The Best Group

Photos are added. Enjoy!

Today was a work day. It started out with us walking to Casa Damien this morning at 8:30 am following our breakfast of corn flakes, papaya and yoghurt (which is all eaten together in a cereal bowl). Upon arrival, Nathan gathered Edgar and his son, Charlie to lead us in our projects. Edgar and Charlie work at Damien House at maintenance staff. The boys along with Sam were paired up to take down screens and windows from the women’s house and clean them and put them back. We asked Germania and Edgar to give a demonstration. That was met with strange looks as they assumed that our boys would know what to do, however, in my experience, the folks in Ecuador do things differently than we would back home and I’d rather they be shown the way that was expected rather than have they do it incorrectly!

Edgar giving the boys a tutorial.

Let the cleaning begin. (They wore masks because the windows were really dirty and dusty).

While this was happening, Maria and I were pulling weeds and cleaning up the plants in the garden area. They have many tropical plants in pots down an aisle between two buildings. It was good work for us, even though I had an allergic reaction to the lemon grass plant which resulted in red scratch marks all over my arms.

Maria sweeping the leaves.

Yesterday, Ester had volunteered to cook dinner for us, so it was decided that today she would fulfill that promise! She, Maria Elena and Sr. Luz spent a few minutes deciding on the menu and while the boys had a snack of empanadas, said ladies along with Maria and I walked to the supermarket across the street and bought the ingredients for chuletas (pork chops – marinated in olive oil, garlic, oregano, cumin, water, sautéed onions), menestra (a stew of red beans), ensalada (salad with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, yellow peppers) and patacones (plantains) and an avocado the size of a softball. We also bought the ladies a table top charcoal grill in order to cook the pork chops (which they were totally thrilled with).

When we returned from the store, the boys had returned to their cleaning project while Nathan, Maria and I chatted a bit in the dining room.

We had lunch – arroz con pollo, menestra and arroz blanca with queso. The boys were so tired by this time that we decided to let them rest a little in the dining room. While some were sleeping Brendan P. asked me questions like; Why do I keep coming back to Ecuador? Why do I want to bring kids here? Do I ever plan to live here? Things like that. I’m happy to share more in person J

Arroz con pollo, plantains dulce, arroz y menstra.

Following the little siesta, the boys continued cleaning windows, we continued gardening. At about 4:00 pm, Maria and I walked back to the hostal to shower before dinner then walked back. When we got back, the boys were finished with their project, so Sam and Nathan walked back with them to shower. When they returned, dinner was just about finished, but we took about 15 minutes to reflect upon the qualities of a friend, then we related those to Jesus.

Abel getting the coals going for our dinner. Ester wanted to set this grill in the kitchen, inside the house (this is totally normal in Ecuador), but made Maria and I really uncomfortable. After I explained to her that in the U.S. we would never cook over fire in the house, she allowed us to move the fire outside. 

Dinner was served. While everyone was eating, Nathan commented that our group was the first that the ladies had ever cooked for in this way. It was a great honor to be welcomed into their home as family. I told the boys that since they cooked, we needed to clean. Ryan T., Chicco and Brendan E. washed dishes, Benjamin, Brendan P., Ryan, and Charlie dried the dishes. As we were returning all the dishes to the main kitchen, Benjamin, Chicco and Brendan E. and I had made the first trip. Benjamin said to me, “Is it really true that they had never cooked for another group before?” “Yes, that’s what Nathan said” I said. Then, he replied, “wow, it is really a great honor that this happened. I told you that we were your best group, Sabrina!”

Dinner.

Eating together, with the women.

Since the women cooked, the boys took over cleaning duties.

Abrazos and besitos (hugs and kisses) to the ladies, especially Sr. Luz, Ester, and Maria Elena, plus Germania, Abel and Jocelyn. Duermes con los angelitos (sleep with the angels).