The Last Leg or Jungle Love

So first full day in Puyo, started with a walk to the lookout tower. After that took a walk along the river. It was just beautiful, I took about 150 pics along the way. Then in the afternoon, we headed out with a small group from the Kiaros Church (Darios home church in Puyo) to do some ministry in the jungle. So first there was a 40 min ride along paved roads in a van with no seatbelts (i wasn't even sitting on a proper seat) with no speedometer (the tire would squeel a bit as we went around corners) and then after that we drove a little over an hour down dirt roads until we came to the first of 3 communities. We split into groups and I ended up going to the last community of Chai. It was very warm and there was a very beautiful view of the jungle from the ridge at the edge of the community. There was a childrens feature for the kids before they went out to play and then there was a Lesson on communion for the adults that I stayed with despite my lack of spanish skills. Luckily with them talking slowly I was able to get the just of the lesson. Meanwhile outside with the kids, I guess they were asking about "the tall white guy". So Rachel, Dario and Juanita's renter tells them that I am from Canada. They don't know where Canada is so Rachel tells them that it is above the US and that it is always cold. Thanks so much for that Rachel. Anyways after we are all done in Chai we head back to Puyo and then head over to Dario's Mom's house for a visit. After that we headed to the psuedomennonite pizza place and then off to bed. the next day we headed off to Shell, where Dario's sister lives. the are adding onto their house nad doing a very good job. After we headed off to Banos. We went for supper at Casa Hood, where I had the closest I could to turkey dinner, which was delicious. Then we headed off the to the hot springs. That was a good evening. The next day it was back to Quito, where we had a games night with Some of Dario and Juanita's friends and the next day we just relaxed. I took Dario, Juanita and Rachel out for Crepes and Waffles, and now I get ready to go home.
Later.

From Mindo To Cuenca or The Long And Winding Road

So when I last wrote, Ihad just gotten back from watcing the hummingbird show in Mindo. Well the next day Dario and I went to the Canopy for zipplining. I went on 13 seperate cables over the jungle travelling above the jungle at up to 80 km and hour!!! That was fun! After that we headed back to Quito, where Dario and Juanita had a bunch of friends over for a dinner party. It was really good because one of their friends is a gourmet Chef. He made a delicious salad witha awesome dressing, and passion fruit pork. It was an amzing meal. Then next day I had to myself, as Dario and Juanita had a meeting at Youth World, so I just kinda wandered around th area that the live, It went pretty good. Had a coffee at Sweet and Coffee, went to the mall, and had subway for lunch. Later that night we boarded a plane and went of to Cuenca. We got there in the rain, but we grabbed quick supper and then walked around a bit downtown. The next morning, we hopped a bus, in the sunshine, to Ingapirca. This is the largest remaining Incan ruins in Ecuador, and while it is no Machu Pichu, it was very neat and informative. After that we headed back to Cuenca, ate at Wunderbar and watched team Ecuador trounce Venezuela in soccer and eliminate them from the World Cup. That night we went downtown again,and they were having a celebration of some sort with traditional danceing and a crazy old guy smoking and lighting of homemade fireworks. That was kind of sketchy. Quite a few of them set of car alarms. The fun thing about the dancing was that while I was trying to watc, I was getting hit on by a trio of 16 year old girls. ohthe look of disappointment on their faces when I said I was 26.
What can I say, I´m a heart breaker. Anyways, the nextday we hopped a bus to Ambato and Puyo, which ranged between a 5 and 10 hour bus ride depending on who you asked. We got to Puyo, had a delicious Pizza, mada by a lady, who lookedvery Mennonite.
well anywaysthat is all for now. Talk to you later.

Where To Begin or Its Been Awhile

Ok so I got into Quito and about 11:30 Saturday night, I disembarked on the runway, and had a good night sleep(I actually beat Dario and Juanintas flight in from the states). The next day I headed to The English Fellowship Church for church. I guess that on the first Sunday of the month they do a message on what they call footsteps of faith, in which they focus on a person whose faith is an inspiration to us in the Church now. This week was on Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was a big part of the church reformations in Germany before and during WW2. It was very good to learn and I will have to read more about him soon. Then we went for lunch with some of Dario and Juanitas friends from Chuch, some who I met once 2 years ago and still remember me. We relaxed the rest of the day. On monday we went downtown for a while and I made my world famous Spaghetti, this time with chicken breast. It turned out good in my opinion. This morning Dario and I headed out to Mindo. We went down to Butterfly garden and then watched some Hummingbirds. It was quite amazing! Tommorow we will be ziplineing in the jungle, and then head back to Quito.