The road to Quirza - Sharing memories with friends who were mission companions 47 years ago

The Road to Quirza

Often missionary companions are forever friends. Two of our senior sister temple missionaries served together 48 years ago in Argentina. They were invited by Elder Scott to go with him and his wife to witness the first baptisms in Southern Bolivia. We were privileged to drive them (and their husbands making 6 of us) to revisit that same pueblo they visited 48 years ago, with Elder Scott. They were able to see the first chapel built in Bolivia which was built after they left. It was a tender trip. They say little has changed in this pueblo.

                 The pueblos are scattered in this area. This sweet sister was on her way to church. We picked her up - then added two more on our way. Seatbelt rules? Not here, The more the merrier.

The shallow River de Oro is swollen from the sudden summer storms.

                                                                                                                                                                     Greeting old timers at Church. This is Diohenes, 

one of the first members baptized  in Southern Bolivia.

                                                                                                                                                                                 And of course our faithful missionaries. The elders in Quiriza have a missioni full of service. They become experts at growing garlic.

I love entering this chapel with the beautiful hand polished benches, the people here love their chapel.It was evident that they had carefully and lovingly prepared the chapel for Sunday morning. Below are photos of before and after the church services.

The members of the Quirza branch. They are the most loving people. 

Isabel, (baptised that first day with her husband Diogenes) took our sister missionaries to see where the first chapel was. Some of the children took me to see their home.

Following a lunch of humitas, we took our young missionaries and the temple missionaries to see some of the places which hold special meaning to the Saints and early missionaries in Quiriza.

We then took a short walk to the river - Rio de Oro. Enjoying the animals and the fields of choco, garlic, etc.
.

Adobe blocks drying in the sun. Soon they will form a new home.

 All to soon our visit is over. Children wait with left over
water balloons from carnival. Kind friends wave goodbye. We stop quickly to avoid the herd of goats suddenly let loose from their corral and head home just in time as thunderstorms  form in the skies. We love visiting this incredible pueblo.

Our Second Christmas in Bolivia

December began with calling for help to decorate the Mission home. The sisters were delighted to come - but were saddened to learn that all the packages were just for decoration. They know this is a great month to share their testimony of Jesus Christ- which is the greatest gift of all.

Sonya and I baked and baked to be able to give cookies to each of our missionaries.

Our Christmas stash was organized. Many items appeared in the mail from kind and generous parents, some of the items we brought down when we arrived on our mission, (again donated by others).

 Two of our secretaries came to help me stuff the stockings.

I filled our largest suitcase with stockings for our missionaries down south. Another second large suitcase carried hundreds of cookies. Off we went, to bring Christmas to Sucre, Potosi and Tupiza.

The Plaza in Sucre was decorated beautifully with lights.

The Tupiza missionaries

Potosi had one of the best nativities in our hotel.

I loved the creative way the missionaries took their group photo. All these cameras were on timer and the camera owner then ran to be in the photo. I wish I had a video as it was super fun to watch them do it.

This ward taught me a great lesson this year. We had a Christmas Fireside with them and following the fireside the Bishop asked everyone to go to the Cultural Hall for a surprise and a photo opportunity. My North American culture kicked in and I wondered - will they have Santa here? Well, eventually they opened the curtains  and this was the surprise and the photo op. A beautiful nativity scene. This is just another thing I love about Bolivia. The focus is where it should be, on Christ. 

My brother and his family came to visit for Christmas. It was wonderful to spend time with them. This time our adventures brought us a toucan. What a beautiful world God created for us!

With the wonders of technology, I received this photo Christmas eve.   These are some of our grandchildren following family tradition and enacting the story of the birth of Christ. The photo arrived just as we were going to bed, and I knelt thanking Heavenly Father for the faith that is being passed down through generations.

Christmas day. I watched as a mommy rocked her babe to sleep in this home made cradle on her clothes line. It touched my heart. This little one may not have many earthly possessions but he has a mommy who loves him. 

Feliz Navidad