Brian, Timmy and I had the opportunity to join the CHOICE Jr. Board on the expedition to Ecuador at the end of February. It was a wonderful experience. I am grateful we could go. We left super early in the morning and traveled through Atlanta. We arrived in Quito in the evening. The kids were hungry so we stayed up too late and ate in the very nice hotel restaurant.
The next day we went to a couple of museums on the Equator line. Of course the boy's favorite part was the swing.
The yellow line is the Equator. It was fun to be in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres at the same time.
We also learned a little bit about Ecuador and it's history and culture.
Then we headed on our nice big bus up to Otavalo, stopping at a delicious place for lunch on thew way.
The Otavalo area is beautiful and I greatly enjoyed the scenery as we made our way into the valley.
The village area we stayed was called Eugenio Espejo. The people had an incredible cultural celebration and cleansing ceremony to welcome us.
Then we headed over to the community center where we would be staying. We slept in the main room in separate tents for girls and boys. The view from the roof was mind blowing!
The next morning we went to work on the first children's center we were helping to rejuvenate. One of the biggest hurdles for women to increase income and become self reliant is the issue of child care. CHOICE works with the local government to help provide free childcare for women that are working. The mothers that were able came to help with the upkeep of this center.
Timmy helped with scraping and painting inside and outside walls.
Brian and Caitlin went around back to dig a trench, lay a pipe and divert rain water away from the building. There was not much space for me to get back there and take pictures. This is while they are holding up the plastic.
After hours of working they took a little soccer break with some kids that were around.
We went back to the community center for lunch the toured some of the women's cooperatives that CHOICE has helped them start in the area. This first one was where a group of women make and sell soap together.
Timmy volunteered to make some soap.
The next place was a place where they made things out of the reeds that grow along the edges of the lake. Caitlin tried her hand at it.
She also helped with the paper making, which was just next door.
It was fun to visit their little store and see what they make and sell.
That night before bed the kids played volleyball out in the community center facilities.
The next morning we went over to the lake to work on another early childhood evelopment center.
Our job was to work on diverting flooding water from the lake and a spring away from the building.
Others painted and repaired the building.
We had to move a lot of dirt to cover the drain pipe.
Then when the drain pipe was complete, we went inside to help install a playground.
So fun to work with boys in Ecuador!
After finishing at the children's center, we went just down the street to take a boat ride on the lake.
The boat was a party. The local leaders started a dance line.
And the boys climbed up to the lookout.
And the CHOICE team gave us some gifts at the end.
After a late lunch at our sleeping quarters, we headed up into the hills to the Pacha Mama women's cooperative cultural center. With the help of CHOICE, some women started this place for tourists to come and learn about traditional ceremonies and purchase hand made items.
They gave us a little culture performance.
Then taught us how to make bracelets.
It was late and we were pretty tired when we got back to dinner.
The food the Ecuador CHOICE team made for us was incredible! After breakfast the next morning, we went to the last children's center that needed improvements.
Brian helped rebuild the playground and Timmy worked on more painting.
When we got back to home base, there was a llama just hanging out at our building.
Then we went to play an indoor soccer match with some of the locals. They did a whole ceremony and dancing between playing soccer to end our time in the villages.
The CHOICE team gave us one final gift, a very cool fireworks show.
The last night in the village the kids played and the adults packed up all the donations to deliver to the children's centers.
The next day we went to visit another women's cooperative that makes scarves and head cloths in the African style as this is a group of women descended from African roots.
We went into a cool old restaurant that used to be a large estate and now both a restaurant and a museum of the home.
After touring the museum, we made a stop to try a tradition in Ecuador to eat ice cream with cheese on top.
The last night in Ecuador we stayed in the most beautiful hotel up on the mountain. We were so lucky to arrive in time to shower and clean up from our days in the village and then enjoy the most beautiful sunset. It was a highlight of the trip.
These boys had the best time together on this trip. I am glad they had this experience together. They grew close enough to hang together in the hot tub like this.
On our way to Quito, we stopped at Peguche Waterfalls. It was beautiful.
CHOICE also helped these local people to establish economic income from tourist visits. The kids loved seeing the guinea pigs. I am sad we did not find an opportunity to try eating the cuy, but it was fun to see them.
After some issues with cancelled flights, we worked it out for everyone to get home. Some were leaving earlier than we were. Our flight out was not until midnight. The guys did not want to say goodbye to each other. I think they'll be friends forever.
We had a bit of time to sleep for an hour or two at the airport before boarding the flight to Atlanta.
Finally we made it to SLC and we said goodbye to those that were still with us. What a trip and the best people! I am grateful for CHOICE and to see how many people is has impacted in Ecuador. The local leaders know and love my dad.
