Well today was one more adventure to say the least. Today was my day off for the week so Tom Stiles, another missionary in the area, took me to Cajas National Park about 30 minutes from Cuenca. This is a park at the top of the mountain pass inbetween here and Guayaquil on the coast and it is a mountain pass that is filled with lakes, over 200 to be exact and filled with a lot of marshy land etc.
Well we started that way at 7:30 this morning and were hiking by 8:30. We looked at the map and decided the lake we wanted to hike to, asked the ranger where the entrance was, and headed that way. We got to the trail head and there wasn't any markings. So we just took the little foot bridge across the water and started off. Well, we lost the trail immediately. Thanks to the maps we knew where the lake was but this is Andean mountainous terrain that can't easily be traversed. So we looked and looked for the trail. And we started going for what looked to be the easiast pass through the moutnains. Well, we came to a cliff and didn't really know where to go. We could see the river that emptied out of the lake below...and when I say below I mean Very Very Far Below. So we decided, go up higher...we can probably cut through the pass that way....wrong. So after several failed attemps we decided we must go down and started looking for the most convenient pathway. Needless to say the most convenient pathways required holding on to trees and other plants while sliding down rocks to the next foot hold. So I don't want to mislead you into thinking that we were on the side of this big rock face with no end...but it was steep, there weren't many foot holds, and the plants are what made it possible to go down that way. It was the first time in my life that I put my foot somewhere...a rock dislodged...and I listened to see how far it dropped before stopping, and it went for a little while. Well we finally made it to the bottom after being hemmed in by at least two cliff walls, and started following the rivers to the lake, problem one being this is the marshy land, problem two being they don't sell size 45 rubber boots here, so all I had were my tennis shoes.
So we followed the rivers and when we saw a convenient time to climb up out of the marsh we took it. And after about an hour we made it to the first lake. It was SO beautiful. Then, Tom's GPS finally started working. Now his isn't the kind that could give us directions or anything but it can give our position, our bearing, and our altitude. That's when I found out we were hiking between 12,000 and 13,000 feet! So take two Mt. Mitchells and that is about where we were! So we started hiking around the lake and we finally caught on to a trail, and followed it to lake two. We wondered around for a while and found a place to stop and eat some lunch. Then Tom, decided to fish some and I decided to take some pictures. So after that we realized the fog from the coast was starting to fill in our pass out so we decided to hit the road. Although, this road required that we climb at least halfway up one of the mountains. And to climb up one of the mountains we had to wade through a small river, slop through a lot of marsh land...uphill... and climb a relatively steep slope. Well......drum roll please......we finally made it to the trail (the incan way) that we had missed the first time. And I hike that took us about one and a half to two hours took maybe 30 minutes once we had the trail. Although this trail wasn't easy hiking either. There were a lot of very steep drops that you get to look over while hiking.
Well, it was a great experience. I've always loved being in God's creation and this was one of the climaxes. Even if I am tired, sore, and have a pair of pants and shoes that look like they have went through some horrible torturas experience, I had a wonderful time. Even though I had to pray several, "God help me do this" prayers, even though I had to hold onto a tree and jump 3 feet to the next foothold, it was wonderful. And I would do it all again (especially now that I know where the trail is!!!)
Well, I want to thank you all for your prayers. In other news, I am starting to take over more and more responsibility here. As for now I am in charge of discipleship with a couple of the church leaders. It is exciting but also daunting....possibly as much as when I had to jump three feet to the foothold after hearing the rock roll down the moutain side.
Well, if you would like, here are the pictures from Cajas National Park. And don't worry mom, I'm still in good hands.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Work, Encebollado, Sickness, and Random Observations
Well, here I am again. It's been about 1 week and a half that I have been here at work in Cuenca. Things have been going fairly well so far. Just so you have an idea of what my average day looks like I'll try to explain it to you. Almost every day begins at 6:30 at a couples house for prayer. We have a list of things we pray for each day which span from those who have fallen away from the church to the country's leaders and everything inbetween. Generally after that I go back to my house until around 10ish when I go with the pastor on visits or discipleship studies or meetings with other pastors. Then most nights I hav a meeting at about 7:30 with either house churches or church leaders. So that seems to be my average day around here as of now.
I have been paired specifically with two Ecuadorian leaders in this church named Jorge and Anita. They are starting a new house church this Friday night. So please be praying for this church. But last Saturday I had a rollercoaster day with these two. They invited me to some of their friends house for an almuerzo (lunch) and they were going to serve something called Encebollado. If you want a translation the best I can give you is Onioned. It was a fish soup with yuca and about one red onion per bowl. So we went to the house and they prepared it. Now the goal was to eat an early lunch (which is about 12 or 1 here) and then watch the Jesus Film with this family. Well lunch didn't happen til about 2:00 or 2:30. Which meant that we could no longer watch the Jesus film because Jorge had a soccer game at three. So we all piled into the back of this truck and took off for the soccer game. We watched the game, then headed back to watch the movie. We get there, the movie goes wonderfully, then I'm thinking we are about done. Then they say, "let's re-heat the encebollado and eat it for dinner." So let me stop here to say the first time I really enjoyed this soup. However, when the idea came to eat it again all I wanted to do was vomit. But needless to say we ate it again and I almost finished my bowl. Then, we went back to Anita and Jorge's house to watch the Jesus film with his sisters and brother. So needless to say what was to be a lunch and movie, turned into about 10 hours of trying to understand and speak spanish....not very easy if I may say so myself. But then came Sunday.....
Church came at 8 and was a good service. Then I went home and waited for lunch time to roll around. I decided I'd go to the Mall and eat in the food court (I thought I deserved it after the encebollado) and look at guitars and really just get out. So I caught a bus, and headed out. So the bus to the mall drops you off a few blocks away so I was walking and started not feeling to well. I thought it was just because it was late and I hadn't eaten or drank anything since before church so I just went on to the food court. I lost my apetite but finally just bought a hamburger and some fries and a water. I ate it and all was ok, looked around for a while but overall still I wasn't feeling good. I went back home and relaxed until that night's couples meeting (oh yeah...there's a meeting for married couples led by two single guys...i find that entertaining). When there I mentioned that I wasn't feeling all that great and Patricion said to sleep in and let him know how I felt later on the next day, and that we'd have the leader meeting in my apartment that Monday night. Well...this was only the tip of the iceburg. In order to spare the details...it was the sickest I've been since I've been here and today is the first day I've been able to keep myself going all day. I'm still not 100% well but I will now be avoiding Encebollado as much as I can. Ugh.
So now for some random observations. There's actually only two for today. First is that it's kind of interesting to walk through the mall and see an indiginous man playing a traditional Ecuadorian flute, the catch being that he's playing the song Hey Jude.
Second is that, only in this church that I'm working at (in the lingirie store) can you see the kids playing in the background......hitting each other with bras.
So that's about all I have for now. Thanks for all your support in prayers. Please be in prayer for the new house church starting this Friday and for the other new house church that should be starting up here soon as well. Also please be in prayer for my health. I assume this won't be the only time I eat in a local's house so I know that sickness could be a problem again. Also, be in prayer for my travels as I come home in two weeks for Christmas. And lastly, please be praying for this country's government. There is a lot of unrest and division with the ways of the President. There is an Assembly going right now to rewrite the constitution and one hope of the president is that they will abolish Congress and give him complete authority. If this happens I believe there will be a lot of unrest in the country. So just please be praying for the leaders. That they will make the decisions that are the best for the people and not for any political ideology. Well thanks a lot!!!! God Bless.
I have been paired specifically with two Ecuadorian leaders in this church named Jorge and Anita. They are starting a new house church this Friday night. So please be praying for this church. But last Saturday I had a rollercoaster day with these two. They invited me to some of their friends house for an almuerzo (lunch) and they were going to serve something called Encebollado. If you want a translation the best I can give you is Onioned. It was a fish soup with yuca and about one red onion per bowl. So we went to the house and they prepared it. Now the goal was to eat an early lunch (which is about 12 or 1 here) and then watch the Jesus Film with this family. Well lunch didn't happen til about 2:00 or 2:30. Which meant that we could no longer watch the Jesus film because Jorge had a soccer game at three. So we all piled into the back of this truck and took off for the soccer game. We watched the game, then headed back to watch the movie. We get there, the movie goes wonderfully, then I'm thinking we are about done. Then they say, "let's re-heat the encebollado and eat it for dinner." So let me stop here to say the first time I really enjoyed this soup. However, when the idea came to eat it again all I wanted to do was vomit. But needless to say we ate it again and I almost finished my bowl. Then, we went back to Anita and Jorge's house to watch the Jesus film with his sisters and brother. So needless to say what was to be a lunch and movie, turned into about 10 hours of trying to understand and speak spanish....not very easy if I may say so myself. But then came Sunday.....
Church came at 8 and was a good service. Then I went home and waited for lunch time to roll around. I decided I'd go to the Mall and eat in the food court (I thought I deserved it after the encebollado) and look at guitars and really just get out. So I caught a bus, and headed out. So the bus to the mall drops you off a few blocks away so I was walking and started not feeling to well. I thought it was just because it was late and I hadn't eaten or drank anything since before church so I just went on to the food court. I lost my apetite but finally just bought a hamburger and some fries and a water. I ate it and all was ok, looked around for a while but overall still I wasn't feeling good. I went back home and relaxed until that night's couples meeting (oh yeah...there's a meeting for married couples led by two single guys...i find that entertaining). When there I mentioned that I wasn't feeling all that great and Patricion said to sleep in and let him know how I felt later on the next day, and that we'd have the leader meeting in my apartment that Monday night. Well...this was only the tip of the iceburg. In order to spare the details...it was the sickest I've been since I've been here and today is the first day I've been able to keep myself going all day. I'm still not 100% well but I will now be avoiding Encebollado as much as I can. Ugh.
So now for some random observations. There's actually only two for today. First is that it's kind of interesting to walk through the mall and see an indiginous man playing a traditional Ecuadorian flute, the catch being that he's playing the song Hey Jude.
Second is that, only in this church that I'm working at (in the lingirie store) can you see the kids playing in the background......hitting each other with bras.
So that's about all I have for now. Thanks for all your support in prayers. Please be in prayer for the new house church starting this Friday and for the other new house church that should be starting up here soon as well. Also please be in prayer for my health. I assume this won't be the only time I eat in a local's house so I know that sickness could be a problem again. Also, be in prayer for my travels as I come home in two weeks for Christmas. And lastly, please be praying for this country's government. There is a lot of unrest and division with the ways of the President. There is an Assembly going right now to rewrite the constitution and one hope of the president is that they will abolish Congress and give him complete authority. If this happens I believe there will be a lot of unrest in the country. So just please be praying for the leaders. That they will make the decisions that are the best for the people and not for any political ideology. Well thanks a lot!!!! God Bless.
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