Spring 2010

A group of wonderful new missionaries have arrived. Here we are at the Panecillo from where we have a beautiful view of city of Quito and surrounding mountians. L to R, Elder Alacorn (Ecuador), Elder Keeling (USA), Elder Whitlock (USA), Elder Kearns (USA), Elder Cauhauna (Ecuador), Elder Brailsford (USA), Tim and Cindy, Sister Cooper (USA), Sister Menchú (Guatemala), Sister Groesbeck, our fantastic nurse, Elder Buckland (USA), Elder Wallace (USA), Elder Matagi (USA) and Elder Hendrickson (USA).

We are enjoying a nice breakfast with Elder and Sister Nash at Puerto Lago Inn in Otavalo before we go to zone conference with missionaries who come from Otavalo, Cotocachi, Ibarra and Tulcán. What a treat to have a mission tour with Elder and Sister Nash.

Elder Nash and Tim are with President and Sister de la Torre, a couple from Otavalo. President de la Torre is the second counselor in the stake presidency of the Otavalo Stake.

In April we held a special leaders' meeting, with all zone and district leaders of the mission. There were 48 leaders present. It was a great meeting to further define the culture of the mission that we want to enjoy here. L to R in the front middle row: Elder Angel (USA), Elder Quexel (Guatemala), Elder Hymus (USA) and Elder Vergara (Chile). In the back can be seen: Elder Barros (Ecuador), Elder Noe (USA), Elder Paredes (Peru), Elder Smith (USA), Elder Nole (Peru), Elder Alcivar (Ecuador) Elder Cook (USA), Elder Mata (Costa Rica), Elder Murray (USA), Elder Zundel (USA) and Elder Coc (Guatemala).

At our special leaders' meeting, Tim is talking with Elder Cloud, a mission secretary, and to his right are his two Assistants, Elder Dominguez (Mexico) and Elder Samayoa (Guatemala). Our mission secretaries, Elders Cloud and Law and our Assistants Elders Samayoa and Dominguez are such great leaders. We love them dearly,and we appreciate all they do for this mission.

We love Otavalo, Mt. Imbabura, a volcano, stands behind us. It was an especially beautiful day.

We love to get together as mission presidency with the stake presidents from the Quito area, here we are after a recent dinner in our home. L to R, President Montoya and his wife (Tim's first counselor), Sister and President Vallejo (Tim's second counselor), Sister and President Benalcázar (Calderon Stake), Sister and President Angulo (Los Chillos Stake), Sister and Brother Vinicio Vasquez (Tim's executive secretary), Sister and President Meza (Ofelia Stake).

Dad with the leadership in Riobamba, President Vallejo and Venicio Vasquez of the mission presidency. To Tim's left is President Maita, President Luna and the far right is President Quiroz which make up the district presidency.

Enjoying a wonderful lunch, with the Riobamba district leadership,and their families.

Always smiling, the elders in our mission find time for some fun! L to R, Elder Jacobo (Guatemala), Elder Cumez (Guatemala), Elder Moreyra (Bolivia), Elder Coc (Guatemala), Elder Condori (Bolivia), Elder Sotomayor (Guatemala), Elder Matsen (USA), Elder Castro (Mexico) and Elder Lillico (USA)

President Sloan putting the missionaries knowledge to the test! L to R, Elder Dominguez (Mexico), Elder Contreras (Ecuador), Elder Quijada (Chile), Elder Lopez (Mexico), Elder Jiminez (Colombia) and Hermana Nicolás (Bolivia)

In Riobamba the elders fight for a spot on the benches, during the game of musical chairs. Anyone left standing is invited to the front, and their knowledge of the scriptures and Preach My Gospel is tested by President Sloan.

In our recent round of zone conferences, we asked the missionaries to provide their own lunch, to see how prepared they were. We were impressed with the quality of the lunches. Elder Evenson proudly displays his box of "Trix". L to R, Elder Briggs (USA), Elder Robinson (USA), Elder Eliason (USA), Elder Hatch (USA), Elder Evenson (USA) and Elder Di Natale (Argentina)

The Hermanas came prepared with a full course meal. L to R, Hermana Herrera (Guatemala), Hermana Mateo (Guatemala), Hermana Alava (Ecuador) and Hermana Pacay (Guatemala)

The elders went all out with preparing lunches. Here are two hungry missionaries eating jumbo hoagies. L to R, Elder Pereira (Costa Rica), Elder Ubilla (Ecuador), Elder Salas (Mexico), Elder Robins (USA), Elder Vomocil (USA) and Elder Olguín (Bolivia)

Another night of farewells to a marvelous group of missionaries. L to R, Elder Robles (Bolivia), Elder Squires, our departing Assistant (USA), Tim and Cindy, Sister Hernandez (Colombia), Sister Maidana (Bolivia), Sister Del Cid (Panama), Sister Ramirez (Guatemala) and Sister Da Costa (Uruguay). These all have been very special missionaries and we will miss them dearly.

To teach the principle of the importance of the Area Book, Elders Cloud & Law, our mission secretaries, ask Elder Harding to rely upon the strength of the elders below to support him.

The beautiful choir in Riobamba, asked us to take a picture with them. Their music was lovely and inspirational throughout the district conference. We will never forget their special harmonies! Standing next to Tim is President Luna, the first counselor in the presidency and standing behind him is President Vallejo, Tim's second counselor in the mission presidency.

After a wonderful district conference in Riobamba, the family takes a minute to pose before taking off to Baños to enjoy about 24 hours at the base of an active volcano.

Our two assistants, L to R, Elder Dominguez (Mexico) & Samayoa (Guatemala), are always on the go, with backpacks loaded. They never seem to tire, what great examples!

March/April 2010

We owe a debt of gratitude to our wonderful area doctor, Elder Malouf and his dear wife. They have been a great support to us and our mission, during Dad's recovery.

Natalie and two of her best amigas, Mckenzie and Alexis.

I looked out the window and what did i see? Dad and a merry band of missionaries heading to our home for food of course!

Dad can't resist the opportunity to share the gospel with everyone we meet.

Our newest group of elders and hermanas enjoy the view on top of the Panecillo.

Natalie was a natural at flying through the amazonian jungle.

Mom overcame her fear of heights, and made it on all 12 of the ziplines in Mindo.

Dad was in his element as he swung through the trees, it was a great day.

Mom, Dad, and Natalie take a minute to pose. Stephanie was a good girl and went to school, because she had already been to Mindo twice.

Here we are with a group of awesome missionaries. Elder Squires, Samayoa and Dominguez, our assistants, Elder Law and Cloud, our office secretaries, and Hermana Groesbeck, our nurse, and her companion Hermana Sacalxot. We all enjoyed a wonderful P-day.

The life of an assistant is pretty rough, here is Elder Samayoa and Elder Squires, catching a cat nap on the way home from zone conference. They are two great assistants.

Always time for a little fun at zone conference. The game portion always includes scriptures and testing our knowledge of Preach my Gospel.

Just to get the wiggles out, Hermanas Rose and Groesbeck, our nurses, taught all the missionaries how great it feels to exercise, while singing "Called to Serve".

Always eating it seems, but here we are again for the farewell dinner of our dear Hermana Griesemer, on Tim's Left. She's left a big hole in the mission.

Hermana Sloan, surrounded by just a few of our darling hermanas, serving in Ambato/Riobamba area.

February 2010

A somber morning, as we bid farewell to our dear Hermana Griesemer aka " El corazon de la mision" (the heart of the mission). Her influence, creativity, and strong organizational skills has left a mark on Mission, Quito Ecuador. We love her and we will never forget her!

After zone conference, zona Otavalo left with their arms full of ironing boards, and clothes drying racks. They were all heading for the same bus, for the 2 1/2 hour ride back to Otavalo. We can only hope that they were able to get all their goods on the bus. They were thrilled with their treasures.

It was a beautiful night in Quito, to share dinner with our Assistants Elders Squires (USA) and Samayoa (Guatemala) and our outgoing Assistant Elder Ducuara (Colombia). We also had our two office secretaries Elder Cloud (USA), and Elder Law (USA). It was a night to bid farewell to Elder Ducuara and Elder Otero (Argentina), we will miss these two fine missionaries.

At Academia Cotopaxi, Stephanie is on the swim team. Here she is with her friend Maya who is from Israel. She speaks English, Spanish, and Hebrew.

As we have started our new round of zone conferences, it has been a delight to see all of our missionaries again. Here is Hermana Groesbeck and Hermana Rose, our two nurses, teaching a stress relieving exercise routine, performed to the tune "Called to Serve".

Christmas in Quito 2009

It has been a most joyous Christmas here in Quito. We are especially grateful that Tim is on the road to recovery after his surgery. We were able to get one snapshot by the tree in our living room, with our three girls.

Here we are with two of our wonderful Hermanas, Bojorge (Argentina) and Groesbeck (USA). They serve faithfully in our sector. We feel so blessed to have Hermana Groesbeck as a missionary and as the mission nurse. It is amazing to see her juggle both callings. She and her companion helped and supported us so much during Tim's illness.

During the Christmas break, one of our outings was to Teleférico. This ia a few miles away from our home, atop a mountain that stands 13,500 ft. It was a great way to get a little exercise and see the beautiful city of Quito.

Here is a view of downtown Quito with the beautiful snow-capped Cotopaxi in the background.

A breathtaking day in Quito. The temperature reached about 76 degrees this day. In the background is a different view of Quito with Antisana in the background.

Our second Christmas here in Quito, was especially festive. We even had a visit from St Nick. Back row, L to R: Sister Groesbeck (USA), Sister Bojorge (Argentina), Elder Cloud (USA), Elder Mar (Peru), Elder Vargas (Bolivia), Elder Ducuara (Colombia), Elder Rodriguez (Ecuador), Elder Segura (Costa Rica), Santa Claus was Elder Squires (USA), Elder Zapata (Panama), Elder Cumez (Guatemala), Elder Guadamuz (Nicaragua), Elder Arellana (Mexico). Bottom row, L to R, Elder Hilden (USA), Elder Herbas (Bolivia), Elder Rojas (Costa Rico), Elder Gibson (USA) and Elder Nole (Peru)

During the Christmas week we took a family hike to Peguche Falls in Otavalo.

Jessica's visit always makes Christmas seem more festive. Steph and Jessica enjoy a midnight snack.

We are so blessed to have wonderful senior couples here with us in Quito. Pictured from left: Hermana Dressen, Elder and Hermana Rose, Tim and Cindy, Elder and Hermana Curtis, and the famous Hermana Griesemer.

Taking a moment to snap a picture, L to R, Elder and Sister Curtis, Sister Griesemer and Cindy.

Los Chillos/Santa Ana zone, enjoying lunch at the Christmas open house in the mission home. Elder Melendez (Peru) and Sister Hermandez (Colombia) and Sister Hooker (Nicaragua) are closest to the tree.

Enjoying the Christmas luncheon in the mission home, L to R, Elder Contreras (Ecuador), Elder Robles (Bolivia), Elder Castañeda (Mexico), Elder Hailstone (USA), Elder Olaveson (USA), Elder Benavides (Mexico), Elder Hirschi (USA), Elder Quijada (Chile) and Elder Castro (Mexico).

Here we are pictured with the Ofelia/Calderon zone, after a little singing and christmas message. L to R, Front row, Elder Vera (Ecuador), Elder Farinango (Ecuador), Elder Pisco (Ecuador), Elder Perez (Bolivia); Second row, Sister Castillo (Guatemala), Tim, Cindy, Sister Figueroa (Chile); Back row, L to R, Elder Williams (USA), Elder Warr (USA), Elder Huarahuara (Peru), Elder Brugiati (Panama), Elder Harding (USA), Elder Tripp (USA), Elder Barros (Ecuador), Elder Duarte (Colombia), Elder Martin (USA), Elder Zamudio (Mexico), Elder Tirado (Ecuador), Elder Lopez (Ecuador) and Elder Mora (Peru).

We lost a group of hardworking missionaries on this night. We will miss them!

A few days later, we received one of our largest groups of missionaries, our mission continues to grow with 19o missionaries.