For the dogs!

If you know me, you know I love animals, and growing up, dogs were my special favorite. We had many members of the family who were dogs (literally, that's not an insult to any family members). Over time, I grew especially fond of smaller breeds, as I can hold and squeeze them more easily, however, all dogs are my friends. And they are everywhere here. My dream come true, no? At first I thought so, but turns out no way José. They roam as free as the birds, and this is their world, not yours. Up until last week, we were cohabiting quite amicably, however, that all came crashing down last Wednesday in service. Damaris had warned me, I should've listened. Two adorable puppies, anxiously looking up at us and vigorously wagging their behinds. How could I resist? As I bent down, I muttered out loud "I wonder where the mama is..." and as the words were coming out of my mouth, oh my word, there she was. She came flying around this wall with such a vengeance that I thought I'd have a heart attack. She was chasing us while barking and snarling, bearing her vicious teeth. We ran in the opposite direction, but it's not good to turn your back on these creatures, so I'm running backwards, flailing my literature holder at her, fairly screaming at this point. We managed to get away, and thankfully no one got hurt, but even still, we decided we'd go find the others to work house-over with them for more protection. That didn't work either. We got like a house ahead of them up the hill and out comes a vicious little black one. It wouldn't leave us alone; it was quite menacing, and it knew that it had us feeling cornered. We had had enough. We finished the territory up and went home shaken. Now I'm terrified when a pooch comes in my direction, so I need some reinforcements. Our friend Doug from Georgia, who is serving here in Cuenca with his family, fixes a wicked all-natural brew that the dogs can't stand. You just spray it in their direction, and off they go! Sweetness, hook it up please!

But what about the other animals? It seems they all have it out for us now; for example, Damaris and I were walking to the store today, and on our shortcut road, we were admiring some baby sheep and a baby cow as we were innocently walking along. Well I think the cow knew that he could scare us, because he starting stampeding toward the sheep, herding them in our direction! The sheep are now barreling toward us, and I grab Damaris as she yells out...Just in time, the sheep veered away from us just enough to miss us. The cow didn't like that, since his intention was to get us good, so he mooed very loudly at us the rest of the way down the road.

I thought I was a friend to the animals! Remember the monkeys? What happened?

Just another day? No way!

¡Sólo otro día en el ministerio tal vez, pero la alegría que se deriva de que nunca ha "sólo otro día" sentimiento!

Just another day in the ministry perhaps, but the joy derived never has that "just another day" feeling!

This morning A.J. and I were planning on working together, however, when we got to the group and did the math (guy/girl ratios and all), we realized it would be better to keep our mouths shut and go with the flow. And we're both so glad we did because we had great mornings accompanying our friends on their studies. You learn so much from the friends, and you come home feeling like you've really helped someone, even if you're just the compañero (read: tagalong ;). A.J. was so happy to contribute to Javier's study with a prayer, reading, and asking questions; and I was happy to contribute to Miriam's study when she'd ask me "Where is the Scripture that says...?" It's so amazing to watch people come to understand the most important issues in the universe, and also to watch the confusion that they've always felt over such issues just unravel and melt away.

Next week and the following, A.J. and I will be conducting our own studies (if they're home ;), and our compañeros will surely contribute mucho (mucho translation)! This is such a rewarding work!

We miss you Miha!

Thank you for being such a wonderful roomie ~ we miss you so much already, and you've only been gone for 14 hours. We had soooo much fun with you, and things just won't be the same here without you...But we wish you all the best as you travel back to the States and continue in the full-time ministry! It's only chao for now...

Love,
A.J. and Jordanne
(a.k.a. sus padres ecuatorianos ;)

Un pocito más...

Damaris is officially LEGAL ~ hooray!!! We had to wait a little while for her turn, but once we were in those chairs in front of the officer, it was go-time. We celebrated by splitting a vegetarina pizza at one of our favorite joints afterwards.

Tonight at the meeting A.J and I were officially welcomed during the announcements, since our cards came in ~ another hooray!!! But sadly, A.J. wasn't there for the announcement due to his current illness, so Miha stood in for him... ;) Thanks Miha!

I'm always appreciative of our wonderful brotherhood, but these past two Thursdays I have been especially filled with gratitude for the beautiful friends. Last Thursday we were at Damaris' Chinese meeting, and multiple times I was getting verklempt; as the Ecuadorian brother was impressively reading the lesson in Chinese, as the other Ecuadorian (and Colombian [and American ;)]) friends were commenting in Chinese, as the American brother was conducting the lesson in Chinese...it's like, where else in the world would people take the time to learn such a difficult language to help people they don't know understand the Bible!? I was simply overwhelmed by the fact that these dear friends have sacrificed so much and devoted their entire lives to something so involved, in order to communicate with a group who is rarely sought out, outside of "Wonton soup and eggroll please." Seriously. I'm obviously not learning Chinese, but the times that I've went with Damaris in service, it is beyond rewarding to see them light up at her desire and ability to communicate with them. They've been taught many things in their homeland, and aren't familiar with much else, and really don't have much time to learn anything else as they work so long and hard, so kudos to all the groups and congregations around the world working so diligently to reach them at their places of business and anywhere else they can be found! And I guess that really goes for all the work going on around the world...the billion plus hours each and every year...

This Thursday, back in our congregation...again overwhelmed as I watch youngsters go on stage for their assignments that they've worked so hard on and do such an excellent job. Three in a row, and I think, Wow, they are so adept at defending their faith from the Bible. At 10, 12, 14 years of age (and that's just tonight ~ we all know of ones who are 3 or 4 explaining what God's promises for the future are, right from the Bible), they're explaining and reasoning from the Scriptures, and it's just so moving to see their love for the Bible, and ultimately for Jehovah. No matter where you go, anywhere in the world, it's the same, and it's such a privilege to be a part of.

It's getting pretty late, so it's time to sign off. This will likely be typical of Thursday nights (staying up too late), as we get home from our meeting, and Damaris gets home from hers, and we swap stories from our respective meetings. I have the laptop in bed and A.J. is fast asleep ~ which is good so he can sleep off that cold.

Good night, and thanks for reading! Until next time...

A.J. is HOME!!!

...and sick as a dog. Poor thing. He got sick on Monday the day before he left, and he had to endure TEN take-offs and landings with the pressure so intense he said he thought he was going to blow out an eardrum. Thankfully, he didn't.

I picked him up from the airport yesterday afternoon (well, I met him at the airport since we don't have anything to pick him up in ;), and when we got home, the girls and I gave him a recap of our week.

So A.J. is resting in bed today and Damaris and I are going to get her legal...again. Procedures here are often not crystal-clear, so it's common to have to go back to the immigration office multiple times until they're pleased with what you lay in front of them. When we were at the office last week, they told her that she needed something that 1.) wasn't on the list from the branch of needed items to bring, and 2.) wasn't asked for from us when we went to get our censos. Fun times!

Operation: Survive without A.J. for a week (no easy task for needy little me!)

The girls and I are surviving the week while A.J. is in the States for Brian's wedding (okay, the girls are doing better than surviving; I'm the one struggling to keep myself together). Yesterday after our morning in service we went downtown. Miha needed to finish up souvenir shopping (she's leaving Cuenca on the 18th to visit a friend in Portoviejo, and then she leaves for the States on the 22nd), and afterwards we ate at a really good Punjabi restaurant for dinner, Indian Bapu (authentic northern Indian cuisine ~ the owner is from India). We were about to take our seats at a table when the owner asked us if we would like to dine upstairs on the floor. We were glad we did; we thought the downstairs was beautiful ~ the upstairs was ever cooler!
Today Damaris and I visited her Chinese friends (that she met on the bus) at their restaurant (I ate a delicious noodle dish while she talked ;). She talked to the whole family for about an hour (individually ~ first the dad, then the daughter, then the grandmother, then the mom) and had really nice discussions. She was happy to read three scriptures with the dad (which I was impressed by, as she was reading all characters!), and was able to show him God's name in the Bible. They were all so nice, and they exchanged information for future visits. While she was talking with the daughter, discussing a picture of a paradise earth from a tract, the Ecuadorian waitress seemed very intrigued by this little American girl, in Ecuador, speaking Chinese. So I went over to give her the tract about the end of suffering in Spanish (to show her what we're here for, and that the message from the Bible is universally the same in all languages), and she started reading it right away. Later on I went over to sit with her and talk and we had a nice discussion. She took my phone number and told me that she would like me to visit her at her home to talk more about the Bible, so I'll be waiting for her call...

Tomorrow after service we'll be going to the immigration office to make Damaris legal! Then in the evening, instead of going to our meeting, we're going to Damaris' Chinese meeting (since it will be her first time there, and we're not totally familiar with the area yet). I'm excited to see the friends who support the group in that congregation!

Speaking of meetings, I missed the English meeting last Sunday due to insect poison swelling my ankles, but the girls and A.J. went and took a nice shot of the group:

(Notice the televisions and the year text in sign language behind the group ~ there is an Ecuadorian sign language congregation that meets in that Kingdom Hall as well.) Currently, the English group has the Congregation Bible Study and the Theocratic Ministry School each week, and the Public Talk and Watchtower Study just once a month. However, based on the amount of support, perhaps that will eventually change...? Surely that's the goal!

A.J. will be home next Wednesday, American goods in hand. I can't wait to brew those Starbucks beans! And to see A.J. of course!!! :o)

Over the river and through the woods...to Baños and Tena we go!

Well, Damaris has been here for almost two weeks and we've had a very busy start to her stay here! She spent the first two nights at the branch, and her first day here in Cuenca we went to our Thursday night meeting. It was a lot of fun introducing her to everyone, and the meeting was especially exciting as it was both me and AJ's first demonstrations on stage! I had been anticipating and practicing mine for a few weeks, but AJ was just asked that night if he could fill in! Both of our parts went well, and we're glad to have them under our belts. The friends were very kind with commendation after the meeting.

The next day Damaris was here in Cuenca we went out in service, and worked together. It was so nice being with her again, as we haven't been pioneer buddies in the same congregation since 2005! Later that day, we took the bus to run some errands, and guess what? In our (likely hundreds of) bus rides these past few months in Ecuador, never once have any of us seen a Chinese person come on for a ride. We've seen a European here and there, or other similar-looking gringos, but never a Chino (that's what they call them here, it's not derrogatory). Well, our first ride with Damaris, and on walk two Chinese people (Damaris is here in Cuenca to be apart of the Chinese group. There are very many Chinese businesses here, as the Ecuadorian government opened its' doors to the Chinese years ago, making it easy for them to immigrate and start up businesses). It was so cool to listen to her converse with them for almost 20 minutes (and it is also very entertaining to watch them marvel at her language skills!). She got their information of where they work so she can go back and visit them again.
RECENT PICTURES ~
http://picasaweb.google.com/jmgabre/AFewNewPics

Now, on to this post's title. We wanted to take a trip up north with Miha before she leaves for the States in three weeks. We enjoyed a lot of adventure and spent most of the trip marveling at Jehovah's amazing creation. We did however have a few harrowing experiences. Our first stop was Baños. The morning after we arrived, we took a long hike up into the surrounding mountains. The owner of the hotel we were staying at told us which road to take to go up to catch our trail, but on our way there we noticed two nicely-dressed Japanese women going door to door, and we knew they had to be Witnesses. So we stopped and chatted with them for a while, and as we continued on our walk, we went up the wrong trail. Which took us allll over and was waaaay longer than the anticipated one hour walk to the originally-planned recommended mountain-top cafe. We walked and climbed and hiked and climbed, and saw many beautiful vistas, animals and flowers, and hours later were in real need of some food. There was no one around most of our day, but two farmers we passed said there was nothing the way we were headed. However, we were aiming for a place we saw on a sign called "Casa de Arbol." I didn't think I was going to make it (my blood sugar was beyond its limit), but finally a truck full of mountain bikers stopped to give us a lift (a very common practice all over the country - not dangerous like it is in the States). It took us to the place, and we were rewarded for our trekking beyond our wildest dreams. A family owns this mountain-top paradise overlooking the Tungurahua volcano, and they were cooking up some arroz con pollo and choclo elote (rice with chicken and corn on the cob). We enjoyed a meal, and the father showed us the gems of his property ~ a zip-line, tents for camping, an amazing swing that gives you the feeling of swinging over an abyss, and of course, the tree house. He made us some natural tea from their garden and kindly hiked with us back down about half-way to our destination "home". It was a day we thought we'd never be able to top...

However, when you love adorable little fuzzy animals, mingling with monkeys and holding them like babies is an easy way to feel like you will never again top the experience. We left Baños and headed to Puyo to visit El Paseo de los Monos, which is a refuge and rehab for various types of monkeys. From the minute we walked through the electric gate, the monkeys were coming up to us, holding our hands and crawling into our arms and onto our shoulders. It was so amazing, and it of course made me think of the time in the future when all animals will be at peace with humans in Jehovah's new world (and when I will have my own monkey farm ;). Our guide there took us through the jungle to educate us about various plants and insects, and along the way, Milton the monkey hitched a ride on AJ's shoulders, sometimes swinging over to mine or the girls. But mostly AJ's. Milton was a different character the minute we stepped out of the jungle and onto the property with the house. He turned into a wild beast that we were all a little scared of! He just loved to sneak up on you and jump on your back or shoulders, most of the time using your hair as his anchor. There are currently 39 monkeys at their property, along with a few other animals - birds, snakes, turtles, etc.

From Puyo, we moved on to Tena, where we were looking forward to white-water rafting. Our first night in Tena was spent in a dive hotel, so in the morning we eagerly packed our things and headed to the rafting company headquarters. We knew that there were issues going on in the country, with talk of a strike ("paro") among the indiginous people due to proposed laws on water and other resources, along with the teachers for different reasons, so we were wondering how it was going to affect our travels. When the people strike here, they block main roads with logs, stones, flaming tires, whatever, and it is impossible to get through anywhere ("No paso!"). Until Tena, we had no problems traveling on our buses from city to city, but our morning at River People (the Witness-owned rafting company we had reservations with), the strike finally hit us. The sister manning the office told us to look out the window to the black smoke in the distance. The indiginous people were burning tires, making it impossible to travel outside of the city, and making it impossible for the guides who were going to take us on our jungle tour that day to get into the city. Most of the businesses were going to be closing up, because during strikes in the past, if you weren't supporting them in their strike against the president and against the government, and were just continuing on "business as usual", they would throw sticks of dynamite into your business. We didn't know what we'd do in the tiny jungle town of Tena without our jungle tour, but thankfully, she asked us where we were staying, assuming we were at Yurapamba. "No, we're in between hotels right now...What's Yurapamba?" A Dutch brother from Holland owns a lovely hotel in the jungle nearby called Yurapamba. Great, let's get a cab to Yurapamba! The owner, Martijn (pronounced Mar-teen), greeted us on arrival and dispelled our fears that we would be stuck watching the black smoke during our stay in Tena. He was very kind and hospitable, and after feeding us breakfast he took us to some lovely swimming pools nearby (which was a welcome relief as the jungle climate is HOT). As we were driving to dinner that evening, he got a call from River People that our rafting was definitely on for the next day ~ YAY!Rafting through the Amazon tributaries was beyond amazing and our guides were so much fun. There were teams in two rafts, and our team was me, AJ, Damaris and Miha, along with Tim who has been here with his family for 16 years (his family owns River People). We had some lovely wars between rafts, and enjoyed rapids, pools, waterfalls, birds and butterflies as I've only seen before in pictures. There were a few mishaps that we have proof of in scrapes and bruises, but it was a safe journey in life vests and helmets. We were supposed to leave Tena the next morning, however, the paro forced us to change our plans. There was no passing through to Quito, so we decided to spend Thursday in Tena and leave for Cuenca on Friday. Martijn took us to some natural pools in the jungle with natural rock slides and cliffs for jumping.

VACATION PICTURES ~

http://picasaweb.google.com/jmgabre/DownTheMountainsAndIntoTheJungleBanosAndTena

AND DAMARIS' P.O.V. ~

http://picasaweb.google.com/dwawak/TripToBanosTena

Yesterday we left in the morning and didn't get home until 3:00 a.m. (thanks to the strikes). When we arrived in Riobamba where we were to change buses for Cuenca, we learned that the roads were blocked, so we ended up going all the way to Guayaquil to take the road to Cuenca from there. It was a long, exhausting day, and we kept catching buses in the nick of time, so we were never able to stop and get food.

Today I'm recouperating from my 4,528 bug bites that currently have my ankles swollen beyond recognition (the bus rides all day yesterday didn't help). I can't walk very well, so the girls went off to the market without me, and AJ is here taking care of me in my weakened condition.

Tomorrow we will go out in service in the morning until the English meeting at 11:00 a.m. Richard is giving the talk, so it will be like old times at Riverside listening to him speak again!

Well, thank you for reading my uber-long post friends! I hope all is well with everyone. We miss you all and think of you often! Until next time, take care...