Cozy with airline security

Darkness began to lift as we arrived at the Quito airport. Time passed a bit more quickly than we cared for as lines for baggage and immigration crept along. Joy! We made it to security our plane was boarding and we were going to make it. Whoa.... There is a knife somewhere in Spencer's back pack. One search through it. Nothing found. Back it goes through the x-ray and then another search, this time they start emptying it. We are all a little mystified as I know I packed his pocket knife in the suitcase and Spencer had spotted Matthew's hooked to his backpack at baggage and we quickly put it in a suitcase. Finally in the bottom of a pocket security finds Spencer's now bladeless knife he and Lee had made into a spear. Into the garbage it goes, thankfully we are on our way. As we get to the gate I hear our name pronounced in Spanish- they must be waiting for us as we're kinda late. They take our boarding passes and their faces light up. Surely this is good? Suddenly we have serious faces, "Matthew?" We point. "We need your passport. Security has questions." Matthew and Sharon step aside, they send Matthew back to Tim and Security takes Sharon aside. Thinking she has been selected for a more thorough search she starts following the man. Away from everyone he swipes his card at a door but she has no idea where it leads-can't read Spanish all that fast. Outside he leads, down a flight of stairs, and to the Tarmac. This is certainly a first! They head along the building underneath the gate level. With dim lighting she's asked to pick put her luggage. They lift it up on a table providing instruction in slightly broken English. "Open your bag. We need your passport." Everyone is fairly serious. At least they have selected the bag that does not contain a variety of machetes. They begin going through the suitcase that has two suitcases inside it. The family is traveling much lighter as they head home. Then they pick up the purse sent along with us to others-Sharon has no idea what is in it, a deep breath as she knows the friends who gave it to her would never send something at issue but late last night she never thought to ask. "He said you can close your bag." Everyone stands around as one man writes done info from the passport and they question where Sharon has been. The bag is closed, there is a silent sigh of relief, people smile, and there is chit chat and reassurances as they walk back to the stairs and ascend to the gate. "The plane is still boarding don't worry. Did you like Ecuador? Are you traveling alone?" Through the magical door to the gates they go, one last swipe of the metal detector wand, and she is released to the gate attendant. Her face lights up again and she hurriedly hands Sharon the boarding pass. With a sprint down the hall and some help from various people she gets direction as to which door is the correct plane. Others on he plane have not yet found their seats and a winded Sharon eventually finds her way to the rest of the family and happily sits down. That green borrowed suitcase has seen some interesting times.

Hopefully the last post from an iPhone!

Pictures

We get up in a couple of hours to head to Quito and fly out at 6:10 a.m. Pictures are posted so you can browse back on the last few posts and see the pics that go with the happenings.

Thank you to the Lord who made it all happen.  It would be a book to share all that has been experienced and we also give many thanks to all of you who came alongside us in many ways to bring it about.We are humbled.  The Bruce's send their greetings.

Blessings,
The Branands

It is hard posting with an iPad.

I can't figure out how to edit the post before it is published due to scrolling issues with an iPad. I know a few parts of the previous post didn't make a ton of sense and I'll try to fix them when I have a laptop. Technology only goes so far...

Blessings!

Electricity

Well due to technology issues we haven't posted too much! Electricity went out and we thought that meant the Internet was out, not so since it's through the cell phone and the Bruces had outlets in the house that were inverted to work with the solar power. After figuring it all out we then had the newer issue of sharing a computer. To keep the weight down we just brought one of our home computers and Tim's work one. Between projects, washing laundry by hand, remembering to bring it in before it got damp with the evening clouds-the clouds really did blow in and waft right past you-washing dishes, making sure the kids are safe with the machetes, video taping the boys learning how to use a pulley and various rope knots to pull a balsa tree up a very steep slope, and tending to Spencer's repeated encounters with poisonous caterpillars (the one with spines was the worst), among other things makes updating the blog a bit difficult. ;-)

Now that I have hopefully convinced you that we have good, interesting excuses let's get on to what else was happening. We have many praises as we are just two days from leaving and we have been very healthy, just one tummy a little off and the antibiotics are working nicely to counter that, projects are sufficiently done and some even more complete than hoped for! Kathy had prayed that Tori would see their horse and while we washed sand for the cement Milton and family came by with their horse and offered Tori a ride. She has absolutely love the mountain house and feels like it is her! The fairly short time on the trail with the horse wove Rio Verde more thoroughly through her heart. As for the boys the have loved their time time thoroughly and Matthew wants to know when we are coming back. That we have had only minor nicks and cuts with all the machetes swinging is certainly an answer to prayers for safety! If I can upload a some video clips you will all understand!

Literacy day for the Bruces and Schaubs is very hard work! It is pretty much like homeschooloing with individualized plans for most students with some small grouping possible for those at similar levels. They had a smaller number of adult students this week but all their students are a most diligent group! Despite many challenges and an "I can't do it" attitude that grew for a variety of reasons they are about to complete this school year and continue to try. After a year of hard work they can look back and see progress! A great reason to press on next year. To help the parents-Awa and American focus the kids and Sharon went for a hike with all the tag along children. It was a lovely hike that did keep them all busy. We hoped to bring home a few rocks for the garden and found much more as the kids all noticed the wild lemon trees with ripe fruit! Long sticks were found and soon enough some lemons hit the ground. The rugged Awa kids soon scaled the trees bearing some impressive thorns and had the ones beyond the reach of the stick in no time. Here Spencer had a double encounter with a mean looking caterpillar! A swollen hand persisted but the burning dissipated by the time we got home and with Lee's help we got a nice picture of the impressive looking little fellow that did the damage. Spencer was fine by the next day and still managed to have a brush with another variety of caterpillar pokiness.

The soaking sand day followed and we learned how to clean sand to get it ready for making cement. It is a wet, messy, and at times grueling job. Praise God we got more done than had been the goal and everyone was just a little sore the next day.

The kids have seemed to have a wonderful time! Lee and Spencer were practically inseparable. They both loved all their adventuring in the balsa forest, generally had machetes within an arms reach, and love video games! When they had worn themselves out with play and chores (they worked very hard to devise a way to shorten Lee's water carrying chore)they relaxed for a bit with the iTouch. Plenty of giggling and chatting went on between Kimberly and Tori.

Today as we left the mountain, feeling a bit sad and yet anticipating a special day ahead, we ventured to the hot springs for an afternoon swimming and playing in pools filled with spring water heated by a currently inactive volcano. The air was cold and the pools delightfully warm, though the one with lots of floaty sediment made one wonder just a bit. Chlorine is not a part of this pool system... They just empty, scrub, and refill periodically. The kids had a great time sliding down the caterpillar and dragon. The water made you feel very botany and tasted a bit salty, we were trying not to drink any, and when you got out you felt so heavy! Despite sunscreen we are all a bit pink or burned. That equatorial sun is pretty tough.

Arriving at the Ibarra house was a strange shock. It seemed so quick to go from the remote and rustic living at the Rio Verde house (hand washing laundry, using the outhouse, and seeing the Awa go about their lives) to instantly being in the modern world with a clothes washer and running water and busy city life. Being with the Awa is in general peaceful and quiet. It was wonderful to meet the people and fellow believers we have heard so much about. The desire to lift them up in prayer increases as you get to know them more and connect with their lives. Milton asked when we were coming back. Good question. That one will have to be the Lord's to answer.

Tomorrow is a day at the market and then packing. Our hearts are sad to leave though it will be good to see all of you. As the busy school year begins we will miss the basics of life we have had the joy of experiencing and the time to be a family without running here, there, and everywhere. We feel blessed to have been here. When one goes on a trip you always wonder if you gave as much as you received. I personally feel filled to running over, we pray that the Lord will use it to his glory.

I really will try to post pictures tomorrow!

One last praise-while in Rio Verde Matthew got spun in a hammock chair and was so dizzy he thought he would be sick! We thought,"Oh boy, here we go!" and wondered how long he would be dizzy. In the past it has been days. A few hours latter he was fine and for the first time since January experienced several days of no dizziness! He's had a couple day with some dizziness as we've gotten to the last days of the trip and I suspect got a bit run down with all he did and how much sleep he got. We are very thankful for how well he did and consider it very much a God thing that the spinning episode was about what it would be for any normal person! Thank you, Jesus.

Time is Speeding by!

Our time here has been quite enjoyable but seems to be going at the speed of light!  We have figured out how to do much in a bucket - laundry, shower, carry water, go potty (at night - the outhouse is a little far at 4 am). I, Sharon, am learning the art of laundry drying in a high humidity climate with rain at least once a day.  It seems to be a bit wet for the dry season.  We did enjoy the almost rainless day today. Tonight we even saw a few stars.

Projects are plugging away.  It was delightful to look around the garden and see our whole family working together for part of the afternoon on Friday. The ring of hammers from Spencer and Lee, Tori and Kimberly working with plants, I with my shovel filling in around the fence, Tim and Kevin working on fence posts and attaching the wire, Kathy moving from task to task, and Matthew chopping up clumps of dirt with his machete and decapitating grubs.  Keilah has been a super cook working away at lunch and other meals. Kimberly makes a mean chocolate cake with coconut frosting. Kathy covering lunch and dinner. Kevin had commented earlier in the day on what a pleasure it is to do ministry with your children as their kids come along on various times of outreach. As our day time in the garden unfolded I thought it is surely so and such a huge blessing that no one fought or complained! That has to be an answer to someone's prayer because I never even thought to pray about that.

The next day, Saturday, we headed down to the Rio Verde community to paint the school.  The kids, ours, some Bruces, and some Schaubs, did such an awesome job and on a hot day working all morning.  Even Matthew made it through most all the painting time though the kids did take some breaks to rest their hands and get a snack. With all the kids, adults, and Awa working together one of the Awa men commented that the last time the painting was done they didn't get finished so early and they didn't do as much painting.  The buildings look great! This day had a hidden answer to prayer as well! We have prayed that despite the lack of communication between the Branands and the Awa, God would somehow use our time there to speak to their hearts and encourage those who already believe. I personally thought that was a stretch.  How do you reach someone when you can't understand each other? As we painted away, Kathy shared how the school could have applied to the government to have someone come out and paint the buildings but no one would want to come out - they don't like to come out to "dirty places" like the mountain communites. Our just coming out and painting said a lot when the people from Ecuador wouldn't even come and do the work! We had no idea about this until she said something, but God knew all along! Thank you to all who have supported us in prayer and finances as it was part of this support that purchased the paint and of course we now see a little of what the prayer did!

On Sunday, we had the wonderful opportunity to have church with the Awa.  Although we did not understand their language, it was neat to see them worshiping and studying God's word just as we do back home.  It was also a special time as we got to meet Nestor, his wife Cynthia and their son Esteban whom we had been praying for due to Estaban's premature birth and the complications that resulted from it.  Finally, we ended our time together with a friendly soccer game - not your typical fellowship hour but nevertheless an opportunity to strenghthen relationships with the Awa.  The rest of the day had a more relaxed tone as no work was planned.  We finished the day with a bonfire, hotdog roast, and smores, of course.

We'll try to post some pictures that go with all this tomorrow - time to hit the pillow! The roosters start in about 5 hours...

First Days

Our first two days have been packed! So much so that it is really our first three days - I thought it was Wednesday and Tim just informed me that tomorrow is Friday - whoops.  We made it down here via Newark, Orlando, and Panama, met the Bruces at the Quito airport and the kids had their first experience driving outside the U.S.  No car seats or seat belts and lots of people piled in the back.  Much communication is done via horns and double lines don't really mean that much - if three cars can fit across the road and there is a slow driver why not pass! Some caution plays into decisions but much less than we are accustomed to!

We were so blessed to get to hear a conversation between Spencer and Lee as we first hiked up to Kevin and Kathy's house in Rio Verde.  Spencer and Lee were getting acquainted as we carried our luggage up the 10 minute trail to their house with Lee telling Spencer all about the way they got water to their house (from one mountain ravine across a valley and then over to the land they rent) when he paused and commented, "Not many kids understand what I'm talking about!" That very thing was what stirred us to do this trip and while spawned  from Tori and Kimberly's friendship here it was building a bridge between two boys who just met!  They have now carved in the sand wall, had a great mud fight, used machetes until they got blisters, and just hung out.

Learning about how Kevin, Kathy, and the Schaub family (Kathy's sister, brother-in-law, and 4 kids) spend their time happened quickly as they were at the Lita Christian Center teaching archery at camp and began getting phone calls about an dear elderly Awa man who was in the hospital and the doctor in Lita had understood that he had passed away, but the daughter was calling to say that he was being discharged in Ibarra and no one seemed to completely understand what was happening.  Many calls later there was more clarity and the Schaub's were off in the car going the 2-3 hours to Ibarra to get them. Near dark they finally were back to Rio Verde and had to carry Salvador on horse back to his home.  He was alert and thrilled to be back to the mountain and out of the hospital. He is not all that well and not eating so much yet but all are thrilled that they can now car for them in the family homes. Many times the Schaubs and Bruces have spent much time working to help translate between the Awa (speaking Awa and some Spanish) and doctors (speaking Spanish and not always understanding the culture) and to provide transportation to the hospital as the Awa's traditional world collides with the big city. None of us like going through lots of medical stuff, we Americans can feel very out of our element, how much more exasperating to do it across language barriers and such. All of this time has opened up many opportunities for ministry and we will all have to wait and see what the Lord makes of it.

There are little snippets of time to just chat and visit or chill out and enjoy the beauty. It is a peaceful but busy place to be!

Matthew's Mayonaisne Mania

Had a really good trip down despite the 3 hours sleep.  The kids did great and at 7 pm we are in Ibarra, Ecuador. Matthew inaugurated lunch with skyrocketing mayonnaise at the chicken place.  It arched up high, grazed the ceiling and shot over the people at the table behind us.  Once the young woman realized it was not in her hair she joined in the laughter and then when we realized it was stuck on the ceiling the belly laughs follows fast. Until tomorrow - good night!

Travel Trial Tails

Already seeing fascinating answers to prayer! Boredom set in as we had a very long check in at the airport. Our plans to avoid most luggage fees was quickly evaporating before our eyes as our ticketing agent informed us that the Continental credit card no longer assured one of any free bags. The ever so helpful supervisor :( , annoyed by our questioning (both airline customer service and the credit card company assured us of reduced luggage fees) said, "We don't do that anymore!" We instantly went from $25 to $125 or higher for 3 bags and really heavy carry-ons! ugh. Prayer began and we don't really understand what happened but we ended up being able to check all 5 bags at NO charge and our boarding passes say Elite! We had been told we would have to get all our luggage and take it to the hotel tonight but it is checked all the way through and so we will have a much easier time getting to the hotel and back to fly out tomorrow. What a nice change since our plane is an hour late and won't be landing until after midnight! Come 5 a.m. we will all appreciate it! It is fun to see God do more with a prayer than we would imagine...

Posted from iPhone-Right now I miss the laptop.