January 25th

Last weekend we went to a town called Puerto Lopez.  It's a little fishing village in a stretch of coast called the "Ruta Del Sol".  It was fun watching the fishing boats bring their catch in and the frigate birds trying to steal it.  There was a beautiful beach about a 10 minute drive north of Puerto Lopez called Los Frailes.  We hiked up to a lookout for an amazing view of the coastline. All in all, it was a nice, relaxing weekend.  Here are a few photos...

January 10th, 2009!

Hard to believe that it's already 2009!  We hope that all are doing well and staying safe amidst the crazy weather...

We wanted to tell you a little bit about our congregation here in Ecuador, Corales.  The congregation is constantly in flux with ones moving in and out, so it's hard to get an actual count of Publishers, but it seems to be around 120??  The attendance is always well above that number because there are lots of kids and lots of Bible studies.  In the weeks leading up to assemblies and conventions all the elders are busy after meetings going over the questions for baptism with different ones.  It seems like every other week they are announcing a new publisher.  The territory is very small and they work it about every three weeks.  So it's amazing to think that there is still that much growth!  

What has impressed us the most are the kids.  Several study and come to the meetings without their parents.  One example is Jose.  I believe he's 8 years old. A couple in the congregation found him door to door.  He was home alone with his two younger sisters.  It's not uncommon to find kids home alone here because both parents are working.  That's the case with Jose's parents.  Both work full time and when they're not working they're out drinking and partying.  Sometimes he has to take his sisters out late at night to go look for his dad to make sure he's ok and alive.  At this time his parents aren't interested in studying, but they're happy to let the kids study since it's free childcare. The couple who studies with them comes to their home to help them get dressed for meetings.  Jose just joined the school.  Most of the children in the congregation will answer straight from the paragraph, but Jose comments in his own words, beautiful comments.  They are such an encouragement to the congregation.  

We've been told that a lot of the growth in this area is from ones who studied or learned the truth when they were younger and are coming back to it.  It's a good reminder that God's word is alive and can have a powerful effect on a person at any age.     

Here are a couple photos from our congregation.  The first one is of Jose and his sisters...

December 31st

We hope everyone survived the crazy weather!  It's been all over the news down here.  We are experiencing the other extreme- it keeps getting hotter and hotter!  Everyone keeps telling us that the rainy season will officially start tomorrow- literally.  They say there will be a downpour tomorrow and everyday from then till the end of the season.  We're anxious to see if it's true.  I never thought we'd be anxious to see if it rains :-)

We had our last big crew meeting this past Monday.  The work is quickly wrapping up, the last group of International Volunteers are starting to head back to their homes, and the temporary Bethelites who have been working on this project for months and years will be finding out where they go next.  Our overseer encouraged everyone to apply themselves to whatever assignment they receive next and to know that Jehovah greatly appreciates the time they devoted to this assignment.  It was very encouraging for all.  He and his wife are going to Myanmar for their next assignment.  The other International Servant couple just received their next assignment to Liberia.  It's exciting to think about the scope of the work going on worldwide!  

Here is a photo of the Construction crew and some photos of different creatures we've encountered on the branch property. Scorpions, and snakes, and octopus.. oh my!!  PS- yes- those are baby scorpions on the back of the big one!

December 10th

Last weekend we went to a town called Cuenca, about five hours southeast of Guayaquil.  We stayed in a hotel that was once the home of the owners grandfather.  The hotel, like many of the old homes in Cuenca, was built around a courtyard with all the rooms facing the courtyard.  The hotel was beautiful and the city was beautiful- very Colonial.  On the way home we visited some Incan ruins.  Here are a few photos from our trip... 

December 4th

A little bit about the food in Ecuador...  It is bien rico!  They eat a lot of fish here in Guayaquil.  We will often have shrimp, seabass, or tuna.  They eat rice with nearly every meal (lunch and dinner). Not a lot of beans, which makes me very happy:-)  They are masters at working plantains and yucca into all sorts of dishes.  Fruits and vegetables are very inexpensive here.  So we eat a lot of fruits that would be a "luxury" back home- mango, papaya, pineapple, watermelon, etc..

I've really been enjoying working in the kitchen.  It's a great crew.  I usually work with the group that preps the food.  Today we cut 110 lbs. of pork into little cubes. It took 3 of us more than 3 hours!  Here they call pork "Chancho".  By the end of it we were joking that we had "chancho elbow" or "chanchonitis".  I'm quickly learning that working in the kitchen is not for the feint of heart!  

We've been having fun swapping bible trivia too.  Here's one for all of you...  In which 5 places has the Governing Body ever resided?  and here are some photos from the kitchen...  

November 29th

Here's the scoop on the work at the branch...  The original project was a Water Reservoir, Residence Building, Translation Department, and expansion to the Literature Warehouse.  That all got finished up and then the branch got approved to build a Visitor Center and Parking Lot and to remodel a couple offices.  That's why we're here.  The goal is to finish up this phase by the end of January. We've been having a blast working with the local brothers.  They're hilarious!  Here are a couple photos of the construction work and one photo of our little work-site mascot...

November 22nd

Last week a group of fifteen of us went to a town called Monteverde to help with the Tract Campaign. We left the branch early in the morning and stopped to leave the tract at all the roadside vendors along the way.  We got to Monteverde around 10 am.  Our assignment was to work the whole town!  It took our group about 3 hours.  Since this town rarely gets covered, they asked us all to make a note of any interest so they could follow up on it.  This was a challenge because it seemed like everyone we talked to would have liked another visit!  We spent the afternoon with a family from Colorado who has been living in Ecuador for years.  They have a son named Ryan, who is 13 and just started pioneering. It was a great day- very encouraging for Tait and I.  Here are a couple photos...