Day Two - Lote Tres

Tuesday
Flexibility is a virtue, constantly being stressed by our leaders, Mark and Sue, during the training process. Today, the group experienced their first encounter with flexibility.

After breakfast and a morning devotion lead by Matt, the bus was packed and ready to head up the mountain.

The group traveled through hills and valleys, up and down, marveling at the sights and scenery; along with the impressive stick-shift driving of our bus driver, Nelson. As we climbed, the roads changed. The blacktop gave way to cobblestone, the cobblestone gave way to dirt. Dotting the hillsides along the way were several greenhouses, used to grow cut flowers for export. The group was also impressed by the row crops planted high on the hillsides, with such sharp angles, demanding the crop be planted and harvested by hand.

And then the flexibility came into place. A mile and a half away from our destination, Lote Tres, the bus came to a halt in front of a huge gash in the road. A two foot trench had been dug this morning, exposing a broken water pipe in need of replacing.

We waited while our translators talked to different people, assessing the situation. About an hour later after going through several options, it was decided to turn around and find another way into Lote Tres. This option was a correct choice, and we arrived in Lote Tres.

An Ecuadorian Jersey?

At first glance, Lote Tres is a small village with progress being made. Some buildings are two stories with paint on the outside. Others are small huts with exposed concrete and only half finished. Two cows and a bull graze by tethers in the front area near the church. A couple dogs wander through the town.
The group was warmly welcomed by the community. We ate lunch in the church and were impressed by its progress. The mission team from two years ago will be happy with the church’s progress. That group helped haul and pour concrete to build the headers of the roof. Now, the entire roof has been finished, and the church is no longer open-air. Keith and Jerry had worked on the church the previous mission trip, and they were very happy with all the advancement the church has made.

Community members assembled and we had a meeting to discuss their and our goals for the mission trip. Projects were proposed, discussions ensuing about how these projects could be materialized and managed by the team. Currently, plans are underway for a variety of things: building a road to the church, installation of a latrine for the community, digging and designing of a milk can cooler fed by a river, and an agricultural extension trip to a neighboring village. With much work (and flexibility), we hope to be able to leave this community with sustainable features that will help them long into the future.

Traveling down the mountain, we arrived in Cayambe, the town where our hotel is located. Cayambe iu a larger town, with busy traffic and larger buildings.

The group had dinner at the home of an old friend, the daughter of Jaime Lomes.
We look forward to all of the great things God has in store for us and the residents of Lote Tres!