Friday July 22, 2005

There is nothing that sparks the imagination more than waking up to the smells of a mouthwatering breakfast after a long journey. As is always the case, we were once again treated by Denise's "Welcome to Ecuador" hospitality.  The team filed through the kitchen and loaded their plates and sat down and began to bond.  Our team members came from California, South Carolina, Illinois, Missouri, Knoxville, Whitwell and Chattanooga Tennessee.  It is always amazing how God calls just the right people at just the right time. This group ranges in age from early teens to nearing retirement and everyone here is here for a reason.  Everyone here has a purpose. Everyone here will be blessed for their efforts and obedience to His call.

Today was a day for us to tour the city and regroup after our long trip and acclamate to the high altitude (10,000 ft.)  Altitude plays an important roll in trips here.  If you don't drink plenty of water and stay hydrated you can develop headaches and altitude sickness... no fun.  The other big contender in causing problems is the sun.  Being so close to the equator and at such a high altitude, the suns ultraviolet rays can burn your skin before you realize it, hense sun screen is a must. 

After breakfast it was time to head out for our first day in Ecuador.

One of the young Ecuadorian girls who works for Denise brought her daughter in with her to work and of course, our group just couldn't get enough.

After breakfast, we loaded up the bus and headed out for a day of touring.  First would be the old city of Quito, the capital of Ecuador, and then we would take a tram car to the top of the mountain (14,000 feet) and overlook the city.  Magarite Colon is one of our spiritual leaders for the trip and each day on the bus she brings us a devotional to start the day and help us keep focused and in tune with our purpose here.  Unfortunately, even some of our seasoned veterans are deaf, blind and dumb to this teaching. <grin>

Denise's son-in-law Miguel acted as our tour guide for the day. (Those of you who know the Mill's family know that he is married to Brianna. She is in the states with family, about to give birth to their first child.  Unfortunately Miguel is having trouble getting through the Homeland Security Red Tape and so may not be able to be there for the birth.  PLEASE pray that God will open the door for him to be with his wife for this blessed event.)

The bus dropped us off in the old section of Quito.  This historic area is home to several beautiful cathedrals. The Christian heritage of this region dates back to the conquering Spaniards.  The beautiful architecture, ornate decorations and sometimes macabre statuary and displays in these churches, lend understanding to the level of superstition that permeates the Catholic Church in South America.  Some of our team took the opportunity to offer up prayers and light candles for our families back home. Ironically, immediately outside these holy places, street vendors offer everything from candles for prayer to racy magazines. As we walked the streets, we quickly realized that we weren't "in Kansas anymore".  Poor children and women, dressed in rags approach us, trying to sell us candy or shine our shoes.  The problem is if you give to one, you are swarmed by a dozen more, and they don't take no for an answer.  We were advised not to give to them because of this, but just about everyone's heart was broken by the situation and they gave in.

The shops along the street are mostly one room store fronts.  One wonders how someone could ever make a living out of these tiny shops, but then again we are told that the average salary for middle class people in this region is around $180 per month... another eye opener. 

This area is also the seat of government.  We say several government buildings including their version of The White House, complete with waving flag overhead. 

While in the square outside these buildings, we did encounter a street preacher.  Raising his voice above the din of the lunch hour crowd to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to all who would listen.  In our country, most would move away, but here many just sat on the benches and listened.  

All in all it was a fascinating trip through history and into a new culture.

The next leg of our journey took us to the edge of Quito and a newly opened tram ride to the top of a neighboring mountain.  The ascent took 8.5 minutes and covered over 4000 feet in altitude.  The tram was located at a small amusement park and game center.  We grabbed a quick lunch there and then stood in line for over an hour to ride up to the top.  Some found the journey a bit unnerving, others found it exhilerating, dangling from a single cable while shooting up the face of the mountain.  Once there though, the view was absolutely incredible.  Interestingly, because of the altitude, the temperature dropped from the low 70s at the base of the mountain, to the mid 30s on the mountain. Brrrrrrrr... and the air is really thin.  It is very easy to get short of breath walking up inclines or climbing stairs. Adjusting to this sudden change in altitude can cause problems for some. If you don't believe it, then why do they have an Emergency Room at the top of the tram for those who feel its dramatic effects.

After our excursion to the mountain it was back to the compound for some rest and preparation for our first clinic.  We will be heading out around 7:30 am and will spend the day ministering to the physical and spiritual needs of the people in this area.  Then our host church will come to the site and hold a remote worship service for those in the area. 

We found out that last years mission to a remote area called Pintag spawned the beginning of a new church in that area. The Mill's chose the sites for this years mission in hopes that the same thing could happen in these areas.

Please pray for the people who will come, their health, their hearts and their salvation.

	We were blessed to have Kathy Whitson with us this year.  Kathy is a writer, poet, and professor of English at Eureka College in Eureka, Illinois.  Click the image to the left to experience a day in the mission field through Kathy's eyes.