La Basilica

It has been too long since we wrote everyone. Perhaps we will find time to set up a weblog (blog). Until then, we will try to get out the occasional e-mail update to everyone. We are posting pictures to Flickr. If you are not registered to see all of them (many more than you wanted to see), send us a quick e-mail, and we will send you an invitation with the link.

We are adjusting to many changes. For one thing, milk comes in rectangular cartons that do not require refrigeration until they are opened. They are the same as the chicken stock cartons sold in the United States. We eat most of our meals in the comedor with the other students so we do not keep as much food on hand in the apartment. Since we have limited shelf space, we store even the unopened cartons in the refrigerator.

Friday, the 24th, we took our first exam. It was muy dificil (very difficult). We were surprised by what it covered. We will need to study differently, so we hope to make some changes before the next exam.

That evening, Pam was invited to attend a women’s Bible study with two missionaries and two other volunteers. They met at the home of the missionary who lives at the work and witness volunteer center. The study is Believing God, by Beth Moore. Pam thinks it is the same one she was not able to complete a year or more ago. It is great to know that God gives second chances.

Saturday, October 25, we went with a carload of Americans to the Mitad del Mundo. It is the monument that was built on the equator. A few years ago, they discovered with GPS that it is not really on the equator, so they built a museum in the proper place. We will be going there again with our NILI group this Sunday afternoon.

One morning, we ran out of propane in the middle of Pam’s shower. The hot water is on-demand and when the propane is gone, the water goes cold almost immediately. Fortunately, we were able to get a replacement tank the same morning.

One evening, Dave and I were studying irregular verbs for our exam. In the early evening, the NILI resident student director took us, along with the other NILI students, to the mall. As we walked around we saw a sign that said “15% DESCONTAR” (15% discount). One of the verbs on our list was contar (to count), so that was helpful. While we were waiting for the others at the van, we started working on the verbs. When we came to pedir (pronounced pay-deer), which means “ask for,” the idea came to us that we ask (or rather tell) each other to “Pay, Dear” at the restaurant. If only we could do that for all the verbs, it would help us remember.

Wednesday, October 29, we went to la Basilica de Voto Nacional with the six NILI students, Dr. Stan Hall, his assistant with the NILI program Lucy, Stephen’s aide Harrison, and Evelyn the Spanish professor. Justin, one of the students, is blind; so he and Evelyn waited in the coffee shop on about the seventh floor and Dave and Stephen waited below after walking up to the gift shop, which is the fifth or sixth floor.

[Pam continues the adventure.] The rest of us climbed up the lowest turret. To get there we had to cross above the ceiling of the sanctuary from the towers to the turret. To get across, we walked on a boardwalk about three feet wide with ropes along each side. When we reached the end, we climbed a ladder which took us out of the attic. We walked around the turret and climbed two ladders to the flat area of the turret. We had a short wall around us, but the area above was open. The view was awesome. When we came back to the gift shop, I decided to not try the higher towers. I was afraid it would be too hard on my knees, so I went down to stay with David and Stephen.

Check out the pictures. The views of Quito are unbelievable. Obviously, Pam took the pictures from the pinnacle, and Dave took the angles from the ground. We even took pictures of each other. It took Dave a couple days to get over the vertigo of just climbing to the gift shop.

On Thursday, we celebrated the Day of the Dead (actually November 2). We made a colada morada with pineapple, blueberries, guava, oranges and several spices. It is very thick and rich. We also made bread people with cheese filling and then dipped the baked bread into the juice. Rico is the only word for it.

After chapel on Friday, we headed north out of Quito for Otavalo for the weekend. We will write about that weekend next.

We are making progress. We are trying to talk with others in Spanish whenever we can. Everybody is very patient and probably somewhat amused. In class Dave had to describe a picture of a barber. We had just learned the verb cortar (to cut) and had been reviewing the names of the parts of the body. So Dave confidently recited, ‘Manuel está cortando el cuello del señor.” Unfortunately, el cuello is the neck, el cabello is the hair. We are certainly glad that we will not receive a grade.

Either the weather has improved or we are adjusting. When we woke up one morning, we were actually hot. There are almost always clouds, but one day last week began absolutely clear like an Arizona morning. That afternoon was like a partly cloudy, somewhat windy Prescott fall day. Today, we could see the top of the mountain above the cloud. What a beautiful sight.

Until next time,

Dave, Pamela & Stephen