Last Day in Quito

Everyone slept in a bit. I think we all really needed it. As everyone began to wake up we self delegated different tasks. A group of the girls were changing over laundry and folding, Emily and I washed boots and shoes, others started the packing, and when Dan was up Morgan, Kendra, and David went with him to get breakfast (fruit!). God really had bonded us together. We worked so smoothly without much direction and having fun at the same time. It is a come when you can breakfast with some people still running around and doing things, but we all got together at 9 for our final team devotional. Jessie led it off with pulling passages and questions from the last few devotionals. It brought about a time of reflection and encouragement about everything that has happened on this trip and what is to come. When we started singing you could feel in the love in the praise we were giving. I got goosebumps! There were some tears and lots of emotion. It was a great way to start the last day with the whole team. We got our plan for the day together and we were out the door at 11:30. 

We all piled into JT the van so it would be less stressful in the city traffic. Our first stop was to the First Market of Handcraft's in Ecuador. It was a market that took up half a city block. Everyone broke up into groups to find the artisan gifts we were looking for. David, Bailee, Lizzy and I stuck together. David did a great job helping us barter and also holding our stuff. We all got a variety of things from blankets, hammocks, paintings, purses, clothing, and knick knacks. Everything they make is so colorful and beautiful it was hard to choose but with an hour time limit we all managed it. We were able to all find little "treasures" (as Dan called them) to give to family and friends or keep as reminders of this amazing trip. 

Our next stop, Mega Maxx. This was the Target equivalent in Ecuador, but this was the place to buy coffee, tea, and CHOCOLATE! We all beelined straight for the back of the store to load up on these treasures. It was a very quick trip since we had to make it to the restaurant where we had a reservation. We were running on Ecuadorian time so we got there only 45 minutes late. The traffic had been terrible trying to get across the city, but it gave us time to laugh and talk together. We also got to observe all sorts of things around the city funny signs, different buildings (Quigs...), and also firefighters on motorcycles? We asked Dan how that works but I don't think anyone was quite sure. We made it to the restaurant. Everyone was hungry. Dan ordered us all empanadas to start but after having those all of us were already pretty stuffed. When we saw the plates of food they brought out we were thankful that Dan needed food for the next week because that is what all of our leftovers turned into.

A really really big KFC

Empanadas- Lizzy finally feeling almost 100% again :)

Empanadas for days!

My ceviche 

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Jessie with her Lunch... it probably was actually 3 meals in one.

This it what happens when we wait for Dan to pay the bill...

Then it was a race back to the house to start packing since we were running an hour late from our initial plan. Emily helped me back all of my things really quickly so that I could go with Dan to pick up the roses. We were all so thankful that Isabel (Dan's friend and cleaning lady) helped us with all our laundry. I wanted to just give her the biggest hug ever! It was amazingly helpful!

Then Dan and I were off to get the roses. It wasn't too far from the house so we thought it wouldn't take too long.  When you walked into the flower shop the smell of fresh flowers was like a wall you jut walked into. There was every kind of flower in every color. I wasn't able to get a lot of pictures but there are some of the flowers below. When we got there we were told the truck hadn't arrived yet and that it wouldn't be in until 6. So we were kind of stuck. I had to be at the airport by 7 to pick up Flacca (the dog we are bringing back for Kristen). Dan ran a couple options by me and we decided that we would pick out flowers from the day before. They were still gorgeous but just not as fresh. Half way through picking out the flowers the truck arrived. They said it would only take 5 minutes and we could pick them straight off the truck. Thirty minutes later we were able to pick the colors we wanted. It took another 30 minutes for them to be packaged up but during that time Dan and I talked and the owner talked to us about his Pitajaya business. This is the cactus fruit that we had picked up in the market with Andrea. This man directly sold it to Hong Kong. He was very excited that I had tried that fruit and was showing me all the pictures from his business. It was a also a moment where we shared our mission. We are veterinarians and students here helping the communities and supporting the ministry. He seemed very impressed by that. We got our roses out of the store right at 5:30 (that is when we were supposed to leave for the airport).  I kept saying we would be alright and Dan kept responding I know we will. I had to explain that saying that was like a cat purring (cats purr when they are happy and nervous and during the nervous times it calms them down. Me continually saying we will be fine was my purring. He and I both laughed at me for saying that.  

When Dan and I got back to Harmony Hall (His apartment complex). The trailer was set ready to be hooked up, everything was packed, and everyone was ready to load and go. It was perfect!

Dan the Man and JT the van! 

We loaded up in less than 10 minutes and then we were off.  Everyone relaxed a lot more once we were in the van. Bailee led us off in prayer as we got into the van to have a safe trip. The traffic getting across Quito was terrible but we also got to see this...

Once we got out of traffic and on to the interstate you could tell everyone relaxed because the singing started. And it was beautiful outside of the van too.
 

God surely did answer our prayer. We arrived at the airport at 7. The exact time I was supposed to meet Dr. Pineda (Marce). Dan had accidentally left his phone at the house but he had another for me to use facebook messanger ifI couldn't find her.  Just as I was telling Dan, "Well at least I stick out like a sore thumb" and he was laughing Marce recognized me and came running up to me with the puppy. We were both so relieved we found each other. She was so kind! I wish we had had more time to get to know each other. She spoke amazing English so we briefly went over some details about Flacca and then she handed her off to me with her paperwork and we went into the ministry for agriculture office. She told me to only speak English that why they wouldn't ask me any questions. I think Flacca was the real charmer though. As soon as the government veterinarian saw her, her face lit up in a big smile. She did all the paperwork with the only questions being addresses. The vet gave her a final look over and wished us all the best on our journey. Flacca was so sweet! I had the biggest smile because she was super cute and the biggest hurdle of getting her home was completed! One hurdle (checkpoint) down 4 to go.

Dan and I said goodbye to Marce and her husband before we met up with the team at the restaurant int he airport. They all cheered as I brought her to the table. Everyone in the airport turned to look at us, but we were all so thankful that everything worked out we didn't care. We all picked at the food we ordered together. Many of us were still full from lunch and nervous for the trip home. It was so loud in the airport we decided to walk back to a grassy area by the van to pray and let Flacca run around and hopefully go potty. 

After some of us loaded up in the vehicles to head up to the departure area to unload. Dan had to go pay for parking first which turned into an adventure. David had pulled the CRV up behind but a security guard would not let him park there so we did loops for a while. When we finally unloaded we said a quick good-bye to Dan and David (he was off to Cuenca to visit friends). Then it was time to get organized and get through security. Our flight had been delayed by an hour and twenty minutes. I was the only person having trouble getting a ticket. Another four people had to check over Flacca's paperwork. I was super nervous, but Flacca fell asleep with her new puppy stuffed toy on the ticket counter. She was adorable! Even the workers behind the counter had to say aww. There was another cheer from the team as Flacca and I joined them in the TSA security area (2 of 5 complete). 

Security went super smoothly. Flacca had to go through the metal detector with me and everyone's eyes were on the puppy. It was easy to see she was going to be getting a lot of attention on the way home. Then it was on to customs. I got a very nice man who surprisingly asked me no questions except if Flacca had a passport. We both laughed at that and then he wished me a safe journey home and Flacca and I passed through. It was a hurry up and wait for the rest of the night.