Weather Update !!!!!

Hello to all and our love and affection go out to you..... I don't know why (Yeah I do) but I just got the idea to share with you what the weather is like here in Cuenca .... Not that you really care but..... I thought I would share it any way!

This is the "rainy season" but it hasn't been all that rainy.... In fact the power supply basically depends on the rains as they use water, to power generators that make the electricity, that we use in our homes here .... Well due to a lack of water in the form of rain .... we have rolling blackouts .... the schedule is printed in the paper each week and it normally lasts for 2-3 hours per sector in the city..... it's not all that inconvenient except when you have work to do.....(Back to the weather report) Due to the rains not falling as normal .... (we are still getting them, just not as much as normal) temperatures are a bit higher then normal,  maybe 4-5 degrees during the day ... but then temperatures are always about 65-70 degrees... maybe as high as 75 during the day.... yes this is, as I would consider it,  to be as close to perfect, weather. In fact for those who know the Souzas (they just arrived here in Cuenca about 12 days ago) .... Sara and I were working "house to house" (preaching for those not familiar with the expression) yesterday, when we were in the sun she said "it's hot" but when in the shade "it's just right" ..... yeah, she sounded like Goldilocks.... It's so warm, that I make sure I wear my hat, "the Panama" that's ventilated so that the landscape above my ears doesn't suffer from from the intense sunshine and warmth being radiated from that yellow ball in the sky.

Well just though you would like to know what the weather is like here ..... What's it like where you are? Warm I'm sure! ..... Oh, it's not? ...  What?  It's cold? ... You gotta be kidding!!! What's that? Those on the west coast ... It's really cold? Snowy in Reno? ....... Oh I'm sorry ..... Hee hee ..... Well you can always comfort yourselfs with the fact that we dont have electricity all the time,  and you do,  of course you need it more then us, ..... as for some, you wouldn't have heat.... But for those of you who are skiers,  I'm sure your in heaven! .... Oh that's right very few of you like to ski ......

Sorry I just could not resist ..... I HATE and I mean HATE the cold! ....  Wish you could be here with us! ;-)

Segundo the Taxista

Hi everyone…. So as I threatened, or better said promised, the experience about the taxista …. no it doesn't have anything to do with TAXES, it has to do with a taxi driver!

Ok so here it is … a month ago we had to change our schedule, for the week we went back to the US for work … so we asked the lady at the furniture store (remember her?) if she could change her study day that week, so we wouldn't miss it … she was good with that … of course when we got there, she proceeded to tell us that she couldn't study that morning, why she didn't call and tell us that she couldn't, we don't know …. but it was a good thing she didn't! After being rejected, just kidding,…. the area of town we were in, has a number of eye care places and I was in need of some contacts..… so we wandered around looking, and finally found what we were looking for. After finding out that the price of contacts here is double of what it is there in the states…(one of the few things) we decided to look for a taxi…. well we kept passing by different taxis and finally settled on one in particular… we got into the car, and we were off….


A little down the road, I noticed that the taxi driver had some religious relics on his dashboard… so I mentioned that he appeared to be a person with interest in religion and the bible….. he muttered that he really wasn't that religious …. but none the less, I figured there was a door that was opened a crack, and decided that I would try to go through it..…. So I asked "what it is that the angels can do, you and I can do, but God cannot do"? Right off the bat, he said "God can do everything" …. "No the bible says God cannot do this one thing" ….So he says "tell me that again" … so I do..… then he says after thinking a while ….. "SHOW ME what it is" …. at that point we are at a stop light and I share Titus1:2, …. he says "God can't lie" ….. "that's right" …. as I amaze myself at my teaching prowess…. JUST KIDDING! …

We let him digest what he just came to realize, and a bit later Carol mentions that, that fact, is the assurance of all Gods promises…. And when Jesus taught us to pray for Gods will to be done on earth …. she reasoned that we have a guarantee that it will happen …. and that Gods Kingdom will bring that to a reality …. after thinking a bit he asked "how we know that the bible is from God"? He mentioned that the writers say they were inspired by God but is there anywhere that Gods says he is talking to us…. well we shared a few different scriptures and they had no affect … finally we shared Prv. 2:1 where the bible says "My Son" …. for some reason that verse clicked with him and he said "there it is" …. as time moves forward, he mentions that he didn't know what he did wrong to offend God… we asked what he meant… he then told us that his 24 year old son had died (lung infection) leaving behind 3 children, just 3 months ago…. We told him he did nothing wrong…. he assured us that he must have done something, to offend God, for Him to have taken his son…… We then shared James 1:13 and showed him that God, does not do things that way…. he said "if that's so why did his son have to die"? We shared Pauls comments in Romans 5 and 6 as to why we die, and explained that some unfortunately die early due to imperfection and the illnesses that results from it… that seemed to be a very satisfying answer to him… we went on to explain that Jehovah purposes to raise the dead, and restore them perfect life in the not too distant future….(yes of course we used the bible) NOW he was really interested … we got out our study copy of the Bible teach book and shared a few points about the resurrection with him, and offered to get him a copy…. (no we didn't have any on us at the time ….. WE WERE out of them at the Hall…. I know you were thinking … You were out of them?… Flakes, …..what's the matter with you guys you should always have one with you!) …… So we said we would like to get him the book, and we told him as soon as we could find one, we would get him a copy and and then call him, to make arrangements to share with him, how we use the book to share what the bible really teaches about where, his son is, and what hope there is, to see him again. He liked that idea…. well we got the book that same week, into the hall …. FINALLY (we had been waiting for them for some time) We called to make arrangements, to get him the book, before we left for the US …. but we couldn't make the schedules fit to make the delivery … so we promised to get in touch with him after we returned…. which we did… and of course we had problems getting together with him due to scheduling …. finally a few days before going to Santiago for the International Convention, we called him and he came to pick us up for a ride back to our part of town…. we made a bit of small talk and he asked about our trip to the States and how family was (all the usual latin stuff) finally he asked about his book …. we gave it to him and then Carol mentioned, that if he was interested in studying the bible, we could make arrangements to have someone study with him, in the town he lives in about 35 minutes from Cuenca …. he said he was interested in the study, but would prefer studying with us and that he would make time during the workday, to come to wherever we wanted him to come and have the study …. further he gave us a day and time, when he would like to do the study… of course we were on our way out of town that same week and could not study for a few weeks, and he seemed a bit sad … but he told us that when we got back from Chile, he would be ready to start his study… further he told us that he would like to have his wife study with us also, but she is very Catholic … and then mentioned that he would be sharing what he learns with her, and that in time, he hopes she will join in the study, but by then, hopefully, we could come to his house to do the study (yes I know it's not in our territory, but let's get to that point, then we will worry about that)

So of course we are now back and today we will be making contact with him to have the study this week ….. keep him in your prayers and we will do our best to help him ….. This is a classic Angelic direction story… there are many other details, that time does not allow me to include, but the Angels are definitely at work here… that is a great feeling to see how Jehovah directs us to what would appear to be sheep like ones.

On a different note for all the problems we had going to Santiago it was just the opposite coming back ….. not a hitch! And they put us in first class ….. not a whole lot of difference just more room….. Oh one other thing, ….. not that any of you guys would be interested …… but there was a wine they served on the flight, in first class, that was excellent! I have no idea if it's available or reasonably priced in the US but I attached the photo of the bottle (Can you taste it?…. Yummmmmmm ….No of course you can't, unless you decide to buy it) I hope you can find it, it's really good..… Which reminds me the wine in Chile is some of the best in the world …… and it's CHEEEEEEEEP, …….. in Chile of course….. there what we pay 18.00 for here in Ecuador, is 3 dollars …. Ecuador has really high import taxes, on that kind of stuff…… it's amazing how you can accustom yourself to cheep but good …. well, …. reasonably good, box wine! ….. I know I can't believe I said that!

On another note, we had a wonderful time at the International Convention and then we went onto Buenos Aires ….. it, BA, has plenty of wonderful parts of the city we visited and we saw a Tango Show one night with the Brix-Hansens from Reno…. we had a very nice evening.

Santiago is a beautiful city, and the brothers from Chile were soooo warm and inviting…… As one brother on our bus said, price for the tour arranged by the society $…., meals out after the program each night $…… taxi rides $ …… , …….Memories ….. PRICELESS.

In addition to all the friends from Chile, there were brothers form 18 countries.... we met a couple from the Turk Islands very nice couple... we walked into a restaurant, saw the lapel badges and started to talk, they came and joined us and we had a very nice evening, exchanging stories about where we live. They decided to move there, where the need is greater, in Spanish, after as I remember several trips to the islands. While at first, it might seem that the life there, living on the islands, would be like being on perpetual vacation, they indicated that even though they live 150 feet from the beach, they seldom have time to enjoy the waters as they are soooo busy in the work there. Nice example!

Our love to you all!

Where have we been? Just about everywhere!!!! or so it seems......

Hello friends and family.... we hope this finds you all doing very well. If you are wondering why you haven't heard from us ... well lets just say we have been ON THE GO! Last month on the 21st we left for the States and we were there for 10 days, mainly for work ..... but of course we had time with friends and family during the evenings..... we had a wonderful time seeing those that we saw ... and if we didn't get to see you (Lasa and James) ..... hopefully we will see you next time.

We are in Buenos Aires, arrived this morning from Santiago after attending the International Convention .... in a word ..... The International Convention was AWESOME! Getting there was another story..... it went like this....  As it turned out our trip to Santiago was a pesadilla (nightmare!) as we took off from Guayaquil and had to return twice, because of a door, that would not close and stay closed on the plane. After the first time, the pilot said all was well, and had been repaired .... "a sensor" I think is what I remember him saying ..... maybe they changed out the wrong one,  because after we took off we had the same terrible noise and shaking,  (I'm not talking about the passengers who were visibly shaken) before long, the captain said we were returning to the airport for the evening. That of course after we spent all day at the airport, waiting for the plane to fly out to Lima. Well they did put us up in the Marriott and told us that we could eat and drink as much as we wanted to... Frankly after waiting all day for the flight, and then going up and down in the plane twice the only thing we were interested in was sleep, as by the time we got into the hotel with our bags and all our junk it was about 1AM ..... (Yes in the morning, and yes, the following day!) Where we were at the airport (before we were sent to the hotel) they told us, that they would have information the following day at 8 AM,  as to what the plan would be for getting us to Lima .... when I arrived at 8 AM, bright eyed and bushy tailed ready for the instructions ... NOT! We were told that we would be leaving for the airport in 30 minutes ....ALL ABOARD! So we showered and shined and miracle of miracles we were on the bus at 8:30 ....  and then we WAITED on the bus until 9:30 to leave for the airport as some persons didn't move with the same enthusiasm as we did when we received our marching orders.  When we arrived at the airport we went to the counter and had to recheck in. There they told us that we had the same seat... exit row (extra leg room) and we were off like a herd of turtles.... when we got onto the plane there were to guys sitting in the seats we were in the night before. (The nerve of those guys) Then when we looked at the tickets, we realized that the lady at the check in counter, who had then told us that we were in the same seats, ..... scratched out the numbers for the seats we were in, and gave us different seats on the plane and ........ we were not even sitting together! ..... WHAT IN THE WORLD !!! Sooooooooo! I went to the attendant and mentioned that we had exit row tickets and there were two persons sitting in the seats that we had originally been assigned ..."Oh we will take care of that" she says with a determined look on her face. So I go and sit down in 1st class and wait with Carol.... hoping they would get the hint (they didn't) and when the attendant comes back, she proceeds to announce to me that she now has 2 seats together .... but there "not in the exit row" I tell her. So this time she sallies off with a less then happy look on her face (sorry lady) and 15 minutes later says "we have your original seats for you" and marches off!   When we arrived at Lima we had the long layover, all afternoon and then some of the evening..... the only up side to that was, we had the opportunity to meet brothers that were going home from the International in Lima, as they were arriving for there flights home.

Finally we board the plane, and fly to Santiago and arrive at   ......... ? (Any guesses?) 2:30 AM, when we get there, we go through all the Immigration stuff and pay the entrance fee, turns out the Chilean government returns the same favor to Americans, and a few other countries, that the US government and a few other countries, charge Chileans when they visit the US $131.50 per person. I kid you not! The only country that has to pay more, is Canada and they pay 1 buck more then US passport holders. Well, we get through all that, and then we get to go get our baggage..... NOT ON THE PLANE, right, it didn't arrive into Santiago with us….sooooo we turn in the paperwork to the airline, and they of course tell us that it should be there by 12 PM the following day (it's 3:15 AM by now) Brent is there to pick us up, and there are brothers from Santiago that are there to welcome the delegation from Ecuador, of which we were not part (but got the same warm welcome, wasn't that nice!)   Well 8:30 later that same night..... day, whatever it was,… the next night…. confused? So were we, we still don't have our bags, so I call and they assure us that they will be there no later then "9:30" yes an hour and half later..... 11:00 when we return from dinner, N O ... B A G S! I call,  but of course there is no one at the counter after 10PM (that's funny there was someone there the night before at 2:30 in the morning) So I tried and tried to call several different departments to somehow connect me to the "Lost Baggage" department but no one could help me except for one lady in reservations,  of all departments who was helpful, but then we got cut off.... so at that point I gave up until the following morning. At 8 AM I called and the lady told me that she needed to call the driver and find out what happened. (I told her what happened... "They didn't deliver our bags") but evidently she wanted to hear that, ….. from the horses ahhhhh, .... drivers mouth. When I call her back in 15 minutes she proceeds to tell me, that they didn't have the correct address and so it couldn't be delivered the night before. I then tried to remind her that she confirmed the correct address on the previous phone call and she gave me the address not the other way around (in other words they had the correct information) she was lying to me and when I called that to her attention (sorry I didn't have a bunch of patience at this point) the phone went deadly silent. Then she told me our bags where going to be there in the next 1 1/2 hours.... (yes of course I was holding my breath) and of course this time, after making 3 separate promises, to get us our bags they got them to us. (Third times a charm or so they say) Not so fast... when we get the bags to our room they have plastic wrap and a security band around them (I felt better just seeing that, knowing that all was safe) removed all that and started to unpack all our stuff and ............... 3 of my 4 ties for the convention ensemble are missing!!!!!   So now I get to call the same helpful liar ahhhh, lady and let her know that my ties have been stolen ..... "that's not our responsibility" she tells me ..... "well whose is it"?  "Customer service"  she then proceeds to give me the email address and I sent an email telling them what happened..... Haven't heard back from them yet.... 7 days and counting...... I'm sure when I get a hold of them they will tell me they never received my email.

But once all was settled we really enjoyed our week and the International Convention was the best ever .... the friends gave us such a warm welcome and thanked us for coming, ..... hundreds of times, lots of hugs and kisses, and photos, and more hugs and kisses, and photos..... some of the brothers from Uruguay took a trip on the bus that lasted 57 hours ....... no stopping except for fuel fill ups, can you imagine? When Saturday after the end of the program the foreign delegates started to in unison say "Les Queremos"(we love you) to the Chilean brothers in the stadium they in turn spun their umbrellas around and around... that was quite a sight and then after more les queremos'es they started to lift them up and down, .... quite another spectacle, then the wave started going around the stadium (we received counsel the following day not to do that anymore, the wave that is) then the singing of Kingdom songs started, needless to say,  I don't think there was a dry in the house... ahhh stadium! All that took place because it was our last day at that stadium, we were going to another the following day and we were going to repeat that all over again on Sunday after the program ended....... with the exception of doing the wave of course. Peak attendance on Sunday 100,604 at three different locations…. The "Big national stadium" is being remodeled so we couldn't all meet together in the same location.
One other thing I forgot to mention was that when I arrived at the information desk in the lobby on the first day of the convention, of the hotel we were assigned to, I was informed that the brothers had been looking for me, as I was one of the bus captains (Captain Bill they called me) I was in charge of entertainment .... right up my ally!

That was fun! …….We packed this morning and got up at 2:41 AM  Yup! so that we could get the plane to......

 Buenos Aires! We arrived without a hitch (got all those out of the way, up front, or so I hope) and got to our apartment that Brent found for us on the internet (yes using that nasty technology) First thing we do after getting settled in? Go to a Cemetery... hard to imagine, having a good time at one of those, no? But this is a very unusual cemetery, I will put a few photos on the blog site for all to see..... this is the place where Eva Perrone is interned with her husband.... wait till you see the photos it's amazing what this place is like. It's arranged like a town with memorial tombs but you really can't call these tombs in the traditional sense ...... you see what I mean? Each building is a memorial tomb and most times it for the family. In addition to the coffins that are in each ... yes .... you can see them .... (the coffins not the bones) there is a stairway that goes below where other coffins are stored of the other family members.

I have had other things I wanted to share with you like paying for a water at the airport in Miami a 2.85 for the same exact thing we pay .25-.30 in Cuenca .... when I saw that I started laughing ..... then crying when I paid for it.
I have a very good experience talking to a cabbie  (of course about the truth, not the soccer match) for you all, but it will have to wait ..... my fingers are tired.

Worthless ramblings of B & C in Cuenca

Hello to all ... again! I know, I know, I just wrote something the other day and you are asking don't you have anything better to do then write on the blog...... well it's our off day when we regroup and get to kick back a bit... so you have to suffer reading through this, if you are reading through this.

This was the face on the cover of the menu for the cappuccino you see below..... Hey gals what do you think of those eyebrows? You know what I think! Carol told me this is a very famous painting.... we know why don't we.

We went out to buy some shades for our apartment today. While out after laying down the smackers (american dollars .... that's what the currency is down here) we roamed the streets in the neighborhood where the shop was and took the attached photos of things in the area.


Yesterday afternoon we had RAIN finally! Today it was beautiful .... I mean really beautiful, like a late spring day .... Oh that's right it's like that  everyday here, sometimes it's early spring, and sometimes late spring early,  summer...

Then we wandered down the street and had the Cappuccino you see above ... fancy no? .... $1.50  .... Oh did I mention it was just across from the river? ... I did now.

And this is the place where we had it... nice shopping area with restaurant and shops of various types.... the restaurant, we have eaten at with the Webbs when we were down here in March .... Fillet Minion anyone? ..... $7.00

Being positive reaps good results

As some of you know, we had as our Circuit Overseer in Reno for the last two years Brother Richard Keller. (Wonderful, humble man) One thing, of many, that I learned from him, is the value of being positive and giving a lot of commendation. (We all thrive on that ...  don't we?) When you are commended for something, you want to do better and you want to work harder. (Well maybe I can't speak for everyone, but thats the way it works for me) Carol and I have adopted his upbuilding way of thanking the brothers for their efforts and giving as much commendation as possible. After all, the friends do put forth a lot of effort in preparing their parts, sharing comments, and caring for different responsibilities in the congregation, that make things run smoothly for all of us! 


The other night a young brother gave a nice talk on the theme,  Who will be resurrected and where will they live? (there is a question mark missing, .... isn't there?... oh thats right that only applies in Spanish ... it's starting to look strange,  when there isn't one before the question, even in English. Something weird is starting to happen to us.) Well after the meeting we both gave the brother a lot of commendation for the great job he did with the material. The following day he pulled me aside at meeting for service and asked if he could talk to me for a minute... (I thought I was in trouble.... used the wrong word in Spanish and called somebody something I shouldn't have) But then he started to relate how much he appreciated the positive way we are with not just him, but all the friends, and the fact that it made him and others feel like he/they wanted to do more for Jehovah. I am sharing this, not to pat ourselves on the back, but with the hope, that all of us will be positive in our comments to our brothers ..... this we, ... Carol and I, give credit to Brother Keller for .... Thank you for setting such a fine example for us all ..... Try it! ...  be generous in giving commendation, and watch how others respond in a positive way...... after all, our brothers, deserve our commendation, they are the best people living on the earth, ... and to think we have the privilege of being their friends!

Nice Couple that Hardings allow us to attend Study

Hello to all... In the photo you see a young couple that the Hardings  ( better known to you all as "The Aussies") study with each week. We have the privilege of being asked to come and to help out with the Spanish... (The way they are progressing that won't last much longer ..... bummer!) This young couple is making nice progress. Each week when we come they are prepared with the lesson studied, and ready to get started. Hernan, Luisa and there cuter then cute baby boy Dario ......Usually once we get started, that little one wants mom and dads attention... so Gail being a mother and grandmother starts the entertainment process, .... plays ball with him ... talks on the imaginary cell phone with him and generally keeps him occupied .... I say generally because even the most talented persons, such as Gail can find keeping a 16 month old, entertained 100% of the time, a bit of a challenge! 

This week Lucia’s mom came to Cuenca from the coast to visit and care for a young child who had medical needs to be cared for.... she didn't know that we were at the house having the study, and when she walked in an saw us, she got so excited to she that her daughter and son in law were studying, that we all got warm hand shakes and the girls got kisses and hugs..... She is a sister in a congregation on the coast. She mentioned that she will be going to the meeting with us on Sunday, so we encouraged  "her kids" to attend the meeting with her as well..... Sunday, we will see if they take the bait and come... we hope they do .... (They did and enjoyed it very much... said they would be back next week) They are a very nice couple and we hope to see them serving in the congregation with us, in time.

Congregation Get together for the Extranjeros (Foreigners)

Today after telling us for some weeks, that the congregation needed to have an official "welcome" for the foreigners, it was had! And had it was! A brother that recently came into the truth offered to open his home in the country to the congregation ..... not far out of Cuenca, actually part of Cuenca, this family has a home that is in parts of construction..... There was a large parking area,.... a indoor size soccer field, a full size volley ball court, in addition to the house itself..... we all had a wonderful time and there was more food then you can imagine! Enough for 400 people! The congregation came and I am guessing there was 225. In addition to the games, going on in different places they had Karaoke, .... dancing..... if the latin brothers in the States back home think they like dancing, .... the brothers here, bring dancing to a whooooooole different level, then I have ever, seen!

National Assembly

This is an update on the National Assembly we attended here in Cuenca .... The assembly site was a bit cramped, but the feeding program was excellent as you all know.... We had 209 baptized at the convention and the average each day, was about 8,500 in attendance. (Peak on Sunday 10,000) That's about 2.5% of those in attendance baptized! In Guayaquil they had right at 30,000 in attendance and they had over 600 baptized,... not sure of the exact number..... those were just 2 of the assemblies in the country, but we have no idea how many total were baptized at some of the other sites in Ecuador .... the percentage baptized to those in attendance is higher then what we have ever seen at assemblies we have attended in the past ..... very encouraging!

Attached are some photos from the assembly ..... here when clothing is found that was lost, the brothers kindly wash the clothing and set it out to dry and be found by it's owner .... 

So I thought to my self, if all the clothing is cleaned .... and set out for brothers to claim .... I had a couple of suits that needed dry cleaning.... so I brought them the next day and, ... "lost" them ....day after, there they were, hanging inside plastic and dry cleaned .... sweet! (now if you believed the part about the dry cleaned suits you are gullible!) But the rest is true. ;-)

The brother in this Photo .... Guillermo (Spanish for William) we met the first day at the assembly .... This brother was one of the first to accept the truth in Cuenca and has been serving Jehovah for over 35 years,..... Now, while there is phenomenal growth here in Cuenca currently ... that has not always been the case, for many years Cuenca was a lagger.... the city is considered to the one of the most, if not the most religious cities in all of Latin America, if not the world! It took some time for the brothers to break through the prejudice and different barriers from the churches ..... Once the crack in the dam failed the flood started and "My people" that have been in Babylon the Great, have been getting out of her, .... and have been coming into the truth in troves, for example ....


The congregation Canaribamba that we are a part of, has 120 publishers,.... this month we have had no less then 218 in attendance at our Sunday meetings, .... today we had 229! .... Standing room only, ... during the meeting, I was asked to stand, along with the Aussie and some other brothers, so that new ones and sisters could have our seats.


No we haven't formed the new Congregation, it looks like it's going to be closer to January, when that finally happens ..... that, will be a good thing! After the meetings you can hardly move around the hall .... if you have someone you want to talk to, you need to be close to where they are at, because by the time you get to where they are ... they were. (Hope you understand that) The sister congregation, Totoracocha has even higher attendance then we do.


The hat on the big guy, is a necessity down here, especially, if one lacks hair (Oh you hadn't noticed?)... at 8,000 ft elevation you are close to the sun and even more so, being at the Equator.

Great Experience

After the convention in English in Guayaquil, Carol suggested we set a goal of trying to preach in our building, seeing that it has a gate that prohibits those in our sister congregation from reaching, while in the preaching work. Well someone was listening... within a few days an older woman and her daughter in law that is widowed, asked us about why we are here in Ecuador .... so obviously we explained and they invited us to share "the word" with them .... we made arrangements to come to their apartment to do just that. When we arrived they were not there of course, but we weren't discouraged, as we see them all the time, and figured that if they were truly interested, we would get together with them at some point..... well after that, we passed them in our comings and goings and of course they asked us when we were coming and they got all red faced when we reminded them that we had an appointment, and came by, but they weren't there (all in a very kind and joking sort of way of course) .... they promised they would be there the next time, the following morning ...... they weren't! ..... so we set out for the field to do some other return visits.... on the way out of the complex, they were out front and we asked them if they still wanted to discuss "the word" ..... at which point, off we went to their apartment..... excellent discussion about Jehovah's purpose for the earth and us. We made arrangements to get them Bible Teach books and Bibles and then start the study the following week at 6 PM at their apartment..... when we arrived they had an additional neighbor there who wanted to listen in on the study ..... after the study they asked if some others could join us in the study (nope 3's the limit) .... as of last Wednesday we had 5 total that are studying ...... there was one additional person that came the week before, but after realizing we are JW's she put up a bit of a fuss,and made some accusations and of course we refuted what she had to say using the bible, at which point she excused herself and said she had another "appointment". (See ya later) We proceeded, and had an excellent study with the 5 woman that stayed! Supposedly there are 2-3 more that want to sit in on the study but they have not shown up yet .... Oh yea one other thing, all 5? ..... they are all from the building we live in. Be careful what goals you set .... you might just achieve them.

Sisters serving here in Canar Ecuador

Hello to all ... this last weekend, we enjoyed a "National Assembly" (I know ... in the states it's "convention". Here they are all "assemblies") The day before it started, we had invited a couple of fleshly sisters to come and have dinner with us. (The sisters Mendez) These two dear ones, live an hour and a half from  Cuenca, in a city called Canar. (sounds like Canyar) Canar is at 11,000 feet or (3,400 meters as they say here) so it's a bit cold, and the wind blows something terrible there. They moved to Canar, from Georgia, where they had been serving, in a congregation where the need was greater. Nice gals! In Canar they serve in Spanish, (there is also a indigenous congregation that speaks Kitchua, where there is a lot of growth as well) They explained that they have Rats in the house (sound familiar Webb's?) and they can hear them crawling around during the night ... freaked out at first, but now have accustomed themselves to it, (however that works) and that the friends have cats, bigger then the rats to help keep the population down. Also to help them with the cold, they were given a heating blanket by a sister back in the states as gift and they share it, to keep warm at night.... Each one gets the blanket for a night, then the other, the next night. (it's a twin blanket) Not exactly sharing it, the way you thought, when you first read that, was it? In Canar the elder serving is a Special Pioneer that cares for the congregation. In the ministry, they have much interest and a very large territory. So large, that when they work the outer limits, they only offer literature, and invite interested persons to the meetings. Once they show up at meetings, they will then, offer a bible study to the individual. It's not that they would not be able to start a boat load of studies with people in the rural areas, it's just that they can't get back to them, on a regular basis, to study with them. So if the individual, manifests enough interest to come to meetings, the friends will make the effort to conduct a study with them. (that's the way it is here in some areas, where the need is even greater then great) That make sense?


Next blog .... report on the "Assemblea Nacional". We had a few over 10,000 as the peak, but most days we had 8,500 or so..... Want to take a stab at how many were baptized? What's normal? About 1% of the attendance, right? Stay tuned for the results! 

More Nice Experiences

While in the "Predi" (Ministry) about 3 weeks ago. The brother in the last blog photo "Isreal" and I are working a very fruitful block of the territory. We knock on a window and 2 little girls come to answer and finally a third joins us. We are making small talk with them while their mom comes to talk to us. I am using the "Who really rules the World" tract and having a wonderful discussion with all the girls (mom included). Mom dosn't get the sence of the scripture in 1 John 5:19 when I ask them "So who does the bible say really rules the world" but the girls all cry out in unison, "the Devil"? Big smile on my face (very cute) when they all answered like that. Then I shared with them 2 Cor. 4:4 and after identifying who the God of this system is, asked them what is the "Glorious Good News" that Paul wrote about. Setting up the question for our next discussion. The following week I return and no one is home, (of course ... Yes we have the same problem here) But there is a group of kids, small ones that come running from across the street when they see us ... in this group are the 3 little girls explaining that "Mom is at school enrolling them" The littlest one grabs my arm as if to say you can't leave so I decide to share something about the kingdom with all the little ones. (New World Tract) and we have a very nice discussion, scriptures and questions, answers ... etc. using the tract. I ask the girls we had spoken to to let there mom know she missed "her appointment" (just kidding) and that we would return. Carol and I did the next day ... offered the bible study and "Veronica" accepted. But asked if we could make a fixed time so she could be ready with her girls, I affectionately named "Las Gringitas" because the all have english names. (They always laugh when I call them that) So when we come back for the study they are all ready and invite us in. During the conversation Veronica tells us, that she had studied a little while with the Witnesses, but had not been to meetings due to family pressure, and when the sister died that she studied with, she lost contact with the Witnesses. Veronica also mentioned that she had studied from a "Brown Book" (Knowledge) and enjoyed what she was learning ... when she lost contact with the truth. So we are happy to be able to start studying with her again, as she had not studied for very long in the past with the sister that passed away. 


Also you remember "Angel",  The guy who showed up at the meeting who I thought was a street person? We studied yesterday ... well we tried to study yesterday, actually he had some questions about "Mary the mother of God" and why we don't give her the adoration she deserves ... these as it turns out, were the words of his neighbor, who was trying to discourage him from studying with the Witnesses. After using 4 scriptures and reasoning on them, he said "This is why I like studying with the Witnesses, you guys show everything from the bible". He said was going to share the scriptures with the neighbor. We will pick up where we left off in the "Bible teach book" next study.


Carol has a Return Visit, now study, with a woman named "Anna" we went yesterday and she told us that she found work, and that she told the woman she was working for, that she could not work on Tuesday between 3-4 in the afternoon, because she is taking bible study classes with JW's ... (the last time we spoke, last week, she was very depressed, and had no work, we read a few scriptures and reasoned with her on Matt 6 to put the Kingdom first and all other things would be added to her, including some sort of work) The woman she works for, told Anna that "she is Catholic and should not be talking to those people" ... never the less she was ready for the study, well dressed and had her books ready. (she had studied in the recent past in anther part of the city, but had moved into our territory, some brothers made the original call and then turned it over to Carol that same morning) Well, I am conducting the study, and Anna is on another planet, and about the time I am going to ask her if there is something else on her mind, she says she doesn't understand, what we are doing using the book ... we assumed she did, as she had studied in the recent past, but had only studied the 1st chapter. So we showed her how the study is conducted using the Bible Teach Book and how she should prepare for the study. She then with a big smile on her face, said she looked forward to our next study, and would be prepared! Lesson learned? Don't assume anything ... (But I though I learned that lesson with Angel ... I guess I am a slow learner!)

!!!!! Health Scare !!!!!

NO it's not the Spine uhhhhhh, ..... Swine Flu ....  "Enfluenza Porcino"!  .... But I understand why you might think that.... that's all you see on the news these days, at least down here..... well here's what happened. Saturday night about 8:00 we are sitting on the couch and watching the boob tube.... and I start to get pain in my chest and back, down the left arm and start feeling sick to my stomach. (But of course I don't tell Carol.... don't want to alarm her) So I take something for the pain, and it doesn’t help! After an hour, and looking on the internet, and checking the symptoms for a heart attack, and foolishly waiting for some more time to pass, to see if it is going to go away ..... I tell Carol it's time to go to the hospital because I am having chest pain .... poor girl hadn't been getting good rest and then when she is about into the start of a good night's sleep, I go in and wake her up to tell her I think I may be having heart problems..... not a good way to start your evening of rest! So she gets dressed and we get a cab (I hear you ..... What? .... Why not call an ambulence) I can assure you the cab is faster. So we are in the cab and I direct the cabbie to the closest hospital, when we roll up to the joint it has in big letters "Trauma Center" Whew..... We’re in the right place! We get inside and the place looks like a battle zone. Blood all over the floor and people’ being wheeled around the place like there is no tomorrow. Then, I get to what might be considered a desk with about 4-5 persons that are filling out paperwork and taking information from different people and paperwork is getting mixed up and falling on the floor ..... What a disaster! At this point Carol is very scared and tells me we need to call one of the brothers in the congregation, so I do. I tell him what hospital we are at, and he asks me, why we are there, and that we should be at the clinic. I'm thinking the clinic? I maybe having a heart attack and he tells me we should be at the clinic.... what in the world? Then, he tells me he is on the way down to help us..... Well he shows up in no time .... As I have mentioned in the past they have no rules on the road down here so I'm guessing he drove as if he was an ambulance driver. He gets there and I am reasonably sure 45 minutes has gone by since we arrived ... and as of yet I have still not seen anybody to check on what is the situation with my ticker. Finally the brother gets aggressive and asks if someone is going to tend to me. So they wheel up a gurney and I get on it and they put me in an area that is partitioned off by curtains..... (Out of sight out of mind) nothing happens, so he again stirs the pot, and they send some one in to get me hooked up to an EKG machine, to see what the heart is doing.... (All the while, the pain is increasing) next the problem is, that the electrodes they use are something out of the 60-70's, little suction cups that they put on your (my) chest ... problem is, that with all he hair on my chest they can't get the suckers to stick! So I suggest they shave the areas on my chest.... the doctor in training says "that's a good idea", but the fact that she's a DOCTOR and won't do it, that's for someone lesser, to do (I'm not kidding) and that she will find someone else to do it ... about 5 minutes later they send in, what I suspect was a nurse, and after surveying the situation tells me she needs to go find a razor (still not kidding) she comes, and goes, a few times, and each time assures me she is looking for the razor, then tells me that it maybe a item that needs a prescription, ("a razor"?) 10 minutes goes by (pain still there) finally she walks in with? You guessed it.... a razor! But then starts wiping different areas of my chest and the areas are not the same areas that the doctor wiped, when she was originally trying to put the suckers on my chest the first time ... so I suggest to her that she may want to consult with "the Doctor" (in Training) to make sure she is doing it right. Finally the Doc comes in and points out the locations she wants the forest removed.... I'm thinking that if she had only done it herself, in the first place, we could have avoided this craziness. Finally they get the hair cut down, and then, the doc still can't get the things to stick, so she calls someone else in, and of course this guy gets them to stick on the first try, and they run the 10-second test! 1:30 minutes after we left the house, we get some results. NEGITIVE! Heart rhythm looks normal.... ("That's a Good Thing")  !!!!!! But I still have the pain!!!!!! Next thing you know Carol comes in and grabs me and says, "We are going to the Clinic"! 


"The Clinic" I'm thinking to myself..... The brother goes and gets the EKG print out and, 3-4 minutes later we roll up to the "Clinic" get put in a room and the Doctor comes in about 20 seconds later looks at the results of the EKG and says he doesn’t think I am having a heart attack or heart problems but would like to do a Heart "enzima" test.... this word "enzima", sounds exactly like the "ensima" which means in Spanish "the top of something" The top of my heart test? Well he's the doctor!  ... Enzima = "Enzyme" test ..... Duh! But it sounds exactly the same... even when we explain it to the brother that is with, us he shakes his head and says he understands why we thought what we thought. I don't feel so bad! (In my head) but I'm still hurting! Two "enzima" (enzyme) tests later confirm that I didn't, and I am not having a heart problem.... GOOD NEWS! 


But I am still in real pain.... so the doc talks to me and we figure out that I have some sort of back problem.... which I have had (but not like this) ever since I fell from the horse while in Nicaragua in March of 2008. (I'm not a bad rider, ... well I don't think I am... it's just that the stirrup broke, as I was trying to get the horse to stop running, and with all the force, when that stirrup broke, I went flying off the horse, head... over proverbial heel) I ended up with bruised ribs, toes, head, and other parts too. It took months to heal up, and once I did get healed up, I never got checked out by a chiropractor or anybody else for that matter. But I am sure I was still a bit tweaked.... and never had any follow up treatment for anything... Well with all the fun things thing we have had happen, and the stress of the entire move, I'm guessing the body finally said we are going to make you pay for not getting it fixed, after the tumble off the horse. Everything just locked up, and the area that the pain was centered and the different symptoms, I honestly thought "the big one" was hitting me. Lesson learned with this episode.... many, but the big one... call the brothers when you are in a pickle (Carol suggested that from the get go).... They know the ropes.... Turns out "Clinic" here means Hospital and Hospital means clinic or even something less! If I had been having a real Heart attack I probably would not be writing about this fun experience..... The brother told me that if you want to die? .... You go to the hospital.... the care is sooooooo poor that many do end up dying, due to the goofy lack of prompt help. 

Just another day in Ecuador! It's all good! 

The Aussies are here as Well

Ok, .... so you have heard about the "other couple" in the congregation that just moved in a bit before us. Let me introduce you to, Don and Abigail Harding. They are from the great Down Under! (can you hear the accent) Wonderful people! They have in the past, served in Fiji (Working on the Branch) and Malaysia doing something similar. Also they have a 30 something year old daughter serving here in Ecuador for several years, and wanted to serve where the need was greater. Ecuador is relatively cheap to live, and I'm sure the fact that there daughter was serving here, was a great bonus as well. We get to be in service most days of the week with them and enjoy that funny accent they have. (They say we have the funny accent....whatever! ..... just kidding) Also they have a TON of expressions that we don't have in the States. One they have learned from us is "Cute"..... Yeah I know, not much huh!

In addition to the Hardings are the Spauldings, (Rodney and Karen) they are serving in another congregation here in Cuenca. Sorry no photo.... they too are wonderful folks. Now get this ... both these couples moved here, without speaking a lick of Spanish and they are attending a Spanish congregation.... now that, takes guts! I am happy to report, they are all progressing very well (with there Spanish of course) and they are a huge encouragement to us, and the congregations.... one other nice thing is we are all on the same page when it comes to the "differences" (wink....wink) experienced here. I remember the first time we met the Spaldings. It was after the circuit assembly back in March. Us and the Webbs had dinner at a very nice restaurant near one of the rivers here in town. After dinner and a great evening together, I remember Karen saying how glad she was to have had an entire evening visiting, and speaking English .... Here even the little things like that, are a real blessing! We feel blessed to have come know an ever expanding brotherhood, and seeing others making such a great effort to serve where the need is greater! (Oh by the way Spaldings, that was us that hollered at you from the cab, when you were on the street corner the other day. Looked like you were out in your ministry ..... you GO guys!)

Great experience

Quick story here ... We have found the best way not only to get to know our brothers but also remember their name is to work in the ministry with them .... that said we are trying to work with different ones each day, when we are in our ministry. The sister in the photo, Maggi .... Carol worked with in the ministry this morning. Her twins are both named Anna. (Cristina and Patricia) I told the sister that wasn't very nice to name them with the first same name, as it only adds to the confusion we already have. Maggi started learning the truth 17 years ago. She said for the first 9 years she was like a crab .... move forward, then sideways, then backwards, then forward some more, spiritually speaking. Finally she decided to dedicate her life to Jehovah. Of course her husband had other plans for her, and told her if she was to become a Witness, he was going to divorce her... she reasoned with him that she was not passing time with another man, but spending more of her time drawing close to her creator, so she would be a better wife. He told her to plan on being a single mom, non the less. Finally the day arrived when she was to be baptised at the assembly. The morning she went to leave for the assembly, her husband followed her to the assembly, when she was there for the baptism talk he was there with their daughters, in the audience. After she was baptised that day, he gave her a big hug and told her how proud he was that she didn't give into his wishes and decided to become one of Jehovah's Witnesses, that was 7 years ago..... Great story huh!

Then she told us that she too just moved into the congregation we are in and didn't know any brothers .... Carol asked why she moved to this congregation and she said because "I matured" (she lived in the territory already but attended a different congregation) when she first arrived she said she didn't really like the congregation, and felt it was a bit cold. Of course she then admitted, that the congregation she had been attending was much smaller and easier to get around to see friends. Well after missing several meetings, she said that one night she couldn't sleep, (conscience) and all she did was pray to Jehovah for help to get to the meetings, and make new friends....... Well she hasn't missed a meeting since, and of course, we are very happy that she hasn't, and that are having the opportunity to get to know her and her daughters. Now .... we work on her husband, to help him become a brother!

Customs and our "Junk"

Well you will be happy to know (I hope) that we finally got our "Stuff" ..... hard to believe? Yeah for us too.... after finally waiting and giving them all the paperwork, sometimes twice..... oh and did I mention paying double what I was told would be needed to get the junk .... (I'm reasonably sure the other half was for a payment under the table) not that I offered, but I have a feeling that is what happened ..... WE GOT IT! ..... Yup ..... all 9 boxes of household items ....AND .... believe it or not it was all there! ..... (Sorry for all those unkind words I said about them, going through everything and taking home for there personal use, some items..... NOT!) What a joke, to go through all those hoops and finally to get it. Of which, of course we are thankful for.

So we get it last Saturday, a brother in the congregation rounded up a truck so we can pack it here from the airport. Carol told him it was Christmas in the Heilig house and he just kind of looked at us with a strange sort of smile .... then he figured it out .... oooooh with a big smile! We unpacked a few of the things, that we wanted the most and then then of course asked ourselves, why we brought some of the other stuff ..... what were we thinking? ..... But that only lasted for a few days ... once all was unpacked we started to feel like it was home .... unwrapped all that bubble wrap, and tossed the boxes (good riddens) and we were ready to go to get some things to put up our pictures, photos, and artwork .... I decided to take the dog, Gracie, for a walk and when I returned ..... in the garage area was a lynch mob..... the leader, the manager of the building asked if he could talk to me ..... I asked if it was OK to take the pup back to the apartment? ..... What's he going to say? NO? So I take her back and wash her feet (new custom here for us, as the sidewalks are soooooo dirty with everything you can imagine) and when I return to talk to him and the lynch mob, he starts to explain that pets (mascotas) are not allowed in the building .... So I cut to the chase and ask "if we are not going to get rid of a member of the family, .... we have to move"? "Well" He says "you are putting my back to the wall" Really? I thought it was the other way around. Then confirmed that, yes, you do! Of course, when I mention this to my dear wife, she was about in tears ... after all the moving and waiting, and not feeling good for the last few weeks due to a respiratory problem, that seemed to be the last straw. So we got a night of rest, and a really good day in the ministry the next day .... (that can be a simple cure for a lot of problems) ..... and we decided to let the landlady care for the issue .... when I spoke to her she said "I need to talk to him and get this straightened out, get me his phone number" .... so I go to get it and he is in the Garage/Parking area working on his vehicle ... battery, to be specific and cleaning the crud/ acid that collects on them .... So I make some small chat with him trying to soften him up a bit, and ask him what he uses and he tells me water and lemon juice. "lemon juice" I ask, and it works? "like a charm" he says with a smile on his face.... (learn something new, each and every day here) then I ask the big question for the number..... and then explain how disappointed we are to have to move, ... after getting all arranged and the last of the furniture finally arriving, and all our stuff from Customs and being ready to hang the family photos. Then he tells me how sorry he is, that I happened to walk up, at the worst time the other day. He explains that some of the "meddling homeowners" (his words not mine) were complaining that people were not following the rules in the building and of course I walked up with the dog (not allowed) at that moment, even though there are others that have them in the building. So he says "I had to act like I was doing my job".... that's what he tells me! .... Then he tells me that things will die down in the next few weeks, and that all will be OK, he can see that the dog is not a problem and that he is sorry for the concern he caused us. Then he asked why we moved to Ecuador? (They can't understand why .... as most here, want to move to the States) So I explain our purpose for coming here .... then he feels even worse, that he has caused us "pain" and that he understands that we are here to serve God and he is sure all will be fine.... but if we could, please don't let the dog run around through the building ..... like we have been doing that. Anyway for now, it seems all is back to normal..... whatever normal is down here!

What's in a Name?

Ok so we are in the "Predi" yesterday and we are walking to a Return Visit, Carol and I and we come across this priceless gem .... if you think there is nothing to naming a business correctly, check out the the photo. Would you want to eat here? It is amazing what a difference language can make. In English Dudu is not a good name for a restaurant .... but here, evidently it doesn't say anything of the restaurant .... Still ....I just can't bring myself to eat here..... Sorry!

Update of "What's Happenin" with the Heilig's

Hello to all.... I bet you have been wondering what happened .... he was doing his goofy blogs 2-3 times a week and then nothing! Well...... lets just say we have been busy. And things happen so slow down here as one sister put "you think you are going to get 10 things done in one day, but its more like you get 1 thing done in 10 days" I liked that quote, and told her it would be included in a blog sometime in the future..... so there it is!

We have been busy!..... Our stuff is still with customs (isn't that nice) they need it more then us! They say it's sitting in a storage area.... (Carol is wondering if the personnel are going through it and figuring out what they want from our boxes of junk) ...... well we will see. After getting all the papers that were needed, they wanted another ..."sworn statement" then they wanted our passports, didn't feel real comfortable about that one... then proof that we were sponsored by the branch as coming under the 12-VII visas for "missionary status" (that was all over the passports of which they not only had "notarized copies but then the passports themselves) .... so we send them a letter from the branch that we received when we were here during the first week..... then after two weeks they tell us that the "sworn statement" wasn't done right and they needed another one... the statement we had notarized by a sister that has been a notary for many years. She looked at the request and just shook her head saying that nothing was wrong with he first one..... when we get all that was needed to customs ...... finally...... Then they tell us that we had passed the amount of time allowable, and that they consider the stuff abandoned! (Abandoned?... we have been going back and forth with them and you would think that that would start a clock once you quit doing sometime to follow their goofy process) ... then they tell us that we have to pay a ticket for not getting things done within the allowed amount of time. (Well we would have, if they could make up there mind what it was they wanted up front) The Fine? .... $100 green backs! I have lost what little hair I had on the top of my head. When will we get it? We don't know, but we have done all that we can do.... we feel it's in Jehovah's hands now.

Enough of that! We have important work to do. We enjoyed a very productive week in the ministry, our first complete week without interuption .... lots of excellent calls, and we are sure that many will turn into bible studies. I was given a study with an older man of which we conducted yesterday..... His place backs up to the airport here in Cuenca, so we had long pauses during parts of the study (jet liners taking off)..... the other long pauses, came after I asked the questions on the paragraph, I was trying to figure out what is going on? Then after the study, the brother that turned it over to me, said the man Angel had, had a stroke some time back.... there was my answer. (that would have been nice to know before conducting the study) Anyway when we walked into the place he lived in, it looked like it was something that had been built when the Incas were ruling the land. What a mess! Then he leads us out back, and he has a million dollar view of some of the surrounding mountains from the back yard area of his ...... well I guess you could say "house". Looking at Angel you would have thought him to be a street person right down to the NFL Giants jacket he must have found in the 2nd hand clothing store. We invited him to the meeting today, and of course he was there! Shaved, shined, tie, jacket, slacks the whole nine yards! I had a little voice go off in my head "don't judge a book by its cover" We will see what happens to our dear new friend, Angel.

Last week we attended the convention here in Guayaquil, Ecuador, that the branch puts on in English. They put it together for the brothers that are here serving from foreign lands, the "extranjeros" or foreigners. (680 according to the comments made by one of the brothers giving a talk, that number doesn't include those that have decided to get resident visas that started under the branch assisted 12-VII visa) A real blessing, as you get to rub shoulders with some mighty fine self sacrificing friends. Peak attendance Sunday, 1200+. The majority live very simple lives, to be able to preach in this most fertile territory. The city of Cuenca and surrounding areas have experienced 18% growth in the last 12 months.... we have been told that some of the CO's here feel, that things are just starting to get going, and the real growth is yet ahead in this part of Ecuador..... Interesting.

One area of work really heating up, is in the territory of the Native Ecuadorians who speak Kitchua..... one small area (Canar) about 2 hours by bus, north of Cuenca has a special pioneer couple a few extranjeros serving. They have been at the work for about 10 months and already have 40 in attendance at the meetings they conduct..... also I beleive they mentioned that they had over 90 at the memorial this year. One experience we heard was that when a sister began preaching to woman in her native tongue the woman began to weep ..... no one in this country cares about the indigenous people, with the exception of Jehovah's people who are willing to learn the language to share the good news with them. Also (Aaron and Eunice) sign language here is growing greatly as it is in Nicaragua. We met a CO and his wife that sat in front of us on Sunday. They reminded us you guys, about the same age and the sister/wife and Eunice could have been fleshly sisters. Did they know sign when they entered the CO work? Nope... baptism by fire!

While at the convention we stayed at a hotel about 15-20 minutes from the branch... all was going well at this hotel, until we returned home from dinner on Saturday night. Next to the hotel was a paint factory .... from our balcony there were signs telling people not to throw there Cig. butts below, (see photo) for fear that a fire could be started..... you probably thinking that's what happened ... we were throwing our butts down there and we started a fire.... NOPE! ;-) They were having some kind of party.... they had disco lights and the whole 9 yards, and it was not inside a building, ( that would have been nice) it was held open air. But the real problem was the music, we went to sleep at 10 and woke up to the music, that was heard over the air conditioning, at 2:30 in the morning..... NICE!..... Not really!..... I go out to investigate and when they see me glaring at them they turn UP the music... good move Heilig. They finally concluded the party at 5:30 in the morning..... we though we would be wrecks that day, but we actually felt fine during he entire day at the convention. The following morning or I guess I should say later that same morning there was a lady out cleaning up the mess... I asked her if the party was a every weekend thing or.....? I'm thinking next year, and if we will be staying at this hotel. So she says no and I mention to her if the folks, including her, realized that no one got a good nights rest last night within an area of about a mile around the building .... she goes on to explain that it was a special occasion for the family and I emphasized the fact that no one slept well.... at that point she hung her head and asked for forgiveness ..... funny she acted almost like a little kid when she asked for forgiveness. The attached is a sample of the music and the light show just in case you think I am pulling your leg.

Tomorrow we (our congregation) have the privilege of feeding the pioneers at pioneer school. (Heiligs have salad for 40) You know what I'll be doing first thing in the morning. I wonder how it is, that they know we have food service experience? What, do we have a sign on our back that says something to that effect?

Well here in Ecuador tomorrow, August 10th is a national holiday ..... translated ... day off! I hear the craziness starting outside as I write..... Dogs barking, sirens, kids screaming, and motorcycles racing down the street...... I wonder how much sleep we will get tonight? ;-) it's, ...... 11:30PM and the fun is just beginning.

Good night to all of you and we hope you are all doing well!

Cuenca Food Court

Quick one here.... We go to the marcado (market) 6 de agosto the other day to check out the place and see what's available. My pioneer partner take a few magazines to see if she can place them. Duh! You can place them in your sleep down here, and the people ask if they can give you something for them. Nice! So after placing the mags, (no big surprise) we continue to look around and realize there is a third story and a basement . So off to the 3rd story to see what's up. Lo and behold they have there version of a food court. Now imagine, going to the mall and having three different guys that own Mc Donalds each one with their Mc Donalds right next to the other. That's about the way it is at this place. You look at what the people are selling and its all the same, BIG ROASTED PIG with the usual trimmings. Then on the other side are the Juice and Shake makers with the same idea all lined up next to one another. (Cuenca version of Java Juice, I sure the JJ guys got their idea from Latin America) There was one exception. One guy offered a twist. He mixed beers with his concoctions. Java Juice with a KICK! Later.......

Immigration... More lessons in Patience.... funny? Who's that laughing? ;-)

So we find ourselves here in Ecuador, legally, under a 12-VII visa.... "missionary". (ain't that special) That's how the Ecuadorian government classifies us, not the Society! To obtain the visa, there is a bit of work involved. In other words, you don't just go down to the Consulado and say " Can I get a visa" ..... of which, the answer will be "yes", if you provide us with the following list! Well thinking back.... the first thing you need, is the application off the computer filled in fully. The problem was you can fill in the form, but due to some glitch on the file from them, you can't see what is being typed. So the only thing you can do, is put the form, into print preview and then you can see whats there, .... what you have typed. (that I had to figure out on my own, after they insisted that, "the file was fine" and it was my computer.... could be) So the 20 minute filling out of the application took more then 4 hours..... everything is slower in Latin America even when Latin America is in North America. (if you know what I mean.... EC consulate is in San Francisco) After getting all the stuff together, medical exam results, blood test, passport photos, PASSPORTS... yikes!.

.......

Police certificate ... no criminal record, (I did get a speeding ticket not to long before I left ...... But it was bogus, right, Karla? ... I hear you saying, "that's what they all say" ..... Besides down here if you get a speeding ticket it would be a badge of honor, as it appears you can do just about do anything driving, and not get a ticket) Then you have all the paperwork that the branch supplies, which you get after the congregation gives a favorable recommendation to the Branch, that accompanies your personal introduction letter to the Branch. Perhaps, it doesn't sound like a lot, but it all takes time to get together and then send off to the Consulate in SF. Then you get to deal with the Consulate which said it takes 1-2 weeks .... remember we are dealing with a Latin American entity, and 1-2 weeks (that time period is like the time period that elders tell there wife's they will be in a meeting after the meeting "10-15 minutes honey, .....at the most" ...... it's SYMBOLIC! Four weeks later we get the passport, with the visa stamp with all those shiny stickers..... uuuuu, aaaaah .... shiny stickers.... and of course, there is the money that you pay, to get those.

Once here, you contact the family, that I have written about in the past, that gets everything finalized, ..... kinda. They provide a letter and get something else done for you, not sure what, but I know it's important. THEN you get to go to immigration in LATIN AMERICA ........ And the fun..... really, begins!

So we go the other day, because we have to get this done within the first 30 days of being here. (Next week we have the DC in English, and up to now, .... we have just not had the time to get it done.) We set off for the office and arrive early, because if you get to any place, where something might take a little while (more then 25 minutes) and you arrive that much time before lunch? You get to come back, after the 2 hour .... yes I said, 2 hour, ....... lunch. Nice, for the workers. Bad for you, if you are trying to get something done. This is the land of "I want to get 6 things done today" and get only 2 completed..... I am not joking! ..... Soooooo, the fruits of the spirit come in very handy here, ... and we are refined everyday....... it's a good thing!

Back to the story. We arrive and are told we need copies of the stamped passport, in color, and, ..... "A" .... large envelope to send everything, after they process what is needed. Of course, they don't have a little vendor outside the door, for all this stuff, so they tell us that, down at the corner, we can find a place, to make copies in color ..... So off we go, following the instructions of our guide at immigration. At the corner is the XEROX dealer in Cuenca.... and of course, you not only can buy machines, copiers, MFC's (which I did) but they also do copies.... how wonderful! So the young woman starts to make copies, and when they come out of the machine, they are all pre-wrinkled for you, no need to waste your time to scrunch or do any manipulating of the paper, because it looks like it has been put through the wringer already .... Then she asks me, if "they are OK?" that way. No..... "I don't think so, I say with wrinkled brow, it's for Immigration"..... "oooooh" .... So we finally get the copies, and I asked for extras, because down here, everyone seems to want a a color copy of your Passport, after it has been stamped. Now, we head back to the Immigration office (I forgot the envelope, oups!) get back to the IM office and he reminds me that he needs "A" envelope, so I return to the same store and get one, then go back to IM, at which time he tells me he needs one envelope for each of us..... so back to the Xerox store, and I ask a different person, if they have another envelope at which time, the young woman who did the wrinkled copies, informs me that they don't sell them, but she will give me one..... "oh thank you" and back to immigration. When I get there, the guy was astute enough to start on Carols stuff, to get her outfitted with her ID card. Only problem was that, by this time, the computer system linked to Quito, would not operate. So he indicated he had called the "other guy" to come and fix the problem.... He, arrives 25 minutes later and puts in his information and voila, it works! Here's were the real fun begins. This guy starts with Carols stuff (but at this time, we don't know who he starts putting in information for, in the computer) and when he runs out of the stuff he is getting off other paper work, he says to me he needs my photo.... takes the photo, and then asks me how tall I am, so I stand up because when I say 5'-9" he just looks at me like from "what planet are you from" ... 5'-9"?,..... 5'-9"what? Here along with the rest of the world, (with the exception of the USA) they work the metric system. Well I don't how tall I am in Metric, do you? (I do now 180 centimeters!) Wow, that sounds like a lot ... I'm really up there! Then after getting all the information he hands Carol the paper to sign that has her info and evidently some of mine. Confused ????? So were we !!!!! So we tell him that he put information from both of us together and he assured us he would fix it..... later. (not sure if he did) ...... Next, he moves onto me, and my paperwork, enters all the info. and when he gets to the end, puts Carols photo on my cards and then wants me to sign the card before he laminates it .... so sheepishly I ask him if he did that intentionally ..... from the look he gave me, that was a NO! So he starts all over again, and now he can't find my Photo when he tries to attach it as a file to the form he wants me to sign, every time he goes down the list of photos, he passes mine, time and time again ...... finally I blurt out, "there it is!" (I didn't want him to feel any more foolish then I would have felt given the same circumstances, so at first, I kept my mouth shut) It gets filled out and finally, I sign it!..... yeah baby finally! ...... Whew, that was hard! During the fiasco he mentions that the card he messed up for Carol, he has to pay for out of his own pocket ... $4.00. Well they make so little down here, that I take it upon myself to give the extra $4.00. When I give the 12.00 total, I let him now that the one HE ruined, was taken care of, ("generous soul will be made fat"?) and that he wouldn't have to pay out of his own pocket..... Heeeeeere's the clincher.... he doesn't even, acknowledge, the kindness! ...... No thanks, .... no nothing! (Maybe that's equal to "thank you" here ... I don't know, I'm new) So what should have been about an, in and out in 30 minutes, turned out to be a 3 hour ordeal! Now you understand when I say, you may have 6 things to get done on your list but you only get 2 completed during the day. Just glad we didn't walk in 1 hour before lunch, as during the process I am sure they would have asked us to come "back after lunch".... In which case we would have completed only one thing that day!