Christmas Fun and Robbed on the Ecovia!

On Christmas Eve, we were invited to join the Armas Family for their traditional holiday celebration.  Brother and Sister Armas are members of our Quito ward.  They are our age with 3 grown children and 6 grandchildren.  We had a wonderful evening playing games, eating dinner, visiting, opening gifts, and visiting some more.

Brother Armas, the 2 older children, and several of the grandchildren speak some English, so we were able to communicate well.  The Armas' had also invited another family from the Quito North Mission to join us, a widow and 2 of her 4 children -- 25 year old twin daughters. One daughter was an optometrist and the other was a psychologist.  They, too, had English skills and we were able to learn a lot from them about what it is like to be a young single adult member of the Church in Ecuador.

Christmas Day was quiet.  We appreciated Skyping with family and taking an afternoon walk.  The missionaries were counseled to stay inside on Christmas Day.  We had invited the sister missionaries, who live 7 floors above us in the same apartment complex, for Christmas dinner; but they were delayed in their teaching sector on Tuesday night, and spent Christmas Day there with some other sister missionaries.

Thursday and Friday we were back in the office.  It was quiet, but we found things to keep us busy. On Friday,  Elder Lewis and I had finished our work at the mission office around 3:30 PM and decided to go to the mall for a few items and then to the MegaMaxi to do our weekly grocery shopping.

We left our apartment around 4 PM and headed towards a bus stop.  On the way, we passed the Ecovia stop which is 2 blocks from our apartment.   An Ecovia had just left the station and we could see that it had empty seats.  So, we decided to take the Ecovia instead of the bus.  The cost is the same, but the Ecovia is faster.

As explained in a previous blog post, the Ecovia is a tram-like bus that travels a direct route North or South on main roadways with station stops along the route.  It is an inexpensive and quick way to travel.  The downside is, that the buses can be really crowded at times, and somewhat unsafe because of pick-pocketing.

A stock photo of an Ecovia station.  

A stock photo of an Ecovia bus. 

The first time we road the Ecovia we had a wonderful missionary experience.  Another time Elder Lewis exited the bus and the door slammed shut before I could get off.  He slapped the door, it opened for a few seconds, and we were reunited. The third time we road the Ecovia, someone carefully slit open the side of my Coach messenger bag without me evening knowing it.  Their intention was to steal the contents of my purse, but nothing was missing.  Since the purse slitting experience, we haven't used the Ecovia as a means of transportation.

On Friday, we decided to give it another try.  When we got to the station, the next Ecovia that arrived was much more crowded than the previous one, so we let it pass and waited 5 more minutes for the next bus to come.  When it arrived, it looked like there was plenty of room inside so we stepped aboard and found us a place near the doors to stand until the mall stop - approximately 9 stops and a ride of < 20 minutes.

As we boarded the bus, Elder Lewis and I were standing next to each other.  After a few stops, and as the number of passengers changed, I stepped back and leaned against the inside wall of the Ecovia.  We traveled to our final stop and when the doors opened Elder Lewis, who was standing next to the doors went to exit.  I was right behind him and a woman stepped in between us.  She was wearing a red shirt and it appeared that someone bumped her because she started to fall back and then grabbed a handrail.  I stepped around her, raised my left hand to touch Elder Lewis on the back so that he would know I was right behind him, when I felt a twist and pull.  There were a lot of people entering and exiting  the bus at the same time and it was crowded. When I felt the twist and pull, my first thought was that the small messenger bag I had draped securely across my front with my right hand over it, had briefly got caught and twisted in the people squeeze.  However, as soon as we were out of the bus and the doors were shut, I realized that I may have been robbed.  I opened the flap of my messenger bag and could see that my iPhone, which had been laying horizontally across the bottom of my bag, was missing.  I had been strategically and successfully ROBBED!

ANGER washed over me with an intensity I have never felt before!   I was angry at myself for not taking even more precautions than I did.  I was angry at Elder Lewis and myself for traveling by Ecovia in the first place.  And, I was ANGRY at the _____ _____ ____ who stole my phone!!! 

Elder Lewis immediately tried to used the phone locator to track my phone, but with no success.  We don't know if it had been turned off or if the thief had immediately removed the SIM card to cut the service.  Apparently, that is a common practice when phones are stolen. 

We quickly returned to our apartment and began the process of changing passwords, deleting or freezing apps, etc.  Needless to say, I got very little sleep on Friday night.  I kept reliving the experience over and over.  It all happened so quickly and I kept wondering what, if anything, I could have done to prevent it.  And I was still so ANGRY!

Saturday, I didn't feel much better until late in the afternoon.  I had received an email from a friend on Friday afternoon at 3:46 PM.  The email shared some memories of our time together in Ohio and opened the door for me to communicate what had just happened.  We exchanged emails throughout the day and it helped me process what had occurred.  It was heaven sent!  I so appreciated her thoughts, her empathy, and the suggestions that she and her husband shared.

Sunday morning I felt much better.  It may sound silly to some, but Saturday evening I started praying for the person who stole my phone and I could feel my heart soften and my perspective change.  On Sunday, I could go to the sacrament table with a humble heart and a genuine concern for the welfare of the thief.  Or should I say my "concern" was a hope that the thief would, at some point in time, be overcome with guilt and feel a desire to change.  

Elder Lewis and I are grateful for the enabling and sustaining power of the atonement of Jesus Christ.  Our experiences this weekend reminded us of how much we need divine assistance everyday to meet the challenges that come.

Sorry for the lack of photos.  For now, no phone - no photos!  Hopefully I'll have a new phone by the end of the week.  Until next week........love to all and Happy New Year!

Elder & Sister Lewis

Merry Christmas!

Greetings from the Lewis Family!  We send our warmest wishes for a wonderful Christmas week!  We hope and pray that you will feel the spirit of the season, the Spirit of Christ, in meaningful and memorable ways.  We bear our humble testimonies that He is the Son of God; because of His birth, His ministry, and His mission to redeem all mankind, we know that families can be together forever!

Family photo taken on 12 July 2019 following Natalie's & Brad's marriage sealing ceremony in the Provo City Center Temple.

The week before last, was slow and quiet in the mission office as we prepared for upcoming zone conferences.  This last week, the office staff was busy assisting with the Christmas zone conferences, welcoming 3 new missionaries, and saying "farewell" to 5 departing missionaries.

A special honor for the Ecuador Quito Mission was to have Elder Mathias Held and his wife, Irene, attend and speak at the conferences.  The missionaries were uplifted and inspired by their messages.  

Elder and Sister Held "could aptly be called personifications of a global church.  Both are Columbians of German ancestry.  Jobs and schooling have taken them from their South American homeland to Canada, Germany, Guatemala, Brazil, and, finally, back to Colombia.  In each country, they've adjusted to new languages and cultures." (See https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/)

109 Missionaries from 4 of the 9 zones - La Colon, Los Chillos, San Rafael, and Turubamba.

I was looking forward to hearing Elder and Sister Held speak on Thursday, but at the request of Sister Barlow, I stayed in another room with Sister Hammond, a missionary who was ill and resting, so that her companion could hear their messages.

My time was not wasted.  Earlier in the week, I had downloaded onto my smart phone "Insights From a Prophet's Life" by Sheri Dew.  It was a perfect read while watching over Sister Hammond.  I finished the e-read this afternoon and would highly recommend it to all!  

During zone conferences, the missionaries received a mission Christmas card, a notebook with the mission logo on the cover and a pen from President and Sister Barlow, a pair of socks from a missionary's parents, and their flu shots.  Gifts that will keep on giving.....especially the flu shots😉!

Yesterday, Elder Lewis and I took a trip to Otavalo with a personal tour guide (Enrique) who is also a member of the La Colon Ward that we attend.  Enrique told us that Church members in Quito, referred to Otavalo as Utah-valo, because the Church is very strong in that area.  Many of the members are of the Quichua tribe and maintain their tribal customs of beautiful handmade native dress and longer hairstyles for men.  They are also exceptional craftsman and sell their wares at the well known artesian market in Otavalo.  

It was a perfect day in many ways.  Our first stop was at Puertolago, a beautiful lakeside resort with a strong Swiss-German influence.  The meticulous grounds and gingerbread chalets were charming and inviting.  

Elder & Sister Lewis at Puertolago Resort near Otavalo.

Following our stop at Puertolago, we went into Otavalo to spend some time at the Artesian marketplace.  We were looking for a hand-carved nativity set and an Ecuadorean alpaca blanket.  The market was LARGE and busy.  But, we were successful in a very short time, and among other sights and sounds, found both a nativity set and a blanket. 

Yes, a roasted pig at the Otavalo Market.  

Hand-carved and hand-painted nativity set. 

Alpaca blanket with an Ecuadorean metric design.

When we finished our shopping experience we went to the waterfall park - Cascada de Peguche.  It was a beautiful, romantic park that posted the following reminder - "one who serves nature, will be served by her."  

Elder & Sister Lewis at the entrance of Cascada de Peguche in Otavalo, Ecuador.

The cobblestone walkways, waterfalls, foliage, hiking trails, unknown Quichua man, bridges, caves and the Quichua's solar calendar provided an exhilarating afternoon of exploration.  

It may be difficult to see, but there is a line of cobblestones to mark the middle of the path.

The beautiful Peguche waterfall is considered one of the main tourist attractions of the country 

and is an intercultural representation of the Quichua people.

A stairway to the point of purification and cave entrance.

Thermal-medicinal and curative pools build in the 17th century.

Unknown Quichua man who appeared on a trail.  When I pointed to my camera to see if

he would allow me to take his photo, he waved a friendly greeting.

Elder Lewis on the swinging bridge that looked and felt rickety. It was a solo walk for both of us.

Elder Lewis standing in a cave to the right of the waterfall.

Quichua solar calendar that represents the father sun who determines the times of harvest, preparation of land, and sowing.

We also thought these alpacas were cute and festive, and we couldn't resist getting our photo taken for $1😉!

Max & Kary?

No......here we are for real!

On our drive back to Quito, Enrique suggested we stop for some bizcochos, cheese, and hot chocolate.  Bizcochos are unsweetened shortbread like cookies that are eaten with a stick of mozzarella cheese and a cup of hot chocolate.  There were multiple "Fabrica de Bizcochos" shops just outside of Otavalo.  

Bizcochos Shop outside of Otavalo.

We stopped at one, and then I suggested we travel to a bizcochos shop that I had noticed on our drive into Otavalo.  We traveled a little further and found the shop I remembered.  We weren't too impressed with the bizcochos, but the cheese and hot chocolate were tasty.  After I had eaten 2 of my 4 bizcochos, I went back to the counter to ask for a take-out bag.  The young woman at the counter didn't understand what I was asking for, but a co-worker (who looked North American) understood what I was asking for and said a few words to me in perfect English.  I responded with a friendly, "You speak English!"  He must have sensed my excitement at his "perfect" English, because a few minutes later, after I returned to our table and told Elder Lewis and Enrique that the man behind the counter spoke great English and had to be North American, he came to our table.  We found out that he was originally from Oklahoma (we lived in Ponca City, OK for 8 years), had lived in Panama for 15 years, and was now living in Ecuador.  We had a wonderful conversation about his path to Ecuador and our work as missionaries. He was Protestant and we invited him and his girlfriend to investigate one of the many wards in Otavalo.  

To end a perfect day, I asked Enrique to stop at one of the multiple roadside flower stands so that I could buy some flowers to arrange.  The beautiful mountains outside of Otavalo are dotted with greenhouses.  In some places, there are just a few rows of greenhouses; and in other places, there are acres with rows and rows of greenhouses.  

We purchased 2 dozen flowers for $4.  There were so many to varieties and colors to choose from, but I settled on a bouquet of mums, roses, and lilies.  It was fun to bring them home and try my hand at flower arranging.  

We are so grateful to be serving as missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  We feel the hand of God in the work we do and our hearts are filled with love for God, for the missionaries, for President and Sister Barlow, for the Ecuadorean people, and for our family and friends.  We send our love to all of you and pray that  God's blessings will be with you as 2019 draws to a close.  

Sincerely,

Elder & Sister Lewis

Memories & Technology

With the Christmas season upon us, my mind and heart have been filled with memories of Christmases past.  One particular experience continues to circulate through my thoughts.  At the time, our youngest daughter Natalie who is now 22, was about 4 years old.  She was our only child not in school and when the Christmas season arrived she was continually by my side as we prepared for the holidays -- decorating, baking, visiting, shopping, etc.

Putting up our Christmas decorations included carefully arranging a porcelain nativity set that my mother-in-law had given us several years earlier.  The nativity set was delicate and went in our formal living room - a room designated for "looking and sitting," not "touching and playing."  Natalie was there watching and helping me place the manager with the Baby Jesus in the center of an oval side table, followed by Mary at the side of the manger, then Joseph a little further back, then the donkey, the Shepherd, the lamb, and finally the three wise men all looking on from their angled position.  After we finished decorating the formal living room we moved on to other decorating.

Later that evening, as I went through the house shutting off lights and preparing to go  to bed I discovered that my carefully arranged nativity set had been rearranged.  All of the figurines were huddled around the Christ child.  I assumed that one of the older children had come home from school and had moved the pieces, so I stopped and returned the figurines to their original setting.

The next morning after the older children were off to school, I noticed that the nativity figurines had been moved again to huddle around the Baby Jesus.  I called Natalie in and asked her if she had been rearranging the figurines.  She readily admitted that she had.  I then asked her why she was moving them.  Without hesitation she said, "Because everyone wants to be close to the Baby Jesus."

Then and now, Natalie's 4 year old observation and depiction of the nativity reminds me that I want and need to be numbered among those who "want to be close the the Baby Jesus."  He is the Son of God, the Light of the World, the Savior and Redeemer of all mankind. Elder Lewis and I are grateful for His life, His ministry, His infinite and eternal sacrifice, and to be serving Him as missionaries in Ecuador this Christ - mas!

This past week missionary work was busy as we said "good-bye" to 14 missionaries on Monday, and "hello"  to 16 missionaries on Tuesday.  Outgoing missionaries are excited, nervous, and sometimes tearful and they prepare to return to their homes.  Incoming missionaries are also excited, nervous, and sometimes fatigued from their travels as they begin their missionary service.  It was an exciting week!

A fun Christmas tradition for me is baking sugar cookies to give away, and to eat 😉!   This year, the new missionaries were the recipients of my tradition.  I also tried  a new sugar cookie recipe that Sister Barlow shared.  It was delicious .........

LOFT HOUSE SUGAR COOKIES:
3 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 eggs
3/4 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1/4 teaspoon salt

Cream together sugar, butter, eggs, sour cream, vanilla, baking soda, baking powder, almond extract, and salt.  Add flour and make a soft dough.  Roll dough to 1/3 inch thick and cut into desired shapes.  Bake at 375 degrees F for 9 - 13 minutes.  Cool.  Frost.

Frosting:
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
3 cups powdered sugar
2 Tablespoons vegetable shortening, optional
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
2 - 3 Tablespoons milk or heavy cream
Food coloring, if desired

Cream all ingredients together and whip for desired constancy, adding more milk if necessary.  Frost cookies,  and add sprinkles to garnish.

With the holiday season upon us, we are especially grateful for modern technology!  We don't know where we'd be without the luxury of email, magicJack, Instagram, FaceTime, Skype, Hangout, etc.  Having the resources and tools to communicate with family and friends during the holiday season is wonderful!  It fun to see and hear how the children and grandchildren are celebrating this special time of year.  A photo here or a video clip there removes the distance and brightens our days.  

We hope and pray that this holiday season will be merry and bright for you.  

With love!

Elder & Sister Lewis

Mission Call, Carrot Pudding & Touching the Sky

We have been counting our blessings all week!  On Tuesday, our oldest grandchild - grandson Chandler, received his mission call to the Africa Cape Verde Mission - Portuguese speaking.  He will be reporting to the Mission Training Center (MTC) on April 8, 2020 in Provo, UT.  We are thrilled for him and we are confident that he will be an excellent missionary.  Congratulations to him and to his wonderful parents - Quinn & Jessica!

This is what I saw outside the mission office shortly before Chandler opened his mission call.
Missionaries in Quito, street contacting and inviting others to come unto Christ. 
Chandler will soon be doing the same in Cape Verde!

We enjoyed celebrating Thanksgiving with President & Sister Barlow, the office missionaries, and Elder & Sister Peterson, the temple-construction missionary couple.  Sister Barlow prepared a delicious, traditional Thanksgiving dinner. We feasted on foods we haven't eaten in a while.  The turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, homemade rolls, and pecan pie were........incredible!

For tradition's sake, I made Elder Lewis some steamed carrot pudding with caramel sauce.  We had to improvise for equipment and a few ingredients, but it turned out alright.  I couldn't find ground cloves, so I attempted to grind some myself and that was a little tricky.  However, Elder Lewis was very appreciative of my efforts and we enjoyed the experiment.  We will try again at Christmas.

After Thanksgiving dinner at the mission home, we went back to the office to finish up some paperwork and to assist missionaries who were arriving at the office before going to their medical appointments.  

When we got back to our apartment complex that evening, there were two individuals in the foyer decorating a large Christmas tree.  I dropped off my briefcase, coat, and umbrella at our apartment on the 3rd floor and then went back down to the foyer to see if they needed help.  The HOA president and apartment administrator appreciated an extra pair of hands and we finished decorating the tree within the hour.  It was fun to help and to see neighbors coming and going from the complex.  

Yesterday, Elder Lewis and I road the Teleferiqo to Cruz Loma to see if we could "toca el cielo" or touch the sky! The Teleferiqo is a gondola lift in Quito that runs from the edge of Quito city center up the east side of the Pichincha volcano.  It is one of the highest arial lifts in the world, rising to approximately 12,943 feet elevation at the Cruz Loma lookout.  Needless to say, the views was AMAZING! 

At the end of the gondola ride you can enjoy the view from various lookout points before beginning the 4 hour ascent up the volcano.  Yesterday, we were just planning to ride the gondola; but once we arrived at the Cruz Loma lookout, we could hear the mountain calling us and we decided to do a little hiking.  We hiked for an hour and arrived at the point where a guide was recommended for the final 3 hours to the top of Pichincha.  At that point, the elevation was 13,724+ feet.

It's obvious that I did not have the appropriate footwear for hiking, but I have to say that my Sperry's navigated the terrain rather well.  The sole was a little smooth on the descent, but we managed the rain-washed moguls without incident.

At the base of hiking trail is a small chapel, an appropriate place to pause and reflect on the incredible creations of a loving Heavenly Father.  

Next time we ride the Teleferiqo, it will be with a guide who will take us to the top of Pichincha!

Love to all from Ecuador!

Elder & Sister Lewis