Preparing to go...

     We have been really busy preparing for the Medical Mission.  At one of our meetings we learned the proper ways to wash and size feet.  One of the things we will do, along with providing medical care to Ecuadorians is to provide shoes and socks for students.  These are necessities for the kids so they can go to school.
     At another meeting we counted and packed supplies.  We have over a thousand shoes, unfortunately we can't take them all since we have to have a person for every two bags.  If we had a couple of more people going we could have taken them all.  We still have the majority of the socks and shoes to take, which will help the kids and elderly.
     We also were told that we would get a chance to relax a little at a resort which contains a zoo and pool or hot springs.  At the end of our trip, after all medical care and shoes have been given to those who need them, we will get to see other parts of Ecuador.  We will be traveling to a leather town; woodworking town; and textile town.  We will also have the opportunity to take a boat ride inside an inactive volcano. 
     At some of the meetings, our fearless leader Nancy Gregory, explained the use of the toilets, which isn't what we are used to.  We were told that we are not to actually sit on the toilets, but we squat over them and we can not throw our tissue into the toilet once finished.  It goes in a can on the side. 
     In preparation for the trip, I asked one of the ladies, Sherley Alvarez, to give me some sayings so that I could actually speak with our translators and maybe some of the soldiers.  I don't know how much I will remember, but I am going to try.  I actually took Spanish in college, so about a year ago, but I don't think enough stuck for me to be able to speak fluently with anyone.  I actually thought, while I was taking Spanish, that I would never use it.  So to my past Spanish instructor, I say thank you!
     The past few meetings we have finished packing all the supplies, although Nancy and Wendy Delzer repacked them (they've had several years practice to perfect the packing necessary).  Those of us who were not packing were making little bracelets to give to people.  We used a lot of beads and twine, but I'm sure the bracelets will be greatly appreciated by those who receive them.
     So today, Natasha, Tim, and I packed up everything to go and have lists of what we still need to put in our bags for our home departure Sunday, June 9 at about 2 AM so we can arrive at the airport by 3:45 AM.  Plus we began our altitude sickness medicine so we won't have to worry about that once we get there.  Tomorrow, I will ensure we have everything packed and ready to go and ensure we have the necessary travel documents put where we can easily get to them once we get to the airport (forgetting our passports, travel insurance, and other documents would not be a good thing.)
     My goal in the posts that will follow this one will be to post nightly, but I have to be real too, since we will be working hard all day; the posts may be every other day.  No matter what I will keep a journal so I can update the blog and I will have pictures to add, which if I can add them while in Ecuador I will, if not then I will do a final blog once home again.
     So the next step is early Sunday morning for the airplane boarding and the real travel through Ecuador to begin!