Back To Quito

I woke up early this morning, showered and packed for the trip back into Quito. I was hoping for a nice quiet morning before heading back into the busy city and that's exactly what I got. I grabbed a coffee in the lodge, took a few more hummingbird photos, then just sat on the patio overlooking the mountains being quiet and reflecting on how thankful I was that God had allowed me to be part of World Vision, to visit this amazing country, be blessed by incredible people, and now enjoy being outdoors in one of the most beautiful parts of His creation.

When I look back on my journey over the past 5 or 6 years, even in my wildest dreams I never could have imagined being here surrounded by good friends soaking in the beauty around us, but also remembering all of the people we have met in the ADP communities who have touched us in so many ways. It was such a good morning.

On the way back to Quito we stopped at the Mitidad del Mundo ("Middle of the World") monument on the equator. It was more or less a "been-there-done-that" activity that didn't take more than an hour including a bite to eat, but really, if you are this close you might as well stop to take a few snapshots. After that it was back to the hotel to relax for a bit before heading out to La Ronda for the night. We ate at a Mexican restaurant, explored a few shops, and then found a small club with an amazing live band playing. I don't know if we'll ever hear of them again but I absolutely loved their blend of traditional music with rock rhythms. They reminded me of an Ecuadorian version of Great Big Sea. It didn't take long before a conga line was snaking through the place with all of us gringos joining in! It was a great ending to our final full day in Ecuador.

For complete photos from the journey click here.

Another Amazing Day To Be Alive...Part 2

After playing soccer we headed back to Bird of Paradise to decide on our last activity before dinner. It had already been a pretty full day so we opted for a coffee tour. Without going into all of the details, we managed to catch the end of the chocolate tour at El Quetzal - the best part as it turned out - with samples of fresh cocoa that was being made into chocolate products. Have you ever tasted 100% cocoa? Not good. But just add some sugar and you can't get enough of it. Our host Joe also let us try some chili chocolate...yep, it is just what it sounds like. I wouldn't rush out to buy any, but it certainly wasn't the worst thing I've eaten.

It turns out the coffee farmer wasn't available so Joe gave us a mini lecture on coffee production and the elements to making a good cup of coffee. I can't remember if I've mentioned it earlier, but I've been drinking a lot of black coffee down here which is something I would never do at home. According to Joe it has a lot to do with the freshness of the coffee, the roasting method, and the water used. A few tips for you coffee lovers...

1. Never buy ground coffee, only beans that are properly sealed.
2. Only grind enough coffee for what you are going to consume right away.
3. Storing ground coffee in the freezer is a waste of time.
4. If you can find unroasted beans in your area, buy them then roast them yourself either in a home roaster or even in a cast-iron frying pan (look up how to do it online first!)
5. Use fresh, reverse-osmosis filtered water for brewing to remove all impurities.

After the lecture, Joe took a couple of us to see his garden where he had not only coffee trees but also papaya and banana trees. Joe has an interesting story - he was born in Ecuador but has lived in the U.S. for decades. He spends 6 months in Michigan and 6 months in Ecuador every year and hopes to move back someday. Having visited the Mindo area where he lives I understand him wanting to live there permanently.

After the tour we met back on the main street in Mindo and bumped into William and his sister Gisella. It was so good to get to know them a bit outside of the context of tourist recommendations - both of them were just great people. Autumn handed out stickers to Gisella's daughter and a couple of other kids who were still out. It was fun watching them smile and laugh from such a simple gift!

William then suggested we go to CasKaffeSu for dinner, a little hostal/restaurant just up one of the side streets. We had a great dinner, met some interesting people who were staying there, and talked to Sue the owner for a bit. At only $15/night (including breakfast) you can't go wrong.

After dinner it was back to Sachamatia for another quick soak in the hot tub then to sleep after another amazing day.



For complete photos from the journey click here.

Another Amazing Day To Be Alive...Part 1

We knew this was our only full day in Mindo so we packed it with as many activities as we could squeeze in. I got up early and shot some more photos of the hummingbirds and then did a video tour of the Sachamatia grounds before gathering for a quick breakfast then a cab into Mindo.

We all decided to do a gondola ride over the rainforest followed by a fifty minute hike through to a beautiful waterfall at the end of the trail. We splashed through the pool up to our knees at the base of the waterfall then I couldn't resist going right under. It was one of the best moments of my life! Total abandon and total freedom and total victory all rolled into one. After that, we hiked back out to a smaller waterfall for a quick look but had to get going again to catch our cab. A couple of us took our time just so we could stop and listen to the silence of nature - it was a really special moment.

Once we arrived back in town we went our separate ways for the afternoon. Doug and Michelle did some shopping, Autumn and I went horseriding, and Danny went in search of a local who would loan him a dirt bike for an hour. As Danny drove by a few minutes later, our helpful tourist guy William laughed his head off!

Autumn and I headed out on our ride just as the biggest downpour since we arrived let loose. By now we were all used to getting wet so we just kept on going until our guide stopped at a deserted campground for a break. Good move! Just as the sun broke through the clouds we were able to walk down to a gorgeous river, check out some beautiful tropical flowers, and discover a cool outdoor shower that someone had rigged up. After the break we headed back into town to drop off our horses and walk back to our meeting spot. Along the way I had one of the most thrilling experiences of my entire life.

We popped our heads through a cement doorway to see the local soccer pitch. A few guys were kicking the ball around and, I can`t say for sure, but I think it may have been the local team out for a practice. We sat down to watch and take a couple of photos but before long they invited me out on the field to play with them. It was one of those "I can`t believe this is happening" moments that I will treasure forever. Who ever expects to play on a soccer pitch in a tiny town in the middle of Ecuador? I certainly didn`t. The day was only half over and I`d already had the time of my life...

For complete photos from the journey click here.

Off To Mindo

We were up early today to get a taxi to the Ofelia bus terminal in Quito then caught a bus for the two hour drive to Mindo, a small town west of Quito. At 8:25, we crossed the equator into the northern hemisphere, then crossed back over again an hour later in the mountians on the way to our final destination. The scenery on this drive is absolutely gorgeous with mountain peaks and volcanoes passing by on each side but my heart was missing the people we met in the community ADP's last week.

Once we arrived at Sachamatia, our lodge just outside Mindo, we went to our rooms, unpacked, and headed for Mindo in a taxi. Well, a taxi of sorts. A cab out here is actually the back of a pick-up truck - some covered, some not. It was a lot of fun bumping along the rural roads into Mindo but not nearly as much fun as riding open-top, standing up on the way home. Somewhere on YouTube I think some video will show up that I'll link to later.

In Mindo we had some great help from William at the Bird of Paradise tourist shop. He would prove to be a continous source of good information and was incredibly patient as we had loads of questions. If you ever make it this way, be sure to give him your business. You won't be sorry.

Since it was now getting on in the afternoon we only had time to do one activity - ziplining across the canopy of the rain forest. I'd never done it before but had an amazing time flying up to 700 feet above the forest floor. It was amazing! Especially doing the superman - flying face forward across the sky. Amazing.

On the last ride I got to do the butterfly - flying upside down, spread-eagled to the end of the line. I hadn't realized it, but I had cut my forehead with my camera when I passed it off to Danny before getting latched on. When I arrived on the other side the staff were freaking out a bit. Apparently one side of my forehead was covered in blood as I came flying in. They came running with cotton balls and alcohol and I think were quite worried about me but I was feeling totally exhilerated and wasn't at all concerned with the loss of a little blood. I got cleaned up and waited for the rest of the group who had a blast as well.

From there, we decided to walk back into Mindo instead of taking a cab. Such a great decision! It was a beautiful walk down a narrow road through dense forest, past rivers and old cabins. We had some good discussion, photo taking, and just tried to soak everything in. It's really hard to believe we are in such a beautiful place. It just doesn't seem real.

Back in Mindo we caught the open-top cab back to the hotel for dinner and then a soak in the hot tub. What a fantastic day!

For complete photos from the journey click here.

Strange Day

This has been one roller coaster of a day. It started off great with Danny and I having deep spiritual discussion and then I had a really powerful encounter with God a bit later in the shower (go figure.) Afterwards, we went down to grab some breakfast and then walked to the lavanderia (laundry mat) with Autumn to get some clothes washed. From that point things started going downhill...

We took a couple of cabs with the rest of the gang to visit the old town area again. After a bit of a wander we met up for lunch in Plaza San Francisco where Autumn's backback was almost pick-pocketed were it not for Danny's quick response. It was a very smooth attempt but our D-Mac managed to scare them off. The rest of our time in old town went off without any problems and we headed back to the hotel later this afternoon.

Danny and I had the cab driver drop us off at the lavanderia (Autumn was running a bit behind in a different taxi.) It wasn't quite ready yet so we decided to just walk down a couple of blocks to kill 30 minutes. Dumb move. We had a bit of an unnerving incident and got back to the lavendaria ASAP to just sit inside and wait. Autumn came just a couple of minutes later. We got our stuff and booted it back to the hotel. Frankly, I think we just got a little overconfident but thankfully God was watching over us so everything worked out fine. As Danny said later, "I can't believe we risked our lives for ironed socks!"

Tonight we went to the La Ronda section of old town to have some dinner at the Restaurante Negro Mala. It was a really quaint little place and was a nice relaxing way to end a rather disturbing day. From the moment we left the hotel this morning I had the sense that there was evil in the air. I really believe we dealt with a bit of spiritual warfare today - it wasn't the first time on this trip. I'm glad to be back where it is safe so we can begin our adventures in Mindo tomorrow.

The Vacation Has Begun!

Before everyone had to fly home, our host and now friend Andrea and her parents, took us on a tour of Old Quito (aka downtown.) It was great! If it's at all possible try to have a local person take you out when you are travelling. It makes the experience so much richer.

We saw the beautiful Plaza de la Independencia, including the official residence of Rafael Correa, the current President of Ecuador, which sits adjacent to the plaza. We then moved along for a tour of Iglesia la Compania de Jesus, an oppulent Catholic church built by Jesuits between 1605 and 1765. Although there is no question it is spectacular inside and out, I came away feeling a little hollow at the incredible amount of money that it must of cost to build this place and the spiritual bondage that this and other "religious" institutions have over the people. If you pray for the people of Ecuador, pray that they would be released from religion in order to find Jesus.

After La Compana, we moved on to the Plaza San Francisco for a little souvenir shopping and a cold drink. This vast open square is often used for outdoor concerts and events and was buzzing when we arrived. There was a hip-hop dude with full band giving a show that was absolutely bringin' it! (I have a video that I'll get up on YouTube when I get home.) Andrea's dad was translating for us and it turns out that he was a Christian guy rapping about God and preaching to the people. Via translation, he was saying that there was no need for him to wear a suit becuase God looks at the heart, not what's on the outside. That's a pretty radical message here but the crowd was definitely listening. Danny wanted to see if he could jump on stage to do some beat-boxing but there wasn't a good break to try it. It would have been awesome!

I leaned a great Spanish term from Andrea's dad while we were here: Patas. It's a coloquil term for buddy or close friend. The root of the word means, "with one of my legs and one of your legs, we can travel together." There's something about that concept I really like.

After Old Town we travelled to one of the local markets to do some more shopping. It was a blast bartering with the vendors on everything from blankets to belts to bracelets to boleros. I spent way more than expect on souvenirs for people back home but it was well worth it. After the market we headed back to the hotel for half the team to check out. Once the well wishes and hugs were delivered, Danny and I headed up to our room to crash for a bit and take some photos from 810, our room at the Hotel Reina Isabel. The room itself was just your standard hotel room but the view was spectacular! We were on the top floor with a panoramic window that allowed us to see most of Quito. Lots of photos were taken.

Later, we met Andrea who helped us plan out our next few days then she took us on a drive to see downtown lit up at night then up to the base of the 30m high Virgen de Quito statue that hovers over the city. I got some cool photos looking over the city but again had the sense taht religion had these people in its grips. Danny prayed a blessing over the city as we quietly stood by. After decending the hill we went to one of Andrea's favorite night spots for some appetizers and drinks. She insisted we all have a canelazo, a local drink of welcome that the locals consume by the pitcher full. It's a combo of sugar cane alcohol, cinnamon, fruit juice and water that will peel the skin off your tongue. Danny described it as a combination of Neo Citron and diesel. It's not so bad once you get used to it!

It's now almost 3 AM so I'm off to bed. Tomorrow will be a chill out day before heading to Mindo on Monday.

A Time For Parting

Today is the day half of our team returns to Canada while four of us plus Michelle's husband Doug (who flew in today) stay here on vacation for another four days. After all we have seen and experienced together it will be tough to see them go. There is a certain connection you have with people on a trip like this that will last forever. I'm sure the next time we all see each other there will be a lot of "remember when..." times.

I'm so thankful I was able experience this time with such a great group of people who are all committed to the work World Vision is doing here in Ecuador. Each and every person on this team does their work out of a deep love of the children we work with and out of a real committment to respond to God's call to care for the poor. We will all process and respond to this experience in different ways but I am certain that we have all been touched in some way.

I really didn't want to turn this blog into a commercial for World Vision, and I've tried to share some of my personal experiences so it wouldn't seem too "corporate," but I just have to tell you how proud I am to work for this organization. I have seen the work first-hand and am convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that it works. Everything you see on TV or read about in our mailings in absolutely true. I can't wait to get home to start sharing this experience in person with anyone who will listen. And quite frankly, I may come across a little strong when I get back but I've met real children with real names in need of a sponsor in Canada. I may be able to ignore the photograph of a stranger on a copied piece of paper, but it is impossible to ignore the face of a child that I've laughed with, danced with, taken photos of, and hugged. They have found their way into my heart. I hope they find their way into yours.

For complete photos from the journey click here.

To sponsor a child in Ecuador visit WorldVision.ca

The Best Dance Of My Life

Well, just when you think this trip couldn´t get much better...it did.

We visited two daycare centres today for ages 3-5 not too far outside of Ambato. There are 8 centres in this area providing daycare for 234 children. World Vision staff make sure that the children receive education, food, medical care, and just a lot of fun with other kids. Once I have a few photos up you´ll immediately know that this is not a daycare like we are used to seeing in Canada, but it is nonetheless an effective and welcomed part of the community.

Our hosts noted the importance of socialization for these kids who are often very shy before joining. There was a noticeable difference between the kids in daycare and those who were not. Those in the daycare were far more outgoing and trusting while other kids we´ve met on this trip tended to be a little hesitant about approaching us.

After a few introductions, the kids gave each one of us little crafts they had made and a hug. I don´t care who you are or how tough you may be, but when a little girl in a community like this wraps her tiny arms around your neck and gives you a hug, you never want to let go.

Once all of the gifts were handed out it was time to dance! The music was turned on and we all danced, and danced, and danced until all of us low-altitude living gringos were ready to drop but it was worth every breath. So much fun! To see the kids laughing and us laughing and the staff laughing was a special memory that I´ll never forget. Despite trying to take as many photos as possible, there are times when I just have to put my camera down and live in the moment - this was one of those moments. Thankfully some of our team took some photos and video that I will always treasure.

When all of the dancing was done it was time for us to break out the bubbles that we brought with us. I have never, ever seen kids so excited! As the clear soap bubbbles hovered in the air and popped on their little fingers, they laughed their heads off and chased around anyone who had a bottle. All except one special little girl named Angelica who was sitting on my lap. I´m not sure if she was afraid of the bubbles, or if she was just trying to be a good girl (her mom is one of the leaders here), or if she was just happy to be held, but she just wouldn´t budge, and truthfully, I didn´t want her to. She was so quiet and sweet so we just sat there and watched everyone else having fun, both of us taking in the moment. As she grows older I´m sure she´ll forget this day, but I never will. It was the day I fell in love with Ecuador and her people.




For complete photos from the journey click here.

To sponsor a child in Ecuador visit WorldVision.ca

No Pity Necessary

One final thought before heading to bed tonight...

I came to Ecuador feeling pity for the impoverished people we would meet and sadness for those who couldn´t find a way to get out of their situation. Having now met these men, women, and children, having shaken their hands and looked them in the eye, I have nothing but the utmost respect, gratitude, and love for every one of them. These are not poor people begging for a handout; these are proud, hard working folks who just need a little assistance from those of us who have more than we could ever need. Don´t cry for the people of Ecuador...just help them.

Busted in Ecuador?

Just got in from a rather interesting night in Ambato. After we arrived back at our hotel, eight of us decided to walk downtown again for dinner. We found a great Mexican place with lots of lively conversation and good music. After an amazing burrito and a cafe del leche (my new favorite!) we walked through the city centre followed by a friendly stray dog who just wouldn´t leave our side.

We started heading back down the road to our hotel and was about half-way there when a police car and a mini-bus filled with officers pulled over to the side of the road right beside us. An officer hopped out and immediately started questioning where we were headed and why. God had our backs once again as our Wonder Woman of a host Andrea stepped in to explain the situation. After a few words back and forth we were "invited" to get on the bus to be driven back to our hotel for safety reasons. As you can imagine we were all a little suspicious and wondered which side of the jail cell we´d like to sleep on for the next few months.

In the end it all worked out well and we were taking photos and waving wishing a relived buenos noches to our escort. All in all, a pretty adventurous day I´d say.

Alex

Education is really insufficient in this area so World Vision has established after-school programs to assist students in improving their grades so they can progress in their education and hopefully go to high school. Unfortunately most kids have to work so they do not continue their education however, in partnership with the Ecuadorian government, high school age students can participate in six-month technical training classes on evenings and weekends to learn skills such as carpentry, auto mechanics, baking, accounting, etc. with volunteer teachers who come in from the city. The entire cost of the schooling is paid for by the ADP via child sponsorship money, allowing kids who otherwise couldn´t afford to pay for education a spark of hope for their future.

Those who wish to go on to university or college have an enormous mountain to climb as the cost is prohibitive for almost everyone in these rural communities. The costs may seem low by Canadian standards, but at $600 per semester (plus accomodation and transportation) it is beyond the reach of almost every family who lives here.

A really sad part of our visit here was hearing different students talk about their dreams for the future and what they would like to do with their lives. It breaks my heart to know that these bright, hard working, inquisitive kids with big bold dreams will likely never achieve their goals simply becuase of a lack of money.

One young guy named Alex shared his dream of becoming a doctor but has had to quit school and return to help with his brother´s shoe-making business. I had to hold back the tears as I considered how realistic Alex´s chances are without receiving some help. I realize that $600 is not exactly a small amount, even in Canada, but if we could just pool some money together it would be so easy to help Alex reach his goal. More and more I´m coming to realize that supporting a kid like Alex is not about giving him a handout but is about coming alongside him to change the direction of his life, thereby changing the direction of God only knows how many other lives. Just think about how many diseases might be treated, how many infections might be prevented, how many lives might be saved, simply by joining Alex on his journey. A simple gift given to the one has the potential to save the lives of the many. It´s the butterfly effect in action. Dios te bendiga Alex.



For complete photos from the journey click here.

To sponsor a child in Ecuador visit WorldVision.ca

For The Blooper Reel

We had another fantastic visit just outside Ambato today where the mothers of the community did a presentation on proper health & nutrition, and the importance of breast feeding. I was so incredibly humbled by the generosity of these folks as they presented gifts of sweaters to a couple of our team and then brought out some snacks for us to enjoy. We had some delicious empanadas followed by some of the best tasting juice I´ve ever had in my life! Here´s a recipe for you straight from the heart of Ecuador:

1 cup of blackberries
1 cup of water
Brown sugar

Just boil the berries and then add the water. Stir. Pour juice through a strainer to remove the berry skins. Add brown sugar to taste.

That´s the recipe as it was given to me but I won´t be able to make it myself until I get home so let me know if you try it!

One of the other fun parts of the day was the filming of some thank you videos to be used back in Canada for our Gift Catalogue campaign this fall. We chose a small farmyard with a bull and cow to shoot my videos. It was a perfect location so we started filming with the cow over my shoulder. It was going really well until about 45 seconds in when the cow decided it needed to relieve itself right behind me. Take two...same shot three minutes later. Camera rolling...¨Hi Canada, here we are in Ecuador...¨ Same thing happens! Can´t this cow hold it for two minutes!! Ahhh the joys of working with animals. Eventually we got the shot using the bull instead.

We shot a second video when a whole bunch of kids just sat down on the road beside me. It was such a blast to just shoot something unplanned and on the fly when the opportunity presented itself. When we we're done I looked at the kids and said "movie star!" in English. They all started smiling and laughing! So much fun!

On to the next stop...

For complete photos from the journey click here.

To sponsor a child in Ecuador visit WorldVision.ca