A perfect day

> Pastacalle lies about an hour and half's drive from Quito and Latin America's highest active volcano, Cotapaxi is in view for the whole journey. We were very privileged to see it without any cloud as this only happens once or twice a year. The picture below cannot do justice to the full beauty of the volcano, which last erupted over a century ago. The snow on the peak is permanent, though global warming has caused a 200 metre reduction in recent years.
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> > > > Our visit to Pastacalle was to visit the only Methodist School in Ecuador and to offer a workshop about worship and liturgy.
> > Sandra and I could not have had a warmer welcome, every one of the 203 children in the school seemed to run up for a hug and to say bienvenido! The photo below is of two of the children performing a traditional dance, which offers praise to God. We were able to spend time with children and staff learning about the school, which has grown from 20 pupils 8 years ago to over 200 today. They are going to add another grade next year but need about 20,000 dollars to expand the building. The children arrive from 7am and breakfast and lunch are provided - many of the families are involved in agriculture and work from early in the morning until sundown. The school has a good reputation for quality and its ethos and once a month parents attend teaching and worship sessions.

> > > > The workshop with the church and a number of the school's teachers went well and even feeling dizzy from the extreme altitude did not stop the day being perfect!
> > > Michaela