April & May 2009

A picture taken with Tim and his Assistants, current and former. Elder Galán (Ecuador), Elder Rivera (Nicaragua), and Elder Mielnikowicz (Argentina)

Tim and the Temple President were asked to speak at a Young Adult Conference at a camp in the Valley de Los Chillos. The young adults came from five stakes and one district in the Quito area. Tim is sitting in the front row on the left side, next to his two Assistants, Elders Padilla (Guatemala) and Elder Rivera (Nicaragua) who Tim had asked to participate as well.

May 31st was a wonderful day! A new stake (Los Chillos) was formed from a district, San Rafael. Elder Carl Pratt presided and Elder Pino, also of the Area Presidency, participated. Standing left to right are Elder Pino, the 1st counselor in the new stake presidency, President Angulo, the 2nd counselor, Elder Pratt and Tim.

The Sloan family standing next to the Vallejo family. Fabián Vallejo is Tim's first counselor in the mission presidency. President Vallejo has been invaluable to the mission. We love the Vallejo family. The formation of the Los Chillos stake was a wonderful event for all of us. Now we have two districts to focus on and we hope that we can form one more stake before we return home. We also have two independent branches in the Amazon region of the mission. And we are waiting approval to establish a third independent branch even further in the Amazon region.

After Stephanie's moving on ceremony to high school.

Stephanie and her cute friends!

Stephanie receiving her presidential award for academic excellence.

Stephanie gave a short speech at the ceremony, we thought it was the best.

The Sloan family together with Elder Pratt (area president), Elder Pino and his wife, and Elder Torres.

Natalie Sang and danced her heart out in her class production of Oliver Twist.

All of the stake presidents in our mission, after a meeting with Elder Pratt and Elder Torres.

The Sloan family with some youth from a neighboring stake.

We had the opportunity to speak to these wonderful youth at the closing of their youth conference.

Lunch with Elder and Sister Pino after a zone conference in Otavalo.

The elevator outside of our aparment is often loaded with handsome clean-cut elders. This is a group of wonderful Zone Leaders, leaving after the famous zone leader council dinner. That night we had a pasta bar that was a big hit, especially the shrimp and chicken fettucini.
L to R from the bottom: Elder Philbrick (USA), Elder Galán (Ecuador), Elder Alvarez (Colombia), Elder Rivera (Nicaragua; squeezed in the middle), Elder Mar (Peru), Elder Glass (USA), Elder Hirschi (USA), Elder Olaveson (USA), Elder Scott (USA) and in the far back is Elder Mata (Costa Rica).

Here we are with our assistants in the Mission Home, Elder Rivera (right), and our newest assistant Elder Galan.

We have started a new traditionof having the Quito zones over for "Ecua-volley", and a barbeque on preparation day, once every 3 months or so. This is a great opportunity for them to see us having fun and playing. We do it in our backyard, down below our apartment.

L to R, Sister Griesemer, Elder Dominguez (Mexico), Elder Zambrano (Ecuador), Elder Lazalde (USA).

New arrivals standing at the Panecillo where moments before we had just read the dedicatory prayer of Ecuador of President Kimball given in 1966.

L to R, Elder Fralasco (Chile), Elder Aguilar (Bolivia), Tim and Cindy, Hermana Signor (Guatemala), Hermana Pacay (Guatemala), Hermana Nicolás (Bolivia), Hermana Rial (Argentina), Hermana Del Aguila (Guatemala), Hermana Ovalle (Guatemala).

At the conclusion of our latest zone leader council dinner. What a wonderful night!

L to R in front row, Elder Grange (USA), Elder Monge (Ecuador), Cindy, Tim, Elder Cedeño (Ecuador), Elder Glass (USA), Elder Samayoa (Guatemala); Back row, Elder Alvarado (Guatemala), Elder Alvarez (Colombia), Elder Loor (Ecuador), Elder Katzenbach (USA), Elder Mar (Peru), Elder Scott (USA), Elder Barros (Ecuador), Elder Ellis (USA), Elder Hirschi (USA), Elder Rivera (Nicaragua & Assistant), Elder Olaveson (USA), Elder Galán (Ecuador & Assistant), behind Elder Galán is Elder Mata (Costa Rica & Office Elder), Elder Lazalde (USA & Office Elder), Elder Philbrick (USA), Elder Squires (USA), Elder Padilla (Guatemala).

Saying farewell is always hard to do. Farewell to Elder Melinkowitz, Hermana Larsen, Hermana Sorensen, y Hermana Espejo. We appreciate all of your labors, and dedication.

New arrivals at the Quito, Ecuador Airport coming in from the Colombia CCM (MTC)

Here we are in Guayaquil, it was a fast trip to expedite getting our drivers licsenses. It was a success we both returned home with officical Liscenses. We are now legal to be on the roads!

Stephanie's Spring time concert, at Academia Cotopaxi. She is second from the left.

An upclose picture of Stephanie performing in the school concert at Academia Cotopaxi. She is seated second from left. We love hearing her music in the home.

Here we are with our best "amiga" Osmany Rojas (Colombia). She and her family have moved to Canada, we miss her so much!

Farewell luncheon, with Osmany Rojas and her family. Elder Padilla (Assistant) is seated in front with our family and Osamany's family seated across from us.

A casual photo, after the fun volleyball game and barbeque. The are missionaries from two zones: Ofelia/Calderon and Quito.

Enjoying the barbeque and "Ecua-volleyball."

A farewell photo for two missionaries going home. We miss our missionaries when they leave!

L to R, Elder Padilla (Assistant & Guatemala), Tim, Elder Marquez (Peru), Sister Ortiz (Nicaragua), Cindy, Elder Rivera (Assistant & Nicaragua)

Another game of Ecua-volleyball and barbeque day with two other zones: Santa Ana/San Rafael and Chillogallo. We had a lot of fun!

The Sisters are waiting for their turn to play volleyball. They are from the Santa Ana/San Rafael and Chillogallo Zones. L to R, Sister Maidana (Bolivia), Sister Espejo (Argentina), Sister Plata (Panama), Sister Sphar (USA), Cindy, Sister Ramirez (Guatemala), Sister Flores (Peru).

The elders paciently waiting their turn to play volleyball. L to R, Elder Valdes (Chile), Elder Peredes (Peru), Elder Weatherhead (USA), Elder Williams (USA), Elder Vargas (Guatemala), Elder Rodriguez (Guatemala), Elder Cevallos (Ecuador), Elder Redwood (Ecuador), Elder Coons (USA), Elder Morales (Guatemala), Elder Quijada (Chile), Elder Condori (Bolivia), Elder Barros (Ecuador)

Tim and Cindy trying to show that they aren't too old to have fun! Look at that form of Hermana Sloan! In "Ecua-Volleyball" the net is much higher than American volleyball, and you can hold the ball a split second longer.

Feasting upon hot dogs and hamburgers at the zone barbeque. L to R: Elder Condori (Bolivia), Elder Rodriguez (Guatemala), Elder Pizango (Peru), Tim, Elder Rodriguez (Bolivia), Elder Oyola (Bolivia), Elder Castañeda (Mexico).

Another picture waiting for another round of burgers. L to R: Elder Otero (Argentina), Cindy, Tim, Elder Gutierrez (Peru), Elder Oyola (Bolivia), Elder Castañeda (Mexico).

The watermelon has been split open and the missionaries are waiting in line. L to R facing the camera: Elder Rodriguez (Guatemala), Sister Sphar (USA), Elder Rodriguez (Peru), Elder Williams (USA), Elder Redwood (Ecuador) and Elder Valdes (Chile) fix his plate and Cindy supervising the missionaries.

Dad directing his team to victory!

It was a beautiful day for a barbeque in Quito!

Natalie and the primary of Iñaquito Ward, singing on mother's day.

Last sunday with Osmany Rojas and her mother. Taken in front of the Iñaquito chapel in the Quito Stake.

Osmany, her mother, Cindy and the girls in front of the Iñaquito chapel in Quito.

Hermana Sloan on the steps of our Iñaquito chapel.

Steph, Nat, and Dad, were asked to sing, in English, "Mother i love you" at a Mother's Day event in our Iñaquito ward.

Natalie getting a haircut!

Natalie's birthday Party! It was a big success with swimming, pizza, and cake decorating.

Natalie's birthday was a blast! Here is Natalie, with the turbine on her head, and her friends who just were swimming moments before this picture was taken.

Natalie's birthday party started at the pool. All the girls are enjoying pizza and drinks and another beautiful day in Quito.

Pool Games with nat and her friendS!

Recent zone conference in Quito. This is the Chillogallo Zone.

This is the Santa Ana/San Rafael Zone, taken after a wonderful zone conference here in Quito.

This is the Quito Zone, taken after zone conference.

Saying farewell to our wonderful missionaries is never easy. L to R: Elder Lazalde (USA), Elder Morales (Guatemala), Elder Apaza (Peru), Elder Sabath (Bolivia), Elder Padilla (Assistant & Guatemala), Elder Mata (Costa Rica).

This is how our elders let off steam! Elder Taylor on the bottom, is a real workhorse! From bottom to top, Elder Taylor (USA), Elder Padilla (Guatemala), Elder Pereira (Costa Rica), Elder Gutierrez (Bolivia), Elder Archundía (Mexico) and Elder Castro (Mexico) is trying to keep everyone steady.

Making s'mores at a recent zone conference was a big hit, especially with those who had never tried them before. We suggested they share them with investigator or less active families after a family night. L to R: Sister Tax (Guatemala), Sister Chú (Peru), Elder Melendez (Peru), Elder Garrett (USA), Elder Solórzano (Peru) and Elder Zamudio (Mexico)