Ground Shaking Stuff

The day began with something of a surprise - my very first experience of being in an earthquake. Point 5 on the Richter Scale is quite uncomfortable experience when 12 stories up. I suddenly became aware of how little I know about what to do in such a situation and much more aware of the vulnerability many people experience constantly.

Almost as hair-raising was the three and a half hour drive from Quito to San Domingo de los Colarados - most of which was descending at speed on some very winding mountain roads. As we descended from the giddy heights of 9,000 feet to not much above sea level the temperature rose to tropical and the vegetation changed from orchids to plantains, bananas, citrus fruit and stunning hibiscus plants.

The photo is of small red bananas, typical of Ecuador's wide variety of banana related fruit. Stalls by the road side offered a colourful range of fruit.

The first part of the visit to this region was to take the form of a workshop on liturgy. It was great working with such a diverse group, some had travelled a long way to be there. One family present were part of an indigenous community building links with the church. We shared together in how we might treat worship as a wonderful banquet, thinking about who might be invited, how to create an atmosphere or welcome and joy and also, how we might plan the menu! It was good to learn from each other and Sandra did a great job of translating.

We then went to a retreat centre owned by the Methodist Church where children are fed each day and volunteers sometimes stay when working with the church. The pastor from San Domingo showed us a mural painted by British Methodist young people, they had visited 15 years ago and their visit was still remembered with joy. The pastor was keen to emphasise his commitment to the Methodist Church in Ecuador embracing its Methodist heritage and identity. It is interesting that as the Church in Britain is thinking about its mission and heritage, this relatively young church is doing the same.

Michaela