Daytrip To Saquisili

Lately I have been supporting the Kichwa Language group out in service on Thurdays, along with a small group of others learning the language. We usually have to go about an hour away in bus, and we stay there the whole day, until 6:00pm or so. I have really been enjoying it, but as the Kichwa speaking people are very spread out throughout the valley, and no one has a car, we spend a good part of the time just walking. So it is hard to practice my presentation very much, as our chances of getting to talk are so spread out. That being the case, a couple of brothers arranged for a group of us to go this last Tuesday to some communities where everyone speaks Kichwa.

Saquisili, where we were meeting another group of brothers, is kind of far away so we made arrangements to stay at a sister's house in South Quito Monday night so we wouldn't have to leave so early the next morning.

here we are meeting at our house Monday night. we ended up waiting for quite a while as one of the brothers went to go get a "quick" hair cut. so typical. we ended up leaving only an hour and a half late, which is good.



we finally arrived in Quito. quick photo op in front of a fountain. still half an hour away from the sister's house. this was the first time that i have stayed the night at somebody's house here in Ecuador. it really made me appreciate my wonderful little apartment. the family who let us stay with them is a poor witness family of 7, plus 8 of us staying with them made for a full house. we were 15 in a small apartment with one bathroom. it was also so, so cold, as it usually is in South Quito. but as there were three of us in a double bed, we managed to stay warm enough. when we set off the next morning at 6:30 it was just above freezing.




In Saquisili we met up with a group from the South Quito Kichwa congregation, whose territory this is. Here we are loading into a couple of trucks we hired to take us out to the territory.

baaa...

taking a short five minute break. The territory was very rough, with a lot of hiking. After eating the banana bread and chocolate crinkle cookies I brought my backpack felt a lot lighter.

Luis was very happy; one of the householders he talked to was in the middle of harvesting potatoes and gave him a big bag full of them. Of course he then handed them off to another brother to haul around the rest of the day.

This was only my second time doing my presentation for the day and I was still really nervous. But this woman was very friendly, and patient, which helped. Also the sister I was working with, Pati, is fluent in Kichwa so after I do my presentation and leave the invitation she would talk a little bit more. Maria, the householder, promised that if at all possible she would be going to the memorial. In this area the momorial is going to be held in the house of a bible study. They had only talked with her three times when she found out they were looking for a place to hold the memorial, and she offered her house. However the brothers first had to go talk to the Chief of the community to ask permission. Permission was granted.

Lunch Time! The night before we prepared rice with chicken and other meat and vegetables, then reheated it in the morning. We mixed it with the rice that the other group had brought, and that was lunch. And it was a lovely room temperature. Needless to say, I took a grapefruit seed extract with that meal.

But it was a beautiful spot to eat lunch at and rest a bit before we continued service.

Starting the long hike up to the next community, Chilla Grande.

At least one brother had a car, so he loaded as many people as he could, and they were saved this part of the hike. I sent my backpack in the car, best decision of the day. Esteban looks like he was getting a little tired. He was the one elected to carry the potatoes the whole day.

Another group shot, but we still had a long way to go. But the scenery was incredible.

At first the two brothers were preaching to these woman, but when they saw that I had the camera out they wanted more pictures.

Done for the day, waiting for a truck to pass by that could take us back to the town to catch our bus.

But then a bible study of one of the sisters insisted that we stay and eat something. Remember these potaotes...

The woman added our potatoes to hers, plus some carrots that another sister was given.

As we were taking this picture everyone was joking about our family resemblance. Ha ha. If only I was short with brown hair and eyes and skin... life would be so much easier.

This is the sister that studies with these kids and their mom. For a long time she and her mother were the only ones that preached in this whole area. Recently a group of brothers have starting going here on Tuesdays. As it is though, there are still many parts that don't get reached.

Heading back into town.

The first of six buses that I would take that night to arrive back to my house.

Cotopaxi, one of the highest volcanoes. The one that we climbed. Ok well, for like an hour, just until we reached the snow.

Although I returned home dead tired and totally worn out, it turned out to be a very succesful day. I practiced my Kichwa, we helped out in a territory where the need is very great, and I got to make some new friends. It was quite an experience going out in service there. The indigenous culture is very very different from the Ecuadorian culture we are use to. The country, as small as it is, is still so very diverse. But the people are so hospitable and are very receptive to the truth. It is amazing to see first hand how the good news really is being spread to every corner of the world, to every tribe, nation and tongue.