More Random Thoughts

We had "steak" for dinner last night. It is in quotes because I am not exactly sure that is what we really had. I only speak a bit of spanish so buying meat from the lady was interesting! I got a kilogram of meat (2.2 lbs) for about 7 bucks and it looked nothing like I have seen in the states. I tried to cut it into steaks when we got back to the house but the only knife was a very old serrated knife that looked like someone had been cutting rocks with. I sawed on the meat for quite some time and finally got it into the pan. There is NO fat on this meat as the beef is grassfed and not finished as we do in the US. It stuck to the pan and developed a strange crust and had a strange taste. Emery and I have developed a new plan for when we try this again. I picked up a new knife while in Puyo yesterday so cutting will be easier I hope and we will be trying it fried in bacon fat!

While in Boulder, Colorado before leaving we found a kite store that had inexpensinve kites that could be colored and drawn on and then flown. They gave me a great deal as I was buying 40 kites and we thought this would be a great activity for the kids. Then I saw a little dude "flying" a kite. There is NO wind here, so the little guy was running as fast as he could to keep the kite in the air. He could either look where he was going or he could look at the kite. Long story short, he ended up getting the kite caught in a low hanging power line. I guess they can always use them as place mats! :)

Friday afternoon I had 9 bucks in my pocket and the cash machine in Shell was not working. That was a wierd feeling! There are no banks here, only a single ATM machine for 8,000 people. One would think there would be a long line but really there is never many folks there when I go. Chris Zuniga, one of the missionaries here, took me by bus to Puyo to show me where the cash machine is and I also had the opportunity to pick up some Diet Pepsi. No diet soda is sold in Shell! Thank you Chris!!

This morning we attended a worship service at Chris' house over at the Missionary Compound as the church that we went to last week is only translated into english every other week. Chris and Mandy attend the same church but they do not understand Spanish well enough to get much out of the service either. So every other Sunday they open their home to a group of Ecuadorians that they teach English to on Fridays in their home. They have anywhere from zero to 15 people at their house every other Sunday for worship; this morning it was just his family and mine. He shared with us his ministry, and how different it is now than what he thought it was going to be when his family arrived in Shell 10 months ago. Chris is a missionary to tribes in the Jungle, he teaches English as a way of spreading the gospel, he volunteers at Casa de Fe, and he takes the teams that come down on hikes through the Jungle. I'm sure this is not all he does as he seems to be everywhere. His wife Mandy helps him with whatever needs done and also is the donations coordinator at Casa de Fe. She is supposed to be part time out there but I think she is there almost as much as we are! What a great family. I has been a huge blessing getting to know them.

Missionaries we have met so far and their stories:

Patty Sue- Founder of Casa de Fe- She is retired military and came to Ecuador originally with a ministry of helping to repair wheelchairs. She was living in Quito when she took in her first child. About 14 years later she is still involved in this ministry and has a huge burden for these kids. Casa de Fe, under her care currently hosts about 60 children. There is a main bulding, a shop, and a classroom building, all built by donations and all built by short term mission teams. Its all very impressive to see what God can do in the middle of a Jungle!

Mark Blosser- Director of Operations, Chaplain, Travel teams coordinator and who knows what else! Mark was 19 when a missionary invited him to Ecuador. That was all it took for him to dedicate himself to God and the people of Ecuador for life. As a result of the Missionary visit, not only Mark but his whole family came to Ecuador. His brothers have since returned to the US but his mother and father are missionaries north of us in the Jungle. Mark married a wonderful gal from Peru and has a 2 year old son, Daniel. His wife taught him Spanish and he sees himself not as a US citizen in Ecuador but as an Ecuadorian. This is much different than many of the missionaries as he does not huddle with the others in the compoud but simply and comfortably lives among the nationals. He is now 25 and moved to Shell about 5 months ago to help out at Casa de Fe. He has a lot on his plate for a 25 year old, but is well grounded and is very goal oriented. He has never sought out support for his ministry. He sold food and I think did a bit of this and that while starting a church way south of here in Zamora before coming to Casa de Fe. He did recieve some support from the nationals but this stopped when he decided to come to the orphanage. He came in faith and currently is not supported by any individuals or churches. He could use your help!

Chris and Mandy- (story above)

Andy and Priscilla- Andy did drugs, sold drugs, lived drugs, from the age of 15 to 25. After realizing his need for a Savior and accepting Christ in his life, Andy went to college, got married, and moved with his wife to Ecuador to spread the gospel. He works with Chris in the jungle and also spends much time "open air" preaching in the streets of Shell and Puyo. He has been here for about 4 years, and as a result of simply getting to know the folks here, he does marriage counselling and offers much support for the folks here in Shell and the surrounding area. He and Chris are two of the most openly caring people one could hope to meet. Through their actions they have shown me how lacking my life is in the area of simply taking time to get to know and serve others.

Others to come...