Misión Bolivia Cochabamba
Here are free resources about the Bolivia Cochabamba Mission:
Aquí están algunos recursos gratuitos sobre la Misión Bolivia Cochabamba:
- Mission address and phone number
- Mission map
- Missionary blogs
- Facebook groups
- LDS Mission t-shirts and gifts
- List of past mission presidents
- Cultural articles written by returned missionaries
- Survey with RMs
*Other Mission Pages: Bolivia LDS Missions.
Bolivia Cochabamba Mission Address
Here’s a recent address for the Cochabamba Mission. We try to keep this information up to date, but it’s a good idea to check the mission address with several sources, including your mission packet or the mission office.
Bolivia Cochabamba Mission
Av. Villarroel N 1132
Edificio Confort, Piso 7 Oficina C
Casilla de Correo 1375
Cochabamba, Cochabamba
Bolivia
Phone Number: 591-4-411-7207
Mission President: President Enrique Montoya Quiroz
Bolivia Cochabamba Mission Map
Here’s a link to the mission map for the Cochabamba Mission (LDS). To access an official, up-to-date LDS.org map for the Cochabamba Mission, simply
Cochabamba Missionary Blogs
Here’s a list of LDS missionary blogs for the Bolivia Cochabamba Mission. This blog list includes the missionary’s name, blog URL and when their blog updated.
Bolivia Cochabamba Mission Groups
Here are Cochabamba Mission Groups- for LDS missionary moms, returned missionaries, mission presidents and other alumni of the Bolivia Mission.
- Bolivia Cochabamba Mission…The Best! Group (786 members)
- Mision Bolivia Cochabamba Facebook Group (560 members)
- Bolivia Cochabamba Mission Facebook Group (379 members)
- Mision Bolivia Cochabamba Julio 2011-14 Group (299 members)
- Mision Bolivia Cochabamba- Era Tenorio Group (290 members)
- Mision Cochabamba-Bolivia Facebook Group (150 members)
- Mision Cochabamba / F. Melvin Hammond Group (120 members)
- Pres. Fallis / Cochabamba Bolivia Mission Group (83 members)
- Mision Bolivia Cochabamba… Facebook Group (26 members)
- Sisters of the Bolivia Cochabamba Mission Group (20 members)
- Cochabamba Mission Moms and Family Group (16 members)
- Mission Bolivia Cochabamba Facebook Group (9 members)
- Cochabamba Mission Moms and Friends (LDS) Group (6 members)
- Chilenos Retornados Mision Cochabamba Group (6 members)
- Cochabamba Mission Pres. Hammond 1984-87 Group (5 members)
Bolivia Cochabamba Mission T-Shirts
Here are T-shirts for the Bolivia Cochabamba Mission!
Shirt designs include Bolivia Cochabamba Mission logo/emblem shirts and Called to Serve shirts. The shirts make great gifts for pre-missionaries, returned missionaries and missionaries currently serving. LDS Mission shirts come in all sizes: Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large, up to 4XL. The mission designs are printed on white shirts and are shipped to you.
*Simply click on a shirt design to view the details and submit an order. The designs on mission t-shirts may also be printed on other LDS mission gifts, including: Bolivia Cochabamba missionary aprons, Christmas stockings, ties, pillow cases, teddy bears and Christmas ornaments.
*Click here to browse Cochabamba Mission gifts
Cochabamba Mission Presidents
Here’s a list of current and past Mission Presidents of the Cochabamba Mission.
- 2017-2020, Enrique Montoya Quiroz
- 2014-2017, Mark Wayne Hansen
- 2011-2014, Dan L. Dyer
- 2008-2011, Miguel A. Tenorio (Listen to an interview with Pres. Tenorio)
- 2002-2005, Terry Frank Calton
- 1999-2002, Daniel A. Moreno
- 1996-1999, Timothy L. Parker
- 1990-1993, Heber Omar Diaz
Bolivia LDS Statistics (2015)
- Church Membership: 192,339
- Missions: 4
- Temples: 1
- Congregations: 253
- Family History Centers: 34
Helpful Articles about Bolivia
Cochabamba Missionary Survey
Here are survey responses from Cochabamba RMs, to give you a snapshot into what it’s like to live in the mission.
When did you serve?
- 2012-2014 (Tria)
- February 2012-July 2013 (Courtney)
- 2008-2010 (Aminta)
- 2008-2010 (Ryan)
- 2007-2008 (Jessica)
- 2002-2004 (Julio)
- 2002-2004 (Noelia)
- 2000-2002 (Stephen)
- 1997-1998 (Maria)
Which areas did you serve in?
- I served in Cochabamba in La Floresta, Cala Cala and Sacaba. I also served in Rama America in Tupiza. (Tria)
- Cochabamba and Sucre, in Peru I was in Arequipa, Camana, and Juliaca. (Aminta)
- Cochabamba, Sucre, Potosi, etc. (Ryan)
- Cochabamba and Sucre. (Jessica)
- Tarija central , tupiza aguadita, potosi centro. (Noelia)
- Cochabamba, Potosi, Quillacollo, Tarija, Bermejo. (Stephen)
- La Paz, Cochabamba, Tarija, Santa Cruz, Yacuiba. (Maria)
What were some favorite foods?
- I loved silpancho, pique, picante de pollo. Most foods were great, although rice and boiled potatoes get old after a while. (Tria)
- Pique macho, silpancho, saltañas. (Courtney)
- Sopa de Mani, Llomo Saltado, Arroz con queso. (Aminta)
- Pique Macho. (Ryan)
- Salteñas, rice pudding, fried plantains and bananas. (Jessica)
- Pizza. (Julio)
- Los sapallitos rellenos , tallarin , saice , el famoso pique macho , las deliciosas uvas tarijeñas ,simba manzana verde los tamales tupizeños que delicia entre otros. (Noelia)
- Saltenas, sopa de mani, picante de pollo, pique lo macho. (Stephen)
- Salteñas, sopa de mani, tucumanas, pique macho. (Maria)
What was a funny experience?
- I always thought it was fun to surprise people with the fact that I could speak Spanish (and a little bit of Quechua). There weren’t a lot of blondes walking around that knew the language and the customs of the area. (Tria)
- People laughing at my Spanish but then helping me after. My companion being afraid of the dogs in the streets and using me as a shield, because I always wanted to hug the dogs. (Courtney)
- I always thought it was fun to surprise people with the fact that I could speak Spanish (and a little bit of Quechua). There weren’t a lot of blondes walking around that knew the language and the customs of the area. (Tria)
- I full on went to the bathroom in my pants once. It’s a long story, but it’s hilarious. (Ryan)
- Many people had heard that the temple there was actually a secret satellite type setup. (Jessica)
- Cuando estaba enferma llegaron los lideres de zona y un perro gigante salto sobre elder cuadra solo queria jugar ja ja ja ja lindo perrito otra experiencia el almuerzo en casa de la misión con Presidente Caltón la competencia de quien come mas jose cochinos esta reñida el Elder Villaroel iba ganando y por solo una perdió finalmente ese dia comimos tanto que ya no podíamos mas. (Noelia)
- Missionaries telling of their bowel movement emergencies. (Stephen)
- Walking with big frogs after the rain. (Maria)
What was a crazy/dangerous experience?
- I was sick most of the first year I was in Bolivia. And when I hit the year mark, a little after, I was told that I had typhoid fever and given a bunch of medicine. It didn’t help and two weeks later I ended up in the hospital again… But this time I ended up getting my appendix removed and spent the rest of my mission and time home recovering from that. It was one of the most uncertain times when I grew the most on the mission. (Tria)
- The natives thinking my blonde hair was gold, or the poor people on the streets coming to beg for money, mostly because I am white. (Courtney)
- Carnivals can be sketchy. During my second carnival the president had us stay inside through the worst of it. But even before that there were a good number of drunk people on the street. One of them grabbed my wrist once and tried to get me to dance with him, and didn’t seem to want to let go until I did. It took a little while but he did let go. Also as a white sister I got A LOT of cat calls and stares which made me extremely uncomfortable at first. But it was harmless and I got used to it. (Aminta)
- Got held up at knife point, gun point, and was hospitalized due to food issues several times. One time it was life-threatening. (Ryan)
- All American missionaries getting pulled out and reassigned to Peru missions due to political problems. (Jessica)
- Cuando sin darnos cuenta estábamos fuera de nuestra área y todo por una cita con los dueños de la casa donde vivíamos. (Noelia)
- Drive by egging. (Stephen)
- Walking in the dark when the power went off in the entire town and we had to go back to our room. (Maria)
What was a spiritual experience?
- We taught this lady named Alicia who was severely physically handicapped. We taught her over and over and ran into every road block you could think of when it came to her being able to be baptized. I was always amazed at how well she understood the things we taught her about the Atonement and she seemed to understand things that we couldn’t teach her. It was amazing to see how the Spirit could make up for our lack of knowledge to help her understand things that were important to her. Seeing her my last Sunday in the mission and hearing about how the church had just totally changed her life was unbelievable and I felt so blessed to have been a part of it. (Tria)
- Lots of new friends to share with. Always knock doors if you run out of people to see, because you never know who you will find. (Courtney)
- Shoot, this is like asking for a favorite investigator. I had many beloved investigators and my mission was chuck full of amazing experiences, I wrote them all down in my journal. I guess one I could share is about my experience between my two missions and learning to trust the Lord. I was called to Cochabamba, and exactly a week after my mission call I found out all the American missionaries in Bolivia had been pulled out of the country because of political unrest. I was absolutely heartbroken. I really struggled with understanding why I would receive a divine call to a place I wouldn’t be going to. But when I said my prayers that night I said “I don’t know what’s going on, Lord, but I’ll still go where you want me to go” when my head hit the pillow that night I felt at peace with it. And I felt I would go to Bolivia. I didn’t know how that would be possible, as far as I knew Americans would be out of Bolivia for a long time. But I decided I would try to believe that God knew what He was doing with me. I found out they had put all those missionaries in Peru, but I didn’t know where I was going. Nobody ever called to tell me what was going on, so I just assumed my MTC date was still valid. The whole 3 weeks I was in the MTC I had no idea where I was going. After 3 weeks in Provo I went to spend the rest of my MTC time in the Peru MTC, and the president there told me, along with the other missionaries called to Bolivia, that we would all get reassigned to a mission in Peru. But I still didn’t find out which mission until 5 days before we left the MTC. 5 days before I left the MTC was the first time I had a mission since 7 days after I opened my call, months earlier. While in my mission in Peru, I learned Spanish, I learned how to be a missionary. I loved my companion, and the other missionaries, and the people I worked with. The idea of leaving it to go to a different place was a hard pill to swallow, but Bolivia was always at the back of my mind. But I focused on my work in Peru and tried to believe that wherever I was was a place I could do good. Sometimes it was pretty tough. Eventually I found out I would indeed go to Bolivia. I ended up heading over in the middle of a transfer, two weeks before a very special investigator was to be baptized. Of course I struggled with that, wishing I could have stayed just a bit longer. And I struggled once I got to Cochabamba, because it was a different mission, and the rules were different. But the whole thing was such a big learning experience, one that still affects me. I believe learning to trust the Lord is such an important thing, it’s so easy to forget that He has your back. I can look back and see how being in the two missions helped me be a better missionary and a better person, and let me love more people and more countries. If you don’t learn to trust the Lord then how will you hold up when you go through a rough break up, or when someone you care about passes away, or when you can’t find the answer to a soul searching question, or when it seems God isn’t around. You’ve got to learn that because He loves you so very much, He knows how to bring you back to Him, and you’ve got to learn to let Him. (Aminta)
- Being blessed by the Elders in my zone, back to health when I was too far away from a hospital that could care for me. (Ryan)
- Going to the same corner every evening to do contacts and having people come to us because they knew we would be there. (Jessica)
- Enseñar a muchas personas el evangelio. (Julio)
- Ayudar a construir el techo de la casa de la familia Cruz en tupiza fue especial aunque estábamos muertos de cansancio nos sentimos en paz y felices de que esa bella family ya no sufriría cuando lloviera. (Noelia)
- The lessons taught, convert baptisms. (Stephen)
- When Gabriela and Miguel were baptized in Tarija. (Maria)
What are some interesting facts about the Cochabamba Mission?
- Our mission is the highest in the world. We have lots of cool sites such as Cerro Rico, the salt flats in Uyuni, the red hills in Tupiza. It really is a very diverse mix. Most of the areas I served in were rural which gave me a chance to try my hand at learning Quechua in addition to Spanish. The mission also includes Quiriza, which is were the first chapel was built in Bolivia. It is still standing there today! (Tria)
- Sucre, Bolivia is the actual capital of Bolivia and they sell good chocolate, the Christ statue in Cochabamba is bigger than Rio but Rio’s is a lot higher. When white and looking for a taxi, step away a little bit and have your companion get the lowest price. (Courtney)
- At the time it was the poorest mission in the world. I served in the only Quechua-speaking branch in the world at the time. (Ryan)
- Some areas are incredibly high in altitude. (Jessica)
- Tenemos un bello templo la gente es maravillosa los que se convierten permanecen aunque a pasado tanto tiempo aun nuestro amado Presidente Calton se reúne con nosotros. En Quiriza esta la primera capilla de Bolivia mucha historia hermanitos de mucha fe donde se mudan casi siempre permanecen firmes. (Noelia)
- At the time our mission was baptizing around 250 people/month while Santa Cruz was baptizing double that. (Stephen)
- Bolivia is one of the highest countries in the world and it’s beautiful! (Maria)
What was the weather like?
- Depended. Potosi was always wicked cold because of the elevation. Nights everywhere were cold. There was a rainy season where I remember always being soaked and the streets flooding. Wind storms in Tupiza would get so bad that at times you couldn’t see down the streets. No snow though, and that’s something I was really glad about. (Tria)
- Cochabamba: normal valley like weather: hot in the Summer, cold in the Winter, but just right all the other times. Tarija (not part of the mission anymore): super hot in the Summer. Sucre: in the Winter it’s cold with more cold. Potosi: freezing but with a burning sun. (Courtney)
- Very cold in the higher altitudes. Several areas of the mission alloted 7 blankets per missionary. (Jessica)
- Very nice all year long! There’s only like a 20 degree difference between winter and summer. The biggest weather thing you have to worry about is when it rains, so be prepared for that. (Aminta)
- Anything from bitter cold to painfully hot, depending on the area. (Ryan)
- Very cold in the higher altitudes. Several areas of the mission alloted 7 blankets per missionary. (Jessica)
- El clima es diverso templado frio pero simplemente maravilloso. (Noelia)
- Out of this world at 13,000 feet in Potosi. (Stephen)
- Varies depending on the city, La Paz is cold, Santa Cruz is hot and humid, Cochabamba and Tarija have the perfect weather not too hot or cold. Love it! (Maria)
Any things you really like about the area/people?
- Bolivia is a beautiful place and the Lord has prepared so many people to listen by placing them in very humble circumstances. They are very loving people who would give you anything you need even if it left them with nothing. (Tria)
- The people are mostly relaxed and if you let them, they will make fun of how you talk. They are really giving and sometimes hard because many are Catholic all-the-way. Bolivians will always tell you their life story if you have time. (Courtney)
- I like that the people like to have fun, and they’re so caring. Once you learn the language it’s easy to feel at home with your companions and investigators. (Aminta)
- Humble, loving, simple- best mission in the world. (Ryan)
- Los paisajes son únicos una y otra vez nos testifican del amor de Dios y las personas son muy amables había muchas oportunidades de servir creo que muchas semillas se sembraron nuestro amado presidente siempre nos inspiraba a servir una misión de mucho servicio en todas las formas eso es la misión Cochabamba Bolivia. (Noelia)
- Poverty induces humility in most. (Stephen)
- The people are very caring and loving, especially the little ones. The food is good and inexpensive. (Maria)
Any packing/clothing advice?
- A variety of clothes is always best! Bring some for hot summer weather and the coldest weather you can imagine. A water proof trench coat is a must. Rain boots are also great, but in order to save space, buy those in Bolivia. (Tria)
- Pack layers. You can always take off what you don’t need. And have comfortable shoes for walking. (Courtney)
- A really good pair of walking shoes! A rain coat. And extra journals, because it can be hard to find a good one down there. (Aminta)
- Only thing you really have to get in the US is amazing comfortable shoes. Almost anything else can be bought there for cheaper than here. (Ryan)
- Layers. (Jessica)
- ropa abrigada para los lugares frios guantes inpermeables para las lluvias de verdad. (Noelia)
- Shoes are very important. Prepare for all your clothes to be trashed. Rain is almost a daily thing in some areas and seasons. (Stephen)
- You can find anything these days, bring extra clothing is cheaper here and better quality, same with shoes and personal hygiene products. (Maria)
What blessings did you receive from serving a mission?
- I grew to understand how much the Lord loves me, and that He just wanted me to do the best that I could. I learned to be grateful for the opportunities I was blessed with here in the states. Also I met my husband in my first zone in Bolivia, and he has been my biggest blessing. (Tria)
- I was able to meet my husband. All we did was meet and talk a bit and when I made it home we talked 24/7. But don’t go looking for a husband, though one may come. I am blessed to speak Spanish. (Courtney)
- I learned how to love people like I hadn’t before. I’ll always be so grateful to have been sent to a place I knew nothing about about and learn about and love people as much as my own family. (Aminta)
- Multilingual, several years of Spanish credit in college. Countless jobs from being multilingual. Stronger testimony of the Savior and prayer. (Ryan)
- More love. More faith. More humility. More friends. (Jessica)
- Mi testimonio se fortaleció grandemente aprendí que los milagros si existen y que podemos ser parte de ellos si queremos también me hizo mas perceptiva a las necesidades de mi prójimo . (Noelia)
- So many I can’t count. (Stephen)
- Got closer to my Savior and listening to the spirit, gratitude for all that I have. My testimony grew so much. (Maria)
What are some skills you gained?
- Well, speaking Spanish obviously. I also became more confident and blunt with how I approach problems and help people. More straight to the point. (Tria)
- The ability to talk in Spanish. I know the Gospel a lot more in detail than before, and my companions helped prepare for marriage. (Courtney)
- Spanish, being more organized, more diligent, more grateful. (Aminta)
- Better understood electricity due to fixing the electric showers, etc. (Ryan)
- Aprendí a basarme en creencias comunes , a dar muchos abrazos ser un constructora de techos ja ja ja. (Noelia)
- People skills, leadership, patience, hard work, confidence, respect and love for all people. (Stephen)
- Being patient and getting along with others. (Maria)
What do you wish you knew/did at the beginning of your mission?
- I wish I had realized that when you get sick, it is important to rest. Otherwise you will be like me and be sick your entire mission. The Lord understands that. (Tria)
- I wish I would have been able to do more. To just keep moving forward no matter what the problem. (Courtney)
- It would have been nice to have understood some of the cultural differences before leaving. I would highly recommend finding several people from Latin America or who served in Latin America and asking them what some of the cultural differences were that surprised them when they first were in the new country. It might get you out of some of the sticky situation in which I found myself sometimes. (Aminta)
- Work hard every day all day at the language. Teaching comes from the Spirit, but you need to know the language so the Spirit can communicate through you. Also don’t fret about things being different, just enjoy it. (Ryan)
- I wish that I had been more confident and bold. (Jessica)
- No lo podía creer que estaba ya en la misión tuve insomnio al principio estaba maravillada todo era diferente todos los temores desaparecieron a pesar de que personas nos gritaban. (Noelia)
- Knock more doors, talk to more people. (Stephen)
- That it’s a hard work and you get homesick sometimes. (Maria)
Any advice/testimony for pre-missionaries going to Cochabamba?
- Love the people. They may seem different than you in so many ways, but remember that they are God’s children too. (Tria)
- It’s up to you to go. If you go because you have to or it’s expected it won’t be great. If you don’t really know why you are going, try to find out. And don’t miss any experiences, they will be the best memories. (Courtney)
- Sometimes I talk to my sister about both our missions. She served in Spokane, Washington. And she didn’t get to teach so much in her mission. I taught at least 4-8 lessons a day, easily. A teaching missionary is a happy missionary. My sister knows I had hard times too, but she sometimes feel like I had a super easy mission compared to hers. I think there’s something to that. Missions are so hard sometimes. But teaching is the best thing in the world. And so often my problems would seem to dissolve when I taught with the Spirit. So maybe try to remember that. When things get tough, think of missionaries in America and Europe who work as hard as you but don’t get rewarded with teaching opportunities like you will. (Aminta)
- Not all missionaries are hard working or even good people, that doesn’t mean they can’t share the gospel and that doesn’t mean you don’t need to try your best. The people of Bolivia deserve the absolute best and need to be taught the gospel well. Don’t be afraid of hard topics when teaching, like chastity and masturbation. They will be blessed for this knowledge and love you more if you don’t skirt around it. (Ryan)
- Como decía hermana Calton el amor es la clave hay que amarlas solo así podemos llegar a ellas ese amor hace que nos movilicemos y cuanta razón tenia . en la misión la primera conversa fui yo y creo que avance en algo en conocer a mi Padre Celestial y a su amado hijo . (Noelia)
- Do more home teaching and missionary exchanges. (Stephen)
- Love the people, look for opportunities to serve and help those in need. (Maria)
What was a funny language mistake?
- The same story always went around in Spanish, don’t say “embarazada” if you are embarrassed, because they don’t mean the same. And for me almost everything I said came with a laugh, but I kept trying every day. (Courtney)
- Once I was a little down and I saw a mariachi band and I got excited. I meant to tell my companion “el mariachi me hizo suvir de animo” (the mariachi band made me feel better) but I said ” el mariachi me hizo suvir de peso”, or the mariachi band made me gain weight, haha. (Aminta)
- Huasca means stick in quechua, dar la huasca refers to being chastised heavily, but in Argentina it means something sexual, so it was really funny to see Argentines react to that saying. (Ryan)
- En la misión Cochabamba se habla mucho el quechua y español. (Noelia)
- Feedback, after practice the discussion and Elder said now hechame comida a la espalda feedback. Lol My companion thought that all the dogs names were Sally because every time you see a dog you said sali, get out in English. (Maria)
Dallin (Bolivia Cochabamba Mission)
–Paraphrased from Dallin’s mission interview–
Language and environment in Bolivia
They do speak different dialects in Bolivia: Aimara and Kichwa. I learned a little bit of Kichwa, but only enough to say Hi, how are you. Not many people speak it outside of Bolivia and Peru. There’s also a part of the mission that’s about 14,000 feet above sea level. It was fun to experience that different environment, I felt like i was on top of the world.
History of the LDS Church in Bolivia
For church growth in Bolivia, the country actually just celebrated 50 years of the church being there. The very first chapel ever built there was in my mission. The Church is still growing very much. In Cochabamba there’s 5 stakes, and they’re hoping to open up the sixth. there’s 2 other stakes in the country, and a few district. The people are becoming more and more accepting, and the members are growing stronger. There’s now second and third generation members.
The majority of Bolivians are Catholic, though many don’t really practice. They say they are because their parents were, they definitely believe in Christ, and God, but not much beyond that.
The Church today and the Cochabamba Temple
Church attendance was pretty good in the wards where I served, with about 70 in each ward. It may not be alot, but it is growing. There’s a temple in Bolivia in Cochabamba. We were allowed to bring recent converts and families to be sealed there. A giant Cristus statue stands on the hill, with his hand pointing towards the temple. I don’t think that was planned, but it is perfect. The path up the hill to see the statue of Christ is a difficult one, but it is worth it. It’s just like our path to eternal life through Christ.