Retirement, Week 1: Check

So far being "retired" has been extremely busy for us, go figure.  We've been running around like crazy people trying to get situated, preparing for our last pre-Ecuador fundraiser (it was a beautiful event) and checking little trip-planning items off the list.  Nine days to go and I still feel so unprepared.  It also still hasn't sunk in that I will be boarding that plane.  Two things I've noticed that are so out of whack without my normal schedule:  fitness and time with God.  Ironically, those are both things that I thought would be just AWESOME without work. Turns out, I was over confident.  Those are both things that I had a daily routine for, built into my day to day.  But now that my day to day is so open, it seems I have managed to squeeze a lot of other things in before two of my top priorities. Sigh.  Well every day is a new day and a chance to refocus, re-prioritize.  How do I plan to do that? Back at it with exercise, 5 days a week minimum, starting today.  My run a few days ago was way too painful. Not okay.  Most importantly though, how can I make time for God, without it being "scheduled" or "routine"?  This precious time needs to be from my heart, limitless and .  I guess that's where I can start- praying for my heart to be reopened.

Now, our time in Ecuador, month one of our big trip, will consist of:

NOV 1^ST –  Arrive in Quito 

NOV 2^ND – Travel to the Quininde.  Visit families in Cupa Community. Stay with Maria, Carrie's contact. 

NOV 3^RD – Visit all families that have water filters.  Do analysis check up.  Afternoon – Head to the beach. Stay the night at hostel at the beach.

NOV 4^TH - BEACH DAY – Head back to Cupa and stay with Maria extra night.

NOV 5^TH - TRAVEL BACK TO QUITO. 

NOV 6^TH – NOV 16^TH - Start work with Map International.  Matt will be teaching staff along with all of us how to use the GPS and mapping system.  The filters that we install in each home will be tracked with this system in the community.  As a group we will teach and set up filters in the village most in need of clean water.  Take pictures, videos and interviews while in the field. 35 filters

NOV 7^TH – 8^TH - Workshop with MAP team about the GPS equipment.

NOV 9^th – Meeting with the Field team with MAP to explain how MAP works in the community, and how the filters are implemented within a model of holistic health.

NOV 10^TH – OPRHANAGE DAY WITH KIDDOS – Check on filter. Give kids shoes and clothes. Take kids for a little hike and buy them all ice cream.

NOV 11^TH – DAY TRIP TO MINDO 

NOV 12^TH – 8am Travel to Santo Domingo to implement the filters. 

NOV 13^TH – 8:00 – 12:00 Implement the filters into the communities

NOV 14^TH – 8:30am – Evaluation meeting on the implementation of the 35 filters with Map team and health promoters.

NOV 15^TH – Return to Quito with Maggie from Map office. 

NOV 17^TH DAY IN QUITO, RE VISIT ORPHANAGE,  MARKET DAY. PICK UP IN THE AFTERNOON FOR TRAVELING TO MACHACHI

NOV. 18^TH – 21^ST WORKING IN MACHACHI –  Partnering with Martha Estrella Foundation - Implement school water project.  Filters in each class room for the kids to have clean water and filter water to bring home to their families. Do analysis on each child at school.  10 filters

NOV. 22^ND Carrie Beth leaves and we head to the Galapagos Islands to relax for the remainder of our time in South America.