Today is our last day in Riobamba and I am feeling slightly sentimental. If you've never embarked on a journey where you're completely out of your comfort zone and don't know anyone, then you may not know how good it feels to find community, that sense of belonging, out in the wide world. Then again, you probably do. It seems that sense of loneliness has a tendency to set in even when you're right at home.
Every person I've met here has impacted my life in some way, whether minuscule or major. Despite language barriers, age differences, and cultural differences, I have been not only accepted, but embraced as part of the community here. How sweet it is to find family 2,607 miles from home.
Despite the goodbyes that are to come, we have to make the most of the time we do have. I will be so sad to leave all of these amazing people that I've come to love, but there are still many great things to come. God is not finished showing me adventures yet.
Speaking of adventures...
One weekend, I travelled to Macas, which is in El Oriente (the Amazon). The whole bus ride there, I couldn't take my eyes off of the views. We passed through beautiful countryside with mountains, valleys, rivers, waterfalls and endless charm. We started off the trip with a traditional Ecuadorian food called ayampaco. I can honestly say I don't know what was in it. There were some vegetables and chicken parts (with bones and everything guys, it's a big deal...). It doesn't really matter though, it was delicious. Then we made a visit to a small zoo. The monkeys were very friendly and the parrots were very creepy.
After the zoo, we climbed into the back of a truck (don't worry, the driver was a relative of our "travel guide") and embarked on an adventure. We didn't know where we were going, but the not knowing made it all the more liberating. I've ridden in the back of my dad's truck at home plenty of times. Summers spent on the tailgate when I was little were normal. But this was different. We stood, wind in our hair, and took in the views. We ended up driving on a long, bumpy, dirt road that wound it's way up a mountain. At the top, there was a large Virgin Mary statue and an observatory. When we looked out, we could see the Upano river, stretching on for miles. We began the drive back down as the sun was setting.
Every adventure is made up of more than just the details of some exciting event. My trip to Macas, the ride in the back of the truck... These are just two events in my adventure. But every road leads somewhere.
Live and love ❤️
Katey
Isaiah 14:27
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