Anybody home?

This is a huge rock with a good place to hide. This rock is found at the Puente de Boyaca. Over a hundred years ago, this was the place of the last decisive battle for the independence of Colombia. Two Spanish generals hid under this rock, but the Colombians found them. One general was shot on the spot and the other was taken prisoner, but was hung a few days later.

We love visitors.

Elder Neagle, one of our returned missionaries from Bountiful, Utah, came back for a visit. He ate some street food the first day and was sick the whole time he was here. We had a great visit with him and got caught up on his life ater the mission. He is a real returned missionary.

Our newest missionary

Elder Albalos, from Argentina, is our newest missionary. He was one month late arriving because of visa delay. So glad he is with us finally.

Now what are they doing?

Here in the Bogota zone conference, this looks like mad confusion, but thee was a lesson here. It is important to build our teachings on a firm foundation.

They gave their all.

This was a sad day for President Hacking. He had to throw away his favorite mission shoes. He was hoping they would last through the whole mission, but sadly enough, they did not survive.

The best part of the conference.

Yep, any missionary will tell you they think the food is the best part of zone conference. Here Elder Rodriguez on left, and Elder Raines are enjoying this feast.

Licken their lips over this chicken.

After our conference, the missionaries enjoyed the yummy rotisery chicken. They don't serve them with knife and fork, but rather every one gets plastic disposable gloves. It is a great idea. Doctor Henderson and Sister Henderson attended the conference with us to give some medical training. We love it when they are with us.

Zone conference in Bucaramanga.

We paused for a moment to take a picture after our zone conference in Bucaramanga with two of our zones.

Second counselor in the mission presidency.

President Camacho and his sweet family were with us in the Bucaramanga stake conference. Presdient Camacho has been the second counselor for the past 2 1/2 years. We so appreicate his work and support for the mission.

Moving slowly on his way.

We found this big turtle trying to escape our camera shots at the Bucaramanga Botanical Garden.

Bucaramanga Botanical Garden

We had a couple of hours free before the stake conferences started in the Bucaramanga stake one Saturday, so we went to see the Botnaical garden. It was very beautiful and peaceful.

Elders from San Luis where it is cold.

Elder Olson and Elder Reyes came in to talk to President Hacking. They work in San Luis where it is very cold. Elder Olson is wearing his gloves, and he told me that sometimes it snows up there. It is just above Bogota but very high. There is a little branch of the church there. These are two very good missionaries.

Waiting at the bus terminal.

After 2 1/2 years in the mission, this was the first time we have been to the main bus terminal. Luckily we found seats to wait, as the bus was late.

560 cubes of sugar.

While waiting at the bus terminal for our new couple, the Morenos' to arrive, I bought this box of sugar cubes because we were out of sugar and the bus was 2 1/2 hours late, so there was no time to go to a grocery store and buy sugar. The cubes worked, the dinner was delicious.

We welcome Elder and Sister Moreno.

We are thrilled to welcome Elder and Sister Moreno to our mission. They are from here in Colombia, in Bucaramanga. They are going to help us in the mission office. They are bringing a lot of sunshine with them.

The final day.

Our entryway was full of excitement as these missionaries were getting ready to return home after two years.

Not forgotten.

On his last day of the mission, Elder Jorquera finally recived a package. This was his first package. It was from one of his converts. I hope he had a suitcase big enough to carry it home.

We love these new missionaries.

We had 19 new missionaries arrive in one day. One more is still in Argentina waiting for his visa. We love our new missionaries. Now we have to go to work to learn their names.

A big group returning home.

This was a HUGE group of missionaries that returned home in February. The truth is, six others had gone home earlier in the month. We have Sister Rojas sitting, second row. Elder Mucha, Elder Uriola, Elder Rallisan, Elder Arango, Elder Romero, Elder Gammara. Third row, Elder Ochoa, Elder Huamanchumo, Elder Aguilera, Elder Machacuay, Elder Caipillan, and Elder Moya. We wish them well.

Thanks goodness for those assistants.

Elder Nunez on the left was put to work on his first day of being an assistant. He and Elder Glick had to change beds to get ready for some new missionaries that would be staying in the house that night.

Colorful Colombia.

Colombia has great shops with every color of tie you can imagine. They cost $4 or $5 Us dollars. This man loves the missionaries because they always buy so many ties from him. When an Elder is going home, he gives them a free tie.

A visit from our family.

Our five children and their spouses came to visit us in Colombia. We all enjoyed being together and just catching up on the last 2 1/2 years. They came from Virginia, Wisconsin, Kansas, New Mexico, and Oregon. Families are wonderful.

Our family after the Suba stake conference.

We participated in the Suba Stake Conference and afterwards were invited in have lunch with President and Sister Moreno in a side room. We had huge sandwiches and oatmeal drinks.

Christmas in February in Colombia

We enjoyed our belated Christmas in Colombia a little late, but we celebrated it Colombian style. Lots of good memories.

Touring Bogota.

We had perfect weather for one full week. That was a record for Bogota. No rain.

The Hacienda de Salitre.

Every day was a lot of fun just being together as a family and visiting the sites of Colombia.

We tried a lot of new Colombian foods.

Not everyone wanted to try eating the chicken head, but Tyler tried everything.

The last day.

We had a wonderful time together and hated to see it end, but we had to return back to work. We ended our adventures with a hike to Laguna Guatavita. Dr. and Sister Henderson came with us.

La iglesia Lourdes.

This very old church is a landmark in Bogota. It is walking distance from our apartment, and always full of people in the plaza and lots of pigeons. We are told one needs to hold on to their purse here because of many pick pockets.

Leaving our apartment to the office.

Our apartment is on the top floor of the building in the middle. When we walk to the office, we pass many people selling items on the streets. Who needs a department store with all the goods we find being sold right on the streets?