Traveling

We're packing up and preparing to head to Shell tomorrow. It's sad because we've enjoyed it here in Quito so much. Then we'll start preparing to go out to the jungle. Forgot how much work this is.

I'm struggling as we approach our time with the Waorani. I thought that I had accepted that we can't be here and had healed a lot, but I'm discovering that my heart still longs to be here. I'm reminded of what I can't do here more than I am at home. But neither of us feel that the Lord wants us here at this point in time anyway. So, I have to grieve(some more!) and then be at peace. My heart feels shredded. I do know that I can be content in either place, but I will always miss the people no matter where I am.

Tali is not well. I'm praying she recovers before we go out to the jungle. She's had a headache for a week now and aches all over and feels nauseated. She has tons of muscle spasms in her neck and shoulders.

We had our last pizza night with the students last night. We just did some debriefing with them (ie: What did you learn about Ecuador that you didn't expect? What did you learn about ministry and what did you learn about yourself? And, in light of this summer, now what?). It went well and was good for them to share.

Yesterday the maid told me about some trouble in her family over a piece of land and cried saying that their family used to be "united" and good friends, but that has all changed. They have a lawyer involved, but the other party harases her parents by yelling at them in front of their house (they all live in the same block in a small community). She is a Christian and told me it's all in God's hands, but it is hard to see her parents suffer. Sin looks the same in any culture and language.

Quito is much bigger and more modern. As we shopped the other day, a teenage Quichua girl, dressed in their traditional white embroidered top and long black skirts was minding her store of sweaters, scarfs, tablecloths and ponchos. Then I noticed that she was looking down and discovered that she was watching a soap opera on her iphone! Technology forms itself into unexpected places!

Please pray that I do well with the language. I've been having a lot of word finding difficulty since I started on Depakote. It's not an unusual side effect, but throw in another couple of languages and it's a real problem. I've had my dad help me write up what I want to say to the Waorani, but he struggled too. It's just so different....I know they will "see" what's in my heart, but I wanted to express it verbally too.

A Whale of a Time

We, and 7 college students, left Quito while it was still dark and quiet on the streets. As we wound our way up and down through mountains and more tropical regions, we worked our way towards the coast. The 10-12 hour bus trip took us 9.5. Either our driver was going to get us there really fast or not at all.

Puerto Lopez was a colorless coastal town with mototaxis running people around on the dirt streets. One had a lone goat in the back. I wasn't sure who was taking whom for a ride. It was desert, few trees (no leaves right now) and cacti, but the hosteria was like an oasis, overlooking the town and bay. The pool on the side of the hill spilled over the far edge, looking like it was cascading towards the ocean. It was a view right out of national geographic. We could see the ocean from bed! The food was wonderful and the landscaping beautiful.

The weather was overcast and rainy, but we enjoyed swimming and picnicking nonetheless. The whale watching tour we went on was by far the best thing of the entire weekend. We spotted 2 whales about 15 minutes into the tour and followed them for a couple of hours. They come to have their young in warmer Ecuadorean waters. It was quite a thrill to watch them breach the water and hear them spout. We turned around to head back when three whales swam under our small boat. The third one jumped 20 feet off our bow, crashing down and turning the water to blue foam. The guide's eyes got really big and her face turned as white as the belly's of the whales. We had no idea that this wasn't a normal part of a tour. It left us all speechless. Watch out Jonah, here we come!

The group ended the day by snorkeling off a small island complete with the famous blue footed boobies from the Galapagos! It seemed that the Lord just kept on giving and giving us blessings. I was able to enjoy much of our time and be with the group!

The Carabuela Project

My tendency on our blog is typically to post more fun stuff and side trips as opposed to stuff about work. Regardless, the work on the chlorination system for the clean water system in Carabuela has continued.

Things have NOT gone smoothly. The idea was that early on in our time here we would have the chlorination system up and running and the majority of our time would be spent helping adjust and regulate the chlorine levels while training the community water overseers on how to do this for themselves.

But the company that imported and installed these chlorine pumps ran into big trouble.One flow meter that measures the amount of water passing through a 4 inch pipe was the wrong model and cannot communicate with the chlorine pump. This company now has to wait a month for the new flow meter to be imported. Strike one.

The second chlorine pump that will dose the majority of the water system could not be turned on until we replaced some plumbing on the pump inlet and got a new base installed and welded down to some metal pieces embedded in the cement floor. Needed to do this: a welder we didn’t have and more precious time. Strike two.

This installation and welding took some effort and coordination. Thanks to Roberto, an Ecuadorian water engineer with HCJB Global, we were finally able to accomplish this. We finished that day all excited because we were able to start injecting chlorine into the majority of the water system. (This chlorine pump did not need a flow meter because we know the capacity of the main water pump and base the chlorine dosing on that known amount of water flow--about 7 liters per second.)

We returned to the community a week later ready to take chlorine readings throughout the system. However, when we arrived the president of the community water committee told us the chlorine pump had died after just 3 or 4 days of operation. Further investigation revealed that the metal shaft that comes out of the motor and turns to operate the pump mechanism was sheared off. It broke after just a few days when it should work for years and years. Something must be wrong in the dosing lines or with the pump itself. But because this Ecuadorian company installed this pump we need to wait for them to repair or replace it so we don’t get stuck with the cost of the second pump. Who knows how long this might take. Strike three.

The student’s last day on the project will be this coming Thursday so there will be little if any time for monitoring chlorine levels. Fortunately the entire project doesn’t ride on our shoulders. HCJB Global Water Projects has been working on the Carabuela water project for several years before this summer and will continue to help them after we are gone and until it is functioning well.

My only frustration is that we couldn’t be more of a part of the process. But it has been a realistic experience for the students. Projects, especially in developing countries, don’t always go as planned. Our prayer has been that God will be glorified in this community by the work, words and water that HCJB Global provides.

More important than pipes and pumps are the relationships we develop and that Christ’s light shines through us. One of my HCJB Global colleagues is fond of saying, “Preach the Gospel always, use words when necessary.” Her point is that God’s love can shine through in our actions and interactions—making a powerful nonverbal testimony about Jesus through our lives. I pray that Carabuela sees a glimpse of the Truth through our efforts. Batter up! Keep swinging for the fence.

Shocks and Tractor Tires

Natalia was invited to go horseback riding 2 times last week! Her favorite thing in a new country. She has a big smile on her face most of the time!

We went to a hot springs at Papallacta over the weekend with the group of college missionaries. Tali had a great time! It seems she is game for any type of adventure. I may regret that when she is an adult and traveling around the world...

We decided to go shopping downtown in an open air market the other day. Nate doesn't have time to go with us so some friends have been so gracious to make sure we get out and about! The taxi drivers crammed my wheelchair into their trunks and tied it shut with a piece of plastic bag. Whatever works!

There were more ramps than I expected in the side walks, but at times I had to get out of the chair while Tali and our friends or a passerby lifted the chair over the curb or steps...or to go around a police car that was parked on the side walk. Between the potholes that my wheelchair would sometimes lurch into we had to watch for grates and grooves in the pavement that were just the right width to grab my front wheels. (I think I could use some shocks and maybe tractor tires instead!) It was an adventure, but Tali thanked me several times afterwards because she enjoyed it so much. We saw lots of crafts from around the country and bought a few things. But it was her smile that was the best! Tali's arms are still sore from all the pushing and pulling.

Our time with the Waorani is fast approaching and I'm struggling to know what I want to say and how to express it. My heart is already overflowing with emotion. If I want any help with the language from my dad it has to happen before we're out of email contact.

Memories

By Rachelle

It sure feels good to be in Ecuador. I'm soaking in the sounds of the city, the honking horns, the sound of never-ending construction contrasted with the barking dogs and singing sparrows and vendors selling their wares. Natalia and I both had culture shock the night we landed. To go from the ranch which is surrounded on 3 sides by national forest to a city and homes that have no insulation from outside noise was a stretch! It is like having no glass in the windows. But we are both enjoying it now that we've gotten settled in to an apartment here.

The flight went well and the Lord provided some "angels" to assist us. Thanks for praying for the nausea. It has disappeared! Somebody helped themselves to a couple of things in our luggage, but it wasn't that important (a curling iron--must have been having a bad hair day...).

Getting out and about is an adventure with my wheelchair. It does not fit in all taxis and even then we have to dismantle it. I told Nate that I could do with some shocks to smooth out all the bumps and potholes! But everyone has been extremely helpful and kind, going out of their way to help. At the grocery store I could not wheel through the check out because it was too narrow, so the baggers just picked up the counter and moved it. Now there's a good reason not to fasten everything down!

I'm getting a lot more exercise just going from the bedroom to the kitchen so I sleep really well at night! Tali has been a huge help with laundry, dishes and cooking (and there is a maid, too). Pacing myself is a challenge as I want to do so much and see Tali experience everything first hand! It is great fun.

Tali and I are studying a little Spanish a bit each day. I'll need to add in some Waorani soon too. Nate was on facebook with a Waorani the other day so we may have visitors some day!

Tali is enjoying the tropical fruits and Ecuadorean food. We are hanging out a bit with the summer missionaries who are all college students so it is a bit similar to having all the Latigo staff to interact with. She seems to enjoy that.

Carabuela Water Project

I wanted to begin to explain what I've been up to while I'm up here in Ecuador. I'm assisting two engineering students from the USA (Neal and Ryan) with an HCJB Global Community Development water project in the community of Carabuela. Carabuela is a highland community consisting of mostly ethnic Quichua working in the textile industry. Most homes weave sweaters, ponchos and woven goods to sell in both local and international markets. Beautiful colors and patterns abound. As does beautiful mountains and pastoral panoramas.

Carabuela's population is around 3,000 people. The community had an existing water system but it was not functioning well when they approached HCJB Global to help in 2005. Things have been slowly improving ever since. Currently the system is providing much improved water to the majority of the residents through mostly new pipes with residential water meters in most houses.

The water comes from about a half-dozen various springs that are gathered in holding a large, underground holding tank(under this building and one other) and then pumped up (this is the pump--20 horse power mas o menos)to a large tank an the top of a nearby hill. This water is then gravity fed to both the higher houses and other reservoirs that sit lower in order to avoid overly-high pressures in the system.

What we are trying to do is add a chlorine disinfection system to remove the bacteria load from the system. This involves two points where the chlorine will be added from a concentrated tank into the water system based on the flow rates. The ideal is to have a ratio of about one part chlorine per million parts of water. This would be essentially equivalent to most residential water systems in the US. Of course things aren't going as smoothly as we would like, but such is the pace of community development most times.