Today started off with one important lesson. One thing that is very different here is that people value a reciprocal relationship.  They care about offering people quality, the complete opposite of how Americans live.

 

I saw this in breakfast, where the servers immediately start you with the appetizer and a drink when you sit down. I eat better here than I eat back home because of this. Part of the relationship is serving the guest; these Ecuadorians want to offer us good food and a delightful breakfast. I want to bring that idea of a relationship home with me.

 

As we left the center for agriculture on our way to encounter the community, I once again was welcomed with the sight of some of the most beautiful landscape I've ever experienced.

 

The mountains have and will continue to amaze Barb and me throughout the week I'm sure. One day I'll spend a lot of time in the mountains.

 

We approach the community and it is quite the sensation. The people are similar to what we have seen so far. Their clothes are very worn and some of their things are Winnie the Pooh and what looks like American stuff given to them from a Salvation Army like organization.

 

We are informed that our project is to construct a chicken coop, which turns out to be a kitchen, to prepare food for the children. Working with the community is humbling as I realize that these people do this sort of work all the time.

 

We only have three days of this labor, they have their whole lives.

 

The altitude makes it difficult to work, so all of us struggle to assist the community without constant breaks.

Their crude building methods and cement mixing would make any contractor cringe, but this is their way.

 

As we stop for lunch I kick around the soccer ball with a young boy and I tell him to shoot on me. Some other boys join him and they only scored on me twice.

The corn we ate was a pretty small cob, but the kernels were monstrous compared to ours. It was solid.

 

Then the community decides to have an impromptu mass. It was mostly in Spanish, but it was very nice.

 

We came to communion and as Fr. Chris prepared to serve Eucharist, half of the people jump out of their seats and rush to him. Seeing them so excited and ready for the Body of Christ was very moving. This is a practice that more people should consider.

 

Joyce looks at me and says, "This is the real Eucharist." Part of the reason that they do this is because they aren't sure that there will be enough and so they want to make sure that they get the chance to receive Jesus, an attitude that took most of us by surprise.

 

After mass, the community thanked us and it was very moving to have them applaud us and thank us so much.

 

I'm chosen to offer them a piece of pottery from Michigan. I stood up and spoke to them. It was an interesting experience to have what I said translated to them. I gave it to the president and we embraced.

 

Then they wanted us to dance with them. So they put on some music and I tried to show them the Macarena, but they weren't interested.

 

Our end of the day prayer time is a great way to close our first day of minga.

 

Hearing Yazmina speak is a truly incredible experience. She has so much passion for her people and it is obvious that helping them is dear to her heart.

 

The opportunity to be here is more than I ever thought it would be. This is a pilot project. We are the first of what will be many to touch the indigenous people of Ecuador lives forever.