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Home / Offices and Ministries / Youth Ministry / Encounter Ecuador / Past Experiences 2009 - Day 4: Katie 2009 Ecuador Experience Day 4: Katie Barbour
 We woke up this morning preparing to climb a mountain much higher than any of us had ever been. We put on our warm clothes: hats, gloves, sweaters, and jackets anticipating the cold weather that was ahead of us. After a long and scary bus ride up an unpaved road with nothing but cliffs on the side, we arrived at Mt. Chimborazo. We were all very excited and blessed to be climbing this mountain with the Bishop of Riobamba, Monsg. Victor Corral Mantilla, and his friends. We started up the mountain with many people, especially me, thinking they were not going to make it very far. We stopped every few minutes, trying to catch our breath and keep ourselves hydrated. Finally, after many breaks and labored breathing, we all pushed through and made it to the 5,000 meter mark. We continued just a little farther to see the glacier and little streams, all shocked and proud of what we just accomplished. We all congregated at the top for a prayer service, led by the Bishop. As we prayed, more people who were also at the top of the mountain joined us, making our time spent up there even more special.
 After a good meal and rest, we went to the Cathedral for Sunday mass. Although the mass was in Spanish, we were all able to feel the presence of God around us. After mass, we had dinner with Monsg. Corral at his home. We were able to hear his story and how he has specifically helped the indigenous people of Ecuador. We reflected on what we experienced, and found we were all impacted much more than any of us expected. We will continue to have a special relationship with these people and hope we will be able to return, continuing the partnership just started between the young people of Detroit and the indigenous people here in Ecuador.
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