Chiquicha Services and Farewell Dinner

We departed Riobamba at 10:30 am on our way to Chiquicha for services and for a special farewell meal of encebollado mixto prepared at the home of Patricio and Sonia Martinez.

Milton, Alicia, Pamela, Eylin, Katherine, Ariel, Avis, and Walt rode in the Milton's truck. Edgar, Fanny, Adriana, and her baby took the bus to Ambato where Patricio picked them up with his truck. They wanted to be at the last service.

The family of Victor Sanchez - Sandra, Jeremy, Kelly, and Monica - joined us for services and lunch. Edman Freire also joined us.

The service text was Luke 12:13-21, "Take heed and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." Temporal inheritance can cause family strife and obscure the more important inheritance of life eternal.

Miguel translates for Walt

 

Monica, Sandra, Kelly and Jeremy

 

Fanny, Alicia, Sonia

 

Milton and Eylin

 

After services, we enjoyed the meal of encebollado mixto along with other side dishes. It is a costal dish which contains different types of fish, yucca, shrimp, and other vegetables. The diner can add onions, popcorn, tomatoes, and fried bananas.

Katherine, Patricio and Pamela prepare supper.

 

Yucca is one ingredient.

 

Shrimp is another.

 

Avis and Pamela dice "cebollas" - that is onions.

 

Miguel and Milton shell the shrimp.

 

We drove to Ambato to catch the bus back to Quito, our last bus trip. It was a two and one half hour ride to the terminal slowed by a traffic accident and fog. On the trip Walt befriended a boy of about ten who was interested in who Avis and Walt are and where they are from. Walt gave him a copy of El Periodico Misionero de Sion or Siioin Lahetys Lehti in Spanish.

He was with his father and four siblings. Walt mentioned that they have fourteen children. One of the siblings relayed the message to the family sitting in the back of the bus, "They have fourteen children!" Walt said they also have twenty-six grandchildren. The same sibling relayed that message too. "They have twenty-six grandchildren!" When the family exited the bus the boy called back to Walt and Avis "Have a good trip, our new friends."

Walt and Avis