A Little ¨Last Minute¨ Shopping

Hello Everyone,
It has been raining A LOT here in Quito the last few days. It starts about mid-afternopon and it rains until sometime in the ¨wee-small¨ hours of the morning. Even the locals say that this year´s rainy season has been worse than usual. There is flooding in many areas, and the President of Ecuador has declared the entire country under an emergency in order to release funds to help those whose lives, livelihoods and homes have been wiped out. All of the damage is in parts of the country other than Quito and the northern highlands where I have been visiting and will visit this weekend.
The idea of going to the Amazon this weekend has been changed. The accident that Chris had that demolished his vehicle took away the primary means of traveling there. We looked into renting a vehicle, but it really is not practical. So, I decided to go back to Otovalo this weekend and go to the fantastic artisans market there and get a few final gifts before I get ready to leave next week. The weekend market there fills up a huge portion of the town and they have things there that are not easily found other places, and the prices are far below what you would pay if you did find them here in Quito.
Also there is an American couple I met there and I will try to lok them up again. I had oiginally met them on my first trip to Otovalo and we made arrqangements to meet again at a sports bar here in Quito to watch the Super Bowl together. They had given me their phone number on a napkin at the bar. Now I can´t find the napkin, but I may be able to find them as they are pretty well know in Otovalo.
I decided not to take my camera on this trip. I would like to but I don´t expect I would get any award winning shots and I can´t take the risk with the only camera I have left.
I would be less than honest if I did not say that between getting sick last weekend and having my camera stolen this week, I am a little ¨bummed out¨ right now. I try not to let it get to me, but in all truth at times it really does. This is such a gorgeous country with so many wonderful people and places, but it is still a third world country with all of the risks and problems that are what make it a third world country. You have to admire those who, like Bishop Ramos and Chris and Trish Morck, willingly accept these risks and problems as a way of life in order to extend the church and make life better for those who live here. They have each endured serious auto accidents, illnesses like mine-and probably worse- all simply to serve the Lord and make the world a better place. They, and so many others around the world, whose names we will never know, could so easily just stay in the comfort and security of the good old US of A and ¨talk the talk¨. I cannot help but be inspired by their dedication, courage and faith, and that will stay with me long after I have left Ecuador.
Well, I need to get ready to go to the bus station and head to Otovalo.
Love to you all,
Glenn+