Climbing to the top of the (non-existent) teleferíco

On Tuesday (our day off from language learning) we decided to climb up to the top of the Teleferíco (Gondola), which doesn't look like it will be operational for a long time. All the infrastructure is there, but no gondolas in sight. We passed a family of llamas on the way up, funny to see such a 'wild' animal lin the middle of the basketball court!

It was quite windy at the top, with a great view of the valley and mountains on the other side of Loja. Evie had great fun running back down the mountain, picking up rocks and flowers along the way. I think it will be a while before we try climbing any significant mountains around here, it's hard work!

Silly faces...

Evie is currently making us laugh with all her different faces. We hope they make you laugh too!
This photo below is of Evie's first pony ride in Parque Jipiro. For just .50c you can go for a little jaunt along the river, she loved it!

We had a nice weekend, invited some people over for 'brunch' (bit of a novelty here) on Saturday, and had lunch at a Mariana's house on Sunday (a lady from church). The rain stopped yesterday after a few weeks of constant downpours. The sun even warmed my shoulders for a while as I walked to class this morning.

Out and About

We've had a bit of a social time over the last few days! It feels like all our christmases have coincided. Friday we went to Vilcabamba and had lunch with Jason, a SIM team mate, Saturday was down to Landangui for lunch with Ulric, Natalia and Lelia (of French café fame) and a swim which Evie absolutely loved and Sunday, a picnic in the park with Patricia and Antonio and kids, from church. The Botanical Gardens are just outside of Loja and its a really peaceful place, lots of trees and herbs and little paths meandering through it all. We almost lost the Aerobe but John climbed under a serious barbed wire fence to rescue it. Having a few days like this helps with the loneliness that we feel, which while inevitable, is still hard as you work through the process of trying to build new relationships in another language and culture. Can you pray that we'll be patient in this process and also that we'll keep up the effort of making connections with people? Thanks!