This morning we packed up to head to Latacunga.  It was hard to pull away from Quito but we had an amazing beginning to our stay in Latacunga.  We were privileged to bring a four month old baby with us.  His mother took off and they have been unable to find her.  The Tias were outside ready to welcome him to For His Children.  They were loving on him and taking lots of pictures. 

            After getting unpacked and going on a very detailed tour we went downstairs to get ready to take the children on a walk.  Ashley walked down the stairs and in about 30 seconds was dog piled by three children.  They wrestled on the floor until it was time to go.  Lots of laughs were had and only a couple bumps.  Our whole team, Jen, and one Tia took around 10 children on over a 2 mile, 2 hour walk.  The children did amazing and walked or were pushed in wheelchairs the whole way! 

            When we got back some of our team helped with feeding time and then we went out to eat at a pizza place.  We had cheese, Hawaiian, and meat pizza.  They were very good and had a bit sweeter taste than pizza in the US. 

            When we got back to the orphanage we took some time for devotions and to talk about our last couple days.  We are so thankful to be here and so thankful to everyone who helped us all get here.  It has been such a blessing to share God’s love with the children and to learn so many new things about different ministries here.  Our lives have become much brighter getting to know the children, Tias and For His Children Staff. 

 Loading up in Quito to head to Latacunga.

 Grocery shopping

 A very sweet young man came with us.

 Salomon the llama  

 PT room

 Elizabeth gave us a tour

 The boy's room

 The girl's room

 Dog pile

 The easy part of the walk

 The rough part of our walk

 Security System

 Calm down time before dinner

 2 Owls (one the wall), 2 Cows, 1 Llama

 Duck lips at dinner

 It's okay Jen has her eye on us:)

 Pizza making

 4 bikes--1 spot

 Yes we could reach out and touch him

 Pictures at the orphanage

Last day in Quito

It is humbling to see God at work in His children’s lives, and to be part of the ministries He has put in place. Today was our last day to work with the children in Quito. Team members helped feed and take care of the children in both the baby house and the toddler house, worked in the garden and on scrapbooks for each child to be given to their adoptive families when they get adopted. It has been wonderful to serve the children and get to know them, which makes our last day with them bittersweet.

The day was beautiful and sunny. The clouds finally lifted, and we were rewarded with the sight of Cayambre, one of the three permanently snow capped volcanic mountains visible from Quito. God’s handiwork is amazing!

In the evening we traveled to the city dump to share sandwiches and hot chocolate with the dump workers. These people scavenge through the trash collecting recyclables. They receive a pittance based on the amount they can collect. The president of the dump workers divvies out their money. It is not uncommon for him to keep the money for himself and his family, and the workers may end up without pay for a month. In the past, workers would pull food and clothing out of the trash for their families. The children would get worms from eating the food. Dead bodies including dead babies have been found in the dump. The dump workers believe they are the lowest of the low, and suffer from very low self esteem. It is a life most of us cannot imagine.  It was a blessing to be able to shake their hands, sing to them and serve them hot chocolate and sandwiches.  Many took sandwiches in their pockets for later or in a bag so they could take them home to their children.

Thank God He is working in their lives! Under the umbrella of Extreme Response International, the organization which sponsored our team, Pastor Jose and Teresa Jimenez direct several ministries with the goal of impacting the lives of the dump workers spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Those ministries include a free day care, classes to teach the women skills to earn money, a medical clinic, as well as others. What a privilege for us to work alongside these dedicated Christians.

Tomorrow new adventures await us! We will travel to Latacunga and spend the remainder of our time at the orphanage there. Remember us in your prayers as we strive to be Jesus’ hands and feet!

Join us in praying for the Extreme Response ministries.  Also for health as 2 of our crew members are not feeling the greatest and many may be coming down with a cold (although we are hoping it is allergies).  Also for an American family who lives here in Ecuador that is trying to adopt 3 siblings from For His Children Orphanage.

 Jessica loving on the babies.

 

 Ashley loving on the babies.

 

 

 

 

 Karen sleep feeding a baby.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Kay weeding the gardens.

Ella standing on a wall taking in the view. 

 The Llama!

 Vern soaking in some rays while reading about Ecuador

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Ella loving on the babies.

 Shawna & Ella

 The snow capped mountain!

 Ella sitting in awe of God's creation.

 

 

 Ella & Ashley

Dump daycare 

 Meeting in the dump daycare

 

 Vern & the massive spoon used to stir the hot chocolate.

 Triple cribs in dump daycare.

 Karen

 Making sandwiches for the dump workers

 Paul (Extreme response worker) & Vern talking.

 

 Bulletin board picture from the dump

 Pastor Jose telling us about the Extreme Response dump ministries.

 Carrying out stools for the workers to sit on.

 Ella & Susan (Paul's wife) carrying hot chocolate out.

 

 

 

 Karen sang and played for the workers.

 

 

 

 

 

Karen 

Debbie came from Canada with her husband and 6 kids to deliver Operation Christmas boxes to the children for children's day and soon they will travel to the rainforest to visit the children they sponsor through compassion. 

 

 

 Vern & 2 Tias from the baby house

 Ruth & 2 Tias from the baby room

Jessica walking back from the store.