Cuenca, sweet Cuenca

We're back from our vacation in Vilcabamba. We currently have no water, which is not the most convenient thing after a long car ride home, when you just want to shower and crash. But, it's a trade-off...the power outages, standing in lines to pay our bills, disinfecting our water to disinfect our food, walking miles each day...all of these things pale in comparison to the benefits of being able to have a single focus in our lives. We knew there would be challenges that would come with living in a third-world country, but we also knew that the blessings would be innumerable...

This past week that we spent in Vilcabamba at Izhcayluma was no exception. Aside from being able to spend a most upbuilding and relaxing week with Mark and Becky, we were able to talk with people from all over the world about our work and the important role that the Bible plays in understanding life, and really, understanding everything that is going on in the world. People from Argentina, France, Germany, Israel, Peru, Switzerland, California...it was a very cool experience.

We also had the joy of spending time with Mark and Becky's friends from Malacatos, Nick and Geraldine, and their son Oliver. Nick is a Londoner who has lived in Ecuador for the past ten years, since he met his wife. Geraldine's parents also met in Ecuador; her father is from England, and her mother is from Guayaquil. Nick and Geraldine own Timbuktu, a lovely bed and breakfast that we were able to enjoy for a day. There we met some of their friends who were finishing up service, Paul, Saul and Webster. Saul is serving in Malacatos with his wife Tomy; he is from London and she is from Japan. Webster is serving in Loja and his friend Paul was visiting him from northern England to spy out the land here. He's going to spy out Nepal after this trip and see which suits him best! We had dinner at Saul and Tomy's house and it was encouraging to hear some of their awesome experiences from the ministry.

Our other activities during the week...hiking, ping-pong, pool and darts, horseback riding, reading, and of course eating! The food at the hostal was excellent. I called it a resort to one of the workers and he quickly corrected me that it was a hostel. He was a free-spiritied hippy-type (as many there were) who had just moved to EC from Colorado three months ago. He said he walked into the place looking for a job and got it right away...and I think he's more proud to say that he works at a hostel rather than a resort. But whatever, with the prices as low as they are, call it whatever you want. The way I view it though, if there are hammocks outside my room and a waterfall in the pool, it's a resort. PLUS, what about the spa and those massages!?!?

Wanna see? Here you go! > > >

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

Miha got some amazing shots too...be sure to check out her videos!!! > > >

http://picasaweb.google.com/MihaelaRu/Vilcabamba