La Plaza Bolivar en the center of Bogota.

We visited the old part of Bogota for the last time.  There was a huge farmer´s market with many people and of course, many pigeons as well.

Our office staff.

We have had a wonderful support group with our office staff to keep things running smoothly.  We celebrated with a President Hacking home made sour dough pancake breakfast.  No one left hungry.  We are very grateful for these missionaries.

A traveling kitchen store.

All  these pots and pans are loaded on a rack on a bicycle.  The man in the center can move from corner to corner to sell his goods.  We hope he does not tip over.

Our last zone leaders counsel.

We have enjoyed working with our missionaries, but everything is coming very fast to our last time to do this or that.  Here President Hacking is giving some his last counsel. 

A new zone leaders conference.

Every time we have new assistants,we have new creative ideas to teach new principles.  This looks like mass confusion, but it did have a purpose.

The blackest day of our mission.

This was not a success story.  I was hurrying to make the breakfast for the zone leaders conference.  I made the omelet with 18 eggs, but it in the open and thought I pushed the Bake button and the timer button, but somehow, I pushed the clean button.  There was no safety latch.  The oven immediately started the cleaning cycle.  I had gone to get dressed, and when I returned to the kitchen, there was the blackest, smelliest smoke bellowing from the oven.  We could not turn it off.  It had to finish its cycle about 3 1/2 hours.   We had neighbors in the building coming to see if we were okay.  Luckily we were able to disconnect the fire alarm.  This was the result of my efforts. 

The zone leaders baked omelet.

This is a favorite breakfast for the zone leaders conferences.   Fast, easy and very tasty.  This was my second try and it turned out perfect.  We cut this and put it between  a fresh roll with a slice of ham and cheese. 

A double Pincho?

President Lozano the first counselor in the mission president and President Hacking are eating double pinchos.  They were so good, but we had never seen a double pincho before. 

We danced and danced.

The branch of Yopal with the branch of Aguazul hosted a good-bye party for us.  These members did some typical dances from the area for us.  They even invited us to dance with them.   We didn´t look as professional as they did.

My last brownies in Colombia.

I made my lasts batch of brownies for the zone leaders conference.  Many of the missionaries have asked for my recipe.  It is really easy to make. I go to the grocery store and buy a package of brownie mix and they are delicious.

Lunch with President and Sister Cortez

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We enjoyed our lunch with President Cortez in Aguazul.  It was a typical Colombian lunch with meat, rice and salad.

Saying Good-bye in Aguzul.

We visited the branch of Aguazul for the last time.  They are special people, and are meeting in a casa capilla.

A good-bye lunch with friends.

With a beautiful view from the hills of Chia, we enjoyed lunch with friends.  President and Sister Santa Cruz from the Bogota Stake.   President and Sister Lozano, mission counselor, President and Siter Mantilla from Granada Stake. 

Good-bye to Elder MacKay.

Elder MacKay was one of our tallest missionaries.  We had him sit down for the photo so we didn't look so short.  We wish him well, and know he will do great in life. 

A painful memory.

This is the very spot where I fell and broke my arm 1 1/2 years ago.  The photo doesn't show how step the sidewalk is.   I try to avoid walking on this side of the street now so I don't repeat the painful event.

A conversation with this rock snake.

Often in our mornings walks, we pass this park with this huge  fake snake that looks like it is coming over the wall.   We stopped for a little conversation. 

The Henderson's fresh tamales.

Dr. and Sister Henderson love to cook the local Colombian food.   These are fresh tamales made in their kitchen.  We were grateful for the invitation to share them.

An enjoyable evening in Barrancabermeja.

We enjoyed visiting with our District president, President Castillo, and his wife, and Elder and Sister Martinez from Honduras.  Sister Martinez fell and broke her wrist, but it did not slow them down. 

Our newest zone is Barrancabermeja.

We are excited to have a new zone in Barrancabermeja.  We now have ten excellent missionaries in our new zone, but we also have one adult couple from Honduras there as well. 

A Spanish Dance for the San Gil party.

Sister Lemue danced a Spanish dance for the San Gil program.   Latin dancing is always fun to watch if it is from Spain or Latin American.

The members from the branch of San Gil.

These are many of the members that attended our despedida or Good-bye program in the little branch in San Gil.  This is one of our independent branches that meets in a casa capilla.

This is the beautiful garden around our hotel in San Gil.   It is so quiet and peaceful.   We love staying here.   This is what we look at from our breakfast table in the mornings. 

The last area council.

For the last three years, these men have met every three months to discuss the area and to get updated on new policies from the church.   From left to right: President  Navarro from Terraza,  President Morales from Duitama, President Wakefield the temple president, President Arrieta from Salitre, President  Mantilla from Granada,  President Castilla from Barrancabermeja,  President Hacking,  Elder Inbanz the area seventhy, President Gallego from Dorado, President Manasalva, President Bareno from Bucaramanga, President Moreno from Suba, and President Santa Cruz from Bogota.

The biggest hat rack I have ever seen.

When we go out walking in the mornings, we often pass this interesting metal tree,  It looks like a giant hat stand.   It is advertisement for the company that makes things out of this type of metal. 

Stake Conferences with the Canos'.

We have enjoyed partricipating in many stake conferences with President and Sister Cano from the temple presidency.   They are from Colombia, and they are very special people.

Our grandson, Garrett, sent us a photo of Flat Garrett to visit us in Bogota.  We enjoyed showing him around Bogota.   As you can see, the lady selling the candy was not very happy with Garrett's visit. 

Our first Canadian missionary.

We have added Canada to our list of homes for our missionaries.   Elder Valle Heigh arrived to join our mission, and we are sure we  will enjoy working with him. 

Welcome to our new missionaries.

This was our first group to have the North Americans that attended the Bogota MTC.  We have from the back from left to right, Elders Andino, Perry, Lam, Westerhyde, Avila.  Second row, Elders Aviles, Kirby, Veil, Ortiz, and Sister Fernandez.  We always enjoy the enthusiasm of the new missionaries. 

Saying Good-bye to our next to the last group.

This was our last group to say good-bye from our house.   They ate Ajiaco and enjoyed the evening with laughs, good food, and lots of good memories.  We have from left to right Sister Vanegas, Elders Sossa, Nunez, Godoy, and Sister Ribera.  We wish them well.