Day 14 – January 20, 2025
Day 14
Our Last Day in Ecuador
Today is our last day in Ecuador. We leave early in the morning. With our 7 am departure, we must be at the airport by 4 am to go through security and get to our gate. Boarding begins at 6:15 am. So, we will have to be up and ready to leave by 3:30 am. It will be a short night for us!
Many of the homes in Ecuador don’t have heat and at the higher altitudes the temps inside the homes generally equals what is outside which is in the 50s and 60s. Everyone wears layers and coats and sweaters even inside. They live this way and to them it is normal. For us, however, it is hard to get acclimated to.
Claudia and I had breakfast at the hotel and then Jane came to pick us up to go into Quito. Our first stop is the Middle of the World monument. This is the equator and one can stand with one foot in the northern hemisphere and one foot in the southern hemisphere. I have been here before and it is a nice area to visit.
Our trip to the Middle of the World was easy and didn’t take long. Traffic was minimal. Upon arrival, the parking lot was relatively empty which meant we won’t have any delays as we visit the area. We stood over the line and took pictures. Then we entered the monument and saw all the displays telling about Ecuadorian life in various areas of the country involving various tribes of people who make Ecuador home. At the top of the monument we could go outside onto an observation deck and walk all the way around it to see the country side from that height.
After we left the monument we strolled around the park visiting various stores looking at the wares they were selling. After a couple hours there we left to go to a nearby mall. This was a huge mall comprising four levels. The top level was a massive food court with all sorts of food outlets. We decided to have lunch there in a restaurant that was a little more upscale. We took our time and had a very leisurely lunch and some good conversation.
Upon leaving there Jane took us to another mall so we could look for a specific item I wanted to get for one of my daughters. We couldn’t find the item as it was out of stock. So we left and went to the HCJB campus where Claudia’s parents had worked some while they were missionaries there. Claudia had a lot of memories of this place and she really enjoyed seeing it again.
By then it was rush hour and we encountered a lot of stop and go traffic working our way back to our hotel near the airport. Jane is staying the night in the hotel and will save her time driving us to the airport, which is about 15 minutes away. Our plan is to meet at 3:30 am to leave for the airport. Our flight to Miami departs at 7 so we need the time to check in, drop off our luggage, and clear security. We may spend an hour to two at the gate depending on how long it will take us to get through security.
On our way to the hotel when we were just a short distance away, we saw in the western sky a beautiful sunset. When we arrived at the hotel, we went up on the roof and viewed the sunset. It was as perfect signature of our being here to serve Jesus by serving the people of San Lorenzo. To me God painted this message in the sky telling us, “Well done, my good and faithful servants, well done!”
Medical Missions 