Worship, Crepes, & History

We met at 8:00 and Barbara D'Aversa led us in devotions based on Hebrews 13:1-3. In this passage we are encouraged to show hospitality to strangers and prisoners, for in doing so we may entertain angels unawares. Barbara related it to these little children here who were strangers to us, and some of whom are imprisoned in bodies that do not allow them to play and learn the way other children can. In showing hospitality to them, we are the ones who have been blessed. We closed with a prayer that we might be a blessing to them, as they have been to us.

At 8:30 we left for Clark and Melinda's English Fellowship Church. As we drove to church we noticed that some of the lanes of the main boulevard were blocked off, with bikers and walkers exercising along the road. Clark said they close it off from 8 to 3 every Sunday to encourage people to get out and exercise. Neat idea.

Our couples goofing around after worship.

Group photo.

After worship, we drove to an area in downtown Quito that had more markets which carried things similar to what we found yesterday. Some of our group hadn't found all the gifts they needed to take home to family and friends, and some of us just hadn't spent all our money yet. We succeeded in rectifying both of those problems.

After an hour of shopping, Clark took us to a delicious restaurant called Crepes and Waffles. It was clean and safe to eat everything on the menu, including the salad bar, and it was very inexpensive! Fourteen of us ate for less than $200!!! Again, we pigged out and left feeling like we didn't need to eat again for the rest of the day.

Clark then drove us to the old section of downtown Quito. We walked the narrow cobblestone streets to the Grand Plaza which is surrounded by buildings built in the mid 15oos , including the Presidential Palace. In the center of the square is a lovely park filled with Quitoans enjoying the day together, watching a street performer, sitting on the benches, and walking along the streets.
We were allowed to climb up and look into the Presidential Palace.

Then we walked a couple of blocks to tour La Compania de Jesus, a great Baroque church that had detailed carvings and decorations which were covered in 24k gold. It was very ornate and glistened from across the room.

We continued up the hill to another basilica, but it was closed so we were unable to go inside.

We returned to FHC about 4:00 and immediately went to work with the babies and toddlers. Craig and I went to work with the toddlers. I spent 2 hours wiping oreo cookies off of hands, reading the same book half a dozen times, and watching Barney in Spanish.

At 7:00 we had another delicious dinner... well, it was 5 hours after our huge lunch! And now that I have finished kitchen clean up and this blog, I will lead a communion service for our group.

More tomorrow. By the way, no one has guessed the identities of the people in the indigeneous picture. We will not reveal their identities until someone guesses correctly.

-Pastor Andy (actually ghost written by Kathy while Pastor Andy "supervised")

The Martins have replaced PA with more productive roomies. :)