewell message in for Sister Winkfield and Sister Fisher who will be going home in February.  Mom spotted a Noah’s ark and we knew that Sister Ellington was looking for one, so we took a photo and sent it to her.  Well, after we had left the market we got a message that she wanted us to buy it.  So we told her we would go back on Wednesday to get it.  
The Noah's ark for Sister Ellington.
We had a Family Home Evening for the English speaking missionaries and watched a documentary called “Two Brothers” from the 5000 Days Project.  It was really interesting.  Sister Fisher went to high school with the filmmaker who is not LDS.  It is worth the time to watch it.  The new MTC President and his wife, Craig and Judy Hill, joined us.  
Family Home Evening
The film we watched.
On Tuesday we went to our paint class and then we did our afternoon shift.  
Mom added a lot of green leaves.
I'm calling Badger done.  He has eyebrows but they are white and it is really hard to see them.
Wednesday morning on our walk, we went to a little market café right by our house to buy eggs for breakfast and ended up eating breakfast at the café.  
Breakfast on our walk.
It is a cute little cafe.
Then we went to the artisan’s market for the Noah’s ark and then our afternoon shift.  Wednesday night the Elder and Sister Call, who are now serving in Frey, arrived.  They came for a sealing of one of the members from Calbuco who was part of the Rabinal branch where they had just finished serving.  Friday morning it was our turn to take the missionaries shopping.  Somehow we got the time mixed up and we left at 8:00am.  We finished at Walmart and got to Price Smart 20 minutes before it opened, so we had to go to MacDonald’s for breakfast.  
Breakfast at McDonald's
When we went to the temple, the couple the Call’s came to see sealed was just leaving the temple for pictures.  
The young bride from Calbuco.
Saturday was the busiest day we have had during our two years serving in the Guatemala City temple.  We ended up setting a record for the number of endowments.  It was a great day to be in the temple.  After we finished about 7:30pm, we drove the Holman’s to Krispy Kreme doughnuts.  It had the grand opening at 9:00am.  The traffic was unreal.  It took us 30 minutes to go ¼ mile.  The Fisher’s were ahead of us with the Garcia family.  Elder Fisher got out and walked and bought all the doughnuts we needed and was waiting for us when we got to the store.  We pulled out of the line and were home in about 3 minutes.  We then had all the missionaries over for doughnuts.  
They are within walking distance.
Yum Yum
Doughnut time
Sunday I went to another Coordinating Council meeting for the East mission.  We had a quick bite to eat and I went to the temple with 2 dozen doughnuts from you know where to do a training session for all the sealers.  It was a very productive meeting and I think we will see some changes that are needed.  They enjoyed the doughnuts.  Mom went to a choir practice for stake conference in a couple of weeks.  We talked to all of our kids and they all seem like they are doing great.  We miss them tremendously.  We had a great week and are still pinching ourselves to see if this is really happening.  I’m convinced now that they are not going to call and say they made a mistake.  They will let us finish out this assignment even though they might have realized that they had the wrong John Norman.  

Monday, January 22, 2018

January 15th through January 21st

January 15th through January 21stMonday I spent some of the day at the temple reviewing the work that had been done during the closure.  The biggest change is that they installed a ramp in the front entrance so that the step 3 feet in front of the door is no longer there.  They had to slope up to the door from 3 sides.  It turned out very nice.   
There used to be a step three feet in front of the door.
This week we worked every morning shift.  We are rotating weeks so that we can have a week off in February when our son, John B., and his son, Badger, come to visit.  It was so nice to be back in the temple.  I had the opportunity to seal 2 couples.  Saturday was very busy and that always makes the day go by fast.  We both went home afterward and took a nap.  Saturday evening we went to a Young Adult Fireside in the La Laguna stake and spoke about the importance of family history.  Sunday we went to the stake conference in Amatitlan.  
Sunday's choir.
You gotta love the real flowers.
As the stake conference ended.
As we were waiting to start, the stake president leaned over and asked if I was going to stay for the Coordinating Council Meeting at 2:00pm.  I said, “What Coordinating Council Meeting?”  I had never received the information for the meeting.  I sent Chris home with Sister Cluff, the wife of the mission president, and I called my counselor, President Funes, and asked if he would do the training in the temple at 2:30pm so I could stay for the CCM.  After the training we went and visited the new MTC president and his wife, Craig and Judy Hill.  They were here until last August as the Area Executive Secretary.  They are a delightful couple and we are so happy to have them in our end of town.   We then visited the Oscar and Gloria Fajardo who joined us last Monday as local full-time missionaries in the temple.  They are very faithful members and will be a great help to us.  We then talked to some of our kids. It ended up a long day, but it felt good to be busy again.  We feel so blessed for the many tender mercies we received this last week.  

Monday, January 15, 2018

January 8th through January 14th

I don’t know how I missed this video in mom’s phone from our trip to San Diego.  Badger and Moose playing on the beach. Click below to see them.





 January 8th through January 14th: Monday we took down all the Christmas decorations, packing some of the things we have purchased for shipment back to the states in October.  It seems weird to think we won’t use our Christmas decorations again here in Guatemala.  Some of the missionaries flew to Tikal.  Tuesday we loaded everyone up in our car and a taxi and went to the macadamia nut farm by Antigua,  stopped in San Antonio Aguas Calientes, and had lunch in Hobbittenango (that’s right land of the hobbits).  
Macadamia nuts.
One of the drying racks.
There are wonderful flowers everywhere.
They claim that this is the most photographed toilet in Guatemala.
A little shopping in San Antonio Aguas Calientes with Sisters Winkfield and Ellington.
The church in San Antonio.
Fuego spouting off again.
We had to ride in the back of a pickup to go from the parking lot to the top where Hobbitenango is located.
We are too old to sit in the back of a pickup.
Lunch at Hobbittenango. Table #1.
Table #2.
Volcano Agua from Hobbitenango.
The view was spectacular. You are looking down on everything.
In the evening,  the Reyna’s and the Curtis’ came over and we played cards.  We laughed and had a good time.  Thursday mom took Sisters Fisher and Winkfield to the cancer hospital to play with some of the children receiving out-patient treatment.  
Mom and the other sisters who were "Helping Hands" at the children's cancer hospital.
Friday we drove to Monterrico to check things out.  We first drove to La Avellana where the road ends and you have to drive onto a narrow wooden ferry that can hold two cars and float down the river for about 30 minutes.  The ferry is so narrow that once you are on, you can’t open the doors, something we had not realized.  I climbed out the window to take some pictures.  Mom laughed so hard at this that she forgot to take a picture.  We visited three different hotels.  We ate lunch at Dos Mundos. We had great food and a beautiful view of the ocean.  I think our favorite hotel was El Faro (the Lighthouse).  We plan on going back when we can stay the night.  
We didn't have another car behind us only 5 motorbikes.
There were also people taxis.

Click below for a video of the river.
Fun on the river
We floated through mangrove trees.
From time to time we would pass other boats.
But mostly we were by ourselves.

A car and motorcycles leaving to go back up the river. 
The beaches were nice.
I would not call it a white sand beach.  Maybe a grey sand beach.
Dos Mundos.
Can you say jumbo shrimps?
My beef was some of the most tender I have had here.
Saturday evening we went to the La Laguna stake conference and spoke in the adult session.  
Adult session Saturday night.
Sunday we went back and spoke in the general session.  Elder Zeballos from the area presidency presided.  It was a nice meeting and since it was from 9 am to 11 am we hurried home and went to our ward and we asked the new Bishop to please find someone who could prepare the sacrament for us.  He did and it was great to be able to partake of the sacrament.  
The choir right before we started the meeting on Sunday.
Sunday session.
Once again the flowers were beautiful.
On our way out the door we found Evelyn and her family.  She is one of our secretaires in the temple and we think the world of her.
We were able to talk to some of our children.  It is great to be back in Guatemala and we can’t wait for Tuesday when the temple will open back up.  

Monday, January 8, 2018

January 1st through January 7th

 January 1st through January 7th:  Monday my day started at 5:00 am  going with Sam to buy breakfast burritos for the people who had been camping out all night on the parade route for the Rose Parade.  Sam dropped me off about 4 blocks away.  He couldn’t get any closer than that.  I walked and found our group of campers: John B, his two sons, Badger and James, and Ginny.  One of Ginny’s friends had originally added about 10 feet onto the space she was saving.  But because of the baptisms, no one from our group had been helping save the space until our campers got there Sunday evening.  It all worked out great and I had a couple of burritos that I shared with the other group.  Mom, Sam and the rest of our crew showed up about 7:00 am.  The parade was supposed to start at 8:00am.  We were maybe a block before the real starting point.  About 6:00 am, before the sun was up, they moved 3 floats and 2 marching bands past us, but from then on we saw everything.   The parade was awesome and it was a chance of a life time to see it in person.  I will let the photos and movies speak for themselves.  
This was the first float they moved ahead of us before the sun came up.
We had great seats.  It was a little chilly at first.
The fly over to start the parade with a stealth bomber was awesome.

Click below to see the flyover. 
Stealth bomber flyover.
We did not get to hear the Marine band.
At least one of the grandkids had a good view.
The floats were over the top cool.
Sam and Ginny and Xela.
They moved this band ahead of us.
Every surface that you can see has to be from a living plant.
Some of the floats were whimsical.
They were so creative.
They are much better in person than on TV.
76 trombones led the big parade.
Many had moving parts and articulation.
The Goodyear blimp was on hand.
Fun themes.

Click below to see the animation.
Animation everywhere. 
James had a great view.

Click below to hear the bagpipes.
Every parade needs bagpipes.
Each float was magical.
Lots of very big bands.
What could be better than cowgirls on horses. 
A float for Oklahoma.

Click below to hear their band.
Oklahoma Marching band.



And one for Georgia.

Click below to hear their band.
Georgia Marching band.


This was my favorite band.  I think they were from Japan.

Click below to hear the band.
Can you say Star Wars

Click below to see them dance.
This band had the best dancing.



A little south of the border group.
Lots of roses and lots of pretty girls.
I think this was my favorite float.

Click below to view the float.

Pandamonium.

Click below to view the float.        
Pandamonium
This float broke down right in front of us and had to be towed with a tow truck.
Even a float with a Mayan theme.
We had a lazy afternoon with mom and Ginny going shopping and Sam and I watching some of the Rose Bowl in a chicken wings restaurant that was right around the corner from their house.  Tuesday we headed for the airport to fly to SLC to see James, Kirstin and their family.  We got on the airplane in Burbank and had a connecting flight in San Jose, then on to Salt Lake.  We were on the tarmac for takeoff, but returned to the gate.  They explained that there had been a security event in San Jose and that the terminal had been evacuated and we couldn’t leave till it was resolved.  They deplaned and told everyone that had a connection to SLC to go to the counter and get rerouted.  Our new flight was not going to leave for 5 hours.  So Ginny came back to the airport and got us.  We spent a few more hours with her girls.  We arrived in Salt Lake in the evening.  James and his family were at the airport to pick us up.  
These three were waiting for us at the airport in SLC.
We went to his new home in American Fork that is a few blocks west of the Mt. Timponogos  temple.  It is a beautiful home they had built and moved into last summer.  Wednesday morning we went to the Museum of Natural Curiosity at Thanksgiving Point.  We spent the morning there with his three darling children.  Campbell, the youngest, is the one grandchild I wanted to see the most.  He was born a few days before we left, but was in the hospital and we never got to hold him.  He reminds us of James.  He is huge and happy and into everything.  
Keeping up with grandkids is hard work.
The three musketeers. 

Click below to see Rigby get the ride of his life.                    Fun times at the playground.


These three are so much fun.
Rigby's floating head.
I am still sore from all the rope climbing.
We went to lunch at JCW’s Burgers.  We had to do some shopping so that James could smoke, BBQ, and cook us some ribs.  
Sharing a shake with Nana.
Lunch after a fun time at the Curiosity Museum. 
In the evening, we went to the movies and saw The Greatest Showman.  The “wild man,” as Campbell is referred to, stayed home with their nanny.   We had a great time.  Thursday James got up early and got the ribs in the smoker.  
I made Swedish pancakes both mornings we were at James'.
We went to Emme’s dance class and then came home and had the best ribs in the world.  I’m not exaggerating, they were delicious.  James is a real chef.  He is ready for a BBQ competition.  
Dance Class
Emme is the cutest little ballerina.
To die for Ribs.
Everyone got into the action.
But James and Rigby really know how to enjoy ribs.
They were finger-licken good.
We then headed up to John and Jill’s home.  They bought a home last November and we wanted to see it.  It is a large home on the east bench of Bountiful.  They live in the same ward as David and Janet Norman, my brother Van’s son.  There is a very good chance that when we get home I will remodel the basement and put in an apartment for us.  It certainly is big enough.  We then went to Kate’s new home.  We had never seen the home they bought that is right through the block from Charlotte.  They are literally 3 houses away, but they are in different stakes (only in Utah).  It is fun to see the progress and changes in each family.  They have all been blessed for our service as we were promised.  We took Stan and Luke to buy their scriptures and scripture covers, because they will turn 8 before we get home.  James then took us to the airport.  We flew back to Burbank through San Jose and arrived at 10:30 pm.  We rented a car and drove to Ginny’s home where we crashed.  Friday morning we drove to Chula Vista and turned in the car.  Enterprise Rental Car drove us to the CBX (Cross Border Express).  We walked across the border and into the Tijuana airport.  After we were at our gate, we called John.  He had just finished meeting with the oncologist.  Here are his words, “I have cancer.  I will always have cancer.  I will receive chemo at some point, and then likely again, but for now have elected to monitor the cancer and wait until I have symptoms.  For now, I am feeling good, and should act normally.  The doctor told me to forget about it for 3 months until my next scan.  I could have chemo in a few months, or a few years...I will just have to have it eventually.  Emotionally we are okay.  This is just another reason to focus on what is most important, give forgiveness to others and ourselves, and try and be our best.  I am a believer in Christ and he taught that if we are to find ourselves we need to lose ourselves.  Serving and giving are the happiest ways to live.”  I am very proud of my son, John.  His attitude is one of hope and belief that there are more important things to worry about than having cancer.  Whatever the outcome, we as a family will be ok.  I am not going to blog more about John’s cancer until he needs to have treatment.  Thank you for your prayers and support, we feel like they have worked and he has received good news.  
Tijuana is not a little town.  Almost 2 million people live there.
We had to fly to Mexico City and there we had a two hour delay, so we arrived back in Guatemala at 1:30 am.  We found a taxi and got home.  We were exhausted from travel and the emotions of the trip.  Technology is great, but there is nothing like being able to hug, kiss and love children, their spouses, and our grandchildren.  Thanks John and Jill for making the effort to bring your family to California so we could participate in the baptisms of Jake and Xela and to our other children who drove down from Utah for our mini-family reunion.  We were grateful to spend a few days in Utah and to see James and Kirstin too.  Saturday we took the missionaries that were here to see the movie “Wonder” and then we went grocery shopping.  Sunday we went to the stake conference of Las Victorias stake.  Elder Ochoa presided.  It was so nice to have the opportunity to speak and testify and feel the power of the Spirit.  I’m feeling very tender-hearted after this trip and my talk was a bit of a cry fest.  
Stake Choir.
The Sunday session was well attended.
Sister Ochoa, President Carranza's daughter and mom.
Elder Ochoa and his wife Nancy as we were getting into our cars.
In the afternoon, we took the missionaries to the “Break the Fast” dinner at the area offices.  
Break the Fast dinner.
While in Salt Lake, we had the opportunity to talk to some dear friends, Lee and Connie Crayk.  Chris and I served with Lee in Ecuador, some 47 years ago.  He also recruited us to serve with him in Cochabamba when he served there as the Temple President.  He and Connie had very comforting words and great advice for us as we enter the last few months of this assignment.  Our hearts connected and we felt the Holy Ghost comfort and support us.  We continue to feel the blessings of a loving Father in Heaven.  We are happy to be back in Guatemala and we know that when we are done we will miss everything about this assignment.  We will try to do what Lee Crayk advised us to do, “work hard, do your best, and enjoy these last few months”.