Pictures from the Jungle

Jessica trying out the blowgun.


Our teachers with us in the jungle.



The Tarantula


Crossing the river before an hour walk in the jungle to our second village.


Judy in front of our bed


In the distance, Judy is sitting at the table where the tarantula came while playing a game in candlelight with the teachers. Our beds are in the foreground on the floor covered by mosquito nets.


Janelle in front of the house where she, Justin and Jessica stayed.

Judy and I and the teachers stayed in the top floor of this house


Our luggage in one canoe. We all traveled in another canoe like this one.

More From Ecuador

JUNGLE: On Monday, we walked to a waterfalls along a beautiful jungle path. It is extremely hot in the jungle, but is more beautiful than we ever imagined! On Tuesday, we hiked about 1 1/2 hours and then deep into a cave using candles a couple flashlights.

On Wednesday, we traveled to a second village where we had our first close encounter with a huge tarantula spider that crawled within inches of Justin's head before we discovered it. We went to sleep hoping there would be no more tarantulas. The next morning, the guide showed us where they live inside the bamboo walls and then come out during the night.

On Thursday, we traveled by canoe about five hours in the rain. We packed 12 persons in a long dug out canoe. It was constantly filling up with water, so we were using bottles and hats to bail out the water. About ten minutes from our destination where we were to camp on the beach, we went through some very wild rapids. This time our canoe filled with water and a few moments later it began to sink.

Two of our professors could not swim and were rescued by our guides. The rest of us managed to swim and hang onto pieces of wood until another boat came to rescue us. Our professors were certain they were going to die. Later they said they saw their life flash in front of them. It was a very scary experience for them, but it bonded all of us together.

On Friday we returned to our first village and sat around the table in candle light and had a good time of sharing togeether. The professors learned a bit more about our God.

The villages remind us of Africa. The living conditions are very basic with open bamboo huts and thatched roofs. The roosters wake us up each morning at 4 a.m. On our first night a chicken came into our room and tried to get into our bed through the mosquito net.

The jungle experience showed us once again that life is all about priorities. We thought large cock roaches were bad until we were confronted by the tarantulas. Sitting on the bottom of the canoe on two small sticks for four hours was a pain until the canoe sank. When life is stripped down to the bare essentials of survival, everything changes.

RIOBAMBA: We enjoyed going to Daniella's church on Sunday morning. We were greeted by about six greeters who welcomed us warmly. We sat near the front of the large auditorium that seated several hundred people. The first hour was a celebration of praise and worship. The offering was also a great celebration with everyone coming forward with their offering. The second hour was preaching, prayer and response.

We were privileged to visit on the Sunday when about 25 people were baptized. We went next door to a hotel's swimming pool for the baptism. The baptism was quite unique with continued celebration and praise and worship during the baptisms.

BANOS: Sunday afternoon, we were treated to a huge lunch at the family of one of the persons who was baptized. From there, we traveled to Banos where we hiked to a beautiful waterfalls. On Monday, we visted another waterfall and visited the local community.

As we were ready to leave, we discovered that the local volcano was erupting. On the way home, we saw huge clouds of ash above the volcano. The volcano is only about 10 km from Banos, but the ash is blowing away from Banos toward Riobamba. We expect to wake up to volcanic ash Tuesday morning. To the right is a picture of the volcana spitting ash. Below it is a picture of Judy holding some lava from the volcana and standing in front of a house destroyed by the lava.

We continue to be stretched, to be refreshed, to learn to receive Ecuador hospitality and to experience the presence of God in many ways. Thank you for your prayers and we continue to pray for everyone back home. It will be great to return!

Jungle

We arrived back in Quito late Saturday afternoon, then traveled to Riobamba Saturday night. We are now at Daniella´s house with her family. They welcomed us with great hospitality. This morning we are going to their church and then this afternoon to Banos for overnight. We had many experiences in the jungle we will never forget including large boas, heavy storms, tarantula spiders, and our canoe that sank in the rapids spilling all of us into the river. We praise God for our safety and for our teachers safety. Several of the teachers did not know how to swim and nearly drowned. It was a week we will never forget! I hope to write more later with some pictures.

Below is a brief excerpt I wrote on Wednesday but could not upload to the internet in Tena because it was too slow.

We arrived in the community in the jungle Sunday evening after a long bus ride through exhiliarating moountain views. On Monday, we walked to a waterfalls along a beautiful jungle path and went swimming at the base of the waterfalls. It is extremely hot in the jungle, but is everything plus much more than we ever imagined! On Tuesday, we hiked about 1 1/2 hours to a cave and then deep into the cave. Today, we are on our way to a second community where we will stay tonight. Tomorrow we travel by canoe four hours to a beach along the river where we will camp. Friday more canoe and return to first village.

The community reminds us much of Africa. The living conditions are very basic. Many stories to tell, but little time now at the internet cafe in Tena. We have had severe thuderstorms, heavy rains, and strong winds. In the community, we have been staying in bamboo huts with thatched or tin roofs. The heavy rains and winds come through the bamboo walls, so lat night was quite interesting. But the next two days could be much more interesting.

It is a great experience to be living right with the people in the community. It has been a lot of walking in high boots through a lot of mud. We´ve given up on keeping our clothes and bodies clean. It has been a great experience, but we will really be looking forward to returning to some of the conveniences we have gotten used to.

Love to all!

Jungle

We arrived back in Quito late Saturday afternoon, then traveled to Riobamba Saturday night. We are now at Daniella´s house with her family. They welcomed us with great hospitality. This morning we are going to their church and then this afternoon to Banos for overnight. We had many experiences in the jungle we will never forget including large boas, heavy storms, tarantula spiders, and our canoe that sank in the rapids spilling all of us into the river. We praise God for our safety and for our teachers safety. Several of the teachers did not know how to swim and nearly drowned. It was a week we will never forget! I hope to write more later with some pictures.

Below is a brief excerpt I wrote on Wednesday but could not upload to the internet in Tena because it was too slow.

We arrived in the community in the jungle Sunday evening after a long bus ride through
exhiliarating moountain views. On Monday, we walked to a waterfalls along a beautiful
jungle path and went swimming at the base of the waterfalls. It is extremely hot in the
jungle, but is everything plus much more than we ever imagined! On Tuesday, we hiked
about 1 1/2 hours to a cave and then deep into the cave. Today, we are on our way to a
second community where we will stay tonight. Tomorrow we travel by canoe four hours to a
beach along the river where we will camp. Friday more canoe and return to first village.

The community reminds us much of Africa. The living conditions are very basic. Many
stories to tell, but little time now at the internet cafe in Tena. We have had severe
thuderstorms, heavy rains, and strong winds. In the community, we have been staying in
bamboo huts with thatched or tin roofs. The heavy rains and winds come through the bamboo
walls, so lat night was quite interesting. But the next two days could be much more
interesting.

It is a great experience to be living right with the people in the community. It has
been a lot of walking in high boots through a lot of mud. We´ve given up on keeping our
clothes and bodies clean. It has been a great experience, but we will really be looking forward to
returning to some of the conveniences we have gotten used to.

Love to all!

Last Day in Canoa

Today is our last day of classes in Canoa. Saturday, we leave at 6:30 for Bahia and then an 8 hour bus ride back to Quito on bumpy twisty roads. Hope to arrive in Quito by 5 or 6 p.m. Saturday. Pray for safety. Sunday morning, we leave at 6:30 a.m. for another long trip into the jungle with our spanish teachers.

This week has been a very restful and refreshing week. The people here live in small houses made of babmoo or concrete. Most people are very friendly. I imagine often what it would be like to plant a church in a community like this. Yesterday, Judy and I rode back from San Vincente on a bus full of children returning from school and other travelers. There is a strong sense of community. Very few have cars, some have motorcycles, most use the buses or motorcycle/bicycle taxis.

We will miss this place, but we are eager to move on to the jungle and experience living with the indigenous Ecuadorians in their small jungle villages. Pray for health and safety and learning as we continue to travel. We have experienced your prayers in many ways and have felt a keen sense of God´s presence with us. Blessings to you all!

More of Canoa

It´s Wednesday afternoon in between spanish classes. Jessica, Janelle and Justin are having surfing lessons and Judy and I are in internet cafe. Yesterday, I did something I always wanted to do - have a lesson in para gliding. The children also did it. Prices are very cheap in Ecuador. We glided off a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. What a sensation. I glided to within five feet of a falcon and then watched it dive a couple hundred feet to catch a lizard or snake. Yesterday morning we encountered our first snake. It was a 5-6 foot constrictor crawling within ten feet of our rooms where we sleep. One of the natives caught it and carried it away.

We are having a wonderful relaxing week with family and new friends. Judy and I usually get up about 6:30 for quiet time. Breakfast is at 8:30. Classes are from 9-11 and 3:30-5:30. Almuerzo (lunch) is at 1 and merendar (evening meal) is at 7. Then we play card games as a family and with whoever else is with us till about 9.

Spanish continues to be a lot of hard work, but it is more relaxing by dividing it into morning and afternoon classes. God has given us this week to truly relax and gain new perspective on life and the world around us. This week should be good preparation for next week in the jungle. Even cold showers feel great. We all have been in great health the last couple days.

I have pictures I want to upload, but I forgot to bring my adapter to upload the pictures and a friend´s camera ran out of battery. Maybe tomorrow or next day. God bless. We think and pray often for our family and church family back home.

Arrived at Canoa

Wearrived at Bahia 7 a.m. Satuday morning. Bicycle taxi took me and our luggage to the boat. Small boat taxi to St. Vincente, then taxi to Canoa. Rested Saturday.

Reflections from Judy journal: Wehave two rooms on ground level overlooking the Pacific ocean. Rooms are not that great - cold showers, thin sheets, soft mattresses and old towel. Outside is fabulous - 3 cabinas with hammnmocks and bamboo benches, coconut palms, flowers. A low key relaxingplace. Should be a good place to reflect if we don´t run away from that time and fill it with other things. After a good nights sleep, woke up to no electricity and no running water. I was dreading taking a cold shower, but I found I was angry that there was no water at all. I take these things for granted as givens rather than as gifts. I am obviously a spoiled American. The place is not quite what I expected but I do beleive that this is wehre are to be. This will provide the opportunity for some quality, close family time.

Ron: After waiting for 45 minutes for internet cafe, I have only 10 minutes till need to take 30 minute walk back to lunch. Terrible keyboard, so may be mistakes.

We have so much to be grateful for. Cold showers, windows, coconuts, mangos, returned appetite, health, children, familky, new friends. It´s a bit harder to be thankful for roaches, spiders, bugs, cold showers, soft sinking beds, but there is so much to praise the Lord!

Love to all.