Dan's Thoughts

Vision #22 - September 11, 2006

Quito is only a few miles south of the equator but when we got off the plane Wednesday night, it was a crisp 59 degrees. The city is one of the worlds highest and is surrounded by seven volcanoes and the snow covered summits of the Northern Andes. Many old friends greeted us at the airport; people whom we had not seen for thirty years.

After a few hours of sleep, we headed south for several hours, climbing even higher to the ancient city of Riobamba. It was a provincial capital in both the Inca and the Spanish empires and serves today as the capital of Chimborazo. However, our real destination was Chambo, a Quchua speaking town that has great significance for our family.

We used to drive our landrover on cobblestone roads all the way from Quito to this tiny town because there was a small group of believers here. The pastor was a gardener who had no education and was the member of the lowest caste in the nation. He had become a Christian in Quito and returned home to tell his family about Christ. They were all converted and sent word to Quito for someone to come to baptize them and instruct them in the faith. Felipe Ramache, the gardener, became the shepherd of this little flock.

When we arrived at the church, much of the town had gathered to meet us, including the mayor. They hugged us until we were sore and then fed us turkey, corn, guinea pig and pork rinds! It was a marvel though to see these hundreds of, well dressed, educated, and cultured people, grandchildren of the original converts.

Felipe and his wife are still alive, though stooped and bent by age. With their wrinkled, Indian faces and their hair pulled back in pony tails, they radiate the love of God and wisdom deeper than this earth can give. They were beautiful.

As we left, pastor Ramache said to me, "I won't see you here again but the great reunion is coming. Be sure to be there!"

I sure plan to be!

Dan