riobamba adventures

on saturday, amy and I rode the bus to riobamba, a town right in the middle of ecuador....we wanted to go there because there is talk about a train that runs from Riobamba to a thing called Nariz del Diablo (the devil's nose) which is supposed to be spectacular, plus you get to ride on top of the train...so we decided to go for it...i wasnt so sure if we should go because there has been a strike here, with road closings, protests, etc. but we called the bus company to see if buses were running, and they were...plus, Ecuador is in a State of Emergency in 4 provinces, which means that there is a 10 oclock curfew on the weekdays, and midnight on the weekends...and police are making sure that no roads are blocked...so we went for it.

we arrived in riobamba and it was crazy...the most colors i have ever seen in my life. it was busy with people everywhere, mostly vendors selling fruits and veggies, and clothes and all the other random things they sell here. they were also selling live chickens, and fresh roasted pork, head and all. there were atleast 5 vendors selling pork with their pigs proudly displyed with the mouths proped open. i decided not to try any. :) they eat everything on the animals here, intestines to the hooves to the heads, to the chicken feet IN the soup for "flavoring" :)

it was great to walk around and just take it all in...we were on our way to try and find the train and book a hostal to sleep in for the night. we were on a tight budget, and decided to make it a weekend, "ecuadorian style" so we went to a hostal, and the lady said it was 4 dollars a night, which was too expensive for us, so we walked down the street and got a room for 3. it was an extremely basic room, 2 beds, thats all..but it included a nice little balcony, which was nice.

when we were walking around riobamba, we found it shocking that we were the only gringos there...until we went to the train to buy our tickets...when we walked around the corner, there it was...gringoville! there were atleast 20 gringos waiting to buy tix for the train. halarious.

that night we went to a local place to get some food...it was like a cool hangout for younger people who like to drink...and it had everykind of food you can imagine...it reminded me of the states kinda. we were enjoying our food and this guy, Luis started talking to me...and introduced me to his friend...so amy and i were "talking" to these guys as much as we could with our limited spanish, and thier limited english...but it was fun. they were telling us all about the best placed to go in ecuador...and at one time luis was making a point that he was socialist and not an imperialist, like americans...but the other guy, roberto, was saying that he was for america because they are intelligent and think ahead and save, with oil and resources. muy interesante.

the next morning, we got at the train at 530am (train leaves at 7) but we wanted to make SURE that we had a great seat on the top of the train. we were the 1st ones there. it was awesome. when we arrived, there were vendors just waiting for all the gringos. they were selling hot coffee, bread, cookies, chocolate, bananas, etc. and they dont stop bugging you until you buy..and when you do buy...they still bug you. i bought coffee and a banana :) and a hat..for 2.50...i figured it was like going to a baseball game...you gotta get the stadium food and souveniers..it was the same thing :)

the train ride was magnificent. ecuador is an extremely beautiful country--to say the least. you just have to experience it. along the train we passed through villages with kids who would run--sprint up to the train and wave...and people on the train throw suckers and candy at them..then they collect their candy...its quite a show. next time i go on the train, i want to bring more candy to throw.

next to us on the train, were 2 men from the states, one was named daren CLAYTON! how crazy is that? he is from michigan...and i dont know if there is any connection, but how crazy is that?! only in ecuador :)

one thing the train is known for is: DERAILING! so, on our way to the devils nose part...our train derailed a little, so we had to wait for the men to pry the wheels or the track back into place, or however they fix it. it added 2 hours onto our trip (bc we derailed to and from the devils nose) it was a long trip. we finally got back to Alusi (the town it stops in) at like 2:30 pm...a long day..but it was beautiful! i think im going to do it again.

we started our journey back to shell, which took 4 and a half hours, but its not bad on the buses bc you can sleep and just enjoy the ride. it was a great and relaxing weekend. pictures later.

one picture of el altar...more to come?!

here is the only picture i could get to download...it is magnificent. hopefully more to come.

el altar part two

well..this is the only picture i could get to load...i will have to post others later...but part 2 to el altar...crazy...so...

we finally got to the refuge...and got OFF our mules...but it was soo cold...and it had been raining..which didnt make things better, plus...we didnt bring that much food with us...so we were also hungry...which was hard knowing we would be doing this difficult hike w/o food until 9pm (it was around 1pm)..
all of us but one went off on the hike (the other preferred the fire and warmth...which i dont blame her..but i had come all this way..there was no way i was turning back) the trek to the top of el altar was supposed to only take an hour and a half...and i dont think we were going slow, but it took us about 3 hours.

before we started hiking uphill, we had to walk across this bog land, which was extremely difficult to walk on...bc the land was also filled with 2 feet wide cow pies. so we were trying to walk without our feet and bodies sinking into the bog land as well as dodging cow pies, all while trying to keep our feet somewhat dry..well after about 1 minute of walking, i quickly accepted the fact that my feet were going to be soaked in mud...so i might just as well get used to it!

we finally started the acsent...which was difficult..but not too bad...we were a little worried coming up the mountain because clouds were thick..and we were wondering if we were even goign to be able to see the beautiful sight! we saw a few hikers pass us and they said that they didnt see anything...so we were a little concerned..but i knew that God had brought us this far...that he was going to bless us.

we finally turn the corner..and there it was....wow...yes, God had provided us with a huge blessing and let us see the snow capped mountains and beautiful lagoon. the water was a color that i have never seen before,,it was magnificent. seeing el altar made the trek all worth it...we just had to sit there awhile, even though we were running behind. i will post pictures later..it was amazing, i cant say it enough.

on our decent down, we knew God had blessed us with the view because it soon became extrememly thick with fog...when we turned around, we couldnt even see that there was a mountain there! wow! we finally made it across, when Dan, stepped into a bog puddle, and landed in it waist deep! he said that he kept sinking, and Kevin pulled him out! he really said that he would have just kept sinking if Kevin wouldnt have pulled him out!

so we re muled and got back on for the dreaded journey back...which was very stressful bc we were running late, and the guides kept whipping the mules to run faster,,which is VERY scary when the path is very narrow and mules are trying to pass each other, on muddy slopes! to top it off...every other mule was kicking mine...which meant i was getting kicked...it just wasnt good..and i was crying and saying I'd rather walk. i was afraid we werent going to make it back before dark...

all of a sudden, we were going down a steeper, muddier hill (its raining harder now) and a cow and horse that were tied together from the back slid past my mule and were sliding very fast and making the mules in front of me run! i was afraid the rest of the group in front of me were going to get hurt! that was IT for me... i wasnt going any longer on these mules...so me and 2 other girls got off...and so now we had to get back...

well, walking down the muddy hill wasnt easy...so i saw the only option was to slide down on our butts...and just go for it...so, i initiated..and the others joined..as we were laughing..as i was commenting that i had never been in worse circumstances before! by this time it was getting darker..and we had to cross a field to get back, that the guide vaguely pointed us in the direction of...again, we started sliding because it was very difficult to walk...we finally reached the hostal...muddy...(SEE ABOVE PICTURE!!!) i cant believe how dirty i was...it was just humourous....my underwear and socks were completely black.

so we got on a truck to take us to a town to catch a bus to SHell..the guy said the bus would be there at 9. we got in the town at 845..and it was cold, so we walked across the street to a place to get some cafe and tea...come to find out from the owner that the next bus wasnt coming until MIDNIGHT!! so...we decided to just stay there and have a relaxing dinner, and just talk. the bus ended up coming at 12:45..and we got to Shell around 245am...

it was the adventure of a lifetime..and God proved his faithfulness the whole time...it was a lesson in trust...and i dont know how i would, we would have made it without his guidance and control. praise god for his creation and letting us enjoy creation, like el altar.

on a clear day in shell, you can see el altar..and it means so much more now, because now i know what it looks like on the other side. its amazing. pictures later

adventures to el altar...part one

well...this past weekend was what i would call an experience of the best and worst times in my life. i experienced what i have never experienced before in my life...and was in the worst circumstances in my life...so...here is my attempt to capture this incredible 2 days into words and a few pictures...

to set it up: dan, a guy from england is an adventurous type who likes to go on little ecuadorian trips...so for 2 weeks about 5 of us knew that we were going to hike up a beautiful mountain called el altar..but we knew absolutely NO details...all we knew was to show up at the hospital at 5pm ready to go and catch a bus to Banos, then to Riobamba, then to our hostal for the night. When we all showed up to the hospital...Rodrigo, an Ecuadorian friend of ours, told us that he was going to be driving all of us there (see picture above) in his family truck....now...think about this: there are 7 adults squeezed in the back..and 3 in the front riding over 3 hours on mountains and rocky roads. if you cant see by the picture...well, this truck has seen its better days. if you ride in the front of the car, you can look down and see the road pass under you...its basically a skeleton...but it runs! anyways...we eventually get Banos, an hour and a half past schedule and head off into the mountains to our hostal..which sounds great....except its dark out...and Rodrigo and the 2 other Ecuadorian guys dont really know where they are going...and its not exactly a highway with clearly lit signs...in Ecuador...there is no such things as a sign...so...as we travel basically aimlessly around the mountains at 11pm at night...we put and putter up a hilll...and Rodrigo shouts in Spanish for everyone to hop out the back, get a rock to put under the wheel (so the truck wont roll backwards) and start pushing so the car will start again! mind you...its late..we are all hungry and tired...and pushing an old truck up mountains...and we dont even know if we are heading in the right direction!!!!
you would think that we could just get out and ask someone...except there arent many houses around...and no local gas stations :)...so we are on our own...praise God...at 12 am..we pull up to a house that is dark...and the 2 ecuadorian guys try to see if someone is home...Priscilla, an american girl who is fluent in spanish...decides to go up and help...and the home owners graciously said that they would take us to our hostal for 40 dollars...we were an HOUR OUT OF THE WAY!!! we had been driving aimlessly...and pushing....ahhh!
so..finally, we arrived at 1:30am at our hostal..and found dan there to let us into the freezing hostal (its in the mountains)...all of us tried to sleep...under 4 blankets..and still found ourselves cold. we were ready for our 6am adventure!



here is a picture of me, rachel, and amy on the camineta (truck) to our hostal at 1 in the morning...we were singing praise songs because we were so thankful that we were finally on our way..in reliable transportation!







the next day..we woke up, ate a small breakfast and hoped to be on our way soon..but everything was so complicated because we were going to be renting mules to go part way to el altar..and the mules were more expensive than we thought...which meant the ecuadorian guys couldnt go...which made things really complicated....but...we eventually were all off! let me just say, i hate mules ...i dont enjoy riding on them one bit! the first 5 mintues we were riding..i was scared out of my mind because the path/road we were all travelling on was 3 feet deep in mud...which means that the mules were sliding...and i was scared and fearful for my life...which was for good reason..becasue during the first 10 minutes of the ride...my mule decided to fall...so i fell off the mule! and it was perfect timing...because i was also taking pictures...so my lens was out and open and when i fell off the mule...i landed straight on my lens...so now i have no camera :(


below is the last picture that i took with my camera...it was a beautiful day though! the beauty kept my spirits high....which made it the best...the worse is yet to come...so stay tuned....with more pics...(borrowed from my friends)



this picture was taken JUST before i was bucked off my mule :) :(

university baptist chruch..kyle lake sermons

in the last few months...i have been obsessed with relevant magazine...its an outstanding magazine that covers tons of topics that 18-? year olds deal with...the articles are great and authentic...they dont give you the answers you think you want to hear...but the truth. check it out at www.relevantmagazine.com

last october, you may have heard of a pastor of the university baptist church, kyle lake, being ellectrocuted while giving a baptism...he was rushed off to the emergency room and died later that morning. can you imagine? its really one of those things only God knows..and we just have to trust him...
as i was reading the oct/nov 2005 issue of relevant...there was an article by kyle lake...and i checked out their church website...and there are sermon archives by kyle..so last night...i clicked on one about r:evangelism...because i am doing a bible study on evangelism (required by HCJB) so i was interested about what he had to say about it..and i was/am blown away! the truths he speaks of are powerful! i think you should check them out! www.ubcwaco.org
and click on sermon archives...take the time to listen to one or all of his sermons..they are powerful!
this summer i would love to take a road trip to waco texas to visit this church bc it just sounds great and like a real and authentic church where people arent trying to put up false fronts of super spirituality but being real and realizing we are all a wreck...everyone in the church..pastors, leaders, everyone. superiority is nothing..and embracing companionship and being ourselves is truth. plus...david crowder is the worship pastor there..and i would love to see him on stage!! his music is incredible and it also embraces truth in an authentic way...anyone want to join me ?! :)
have an outstanding day!
livin it up in shell.....

carnaval and school pictures

this past tuesday (well...it was celebrated all weekend) was called Carnaval...or better known in the states as Mardi Gras...it is celebrated here with the constant throwing of water...either balloons or buckets...and spraying foam at you...or smashing eggs over your head and covering you with flour...or car oil...mud...coal mixed with water...whatever your pleasure :)

here in shell..the missionaries talk...and they have tall tales about everything...some is true..and some you just have to experience for yourself...to set everyone straight of course :) so...missionary rumor has it that being in Banos on Carnaval is the worst place to be...because the people are the craziest....so...Amy and I went to Banos...expecting the worst...we figured if we were going to experience Carnaval ...we should do it in style...so we arrived in Banos very cautiously...come to find out...nothing was really happening! it was crazier in Shell (where i live) than in Banos (the craziest place!)...we did see the occasoinal foam spraying...and while amy and i were walking along the road...we did get sprayed (you can see the foam on the right side of my face :)) not a lot....but it still was funny to be walking down the road and getting sprayed by noone you know :)
i did experience a little carnaval action myself...by smashing eggs on some american teens here...but proud to say they never got me back and i was hiding in my house for 2 days to escape their wrath :) heheeh



ahhh..memories of school pictures! how i cherish the days of waiting to get my school pictures back...were they going to be good...bad...did i blink? who would i trade them with...and who would give me thiers? i still have most, if not all, of my school pictures that i have traded with people since elementary school...precious :)
so...here is my school picture...AS A TEACHER :) wow..pretty crazy...and yet...no one to trade it with!











here is a picture of my class...i am on the left and miss hahn (david's aide) is on the right...the picture is not the best..but it will do...here are the names of my 8 children who call me crazy and funny miss clayton...or as David would say, "funny teacher"

back row (L to R) Lydia, Jacob, Tim, Caleb, Philip
front row (L to R) David, Jem, and Jeremy

we have a great time together..and am excited to say that i am planning on teaching all of them again next year...with a few more additions to our class!

i just watched the movie, Proof of Life with russel crow and meg ryan..and it is a great movie...and was filmed in ecuador..right in the area that i am living! to get a highly accurate picture of ecuador and the area where i am living..see it! (exept things are a little different in the town of shell...but youll get the picture of the breathtaking creation here that i get the opportuinty to experience on a daily basis) today i was able to see the volcanoes! wow!