Ecuador-Guayaquil Mission '88-'90

My first mission president and his wife. They were and are great influences in my life. He is now president of the Guayaquil Ecuador LDS Temple and his wife is matron. I also had the privilege of serving with President Walter F. Gonzalez and his wife Zulma Gonzalez. They were wonderful leaders but I cannot find my picture of them. He is now a member of the Seventy of the church and an area-authority.

His office in Guayaquil, Ecuador

Elder Brian Kelly Allred, of Clearfield, Utah, in a normal position at the MTC. We worked hard, played hard and slept harder!

Elder Erik C. Brown, of Ojai, California, my trainer in the mission and the office. He was my first companion in Ecuador and I replaced him in the mission office as financial secretary. A good man.

Elder Jeff Wangsgard, of Ogden, Utah, who was Elder Brown's trainer, hence the name "grandpa." He taught me how to testify boldly of the Savior. A great missionary.

Elder Raul Criollo, of Quito, Ecuador. A great companion who improved my speaking ability and taught me a great love for his people. We had great success in the town of Milagro ("Miracle" in spanish). Anyone remember "Hombres G?"

Elder Mark Swensen, of Paul, Idaho. Intelligent, dedicated, hard working and strong as an ox. This guy once saved me from a mugging by throwing me on a bus with one arm and throwing the would-be thief in a ditch with the other! His greatest muscle, though, has to be his brain!

Elder Todd J. Duvall, of Pleasant Grove, Utah and Wheat Ridge, Colorado. We opened a program together in Suburbio, a slum of Guayaquil, and had great success. Also the best man at my wedding. A great friend to this day.

Elder Craig Calhoun, from Meza, Arizona. A mission legend! I learned a tremendous amount about being an ambassador of the church from this man. My only regret is not being his companion for a longer amount of time.

Elders Tracy Millward, of Pocatello, ID; Junius Merrill, of Paul, ID. Hard at work in the mission office, these two were my companions and were assistants to the president. I opened up a new program with Tracy in Atarazana, section of Guayaquil and worked in Prosperina with Junius. They are both good friends and were great missionaries.

Elder Dean Kynaston, of Eagle, ID. He was in the mission only 8 months when called to be an AP. Most are not called for at least a year and after being a zone leader. That says enough about him.

Elder Michael Dunman, of Fernandina Beach, FL. I trained Mike to be my replacement in the office and he did a great job fixing my screwups! A great man who left us too soon in the line of duty. We love you Mike! On to a greater reward!

Elder Gary Funk of Meza, Arizona. We worked hard on the beach of Manta, on the northern coast of Ecuador. This guy could laugh!

Elder Tom Titus, of Bossier City, LA. Thank you for making my last two months in Ecuador fun and productive. We taught more people the gospel than we could have imagined and helped bring about the conversion of many. The mission experience was great and the people of Ecuador are wonderful. Que Dios les bendiga siempre!