Archive for February, 2007

This past week the school gifted us with a free trip including a guide to a Otavalo. This is the second time we been to Otavalo but you can see a lot more and do a lot more with private transportation. Otavalo is home to one of the largest indigenous markets in South America. The place was filled with people, food, and souvenirs. A short hike away were some waterfalls named Peguche. On the weekends we try to take advantage of the things that we know aren´t in New York City, such as hikes, waterfalls and active volcanoes. That’s right. This past weekend we went to a place called Cuicocha. It’s a giant crater about a mile above sea level. At first glance it looks like any normal big lake, but years ago this volcano blew its top. Instead of exploding, it imploded. Don’t ask me how or why, that’s just what they say. They say that all the water is there from all the snow that used to be on top of this mountain. You can still see the gas coming up from the bottom. This is our last week here and while we will miss the city and the people that we have met, we are looking forward to coming home to NYC.

Katie and I are really starting to feel like our time here is just about up. We only have two weeks left. While we have enjoyed our experience here, we are looking forward to returning home and serving our Lord side by side with you. This past weekend we went to a little town called Mindo. There are only about 1500 people who live there. While it isn’t technically considered the rainforest, I think we experienced the basic idea of what the rainforest is like. We stayed in a hostel with no TV or hot water. But those commodities were easily replaced with giant bugs. A New York cockroach wouldn’t have a chance out there. I saw a spider about the size of my hand and a mosquito about the size of a ping pong ball. But we enjoyed the town and the hostel. This weekend and the next couple of days are called Carnaval in Ecuador. It’s a four day weekend when the entire country takes off work and school and takes a vacation. Someone described it to me as a giant water fight. They said we might get wet on our way to school the next couple of days. We’ll see what happens. I pray that all of you are well and we’ll see you in a couple of weeks.

All is well in Ecuador. The weather is great, 70 and sunny, and from the weather reports I’ve been seeing of the U.S. all of you are probably very jealous. The past few weeks here have been interesting because of politics. There have been numerous demonstrations. The number of police officers and the army have doubled in some places. The people want the best for their country and for their own lives. I can’t help but think of the greatest need that is lacking in the lives of so many people here, in New York City and around the world: the gospel. Katie and I have lost count of the number of people who have told us that they have friends or family in New York City. As a congregation, how can we serve them with the gospel? How can we reach them to give them the greatest need/gift of all? I pray that this is something you continually think and pray about.