Thursday, November 3, 2016

Friends in Quito

We met Fernando while we were hiking Pichincha volcano.  We invited him to lunch at one of the local restaurants.  Recently went through a divorce and is struggling economically.  He won gold and silver medals as an ice skater.  We invited him to Church.  I hope he comes!

This woman sells tourists all sorts of stuff from her little store on a street near the office.  She told us she was a member of the Church but Clara a nearby vendor told us she wasn't telling us the truth.  I guess she just wanted to make a sell.  Mom spent $15

You can see her little store.  Her grandson was learning her trade.  I guess this will be his carreer.



We were visiting  Hermana Bustos in her small apartment.  She is wealthier than most!  She rents a bedroom to the woman in the middle. who lives with her husband and two small children.  Sis.  Bustos recieves $60 a month for the room.  She rents a smaller room to a single gentleman  for $40 a month.  She also rents a ground floor room for $300 a month that is used as a small store.

This young girl (the one on the right) is carrying her baby.  She is trying to sell candies from the small package she is holding in her arms.  That's her career! She was very persistant so finally Mom decided to buy her small package of candy.  We will give the candy to children at church this Sunday.   She told us her husband's career is polishing shoes at the side of the road.

I thought I would include another picture with Mom in it!  That's how they carry their babies here in Ecuador!

This is Mom's personal tailor.   He is adjusting her new custom made leather jacket.  We invited his son and wife to meet with the missionaries.  A really nice man.

This is Sis. Bustos niece.  They live together in a small apartment with just enough room for two twin beds.  We usually buy something from Clara and then give it to her aunt or the small children that rent a room from her.


This is where Clara works all day!  She is lucky to have such a good career.  

Wheelchair Agreement Ceremony

Stake President with Director of Organization that the Church will donate more than a 1000 wheelchairs this year.  Next year as many as 2000 will be donated.  They will be our partner for the next 6-7 years or more.
Our good friend Isabel.  She is the director of foreign relations.


Dr.  Christiansen is developing a vision project with this organization and another in Milagro.  This organization does thousands of  cataract surgeries every year and they don't have a Jag laser.  Throughout the world about a third of people that receive cataract surgery go blind again because the lens turns opaque.  With this laser in about 30 seconds the patient will be able to see again.


Isabel was born in New York but was consul general for Ecuador in Toronto.  She loves Canada.  Maybe because this is where she was finally able to give birth to her only child..  She is holding a Canadian flag and a MacIntosh candy box.

Pichincha Hike

We're on our way to catch the bus that will take us to volcano Pichincha.  This picture is right outside of our apartment building.  this is the way garbage is gathered here in Quito.

Heading up the mountain on the teleferico!

Riding up on the gondola!

Well dressed missionary!  Where is your tag??




Quito in the distance and the trail we will be walking later in the week in the foreground.

It's really steep!!




Some pretty flowers below us!

Almost to the top!



Some workers below.  We stopped twice and dangled in the air.  It was so quiet!!

Communication towers.

Almost there.  Pichincha in the background.



Be Careful of advanced age, heart problems, breathing problems and no children under 1 year.  The altitude is about 13,451 feet and we hiked another couple of thousand feet.  Not bad for two old people.




A little coolish when we started.


One of my favorite flowers, lupines!

The trail goes on and on and it was pretty steep in places!



Little church where you can get married!


Heading back down.




Waiting for the bus!