Settling In

Transit to Ecuador went smoothly. With all hoops jumped through, luggage collected, we arrived like movie stars walking down the red carpet. In Ecuador it is an event when someone arrives at the airport; the whole family comes and squeezes along the aisle to see who just came from the States. Even though we were strangers, so many people smiled at us with geniune warmth. It took me by surprise. Although raging panic gripped me in the quiet hours of travel, this completely soothed my nerves.


We were driven by van, the following day, from Guayaquil to Cuenca. We had never been in this area of Ecuador before, and I found the drive to be fascinating. Just out of Guayaquil, it really looked like the "banana republic," with banana trees, plantations, and fruit stands along both sides of the road. There were a lot of police checkpoints, so you knew you were definitely not in Hawaii.

Then we ascended into the cloud forest, a breathtaking, car sickening, and sometimes terrifying experience, because at some points it looked like the driver was going by memory, since sight was not possible. I've concluded one thing: Ecuadorians are insane drivers!!!

Terrain changed from tropical to desolate paramo in Las Cajas national park. We actually saw llamas! And it hailed a little. Once through that stretch of terrain we began to descend into the valley of our destination. The sun had come out and the view awed me to tears. I heard exclamations of awe from Nathan and Taylor and I knew the journey was worth it.

We are staying with a very gracious family in very congested downtown Cuenca. Their residence is on a narrow, cobblestone street, and looks like nothing from the outside. Open the door and it´s like Mary Poppins magic bag. A grand foyer downstairs. Upstairs, the kitchen, three or four living rooms and dens, six bedrooms, and maids quarters. On the down side, the two bathrooms we have access to are marginally functional. (I no longer have the expectation of having a truly hot shower for six weeks.) They have two storefronts; one is a cafe they just opened called Mr.Food; the other is an upscale clothing store called Gemelys. The way they operate their businesses is very efficient. Three of their daughters work with their mom Nora in the store. The fourth works with dad Rolando in the cafe. They close in the early afternoon to come upstairs for lunch, then reopen again and work until eight. We try to keep out of their hair during the day, but it is fun to go down and have ice cream and hang out with the family in the evening at the cafe. There are two babies in the family, and Diana Ortiz (sister of Nora) and her family are here visiting, so we see them often.

Curtis Gee, Unsion TV network general manager, shared his testimony with us over a cup of coffee. While we are here Blake will be doing a little consulting with his marketing manager. Also,we plan to join Curtis and his family on their routine Saturday visit to a local orphanage. We will have to wait until mid-August to meet John Guido from Verbo church, since he is out of the country.

I suppose we will do a little exploring in the mean time. Pray for continued health and safety for all.

trudenski