a stranger in a strange land..

There is a reciprocated love and respect with the Ecuadorans. At least the ones we share so much with including our faith. They are kind and respectful. They treat us like family and tell us where to go and what to do if that is their job as a coordinator of a shift. Perhaps it is impossible to share such an important assignment with someone and not get to know something about their lives, their families, their daily routines and concerns. There is brother B who expressed concern about a wayward child and admitted a degree of frustration with his inability to be more involved with his child and his bad decisions. I did share with him something that I had read in the past that might help him accept the fact that the child was making his own decisions and would have to deal with the consequences of his actions. But not to give up on him. After a time of repentance on his part, he could be united again with his family. Then there is brother D who wanted to be married but was unable to find the right companion. (sound familiar anyone?) He was well into middle age, active in the church and doing some good things. Then this past week he told me of his engagement and even introduced me to his intended. They have set a date to be married and sealed for eternity together. That was a happy experience for us even though we haven't known him very long. He has a kind heart. I think that he will be a good husband and father. Then there is brother and sister W who share a special responsibility in the temple one day a week. They are both happy and have a positive attitude. They treat the patrons with respect and love as they teach them the things that they have learned while serving. Yet, our experiences outside the walls of the temple would have us know of another side of life here. Just today while walking along a sidewalk, a car came over to our side of the road and hit a puddle of dirty water which got all of us wet, especially the one closest to it. Maybe it was just an accident. Some customs are different here such as the automobile has the right of way and the pedestrian had better get out of the way. Or the drivers honk their horns at a traffic light as soon as the light changes or for any other trivial reason. Fast food wrappers are discarded along the roadways. In fact garbage has collected over time in many public places. To us this would indicate a disregard for others and a lack of pride in the environment but it is different here. For some reason this practice of discarding items in public places is accepted. I am old enough to remember when a similar attitude about discarding garbage along the roadside was accepted in the US. How our collective attitude changed I do not remember, but it did and now it is unacceptable to discard items along the roadways in America. Maybe a similar change will take place here in this country (and a lot more of latin america as well).
How do people treat us in public places? For one thing they do not stare at us. They do not even give us a second glance. Yet some of us share a pahranoia that some bad guy is watching us and would like to rob us if given the opportunity. All of this and the problem of a strange language. Oh we can flatter ourselves by thinking that we know this language but we only know enough to get by. It is easy for them to speak in a way using colloquialisms (sp) or inuendo so that we will not understand what they are saying. (We do the same thing by simply speaking in English). In any case, there is plenty here to remind us that we are in a strange land. We are guests here. Do not suppose that we are afraid or uncomfortable with our mission. We feel very safe here and are enjoying just about everything about this people and this country especially the work we are involved with.