More of Riobamba

Beautiful, quiet, tranquil, retreat, gardens, flowers, manzanas (apples), horses, sheep, cows... these words describe Daniella's grandfather's farm up in the mountains. We visited it yesterday and today, Judy and I will be going there for an overnight retreat. It is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places on earth. Judy and I are really looking forward to spending some quiet time with God and with each other today and tomorrow. Below are a few pictures of his farm.



We will remain in Riobamba till Saturday when we leave for Cuenca and then Guayaquil. We continue to absorb the daily life and culture of Ecuador. The daily routine is quite different from the states. Most wake up between 6 and 7 with breakfast around 8 a.m. Work begins at 9 and runs till 1. Almuerzo and siesta from 1 till 3 and then work from 3 till 7 p.m. A small evening meal around 8 and eventually bed.

Riobamba is a large city spread out over several miles with population of approximately 125,000. The city seems to be either middle to upper class or else poor. The rich are owners and managers of stores, businesses, and farms in the surrounding mountains. The poor are house helpers, maids, and employees.

I wonder if the city could exist without the poor? Could the poor exist without the rich? What should the objective and goal be - to make the poor richer? Should the rich be poorer? Which group of people are the most happy, joyful, and contented? What would Christ do? What would his objective and goal be?

It's a totally different world than the jungle or the indiginous villages in the mountains where the farms are. And yet in Riobamba, both worlds exist. Elderly indigenous women dressed in brightly colered clothing bent over carrying huge loads on their backs. Men and boys dressed in dark clothing with dark hats. So many similarities to Amish and yet so different. All of this in the middle of the city of Riobamba with buses, taxies and busy streets. Beggars, street vendors, sirens, alarms, roosters crowing, dogs barking - just a few of the noises I hear from Daniella's house as I write this.

Many similarities to New Holland and yet so different.

The architecture of houses are very different. Chickens, dogs, flowers, and other animals on the rooftop, often with rooms for the house helpers. No clothes dryers - wash is hung on clotheslines on the rooftops. It dries quickly in the hot sun and breezes. No air conditioners or furnaces - it is just right during the day and a bit cool at night.

No shopping centers, movie theatres, or Walmarts. Instead hundreds of little shops lining the streets. Shops selling bread, clothing, fruit, food. Shops with raw meat hanging on the sidewalk. Shops offering services such as internet access, copies, long distance telephone calls. Small places to eat with a whole roasted pig out front on the street. Instead of shopping once a week or once a month, most people shop every day obtaining fresh bread, fresh fruit, fresh herbs and spices, fresh meat, etc.

This morning, Janelle has been invited to watch Daniella's father do surgery. At first we thought he was inviting her to an opera, but we later discovered it was an operation.

Last night, we were privileged to watch a true South American futbol (soccer) game. An Ecuador team from Riobamba played Venezuela and won 1-0. It was quite an experience to experience the excitement of a large crowd of Ecuadorian soccer fans.

Yesterday, we had lunch with Laura and her family. Laura stayed with us in New Holland for a week last fall. Her father and mother are leaders in their church. They treated us to a wonderful almuerzo (lunch). Below is a picture of us seated around the table. The other picture is for Paul Snader and Tim Martin. It is a picture of her father with boxes of bibles. He is a leader of the Guideons in Ecuador. He gave each of us New Testaments that are in both Spanish and English. Judy and I are really enjoying reading the bible in spanish and discovering how much spanish we have learned!