Day 20-A long hike produces great results

Day 20 began every other day-bible reading with Leah, breakfast and the daily text as a group. I always have struggled to do the text everyday so this arrangement is really nice. We began by walking down the street and speaking to a girl at the bus stop and then a 30 minute drive to an isolated territory, but we stopped to preach along the way.

We left the car by the side of the main road to walk down a small path by an overgrown bustop. You would never know from the road that this little community called Conchai was hidden back in the rainforest. The natural beauty was breath-taking! We crossed a river and hiked back about 30 minutes and found about 5 or 6 houses. 

Leah on road to bridge in Conchai

Bridge in Conchai

Ryan, Veronica, Tatiana, Leah

Washing gold (panning for gold)

Veronica y Tatiana entering the thick stuff

Ryan, Santiago Israel & me after a
good conversation

At the last one Ryan and I had a nice conversation with a young man named Santiago Israel. He was concerned about the end coming in 2012 (Mayan calendar). We had an extra copy of the magazine that had he article regarding the Mayan calendar and considered many texts with him. His mother had so many beautiful flowers in the yard that we brought the girls over to see and take pictures. Ecuadoreans are pretty chilled.

Natural beauty...and how about the flowers!

Coffee beans on the plant

View on the road to Guadalupe

We were supposed to meet up with the rest of the group in Piuntza at 10:00 but we didn’t get there until 11:30-oops-so we went ahead to the next town called Guadalupe. Here in the towns- because the buildings are all connected and there can be sometimes multiple doors on one house- they paint the outside and pillars different colors so you can differentiate between them.  We preached a little in town and then sat in the park in the center to eat lunch (Veronica & Ryan had made and packed of course) All that walking (& carbs maybe) makes me a little sleepy. 



Preach, eat sleep. La buena vida!

Shuar, Tierra, Oriental

The town is built around a Catholic Church and seminary. There is a big bridge the locals have painted with scenes of life representing the different groups of people living in Ecuador on one side. And the different animal, plant and insect life here on the other side.

Esmeralda (coast), Quechua

I visited the priest in his huge mansion…I am not kidding-it was huge and beautiful. The difference in living conditions between him and the parishioners is shocking. He was kind but didn’t have time for me to share a scripture. Ryan and I worked with 2 young brothers from the congregation. We went pretty far back into the woods and came upon a community of about 5 houses. The highlight was visiting a family with at least 5 children: Carmen, Segundo, Marta, Mayra and David. Adrian and I spent about 45 minutes with them studying out of the “Teach” book. They chose chapter 6 “Where are our dead loved ones” (sorry, can’t remember the title in English anymore-been a long time). I asked if there was a reason they picked that one and Carmen said because our dad died 2 years ago. He wasn’t the best guy and they were concerned because they were told bad people go to hell and suffer. Yuck, right? Very comforting! Anyway, we sat down and went through the first 4 paragraphs and they all participated. It was a really touching experience. We will return at the end of the month to continue. It was a long walk but it produced great results!

 It was hot and there was a really clean, cool stream nearby so Ryan and the two boys went swimming-yeah, there’s no Tim Hortons here so we take our breaks at the nearest mountain stream. I was jealous so I dipped my head in the water. Next time I go there I will remember to bring a towel. I was really jealous.

Leah preached with Veronica y Tatiana, a young sister (13 yrs old) who is extremely capable at the door. She’s not intimidated by whoever the householder is-young, old, man, woman and she reads a scripture and asks questions. She must have placed 8 or more sets of magazines (Tatiana took the day off of school to come out in service all day).  They preached closer to the town center and worked toward the outskirts. Tatiana found a woman who invited us to sit and after she accepted the mags, her friend asked to have a set too and as they walked away the women were sitting there reading them.  They met up with tons of kids/young people home alone who almost all showed a desire to listen and learn something from the Bible.  Sometimes 3 or 4 would gather around and listen.  You can see why Jesus used them as an example in their humility and desire to learn.

On the way home we stopped by Hermana Cristina Cajas’ house for some delicious jugo de membrillo again (she’s got a ton of them falling from her fruit trees) and some homemade membrillo/papaya marmalade on homemade bread. Delicious!

Then a quick stop by the hall to check for the video on transfusion alternatives (unsuccessful) and a quick stop by the woman who sells tortillas de verde (an empanada made with green plantains, stuffed with chicken) –this, on the other hand, was very successful!

Couldn’t locate the video so we called into Spanish South’s meeting in Rochester to listen to the part and a little help with the answers (seeing as Ryan gave me the part) – Thanks Papito! Good review.

It was tiring day but really satisfying. It was a long walk to visit the 5 kids but, with Jehovah’s blessing, it will produce great results.