New Faces

Having been in Quito for just three weeks now, I am amazed at all that I have been learning.  Being placed into a foreign environment with people who don't always think or act the same way that I do makes for some accelerated growth in my worldview.  What's been really great is seeing the different people from various backgrounds that have been put in my path along the way.

The past few weeks I worked with Phil, a volunteer with the water projects team.  He is an engineer working as a consultant for the expansion project of the Panama Canal.  Phil also volunteered in the Peace Corps in Chile a while back.  After some great conversations about how our faith can be lived out in different ways, we decided to try and get together when we are both in Panama in the future.  It's small connections like this where I see how God continues to prepare the way for me.

Talks with Bruce, the water projects director, have also led to plans for continued contact when I am in Panama.  It's nice to know that on top of all the support I have from home, there are people I am getting to know here who I will be able to get advice and gain knowledge from, even after I leave.  There are many others I have run across to be able to spend time with and share experiences here: some from my motherland (Dutch people), missionaries, locals, old friends from my last trip to Ecuador, fellow Michiganders, and even a few Calvin grads.  I am excited to see how relationships will continue to develop, because I never know what will become of them, or who I will run into around the next corner.

Tube rafting with Debbie, Carissa, and Marco

Tomorrow I head out to Carabuela again with Wim and Roberto to work on the disinfection of the community water supply.  We will be there for two or three days, depending on how much work we need to get done.  This will be some real hands on engineering work, which is good.  We will need God's guidance as we try to help the community while keeping them completely involved with the changes in their water system.  It's nice to not have to rely on our own ability, knowing that God will be working through us.

Spending Ourselves

At the highest point in Carabuela

Part of my time here in Quito has been spent learning as much as I can about the work that HCJB Water Projects does in Ecuador.  Obviously there´s a lot more that goes into this type of development work than just the technical aspects of engineering design.  The philosophy with the water projects team here is that sustainability is a key factor for water systems.  A large percentage of water systems built by other organizations in Ecuador fail over time due to lack of maintenance.  The idea is that the community has to have a sense of ownership and responsibility for their water system.  Bruce, the water projects director, was explaining that we are not in the business of handouts, or just giving things to people.  Although it may seem contradictory, simply being poor does not qualify a community to have HCJB design a water system for them.  The people must have a desire to improve their lives and take responsibility for the work that needs to be done, both at the start and down the road.  It´s also important that the community has to provide the majority of the labor and natural materials.  Funding comes from many different sources since most communities do not have the kind of money that´s necessary to pay for everything.  Another requirement is to have an organized ¨Junta de Agua¨ or water committee that takes on the financial and maintenance responsibilities.

Checking out the system

Last week I made my first trip out to the Quichua community of Carabuela to work on an existing water system.  The Quichuas are one of the indigenous groups in Ecuador, and live in the Andes Mountains.  The main source of income in Carabuela is their handcrafts, such  as weavings that they sell in the market of Otavalo.  This community was not the poorest in comparison to others in Ecuador, but it was still the most impoverished area I have seen since arriving in Quito.  Seeing the bare concrete block houses, and the dirty old clothes kids were wearing reminded me that yes I am in a developing country.  It amazes me how much of an economic gap there can be between life here in the city and life out in the rural areas.

Measuring flow rates of spring water collection

Taking some notes on the pipes

Roberto (an Ecuadorian HCJB staff engineer), Wim (a missionary technician from The Netherlands), and I inspected different parts of the system.  We worked with Luis, head of the water committee in Carabuela, to make preparations to install two injection pumps for chlorine disinfection.  Technical problems are always solvable, but sometimes cultural issues are the biggest challenge.

There´s an unfortunate perspective of the indigenous people held by others as well as themselves - that they are a lower class, that they are meant to be poor.  The team here wants to help get these people out of that mindset, to be able to have a better life.  We are not trying to solve financial problems by providing more finances.  By going on a spiritual journey with them we hope to show how God´s power can release them from the bondage of poverty.  They are lifted up by things like a supply of clean water, relationships with people that care, and faith in God that encompasses all these things.

Whenever you are trying to alleviate poverty, you´re talking about a huge challenge.  That´s hard work.  There are no easy or simple solutions.  But that´s where God comes in, and He is pleased to have us working alongside Him in this effort.  If we tried to do this on our own, our approach would always fail.  I think God wants us to work hard, to empty ourselves in response to being filled by Him.

...and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. 

Isaiah 58:10

¿Hasta Mañana?

This past week I joined a small group of other working visitors in some orientation sessions with DeNise, one of the HCJB Global staff.  Between Cecilia (my host mom) and DeNise, I basically have two mothers here that are watching out for me and making sure I am safe at all times.  I try not to complain too much.  Anyway, we have been learning about Ecuadorian culture and how it compares and contrasts to the North American type of social interaction.  Looking back I realized how many different ways I had probably offended people every day since I arrived in Quito.

According to the experts, there are reasonable generalizations that can be made about the "hot climate" culture and the "cold climate" culture.  Some of these things I already knew, but it was interesting hearing it from an Ecuadorian.  Usually in colder climates (northern US, Europe, etc.) the culture is focused on efficiency and individualism.  On the other hand in hot climates such as Latin America, relationships are the most important, and there are strong ties among families and communities.  That's the abbreviated version.

The more time I spend here the more I notice these cultural differences.  I have to remind myself, when I walk into a room I need to personally greet every person there.  And "Hola" doesn't cut it, I need to say "buenas dias, como te va, etc.", shake hands with the guys, and give a kiss to the ladies.  This doesn't exactly come naturally to me.  It's also noticeable that the respect for my time that I expect from people in the States is not available here.  Not that people are rude, it's just that time is not nearly as important as relationships.  We were told that if someone invites you to a social event, be sure to show up 10 minutes to an hour late, never on time.  If you're on time they will not be expecting you, and will feel rushed.  Another helpful hint is that when something is supposed to be done "mañana" that doesn't necessarily mean tomorrow, it only means not today.

Besides trying not to offend people and understand how things work, I'm also trying to get used to living in the city.  Quito is not all that large compared to other big cities in South America, but it is compact.  Squeezed between the mountains, the long and narrow shape of it means there are few main roads.  I'm very glad that I am within walking distance of the office.  Although walking is not the best either.  It's important to remember that pedestrians never have the right of way; cars and especially buses will not stop for you.  Drivers use the horn to let people know that they are coming, whether going through a red light or pulling into oncoming traffic.  The other day I was in the car with Gustavo, my host dad, and he was telling me how in places with strict traffic laws there are actually more accidents because of carelessness.  Whereas here people are more careful when driving.  I agreed, while gripping the dashboard as he weaved around a taxi going the wrong way down the street.

Bienvenido a Quito

Flying over the Caribbean coast of Panama

The past few days have been a time of adjustment, to say the least.  Adjusting to the climate, the altitude, the culture, the language, the big city, the food... a lot of adjustments.  When my connecting flight flew over the jungles of Panama and I made my way through the Panama city airport, I felt a little out of place.  My comfort zone waved goodbye to me somewhere over the Caribbean.  But I liked the tropical feel of Panama, I think I just might move there some day.

The breakfast room at the Estrellas

After a 5 hour flight to Panama, a 6 hour layover, a 2 hour flight to Ecuador, and a 2 hour wait in the immigration line, I finally arrived in Quito on Sunday night (actually Monday morning).  I guess it's still faster than driving the whole way...  My host family happily invited me in, despite the fact that they had to be up at 2 in the morning.  Gustavo and Cecilia Estrella, and older Ecuadorian couple, are my adopted parents for the time being.  Their 25 year old son, Diego, also lives with them in their very nice apartment.  It feels a little strange having a housekeeper preparing meals for us, doing my laundry, and cleaning all the time.  But, I guess I could get used to that.

The Estrellas have been challenging me to practice my Spanish, which is good but also difficult.  Cecilia speaks almost no English at all, but we've had several good conversations in Spanish.  I surprised myself at how much I am able to communicate, but I definitely need a lot of practice.  It can be frustrating at times when I can understand what people are saying to me, but I don't know how to respond.  That makes for awkward gaps in conversation at times.

Outside the Community Development office

Today is my third day working in la Oficina de Desarrollos Comunitarios (Community Development Office).  The clean water projects is a subdivision of this department.  Bruce, who's in charge of the water projects, has been discussing with me different projects to work on while I'm here.  HCJB worked with the people of Carabuela, a mountain community north of Quito, to build a drinking water system two years ago.  Now followup testing shows that the water needs disinfection.  It looks like we will be working on installing a chlorination system there in the coming weeks.  Lately I have been doing some calculations and planning for an automated injection pump that we will install.

Inside the office, that's my shared desk back in the corner

Quito is an interesting city to live in, but I'm still working on finding my way around.  Luckily it's only about a 15 minute walk from my house to the office, and I'm already getting pretty good at dodging cars and mopeds while crossing the street.  It's a well know fact that traffic is terrible here.  In just a short time I've met some really interesting people from all kinds of backgrounds who are devoted to serving the Lord.  There is so much for me to learn here about so many things.  While right now it is challenging and awkward and uncomfortable most of the time, I know that God is using this to grow my faith and prepare me for the work He has for me next.

Walking the streets of Quito

Prayer Team

My experiences in this past year have been a special reminder of the power of prayer.  Even though I tend to worry more about tangible things that I can't control anyway, I've realized how important it is to have a strong prayer support behind everything I do.  I believe God hears our requests and is pleased when we pray for each other.  Not only does it help with staying connected with Christ and each other, but also with accountability and encouragement.

With this in mind, I've decided to go about this like any good engineer and try to be organized.  The idea is to make sort of a schedule for my time in Ecuador so that individuals can be praying very intentionally for specific situations.  I'd like to invite you (or you and your significant other, or family, small group, whatever) to commit to one week of prayer.  I will be in Ecuador for eight weeks, so there are eight spots.  Hopefully each one can be filled by the time that week comes around.  

If you would like to sign up for a week, just let me know and make sure I have your email address.  Then I will do my best to contact you with specific prayer requests and updates for that week.  Also it would be great if you could let me know your needs for prayer, and then I can be praying for you as well.  Obviously you can still be praying even if you don't sign up, I'm not that strict with the rules.  I just thought I'd try and make it a little more personal and meaningful.  Also I will still be listing prayer requests on this blog.

Anyway these are the weeks available, just comment or contact me to let me know:

1) February 5 - 11 (I fly out Sunday morning)

2) February 12 - 18

3) February 19 - 25

4) February 26 - March 3

5) March 4 - 10

6) March 11 - 17

7) March 18 - 24

8) March 25 - 28 (I'll be back in the USA on the 28th)

Thank you everyone who has been praying for me, it really is important to me.

Crossing the Equator

It's almost time for me to head south, just far enough to get to the southern hemisphere.  Unfortunately I will be missing out on the festivities of Super Bowl Sunday, and instead traveling to Ecuador early that morning.  Although I guess that's not too bad of a trade.  The anticipation of this trip has been building up, and I'm definitely ready to go.

Ecuador has quite a variety of climates in different regions with the Pacific coast, Andes mountain range, Amazon jungle, and the Galapagos Islands.  After experiencing the heat and humidity of the Amazon region of Ecuador last year, I am thankful that this time I will be living in the mountains.  The capital city of Quito, where I'm headed, is at a high enough elevation (9350 ft) to stay cool despite being near the equator.  Obviously it's still a whole lot warmer than Michigan in February, even when all our snow is melting.


My housing for my eight weeks in Quito will be with an Ecuadorian host family.  How much English they speak I have no idea, but hey I'm hoping to get some practice speaking Spanish anyway.  It looks like part of my time will be spent working in the HCJB office in Quito.  That's where several full time missionaries and nationals are on staff with the water projects team.  We will also be traveling to different communities to work on drinking water and sanitation systems.

This experience is definitely going to be challenging and will require flexibility.  Hopefully I will learn a thing or two about development work through providing clean water and how that can be used as a testimony to God's love.  I'm very excited to work alongside and get to know the HCJB missionaries and Ecuadorian nationals.  Also I hope to grow my faith perspective by seeing the church in a different context.  I would really appreciate prayers for my trip preparation and smooth travels.  God is going to do some great things; I wouldn't expect anything less.