Dan worked hard in the last couple of days to narrow down the HOURS of random footage from our trip into a quick snapshot of our first project visit (and home visit) in Quito, Ecuador. (from Day 1)

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An interesting article passed on to me by my good friend Lisa: More teens becoming 'fake' Christians. Discusses the disconnect teenagers feel with their faith. Many call themselves Christians but know very little about the truths of their faith.

On our last day in Ecuador we experienced the Handicraft market in Otavalo. Saturdays are usually the biggest days for the locals to sell their goods but there was still an entire city block of vendors.

Today we got to meet the traditional indigenous people of the Andes. We also spent time with 2 Leadership Development Program students from Compassion International: Jonathan from Quito, and Edwin from here in Otavalo. Both have different stories and families but they have the same desire to change their country and make a difference in the world.

Today we visited a special program within Compassion International called Child Survival Program. This program focuses on the education of women with infants (in the womb until age 3). In Ecuador, abortions are not common; unfit mothers are more likely to give birth to their child and then it dies in infancy. Everyday, 6 children die in their 1st month of life.

We arrived in Quito, Ecuador (the Capital city, at 9,200 feet above sea level!) last night after a 12-hour travel day and we've been blessed to stay at the Swisshotel (Christian-owned).

This morning we started our tour with a visit to the Compassion child development center 119 (a project in a more urban, poor community).