Monday, October 3, 2011

The Duitama zone's special musical number.



In our zone conferenes we like the zones to have a musical number. In Duitama, all missionaries sang together. We were the only ones to listen to them. We love our zone conferences.

No more hand shakes.



President Hacking and Elder Clark are greeting each other with the new mission greeting. No more hand shakes and getting sick from other sick missionaries.

The lulo fruit.



This lulo fruit is very popular to make into a delicious drink. When we buy the fruit, it is smooth, but on the tree it was fuzzy. We really like the lulo jugo or fruit drink.

Who loves sausage?



These people were making fresh sausage. These are right by the road and it looked like they were getting a lot of dust from the road.

Picking up the milk.



This man is picking up the cans of milk from the farmers. The horses are very important in Colombia. You can hire men with their cart and horse to move your furniture as well.

Very photogenic.



This parrot was along the side of the road. He seemed to be posing for his photo.

A lot of popcorn.



We had to stop to see why all this corn was laying on the ground. It was awaiting the time to be ground into corn meal. These were laying along the side of the road.

The man has a full days work here with the corn.



This man was shucking the corn. It is not like the corn in the US, but we have got to where we like it. At first he did not want us to take his picture, but then decided it was okay.

A stop along the way to Duitama.



Along the road there were many little places selling hand made baskets. In the back groud is a slew full of reeds to make the baskets. There are reeds all around a little lake. The people learn to use their resourses to make a living.

Basket making.



On our way to Duitama, we stopped by this little tienda to watch the lady in the back make baskets. We bought the one the young lady is holding in front. They come in all sizes and shapes.

Enduring to the end.



These missionaries were competing to see who could sit without a chair for the longest time in Bucaramanga. No chairs for this group.

A great example of dedication.



This special lady is a member in Pamplona. She and her husband walk 1 1/2 hours to church every Sunday. She teaches a wonderful Sunday School lesson, and then they walk back home for 1 1/2 hours.

Typical roadside view of Colombia.



We love all the beautiful colors of green in Colombia. As we travel around, we love our views.

A gift from Pamplona.



We have received some very special gifts from our missionaries and members. This little Casita is from the members in Pamplona.

A Sunday to remember.



We attended the Branch in Pamplona and the members were very excited to have us visit. They said it was the first time a mission president had attended their branch. The sisters in the Relief Society gave me this beautiful bouquet of flowers and the little casita on top. We loved our day.

The pueblo of Pamplona.



We drove three hours on a windy narrow road to get to this little pueblo. Once we got there, it was very picturesque. I had to keep my eyes shut all the way back so I would not get car sick.

This is why some people say "Fat as a PIG."



Well, this is one type of street food. People say it is delicious, but I have not tried it. It is a roasted pig stuffed with rice and many other things.

Our Cucuta zone.




The Cucuta zone is our biggest zone. We have twenty missionaries, and on this day we had three extra missionaries. We felt a lot of energy in this zone.

Can not get enough of this Graffiti.



We have such colorful graffiti here in Bogota. Many talented people here in this city. I am sure graffiti will never be this colorful again.

Our Dieciocho fiesta.



We celebrated the independence of Chile with our three Chilean office secretaries and one assistant. We allowed the tall Elder McClain to join with us as well, even though he is from Virginia, but he is an assistant. We had pastel de choclo, esalada de Chile, Chilena empanadas, and Quatro to drink. Vive Chile.

Hermana Florenciani returned home.


We are very grateful for Sister Florenciani has returned to Paraguay. We wish her well. We enjoyed working with her.