Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD's great love we are not
consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3 v 21-24
Parasite Medicine trip
I travelled back to Chimborazo and Lupaxi Chico in mid-December to help our hygiene worker, Tannia Lascano, distribute parasite medicines. We were accompanied by a doctor from the Ministry of Health who turned out to be a Christian also. This was really encouraging as we were able to pray as a group before starting each day´s work. We visited four communities and enjoyed their hospitality also, I had ´caldo de pata´ for the first time – cow´s foot soup. It was very tasty. The work to distribute the medicines highlighted, once more, that to gain the benefits of clean water; good hygiene practices must be followed. Wash your hands, everybody!
Joining our hygiene promoters, Tannia and Gladys (far left and right), and the local doctor to distribute medicines.
Zambiza Dump Christmas Party
At the start of December I volunteered along with hundreds others to help at party held for the people who live near and work on one of Quito´s rubbish dumps. The event was run by Extreme Response, an organisation who works with these people throughout the year also. The party was attended by about 3,500 who played games, listened to live music and had their photograph taken with Santa! An evangelism team moved through the site taking opportunities to chat to people and share the gospel. I was in charge (don´t know how I managed that!) of a team to distribute lunch, a bag of toys for the children and a bag of staple foods for each family. It was great fun especially working together with mainly local Christians.
Fiestas!
December felt like a whole month of festivals in Quito! Quito Day was on 6th December and was
marked by Fiesta Brava (the Ferocious Festival!) of bullfighting, concerts and chiva rides. A chiva is an open-sided bus with a brass band on top which travels on trips around the city. Everyone blows whistles, waves flags, shouts ´Viva Quito!´ and gets out for a dance in the street halfway round!
Christmas Eve is the day that Ecuador celebrates Christmas and I was invited to spend the evening with Isabel, my Spanish teacher´s family. The evening involved karaoke, turkey and opening presents as midnight approached. I spent Christmas Day with a number of HCJB families. New Year´s Eve is all about burning the old year, año viejos (something like a Guy for 5th November) were on sale from Christmas. On one of the main streets in Quito large displays of these año viejos were set up, they were mainly on a political theme with Bush, Obama and Correa (Ecuadorian president) featuring heavily. Elsewhere the theme seemed to be Kung Fu Panda…I don´t know why!
Año Viejos for sale on the street
Work
I have been finding work in the office difficult in the past month. For various reasons the projects I´ve mentioned in previous prayer letters have, all but one, fallen through. Whilst this has been frustrating, the next few months will involve work on the water projects for 2009 and travelling to start work on a jungle water project out of Shell.
In the next month…
- attending a seminar at HCJB on leadership
- some time in Shell to familiarise myself in advance of going to live there from March, also hopefully travelling to jungle communities to help with projects
- moving to another apartment this week
Prayer points
- Praise that I had a lovely Christmas and for the warmth and kindness of so many people who
invited me round during this time and those who posted cards and presents to me here.
- Please pray for work here, I really want to be of use and to learn too, pray that I will learn what God is teaching me through all these experiences.
- Pray that God will use the conversations held at the dump party and especially for the police
chief, William, who questioned why we were helping the people and wanted to accept Christ.
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