Life has been busy recently. I've been working lots but also have had great visits from various friends from college (Brian Wyse, Mauricio Chavez, CJ Hague, Juan Camilo Moya, and Jeff Stoez) over the past few months. I've gotten to travel some and took some time off for Christmas and New Year's vacation. Life keeps trucking along here and my days continue to be filled with work with refugees, youth, music, and farming. There continue to be many challenges and unexpected situations in my daily work, but also much joy and learning. Anyhow, I dont want to be too vague and general...but I figured some pictures and captions might be nice for a change. Hope everyone had a great Christmas and a good start to 2012!
Some delicious lettuce grown in our greenhouse. We had a great harvest with carrots, onions, lettuce, beets, cabbage, and radishes. I sold some vegetables at our church and we included fresh vegetables in our food assistance program for the refugees. We are now selling lots of eggs from the farm which has proven to be a good source of income.
My new apartment where I've been living since October 12th. It's a comfortable place with a great view and is just 5 blocks from the church.
Having fun with college friend Brian Wyse and his friend Steve
The Christmas spirit
The first refugee family who benefited from a new program that I came up with. Instead of receiving food assistance, families can choose to receive a $75 dollar investment in a small business project, which allows them to start up a small, no-loan project that has no affect on our annual budget. This family decided to sell "candy bags" for Christmas, a popular tradition in Ecuador. Since this photo in early December, two other families have also participated in this project.
Christmas Eve with the Moyas
A few fireworks at midnight on Xmas eve
Post Christmas hike up Pichincha--the volcan situated behind the mountain overlooking Quito--with college friends CJ Hague, Jeff Stoez and 2 friends from Quito. We reached the summit that afternoon at an altitude of 15,406 ft.
The best new addition to my apartment
A great nap
"Año viejos" The tradition in Ecuador for New Years is to make "Old Year" dolls in the form of famous people/characters from TV, fill them with fireworks and burn them at midnight.
With Jeff Stoez and Juan Camilo Moya on the 31st
Welcome 2012!
2 thumbs up for 2012
