Coming up to Christmas!

Christmas Abroad (in Ecuador)

The sun is out, the air is warm, and there's not a hint of ice or snow... Ecuador is on the equator, (where the ozone layer is apparently much thinner) and we had to generously cover ourselves with suncream this morning before leaving home in T-shirts... Franchesca hopes to go with her friend to the outdoor swimming pool this afternoon.

Christmas is totally commercialised in Ecuador. The shops are full of Christmas decorations,little nick-nacks, Christmassy food, and of course, presents - all the latest technology is on sale! The shopping centres are decorated with Santas, Christmas trees, and raindeer, and stars hanging from the ceilings,... probably like any city in the world...

In the shops there are many Nativity scenes, (a great variety of styles and complexities) and all the accessories required: extra cows for the stable... angels, shepherds, etc, which can be bought separately.

What a disappointment! England will not host the World Cup in 2010. It would have been great! Sounds like it was fixed! (but then I would say that, wouldn't I?)

At least here we have the warmth, and sun!! Unlike Europe at this moment in time. Altho' parts of Venezuela and Colombia and under water, Ecuador has managed to escape flooding, so far!!

QUITO DAY NEXT MONDAY

Hi there! Quito day coming up, 6th December! So there is great music and happiness in the air around Quito. I was at Centro Commercial Iñaquito today around 4pm, and while there, the police band came and serenaded, not me, but the many others who were in ecocafé too! It was great to hear the familiar sounds of Quito's favourite tunes...

And many people on the streets, in a jolly mood, some having come back from the bullfighting, held around

Dear Folks, I'm back! Had a good nights sleep, and up at 6am. There was no school yesterday, as they had a census for the whole of Ecuador, last Sunday, and Monday and Tuesday are used to finish off the outlying areas. So there is no school today either!

Hi there from Ecuador!

Life here is good! Family is very happy, on the whole, except now I hear my little boy crying his eyes out...watching a video,(Toy Story 4, they love it!) and falling asleep, so his big sister has been told to wake him  up, which of course, he hates! We try not to let them watch too much TV and videos, but when big sis has finished her homework, she is allowed to.

Elsa has just finished her homework for tonight, she goes to a Bible class, they are doing about the plagues in Egypt, which showed the power of God over all the little no-gods of Egypt. She needed to find out which plague corresponded to which god being over-powered, see Exodus 12 v 12. Very interesting!

She has a dental clinic and works out in a local town, which has many surrounding neighbourhoods and villages, high up in the mountains. She aims to serve the community so does not charge very much at all, just enough to replenish the dental supplies. She has just started work there, and the local folk, who mainly get to know by word of mouth, have not yet heard that she is around. But gradually word gets around. The clinic room was donated by a local evangelical church, which aims to serve the community.

She also gives time to