To Ankuash and back DAY 4

Traveling is certainly an option with anyone who has the means and the will but there is no comparison between going to a far away place as a mere traveler and going in the name of Jesus. The experience of living five days in the village of Ankuash with newly discovered brothers and sisters in Christ was sublime. This did not occur to me all at once but be sure that before I left I was aware of just what a gift God had given me in this place. I knew within the first two days that when I left this place I would be leaving behind true spiritual family members. 

 

Village life is a life I can say I enjoy and admire but more about that in a later post. We had work to do and set about getting the clinic ready for visitors.

The unpainted building to the left was used as the clinic the yellow and blue building to the right was our living quarters. Both building were adequate for their respective uses and I would even say they were example of God’s “just right” provision.

This is an image showing the sleeping arrangement in the boys area the first morning and ever morning after. I sleep on the floor to the right under that white netting.

This  is a worm in the jungle.

You will notice that a worm in the jungle is a good 10 times large than any worm in the states I have ever seen.

This is the stream we used to gather water for filtering to drink.

We used a Sawyer water filtration system and it served us very well the duration of the trip.

With the pharmacy up and running and the doctors writing prescription we began to see to the physical needs of the people. 

The village leaders had a very comprehensive schedule for the week and hide sight being 20/20 we met the demands of the schedule praise God and His provision! More to come tomorrow.

 

Ecuador trip brief as recorded by Don Wolfram our missionary guide in Ecuador.

Day 4: Monday 30^th- After Breakfast we went to the Clinic and started to do medical work seeing about 85 people this first day, mostly by family group. As this was the first day, there was a rhythm to be found and soon it was found and the team really started to click together and serve the community.

We saw people mostly from the communities of: Ankuash, Kuakash (45min) and Kumay (1 hr)

We ended clinic about 4:30 and then proceeded to have a soccer game. Again the idea was to endorse and build up Octavio’s, Leonardo’s and Mauro’s ministry in that community. That evening, we had an outdoor meeting in Ankuash on the Ecua-volley court in which we showed the “Felix” film, gave testimony, the gospel, an invitation for salvation and prayer. XX came forward for prayer and many friendships were formed. This night it rained hard and sounded great on the tin roof of the school.

In the back of the audience was the “Shaman” or witch doctor from Kumay whom one of our students had burnt down his house about 6 months earlier as a sign that he was not welcome in the community. It’s hard to say exactly what influence was made as he left pretty quickly afterwards.

The “Police Hat” – was a trophy from the capture of 4 policemen in a confrontation about 4 weeks earlier over mineral rights in the jungle. Samuel was the one who seemed to be the “new-proud” owner. Demonstrations & brief hostage takings are one of the few ways in indigenous people groups can have their opinions and voice heard before the provincial and national governments.

New Places: The Shuar community of Ankuash (also known as San Pedro). And the bathing whole!

New People: Wow, and endless list of names here. Just to mention a few of the most notable: (see Sunday’s list)

New Diseases perhaps: Tuberculosis, Leshmeniasis, Chagas disease (cousin of malaria)

New Things & Food: Ate platano verde, yucca (a tubor i.e. manioc/cassava), papa chino (a tubor also), camote (sweet potato), and drank avena (oatmeal) and chucula (banana drink) and/or chicha (life!)

To Ankuash and back DAY 3

Chiguaza in the morning was dreamy and the mist over the Pastaza river made the sunrise glow with a pink hue.

 

We had devotion at breakfast as we took in the beauty of the morning all the wile aware that the most challenging leg of journey was only hours ahead.

We were soon on the bus rattling down a steep winding road to the location where we would meet the villagers and their horses for the trek into the jungle village.

The team assembled for this group photo graciously captured by Don Wolfram just before departing.

With the horses and locals all present we loaded up each horse with the duffle bags of medications.

And we're off on what turned out for me to be one of the most arduous hikes I have ever experienced. I have walked long distances before but I had 45 or more pounds on my back and it turns out that make a very big difference.

There were more than twenty very tricky mud holes and creek crossings and the extra concentration necessary to keep one from getting mired in the slough would add to our exhaustion.

Federico Borman and Don Wolfram got every one through with great efficiency.

The Docs were ever present to attend to any health issues that arose and after five hours of slogging we arrived at the narrow trail of logs leading to our home for the next five days among a family I truly grew to love.

 

Ecuador trip brief as recorded by Don Wolfram our missionary guide in Ecuador.

Day 3: Sunday 29^th- We got an early start, distributed sandwiches and 2 liters of water and chulpi (corn nuts) to everyone and took the bus and backtracked back into Pastaza province about 5km to Chuwitayu, then turned off the main road down a dirt road headed towards Chapints. (see attached .pdf map file). We were able to drive down this road being newly constructed for about 12 km to where the loads of stone and sand dumped over the jungle clay and mud abruptly ended. Here we unloaded the bus and bid it farewell, agreeing that it would pick us up here on Friday at 2 pm.

We waited briefly from about 8:30 to 9:00 am for the reception/pack crew to show up. We greeted about 8 guys and 3 mules which would then help us get ourselves and the 500 pounds of meds into Ankuash. We then proceeded to hike south and east about 5 ½ to 6 hours into Ankuash. We passes through the communities of Pastas, Kajekai, Shakap, Chapints and Kumay , arriving in Ankuash a little before 3 pm.

New Places: Chiguaza in Morona Santiago province, then Chuwitayu, Pastos, Kajekai, Shakap, Chapints, Kumay – all communities in Pastaza province.

New People: Just to name a few of the Ankuashes: Octavio & wife Sonia Ankuash, Leonardo & wife Lidia Ankuash, Mauro & wife Piedad Ankuash, Rogelio Taish (the strong porter guy), Enrigue & wife Martina Ankuash (stocky brother), Alcides, Samuel, Germon and Sabina Ankuash, Juan, Maria Nunkuich (the 78 yr old grandmother), Ruben & Rosa, Miguel and Victoria.

New Things & Food: Ate “chulpi” (corn nuts) and sandwiches on the way in, then “mitos de lomo y palmito”, Mito (wrap style of cooking in leaves - leaf grilled beef with palm heart), platano verde, yucca (a tubor i.e. manioc/cassava), papa chino (a tubor also), camote (sweet potato), and drank avena (oatmeal) and chucula (banana drink) and/or chicha (life!)

To Ankuash and back DAY 2

Day 2 and we are on the road. Quito is a bustling place and it is very enjoyable to watch the world go by form the comfort of the bus surrounded by our great team. Don is as great tour guide as well and keeps us informed in each area we pass through.

Just when the miles begin to become tiresome Don makes a quick stop for ice cream!

We called this little number chocolate covered butter. All natural cream frozen and dipped in chocolate. I was delighted!

This was a three layer fruit “La Finca ice-cream (three flavors were Mora/Limon/Taxo)” as Don describes below in his debrief. It was also delicious and as with all the food I sampled in Ecuador it was the freshness and all natural ingredients I appreciated the most. 

The local String Cheese which was very good as well! For a tall lanky fellow Our friend Don Wolfram sure does get excited about food. By the end of the trip I was very glad for this fact.

Here we are riding a cable car over a gorge and ride above a water fall!

This was our first full meal out on the road and the place was amazing. I had much trepidation about eating local food for fear of getting miserably ill but with Don’s enthusiasm and experience I finally abandoned most of my caution and boy am I glad I did.

This plate of Trout was caught right out of the farm pond and prepared in 20min. The price was less than $4.00. It was delicious.

An unexpected stop along the road was the Nate Saint house in Shell. I could feel history come alive for ever since I was a little boy I had heard the story of the five missionaries who were willing to give their lives to reach people for Jesus.

It was very exciting to wander the grounds and see the house.

After our days travels we came to rest at the most amazing lodge “Los Laberintios de Chiguaza” which was just across the Chiguaza River! You will have to read tomorrows post to see the great images we captured of the place at sunrise.

Ecuador trip brief as recorded by Don Wolfram our missionary guide in Ecuador.

Day 2: Saturday 28^th-Traveled from Quito to Shell by first heading straight south right down the center of the Andes mountains, then turning East in Ambato and dropping elevation quickly out of the mountains to the edge of the Jungle at about 2000 ft. elevation. We added Fede, Eric and Ps. Jorge to our team. On the way we saw the “Panecillo” or small bun-like hill in the center of Quito which holds the Virgin Mary protector of Quito statue. We saw Pichincha, the mountain that dominates this capital province, and tried to see the snowcap volcanoes of Cayambe, Antisana, Cotopaxi, Illinizas, Chimborazo, Carihuarazo and Tungurahua. We saw mountain Indians known as “Quichuas” – they are the descendants of the Inca Empire and farm these highlands.

We drove briefly through Baños, rode the “Taravita” cable car over the Pastaza River at the Manto de la Novia waterfall and hiked around above the “Pailon Del Diablo” waterfall in Rio Verde on some land known as “La Isla”. In Rio Verde, Don went to fetch Rolando, a Bible and Dental Student who then joined our group. We then stopped for an asado (grilled) trout lunch at “Arco Iris” where the Cashaurcu stream meets the Pastaza.

After lunch we continued east towards Puyo, now entering the Pastaza province, stopping briefly in “Mangayacu” to drop off some parts at the Bible Seminary. Mangayacu is the campus where we meet every 2^nd month with about 30-35 Bible students for training. We then drove through Shell so as to drop off the surplus of meds at HVO (Hospital Vozandes del Oriente). We were received by Florence Judd, a long time nurse from Australia. Some members took a brief hospital tour while the others unloaded and sorted out the meds.

**the hospital was VERY low on meds and greatly appreciated these supplies for their regular needs as well as for the medical, rural and jungle outreaches that they initiate. They send a big “THANKS & GOD BLESS YOU!” Dr. Mark Nelson and many others were ecstatic!

We then also visited the Nate Saint house in Shell and saw the kitchen and radio room in which the 5 widows first heard confirmation that their husbands had been martyred. We then proceeded to Puyo where we added Ana Galindo to the team and also Octavio Ankuash (student, pastor, community leader and guide) and pushed on our way another 70km (44 miles) to the bridge across the Pastaza on the road

“via Macas”. We crossed into Morona Santiago Province, just across the Pastaza river and there we turned off towards our Hostal: “Los Laberintios de Chiguaza” which was just across the Chiguaza River. The bus could not cross this bridge, so we huffed all our stuff across so that we could reorganize one last time for the walk-in in the morning. Romulo Garlarzes received us there and we found our rooms and ate roast pork for a late supper.

New Places: Drive about 120 miles south to Ambato, then 80 miles East to Shell. The Pastaza river forms just above Baños at “Las Juntas”. Baños is a touristic town with many hot springs. Rio Verde is where Don & Mary started their ministry here in Ecuador. The Pailon waterfall is famous. Mangayacu is the campus where we operate the CEMIM (Centro de Entrenamiento Misionero Internacional Mangayacu) Bible seminary. In Shell we visited the HVO hospital, the Nate Saint house. Puyo the Capital of Pastaza province, Los Laberintios de Chiguaza – in Morona Santiago Province where we spent the night.

New People: Byron-the bus driver, Fede (Federico) Borman – assistant to Don & Translator, Eric Soledispa – Translator & CEMIM instructor, and Ps. Jorge Ailla – AG (Assemblies of God) pastor and a national missionary to the Shuar Indians. Rolando Zamora??-CEMIM student and dentist/student, Ana Galindo – CEMIM student, secretary and optomologist/student. Octavio Ankuash – CEMIM student and community leader in San Pedro/Ankuash.

New Things & Food: Ate “avas” (highland bean), La Avelina ice-cream (chocolate coated butter), La Finca ice-cream (three flavors were Mora/Limon/Taxo). Trout at Arco-Iris in Cashaurcu; Then roast pork, xx and xx.

To Ankuash and back DAY 1

In life it is the unexpected opportunities provided by our Father in heaven that hold the riches rewards. The following posts are a brief account of the ten days following a phone call from a brother in Christ informing me of an opportunity to serve in the small village of Ankuash Ecuador!

 I must say that all my flights were smooth and on time and my time spent in transit was fine. The hostel in Quito was plenty comfortable with a soft warm bed.

Breathing was a little laborious at 9000 ft. which made it challenging to sleep. We all settled in packing away the med bags and the next morning we loaded onto a bus and drove away knowing we would return to the hostel for our last night before returning to Mariscal Sucre airport fro the return home.   

Ecuador trip brief as recorded by Don Wolfram our missionary guide in Ecuador.

Day 1: Friday 27^th- Traveled to Quito arriving about 10:30 pm and getting to the ANGELICA’S Guesthouse about 12 am. Hosts of guesthouse is Sra. Angelica a faithful Christian sister. Bus driver is Byron. That evening, sorted out the walk-in items from the meds to be left at the “edge of the jungle” hospital about 5 hours away.
New Places: Quito Guesthouse – “Angelicas”. Quito elevation is about 9,700 ft (above sea level)
New People: Met Don Wolfram (Missionary Ventures Int’l), (wife Mary, Zachary 20, & Jordon 18 are all out of town; Jenna 14 is staying with a friend as we have an early departure)

Ecuador!

This will be a real adventure. I will miss everyone I am crazy about and look forward to returning with amazing tales. God sees us all everywhere we are every second all at the same time. God is our true connection, our common origin and most of all our perfect Father. This planet is His creation and there is no place we can go that we should not feel at home and in His presence.

To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
(Act 26:18)

I am grateful to know the truth of the gospel and anyone who wants it can have it. We speak the Word with complete reliance on the Spirit of God to draw those He has chosen. Yes or No and away we go.
View Larger Map

2009 Tampa Bay Start! Heart Walk

Today I was snapping photos for TDO Audio and the American Heart Association on the grounds of Raymond James Stadium. There was an impressive turnout of happy people.

This was the neatest group I snapped. They are the recipients of hearts donated by those who chose to give their organs in the event of their deaths. The incalculable value of the organ donor program really becomes evident when you are face to face with a group of folks who you would have never had the pleasure of meeting. Some of these individuals are even on their second donor heart!