Betania church in the Chambitola community near Cayambe volcano is high in the mountains at 11,400 ft. It is a farming community of Quichua Indians, where Quichua is still spoken in the homes as a "mother language" for the most part (although all speak Spanish, which is how we communicate). They are very poor, monetarily speaking, but rich in many important ways, such as having their own little plots of land, a house, steady work on their own farms, fresh air, and the blessing of being together as a family. It is a unique and interesting culture, where they still cook over open fires, and do nearly all the labor by hand. Horses, and wooden plows drawn by cattle are a comon site here. They are shepherds as well, with cattle and sheep in nearly every pasture. Onions are the main cash crop, although beans and potatoes are a main staple as well. Education is a much needed resource here, although the young are becoming accustomed to going to school as a norm. It is still common to only go through the 6th grade. Most of the older women cannot read or write, and most of the other adults read and write poorly.
We have a school sponorship program to help some of the church's children attend school, and alleviate the hardship of coming up with the costs for their families. In this monetarily poor community every penny counts!
They are a precious people, dear to our hearts, and we ask you to please pray for this work.
Below, find some pictures from Chambitola.
in Ecuador
