burning up the old year.. celebrate the new.

There is a very interesting year-end custom here of burning the "mu~neco". The muneco is a statue of a person (alive, dead, or imagined) that is made of combustible material similar to a pi~nata. Usually it is smaller than a man but with human nature being such as it is, people try to outdo each other and build huge statues such as king kong, dragons, even (popular this year) michael jackson. A local member took several of us to a section of the city where the munecos were made. There were block after block of them lined up for display and sale. We were there about midnight and were surprised to see the numbers of people in the street, viewing the munecos, listening to entertainment, and celebrating (a little bit early) the coming of the new year.
This custom goes back many years. I have asked several of the workers at the temple if they participated in burning the muneco. They almost all do. Mostly for the grandchildren. It seems that burning the muneco is a symbolic way of getting rid of all of the bad things of the past year and not only saying goodbye, but good riddance! Some people even kick and beat the muneco before setting it on fire. Maybe the past year held for them more bad memories than good. In any case it is not an unhappy event. There is great anticipation for it and excitement when they actually haul the thing out into the middle of the street and set it on fire at 12:00 midnight on new years eve!
The temple missionaries enjoyed the spectacle from the top of the alojamiento building where we live. A table was set with food and beverage. There were chairs to sit and watch the fireworks from a distance, but most of us were on our feet moving from one side of the building to the other trying to view fireworks that were going off all around us. It gets dark about 6:00 pm and some people start around 7:00 or 8:00 setting off fireworks, but the large displays are usually saved for the last hour before midnight. The last fifteen minutes is filled with a crescendo of noise, exploding color, and smoke. Much of the smoke comes from the munecos that are burning in the streets below. Then everything tapers off. Some families move in doors to continue the party, others stay outside, since the temperature is very nice at night (in the 80's). As for me and my house, we went to bed.
It was nice to have a visit from my brother Larry and his wife Nancy at Christmas time. They had come to Ecuador on business, to see Ben and Paulina, and visit with us. We all went to a Christmas party at the Toral residence. It was a memorable experience for all of us. On Christmas eve, we had a progressive dinner at all of the missionaries apartments and ending with dessert and gift exchange at the president's place. Nancy was santa claus as she had a suit for the occasion.
Larry, Nancy, Ben, Paulina, joined us for a walk through the Bahia shopping market, along the waterfront Malecon, and up the Santa Ana hill (445 steps)
to arrive just in time to view a beautiful sunset across the city. Photos were taken as we enjoyed the moment. Day turning into night, with the lights from the city beginning to appear below us and darkness setting in. It was nice to have a visit from family while we are here in Ecuador.
Finally, check out Isaiah 58: 12 (6-12) ...And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:. And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought...