Belated Christmas greetings from Ecuador

Friends and Relatives:

Christmas kinda snuck up on us and passed us before we knew it. Without snow and cold and long dark wintry nights, it isn't the same in a land that is constantly warm with balmy evenings. The sun comes up at 6:30 am and goes down at 6:30pm, every day, and temperatures are generally in the 80's and low 90's. This week the rains arrived. It has been 7 months with no rain. Generally it rains at night when it does, so life goes on the same during the day. Today it is raining. It must be trying to catch up for lost time, as it rained hard all night.

We did have a couple of Christmas celebrations. We went to the home of a family and spent Christmas eve with them so we could welcome in Christmas at midnight. That is an Ecuadorian tradition. Television and American movies have homigenized culture to a certain extent. The home we were at could have been Canadian or American. There was a large artificial tree covered with lights and ornaments with wrapped presents below. A custom that is becoming increasingly popular in recent years. There was also a little plastic snow man and a cutsie plastic moose wrapped up in a scarf. I am sure nobody in the house has ever seen either a moose or a snowman or needed a scarf. This family was well off with professionals bringing home the bacon, so was not really typical, I suppose. They served up a traditional chrismas meal that was very good shortly before midnight

Another tradition is that many nativity scenes do not have the Christ child, until midnight on Christmas eve. The nativity will remain until the 6th of January after that.

New years eve was spectacular from our party on the roof of the apartment. The temple is on top of a hill, and the roof of the apartment is 3 stories up. From that location we could see fireworks going off all over the place all evening. From 11:50 till 12:30 there was an incredible fleurry of fireworks as far as the eye can see in all directions. The glow of fires was everywhere with explosions of firecrackers as people burned their munejcas in the streets. We leaned later that the main action was down on the waterfront with lots of music and dancing to salsa music and fireworks. Had I known that, we would have been there. I still love to dance, and salsa is great music to dance to.

In three weeks the temple will close down for two weeks. We are trying to find a family in Otavalo to live with and work for. We have offered to pay our room and board while helping to work in the gardens on the mountain sides or help build or do whatever while getting to know more about Otavalo and Otavalans from an Otavalan family. We have made some contacts with a bishop and a stake president but nothing has gelled yet. Of all the people we have met, the Otavalans and Canaris impress us the most. They are incredibly hard working, and cling tenaciously to their culture, and for the most part the Otavalans have not intermarried with other races or cultures. Most of the older Otavalans speak chichuan rather than Spanish. We sure hope something will come together there in the next three weeks. If not, we will just have to relax, jump on a bus and go see some places we haven't seen yet, and maybe go back to Banos for some hiking in the mountains, biking and thermal baths for a few days. We love Banos.

Our time here is running out. We have less than 4 months remaining. We will be glad to be back in Nova Scotia. We love our friends and home there and small town life in Liverpool. As nice as the weather is here, I actually miss snow and the change of seasons. I love getting in a garden in the spring and tending it. I love harvesting the produce. I love working outdoors when I am not wringing wet with sweat (not the case here), and even have hopes that somebody or a few somebodies would like me to help them build a house. I think I have a few more houses left in me. I love preparing for winter and then burning the wood and using up what produce we have put up. I even like getting driven indoors by bad weather so I can putter in my shop. That is doubly enjoyable with snow or rain coming down. I have a list of projects I look forward to both indoors and out.

Having said that, I can honestly say we are not getting "trunky". This has been the most rewarding life experience we have ever had. We will leave a large part of our heart here. We have developed friendships that will last through eternity. Tears come to my eyes when I think of saying goodbye, and already have hopes that we can return in a few years if possible to spend a few winter months working at the temple and seeing friends. The Lord knows his business when he inspires his servants to make mission assignments.

We are hoping you all had a joyous and fun filled Christmas and New Years celebrations with friends and loved ones, and that you have a prosperous and happy 2010.

Love, Peter & Debbie

Feliz Ano 2

Here are a few more. The first one is still under construction. The staging is still set up. The last picture is in front of a mall. It shows a few munecas , and some vendors on their three wheel bikes, and people selling fireworks. Pete

Feliz Ano

Happy New Year from Ecuador.

Last year I sent pictures of the small munecas (paper mache figures) that the Ecuadorians make for new years eve. They write their troubles on a piece of paper and put it inside along with firecrackers. At midnight neighborhoods pile them up in the streets and burn them.

The other evening, we went on a tour of some neighborhoods that get into a competitive spirit and build huge ones. Streets are blocked off until after new years.

People have fun going out and looking things over. All kinds of street vendors are out selling things to eat.

The first one is about 30' tall, as is the last one.

The paper mache castle has a rickety scaffolding made of bamboo and rough lumber behind it so that people can climb up and get their pictures taken. There was music and dancing below.

Pete

Welcome Hazel

We welcomed our third mission grandbaby in December. Hazel Adelaide was born to John and Carrie on Dec 7, 2009. This brings our total to nine! We can’t wait to see all of our grandchildren in just a few months. They and our children and their exceptional spouses are the pride and joy of my life. If not for visiting with them I could easily become a missionary for the rest of my life. Debbie

mi amiga

Friends: I just want to introduce you to my three year old friend, Valentina. The first picture shows her with her mother Paula (on the stairs I built to the bedrooms). Even though I speak almost no Spanish, and Valentina speaks no English, we understand each other, and have great times together. Love is a language. The next two pictures are at el parque (the park) in Sunday dress.

Since I have been working at the Valero house, she has become my friend. She is mostly being raised by her grandparents for whom I have been working. She rarely gets out and doesn't get to see other little kids or play with them. When I first started working there she would kick me or spit at me. However, each time I would try to engage her in play. Eventually she would play catch. Then she let me read to her. Then, when I was through with work, I would sometimes take her for a walk/run around the block, or even several blocks. Now when I come to their house she runs to open the door and wants a hug.

Her mother didn't like to bring her to church as she was disruptive in Sacrament meeting and fought with the kids in the nursery. I encouraged them to bring her. As soon as the sacrament was blessed and passed, I would take her to a very large and beautiful park that is nearby where she could run and play. At first she was afraid of the swings, teeter totters and slides, and I was pleased to see that she eventually overcame her fears and tried them. She also found other kids her age and eventually started playing with them. We have been doing that for a couple months now. In fact, a couple times I have just picked her up at home during the week and take her there by bus and spent a few hours there. Through her I have gotten to meet other parents and grandparents and kids in the park.

When we started skipping out of church, she would have a fit when I tried to take her back. However, when w got back, I would go to the nursery with her and just sit on the floor, and be ready to restrain her when she got in a fight. The first couple times we went she spent most of the time sitting on my lap, and then sally forth to try playing. Next was total engagement with other kids and total indifference to my presence in the room.

Today we went to the park after the sacrament was passed, as usual, but Valentina's heart wasn't in it. She tried to want to swing and slide and play, but after a short time she headed for the gate and started down the street.(When we are together, I try not to direct her, but be there to help her do what she wants to do) I asked her if she wanted to return to the church and join the other kids and she did. I took her to the nursery and she never looked back. I got to join with the other gringo's for our English speaking gospel doctrine class; the first in a few months. I can see the time coming when if I want to go to the park, I will have to go alone.

Anyway, this little amiga has made her way into my heart. She is spunky and smart, and full of fun and tricks. I love the fact that her mother and grandparents not only trust me with her, but seem very happy to have me take her on outings. The grandparent in me needs a little kid for a friend. My connection to her and her mother and grandparents makes me feel like I have a family in Ecuador. That has added a dimension to this experience of being in Ecuador, that probably most visitors don't get, and that I value highly.

Pete (Elder Ripple)

Fishing on the Guaya

On our last trip to the rice fields, down on the river was a couple fishing. They pulled in close to shore to speak with a couple of the rice workers who were with us and I got a couple of good pictures. The paddles were just tree limbs or small trees that had been hewed sort of flat, probably with a machete, the all purpose tool down here. Not much effort went in to slim down the handle. A pretty fat handle and long narrow blade. Like a lot of things, good enough is good enough.

Pete

Old House

Nothing spactacular here, just an old house, typical of a lot of houses in the rice growing area. The siding is bamboo that is flattened out. Lots of natural ventilation. The overhang thing has numeous wasp nests. The frame of the house is over 150 years old and of a hard strong wood that is rot and termite resistant.

The last picture shows an interesting piece of joinery. Two pieces were joined together. The small rectangular block in the middle is the key. After the two pieces are fitted together, the key is driven in and the two pieces are locked together. I couldn't get a picture of the whole joint because the bottom is underground. Note that the top of the joint is cut on a "V" from side to side so that the joint can't slip sideways.

Anyway, I thought it was kinda cool. Pete