Greetings from Loja! Doug and I have been in Loja for a little over two weeks now, and we've settled in pretty comfortably. We know our way around reasonably well and have logged many hours walking around the city. The big news for us is that, yesterday, we moved in with our local Ecuadorian family, Freddy and Maria Diaz, and their son, Juan Pablo ("Juanpa"). They have been very warm and welcoming- the absolute picture of South American hospitality. Their house is outside of the city center, where we'd been staying for the past two weeks, but we can easily walk to the center in less than 30 minutes, or take a bus or taxi for only 25 cents or $1, respectively. Freddy and Maria like to spend their weekends at their vacation home in Vilcabamba, which is only a 45-minutes drive away, and they have already invited us numerous times to join them. We can tell already that we will learn so much from them about the language and culture of Ecuador. They have also expressed interest in learning some English, as they have a daughter and son-in-law (an American) living in New York, so we will definitely teach them what we can.
The fiestas for the Virgin of Cisne have come to an end, so there are no longer fireworks around the clock coming from the plaza outside the cathedral. However, the "feria" of Loja is still happening on the outskirts of town for a few more days, and we may go check that out if we have time. From what we've gathered, it sounds like a bazaar with a variety of vendors, rides, and entertainment.
As of this week, we will be volunteering in the cafe owned by SIM, "El Sendero," every Thursday and Friday afternoon/evening. This will include some kitchen work and friendship building and ministry where possible. We have also committed to help with the English ministries on Wednesdays and Sundays, where the goal is to help local Ecuadorians learn English, while at the same time developing friendships and opening doors to share our faith. We've also been to a couple of evangelical churches here in Loja and will probably try one or two more before we decide which one to plug into for the rest of our time here. The churches are small, which is a nice change from our last church in San Diego (The Rock), as everyone seems to know everyone else, and it definitely feels more like a family.
On a personal note, tomorrow is a very important day for us- our first wedding anniversary! We did some reflecting today on everything that has happened during our first year of marriage, and it's been a pretty full year. We are excited that we can be here together to celebrate, but, at the same time, we miss all of our friends and family.
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| A view of Loja from the city gate |
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| First class inside the bus, all others tied to the roof |
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| Kim trying the local chicken feet |
There is a sheep on top of the bus!! Love it. Thinking and praying for you guys. Drew
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