Winding Down

In summary, I would like to say that this has been the experience of a lifetime. In what way you ask? The country is beautiful and varied. From ocean, to rice fields then rising toward banana plantations, jungle and then high in the Andes where the air is delightfully cool and the vistas spectacular. Village life is fascinating. Everywhere we find humble, gentle, friendly, hard working people, both in and out of the Church. We also love the variety and availability of tropical fruits, and the markets where they are sold.

We came for the temple and the rest has been frosting on the cake. The temple is beautiful and peaceful, and it is impossible to spend 5 days a week for a year and a half in the temple and not be affected by it. I believe I have grown spiritually as a result. We have had the opportunity to work with some altogether wonderful and dedicated people in the temple and in social gatherings outside the temple, including the other missionaries, temple workers, and members who frequent the temple. We have had the additional blessing of becoming very good friends with the Valero family, and to a lesser extent with the Tituana family, and as a result have had a deeper glimpse into life in Ecuador. The land is beautiful and interesting, but it is all about the people. They are easy to love. Though my command of Spanish is rudimentary, it seems that love is a language, and it is possible to communicate love, when words fail.

Pete