What Men Do

July 12th

Mundug, Ecuador

As I got up this morning, my thoughts were still on our climb from the day before on the side of Chimborazo. For the longest time, I’ve always wanted to climb something that made me feel really little, something that was immensely intimidating and dangerous. It’s the man instinct in me or maybe the risk taker instinct, but either way, I felt as alive as I’ve ever been yesterday. The past few years, my Grandpa has turned me into a hiker and an outdoorsman. The type that appreciates the civility of non-civilization. One that stares out the window during a Monday morning class, wishing to be in the woods and breathe what one can only breathe in the outdoors. More or less, one who looks over a map during an early morning Saturday breakfast at Cracker Barrel in search of the path less taken on some remote ridge or canyon.

That’s what I’ve become at least, and now I have the opportunity to explore some of God’s grandest creation here in Ecuador during my off days. I’m starting to think that Ecuador is something like God’s experimental lab for making landscapes. A waterfall here, a gorge there, a huge volcano over there, and an icy mountain around here.

Today I had more of the same opportunities to explore before the next church groups arrived later in the afternoon. Earlier this summer, Ricardo had told me that he wanted me to see something special while I was here in Ecuador. So we planned earlier in the week to hike to a waterfall really close to Patate on Saturday morning. Today happened to be Saturday morning, the morning we were to go hiking.

The place is really a hidden jewel here in Patate. It’s a twenty minute drive from Patate to the village of Mundug where you begin the hike to this huge waterfall. As we started down the path, one thing became apparent, we were going to get dirty. Mud covered our shoes and the lower half of our pants as we hike an hour and a half to the waterfall. Along the way, we passed a fish farm where they were raising Trucha, a very expensive and delicious fish here in Ecuador according to Ricardo. We finally arrived at the waterfall and felt the power of the water crashing into the rocks below and the intense, cold, wet breeze that accompanied it.

Making the most of our hike, I slipped on my trunks and took an ice cold shower before we started back down the mountain. Our excursion took a good part of the afternoon and after I dropped Ricardo off at the bus stop in Patate (so that he could go to work in Ambato), I was alone and hungry. I parked the truck and ate at Stars’ Asadero in downtown Patate, helping myself to a good hunk of chicken meat and some greasy fries. As I sat there, I realized that this was the first time I had been alone during my five weeks here. Part of me was a little proud because I had ordered food with no problem, knew exactly where I was, and knew how to get around. The rest of the day passed by pretty quickly. We had movie night in the coliseum, setting up the projector in one of the classrooms and falling asleep to Casino Royale.

Tomorrow, we worship in Patate before the Ecuadorian youth camp begins this week. The next week, we head to Tena, for jungle youth camps, and undoubtedly, more excitement. I feel very blessed to explore God’s creation here in Ecuador. Blessed and very small.