Zip-lining in Ecuador!!

I tell you that if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out! Luke 19:40

O the splendor of creation, how is cry's out to the Creator, telling His wonder, majesty and glory! Today I definitely seen the mountains crying out, "Behold the splendor of our Creator". With the special blessing of sweet fellowship and friends, it was a very special day!

What a day, it was a beautiful day in Quito for a road trip, so we headed to Mindo, on a 2 hour bus ride... We missed the first bus so we had to hang out for 1 1/2 hours but it was fun, we ran to the market across the street and were able to get to know two InkLink interns better! It was so much fun to spend time with them today! We were so glad they were able to come with us!

I absolutely never get tired of the scenery!

Our group split up, but this was the group that headed for the canopy.....Kayla was the only one that had done it before so it was a new experience for almost all of us!

We had to do a lot of hiking through the woods, but it was great exercise and totally worth it!

And were off...

The scenery was just amazing!

You can't get a better view than this of these mountains!

Here I come....

The guide helping him go upside down, that was amazing! We all tried that!

Ya its high up there! I was just about to hit the brake and it kinda freaked me out especially on the fast ones!

Here we are hooked up on this platform waiting for the next one.....

I spotted cows and horses from the zip line! So for all the cow fans out there, here is some from a mountain in Ecuador!

Natasha was on the up hill in this picture..... :)

Kayla and Jenna, they are so sweet, we had such an enjoyable time with these ladies today!

So that's the crew!

On the last one it was super foggy and started raining, but it made it a smash-bang ending! We knew the cable had to be attached on the other side because it was still hanging...

Here she comes!

NATASHA!!

Here I am doing the "Superman"!

These are some pictures from around Mindo........

Yes, I have green eyes!

Our taxi to the zip-lines was the back of a truck!

construction....

We went to a conservatory and seen so many amazing plants!

So many of them looked like plastic!

Limes!

These are butterfly larva......

The caterpillars!!

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These ones were huge! I have never seen anything like them!

Natasha found her prince!!

Caterpillar cocoons!

From this view it looks like an owl, but flip it over and you can see a fish or a snake on the top of their wings....

I don't know what kind of plant this is, but it looked like a bunch of peeled bananas!

Then to the humming birds!

They were so hard to get pictures of!

We all got to try out a hammock too! They were so comfy!

The bird watchers....

A little wet from the rain....but the hammock was amazing! I think I might get one to sleep in!

So after buying a grill banana with cheese from a little street stand and buying some Ecuadorian chocolate I was ready for another 2 hour bus ride! I think most of us got a nap in, that a long time to be on the bus...... specifically in Ecuador, where public affection is enough to make you feel very uncomfortable and there was a even a few people changing their clothes, they were pretty discreet about it, but really?

Upon arriving home, Natasha and I tried to get into the house for some supper but the safety bolt was over the door so it wouldn't open.....but it opened far enough for me to grab the set of keys out of the door knob on the inside so we ran around to the front door......but the keys didn't work for that door! Well we had rang the doorbell and hollered into the house but no one was home...So we decided to run upstairs to see if the renters up their had a key. So he was so kind as to help us! He unlocked the front door but it had the safety bolt on too......What? This isn't even possible? Both doors can't be locked from the inside when no one is home! So we really start knocking and dinging the doorbell and our land lord comes to the door in his pajamas.....they were watching a movie in a room with the door closed and couldn't hear anything.... o well, what would be a day in Ecuador with Natasha and Brianna if something crazy didn't happen?

Natasha and Brianna with stripes on.....

This verse was such a good reminder for me this morning and throughout the day!

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit  but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Philippians 2:3

It seems like such a simple matter, but really it can make such a difference! Its not an easy thing to do, but its necessary for us to live with love and grace toward one another! Especially when you are working closely with so many people, serving.....

Natasha and I had to wear our Ecuadorian pants for the tia's this morning  They were so proud of us! We were a little embarrassed by them, but hey.....we have lost a quite a bit of our pride since we came here so we might as well keep going...we did change before anyone else got there though! But we did had to run down the street wearing them, since we were late..I think that was a little un-inconspicuous!

Do these stripes make me look fat? hmm well do they make me look tall? well umm.....

This morning at 8:30 I headed off with a baby in the front pack, a little girl and a tia to go get some vaccinations! I thought I had a lot of attention before, but the stares multiplied this time! But I didn't mind at all! I was in wonder at the whole thing myself! :) So after a quick taxi ride, we arrived at the clinic, I knew it wasn't going to be American style, but I don't think I was quite prepared for what I seen! There was sooooo many people sitting, waiting, standing, nursing...(ya its quite a public thing here!).

It wasn't really a very safe place to be taking pictures so I hid the camera in the blanket of the little boy I was carrying then I would pop it up just a bit and snap the picture, so they are not very good, but it will hopefully give you an idea....

So we waited in line, but the door was open so you could watch everyone getting their shots, this one little boy had to have one in his bottom so his mom just pulled his pants down and they nurse have him a shot....

Everything was paper work, no computers!

The coolers had all the vaccinations in them! When we were done she checked off the vaccinations on a paper and handed them to the tia! Proof of vaccination? I have medical records of my shots and they still do blood tests to make sure I have them!

In the room next to us, they were giving physicals with the door open for everyone to see...

O the sights, the things, and the memories......

Huge amounts of garbage clutter the streets and sidewalks.... 

On the short bus ride to where we could catch a taxi on the way home, I stared out the window and at the tia and little girl beside me and I realized just how much I have come to love there people, this place, and the craziness involved! I will surly miss this....the little herd of goats being led down the street, the food vendors lining the streets, the fruit markets, the Indigenous people, the Spanish flying back and forth, the crowded streets, all the random things I see, bartering with taxi drivers.....all of it! well most of it anyway!

So we just popped into this unmarked car on the way home with 2 other people, who got out at different stops, but a few more people hopped in! But we arrived home safe and sound and it only cost 50 cents!

So before lunch we headed out to go to a Canadian restaurant and try their famous poutine....if you have never heard of this dish, don't worry! I hadn't either! But we are among a few Canadians, and they were eager to sink their teeth into this amazing dish again, so we thought what could the harm be?

So it is french fries with cheese curds and gravy.....I was so excited to have some salty french fries!!

It really was amazing!

 Natasha ready to dig in as well! It was quite a walk to get here so we were hungry!

 Then we headed to the covered market again....

You wanna try something on? No problem! Everyone does it! This booth was all set up with a mirror and everything!

He is over there making ice cream...it was amazing too!

The taxi ride home, they were crammed in the back seat! This couple is getting ready to head back to Canada after spending two weeks in Ecuador! It has been such a blessing to get to know them, they will be missed!

 I had the front to myself because I was the one that hailed the taxi and gave him directions! I was so excited! I wanted to be able to tell him how to get to our house so I practiced saying right and left the whole way, but I still messed up anyway, Natasha had to help me out a little, but I almost got us right to the orphanage gate by myself!

Then we enjoyed another evening with the babies......