Limited space

When you have a lot to write and only one sheet of paper...

Agnes Strikes Again!

A boy and his bear

Do you like my hat?

I do!  I do like that hat!

Happy birthday to this amazing guy!

I've loved him for quite a few years now!

"Cable car" in Mindo, Ecuador

Overlooking Quito

Ready to go rafting on the river

After Bible study

Marina Redel from Canada and Heidi Maricle from the States were passing through, so we met them for lunch yesterday, and they came to our evening Bible study at Sra. Patricia's.

My kind of science

Our morning visit

Sra. Maruja, don Justo & daughter, Ana Beli

And then I found a few pictures...

I took a grand total of three pictures today.  Here they are.

This is a "sign" that Karmen and I had seen when she was down here but hadn't captured photographically.  I managed to get it today.  It's spanglish for "I love you you."

I was trying to capture all the flowers in pots on the side of the house, but the picture didn't take until we were nearly past.  

Our DELICIOUS supper tonight!!!

We don't see too many vegetables down here, so this was a real treat.

Another anniversary

I didn't really think I had anything to blog about today.  Then I talked to my parents, and they reminded me that today is the 3rd anniversary of my arrival in Ecuador.  How have three years gone by already?!  I don't know how this works, but it feels like the time has flown by and at the same time like it has been a lifetime since I was anywhere else.  

Now I'm asking myself, "What have I learned since coming to Ecuador?"  Here are a few things that I've come up with in answer to that question.  In no particular order.

1. ALWAYS look where you're walking.  Even surfaces are a rarity here, and you never know what you might step in if you're not careful.

2. Things that initially seem strange and foreign become common more quickly than you might think.

3. There are some things you may just never get used to.

4. Modern communication technology is wonderful (when it works).  It definitely makes the distance between here and home seem less.

5. Hot showers are a luxury, not a necessity.

6. Make sure you have everything settled with the Lord before you get on the bus.

7. Quietness is a commodity greatly to be appreciated.  (I think I knew this before but perhaps did not appreciate it as I should have.)

8.  Being on time is not a universal concept.

9. Being a foreigner is at times an advantage and at times a disadvantage.  You just have to take the bad with the good.  It's not likely to change.

10. It is possible to feel very much at home in a place that is very unlike your home.

I look forward to seeing what else this adopted home of mine will teach me before it's all said and done.

And as always.......  COME VISIT!!!

Acrocat

My work space

Sweet Salomé

"Smile," I said.

So she did.

Traveling back to Ipiales

January 7 was a beautiful sunshiny day - perfect for shooting a hundred photos or so out the bus window as we traveled north.

Waiting for the bus at the terminal in Ibarra

Watermelons for sale

El lago Yaguarcocha

Can you see the man plowing with his horse in the field in front of the lake?

Sugarcane 

Growing roses

That's a river, not a road

Sunday market under the temporary tent roof

The bus terminal in Tulcán was full of people.  We were definitely glad to be at the end of our bus journey instead of just beginning it!