Many Things Coming To An End

Several weeks ago I posted a photo of how they are changing the main street "Amazonas". They have been taking it apart brick by brick, literally. This is just one example. All over the entire 3 mile area it is all being done by hand. They do use front loaders to remove all the debris, but the main part of the work is all being done my many, many men hand by hand.

During this same time many small business have had to close because of all the dust and dirt and mess. It has been very, very hard on the families trying to make a small living.

This is how all the telephone lines look around our city of Quito. I have no doubt that in other towns

they look very similar.We have NO IDEA how

the workers know what goes to what. This is the post in front of our office builing.
Several times during the last few weeks we have lost power to the building while we are working.

telephones, computers all is just gone in a flash. In looking at this "crosswork puzzle" of lines it is no wonder. We think at this time while working on this street, they are trying to figure out how to put the lines underground, they have made the spaces for them, but we are not sure if that is what it is for.

Elder Whitaker and I have each had several pairs of boots "hand made" by this very kind couple. He has been a bootmaker for over 30 years. His son now operates a second store not to far from this one we go to.

The name of the store is"El Palacio de Las Botas Espanolas" the palace of Spanish boots. He makes "cowboy" type boots mens, womens, casual and formal types. They are very fairly priced. He makes a model of your foot and literally makes the boots exactly to your foot. They fit like a glove.

Another wonderful thing Elder has done, is have several custom made suits by a tailer named Luis. He does great work. He has worked with another senior couple also. He does very good work and is a perfectionist. Like Elder W. doesn't like that!

I wish I had a photo of the corner of his workspace, it is the oldest iron I have ever personally seen. It sits on a huge flat rock all day. Of course it is not a steam iron. He has a cloth and a spray bottle for that. Like the bootmaker he has been in the same location for many years, which for here, is a very good endorsement.

After we had the fitting for the suit, we went to the "Park Ejido" a park very close to the office. The indiginous indians sell their works in this park. You can find jewelry, clothing, hats, ponchos, sweaters, tablecloths, baby clothes and musical instruments also. You name it, they have it. It is so much fun just to walk through the maze of walkways. With our "placas" nametags, denoting we are missionaries, we have lots of wonderful conversations. Many of these vendors are from Otovalo and members of the Church.

This photo is of some Otovalan men who play their instruments and make and sell their CD's. I have several. Their music is very Indian and some is melodic others are very "up-beat". I love to hear their music.

We will be taking some pictures tomorrow of Amazonas, it is almost finished. We are just AMAZED at how quickly and hard they have worked to get the job done as quickly as possible. It has been quite a disruption, but it is beautiful now. Why they did the job, no one can tell us.

As I have said it has been very hard on the small shopowners, hopefully they will recover their business and money quickly.

It is hard to think about leaving so soon. In my heart, I am not ready, but with Elder W's. pain we do need to go. During the last week, it is interesting, my left knee has also been giving me lots of pain. I have NO IDEA what I have done. Walking in this city is very difficult. the streets are not even with many "slopes" usually drivways. Therefore we are both "gimping around". We look like to invalids, actually, we are. Hopefully visits to the Dr. when we get home, we will be as good as new, (really good as old).

Thank you for your love and support, I will write one more time before we leave on the 22nd.

Hopefully, we can serve again in the future! We have loved working with these wonderful people in a wonderful program, Perpetual Education Fund. Hopefully we have made a difference here in Quito.

Until I write again,

Hermana W.