Monday, November 5, 2012

Ecuador Update #2: Adventures, Return, Final Thoughts, Oregon Update and Praises and Prayer Requests and Pictures!

Hi again!

I know it's been a little while since I have posted an update, so let me bring you up to speed with some of the more recent happenings during my time in Ecuador, and then we'll move on to other updates:

Adventures:
Since my last update, much learning and hands on work has taken place in the classroom during the Spanish Recordist Training Class (or SRTC) and a lot of good bonding and relationships have been established. However, much of the team building aspect has taken place outside of the classroom on weekend adventures!

One of the most exciting things we got to experience was the Nate Saint house, which is the original building (with some renovations) in which he operated out of in his missionary days while reaching out to the Waorani tribe. It housed a small museum with old radios, photos, books and more in dedication to him and the four other missionaries that were killed by this tribal group. The movie "End of the Spear" is all about this event.

The house also had a little gift shop where you could buy items for sale by the Waorani people. It was quite fascinating and probably the most important stop of the trip.

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Some other fun things we got to do included taking a cable car ride across a valley, over the highest waterfall in the Ecuadorian Andes (pictures below). There were individual zip lines across as well that you rode with a harness, and a couple of the people on our team tried that. I ended up playing it "safe" and sticking to just the cable car ride.

That same day we got to see another waterfall called pailon del diablo. It was really fun, as we hiked down into a valley and then climbed back up behind the waterfall through a series of really small little caves. It's a pretty wet experience, so pictures are few, but it was really a highlight for me.

In addition to these adventures, we also visited two of the larger towns nearby; BaƱos and Puyo. We mainly just did some shopping and walking around in these towns, as they are both pretty big tourist stops.

Overall, the weekends typically held some pretty fun adventures. Many of us were living in the building where the classes were held, so we were fairly antsy to get out whenever we could :)

Return:
I've finally made it back from Ecuador and am beginning to feel pretty well adjusted. Some of you may have seen that I got pretty sick right at the end of the trip, but God was very gracious and gave me a calm stomach while traveling. I'm almost 100% better now and I thank all of you for praying for me in that time of illness. God heard every word!

Overall, the trip went well. I learned a lot about what it looks like to be a recordist with Global Recordings Network, got to exercise my video skills quite a bit and just enjoyed being in a new part of the world for a month.
Of course challenges always arise with these new experiences, and adapting to the language was a bit difficult for me. I was hoping to learn a little more Spanish during my time there, but I made it through with a slightly expanded vocabulary and a few more phrases, so I'm fairly content with that.
The class seemed to have gone very well and the recordists felt like they were really learning a lot, so in that sense it was very successful. I was even able to capture several interviews with the recordists (in Spanish) so hopefully more can understand the life and needs of a recordist in these Spanish speaking areas.

Final Thoughts:
Prior to this trip, I had been evaluating my future and what it might look like. At this point I've decided that I'd like to take somewhat of a break from full time missions. Funds are beginning to run fairly low, so I've started looking for work in (and around) Temecula, so I could save up for my future and still volunteer part time with Global Recordings Network. I still love and support GRN, but have realized that full time office work isn't really what I want to be doing right now.


Oregon Update:
I know I had mentioned to many of you that I hoped to move back to Oregon after my time in Ecuador, but while I was there, I felt God telling me that He still had more for me in Temecula. As much as I miss all of my amazing Oregon friends and family, I feel like God wants me to keep moving forward here, rather than stepping back into something that I know is comfortable. I do hope to move back up to the NW eventually, but right now just isn't that time.

Praises and Prayer Requests:

  • Praise: God's provision (housing, food, church) and some really great quiet time walks with Him
  • Praise: Got a visit from my good friend Spud, who drove down this past weekend from Oregon to check out a music school and spend some time enjoying southern California.
  • Prayer: My job situation as I apply and wait to hear back from different companies.
  • Prayer: For the rest of the Ecuador team as they finish up their final week of recordist training classes and for safe travels home.
  • Prayer: That I can find a good Bible study/small group through my church.

Thank you all so much for keeping up with me and my crazy life adventures! I covet your prayers and am so blessed to have such great family and friends who support me as I seek to follow the Lord.

In Him,
-Matt

And now, for a few pictures!
(Here's a link to all of my pictures if you're interested: Flickr)


 Interesting interracial stairs at the Saint House

The Waorani people make and sell different gift items at the Saint House 

The team at the Saint House 

Oh hi! 

Pailon Del Diablo stair case to view point 

Pailon Del Diablo Cascada 

Another view: Pailon Del Diablo

Gustavo and Ines' daughter Hannah at the restaurant at Pailon Del Diablo 

The team at lunch at Pailon Del Diablo 

Holey leaves



Agoyan Falls (tallest waterfall  in the Ecuadorian Andes)

Becca, Stacy, Tate and Osmani on the cable car ride 

Waiting for the car to return on the other side 

Sugar cane 

There were a ton of huge lightning/thunderstorms while we were there. I caught one!