This has been an amazing experience. God has worked out details and guided our steps in ways we would have never imagined! The rainforest is an absolutely beautiful place and we were blessed with very little rain. In fact, the only time it actually rained was overnight and then by morning it would quit. We got misted on a couple of times but nothing to create any problems.
We arrived Sunday afternoon and after lunch, we took a walk around the property where we were staying. They have a creek and some fantastic scenery. It is so crazy to think that this other-world-like place is so close to Quito!
Monday morning we spent the day with some school children, playing and telling them the story of Ruth and how God has a plan for each of their lives as well. We asked them to write down or draw a dream they have for their lives and it was touching to see their answers. We also spent some time helping the town build a wall with cement and rocks next to the river so that they have a safe walkway to the river. We worked some more on the wall after lunch and then had an opportunity to swim in the river. Very cold but refreshing after the hard work.
Tuesday morning we headed in the other direction and spent some time with the children in another school in a different little village. Again, their answers and sweet spirits was touching. After lunch was a real adventure. The town is laying pipe to bring water from a spring in the mountains to the village below. On the way to the rainforest Sunday we stopped and bought 300 feet of flexible pipe. We spent the afternoon hauling the pipe up a mountain, down the other side and back up the next mountain! It was uncoiled so we were spread out and slipping and sliding on the mud. We calculated it was about a 2 mile hike one way! We were exhausted and very humbled when it was over but it was also very exhilerating and fun -once it was over! The townspeople then treated us to fresh squeezed sugar cane.
Yesterday we hiked (again) to a waterfall that was also amazing and then spent a little more time swimming in the river. The rest of the afternoon I spent packing and resting.
Tomorrow and Saturday we will be loving on children at Maria Campi orphanage and may make a stop at the center of the world (latitude 0 and longitude 0). Sunday and Monday, we will be at an orphanage we have never been to before. It is where the children from Jesus Divino went when that facility closed. It is quite heartbreaking to hear what happened to them. They were given a backpack, told to get on a van and then taken to the prison where their parent is and left on the street. Somehow the director at this new orphanage found out about it and agreed to take them in so that would not be on the street or in the prison with their parent.
THANK YOU for your prayers - they have been felt and greatly appreciated! Please continue to pray for our safety and health. Cindy is not feeling too well tonight so pray for her to adjust to the altitude and recover quickly. Also please pray that these precious children would see God in our actions and our attitudes and they would be drawn closer to Him. Above all, it is our prayer that He be glorified in all that we do.
I love you all!
Jeannine
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