The Grand Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (well, actually Lette, but hey...)

This was our first week back to the apartments after homestays.  It was a really full week, but full of grand adventures.  We had normal classes, a Spanish test, plus I've been doing a lot of reading for my Worldview class.  Expanding my worldview everyday around here.  We also had a lot of other adventures, like fun dinner outings, Wednesday night chapel, a Halloween party, some random card games, and climbing a mountain.  It's cool to see how relationships are growing and time is being shared after homestays.  There have been a few times this week where we have recounted our first days here -- wow, we've grown a lot since then!  Today Abby and I were walking to a coffee shop (wearing backpacks and sandals like we own the place) to do homework, and we talked about how nice it is that we know our way around parts of the city now.  Understanding location and direction helps us feel more like we belong and less like guests.  It's a good feeling.

 

Tuesday night: Crepes and Waffles
Hannah and I split this delicious berry waffle!  So yummy.

Somehow Abby and I found ourselves in charge of making caramel apples (and caramel covered onions as a prank...) for our Halloween party.  The caramel with really hard, making it a bit of a challenge to melt, but there was a lot of laughing and we had a lot of fun.  We both determined that we prefer baking to cooking because the end result is so much yummier.

Nick, Abby, Me, Andrew -- at our Halloween party
These two boys go to John Brown University -- all the other students in this program go to school in California.  Abby and I happen to get along with Nick and Andrew really well -- something about that Midwest bond.  We have a lot of fun together.

Friday night...dinner at a really good Italian place.  We have 6 hours of class on Fridays, so it was a solid way to end a long Friday and get ready for our big Saturday of hiking! 

Midwest Pic!  Lette, Nick, Andrew, and Abby
Getting ready to hike Pinchincha!!!!!!

First snack break!  Banana with Hannah-Banana :)

These flowers were all along the path.



ALMOST to the Summit!! 
The hike took about 4.5 hours going up and 2.5 hours coming down.  The combination of intense terrain and high altitude made this possibly the most intense physical feat I've ever accomplished.  We were so tired.  But it was SO worth it.

Abby and I at the summit (about 15,000 feet)!!!  It was incredible.

Yup, this is real life.  I can hardly believe it.

Everybody that attempted the mountain made it to the summit! That is a huge accomplishment! 
So thankful to be adventuring with these men and women this semester.

This is the view we found when we finally made it back down to the base.  A beautiful view of the city, the sky, and the mountain.  Praise God for being Lord of all of this.  Amen and Amen.

This week we have the incredible opportunity to travel to the Galapagos Islands.  We'll be leaving on Wednesday morning and coming back Sunday night -- I don't think I'll have internet while we're there, but I'll be blogging ASAP upon return -- hopefully with some beautiful pictures!  Until then, peace and blessings.  Sending love.  Signing out from Quito: Aletta.