Arrival in Cojimíes

Wednesday night, we took a bus that left Quito at 11pm and dropped us off in Pedernales early in the morning. Then, we took a "taxi," which was more like a motorcycle with a bench attached to the back, to another place in Pedernales where we could catch a bus to Cojimies. We got to the other bus station and found a chiva waiting. Chivas are completely open, really loud music playing, and people sitting on top. The guy that collects the fare usually gets off everytime the chiva stops and jumps back on as it is starting to move. At first, we were not sure we would get off in the right place to go to the ranch but then Erik recognized it, and he waved his arm to indicate to the driver that we needed to get off. The chiva stopped, and we got out. We had finally arrived at the ranch.

- Mariana

Freddie (a familiar ranch-hand) immediately came out to greet us and help carry Erik's suitcase (which is almost as big as Freddie) to the house. Then we found Pedro (the ranch manager) and Josefa (the awesome cook) in the new dining area. We also met some of the Moss family and friends before heading to Cojimíes on another chiva to meet Madre Diane to talk about the brick project. We are going to first build a platform and a roof for the machine, get it in place, and build a

fence around it before manufacturing bricks. She helped us find Luis (a.k.a. Archi) at the machine's current location, and he seems very excited to have our help with the project. Then we met up to have lunch with the sisters and some more

Mosses and friends, who had been touring Cojimíes that day. We were then taken on a tour of La Casa del Niños, where the nuns hold after school and Catechism programs, helped make and put up some decorations in one of the classrooms, and played with some of the students there before heading back to the ranch with the others.

The rest of Thursday and Friday were spent in complete leisure and luxury with the Moss family (Bill, Rich & Leah and their two daughters, Mary & friends Helen and Mati), who were just about wrapping up a two or three week trip to Ecuador, and Sofia, a Canadian volunteer who's been with the sisters for a month already and will be there until August or so. We had some great meals, relaxed on the beach, made a trip to the internet cafe in Pedernales (didn't have time to post here though), watched the world cup, played cards, and basically just hung out. The Mosses and their friends are a friendly bunch and a lot of fun, so I'm really glad our trips overlapped a bit.

Saturday, we said goodbye to the Mosses and headed back to Cojimíes to buy the supplies necessary to start the brick business ( a lot of cement, some wood, nails, tin roofing, etc.). Luis also ordered some electric cable and rocks in Pedernales, and they should be in town tomorrow when we start working again. After buying the materials, we caught the last (sniff) USA game at a shop before heading back to the ranch for the night.

This morning, we went to the children's Mass in Cojimíes, and taught the kids some games and songs and sat in on one of their Catechism classes, where they taught us some songs as well. Then we had some delicious soup with the nuns and Sofia, headed for Pedernales and the internet cafe, and here we are. Hope you enjoy the pics!

-Erik