Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Where in the World are Danny and Aaron??

Just in case anyone was wondering that question i beat you all to the punch!! mwahahaha I apologize it's been so long since i wrote last, but we're are doing well and since the last post we have added a new adventurer!!


There he is!! Seanzy is here and ready to adventure-ize Ecuador with us. We've done a lot since Tena, it almost seems like a different trip at this point. Ecuador changes so much within a few hour bus ride, it's hard to believe! We left Tena (the Jungle) and headed for the coast, more specifically to Salinas. 






Salinas was great! A super kind and hospitable congregation, we made some really great friends there. As our spanish improves it gets easier and easier to make friends in the Spanish congregations that we are visiting, but its still amazing how kind and helpful the friends are despite the language barrier. Salinas is right on a bit of a peninsula, and is about a mile from La Chocolatera. Contrary to my first guess, it is not a place were chocolate is made. It's actually the furthest point West in South America.


And there is Aaron cautiously peering over the end of the world. We were later told that was a bad idea because of the waves


Aaron managed to survive, adn we both got to go out in service to the "Pueblos". In spanish it just just means towns, but in Salinas it meant more or less Seldom worked territory. About a 30 minute bus ride takes us to two small towns that the congregation in Salinas trys to go to once a week. The preaching work in Salinas can be a bit difficult because many people are not home ( A good number of the houses are summer homes for wealthy people that live and work in guayaquil) but people still listen when you find them. In the pueblos though, people listen like i had never seen up to that point. Nearly everyone would listen, even to our broken spanish. here is our group!


oh that last one... is after... service.. on another day.. thats not actually me.. we found a guy sleeping.. that looked like me...

MOVING ON!!
Took a trip to Guayaquil with some friends from the congregation. Saw some pretty cool stuff!
We found a McDonalds.. and ate at it.. and it was delicious. Nothing against beans and rice everyday but..... wait what am I saying I do have something against beans and rice everyday. I'll just say it was a nice change of pace from our noraml diet!
We also found a nice statue!



First Quiz of the day!! Which does not belong?!


Yup, a big iguana, and we found all his friends too



And then they all found us




Had a lot of fun in Guayaquil! The weekend after we returned to Guayaquil to visit the Branch there, which is beautiful!

Our room at Bethel. By far the nicest room we've had yet

There are about 140 in the family at the branch here. Small, but adequate in order to care for the needs of the branch. We also got to go on a Kichwa study with a couple from the branch. That is a ridiculous language, and I didn't understand a word! But it was amazing to see the effort the branch, and individual brothers and sisters are putting forth to reach people in their native languages.

We took a day to explore La Ruta Del Sol also, to exlpore some of the coast! 









All in all, Salinas was great, and we miss the congregation. But we must move one! Next we headed to Monte Criste right after picking up Sean from the airport in Guayaquil! A bit north of Salinas and about 15 minutes from the coast, it's a small town that we were told has a territory that is exploding with interest and the congregation is in need of brothers also. Here is the whole town


Small.. and boring.. BUT, the preaching is amazing. All the pioneers have full schedules of studies, and there are plenty more to be had. It's amazing to be able to spend 15 min at every single door. And after fifteen minutes, we leave, but only because i have said everything i can in spanish on the topic. It's incredible.

This past weekend we headed to Quito for the first Special Assembly Day in English ever in Ecuador! A hop, skip, and an 11 hour bus ride, and we're in Quito by 2 in the morning sat night! Plenty of time to find a hostal, figure out where the assembly is, eat something for the first time all day, and get a good nights sleep! We managed to do all that, and it was worth it. The assembly hall was really nice, and there was an attendance of nearly 400! impressive when there are only about 3-4 small English congregations and a couple groups in the whole country. A testament to the number of need greaters in the country





The Next day, we headed to Mitad Del Mundo, or the middle of the world!!



 Aaron listening to my command, "Do something awesome!!"
 Attempt at moving the Equator...
 Oh look, hes got the world in the palm of his hand!! haaa...ahhaa.....ha.

Some egg-standin-up-activities (which FUN FACT: is possible all year long on the Equator!)



Took a night bus back to Monte Criste, aaand missed service. So we went to the beach! In Manta, the closest beach to Monte Criste, and also a pretty big city




Well that about brings us to now. Hope this isn't too long and boring to read, i'll try to post more frequently from now on. We're still plotting out our next few weeks, but let me assure you, the next time I write, will be after this. Hope everyone is well, The Three Amigos all send their love.. to whoever is reading this.. that it applies to.. so like.. if you dont know one of us, you can pretty much figure it doesnt apply to you, from whoever you dont know.. but someone loves you..probably.. or its possible none of us love you... i dont really know who is following this.. but we hope EVERYONE reading this is doing well!!!

-Giant Ecuador Adventure(r)

7 comments:

  1. Hi Sean,
    It's mama Crystal. How are you surviving the heat?
    So proud of all you young men!

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  2. SEANTHAN! So glad to see you made it over there ok! Have fun you guys and make Jehovah's heart rejoice :)

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  3. Hey guys. This is Ryan Wilson. Looks like you are having lots of fun. Danny thanks for the awesome pictures and cool commentary. Aaron thanks for the emails. Keep up the good work.

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  4. Yayyyyyy! So happy to finally get some pics and and update!! Love the pics!! The sunsets and the scenery is amazing! Love seeing the friends from down there and the assembly hall! Glad you are having a wonderful time! Look forward to your next update! Keep safe! Hug each other from all of us! : )

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  5. I think this is my favorite post yet .. your such a weirdo but i love ya anyways :) So awesome to get a glimpse at all the fun your having down there. We miss you very much !! Good to know that we're loved.. or possibly missed and loved.. or not .. xoxo
    PS - your voicemail had us cracking up. I saved it for a good chuckle at some point in the near future.

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  6. Looks like u guys r having the time of your lives!This is like reading the year book,very encouraging & inspiring! Thanks for sharing it,awesome pix too! May Jehovah bless all of your efforts & have a safe journey home.

    ~becky

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  7. okay i have much to say here. number 1. SEANZY! haha i am ever so glad he made it to you safe and sound. 2nd of all...as i took a quick glimpse down, i was equally as pleased to see that you have also met up with ronald mcdonald. i was concerned that you weren't gonna have all the help you'd need...but really...ronald is more than i could even hope for, for you. 3rdly...it does not look so much like aaron is peeRing over...so much as peeing over the ledge. just thought you should know lol. everything else looks ever so joyous, but i just wanted to give you my 2 cents on those things haha. can't wait till you return back to the homelands floppers!! :)

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