Transfers, Carnival, and a Diagnosis.

Transfer week is always a busy week in the mission and in the mission office.  This week we said "Good-bye" to 13 departing missionaries and we welcomed 9 new missionaries.  The departing missionaries are excited and nervous about returning to their homes.  The arriving missionaries are excited and nervous to be in the mission and to start using all that they have been taught in the MTC.

When the missionaries depart, I prepare 2 packets for their departure.  One packet contains a booklet with a certificate of service; letters from the mission president for their family, bishop, and stake president; their transfer history; and talks from general authorities about staying faithful to the gospel.  The other packet includes their travel itinerary, baggage guidelines, passport, immunization record, visa information, health records, and other information from their file.

It is interesting to see what has accumulated in their files over the 18 or 24 months of their service.  For some missionaries they have all kinds of paperwork, from visa renewals to medical records.  For other missionaries, the only thing in their file is a personal profile that was copied from the Church's IMOS system and placed in the file when they received their call.  It appears that these missionaries have required little or no attention - serving faithfully day by day for 548 or 730 days.  It's remarkable!

Once things settled down after transfers, we decided to do some cleaning.  However, we got a little distracted when we found a stack of unused Christmas cards.  Making and flying paper airplanes gave us a brief reprieve from the activities of the week.

Elder Lewis, Elder Tolman & Elder Wright - guilty as charged!

Prototypes for future airline contractors:)!

This week is Carnival week. "Sadly, Carnival in Ecuador has been known to be quite savage. Living it up has come to mean dousing your neighbors, family, friends and any other passerby with every liquid imaginable. From water to car oil to the unthinkable. The water is sometimes topped off with flour to make you a really sticky mess."  https://www.life-in-ecuador.com/carnival-in-ecuador.html  So for missionaries that means "STAY INSIDE AND STAY SAFE."  For the next 3 days, missionaries in the Ecuador Quito Mission are apartment bound!

Today, Elder Lewis and I had a taste of Carnival activities on our walk home from Church.  We were waiting for traffic to pass and for the light to change at  the intersection of the main road (6 de deciembre) near our apartment, when a lone white car came through the intersection.  Traffic moves really fast on that road, and as the car approached us Elder Lewis saw a passenger lean out of the window with a water gun.  He instinctively ducked, but not quick enough.  We were both hit or should I say sprinkled with water.  At least we think it was water! It was colorless and odorless.  It was definitely a surprise!

I told Elder Lewis that maybe it was payback for those times as young teen-agers that we executed a few "Halloween" tricks to passing cars in our small Wyoming communities.  I say "we", but that's my confession, not Elder Lewis'.

I saw the dermatologist this last week to discuss my excessive hair loss.  The Dr. reviewed the blood work, looked at my scalp and itchy back, pulled hard on my hair in several different places, and acknowledged that there was noticeable hair loss.  Her diagnosis ......"environmental," which basically means that the change in water, climate, elevation, and food has affected my hair growth cycle.   She said that I was not the first North American she had treated for hair loss.  According to her, we North Americans are SO white!  In Quito, Ecuador with the elevation, sun exposure, hard water, and change in nutrition our delicate skin can take a while to adapt. In the meantime, hair loss is not unusual.

The Dr. prescribed a vitamin, a pill for itchiness, and some topical creams for my scalp and back.  I asked her if other North American's had success with this treatment.  She waffled a little on that question and told me to come back in 2 weeks and she would see if there was any noticeable change.

When we left the Dr. office, I felt a little encouraged or maybe I should say validated.  I'm hopeful that my body will respond to what was prescribed, but truthfully it's a struggle.  I'm still feeling weak, and the hair loss continues.  Elder Lewis reminds me that its only been 4 days and to be patient!

On Tuesday evening, we went on a second teaching appointment with the missionaries to see Rosa and her daughter.  It went well and they were both at Church today.  Rosa is really interested in the gospel, but she is reluctant to pursue it without her spouse.  Elder Lewis reminded her that her feelings and interest in the gospel are real and that often the Lord impresses one member of the family to be the "pioneer," for the entire family -- past, present, and future. Rosa is the "pioneer" for her family as she searches and accepts gospel teachings.  She is setting an example for others to find their way.   We are humbled to witness her journey.

Last night, Elder Lewis and I enjoy a lovely dinner at a restaurant that sits on the hill of Panecillo and overlooks Quito.  It's a beautiful setting and you do pay for the view.   Last night was cloudy, but still impressive.

Quit0 - A view from Pim's Restaurant on Panecillo Hill at 6:00 PM.

Quito - A view from Pim's after 7:00 PM.

BTW, here's how they manage a sagging power line in Quito.........

Did they use a dental floss to secure that sagging wire to the street sign????? 
Creative solution😉!

Love and blessings to all!
Elder & Sister Lewis

Weight Loss + Hair Loss = ????

This past week we had our first experience with the medical profession in Ecuador.  Both Elder Lewis and I have experienced some weight loss since arriving in Ecuador.  We have jokingly attributed it to the "Quito diet."  However, within the past 3 weeks I've also had significant hair loss.  Hair in my brush, hair in the sink, hair on my pillow, hair everywhere!!  Frankly, I don't have that much hair to loose, but for some reason it has been falling out at an accelerated rate.  In addition to the weight loss and hair loss, I also began having some SERIOUS tummy trouble and itching.

With those symptoms, I did my due diligence and conducted an internet search -- plugging in the symptoms with the hope of discovering whatever life-threatening disease I might have. 😉 My Conclusion: thyroid problems or a parasite.  By Wednesday, Feb. 12th I was feeling pretty weak and we decided it was time to see a doctor.  Since we don't speak enough Spanish to navigate the medical profession, we enlisted the help of the office Elders to make an appointment with Dr. Andrade.

Dr. Andrade did a full panel blood screening, and the basic stool and urine tests.  Test results: HEALTHY!  But in reality, I continued to have tummy trouble through Saturday night.  Finally, on Sunday, I started to feel more normal and I was able to keep some food in my stomach.  We still don't know what the problem was, or is, but I'm scheduled to see a dermatologist on Wednesday, and then a nutritionist.  In the meantime, I'm glad Elder Lewis can scratch my itchy back and I'm wondering what granddaughter I might tap for wig hair.

Hospital Metropolitano in Quito, Ecuador.  On a clear day you can look between these two buildings and
see the Cotopaxi Volcano.  (See below.)

This was our view on Wednesday evening.  A glimpse of Cotopaxi!

Right now, our rating of the medical profession in Quito is positive.  We were well cared for and we are hopeful that we can get to the bottom of my hair loss and itchiness.  I have to mention that we took the Elders with us for the appointment on Wednesday, but when we went back to the medical complex for blood work on Thursday, we went by ourselves.  We knew the language barrier might pose a problem, but we felt like we could find someone to help if needed.

We entered the lab, took our number, and waited a few minutes before we were called to the counter.  The woman behind the counter, who was checking us in, did not speak any English!  However, an older woman who was registering for some lab tests at the desk next to us immediately noticed the language challenges and asked us if she could help.  We welcomed her help and we felt that it was a sweet blessing (tender mercy) that came at exactly the right moment.  With the woman's help, we were able to get registered and complete the blood work in a short span of time.

Last week, we were invited to join the missionaries for three teaching appointments.  The first one was on Tuesday.  We met with a husband, wife, and their 30-year old daughter.  The husband and wife were having some marital challenges and the missionaries asked us to share how the gospel of Jesus Christ has helped us manage the challenges we've encountered throughout our 43+ years of marriage.  We were blessed with some very helpful promptings, and we felt like our thoughts were additive to the missionaries' discussion and appreciated by the couple.

On Thursday, we went with the AP's (Assistants to the President) to visit a less-active member who has been struggling with health issues and desired a priesthood blessing.  Her first name is Sandra and she speaks good English. I've met Sandra before and welcomed the opportunity to get to know her better.  She requested that Elder Lewis give her a priesthood blessing and that he do so in English.  Again, the Spirit was present and Elder Lewis was impressed with the inspiration needed to administer the blessing.

On Friday morning, President Barlow sent a referral to the mission office and asked that the office missionaries follow up on the referral and determine how they could be of service. The referral was from a Utah woman whose Ecuadorean friend (a member of our faith), who also lived in Utah, was in Quito visiting her family.

While in Quito, her 20 year old nephew committed suicide.  The Utah friend was hoping that the missionaries could contact the family, give her friend a blessing, and see if there was anything else they could offer.  The Elders made the contact, set up an appointment, and then asked us if we would accompany them.

We arrived at the family's home with plans to see and visit the Ecuadorean woman from Utah.  After we were comfortably seated in their living room, we were surprised when 7 other family members came into the room, pulled up a chair, and formed a circle.  They were very welcoming, but the pain and grief in their faces was visible and our hearts ached for them.  They kept saying, "We just don't understand!"

Losing a loved one is a painful experience, but I can only imagine the pain of losing a loved one to suicide.  The Elders and Elder Lewis gave the woman we had gone to see a blessing of comfort.  After her blessing, another family member came forward and requested a blessing.  With the exception of the Grandfather, all who had come into the room received a blessing. The Elders then share a message about Heavenly Father's Plan of Salvation.

Unfortunately we couldn't verbalize our condolences, but I hope our few words and warm embraces let them know that we cared for them and that we were willing to mourn with them at this difficult time.

Life can be "muy dificil!"  We are extremely grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and we know that He "has suffered pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; that he has taken upon himself the pains and sicknesses of his people; that he has loosed the bands of death; that his bowels are filled with mercy; and that he knows how to succor us according to our infirmities." (See Alma 7:11-12)

Love to all!
Elder & Sister Lewis

Making Chocolate From Cocoa Beans!

Early last week we met President & Sister Chacon from the Quito North Mission in the office building parking lot.  The Quito North Mission office is in the same building as our mission office and we often see Quito North missionaries, but we rarely cross paths with the mission president.  President Chacon said that he had been reviewing the photos from Elder Holland's visit and that there was a really good photo of Elder Lewis shaking hands with Elder Holland.  President Chacon emailed it to us later that evening.  Just for the record, I'm in the photo as well shaking hands with Elder Zeballos of the Quorum of the Seventy, but I'm completely hidden from view by Elder Holland.  

When Elder Holland spoke in our missionary meeting, he said that he'd had a personal eye to eye interview with everyone while shaking hands.  I'm wondering how Elder Lewis' interview went?? 😉

Last week, we went on a teaching appointment with the Elders to a young woman who had returned from serving a full-time mission in the Chili Concepcion Mission.  She was totally inactive within 2 months of returning home.  She said she would come to Church on Sunday, but we didn't see her.  It is sad to think that just a short time ago she was encouraging others to accept the blessings of the restored gospel, and now the missionaries are encouraging her to REMEMBER the blessings of that same gospel that she so recently testified of. 

Life can be challenging for departing missionaries.  Many return to difficult family situations, have little or no money, and have no definite plans for their future.  Despite all of that, they do have what is most important - a covenant relationship with Jesus Christ and a knowledge of His atoning sacrifice for them.   It's important that they protect that relationship at all costs.

When missionaries leave the Quito Ecuador Mission we have an opportunity to see them in the office before their departure.  I always look them in the eye, express appreciation for their service, and lovingly, but firmly tell them to STAY TRUE TO THE FAITH!

Today, as I was finalizing the mission history and reviewing photos of departing missionaries, I was wondering how they were doing and how they are progressing.

Speaking of progressing, progress is being made on the new mission office in the Colon Chapel.  With that being said, Elder Lewis and I spent Saturday looking for an apartment that would be closer to the chapel.  Our current apartment is a 5 - 7 minute walk from the mission office, but a 12 - 15 minute walk to the chapel where the new office will be.  We don't mind the extra walking distance, but when there's an emergency it would be nice to be close.  Last week, we made two emergency walks to the mission office.

While searching for an apartment, we were able to get in and see two apartments.  We will be seeing more apartments on Wednesday.  We know it is going to be challenging to find another apartment that is as nice, spacious, and inexpensive as the one we are currently living in.

Last night, the Guerrero Family invited us to learn how to make chocolate. It was a GREAT follow-up activity to our November trip to their cocoa farm (https://quitoquest.blogspot.com/2019/11/zone-conference-finca.html). 

We began making chocolate by roasting the cocoa seeds/beans over the stove.  After the beans had cooled, we took them in our fingers, gave them a slight twist and broke away the shell, revealing the actual cocoa bean.  The bean looked like the body of a large cockroach. 

Roasted cocoa beans in their shells.

Removing the shell.

The top bowl contains the cocoa bean. The bottom bowl are the broken shells.

Once we had shelled the cocoa bean, we put them in a grinder and ground them into a powder that was the texture of cornmeal.  That meal-like powder was ground a second time, bringing out the oils. We were then able to squeeze the oily powder together with our hands, knead it, and form a soft chocolate dough.

Grinder

Grinding the cocoa bean into powder.

Cocoa powder.

We then put the dough in round or square molds and placed the molds in the refrigerator to harden the chocolate. In less than 5 minutes, the chocolate was ready to remove from the molds and store for later use.  With no additives or preservatives, the shelf life of the chocolate is approximately 4 months at room temperature.

100% Chocolate rounds. 

Before we kneaded the chocolate into dough, Brother Guerrero had taken a large tablespoon of powder to make some delicious hot chocolate.

Homemade hot chocolate and dinner rolls.

While we were making chocolate, Erika - their 18 year old daughter who is taking a 12-week baking course, made some delicious dinner rolls that we enjoyed with the hot chocolate.

L - R: David, Brother Victor Guerrero, Sister Silvia Guerrero, Elder Lewis, and Erika

The process of making chocolate was much easier than I expected.  We were also impressed with the concentration of the chocolate.  One tablespoon of the chocolate powder made at least 2 quarts of hot chocolate.

The Guerrero's sent us home with some chocolate rounds.  I'm excited to try some "homemade chocolate" in my "homemade" brownie recipe.

Love to all!
Elder & Sister Lewis

Hiking Cotopaxi!

Wild horses, wild flowers, and a hike to the 1st Refuge stop of Cotopaxi volcano highlighted our week.  Yesterday, our personal tour guide picked us up at 8:45 AM for the 3 hour drive to Cotopaxi, the 2nd highest active volcano in the world.

Off to Cotopaxi for the day!

We entered the park, registered, and then drove to our first stop - Laguna de Limpiopungo, a small lake with wild horses grazing nearby.  The weather was cold, wet, and windy!

Laguna de Limpiopungo - elevation 12,645 feet.

A wet and windy day at Luguna de Limpiopongo in Cotopaxi Parque Nacional.

Wild horses with their heavy coats grazing on the flat land by the lake. 
We estimated 50+ wild horses in the vicinity and we were impressed by this young colt.

Dotted with wildflowers, rocks, and vegetation,  the lower grasslands of Cotopaxi are beautiful.

After a short time at the lake, we proceeded driving up the volcano's north side.  The plan was to leave our vehicle at the final parking spot and then hike to the first refuge point.  However, the weather continued to worsen as we ascended the face of the volcano and the vehicle we were in was  unable to make the climb.

Wet and windy grasslands quickly ascended to snow, wind, and slippery roads.

At this point, we thought we were going to have to end the trip and return to Quito.  However, when we realized that the plateau above us where we saw cars was the final parking spot, we decided to hike up there and see if we could catch a glimpse of the refuge through the mountain peaks and cloud cover.  By this time we were cold and wet from the wind, rain, and sleet.

Once we arrived at the parking lot and caught a glimpse of the 1st refuge buildings, we felt compelled to proceed!  It was a steep and challenging climb as we navigated the snow; and the soft, sandy volcanic terrain, but we kept pushing ahead.  About every 10-15 yards, we would stop to catch our breath.  It took us about 1.5 hours to reach the refuge, and when we arrived, it was exhilarating to look down the mountain and see what we'd accomplished!

Balancing myself off the steep hiking trail.

Cotopaxi Volcano 1st Refuge.  We made it!

A celebratory kiss!

Just below the base of the 1st Refuge looking down the mountain.

Once we arrived at the refuge, our sense of accomplishment was energizing.  We had a cup of hot cocoa, took some photos, and began our trip back down the mountain side. The steep descent was heel step to heel step.  Digging our heels in the the soft volcanic sand prevented us from slipping and we were able to get back to the our vehicle in less than 30 minutes. 

Footprints in the soft and sandy volcanic soil.

 This excursion reminded us of how easy it is to give up or turn back when life's path becomes challenging.  We knew the weather at Cotopaxi would be cold and snowy, but we weren't expecting the strength of the wind or the icy rain.  It would have been really easy to justify turning back. In fact, we almost did, BUT we decided to push ahead to the parking plateau.  That decision made all the difference in the outcome of our experience.

At the parking plateau, the clouds parted and through the mountain peaks we were able to get a glimpse of our final destination.  That glimpse of what lay ahead, energized us to proceed with our original plan to hike to the 1st Refuge of Cotopaxi.  It certainly wasn't an easy hike, but it was worth every step of the way when we arrived at our desired destination and saw the view of what we had accomplished.

Cotopaxi......we'll climb again!  Life.......we'll keep pressing forward to the next plateau. Knowing and trusting that, when we are on the right path, glimpses of our final destination will always be in sight.

Love to all!
Elder & Sister Lewis