The Ecuador Adventure

Parting is such sweet sorrow...

2008-09-02T16:22:00.000-07:00

Some of our favorite kids from the soup kitchen threw me a surprise goodbye party today. They did the same for Greg before he left- blindfolded him and everything! They also wanted to celebrate my birthday since I would be gone before then. As is customary for the birthday girl/boy, they made me take a bite of the cake and then proceeded to shove my face into it. The kids also wanted me take a video to send to Greg! They miss you, Greg, and so do I. See you in 3 days!

Now what?

2008-09-01T07:23:00.000-07:00

"What are you going to do when you return from Ecuador?" seems to be the million dollar questions these days. Usually, our first response involves eating some kind of food we've been craving. After that, long days at the beach soaking up the sun we haven't seen all year. Followed by outdoor dinners on the deck of our parents home while we rehash memories of this year over good food and wine. Mid September, we head to Charleston, SC to visit some dear old friends we haven't seen in over 3 years. When we return to AZ at the very end of September, we will be moving back into our condo, pray that our 97' Honda Civic still runs, and try to figure out life from there. Greg is considering going back to flight school to pursue a degree in aviation, a dream that has stayed with him through many years and careers. I will look for work as a physical therapist again and continue my spanish studies at a local conversation studio. While we do not feel that long term missions are in our future, we have a desire to continue working with the Latino community on a local level. This year God has placed within us specific desires and dreams and we are excited to pursue them both individually and as a couple.

Thanks you for journeying with us this year. Your blog comments and emails buoyed us when we felt disconnected and in need of encouragement. You mean so much to us.

Love,

Greg and Amy

P.S.- Pava arrived safely in the U.S. and is enjoying her new surroundings, esp chasing chipmunks. We are excited to take her camping when we get back in AZ

Reflections... by greg

2008-08-29T18:20:00.000-07:00

Today marks my first full week back in the U.S. I decided to return to RI a couple weeks before Amy to take care of some things here. As I reflect on the past year and my experiences, I'm finding it difficult to put my thoughts into words. My emotions frequently change from one minute to the next. It truly seems like I left one world and entered another. The differences between where I was a week ago and where I am now are too numerous to even begin to list. As I sat in a restaurant last night with my parents looking over the many food items on the expansive menu, I couldn't help recall that just 5 days ago I was eating chicken foot soup at a friend's house. As I was driving today I was reminded that my only options for transportation for an entire year were taxi, bus, or walk. Never has my position of wealth and privilege as a North American been more clear. Never has the divide between the "have" and "have nots" been more obvious to me. I'm processing many questions in response to these observations. How is it that I was born in the U.S., a country with incredible wealth and opportunity, and not in Ecuador, a country with little opportunity and widespread poverty? How did I end up with two loving and supportive parents when most of the children I spent time with live with one parent and have little or no contact with the other? These questions along with many others have been floating around in my head and lead to even greater questions. Given my position of wealth, how do I respond to those less fortunate? Given my gifts and talents, how do I use them to serve those in need? How do I encourage and support those around me to engage in ministry/programs that serve the hurting people of this world? This is not the first time I've asked myself these questions, but yet again I find them at the forefront of my mind. I guess that's because I never want to loose sight of all I've been given and my responsibility to give back. I never want to be so wrapped up in my life and the things of this world that I forget the joy that comes from serving others. I never want to get so busy that I miss the simple things in life that bring us happiness. I experienced this day after day while laughing and playing with the children of the soup kitchen.
This year in Ecuador had many seasons for me. There were times of great joy and tremendous frustration. There were times when Amy and I were so busy that the week went by in a flash, and other times when I thought the week would never end. There were times when I was ready to board a plane back to the U.S. (like after I was attacked by a dog) and other times when I didn't want to ever leave the soup kitchen. I faced times of depression and loneliness unique within my life. God revealed new things to Amy and I dreams and desires as a couple. God also provided for us in so so many ways (safety, finances, peace of mind) during our time here.
I leave knowing a few things. I have a new found respect for anyone who leaves the country they grew up in to serve in another. I love working with children and experiencing the joy that comes with making children laugh along with helping them forget their difficult surroundings, even if for a little while. I know God has called me to remember and continue to invest in the lives of those I shared my life with for the past year.

Reflections...by amy

2008-08-25T16:50:00.000-07:00

It is very hard to sum up a year's worth of adventure in a few paragraphs, but here goes....
This year was incredibly refreshing to me. Those that know me well know that I crave change. When my routine stays the same for a while, I go crazy. I want to move, I want to change jobs, I want to meet new people. This year was full of change and unpredictability. I was energized by the challenge of new roles, learning spanish, of finding our way around the city, and having a flexible schedule. One thing I could never have predicted about this year is how attached I became to the kids at the soup kitchen. It was so easy to spend time with them. Forming relationships with them and their families was definitely a highlight of my time here.
But there were lonely times this year. We did not make many friends our age. The ones we did make were in a completely different life stage than we were ( living at home with parents or struggling to raise a growing family). As a result, Greg and I spent spent a lot of time with each other. Although doing ministry together was great, being together 24/7 did not create healthy spaces for us. I missed my girlfriends very much. I know he missed his guy friends. It gave me understanding and compassion for missionaries who are isolated and struggle with being away from their family and close friends.
After a year, I can't even say that I've experienced life the way it truly is here. We lived like upper class Ecuadorians- we didn't have a car but we lived in a spacious house in a safe neighborhood, we always had enough to eat, we had hot water, we had waterproof shoes, and we didn't have to work 10-12 hour days, etc... The reality is that life is really painful and hard here. Many people are just trying to survive, never mind pursue dreams. And it shows on people's faces, the way they walk, the way they smell. It's extremely humbling.
One thing that continually bothered me because we faced it everyday was child labor. Children as young as 5 years old selling candy at the pay toll while their lungs blacken from pollution. Children shining shoes on the street instead of going to school. I do not have a lot of respect for the government of a country, like Ecuador, that does not protect it's children, does not make education mandatory, does not provide funding to orphanages, and closes it's borders to international adoptions.
I also learned a lot about North Americans this year. The loud, persistent, demanding culture I come from was in stark contrast to the quiet, passive culture I found myself in. Never was this more apparent than when teams from the U.S. were here. Even during a week a serving here, people could not do without watching their favorite basketball teams play, or ice in their drinks, or their wheat bread instead of white. I pray that I go home a more flexible, patient, and humble person like my fellow Ecuadorians.
Having heard so much about the warmth and hospitality of Latin and South America, we were surprised to find most people here regard us with skepticism and curiosity. Most adults only initiated conversation because they wanted or needed something from us. But there were a handful who invited us into their home time and time again to share a meal. I was sharing these observations with an Ecuadorian friend who also happens to be a pastor. He said that most Ecuadorians assume that if you are a Christian missionary from another country, your primary reason for being here is to convert people from Catholicism to Christianity. If that is the case, I can understand people's skepticism towards us. We strove to treat people the way Jesus did-with love, compassion, humility, justice, knowing that our actions would speak much louder than our poor spanish ever would.
And so..I greet my last week here with mixed emotions. I'm so excited to see family and friends but not ready to say goodbye to many, esp the children at the soup kitchen. I feel so blessed to have been a part of their lives this year.

The prayers of the innocent

2008-08-20T13:12:00.000-07:00

You know how when you listen to something over and over again, it can become trite? We'll after almost a year of hearing the kids at the soup kitchen pray daily before eating I can honestly say that is not the case. There are days when I still tear up just listening to their voices. One child volunteers to pray and the others echo the prayer which usually goes something like: "Lord Jesus, we give you thanks for one more day of life. Thank you for the food you have given us. Bless my brothers and sisters here, bless the women who prepared the food, and bless Steve and Micki. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen." I think hearing this prayer is one of the things I'm going to miss the most....

The beginning of the end....

2008-08-15T15:17:00.000-07:00

Our last team for the summer came from our old home church in CT. We had so much fun laughing and working together! The first day we did Happy Feet was really special for us because we had visited the neighborhood 2 years ago when we led a youth team from AZ. We remembered the pastor and many of the kids we put shoes on. One girl, Mireya, was especially precious to Greg when we were there 2 years ago, and on Monday he was able to wash her feet. Another great moment during the week was when 20 "shoe shine boys" showed up at one of the churches we were doing Happy Feet at. These boys usually live in rural provinces and are sent by their families for weeks at a time to work in the city shining shoes and begging. They were the dirtiest children by far and many had so many layers of dirt crusted on their feet from living on their own. It was a joy to see their faces when we gave them new shoes! We couldn't resist including a video of little Maria Jose or the picture of Greg washing the chicken's feet.

Flying

2008-08-10T15:57:00.000-07:00

We had no idea zip lining was so incredibly fun! We tried it this week in Mindo, the cloud forest, with a team from a church in CT we used to attend. We zoomed on 10 different cables of various heights and lengths, trying everything from the upside down"butterfly" (see Greg video) to "superman" (no video, sorry) where you are facing forward on your stomach with your arms out to the side of you like you are flying. It was exhilarating! Enjoy the videos!

Here we go again...

2008-08-04T08:36:00.000-07:00

Our 3rd trip to Rio Bamba this year took us to some poor communities where we worked with a Happy Feet team from Texas. When our main translator for the team got sick, I ended up having to translate for the spiritual aspect of the team which involved sharing a story about Jesus through bracelets that we gave each child and adult. I was definitly stretched beyond my liking, but God uses and empowers us in our weakness and for that I was thankful. The creme I'm putting on the little boy's cheek in the picture is to cover his windburned skin. Many of the kids in Rio Bamba look like they are wearing stage blush on their cheeks because they are so chapped and raw. The church in the photo is the oldest in Ecuador, dating back to the 1500's. Greg was not present on this trip-he opted to stay in Quito with the flu.

Escuela Biblica

2008-07-26T10:35:00.000-07:00

We just finished a week of vacation bible school at the soup kitchen. We had about 100 kids attend each day from the neighborhood. It was organized chaos- thankfully we had 3 great volunteers from the US that brought all the materials for us.

Greg helped out in the recreation station, while I helped out in the craft department and learned the spanish words for lizzard, surfboard, knot, keychain, and glitter. We still find ourselves humming vbs songs in our sleep.

Summer fun!

2008-07-17T16:35:00.000-07:00

What a fun week we've had! This week at the soup kitchen, we've had soccer tournaments with all of the kids from the soup kitchen- 6 teams in all. The kids are out of school now and don't have much to do during the summer. For most kids here, summer = child labor, babysitting for siblings, or roaming around the dirty neighboorhood looking for something to do. So this has been a fun diversion for them. Greg has been refereeing now that his leg is better and I've been playing with the youth team. We also hosted our 12th sleepover with kids from the soup kitchen. It's always a marvel to watch kids eat pancakes for the first time - the sheer amount of butter they put on them (and that is because we say no to their requests to put Mayo on them), along with putting slices together to eat them like a sandwich. Last night, none of the girls had never used a fork before (spoons, please!). Plus, Pava is such a hit with the kids- they always fight to take her for a walk and scream when she chases them around the house.

One lucky dog....

2008-07-12T08:43:00.000-07:00

We're happy to report that our dog, Pava, is coming home with us to the U.S.! Our super cool friend, Kathryn took pity on her when she was visiting and decided to start a "Save Pava" campaign among her friends and family. She raised all the money for Pava to come home with us when we leave Ecuador. Yea!

The Colors of Quechua

2008-07-11T15:54:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos of the Quechua people, the indigenous people of Ecuador. We just love their bright, bold colors and the distinctive way the women and children dress.

The new soup kitchen...

2008-07-03T09:47:00.001-07:00

...is almost completed! Last week, we had a team complete the walls and ceilings as well as bring the rest of the funds needed to finish the building. This soup kitchen is located 30 minutes north of the existing one and should be up and running sometime in August. The downstairs will feed lunch to kids in the community, while the upstairs will be used for small group meetings. Here are some pics of the work in progress.

Feet and PB &J

2008-06-26T18:05:00.000-07:00

Lately, that is what our life has been about- washing tons of feet and making PB&J sandwiches. We are in our 3rd week of Happy Feet with a team of 26 from NC. Half of the team is working on finishing the construction on the new soup kitchen, while half have been washing feet and giving away shoes. One of the days this week we worked in a remote village called Andowalopacha (say that 10 times fast!). Last year, members of the catholic church in that community drove the group out before they began, throwing rocks at them out of fear that their beliefs would be threatened. Thankfully, this year we were received warmly and we were able to form relationships with leaders of the community. Kids waited hours in the pouring rain to receive new hiking boot that would replace their flimsy rubber ones.

Things we miss.....

2008-06-22T16:52:00.000-07:00

So we've been here 9 months now and our cravings for the things we once knew are getting stronger. Not to mention its been a rough couple of weeks: I watched my friend, Kathryn who was visiting, get assaulted and mugged as we were walking to the bus stop, Greg was attacked in several places by a dog a couple of days ago requiring a visit to the hospital and stitches, and we are physically tired from long days with teams. So, we thought we'd make a light hearted posting about some of the things we miss the most since we've been in Ecuador. Most of these things are food, because after 9 months chicken and rice is not as great as it used to be. Now, we know that in eternal perspective, these things don't matter, but they sure do make life enjoyable! So here they are (not in any particular order)

1. Camping at Lake Powell (photo)

2. Delux burgers (those in Phoenix know what we are talking about)

3. Our bed! (We've been sleeping on twin mattresses pushed together.)

4. Barnes and Nobles

5. Our church, City of Grace!!!

6. Playing tennis

7. Silk chocolate soy milk (amy)

8. Having dinner with our friends, Steph and Alan (they cook for us a lot!)

9. Rollerblading

10. Watching a sport other than futbol

11. Tabouli, Hummus, Bruchetta

12 AZ blue skies

13. Driving (greg)

14. Jamba Juice smoothies

15. The gym (we have lost lots of muscle)

16. Coldstone ice cream

17. Starbucks coffee (greg)

Happy Feet

2008-06-10T16:02:00.000-07:00

This week, our first summer team from CA arrived for our Happy Feet ministry. This team was especially impressive because the majority of its members were 60-85 years old. We hope to follow their example and never stop living a life of adventure as we get older! They brought over 600 pairs of new shoes and socks with them to give away to Quechua children, the indigenous people of Ecuador. The Quechua live in remote villages 2-3 hours from the city, work as hard laborers, and live in harsh conditions. Quechua women are very distinctly dressed in colorful skirts and ponchos, ornate necklaces, and stiff hats. Their hair is always long and pony tail wrapped behind them in a colorful cloth. Most women only see their husbands 1-2 times a month when they return from working in Quito or the coast of Ecuador. The women work at home raising their large families and/or work in local markets selling produce and hand made tapestries and linens. The majority of the children we saw wore rubber boots and therefore had macerated feet from constant moisture on their skin, calluses and blisters from wearing boots that were too small for their feet, and toenails in bad need of cutting. Steve and Micki partner with local pastors who invite children of their community to partake in Happy Feet. Each day, we journey to a different location and 100-150 children have their feet washed in warm water, followed by lotion, powder, and antibiotic ointment if needed. Toe nails are clipped and new socks and shoes are donned. While the children are having their feet washed, one of the pastors or team members give a message of hope to the adults. Here is a short clip to give you an idea of the areas we worked in this week.

Our first Quincinera

2008-06-01T16:04:00.000-07:00

Last night we attended our first Quincinera- a traditional party for 15 year girls here. In our last posting, I mentioned birthdays aren't celebrated that much here. This is the one exception. Think wedding- fancy dresses, big cake, church ceremony and reception afterwards. My friend, Kathryn, (we've known each other since we were 10) is visiting from CT and came with me. We danced the Ecuadorian 2-step all night right along with the chickens and the dogs that were roaming about. We enjoyed a feast of country chicken soup (think rubber chicken) followed by pig skin and potatoes. Since we were gringos, we were the guests of honor and were served first and amply. Enjoy the video of everyone dancing!

Birthday Bashes

2008-05-30T07:51:00.000-07:00

Every month at the soup kitchen, we celebrate all the kids birthday for that month. Birthdays aren't celebrated here in Ecuador like they are in the U.S. - in fact, a large majority of kids don't even know their birthdays or their age. We have to ask them to bring in their birth certificate so we can tell them. Imagine that! So, we try to make it a special day for them by having cake, games, and prizes.

Muchas Gracias

2008-05-27T16:34:00.000-07:00

To our churches, friends, and family for your generous support to us this year. A couple of months ago, we sent you an email letting you know that we would be leaving in June unless we raised more funds to stay in Ecuador. Your response was overwhelming! Thanks to your giving hearts, we are able to fulfill our year committment to this ministry and stay until September. We are especially excited to stay through the summer since June, July, and August are the busiest months here. Next week, the first of our 8 summer teams will arrive with lots of new shoes, socks, and love.

Family Reunion

2008-05-17T08:42:00.001-07:00

Both sets of our parents left today after spending a week with us here. We hired a Mariachi band to serenade our moms on Mother's Day, visited some hot springs in the mountains, hiked to waterfalls in the Cloud Forest in Mindo, stood on the equator, went to the soup kitchen we assist at, tasted lots of authentic cuisine ( dad Brill tried some fruit that looks like snot) and took way more buses than anyone would have liked! Some funny/ bizarre moments during our week together:

1. Dad G getting aggressively elbowed out of the way as a woman (he refers to her now as "the linebacker" fought him for a seat on the metrobus. She won.

2. Both dads trying to kill an enormously large spider on the wall next to Amy's bed in our cabin in Mindo. Nobody slept well that night.

3. Mom B witnessing some frisky behavior from a couple in a car from the bus window where she sat.

4. Walking by a man dragging a passed out woman by one arm from the curb into her house. When we asked what happened, he said she was drunk.

P.S. Some of you have asked about our dog, so we posted a pic of the three of us. Pava is still with us, but we are looking for a home for her as we are not taking her back to the U.S. with us in September.

Wish we were here.......

2008-04-30T15:06:00.000-07:00

OK- we've never been to the Galapagos Islands and probably never will, but thought we'd post pictures while we are waiting for our new camera. These were taken by a couple we know who visited recently. Even though the Galapagos Islands are part of Ecuador, these pictures are as close to the island as most Ecuadorians will ever get. The Galapagos islands are well known for their exotic and rare animal species. Hope you enjoy the pics.

You know you live in Quito when.....

2008-04-22T09:36:00.000-07:00

1. The city buses race each other through the streets
2. Milk and eggs are not refrigerated
3. You can't breathe at an intersection due to air pollution
4. You carry your umbrella everywhere you go
5. You wonder how in the world vendors can get 151 songs on a CD and still sell it for $1
6. $3 for lunch is expensive
7. You have almost been killed several times crossing a round-about
8. Family dogs hang out on the roof
9. You realize that guinea pig does NOT taste like chicken
10. Visa is NOT everywhere you want it to be
11. The public are more scared of the president that the active volcanoes that surround the city
12. You can never get change for your $20 or even $10 bill
13. The electricity goes out for no apparent reason
14. Throwing toilet paper in the waste basket instead of the toilet has become a habit
15. You have never seen so many different types and sizes of bananas
16. Halls cough drops are considered candy
17. There are more KFC's in all of Quito than in the state of SC
18. If the doors on the bus still shut, than its not full enough
19. You can go from overheated to freezing in 30 minutes
20. The children are the worst pick-pocketers and the sneakiest (sadly enough)
21. Casual and even excessive drinking on the streets doesn't get a second thought
22. People beep at police officers for driving too slow
23. The mountain views never get old

Unfortunately, our blog is going to be a bit bare for a while. Our camera was stolen this weekend out of our pocket as we were walking around downtown with some friends. So......in lieu of photos, we thought we'd put down some funny observations/cultural differences we've noticed since living in Quito.

The kissing of the flag...

2008-04-14T16:32:00.000-07:00

Greg and I were invited to attend an annual flag ceremony at one of the local elementary schools near the soup kitchen. Many of the children we have grown to love were in the cermonies. In one sense, the program is an award ceremony- kids with the highest grades from the graduating class are honored. But it is also very patriotic-all the kids swear an oath to Ecuador and take turns kissing the flag.

Goodbye March Madness!

2008-04-06T17:25:00.000-07:00

Last week was probably the most challenging week we've had since we've been here. Steve, the leader of this ministry, was in a car accident and spent some time in the hospital for some minor injuries. His wife, Micki is in the U.S. right now caring for her sick mother for a couple months. This left Greg and I to manage things for the past week. Greg stayed in Quito with a medical team, while I left for Rio Bamba for the week with another dental team. Once again, we stayed at the military base at night and worked in the small community of Licto during the days. The town is one of the oldest provinces of Ecuador and is mostly comprised of indigenous people who have never had any dental care in their life. Everyday, adults and children lined up on the streets to wait their turn to see the dentists. I think I've seen enough teeth extracted to last me a lifetime. It wasn't uncommon for a young child to have 5 or 6 teeth pulled because of decay- thankfully they will grow back. I learned a lot about how to manage a team this week, about dental equipment and procedures, how to comfort those who are anxious about their first dental experience, and how Jesus is present in all of this. Here are some pictures of the stunning scenary and magnificant people we encountered. I didnt include any pics of the dental work itself- who wants to see bloody gauze and teeth? You'll notice the pic of the still smoking volcano that made the news a couple months ago. You won't see any pics of Greg and his team because I had the camera for the week! :)

Medical Mania!

2008-03-28T16:24:00.000-07:00

This has been one of the busiest weeks we've had! Along with a visiting team, Dr Byron (ob/gyn) and his wife Nachita (dentist), we have been providing free medical care in various regions of Quito. Greg is becoming a pro at passing out vitamins and anti-parasitic medicine, and I have learned sooo much about the female body as I assisted Dr. Byron during the week. It was a week of firsts for me as I heard a baby's heartbeat in the womb, saw my first sonogram, pelvic ultrasounds, and much more! The boy with his shirt up is showing you his scabies, which he told me in spanish "itch more than fleas."

Today I was able to go to a young women's home and instruct her in the use of crutches. This 27 year old women was hit by a car 7 months prior and fractured her leg in several places. She still cannot walk due to poor healing of the bones in her left leg. In addition, she took a fall about 2 weeks ago while trying to hop to the bathroom (she lives on the 3rd floor and did not have crutches). We found some crutches at Steve and Micki's house left over from a previous team and now this young woman can at least get around her home safely. While assistive devices such as wheelchairs, crutches, and canes are available in pharmacies here, they are very expensive and most people cannot afford to purchase them.

Easter in Rio Bamba

2008-03-24T14:55:00.000-07:00

We spent last week working in Rio Bamba (about 3 hours away from Quito) with a medical team from Pennslyvania. Our accommodations were barracks on a military base. We received a very warm welcome and had a wealth of help from the military there. They threw us a big fiesta at the end of our week complete with a band playing Bolivian music. We even got to ride on tanks from the 1950's! We worked out of a large church in the center of town for 3 full days. The two doctors and six nurses on the team provided free medical exams and medicine to 150 adults and children each day. Greg and I helped by passing out packets of vitamins and anti parasitic medicine to each person that came in. I also worked in the Pharmacy as a translator, explaining how much/when/why to take the medicines the doctors recommended. In addition to the medical clinics, we did one day of Happy Feet, washing kids feet and passing out new socks and shoes to them. Even though we have done this many times in the past, it never fails to humble us when we see really dirty, blistered feet and shoes that are worn to the sole with holes in the toes. On Good Friday, the team bought food to cook a hot lunch for 200 people of the community. It was a great week of sharing the love of Christ with people by ministering to their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.

Greg and I also colored Easter eggs with the kids on Friday, which was a completely new experience for all who participated. The following story sums up the whole experience. Because of the number of children , each child was only allowed to color one egg. One little boy who had just colored an egg came up to me and asked me if he could color another one. When I asked him where his egg went he said "En mi barriga" (in my belly). I wasn't sure if I understood him correctly, so I asked him, "you ate it?" to which he replied, "rapidito" (very fast). Most of the children were so hungry, they didn't really care about the dying or the decoration- they just wanted to eat their egg!

Healthy smiles

2008-03-13T16:32:00.000-07:00

This week we hosted our first dental team of 60 from Charleston, SC- our old stomping ground. With their perfect smiles and giving hearts, they set up 2 different clinics in Quito to provide free dental cleanings, extractions, root canals, and tooth restoration to adults and children everyday this week. They also had an eye clinic to provide reading glasses to those who needed them. In addition, they participated in community outreach by going to schools and the soup kitchen to instruct kids how to brush and care for their teeth. Our role was to help make sure everything ran smoothly- Greg and I helped prepare and serve lunch to over 100 people each day as well as dinner for the 10 translators that stayed with us. Here are some pictures of the week.

The Markets...

2008-03-10T07:03:00.000-07:00

Here are some colorful pictures of the market places where we buy bulk veggies, potatoes, beans and fruits for the teams that we host as well as for the soup kitchen. After you purchase a large sack of items you pay a human carrier to strap your sack on their back and carry it to your vehicle. It is quite impressive to watch a tiny Ecuadorian woman strap your 100 lb sack to her back and carry it as if it weighed nothing! I'm sure this also accounts for the early onset of arthritis and back deformities. We don't buy our meat at the markets (we aren't that brave) but wanted to include a picture of that as well. They sell everything from cow hooves to pig skin, cow stomach lining, live chickens, rabbits, goats and guinea pigs. It is quite an experience but not for those who don't like to be around a lot of people.

Rain, rain, go away....

2008-03-03T08:29:00.000-08:00

February has been a very soggy month for us. Ecuador has a rainy season and we're in the midst of it. It will be sunny and 70 degrees in the morning, but by afternoon the temps will drop to 50 and we will be without power during hailstorms the size of dimes (making us very thankful for our waterproof shoes since our umbrellas were stolen last month)! Besides longing for the dry, sunny deserts of Arizona, we have been helping our soup kitchen children stay warm by bringing homemade cookies and hot cocoa to their houses. Last week, we were invited over a friend's house for dinner. When we arrived, we found her house flooded from all the rain so we spent the next 3 hours helping her evacuate all the water using shovels and old sweaters as mops. Twenty large buckets later, we had most of the floors dry and were able to sit down to some potato and pig skin soup.

Equator Fun!

2008-03-01T09:34:00.000-08:00

This past week we went to Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the Earth) with our friend Vasanti from Arizona. We got to do some fun tricks on the equator because of the way magnetic forces and gravity work there. You can check out the video of watching which way water swirls on the equator and in both hemispheres. Greg was able to balance an egg on a nail head, and we all took turns using a blow dart gun used by some tribes to hunt. None of us hit our cactus targets. We were also lighter (approx 4-6 lbs! ) on the equator. We also learned about the indigenous cultures of Ecuador and saw some shrunken heads (but we didnt get any good pics- sorry!).

Marta's house

2008-02-18T09:14:00.000-08:00

Marta is one of the women who works at the soup kitchen. Last week a strong wind blew over a 8 ft cement wall next to her house that came crashing through their metal roof, breaking their beds and belongings. Fortunately, neither she or her 3 children we in the house at the time. She has moved in with a sister until her roof can be repaired as her house is now totally exposed on top. You may also notice that the walls are built completely of cinder block and the floor are cement or dirt. In some of the houses we've visited, roofs and walls are created by layering thick pieces of cardboard. This is very typical here as only the upper class can afford tile or wood. The little girl in the picture is one of Marta's daughters on the day we brought by mattresses and linens so they wouldn't have to sleep on the floor. We wanted to post some pictures to show you the reality of people's lives here. Most of our blog postings have been about exciting things that are happening here, but there have also been a lot of heartbreaking things we've witnessed and this is one of them.

Feliz Dia del Amor y Amistad

2008-02-15T10:57:00.000-08:00

Juan, Ricardo, Maria Jose, and Kevin wish you a Happy Valentine's!

El Centro Historico

2008-02-08T08:30:00.000-08:00

Here are some pics of the historic district of Quito. We like to come down here to chill when we have free time. There are tons of beautifully architectured cathedrals to visit. You can always find someone inside paying homage to Mary or the Virgen of Quito at one of the many shrines. You can buy just about anything here at the fresh fruit and vegetable markets, clothing stores and great cafes. One of our favorite places is a small bakery that sells the most delicious chicken empanadas you've ever tasted! My mouth is watering just thinking about them!

The Cloud Forest

2008-02-03T08:12:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures of Mindo, the cloud rainforest about 2.5 hours north of where we live. We went this weekend to visit a butterfly farm, hike to waterfalls, take a cable car across a ravine, and sleep in a cabin by the river. It was very relaxing and a nice break from city life.....

Four Months!

2008-01-24T07:18:00.000-08:00

Today marks our 4th month of being in Ecuador! Time has passed quickly as we've been able to see and do so much. We continue to visit the soup kitchen during the week, helping out with homework and hanging with the kids. We have been trying to deepen our relationships with the children and their families so we frequently visit their houses and continue having sleepovers of massive proportions. We still help out with the youth church that meets on Sunday afternoons. In the mornings before the soup kitchen, we are helping with administrative work. Friday is our day off and we usually spend those days exploring new parts of Quito. We continue to study our Spanish daily to better communicate with the people we work closest with.
This year will be a busy one for us as March-July we have many medical and Happy Feet teams coming from the U.S. We will be travelling with them to various parts of Ecuador to minister to the people there. We are also prayerfully awaiting the funds to complete the second soup kitchen- currently it is 50% complete. If it is completed before we leave, Greg and I will be helping to get it up and running. On a personal note, we are looking forward to our first visitors; our friend, Vasanti, from AZ is coming in Feb., and both sets of our parents are coming in May! We may have to bust out the guinea pig in celebration!

Tuesday nights

2008-01-21T07:32:00.000-08:00

Since September I've been a part of a Tuesday night women's group at the soup kitchen. This year Micki and I are taking turns teaching a short Bible study each week, while Katty translates for us. We've also been teaching & working on a different craft project each month (for those of you that know me well, you know this is a stretch for me! :) We've had many new women attend from the community. Since many of them are single moms, this night is a respite from the hard work at home and a time to form new friendships.

So much fun....

2008-01-14T15:51:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday we hosted another sleepover for 19 girls ages 10 and 11. We had a blast! Here are some pics...

An Ark full of Children

2008-01-07T08:28:00.000-08:00

This weekend, Greg and I had the privilege of visiting an orphanage in Rio Bamaba, Ecuador (about 3 hours South from Quito). "The Ark" is run by a Canadian couple, Ron and Glenda, that moved to Ecuador 10 years ago and have 10 children of their own. These guys are the real deal. Along with hired workers, they house and care for 60 children, the majority of which are 4 and under. It was so obvious to us that all of their children are loved and cared for. We were especially impressed with the care of the 7 children who have disabilities or special needs. Please visit their website to learn more about this great ministry: http://www.arkchildrenshomes.com/

We spent our days hanging out with the kids and helping out wherever needed. We brought a huge bin full of shoes and socks for the children there from the Happy Feet ministry that Steve and Micki run. Amy spent some time with Sammy, one of the little boys with Cerebral Palsy, showing his caregivers good positioning and stretching techniques. The place really made an impact on our minds and hearts and we hope to return there soon!

Anchayacu

2007-12-29T10:11:00.000-08:00

We spent the last 3 days in the coastal jungle of Ecuador in the town of Anchayacu. We went with 25 youth to share Christmas gifts with the children there. Anchayacu is a small village population of blacks and Chachi Indians along the Onzole river in the province of Esmeraldas. From Quito, it took us 7 hours by bus and 1.5 hours by motorized canoes to reach our destination. Our hosts were a local pastor and his wife (see top left pic), who pastor a small Christian church (see white building with horse in front) in a community of about 400 people. Steve, our host in Quito, has made several medical and constructions trips to this area over the last several years, but this was the first youth trip. Most of the youth we went with have never been out of Quito so this was quite an adventure for them. While the youth slept in tents or bunk beds, Greg and I were graciously given the master bedroom of the house- a modest small bedroom with a double sized mattress mosquito net bed (see top right pic) while our hosts slept on the floor of the food closet. Anchayacu is everything you picture when you think of jungle....hot, humid rain forest, fresh fruits and coconuts, wide brown rivers that are used for washing clothes, bathing, swimming, food, and transportation; and people carrying machetes. It was a great trip- one that we will never forget!

Feliz Navidad

2007-12-25T11:40:00.000-08:00

Gift Giving

2007-12-24T09:17:00.000-08:00

This week leading up to Navidad has been a super fun one! Some of you donated extra money to us to buy gifts for the kids at the soup kitchen. We were able to give 30 presents to the kids we know best, which we delivered to their houses this week. In addition, some of the children's sponsors gave extra money for Christmas gifts such as bikes and dolls which we delivered the 24th, which is when most Ecuadorians celebrate Christmas.

Let the parties begin!

2007-12-11T10:58:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures of the first 3 Christmas parties hosted at Steve and Micki's for kids ages 4-11. The first thing the kids do when they come off the bus is walk through the outside Candyland into the house. Then they line up to sit on Santa's lap and get their picture taken. Next, its outside to eat lunch and play lots of fun games for prizes. Next, there is a Nativity play where 10 or so kids are dressed up and the story of Jesus' birth is told. At the end, each kid receives a gift bag filled with candy and toys and off they go!

Christmas is coming!

2007-12-06T14:49:00.000-08:00

This week we've been decorating and preparing for the 8 Christmas parties we will have this month. Greg and I have been in charge of helping the kids at the soup kitchen make cards for their sponsors. There are two teams from the U.S. helping buy and wrap toys, make cookies and turn the front yard into a giant CandyLand. This weekend Micki and Steve will host the first three parties of over 240 kids! Pray for us!

OLE!

2007-11-30T06:57:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, we attended our first (and probably our last) bullfight. We saw 5 rounds of fights- the first matador fought from his horse, but the rest fought on foot. Some of the horses were blindfolded and protected with mattresses to keep the bulls from injuring them. During the last fight, the matador was knocked down twice by the bull. We thought for sure that he would be either crushed or torn apart, but to our amazement he got up both times and continued to fight the bull. It was definitely a cultural experience but we witnessed more bloodshed than we ever care to see again. We only put the G rated pictures here. The fun part was dressing up in hats and eating good food. Next time maybe we'll check out a less violent sport such as futbol!

Introducing.....Pavo!

2007-11-24T13:42:00.001-08:00

We are doggy parents!!! We rescued this dog on Thanksgiving night on our walk home. We've been seeing and feeding this little guy on the street for a couple weeks and decided she needed to come home with us. Most of you know that Amy is not a dog person, but it was her idea. We named her Pavo (which is Spanish for Turkey) because we found her on Turkey Day. We have no idea what kind of dog she is, but we think she is about 2 months old. She is soo cute! Now we just have to figure out how to potty train her and get rid of her fleas! :(

Happy Turkey Day!

2007-11-23T09:24:00.000-08:00

We hope y'all had a great Thanksgiving. Even though Thanksgiving is not celebrated in Ecuador, we had a huge feast at Steve and Micki's with 30 other people. Our night was filled with lots of food, laughter, and TWISTER! We are so thankful for all of you- your support means so much to us!

A few of my favorite things......

2007-11-21T14:17:00.000-08:00

1. The View

2. Being greeted with kisses and hugs by 170 kids each day

3. A woman at the soup kitchen naming her daughter Amy, after me. The poor girl was 2 months old and didn't have a name yet!

4. The kids, always the kids

5. Picking lemons in the yard for fresh lemonade

6. Our friends Gloria, who cleans our house once a week. She can outclean anyone I know (even you, dad :) ) and makes the best rice around (which is no easy feat because of the high altitude)

7. A dozen roses for $1.00

Girls just wanna have fun!

2007-11-17T11:14:00.000-08:00

We had out first girls sleepover at our house this weekend. We hosted (9) 12 year old girls from the soup kitchen and had a blast! Unlike the boys, they were extremely helpful, wanting to help cook and clean up. They had a lot of fun playing bingo (of course), painting toenails, eating lots of hot dogs and pancakes, taking 2 rounds of hot showers in less than 12 hours, and staying up late giggling! Go Girls!

Boys night out....

2007-11-10T15:25:00.001-08:00

This Friday, we organized a sleepover for the boys of the soup kitchen. We invited 21 boys (ages 9-11) to spend the night at Steve and Micki's house and all of them came. For many of them, it was their first sleepover. We met them at the soup kitchen in the afternoon and proceeded (in the pouring rain) to catch a bus to the center of town, then squeeze 23 of us into 3 taxis! We wish we had our camera with us because it was possibly one of the craziest things we've ever done. Thankfully, no one was lost or run over! Our original intent was to camp in the back yard, but because of the weather we had to revise our plans and stay indoors. We played many many games of bingo-the kids here are no match for any senior citizen gathering! We watched a few movies, played some soccer, ate lots of candy, and got little sleep. We escorted them home the next day and spent the the day cleaning (do you know how many dishes 21 kids can produce?). Some of the simple pleasures we take for granted they were delighted in (toothpaste and toothbrushes, showering in hot water, having their own bed). Although many of them are so used to sleeping with their siblings, they happily double and triple bunked! They were soo cute (and smelly) and we had so much fun! We hope to do a similar event for girls soon! Enjoy the pics!

The Daily Grind...

2007-11-03T19:37:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos that tell about some of our daily tasks. In the mornings before we go to the soup kitchen, Greg and I have been helping with some administrative aspects of the ministry. We've been organizing files, updating databases, translating letters from kids to their U.S. sponsors, and searching the Internet for grants. We put in some pics of dinners because frankly, we spend a lot of time eating and enjoying the company of others. We have spent many evenings in the dark without power playing games or reading with our head lamps on. Rainstorms in the afternoon or evening are frequent here, leaving us without power for hours at a time. Thankfully, our stoves are gas powered, so we are not without food!

Extreme Team

2007-10-27T17:59:00.000-07:00

This past week I was able to join a group of firemen from Alabama to minister to the Quechua people high in the Andes mountains. Life is simple and hard for the people here with the cold climate and lack of resources. For four days we washed feet, passed out new shoes, and shared the love of Christ with both children and adults. Every day we went to a different village doing Happy Feet. You can see the pics of the kids lining up to receive shoes. It was quite an experience and was definitely extreme! We camped at 12,500 feet with no hot water, very cold temps, and lots of guinea pig! Here are some pics of the week. Hope you enjoy them. --Greg

The Youth Church

2007-10-20T16:35:00.000-07:00

The youth church started 3 weeks ago for ages 12-18. We've been meeting at the soup kitchen on Sunday afternoons. Modeled after the early Christian church, it is a place of community and sharing. The first week Steve had the students write anonymous questions about issues they were facing, questions about God, about family etc., and in the weeks following Steve has been addressing these questions. With the number of students increasing each week, we are hopeful that it will be a place where many youth learn, grow, and take leadership responsibilities.

Helping with homework...

2007-10-20T16:16:00.000-07:00

This week, we have started to help the kids with their homework at the soup kitchen after school. Many of the children need help with Math and English, but do not receive the help at home due to working or uneducated parents. We have had a lot of fun helping the kids and it's been a good way to practice our Spanish.

New Friends

2007-10-13T14:47:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of some new (and old) friends of ours here. Upper left hand corner is Amy and Brigette, one of the girls from the soup kitchen we met last year. Upper middle pic is Greg, Steve and Katty (Steve's Ecuadorian daughter) enjoying a meal at a local joint. Note the size of the calzone in Greg's hand! Upper right pic is Amy and Katty. Lower left is Greg teaching some kids how to play pool at Steve and Micki's house. Lower right is a pic of our first dinner guests at our house this past Friday night- Veronica and her daughters Liseth and Andrea. Because of the language barrier, we laughed a lot and used the dictionary a lot! Bottom left hand is of Greg showing some of the soup kitchen kids some pictures of our family and friends in the U.S.

Hiking Elalo

2007-10-09T07:16:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday, Greg and I hiked a nearby mountain (top right picrure) with a huge 40ft cross on the top. At 10,500 feet high, we were huffing and puffing most of the way! On our way back home, we had our first bus and taxi ride solo. It was quite an experience! We practically had to stand in the middle of the road to wave a bus down in the pouring rain because there aren't any designated bus stops here. The taxi drivers here make the ones in NY look like they're standing still. Off roading for them is no big deal. I decided Im going to carry a blindfold with me everytime we have to take public transportation (which will be a lot!).

Hogar dulce hogar (Home sweet home)

2007-10-05T12:45:00.000-07:00

Here are some pics of our new home. We are renting the bottom floor of a house within walking distance to Steve and Micki's home as well as the supermarket. We did not anticipate renting such a nice place for such a low price and great location. We feel quite safe with the iron gate, bolt locked doors, and high surrounding cement walls with shards of glass on the top. Did we mention there are bars on all the windows, too? To us, this level of security seems a bit extreme, but is very typical of the houses in this area. We have lots of space and extra bedrooms that we hope to fill with guests, teams members, and children when we host events.

Thankfully, we have a hot water heater (a commodity here), running water, and toilets (although we cant flush any toilet paper down them because of the delicate plumbing here.) Coming from Arizona, we are so excited to have a yard with Grass! We also have avocado and lemon trees in our yard! Mmmm. It is definitly more than we could've asked or imagined!

Dinner Time!

2007-10-02T18:58:00.000-07:00

Mmmm....who needs marshmellows when you can have GUINEA PIG!?

The locals prepare roasted guinea pigs over an open fire. Did you know guinea pigs are considered cuisine for royalty in Ecuador? There's food for thought.....

Our first Ecuadorian baptism

2007-09-29T18:52:00.000-07:00

This Saturday, we attended a baptism of some people from Pastor Emerson's church. Pastor Emerson is the one in the water on the left. Our missionary friend, Steve is the white guy (in case you couldn't guess). They used a local mountain spring as the baptizing spot. We loved the older woman worshipping.

Our first miracle

2007-09-28T16:50:00.001-07:00

Here is a picture of 10 year old girl that attends the soup kitchen. Last week, she fell off a 100ft cliff near her house while playing. She fell to the bottom on rocks and it took the fire department 2 hours to get to her. She was taken to the hospital and was told she had a hairline pelvic fracture. We visited her on Wednesday and Amy was able to do some P.T. exercises with her. She is now walking around normal without a scratch on her body and with very little pain. Amazing!

Our first week

2007-09-28T16:22:00.001-07:00

Our first week in Ecuador has been a great one! We've spent most of our time visiting different parts of the city with Steve, our missionary friend and host. Here are some pictures of the soup kitchen we will be helping with. It is open M-F in the afternoons when kids are finished with school. For many of them, it is the only good meal they have all day. Right now, about 170 kids attend each day.

Moving Day!

2007-08-24T19:08:00.001-07:00

We're off to Ecuador on September 24th!

The children of Quito.....

2007-08-05T15:51:00.001-07:00

Here are some pictures from previous trips we've taken to Ecuador. Look at those faces! Dont you just want to smooch 'em?

our commissioning at CitiChurch

2007-07-15T19:53:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday we had the privilege of being commissioned by CitiChurch leadership. What a blessing it was to have the prayers of so many people come around us and support us in our new adventure. To check out our amazing church go to http://www.citichurch.com/