Outside it is pouring rain with thunder and lightning sparking the night. I am safely under a huge covering enjoying the experience. We have been in Tena, Ecuador all day. There was a presentation by the Mayor to Gordon and Charity Anywhere. The airforce was represented, the fire department, the senior citizen group, the health department and two other mayors representing 10 mayors in the province. It was not a huge deal but the TV camera’s were there and we smiled a lot. The container that was sent 3 months ago had been unloaded and some of the contents were displayed including the ambulance which we had purchased from Malad, Idaho.

Our CAF team worked all day Tuesday and all day today. There were 3 doctors and 6 dentists. We went outside the town a few miles to see 3 of the wheelchairs we had donated. They were for twin that were disabled since birth……WOW there just was a HUGE lightning strike, like right beside me and and enormous thunder. I just about jumped out of my skin!!!!!

It has been a unique experience. It all started when we arrive in Quito at 9:30 Monday night. We were both tired. Dr. Z picked us up and said we are driving to Tena that night. That is 4 hours away up over the Andies into the Amazon rain forest. I would have preferred to tuck into a nice bed but off we went! We talked most of the way and it went by fast. But we drove thru Tena and just kept going. The roads got narrower and narrower. I asked where we were staying… I started to get a little suspicious when Dr. Z couldn’t find the right road. He crossed a small bridge and said it was somewhere close. I saw NOTHING. He slowed by a small dirt road. And sure enough he pulled off. It was like taking a road thru a cow pasture. We just kept going and going. Finally….we pulled up to some small houses. When we got into the room it was beautiful! This place is like a little paradise in the middle of the jungle!. There is a clear river right beside our room. This place has a pool and a hot tub. A volleyball area and lovely areas to just bask in the sun. It is quite warm here and there is 90% humidity. There are these beautiful mountains all around the town that are covered with mists and clouds. Dr. Z said they were sacred mountains and you can actually find gold there still.

We have been treated like Santa Claus. We’ve been wined and dined at their nicest places. We have found some of the friends who came to Salt Lake. It has been a very unique experience. We will be leaving here tomorrow afternoon to go to Quito. On Friday we go to Otovalo to meet with Mayor Mario. Saturday we head back to the USA.

I love you all and hope you are doing well.

Susan Carter