February Highlights

With our usual work schedule, this week has flown past. Here are the highlights.

Tuesday, Valentine Day, was a day for creativity.  With all God’s beauty surrounding us all that needed to be done was to gather and arrange.  All these flowers are from the wilds that border the river next to our compound.

Friday was a special day at school for both teachers and students.  This weekend marks the beginning of “carnaval” and the school began early with water games.   Carnival is a holiday that is loosely tied to Lent.  It is a time when Latin Americans enjoy water games everywhere.  Yes, you don’t have to be at the beach to get wet.  Many balloons and pails of water are thrown at unsuspecting targets.  Often from moving vehicles and sometimes followed by a bag of flour.  Throwing eggs is also an option.  It seems like it is a time to let loose before the season of Lent is upon them.

Saturday we had the opportunity to accompany Chad Irwin (MAF pilot) to a jungle village for an emergency medical evacuation.   The village was about 35 minutes by air from Shell beside the Pastaza River.  The air was hazy so visibility was restricted but it was a very enjoyable flight.   It is too bad that the flight was for medical reasons.  We understand a scorpion bite is not usually fatal and often an evacuation is not required, but the child was in some distress and needed to come to the hospital here in Shell.  We were impressed with Chad’s skill in piloting the plane to such a smooth landing on a short, grass strip.  Seconds after the plane was on the ground the airstrip behind us filled in with children and adults.  After a quick reshuffle of seats and loading the child and an adult passenger, we taxied to the end of the strip and as the people, dogs and chickens cleared the runway we were off again.

Buenos Dias! (or Not)

It has been a while since our last update to this blog (5 weeks!) and yet it seems that the time has passed quickly.  Here is an update, as we remember it.

Plans to join up with the Canadian Mission team to Sumaco (a village about 3 hours from here) fell through when a stomach ailment hit Garth hard.  This is the first bout of sickness either of us have had while in Ecuador!  Valerie did not succumb to this illness, which makes me wonder if I should stop experimenting with the ‘fruits of the vines’ that I pass everyday on my way to work?

It has been a time of constant rain and of overcast skies.  Many of the locals were even commenting on the ‘lluvia mucho’ (24.9 inches since January 1).  Yesterday dawned clear and bright and a collective sigh was heard throughout Shell.  The mountains and volcanoes were visible with Sangay even putting on a show with a large smoke plume.  Unfortunately I was not quick enough with the camera to get a good close up, so use your imagination or click on the picture to get a larger view.

Each month, at Nate Saint Memorial School, a character quality is emphasized.  February's quality is friendship.   Mailboxes and a postal system have been devised, secret pen pals assigned, and all students and staff are writing letters of encouragement to each other while learning the almost lost art of letter writing and envelope addressing.  Excitement is building as Valentines Day draws near and the secret pen pals will be revealed!

Construction and renovation continues on the hospital cocina.  The tiling is done, the doors have been trimmed or rehung and the painting of the main area is complete.  Now everything has been moved into that area so the bano and locker room can be finished, and the storage room can be divided to create an additional office.  This is an active kitchen area so the work has to be done in stages.  The kitchen staff appreciates what is being done, but I’m sure they would like to see it finished.  By Wednesday I hope to have the main area complete and put back together.  This will get me out of their way with only the storage and new office left to do.

The helipad at the hospital always draws a crowd when it is in use!  Thankfully it isn’t used on a regular basis.  This pad is located across the street from the hospital.  There is always plenty of foot traffic on this street as it is the main access to a small barrio.

Although in this culture it is common (if not expected) to greet everyone you meet, I learned this week there are times that a cheery “Buenos Dias!” is less than appropriate.  My usual route to the maintenance shop is past the morgue and when there is a large group of people gathered there, one should remain silent.