Close to Heaven

Buenos Noches!
We arrived into Llajas via ¨full¨ car! Toyota Corrolla station wagon...four in the back seat, three in the front seat, trunk full with luggage, plus one man curled up ontop of luggage! No car leaves until it is at least this full and if Donna hadn´t insisted on no more and paid for an extra seat, they would still be filling the car!!!
We arrived to the bach in Llajas with a warm supper waiting by Consualos. (not sure of proper spelling) it means comfort in english anyway. What a dear heart! The best supper ever! Omitas...fresh corn and fresh made cheese wrapped in a corn husk! Consuealos owns a bakery and so u can imagine how spoiled we were! We got a personal tour early morning and were sent off with goodies from the bakery! After a great sleep we headed into to Chota to catch the truck up the mountain to head to Coyunde where we were to help with some jobs at a home ontop of the world!
Trevor and Scott arranged to have the truck come by the house, and we were lucky it wasn´t that full...11 people in the bed of the truck, 7 in cab plus baby, 2 men on roof of truck, plus everyones luggage, produce, 4-100lb bags of potatoes! All in a toyota tacoma! Good advertising for Toyota!!!
It is only 22km up the mountain from Chota but it took us an hour 45mins! All winding up hill on a gravel road! It is the most beautiful country we have ever seen! Lush, green, thin mountain air 10,000feet!
As we arrived to the top, the hearty mountain people came from everywhere to help us...we were in awe of the 360 degree view of the Andean mountains! Trevor said Welcome to Paradise...this is as close to heaven on earth as one can get! (this statement became truer for us than ever before as the week went on!)
After being shown around the grounds, we settled in for a hot andean meal! Andrew and the boys got busy and started the jobs we had come to do. Katrina got started on mountain living as a woman...wow! No wonder these people are tough as nails! They work sooo hard! Hand washing clothes in wash tubs of just cold water and soap! Drying clothes is a tactful art...dodging the intermittent rain showers.
It´s not hard to sleep in the peaceful, clear, mountain homes after a hard days work!
(Starts for most farmers at 4:30am)
We´ve had all the traditional andean foods...guinea pig, omitas, tamales, potatoes (lots), fresh chicken, purple corn drink, purple corn dessert etc. Oh and lets remember the chickens and guinea pigs running around your feet as you dine! Katrina felt the fur of the guinea pig on her legs, a little nerve racking at first after all the rat talk!!! Anyway we got used to it of course and our fellowhip has been so sweet even tho we don´t always understand what´s being said!
Most everyone has dirt floors with mudbrick walls and tin roof. Not very rat proof, but these beautiful people love life and know how to be amazingly hospitable!
We have so much to learn from these people!
A mother or a child dies every 20 seconds in third world countries due to inefficient stove venting in the homes. Staggering stats...one of our friends, Ben (www.SocioAdventures.com) is doing a tremendous job to help lower this deathly number!
Well we have many more stories to share, but will let this be all for now.
Hope all is well in your world
AnK