Partners Visit

For those who don't know much about Partners Worldwide (PW), let me preface this post by explaining a little about the structure of PW.  Instead of going to a country and setting up an office and staff and following a set model for international development, PW works internationally by connecting Christian businesspeople from the US (or another more developed country) with Christian businesspeople already living and serving in a given country (like Ecuador).  Really we're all about relationships.  We want to build a strong international partnership between those 2 groups of businesspeople.  We foster relationships with the businesspeople we serve.  This year we're also putting a special emphasis on mentoring relationships, both locally and with international mentors.  All that said, face-to-face contact in a weeklong visit from the North American partners is an important part of strengthening the partnering relationship.

Thus, the end of June/beginning of July was a time of lots of meetings, visits to businesses, and dinners with the various people with whom I work.

The day after everyone arrived, the North American and Ecuadorian leaders talked over plans for the year and had an evening dinner with trainers who help out with the business course.


About 2/3 of our binational team

A special musical surprise during dinner

The second day, we split into two groups to visit businesses in North Quito, South Quito, and the two valleys.  A few of the businesses we visited...

 That evening, the two groups met up in the Old Town colonial area for dinner, and we had a view of the city from the 5th floor Vista Hermosa Restaurant.

Dinner entertainment--halfway thru dinner an elderly man took over the piano at the back of the restaurant.

Looking south--Independence square with Panecillo in the background.

Looking north--La Basilica on the horizon with Toma de Asis in the foreground.

After two days in Quito, I headed to Las Mercedes on the coast with 3 members of the North American team and Edwin, who had led a training course there at the start of this year.  Since Las Mercedes is an agricultural community, we saw lots of cows, pigs, and chickens and ate food that was picked that same day.

Eating fresh cheese at the production site

At the Las Mercedes rice mill

Motorcycle repair--in the past 10 years motorcycles have replaced horses as the main form of transportation within the community.

Lester chopped open a few coconuts so we could finish the day with coconut milk

Scooping out the fleshy coconut meat

 After a quick flight back to Quito and some time together in the airport, most of the team left to spend the 4th of July with family.  A few of us had one last meal together until next time.

 

Ketchup...

...but not the kind that goes with mustard!  After over a month with no updates, I'm not quite sure where to start.  These past 2 months have been full of visits from North Americans and then my trip home to North America.  So here is a feeble attempt to catch up on the last two months in a short summary, with details to follow.

At the start of June I had the blessing of hanging out with my Nizhoni house mentors, their 2 adorable kids, and Noah's parents and siblings.  It was fun to show off my current "home" city, including a trip to the Equator, the Virgin of Quito statue, dinner on the 5th floor of the Vista Hermosa restaurant in the historic Old Town, climbing to a tower of the concrete Basilica, and a Sunday afternoon in the Botanical Gardens and Vivarium of Parque Carolina.  Since I let them take most of the pictures, you'll just have to believe me on all this, but I'd recommend their schedule to anyone else who wants to hit the highlights of Quito.

Riding in pickup truck back-one common activity in Mercedes

At the end of June, our North American team from Partners Worldwide came for a week-long visit to meet with the local board of directors, visit businesses, and take trips to Cuenca and Las Mercedes.  I went with the Las Mercedes group and had the pleasure of meeting graduates from the business training course that my coworker Edwin led over the past 6 months.  More on that later.

Crossing a swaying bridge in Las Mercedes--that's the norm...

The day after the North American team departed, I made my 3rd ascent of the Rucu Pichincha volcano with my PW coworker who was in town for the North Americans' visit.  It was the first time that I climbed on a clear day, and the view was absolutely spectacular!

On top of Pichincha, with Quito far below

Although my return to the US missed the 4th of July by one day, I was in time to see my sister just before my very first niece, Mikayla Grace, was born.  Being an aunt is amazing.  I can't wait to hold that little girl again.

Mikayla in her first Ecuadorian dress

The next few weeks in Michigan included the arrival of my brother and sister-in-law from Honduras, their "Michigan wedding reception," time with my cousins who are scattered all over the US, and my first trip to a ribs festival.  All in all, it was amazing to see so many friends and family and be back to speaking my first language all the time.

The lovely couple

Quality time with awesome cousins

Chowin' down on ribfest ribs with a friend!

Now that I'm back in Ecuador, I'm re-learning Spanish (just kidding, I remember it, though I was pretty rusty when I first got back), helping out with the latest business training course in Quito, and jumping right back into the thick of things at work and church.

So there's the ketchup...ahem, catch up.  And I'll be sharing more details in...less than 2 months. :)