Day 1: ¡Otavalo Adventuras! | June 13th 2015

Hola family, friends, familia, y amigos!

We are HERE in Quito and have already had pages of journal worth adventures.

First, we need to thank the Lord for bringing us here safely and for the incredibly family lead by Pancho y Pity Rosero who picked us up from the airport with their 3 children at 1am! They are amazingly welcoming hosts and we couldn't feel more taken care of by this special family.

FYI you can learn more about them here and here...these link will be in the side bar for you to access later.

We'd love for you to meet the team as well! Click here, check the link on the side, or just click on the really big picture at the top of the page to learn about us. We'd really appreciate your prayers this week!

As for what we've been up to...some highlight follow but check out more at this page (videos here as well)

We have not even been here for 24 hours but, as noted, we've already had a weeks worth of experiences...delayed flights, an hour in customs, cold showers, mountain roads, haggling in a market, first class lunch on a lake under a volcano, a view of a snowcapped volcano, an over heated engine adventure, all while getting the opportunity to bond as a team.

First, our flight out offered several view of rainbows - beautiful! For a group with several leaving the country for the first time and lots of unknown up ahead, it was beautiful to see this reminder of God's peace.

After about 5 hours of sleep and a DELICIOUS breakfast, we left for the mountain market town of Otavalo - you won't see scenery like this in Georgia! Again, spending our first day in the midst of God's grandeur reminded us we're in His care.

Octaval offered several in our group their first opportunity to haggle! Lots of fun getting gifts for family and experiencing a brand new culture.

This picture especially captures the Ecuador we are getting to know. Rich and poor coexist, not necessarily aware of one another, in a bustling community. Our eyes and hearts were certainly open to a new level of need.

After the market we were in for a treat. Lunch on the shores of a lake under a volcano.

After some MORE amazing local cousine, we took the opportunity to get to know the indigenous population!

The ride home was just as stunning as the way in! We played "car games" and even broke out into hymns seeing these views of sweeping values and snow capped volcanos.

Our adventure weren't done though! From Otavalo back to Quito its several kilometers of steep up hill. While our I-think-I-can I-think-I-can van, couldn't handle the task and over heated four times, delaying us about two hours and requiring us to abandon ship 10 minutes from home. Don't worry, our friends picked us up!

And our spirits didn't let up once. In fact between singing Sound of Music, Bob Marley, and other assorted musicals, we actually had a pretty good time and grew even closer as a team through a true adventure!

And you'll love this, "towing a car Ecuadorian style". Some of the team went back to two the derelict van using a ford explorer and 3 stands twisted of nylon rope. Unbelievably, it held the entire way up the hill!

 I couldn't but help think in that instant of Ecclesiastes 4:12

"And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken."

And so we feel the same. Alone we will not find the strength here. But with your support, and that of the Lord, we can stand confidently in the midst of a demanding call. We can't thank you enough! Muy buenas noches  and peace to you ALL in Jesus name!

~EMT 2015~

tomorrow we will worship with our friends from amor y Esperanza here in the apartment before traveling the Equator...where we will be in winter and summer at the same time. Can't wait!