Getting Started

As most of you know, Hannah and I are planning on moving to Ecuador in a couple very short weeks, around the 9th of May. (Visa paperwork still pending...) Duration of stay yet unknown. We've purchased a one-way ticket, so the ball is in our court once we arrive and see what we've got ourselves into. We hope the ecuador government will accept our application to live there with their "missionary" status, considered to be under the custody of the branch while there. There is a special religious visa that the society has been able to use in behalf of the brothers wishing to serve there. As the visa puts us under the supervision of the branch, they will keep a close eye on us at all times, which is nice. We are to report to them regularly as to our progress, needs and where abouts.

We have already "signed" a 6 month contract on our apartment in Tumbaco, so we will be there for at least that long. Tumbaco is a middle to upper class community about 20 miles East of the city, Quito. It's altitude is about 1,000 feet lower than Quito, so it enjoys a warmer climate year round. Eternal springtime, so they say. It has a movie theater and a mall, in addition to the local street markets and shops. The kingdom hall is just down the street and there are a number of witness nieghbors in the area.

*below are a few pictures that were pulled from various websites to give you an idea of our future surroundings. these will be replaced by our own pictures shortly!



ARIAL VIEW OF QUITO

Quick facts about ecuador: Although it is on the equator (thus the name Ecuador), the weather varies drastically depending on region. In the mountains, there is snow. It is spring-like weather in the capital of Quito with a lot of rain, and the Coast "enjoys" a humid, sub tropical climate.

The capital of Quito, situated in the Andes Mountains, is the second highest capital in the world at 9,000 feet. Quito was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2001 for it's spanish architectural structures in the downtown area, all still is use. They are actually quite impressive.

BASILICA CATHEDRAL IN QUITO

There are currently no english congregation in the whole of the country, although the toursit and ex-patriate population grows daily. Currently, there are 3 small english groups meeting throughout the country. While the official language is of course spanish, over 21 living languages are in use by the people of Ecuador today. (None of which are english)

STREETS OF QUITO

QUITO MARKET

While the economic climate in Ecuador is shaky, it does enjoys a relatively stable political temperament and crime rate. As one journalist put it, he happened to be in Ecuador during the most civil movement of civil unrest he'd ever seen. It seems to be one of the safer countries of the Americas to relocate to at the moment. As in any country, common sense goes a long way and is your best defense... which is why I am bringing Hannah!

The Galapagos Islands, part of Ecuador, are famed for their beautiful white beaches and vast number of endemic species and the studies by Charles Darwin that contributed to the inception of Darwin's theory of evolution. Hmmm...

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

The Mayor of Guayaquil Ecuador, Jaime Negot, has appointed a parrot as his official spokesman. Mr. Nebot, who has come in for heavy criticism from the press and public for his social security policies, introduced his new feathered friend and latest employee at a press conference. Explaining the appointment, he said the parrot would be in charge of all the undesirable questions that he has no time to answer. Thought that was funny...

And most importantly: The last few years, Ecuador has seen a significant increase in publishers, so there is an obvious need for help in the territory. We hope to become fluent as quickly as possible so as to have as full a share as possible.

~Elsie

general information sights:
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/samerica/ec.htm

http://www.ecuaworld.com/ecuaphotos/