Remembering

 When I was a pre-teen, my siblings and I would pick oranges and avocados from the backyard and sell them on a nearby corner. Before the mall was built, or any of the housing on the east, we would camp out on the side of the road with our filled brown bags. Right there on the curve on Bear Valley Parkway, halfway between the high school and I-15: Eight oranges for $1 or four avocados for $1.

I don't remember how much my share was, but I'm certain it all went to candy. Here in Lago Agrio, the oranges are sold out of the back of a pickup just down the road from our apartment.

The oranges here are pretty green, but taste OK on the inside. They use plastic bags and sell 25 oranges for $1. I can't tell how much the avocados are, but I'm sure they just as cheap. I still can't stand the texture of avocados.

I peeked in the back of this truck to see the three major sellers: plantains, oranges, and wrapping leaves. We had a mini-MTC with the missionaries and branch leaders this week. It was fun to be taught with Preach My Gospel and then share our mission experiences. One of our fabulous cooks, Sister Cabeza, used a hand of plantains to make bolones, which are boiled, pressed into a ball with chicken or pork, and fried. They end up about the size of softballs. She served them with gravy, but salsa is also delicious.

Marnie and Eric bought a house this week! She is carefully planning her interior design and is able to ask for help via Marco Polo. After living for years in apartments, she is thrilled to have her own garden.