250 Kilometer Thrill Ride

I am now over the traumatic experience of being on the scariest ride of my life. Cuenca is about 250 miles from Loja. By taxi it may take four hours some people say they have done it in three and a half hours—by bus five or more hours. It was late Sunday afternoon, and we thought it would be good to get home in less than five hours. So we choose to take a taxi bus. My idea of a taxi bus was a large van that would hold 15 or more people each person having their own seat. It would have seatbelts and barf bags. Maybe even a small TV in front when one didn't want to take in the views of the mountains.

We arrived at the taxi station and had a short wait for the van to arrive. Our names were called as well as all the other people who were going to their destinations. We followed our driver around the corner to our van. It was an ordinary everyday soccer mom van. We all climbed in to secure our seats. I jumped into the back seat as I wanted to go to sleep and wake up when we got into Loja. The van was made for 7 passengers we were pushing the limits with 10 already in seats. The driver left to go to the office. I was thinking he was going to tell the powers that be that he had too many people and that someone had to go. Nope, he came back with another rider. They called my name and asked if I was married to Terry. I said yes, and they moved me up to the front seat next to him.

I got the seat that folds down next to the driver. The driver told Terry to put on his seatbelt and then proceeds to put his on. By this time I feel like a smashed marshmallow and was hoping my meds would kick in. We get almost out of town and the taxi pulls over. Seems one of the passengers has a friend who wants a package taken back to Loja. The friend has chased down the taxi and called to say he had us in sight. We picked up the package and loaded it into an already packed trunk and headed off.

Our driver started weaving over lines before we were even out of town. It was not looking good. As we were leaving city limits we come upon slow traffic. Driver was not happy and hits horn and tried to go thru both lanes of traffic as if he were a motorcycle. Looking out of a side window we saw a wreck and two people lying on the side of the road. If we had the window down, we could have touched them. People were gathering all around them. Terry and I bowed in prayer and ask God to send help. Later, I noticed that police were stopping buses, and I remembered that I had no passport or censo on me. I pictured being taken out of taxi and off to jail. I said a short prayer telling God I would never leave without ID again if he would keep us from being stopped.

About an hour into our trip the driver started chewing gum, loading CDs into the player and taking phone calls all while passing trucks, cars and donkeys in the thickest fog I have ever seen. I am from California, and have seen some thick fog in my life. Sometimes trucks would be stopped in middle of the other lane of traffic and you wouldn't see them until you were a few feet from them. Which wouldn't have been a problem, except our driver was straddling the middle line. I felt like I was in a real life frogger game.

Out of nowhere, children, chickens, and dogs ran out into the road, crossing it in the fog. Then the winding roads began. Buses on three wheels careening around curves. I tried to go to sleep, because Becca said that drunks and people who sleep tend to do better in accidents. Terry was holding on to my knees. I had one foot under the seat thinking that would keep me from going out the front window.

Signs saying “dangeroso” and “peligroso”, huge boulders in the road from landslides. driver driving to miss said boulders, swerving to the other lane as oncoming traffic was trying to miss boulders on their side. As we were coming down the mountain, I saw Loja. All I could think of was thank God if we are in a wreck, we are near a hospital.

I think it would be a good law if donkeys, chickens, dogs, and people dressed in black wear reflectors in fog. We only saved a half hour taking the taxi. Next time we walk.

Last week Terry and I took a short trip to Cuenca. All but one of our students were out of town, so we made a last minute decision to go to Cuenca with Becca and her family. The Kings had to make a trip to Quito to get visas renewed again. It was cheaper to take a five hour bus to Cuenca and spend a few days there than fly to Quito from the airport nearest Loja.

The bus ride was uneventful. We all made sure to make the last bathroom stop for the next five hours. We paid our ten cents for several pieces of toilet paper and entry into the bathroom. On the bus there were a few people who had our assigned seats, but when the bus assistant asked them to show their seat numbers, they moved to other seats. Sometimes there are more passengers than seats. There were people standing in the aisles who had a long five hour trip ahead of them. Makes for an interesting trip when someone is standing over you. Terry rationed my meds out for me, so I didn't crash when we got to our destination. Country meets City

One high point of our trip was a visit to a Mall that had a food court. A taste of home. I headed straight to the Burger King in the food court. Thought I had died and gone to heaven. Only thing that would have made it better was if they had served Dr. Pepper. We went to a store that was like a huge Walmart only a Walmart that was made in heaven. The store had wide aisles, neat uncluttered shelves it sold everything from motorcycles to groceries. Becca was like a deer caught in headlights when we walked in. She was dazed. It was too much for her brain to take in.

Half hour after we finished eating I was able to locate one of several mall bathrooms. To our surprise the toilets had toilet seats on them. Well most of them did. Most public bathrooms here don't have toilet seats. You know how people like to take stop signs in the states. Here they take toilet seats. I was having a hard time picturing someone walking the mall with a toilet seat in their hands. During the hour or so we were at the mall, I was able to locate all the bathrooms. Burger King had not been kind to me. I felt like I had a game of hide and seek going on. Everytime I went into the bathroom a lady was cleaning. I just knew it was the same lady each time and she was wondering why this lady kept running into different bathrooms.

We also visited the place where the Panama Hat is made. It is Cuenca not Panama.

As Becca and I were walking in the historical part of Cuenca, I mentioned that I really wanted to take some pictures but didn't want to look like a tourist. I got to thinking about what people thought of us gringos with our cameras taking pictures of what was just normal life to them. I would not appreciate it if someone came up to me as I was mowing my grass, washing laundry, feeding my children, walking the dog, snapping pictures, all the while speaking in a strange language. I need to get a camera phone and learn to speak the language.


The trip back is a whole different blog. Lets just say when we got into Loja I wanted to kiss the ground.

Compare and contrasts in Loja

In writing this post I feel like the student who has been told to compare and contrast a subject and the subject has more contrast than comparisons. At this point I can think of only a few comparisons. Both countries love sports. One loves fut ball or soccer the other football. Both can be dangerous games, when the spectators get riled. Both have political parties which can also be dangerous when the spectators get riled. The people in both countries need to know the Gospel.


In Loja the people love fiestas or celebrations. There is one going on most weekends. They have a fascination with fireworks especially late at night any night. I am not talking about small fireworks but the kind you may see at a fourth for July celebration. I think all the schools in Loja have marching bands and the main instrument is the drum. You are able to tell what school a child goes to as all are required to wear uniforms. There are shops on every corner that make the uniforms.


As you walk down the narrow sidewalks you will see girls walking arm and arm, mothers and daughters, sisters and brothers, I have seen many young men walking arm and arm with their mothers or grandmothers. Friendship, affection and respect are shown in many ways here. Meal time is not a rushed affair. Almuerzo or lunch is a time of fellowship with friends and family. In Loja businesses and schools close from 1 to 3 for Almuerzo and siesta.

You may be on your way to a meeting but a family member or friend sees you on the street it is only polite to stop and fellowship with each other. I think we might have a custom like this but it is only done in Walmart or the grocery aisles on a Friday nite or Saturday in the States. This may explain why all meetings start late. It is not polite to show up to a invitation to a party or dinner on time. When you do show up you greet all with a kiss. You greet everyone in the room individually. This can make the meet and greet time at church a little lengthy. You speak in a different pronoun to those who are not family and friends to show respect.

In the States when you greet or you are greeted, it is usually short and sweet. Hi how are you, Fine and you We need to get together for lunch sometime. Good to see you bye. Let's get together for lunch sometime.

In Loja Hola! than you air-kiss on cheek, Como Esta? Buen y usted? Bien. Where are you from. How do you like it here in Loja? Where does your family live? How is your family? Where are you working now? Come join us for lunch. After lunch or 20 or more minutes later you say ciau and the other may say, The party is at my house tonight see you there.

It has been almost a month since my last post. In the month we have finished five weeks of school. Blown up a volcano, tried to make an earthquake, and tried to kill a killer spider. I have learned that Terry can go three months without a haircut. I can live with one set of towels and a set of sheets. I refuse to pay 79.00 for a set of sheets. We have learned that rice and potatoes go together as a meal. Terry can learn to play the bass guitar, and be in a praise band. My dear sweet classical husband is learning to color outside the lines.



Becca and I spotted sweet corn in the store and thought we had gone to heaven. It was like we had found gold. No, we didn't buy all of it because the corn was very expensive. We also found blueberries, we bought them out. Becca had three containers and I had two. The stores here don't stock much and when they are out, it may be a while before you see it back on the shelves. Someone had said that you almost never see blueberries in the store.

School is going well. We are enjoying the ministry here. Terry is taking opportunities to minister in Bible studies, English classes and preaching. This Sunday he will be preaching without an interpreter. I have learned the art of taking trash out and getting the cans back in. I take that back. I just ran down to get the cans and I almost fell into a hole in the sidewalk that had to have been dug the last two hours. I don't understand why I don't see more people in casts here.

I would like to introduce you to a future teacher. It has been such a joy to watch as the students grow in their faith and in learning.

Loja Mk Academy





Rebecca teaching art class

Basketball game using a trashcan as the goal




Expressive reading


Sharing Time
as in what do you have to eat that I might like

Some may be wondering why I haven't posted in almost two months. I now know why Becca doesn't post much on her blog. I will not ever get on to her again for not posting more. We are up 7,000 feet and your brain just doesn't work well this high. The air makes you really forgetful and you can't remember your password. You spend so much time chasing trashmen and climbing four flights of stairs that you can't use the keyboard. Your blog site is in spanish and you can't read the directions. You have lost so much weight that there isn't enough pressure in your fingertips to push down the keys. Our internet comes and goes, mostly goes.

We are into our fourth week of school and the students have settled in. We have a first grader, two second graders, two fourth graders and a sixth grader. Our students are Ecuadorian Irish, Ecuadorian American, and American. It truly is a one room school. Terry and I love it here. My language skills are getting better but I need to get out more and use them. It is harder to do now that we are teaching.

We live in the same building as the school so we don't have far to travel. Most schools in Loja are only for a half day. They are able to have two sessions of classes that way. Our school is from 9 to 1. We than go to El Sendero for almuerzo with the grandkids. After lunch we have our spanish lessons. Terry helps with the English ministry on Sunday nights and Tuesday nites he has a Bible study. He is also learning to play bass guitar for church services. I have been working with Becca in her class of children on Sunday. I mostly sit, listen and smile at the kids.

We also manage the LMC. That is the building we live in and the school is in. It is like a hostel. We have people coming and going. Many of the missionaries who live out of the area come for a few nites when they are in town. We also put up mission teams who are working in the area. When I was younger my dream was to be a missionary, a teacher and sometimes I thought I would like to run a bed and breakfast. God has blessed me by letting me live my dreams.

Learning Curve

I am learning how to use the microwave and phone. All of the instructions and buttons are in Spanish.

I am learning that you can live with dust. There are no screens here and windows and doors are left open which means dust comes in with every breeze. I have given up the dust fight.

I have learned that tile floors are cold in the morning and when they are wet they can kill you.

I have learned that if you break a finger you can splint it with toothpicks or a half of a clothes pin because no one has any splints. (I didn't break my finger- I learned from Becka's experience.)

I have learned that the disco bar around the corner shuts down at 5 in the morning. Ear plugs are wonderful.