Arrived in Alausi, Ecuador! - August 3, 2014

What a beautiful day for a drive through the Andes Mountains!  It never ceases to amaze me how people adapt to the differences in the climate, landscape or constantly changing terrain.  There were several places on the drive where the bridges had been washed away and replaced a couple of times.  The roads are simply moved over a little further and cut into the mountain side.  

Corn is grown at 7000 ft and higher and at a 75 degree incline.  Of course, it's planted and harvested by hand.  Houses are built along the roads and at every possible location.  Maneuvering corners that open up to spectacular views of cities nestled in valleys along rivers is breathtaking.  Cities like Huigra and Alausi are both surrounded by incredible vistas:  patchworks of greens and yellows that cause this flatlander to feel smaller than ever.  What a humbling experience!  

I have met up with Team Ecuador 2014 at Hotel Gampala in Alausi.  The city is bustling with activity!  The Sunday market has a large crowd and most of the shops are open and active as well.  Street vendors and carts are making there way along the busy roads trying to sell their wares.  The temperature is 68 degrees and sunny but the sun is headed to the mountain ridges and in an hour will be gone for the day.

I'm going out for a walk and mingle with the people to practice my Spanish.

The Shepherd

Follow the team at TeamEcuador.us

Guayaquil, Ecuador - August 3, 2014

Awakened to the sounds of car whistles and car alarms.  That's right - now I remember.  I'm in South America.  Guayaquil, Ecuador to be exact.  

The sounds of Ecuadorian cities are very different from the sounds of other cities in  the world.  The Latin American culture has it's own flair.  It's own rhythm and heartbeat.  The cars are typically equipped with an electronic whistle to help with getting the attention of others.  The drivers use them constantly.  There are approximately 2.3 million people in Guayaquil and THAT is why I always travel with earplugs!

As the sun rises over the city, the details in the architecture of the Guayaquil Cathedral become even more intriguing.  I'll have to venture over there to take a closer look.  I'm staying at the UniPark Hotel which is adjacent to the cathedral and the Iguana Park.  The park has hundreds of large iguanas that are "free ranging".  You can get right up close but you shouldn't touch them.  The bigger ones are easily 1.5 meters long.

It's time for breakfast. 

The Shepherd 

Joining Up With The Team

I am currently in flight to Miami where I will catch another flight to Guayaquil, Ecuador.  I will make my way up the Andes Mountains to the city of Alausi, Ecuador.  This is the "Base Camp" for  Team Ecuador 2014 from St. John's Lutheran Church of Bloomington, IL.  They are currently staying at Hotel Gampala in Alausi.  The team is made up of 18 individuals from all over central and northern Illinois as well as a woman from Missouri.  This adventurous team has been building churches, schools, and providing fresh water to the Quichua by digging wells in the remote areas of Ecuador for eight years now.  You can follow their progress at TeamEcuador.us and also read about past projects.

I'll post pictures as I can.  For now, I'm going to try to sleep.

The Shepherd

A Spotlight on Missions - Ecuador

Team Ecuador 2014

Base Camp  -  Aluasi, Ecuador  -  Altitude:  2347 M  (or 7700 feet)
Final Destination - Jardin de Primavera - Altitude:  ???  TBA in a few days

Follow this mission team from St. John's Lutheran Church in Bloomington, IL as they work in the Andes mountains to complete a church building project, a children's bible study, a mother's retreat and provide needed medical attention to the people of Jardin de Primavera and other surrounding villages.

www.teamecuador.us


If you would like to donate funds for future Ecuadorian mission trips you can do so by selecting "Ecuador Missions" at this donation page.

Please follow the team and spread the word of the good things that are happening in Ecuador!