On Saturday, August 22, we traveled to a popular tourist area in Ecuador - MINDO, also know as the Mindo Valley. This area is a mountainous watershed in the western slopes of the Andes, where two of the most biologically diverse eco-regions in the world meet - the Chocoan Lowlands and the Tropical Andes. In this transitional area - which covers 103 square miles and ranges from 3,150 - 11,290 feet about sea level - three rivers and hundreds of streams irrigate the beautiful patchwork landscape of rainforests, secondary forests, agricultural land, and human settlements. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindo,_Ecuador).
Our first stop was at a hummingbird farm in the Alambi Reserve. Early morning is the best time to watch hummingbirds. By nature, they are loners and very territorial. However, the first early morning feeding is congenial, full of activity, and exciting to watch.
After a short hike through the rainforest and down to the river, we drove on to the community of Mindo. First stop, the chocolate factory. Last fall, the Guerrera family took us for an overnight trip to their cacao farm. A few weeks later we went to their home and made chocolate. So this chocolate tour was not our first "farm-to-table" chocolate experience. However, it was very interesting and we learned that "chocolate" can trace its history to Ecuador where the cacao bean was first used as a means of currency.
At the end of the tour, we were treated to a salad-sized plate of fresh fruit with a small 1" x 1" x 1" scrumptious brownie. I left the premises with my heart racing and my head buzzing. It was WAY too much chocolate for me!
Following the chocolate tour, we rode the teleferico (chairlift/cableway) through, well....really above, the Mindo rainforest. It was beautiful!
After the teleferico ride, we went to the butterfly biosphere and enjoyed seeing the butterflies in their different stages of development. As you can see from the photos below, Elder Lewis was a hit with the butterflies.
We also enjoyed exploring some rather elaborate treehouses. Again, we were impressed with the beauty of Ecuador.
As I was preparing departure packets (Paquetes de Salida) for the missionaries, I discovered that Sister Montero's passport was missing. She was originally scheduled to return to Bolivia the end of June, but tested positive for COVID and remained in Quito. I had prepared a departure packet for her at that time, which contained her passport. However, when I called do see if she had her passport, she said she didn't.
That was not good news! I started searching the office, thinking that maybe her 1st departure packet had been tucked away somewhere when we made the office move on June 30 and July 1. The packet or passport was no where to be found. I then walked back to the old office and started going through some boxes that we hadn't moved yet. Still, no passport! I worried for a moment that maybe I had thrown it away with the sacks and boxes of old materials that we trashed in the move.
THEN, I realized that Sister Montero needed to search her belongings for the original Paquete de Salida. I described, in detail, what she needed to look for. Within 30 minutes she called back to say that she'd found her Paquete de Salida and her passport. Elder Lewis suggested that she take a picture of the passport and send it to me so that we knew that she knew where her passport was. Her passport photo, brought a surge of relief!
Yesterday, the mission enjoyed hearing (via Zoom) from Elder Mathias Held and Sister Held. Elder and Sister Held visited the Ecuador Quito Mission in person last December. They reminded us of the power, purpose, and blessings of prayer. We know, through person experience, that God does hear and answer our prayers. We are grateful for that knowledge and the peace and assurance that prayer has brought into our lives.
Love and blessings to all!
Elder & Sister Lewis
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