Just Another Day in Andian Paradise

Wow…my last Sunday in Ecuador.
Showering this morning was an adventure. The shower is more of a trickle… and it is either all hot or all cold. I opted for the first option – it was a sauna, and took skill to avoid getting burned.
We only have one plug in the bathroom and one mirror. So, I tried using my webcam to do my hair – worked for a little while, but was really hard to see the details. We ate breakfast at the hotel and had wonderful bacon, eggs, breads, and juices.
Church was great. And – I hope this isn’t disrespectful- but they had the best sacrament bread I have ever tasted. We pretty much doubled their congregation. The ward is smaller here in Otovalo then it was in Guayaquil. The cutest little boy, Josue, was seated in front of me. He was super man in secret his dad told me. Josue was unbuttoned his white button-up shirt to reveal a dark blue superman shirt underneath. He was very proud of it. His dad really impressed me. He was so welcoming, spoke in sacrament, taught Sunday school, and brought his kids to church on his own. I met a girl named Diana in the bathroom – I was having some contact issues and my eye hurt. She was very friendly. She told me she was 13 years old. I asked her if I could go to young women’s with her only to find out that she was the only young woman there today and her mother, the instructor was unable to come. So, we had young women’s together. She was very patient with me and my Spanish. I said the opening prayer, we sang The Spirit of God, and then we read from the manual and our scriptures and discussed our testimonies. She really strengthened my testimony of diezmo or tithing. She told me she always pays her tithing. Yet, she only had one pair of pants, and no dress to wear to church. She is a modern day widow’s mite. She gives all she has. I loved talking with her and getting to know her. She lives like the daughter of God she is.
We returned back to the hotel and I became the “llama whisperer.” We had wanted to get some pictures with the llamas. I think llamas are quite wonderful! So my roommates weren’t quite as enthused and were a little nervous to get close. I brought the llama over and we were able to get the pictures we wanted. It was completely fine and no one got spit on by the llama.
It was certainly a day of rest. It is so serene up here! We took some pictures jumping on the dock. I actually jammed my toe in a moment of clumsiness and stupidity.
I spent a lot of the day trying to get an internet connection for Skype. The internet here is very temperamental. After testing a variety of locations in the lobby, I found one that worked a little better.
We went to dinner at a Mexican restaurant in the city. My entire GI tract has been screaming at me ever since. The food was different and delicious, but it sure is wreaking havoc on me now.
I got to talk to Matt on Skype a bit amidst the chirping crickets and bellowing bull frogs. Everyone seemed to be trying to reach a loved one. Katy and I were taking turns with the outlet power since we both borrowed crappy nursing computers for the trip. However, after Tricia’s got stolen, I am glad I did. Anyways, it was a conversation held in episodes to say the least.
Well, hope all is well. I love you all so much and look forward to seeing you at the end of the week – now that sounds weird, doesn’t it?
Peace Out!

To Otovalo and Beyond....

This morning came much faster than I had anticipated. We woke up at 5:30, stuffed the last of our things in our bags, and headed out the door.
The suitcase weight thing did turn out to be a little bit of an issue. I guess I just don’t understand the concept of “packing light.” I was fine paying the $10.00 fee, but I was 1kg over and the darn woman was going to charge me $20.00. After 3 weeks of dollar food, I was not about to pay $20.00 for shipping. I have become cheap, or maybe thifty, to put it more delicately. I went to another line, and the kind soul only charged me $10.00. However, the airline has this crazy system in which you have to wait in another line to actually exchange your money for the fee. To make a long story short, we waited in line for over an hour and a half, then ran through the airport, and caught our plane with only minutes to spare. It was a workout.
We arrived in Quito. The view was breath-taking. It is SO green and so quaint. However, we didn’t receive quite the welcome we had expected. Upon entering our bus, a man tried to help me put up my bags. He kept putting one on the front seat. I became frustrated and took it, saying “no, here” (pointing above my head. He tired to put my backpack up too, but I wanted to get something out of it. I was lucky. He turned out to be a thief. He took another girl’s bag, containing her computer, camera, credit cards, journal, scriptures, and ipod. Sick! They have this scheme. They pose as tour personnel. Unsuspecting, naïve tourists come onto to the bus and are happy to have someone help them take their luggage. False sense of security. Then, people on the outside would tap on the windows and ask us if we had loaded all luggage in the back, by the time you turned around, they were gone, and with your belongings. It was a very sad situation. She was able to cancel her credit cards and we were able to pitch in and replace her cash, but all the things that really matter – her pictures, her files, her journal, were lost. I felt sick. And it almost happened to me too. Yuck.
We rode the bus across the country side to Otovalo. Seriously…this is God’s country. People walked around on the small cobble stone streets with llamas and cows grazed on the side of the road. I love the Andes! A lot of the people here still wear the traditional dress. The men all have long hair, braided back and these cool hats. The women wear long dark skirts, a sash, and these beautiful white tops with lace and embroidery. They also wear these gold necklaces and their babies in a wrap around their bodies. The culture is so rich up here. Our hotel is absolutely beautiful. We are basically on the lake. The mountains/volcanoes are a deep green. The mist envelopes the lake in the mornings. Llamas hang out in the front of the hotel. To top it off, our rooms are cute little cottages. They also serve the most fabulous hot chocolate in the mornings. It’s a little nippy up here…quite on contrast to the “Sweatland” of Guayaquil. Anyways…it is absolutely picturesque!
We went to the Mercado/Market. The people weren’t pesty like in Guayaquil. They were proud of their hand crafts and willing to barter, but they didn’t chase you down the road if you didn’t purchase their product. They just seem really industrious, yet really relaxed. I loved shopping and bought some surprises for ya’ll at home. The jewelry was really cool. The make a lot of things out of taugwa. It’s actually as seed that they peel and then burn. It looks really cool. It was interesting to watching them take town shop. They are all small – most of them smaller than me, and that’s saying something – yet they carry enormous bundles on their backs – just like ants! It is amazing and I don’t know how they do it. I met a girl who was a member of the church in the market – I have only begun to realize how vast the church is! It really is extending to all nations of the world.
We ate dinner at a traditional restaurant. It was super good. They had these chicken crepes that were divine. They also had steamed vegetables – oh praise the Lord!
We came home to our quaint cottages. This place really is absolutely romantic. It is its own kind of paradise. I would love to come back any day!
We had a ladies’ night and watched she’s the man on my lap-top. There were like 12 girls all snuggled up on our beds, which we pushed together. It was great to kick back, relax, and laugh. I also found that the beds are very bouncy and make for great jumping beds .

Mission Impossible

May 22, 2009
Today was our exit meeting with Hogar de Cristo and a sick day for me. It is weird hitting the end. I am sad to be leaving, but also feel okay with it. I guess I am just excited to come home and see you all.
We finished up our data totals and presented our project. We successfully screened 1,000 kids in 5 schools for anemia, vision & hearing deficits, and malnutrition. We also provided them with antiparasitics and vitamins. It was really rewarding. However, my stomach was doing summer-salts, and I was very excited to get back home and rest for 20 min.
However, of course today was the day the Junta was taking us out to a nice lunch on the Malicon. We went to a beautiful restaurant under a bridge on the water. Surprisingly I was actually able to eat, and it tasted great! It has been fun to try new foods and flavors, but nothing sounds better than a Costa Vida Salad, or anything with vegetables. The Junta had hired a photographer to follow us around after and take pictures on the Malicon.
I hit the sack with a Pepto when we got home. After a 3 hour sleep, I woke to screaming, sirens, and yelling. There was a big fight going on below our room, right on the street. People were crowding around. The men had blood all over their shirts. The cops took them away and the crowd slowly dispersed. It was quite the random upheaval. Oh the things to see from the window!
I went out for my final batido. We told love-life fortunes with cards and had silly girlie fun. It’s nice to know that my love-life fortune is already decided, by more than just lucky cards. However, I do think I am the luckiest girl in the world!
We came home, and instead of packing decided to play in the elevators (Katie, Allie, and I). You see, the elevators here aren’t your average elevators. They are magical platforms with doors. I remember the night we first arrived at the hotel. We didn’t realize that we had to physically open the doors, so we rode the elevator up the entire hotel and back down. Sometimes in the elevator, when I am all by myself, I raise my arms and pretend I am a rock star arriving on –stage at my concert. I am pretty sure Tim and Faith use one. Eddie Van Halen would have killed for one Matt. Anyways, we decided to play mission impossible/spider man and make silly videos of us climbing the walls of the. Give me a little sugar, late night adrenaline, and multiple girls, and we’ll come up with some of the best ideas yet! And do them I might add… Anyway… check out the video…I’ll post it.
So it was past packing time, so I figured I should begin. It was nuts trying to fit into the 50lb limit after we had been allowed to bring 100lbs. We’ll see how it goes at the air port. I have been weighing myself on the scale and then weighing myself again with my bag. This is getting crazy and it is getting super late.

Last Clinical Day!

May 21, 2009
So today was my last clinical day! I have mixed emotions…I feel l have been able to accomplish and experience what I set out too, but it was just hard realizing that things were winding down. Although I am tired and it has been a busy three weeks, I have loved it.
I was in Maternity at Sotomayor for my last day. I labored with two women and coached them through birth. I have become a professional breather and “counter pressure.” I want to try it someday and see how much it really helps. I love having the opportunity to bond with other women at such a critical point. I really feel needed and helpful. I spent some time in postparto, teaching women about breast feeding. I actually got to coach one first time mom on how to breast feed. It was pretty exciting when the little squash finally got a good latch. It’s amazing what you can do when you are put on the spot. I taught about antibody transmission in breast milk in Spanish. Although I was terrified and pushed out of my comfort zone, heavenly father helped me be brave and conquer the task. It was fun to hear about the mom’s pregnancies, births, and lives in general.
Something interesting… They pierce the babies’ ears at the hospital to help avoid infection. Otherwise, the moms would just use a hot needle or something.
Additionally, I spent some time in the transition nursery bathing and feeding babies! They were just little snugglies. It becomes kind of frustrating because the moms don’t get their babies for 4-6hours after delivery. They miss out on ideal bonding and breast feeding time. However, it was fun to get to hold the babies and be their pseudo-mamma while they waited.
Following clinical, we grabbed a sandwich at the yummy turkey shop. I finally caved and bought candy from one of the little beggars. They are very hard to resist. They look so malnourished and destitute. Yet I can’t support their way of life. They should be in school, not used to support their parent’s interests. We were a little hurried trying to get to the University to Guayaquil. We took a tour of their nursing college and met with the students. Let’s just say, it was an interesting experience… I felt on parade again. We even had to stand up on the stage. I felt like Brett, I just wanted to hide and say “you tell.” Looking back though, it was fun to get to talk to the students. They actually do their pediatric practice on some of the prisoner’s kids – cool way to get the kids care.
My scrubs had been lost in the laundry service. Oh course they were the cute ones! I was sorely disappointed, but happy to report that although once lost, they have been found! They were mixed in Allie’s laundry – she had unknowingly misplaced her bag, and Katie recovered it! Yipee!
I was feeling pretty queezey…so I went home and took a little nap. However, we were singing at a stake fireside. So it was not a full fledged nap, just a little rest. One of the missionaries gave a short talk, then we sang our favorite, Joseph Smith’s First Prayer to Come Thou Fount, and I Need Thee Every Hour. We sound pretty dang good if I do say so myself! Parts and all! The missionaries then sang a few songs. It was pretty funny because a lot of them were off-key, but they sang anyway. I really admire their courage! Far braver than I!

May 20, 2009
Today was pretty much amazing! I felt like hermana Balle, a sister missionary – except I was teaching nutrition instead of the gospel (certainly a significant difference).
Ryan and I spent the day in the community in the homes of the people. It was nothing less than amazing, and left me craving a mission. We’d knock on the tin gates, if they had them, and try to get in! Sometimes we did, and sometimes we got rejected. After a bumpy ride over potholes and ditches in our Ambulance/SUV, we arrived at Maria Alegria, the school I originally assessed. It was so fun to return to the kids! They remembered me, and consequently I received a very warm welcome. We had the kids write down what and how much they ate for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Almost everyone was hungry, but I didn’t realize how little they had to eat until I went into their homes. One of the girls led us on hike to her house – literally, we were bush-wacking. It blows my mind how these people live. There were 13 people living in a bamboo house the size of my brother’s bedroom. The father worked construction and was currently out of work. The father completed up to the 6th grade, and the mother had completed up to the 2nd grade. The bathroom was a hole dug behind the house. I felt like they were always camping. Everyone in the house had a little bit of coffee for breakfast, maybe some lunch, and rice and beans for dinner. When they were lucky, they got a little bit of chicken or beef. I began to taste real life in Ecuador. It was truly humbling. It was interesting to see into their home life. They were so welcoming and so kind! They LOVED the toothbrushes and tooth paste we gave them after the interview!
By the way Matt… most of them have cavities – obvious to the naked eye. You won’t need your little mirror to see them! We may have to come back when you finish dental school and see what we can do about that. It’s hard though – because just filling the cavity doesn’t fix the problem, they need dental hygiene promotion, encouragement, and the means to keep their teeth healthy. Just a project for us to start thinking about.
By the way, my watch broke today… cheap thing…good thing I wasn’t super attached to it!
It was interesting to compare the first household with other household we visited. Even among the poor, there is great diversity –both in lifestyle and knowledge. It costs too much to get married here (They have to have a civil and religious ceremony), so basically everyone co-habitats. They don’t see the actual “marriage” as a priority. However, most couples had stayed together 20, or 30 years, which I thought was really awesome! Another challenge is the prevalence of affairs. Most men in the community have a “mistress.” Even if they’ve been together for 20-30 years, the men have also been “together” with other women. The reality of affairs was magnified when I was in Sotomayor. A LOT of the women I worked with were unmarried and did not live with the father of their child.
Another family was very welcoming! The mom let us interview her while she was breastfeeding – it’s not a private matter by any means down here. People do it during church, on the streets, basically anywhere. I got to play with the kids who were darling. It was SO beasty hot. They offered us some juice which was MOST appreciated. We talked to them for a while, actually quite a while – the ambulance was late to pick us up – everyone runs on Latin standard down here. The mom had attended some collage! She knew about vitamins and vaccines which was very impressive!
I know the Lord blessed me with the Spanish I needed in these interviews. Somehow, I understood and was able to be the scribe and translate with Ryan’s help during the interviews. God strengthens us always, but especially when we need him the most.
We went to the temple for the last time tonight. I LOVE the temple here! There were 2 women doing baptisms for the dead with me who couldn’t have been younger than 80yrs. I never cease to be amazed by their faith. Another group of young men tried getting my number and email again…but not to worry Matt, I explained that I was very old (21) and getting married in 4 weeks. They were fun to talk to though.
Oh WONDERFUL day!

Ode to French Toast!

Today was fabulous because I got French Toast this morning. I’ve love having eggs everyday, but I am a little egg-ed out if you know what I mean . I’ve been trying to wake up in time to have French Toast the past few days, but to no avail. However, today I did it! It was delicious. I thought to myself – Today will be most excellent just because I had French Toast for breakfast!
I spent the day at Sotomayor doing labor support, coaching, etc. I had two more births and now cannot keep count of all “my” children! What an amazing thing to have been able to experience such life-changing, magical moments. However, I have found labor support to be quite tiring. I love it, but my arms turn to jelly after a while. I spent a couple hours in the nursery, feeding, holding, bathing, and changing babies. Oh…It made me baby hungry! They are such small little peanuts and so snuggley! However, my instructor reminded us that they do grow up you, just like puppies, and I’m not ready for dogs...
It got to listen to the baby’s heart beat with a fetoscope – like device – we don’t really use them too often in the U.S. – they’re pretty “old school.” It was really hard to hear, and I decided I’d stick with the monitors. My instructor couldn’t hear it either, so I didn’t feel too badly. It was a cool experience anyway!
We came home and went to get a batido and sandwich. I was fortunate enough to get real turkey! A luxury down here – they don’t eat too much turkey.

FINAL COUNT-DOWN!

We're getting hitched 1 month from Today!!!