mmm Turkey!!!

On Friday night we were treated to a very American traditional dinner. Turkey with all the trimmings (oh except for sweet potatoes that is). Will you look at the size of that bird! Becky cooked it and apparently it took her all day to do so. She really did a awesome job - it was absolutely mouthwatering. We ate at the Rulla's and everyone contributed to the very yummy dinner. As you can see I tried to make a political statement by bringing Pavlova complete with Kiwifruit however it didn't stand a chance with Kelly making an outstanding pumpkin pie. We had to roll home afterwards and now I can understand those references made in American movies to Thanksgiving dinners where the menfolk unbutton their pants to fit more in. We really are giving up so much to live here aren't we?

You say Tomato and I say...

I would like to say TA to all the BLOKES (and Sheilas - oops that's Australian) who were GOOD SPORTS and let me TAKE THE MICKEY out of them - they didn't get STROPPY or PIKE OUT on me or even throw their JANDALS at me - so IT'S ALL GOOD!
By the way, for you readers from other countries, while I am on the subject - here is a little explanation that may help you if you ever come across a New Zealander :
Kiwi: New Zealander
kiwi: an endangered flightless bird native to New Zealand
kiwifruit: hairy skinned fruit with lime green flesh - formerly known as Chinese Gooseberry

Update on our week:

Monday we were up in the mountains and I placed 2 books while Mark placed 1 with a very nice gentleman who wants him to come back next week to start going through the book.Yay for Mark!
Tuesday I was out with Michele and we caught up again with my study Melva (after the holiday season). We have to climb up another hill to get to her little house and we were pleased that this week she actually went and got us 2 seats so we sat for the study instead of the usual hopping from foot to foot and trying to hold everything at the same time. Melva tells us she is a Catholic and will be till the day she dies but then in the next breath says how the Catholics don't hardly touch the bible- let alone read it! Mmm we shall see if she does stay a Catholic till she dies- I will keep you posted on her progress. Then we found a call of Michele's at home - the last time we had spoken to her (Bertha is her name and she is in her 40's) - she had said she could not talk any longer cause her Mother was coming down the street and her Mother did not like her talking to us! Anyway yesterday Bertha tells us that her mother has broken her leg and will not be visiting her for awhile (oh dear how sad) so Michele was able to start a study with her. We really felt we were supposed to call on her yesterday so it was very cool.
Today (Wednesday - yes I know I am living in the past) I asked Becky to come with me on my study with Esperanza but before we went we did a little bit of territory. Becky managed to have a good chat with a lady and place a book so we will be going back on her again next week. Esperanza is a lovely lady and invites us inside, today we started chapter 2 and something really affected her as she had a few tears about the bible being such a marvelous gift from God.
So that is the week so far - I just wanted to tell you about it cause I am having such fun - it's awesome!

Pase del Niños

They have a custom here during December right through to Feb/March called Pase del Niños.
Originally it came from the Inca's when every year they would bring out the mummified bodies of dead loved ones and parade them around the city. When the Spaniards came and with them the catholic religion, they wanted to stop that practice so true to form they incorporated it into their worship. Instead of the mummified bodies - they gave them the baby Jesus and Mary to parade around. So now and then we will come across some parade or other with plenty of colour but little else to recommend it!

When in Rome...

This is a drink made out of pulverized rolled oats with milk,
sugar and cinnamon. I could probably describe it as very runny porridge - mmm yummy (NOT)

Marks face says it all

We are often placed in situations that we have no way of getting out of and it is almost always to do with food or drink. The people here are so very kind but they never ask you what you would like to drink - mostly they just give you something which you are expected to like.We would never want to offend these kind hearted souls so it gets very tricky some times.
Of course those of you who know us will remember that Mark can't stomach milk and I have an aversion to sweet, lukewarm drinks. Most of the time we can secretly swap the cups and get through it that way but this morning we were handed this concoction which was sweet, lukewarm and milky!!! And notice the size of the cup! Oh dear - but I am proud to say we both just did the deed, even though we now feel very sick! It was funny seeing Marks face, when the sister wanted to refill his cup!

The Remains of the Day

Everywhere we went yesterday and even today we could see the remains of the fires that burnt the effigies on New Years Eve. This one obviously didn't completely burn so I wonder if that means they didn't quite burn all the badness from last year? Oh how sad for that family!

New Year in Ecuador

Well surprisingly we did actually sleep through the end of 2008 and into 2009. Although we were woken a few times with exceptionally loud and close bangs from the fireworks - we must have been pretty tired to be able to drift back quickly into dreamland. At around 12pm there was a barrage of fireworks but it was no use getting up to look at them out the window as they do not make any display whatsoever. All they do is make a noise - I don't really get why the Ecuadorians like them so much.

On the way home from the meeting (G would not let us walk as he said it was too dangerous) there was people with masks on everywhere. They like to put rope across the road and stop the cars and then demand money - G just drove right on so a few idiots hit the car - but we made it home safely.I hope you will excuse me for not getting any photos - it was just a little scary so I did not want to encourage any more stupidity.

Today witnessing has been canceled as they say no one will appreciate us knocking on their gates after their night of revelry. I don't know - I think I would have enjoyed waking them up - cause they don't seem to mind waking us up!