Dad's Eternal Celebration

My father, Carl Moses, was born in 1917 in rural Michigan. God called him into ministry as a young man and for seventy years Dad served in any way he could. He pastored churches in the USA, taught at an inter-tribal Bible school in Guatemala, planted churches in Panama, ministered to Mexican Braseros in California, ministered to sailors in Puerto Rico, wrote books, translated for a Christian publishing house, and promoted missions well into his eighties. Dad loved life. He was once asked if he had dying grace and he replied, "Nope, I'm not dying yet." It took a lot to drain life from him, and when the time came, he did have dying grace. Numerous stokes and diabetes little by little took his vitality and finally his life. He leaves behind a wife, seven children, fourteen grandchildren and twenty great grandchildren, but is being greeted in Heaven by scores of relatives, friends, and spiritual children. I imagine him hearing many greetings in both Spanish and English. When I return to the US in December, our family will gather in Kansas to celebrate his life and enjoy the memories.

Well done, Daddy. I miss you.

What to wear in Quito

I love to observe people. Waiting for Sol to finish her shopping one Saturday, I sat on a bench to watch what people wear in Quito. It is cold in this city. Most women wear pants. Among the well heeled, the women wore tailored slacks with beautiful long sleeved sweaters. The colors were often muted. I saw a variety of long knitted scarves. I also saw lots of nice leather shoes. The younger kids wore jeans, boots, tennis shoes, a variety of tops plus the scarf. Some wore jackets, some didn't I didn't see much skin because if I had it would have had goose bumps!

My first clothing purchase in Quito was a white knit shawl. My short sleeved tops have mostly stayed in the closet. People tell me this isn't the cold season!! I'm going to need to find a sale on long johns.

Learning my way around my new office.

A.A.I. has a wonderful facility and the latest in equipment. That computer on my desk is brand new! Up to now I've learned how to used File Pro to put grades on transcripts and School Minder to put in new students, take out withdrawn students and put in the classrooms, teaching assignments and schedules for this year. After three days of tediously combing through all the classes, I told the principal that any changes would be handled by Atilla the Hun! :) I still have to learn how to handle all the files, email, group mailings, etc. etc. My coworkers are very helpful and kind. I'm making some fantastic friends. I feel like someone who has put on a new shoe that was made just for them. The fit is so comfortable. I'll also get to work on the committee for the A.C.S.I. conference in the spring. Since I used to work with them in Venezuela and later in Guatemala, I am very excited!

Eating in Ecuador.

So far I haven't eaten any guinea pig or or wild animals, but the piece of beef I bought this week came from bovine who had lived a looooong and athletic life. Next on my list to buy is a pressure cooker. :) The food here is based a lot on corn and potatoes. I was served soup last week with popcorn instead of crackers. It wasn't bad, just different. The main meal is at noon. It starts with some kind of soup, followed by a main plate with meat, rice, and or potatoes, and a salad. Usually there is a fresh fruit drink with it and if you wish a small dessert. Breakfast and supper are much lighter, bread, cheese, fruit, and coffee. I made fresh corn pancakes Saturday which were real good.

Baking at 10,000 feet is all together a challenge for the hardy. The butter scotch brownies I made yesterday were the strangest looking, tooth wrenching, tasty catastrophe. Back to recipes.com/high altitude. I missed something.

Sol's parents took us all out to a delightful restaurant that features Ecuadorian cuisine. The food was delicious and the atmosphere fascinating. I loved the colorful decorations. It was called "The Hut" but was in a modern building in the heart of town.

Around the neighborhood

We live on the third floor of this apartment building. There are eighty apartments in all in our gated community
I enjoy the flowers every day as I go in and out of the complex. The neighbors are polite and will speak to you as you go by. It's a good place to live.

Ecuadorian tourist spot

Ecuador is so beautiful. This place is called Puertolago. The grounds are well kept. The hotel charming and the food exquisite.

From RDU to Ecuador!

Learning to Wait

When you live overseas, you have to learn to wait. Patiently helps. :) The repaired bed frame was finally brought by today after three nights sleeping on the sofa. The computer guys came but whatever they needed to hook up wireless didn't work. Let's hope for tomorrow. The repairman that is supposed to have come first thing today to fix a water filtration says he'll come tomorrow. I got a lot of reading today waiting and even got in a nap.

Learning to get around

Sol, my apartment mate, has been taking me shopping around town. Little by little I'm getting the things I need to set up my room and my part of the kitchen. The streets are beginning to look a little more familiar. It was quite a victory to be able to catch a taxi on my own to come home from school this afternoon. Tomorrow I hope to venture out again and buy a few more things.

It is great to have a laundry mat, a grocery store and bakery in front of the building complex. The taxi stand is right around the corner. It takes about a dollar to get to work. With the uneven sidewalks, I'm not going to try to walk to school for now.

I met with my two bosses today. My time will be divided between the elementary and high school offices. A big part of my job will be to act as an interpreter for the principals since neither is fluent in Spanish. A large number of the parents do not speak much English.

In a few minutes the repairman is supposed to fix the new bed frame that fell apart the first morning I sat on the edge. Two nights sleeping on the sofa is enough, :)

First visit to the school

I went by the school today. It is a lovely facility. They are doing some upgrading this summer. I will be meeting with the two principals I'll be working with tomorrow. The schedule will be light at first so I can get settled in.

Sol and I did some shopping today. It will take a while to learn my way around. There are some nice stores but also some high prices.