Sunday.
After a scrumptious breakfest at HCJB's Geusthouse we returned to Rancho Alto where we dug footers for the churches addition. The ladies of the church made lunch for us of potatos, oxen, corn, and aba beans. After lunch we came back to the Guesthouse, a few walked to the super market (mercado) where they made purchases of things like coffee and Vanilla. For the rest of the afternoon we chilled and took naps in the Guesthouse. Next on the agenda was going to a sweet restraunt on the top of a huge hill over looking Quito which consists of 2.5 million. At the restraunt we celabrated Robert's birthday a day early by having cake, wearing party hats and listening to a recording of the song happy Birthday in english. The next several bus stops were so sight seeing in which they looked at 35 Cathlic churches. The churches were very ornate and detailed, inlaid with gold and consisting of many beautiful paintings. After looking at the churches we went for supper to the only place where Cesar eats bugers, Rusty's Hamberguesas. The bugers were delicicusly huge. Then we came back and just hungout or went to sleep.
By: Tiffany, Jenny and Ally
Monday, March 18, 2013
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Day 6: Back to Quito
Saturday. The morning started at 6:30 A.M. when an alarm sounding a lot like Aaron's voice went off. Slowly, crawling out of bed we ate breakfast consisting of all the leftovers from the past 3 days, and packed our belongings.Each of us were assigned an area to clean and then we said our goodbyes ,once again, and loaded our stuff and ourselves into the bus. It was bittersweet leaving knowing we'd be leaving the people and place we'd come to love but also were also excited that non-concrete beds were awaiting our arrival.
45 minutes later, plus the time it took to successfully dodge cows, pigs, dogs, and potholes, we arrived in Otavalo at the same quaint resturaunt we ate at on Tuesday. Ordering soda literally took someone running to the store from the resturaunt to get it for us. We left the resturaunt and soon parked near the Otavalo market where we went shopping. A few words to describe the market are: colorful, hectic, bartering, vibrant, musical, cultural, and laughter. Two and a half hours later our hands were filled with new possessions and we excitedly shared with each other what we bought. Next, we headed on the bus for our new "home" for the next 3 days.
Being the great tourists we are we ordered Papa John's pizza along with Sprite and Coca-cola and polished the boxes clean. After we ate we caught up with family and friends through the newfound source of wifi, but soon we found ourselves in our beloved bus once again and this time riding on the edge of death up the side of a steep cliff. We were graciously recieved into Rancho Alto's church.The church service consisted of many events particular to our presence such as them singing Bless The Lord in english. These wonderful people blessed us by welcoming us as their spiritual family and even through our language difference God translated from their hearts to ours. For that brief moment in time we were able to catch a glimpse of Heaven as we each worshipped together one God, our God.
By: Ally
45 minutes later, plus the time it took to successfully dodge cows, pigs, dogs, and potholes, we arrived in Otavalo at the same quaint resturaunt we ate at on Tuesday. Ordering soda literally took someone running to the store from the resturaunt to get it for us. We left the resturaunt and soon parked near the Otavalo market where we went shopping. A few words to describe the market are: colorful, hectic, bartering, vibrant, musical, cultural, and laughter. Two and a half hours later our hands were filled with new possessions and we excitedly shared with each other what we bought. Next, we headed on the bus for our new "home" for the next 3 days.
Being the great tourists we are we ordered Papa John's pizza along with Sprite and Coca-cola and polished the boxes clean. After we ate we caught up with family and friends through the newfound source of wifi, but soon we found ourselves in our beloved bus once again and this time riding on the edge of death up the side of a steep cliff. We were graciously recieved into Rancho Alto's church.The church service consisted of many events particular to our presence such as them singing Bless The Lord in english. These wonderful people blessed us by welcoming us as their spiritual family and even through our language difference God translated from their hearts to ours. For that brief moment in time we were able to catch a glimpse of Heaven as we each worshipped together one God, our God.
By: Ally
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Day 5: Final Day In Cumbas Conde
Friday. Our last full day in the Andes mountain village of Cumbas Conde.
As in the previous two days, we started our morning by traveling via bumpy road in the back of a truck to our work site. Occasionally stopping along the way to pick up various walkers. Our work place began at the top of a deep crevice, here we loaded our packs with rocks to be used in concrete at the water project at the bottom. Then came the incredibly steep trek down the gorge. After dumping our sack full of rocks at the bottom, next came the grueling hike back to the top. Multiply this process by 8-12 times and that was our morning.
VBS also wrapped up with the final lesson of the wordless book. We culminated our teaching time with the making of colored bracelets for all the kids so they will have the message of Christ with them wherever they are.
-Black to represent our sin.
-Red to display the sacrifice of Jesus.
-White to show the cleanliness that follows.
-Green to show growth in our faith.
-Gold to portray the glory of eternity.
In an ending to our time with the people of Cumbas Conde, we were given a meal of local cuisine including potatoes, Lima beans, corn on the cob, soft cheese, and most intriguing: roasted guinea pig! After the meal, leaders of the water project presented us with traditional Ecuadorean wool bags and hats as a token of their appreciation for our involvement. Cultural dancing followed, complete with beautifully hand-embroidered clothing.
It was incredible to see the people's all-encompassing welcome and relationships that we built in such a quick amount of time. God was so good in showing us His perfectly orchestrated plan, we have been so blessed by working with the community members and loving the children. To God be the glory as we continue on this adventure!
By: Miranda Roub
As in the previous two days, we started our morning by traveling via bumpy road in the back of a truck to our work site. Occasionally stopping along the way to pick up various walkers. Our work place began at the top of a deep crevice, here we loaded our packs with rocks to be used in concrete at the water project at the bottom. Then came the incredibly steep trek down the gorge. After dumping our sack full of rocks at the bottom, next came the grueling hike back to the top. Multiply this process by 8-12 times and that was our morning.
VBS also wrapped up with the final lesson of the wordless book. We culminated our teaching time with the making of colored bracelets for all the kids so they will have the message of Christ with them wherever they are.
-Black to represent our sin.
-Red to display the sacrifice of Jesus.
-White to show the cleanliness that follows.
-Green to show growth in our faith.
-Gold to portray the glory of eternity.
In an ending to our time with the people of Cumbas Conde, we were given a meal of local cuisine including potatoes, Lima beans, corn on the cob, soft cheese, and most intriguing: roasted guinea pig! After the meal, leaders of the water project presented us with traditional Ecuadorean wool bags and hats as a token of their appreciation for our involvement. Cultural dancing followed, complete with beautifully hand-embroidered clothing.
It was incredible to see the people's all-encompassing welcome and relationships that we built in such a quick amount of time. God was so good in showing us His perfectly orchestrated plan, we have been so blessed by working with the community members and loving the children. To God be the glory as we continue on this adventure!
By: Miranda Roub
Day 4: Rocks, Sand, and more Rocks!
Thursday. Today was basically the same as yesterday. Our day started with the 6:30 alarm that we loved oh so much. We expesically loved it that morning due to the long night of barking dogs, people snoring, birds chirping, and wicked rain. Needless to say it was a long night for some of us. After a very slow wake up, we started eating breakfest around 7:00, that consisted of french-toast, fruit, cereal. The breakfest proved filling and gave us energy for the task a head.
After breakfest we headed out to our carriage that happened to be a pickup truck driven by a crazy man. I think his motto was make the americans fly out of the bed of the truck. Our determination to stay in the truck proved greater than that of the driver trying to throw us out. After safely arriving on the Scene, we wasted no time of kicking into gear. The sand pile proved no mach for our skill. It went from a huge mountain to nothing at all. Up and down the "hill" we went for four hours, hauling sand down and hiking back up. At the end of our time their we turned the mountain of sand in to two bags of sand left.
The trip back to the village proved no safer then the ride in, but we some how managed to stay in the bed of the truck. Siesta time came next, and it was much needed for most of the crew. Some of the crew just never stopped, and kept going until after dinner. As lunch rolled past the idea of water ballons came up and a few brave ones stared filling up water ballons. The few water ballons that were filled up turned into an all out war. The kids caught on quickly, and learned how to fill up the ballons with water. The two sides of the war were the village kids, and the few but determined americans, Jenny, Miranda, Joe, and Robert. The odds were to great and the stress of war caused the americans to turn on each other. It sooned turned in to an all on all fight. The fight might of gone on all day but we had to break for VBS.
The turn out that day for VBS that day was amazing. It was well over 100 kids from the community that showed up. After we got them all seated, and setteled down we sang a few songs, and went straight into our lesson for the day. Th concept for the day was red, and white. It would have been impossible if it wansn't for our fearless translator Cesar we never would of been able to get the message across. The message lead to coloring, whitch proved to be by far the most favorite thing to do.
Games came next, and I have decided that relys may not be the best thing to do. The concept of team work wasn't their yet. They did however have the biggest smiles, and it gave me one of the best feelings ever to see that. I started wondering what america would look like if we were to smile like they did. The afternnoon was spent hanging out with kids of the village, and getting our butt kicked in Soccer, (excuse me fútbol). Then came dinner. Dinner lead in to Cesar's "Class." The concept would take 100 pages to explain but it left me thinking. The concept was complicated, but he left it for you to make sense of it yourself, and apply it your own way. Following the class was filled with giggles, cold showers, more giggles, lights out, more giggles, one or two go to beds, and a long night of peacefull sleep. :) "Wink Wink"
By: Robert
After breakfest we headed out to our carriage that happened to be a pickup truck driven by a crazy man. I think his motto was make the americans fly out of the bed of the truck. Our determination to stay in the truck proved greater than that of the driver trying to throw us out. After safely arriving on the Scene, we wasted no time of kicking into gear. The sand pile proved no mach for our skill. It went from a huge mountain to nothing at all. Up and down the "hill" we went for four hours, hauling sand down and hiking back up. At the end of our time their we turned the mountain of sand in to two bags of sand left.
The trip back to the village proved no safer then the ride in, but we some how managed to stay in the bed of the truck. Siesta time came next, and it was much needed for most of the crew. Some of the crew just never stopped, and kept going until after dinner. As lunch rolled past the idea of water ballons came up and a few brave ones stared filling up water ballons. The few water ballons that were filled up turned into an all out war. The kids caught on quickly, and learned how to fill up the ballons with water. The two sides of the war were the village kids, and the few but determined americans, Jenny, Miranda, Joe, and Robert. The odds were to great and the stress of war caused the americans to turn on each other. It sooned turned in to an all on all fight. The fight might of gone on all day but we had to break for VBS.
The turn out that day for VBS that day was amazing. It was well over 100 kids from the community that showed up. After we got them all seated, and setteled down we sang a few songs, and went straight into our lesson for the day. Th concept for the day was red, and white. It would have been impossible if it wansn't for our fearless translator Cesar we never would of been able to get the message across. The message lead to coloring, whitch proved to be by far the most favorite thing to do.
Games came next, and I have decided that relys may not be the best thing to do. The concept of team work wasn't their yet. They did however have the biggest smiles, and it gave me one of the best feelings ever to see that. I started wondering what america would look like if we were to smile like they did. The afternnoon was spent hanging out with kids of the village, and getting our butt kicked in Soccer, (excuse me fútbol). Then came dinner. Dinner lead in to Cesar's "Class." The concept would take 100 pages to explain but it left me thinking. The concept was complicated, but he left it for you to make sense of it yourself, and apply it your own way. Following the class was filled with giggles, cold showers, more giggles, lights out, more giggles, one or two go to beds, and a long night of peacefull sleep. :) "Wink Wink"
By: Robert
Day 3: First Day of Work
Wednesday. Well, today Robert, Chuck, and I got up at 6 am to make breakfast. We made sausages and eggs, very yummy indeed. At 7:30 we left the compound to go thirty minutes to work with some of the community members. We hauled small rocks down and walked back up a very steep trail for about four hours. It was very exhausting work but with God behind us, we were abel to sustain teh strenth to be able to continue. At noon, we were able to travel back to the compound and minister to the kids. You would think that we were tired and yes we were, but I tell you, there is nothing more refreshing than spending your time pouring out your love toward the kids. We played all afternoon, nonstop until supper. Then we ate dinner and hung out for a while before going to a church service. We really didn't understand what they were saying but we all serve the same God and that is all that truly matters. It was truly an amazing experience and very refreshing. After church we went back to our compound, and closed our eyes until Carlen went to the bathroom and woke a sleeping dog!
By: Sergei Mays
By: Sergei Mays
Day 2: On to Cumbas Conde
Tuesday. Today we drove 2 1/2 hours to Otovolo and ate a wonderful lunch of tomato and shrimp soup, cordon bleu, French fries, cooked veggies, and ice cream. It was delicious. We are traveling in a tour bus so we have plenty of room for all of us, our stuff, and the supplies we took to Cumbas Conde.
We arrived at Cumbas Conde early afternoon and there are the most precious children peeking at us through the gates and around the buildings. We were the first gringos to stay in the village and the community was excited but shy to meet and see us. After we unloaded all our belongings and supplies from the bus into the school house we were staying in, we met in the community center so they could welcome us. Afterwards we played with the kids the rest of the afternoon. The children are heartbreakers. They are so adorable as they jabber in Spanish and smile at us.
Each person has their own group of children they were playing with. We played with the frisbees (discs as they call it), their version of London Bridges, Pato, Pato, Gonzo, (duck, duck, goose), and football. One of my favorite parts of the day was when I told the children I was from Alaska and they all look at me and exclaim, "Alaska!".
The night ended with Cèsar telling us his testimony and it was neat to hear his story and a little about him. It was a great reminder to remember we were doing this missions trip for God's glory alone. Then we hit our mattresses on the concrete floor to rest up for our first work day.
By: Jenny
We arrived at Cumbas Conde early afternoon and there are the most precious children peeking at us through the gates and around the buildings. We were the first gringos to stay in the village and the community was excited but shy to meet and see us. After we unloaded all our belongings and supplies from the bus into the school house we were staying in, we met in the community center so they could welcome us. Afterwards we played with the kids the rest of the afternoon. The children are heartbreakers. They are so adorable as they jabber in Spanish and smile at us.
Each person has their own group of children they were playing with. We played with the frisbees (discs as they call it), their version of London Bridges, Pato, Pato, Gonzo, (duck, duck, goose), and football. One of my favorite parts of the day was when I told the children I was from Alaska and they all look at me and exclaim, "Alaska!".
The night ended with Cèsar telling us his testimony and it was neat to hear his story and a little about him. It was a great reminder to remember we were doing this missions trip for God's glory alone. Then we hit our mattresses on the concrete floor to rest up for our first work day.
By: Jenny
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