It does not matter when we get there, the fun just started at the side of the road!
Some travel conditions are unforeseeable. For example, you never know when you will encounter a traffic jam, or maybe a detour…or an active volcano. Wait.
The day we left the seminary for the jungle, my good friend Tunguarahua decided to blow it’s top. Ridiculous! We passed very close to the volcano it self by pressed on. We were not going to let something small like a natural disaster keep us from our destination. As we continued along the ash dusted roads, we noticed a strange smell. Normally in a van with 15 adolescents, this is expected. But this was different, and sure enough as soon as the burning rubber tickled my nostrils, we pulled over to address our flat tire. On a secluded Andean mountain road, I pretended to know what to do. Luckily there was a gentleman who became a great friend, who could easily join a NASCAR pit crew if he wanted to. We took off once again, passing through mountains with hidden lakes and waterfalls around every bend. I spent a significant portion of the trip with my head literally out of the window.
The adventures had only just begun. I could go on to tell you about downed bridges, and I will. In America, when there is a bridge down, people get frustrated, turn around and drive through their anger. In Ecuador, people smile, turn the wheel a little but, and drive through the river. All I could think about was that silly computer game “The Amazon trail”. I did not want to tell anyone that I never made it all the way to the Amazon in the game because I died trying to ford the river. I expect to have some photos and maybe even videos up soon.
Without expanding all of the details, it is easy to say that we encountered many challenges along the way, but by the help of our supportive community and the holy trinity, we made it. What a beautiful metaphor for life, isn’t it?
Oh yeah, our 7 hour drive took 26 hours.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Wow, what an adventure! If you can please do post some pictures soon. I really want to "see" what you have been writing about. Although my imagination is doing a decent job at the present.
ReplyDeleteWe heard about the volcano while at a hotel with no computer. I was so concerned for you. We stopped and prayed for you and I felt a peace. I did call everyone and let them know...I was hoping for someone with internet to tell me what was going on. Jason eventually put on his pants (hey~ it was late!) and went to the hotel business center to read about the volcano and make sure you were not in immediate danger. Once we deducted you were probably alright he took his pants off again. :)
Love to you.