Casa Kirei, Ecuador’s Hidden Gem

The view from Casa Kirei looking east toward the International Airport.

Looking for a quiet and scenic Andean getaway that is midway between Quito and the International Airport? Check out Casa Kirei and let Elena and team to host your stay for a day, week or longer.

Years in the making, with much prayer and Elena’s unstoppable faith, Casa Kirei grew from a seemingly impossible dream to providing full-service relaxation for Ecuadorians and tourists worldwide, to hosting weddings and other special events. Host Elena is also a certified tour guide who can arrange your personal or group tours as well. Her husband is a skilled carpenter, electrician and all-around craftsman. As a family of five they do it all: flower arrangements, baking, tasty meals, exquisite decorations and friendly hosting in English and Spanish (and a little Japanese).

As a “Bed and Breakfast” it is much more personal in experiencing Ecuadorian culture and hospitality. After all, you’re staying with family.

For more information, visit their Face Book page here.

You’re One in a Million

UPDATE, June 9, 2015.  PLEASE NOTE: We have just discovered that we have had a problem with our GoFundMe site that has prevented people from contributing (our fault, not GoFundMe). So, if you are one of the 340+ visitors that wanted to donate, but could not, would you please revisit the site and click on “Donate Now”. Thank you and God bless you.

UPDATE, May 23, 2015.  Sorry, but we’ve just be told that GoFundMe does not accept donations of less than $5. That was not in any of their information, so we apologize to those of you who may have been trying to comply with our $1 request. But if $5 is within your reach, we would appreciate it.  God bless.

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Donate your $$ here. For only $5 (or more) you can make a huge difference for a small children’s ministry with a big vision in Tumbaco, Ecuador.  This ministry has a unique opportunity to expand and provide better facilities and a Christian education for local Ecuadorian children.  But first let me give you some background information. In July, 2012 we started attending a local Ecuadorian church, Sendero de la Cruz (The Way of the Cross)—now called Los Robles de Cristo (The Oaks of Christ).  It is not far from where we live and we happened to be walking by it one day and stopped in to visit with the pastor’s wife who is also the administrator of the church’s Christian school, Sendero School.  We have been going there ever since.  We have been impressed with the Dazas’ simple and humble spirit and lifestyle and their commitment to service in Christian ministry.

Pastor Miguel and Patti Daza

The Early Years.  Patti arrived in Ecuador from the United States in August, 1973.  Miguel came from Venezuela in December, 1975.  Initially their ministry started at Campamento Nueva Vida (New Life Camp) in Ecuador’s sierra region just outside the capital city of Quito.  In addition to serving as part of the camp staff, they attended Bible School and went on missions trips throughout Ecuador and South America.  They married in May, 1978 and started their first church plant in Tumbaco in October, 1979.  Since then they have planted half dozen churches in Tumbaco and other communities throughout the mid-sierra region of Ecuador.  Not an easy task and often facing strong opposition. Sendero School, the Beginning.  In February, 2003, the Dazas started the church Sendero de la Cruz (The Way of the Cross) in Tumbaco as an outgrowth of a home Bible study group.  A year later they moved the church to its current rented location where there used to be a French Daycare.  The congregation pitched a tent to hold services behind the two-story daycare and used the building to start a Christian daycare/school.  They started the 2004/2005 school year for 2-4 year olds, but only one “student”.  Although the school is legally called María Clara Díaz Mejía School, it is popularly known as Sendero School.  By December, 2004 they had seven students and finished their first school year with ten.  What started out as a small outreach of a small Ecuadorian congregation has steadily grown to 25 students the second year; 56 the third; 86 the fourth to 191 today. Sendero School Today.  As the congregation and school grew, a simple church building was constructed out of cement block, a corrugated metal roof and patio block floor.  Small buildings were added to provide basic classrooms.

Los Robles de Cristo Iglesia today.

The church congregation helps to subsidize the school by paying a portion of the school property monthly rent, but it is a struggle.  There are now 13 teachers (including Pastor Patti, who also serves as the school’s administrator) and 8 administrative staff.  The only other support the school receives is through the $60/month tuition that the government allows them to charge, which is about 50% lower than what is needed to break even.  The government will not let the school charge more because of the school’s facilities and not enough degreed teachers.  In an effort to keep the school going, most parents of the students are voluntarily paying $20/month extra in tuition, but still the total is considerably below what is needed. The school now offers quality Christian education to 4 year olds (pre-K) through sixth grade. Teacher Wages a Big Factor.   At Sendero the starting pay for a teacher is $362/month (minimum wage in Ecuador) or $480/month for those with experience.  That is not a livable wage in Ecuador, but it is all Sendero can afford to pay.  However, teachers stay at Sendero because they are committed to the mission and Christian fellowship.  At the beginning of this school year, though, Sendero did lose three experienced teachers who were offered $800-900/month in the public school system.

Principal Martha Cecilia Beltran Mosquera

Teaching staff of Sendero School, 2014-2015.

The Principal and Teaching Staff.  Last October, Sendero School was blessed when a retired university professor and administrator approached Patti, offering to help out at the school.  Señora Martha Cecilia Beltrán Mosquera retired in 2008 after 35 years of teaching and administrative work, but wanted to serve the Lord in some capacity. “I was very sad”, said Martha, “because of the cancerous tumors on my spinal column.  I was in a lot of pain, so I purposed in my heart to totally serve the Lord with whatever time I had left.  The tumors miraculously disappeared and the total miracle was how I arrived at this school by the request of a friend.  I came with much trepidation, as I had never worked at a primary school.  I asked the Lord to guide me”, she continued, “in my response to the request.  And it was a ‘Yes!’”, she exclaimed, “with all my heart.  Here I am.” Martha has three (yes, three) BA degrees (Primary School Education, High School Education and Business Administration) and a Master’s degree in University level education and Educational Administration.  That she is fully dedicated to the mission and ministry of the school is evident in her enthusiastic commitment and love for the children. “I’m not here for the money”, she commented.  “Yes, I get paid.  I didn’t ask for anything.  The school gives me a monthly check of $450 and I accepted that because I needed it, but I didn’t ask for it.  And it’s clearly a fifth of what I used to make.  But I feel more productive here”, she smiled. “Yes, it is a better place to work”, she continued.  “The Lord brought me here after culminating my professional career.  It was difficult to climb the professional ladder, but I did it.  I was blessed and I felt fulfilled and I can humbly say I’ve learned a lot here in a short time.  I love what I do here.” The Compassion International Ministry.  Not content with educating and ministering to nearly 200 children each day, the church and school decided two years ago to take in Compassion International children three days per week—around 220 each day, split between morning and afternoon groups.  So, this small band of dedicated believers is now ministering to over 400 children three times a week in a rather confined area.

Compassion International children (note Patti Daza in pink top).

Why the School Must Move.  In addition to the challenges already mentioned, two years ago the city told the school staff that the school must re-locate because of a government gasoline station across the street.  Much prayer and searching occurred but nothing could be found that met the growing needs and existing finances.  The authorities will not allow the school to operate beyond this school year.  After July, the school must move or close. Even if the school could stay at its present location, there is one constant threat to its survival: flooding from heavy rains.  The property sits about five feet below street level and has flooded four times in the last six months from torrential rains.  Before this school year there had always been threats and minor flooding, but with heavy building construction throughout the city, drainage patterns for runoff have changed and the typical 4-6 inch storm sewers cannot handle all the water that funnels down to the low spot of the school.  As a result, much staff and student time is used mopping up water and cleaning classrooms after each flood; school supplies, books, desks and classrooms become damaged or destroyed.

Flooded school buildings on March 23, 2015. The fourth flood in the last 6 months.

An attempt to keep the surging waters at bay.

Boys will be boys.

The Opportunity and Vision for the Future.  After much prayer and searching it looks like God has opened up an opportunity that will meet the growing needs of the school and offer the prospect of expanding the ministry.  About a two months ago the church members and school staff became aware that the former Peace Corps training facility in Collaquí (a barrio of Tumbaco) was up for sale (see details and photos below). This property would enable Sendero to:

• Eventually double the size of the school.
• Expand to include grades up through 12^th (high school).
• Provide much better and safer facilities (in the country, not city) and school grounds for the children.
• Increase the Compassion ministry.
• Increase tuition because of better facilities.
• Attract more experienced teachers.
• Double wages for experienced teachers (due to more students; higher tuition).
• Provide volunteer teaching opportunities, internships and other service opportunities for local and foreign university students, church groups and individuals.
• Provide an opportunity for a church plant and ministry to the local community.

Peace Corps Building Property.  The Peace Corps building was built several years ago as a school, but it never quite got established.  More recently the Peace Corps rented the facility to train Peace Corps members for service in Ecuador.  The property is huge compared to Sendero’s present location.  At 10,000 sq. meters (107,640 sq. ft. or just under 2.5 acres), the property offers unlimited opportunities for the school.

Main entrance.

Administration and kitchen wing.

Quad area for assemblies.

The level property (rare in much of Ecuador’s sierra region) has a well-constructed, in very good condition, two-story building with 24 classrooms (each with a private bathroom); public bathrooms; administrative office complex; large full kitchen; an outdoor amphitheater (quadrangle); large paved volleyball court and basketball court; children’s play area (needs refurbishing); soccer field; large garden area where the school could raise its own fruits and vegetables and extensive green space and shade trees (something the current property lacks).  Channel irrigation also runs through the property.  The property is totally secure with a high wall all around and secure gates.

One of 24 classrooms, each with a private bathroom.

East view of the complex.

Volleyball and basketball courts.

Future children’s play area.

Future garden area.

It does come with a very hefty (but very reasonable) price tag of $1.75 million (much less than the going per meter rate in the area.  See Addendum below.). Fund Raising Goal. (and link).  So, here’s where you can help.  While the goal seems big by Ecuadorian standards, with God’s help anything is possible.  The school staff and fundraising team are looking for small gifts (as little as $1), although any gift would be greatly appreciated.  During the month of May (May 1-31), the fundraising team is organizing a “Facebook” campaign of $1 per Facebook friend.  For example, if you have 100 Facebook friends who will donate $1 each and each of them has 100 friends who do the same and each of those 100 have 100 friends who donate a dollar, the school will have its $1 million (100 x 100 x 100 = 1,000,000).  However, while it is hoped that a million will seal the deal, the real goal is $1.75 million.  So, if God should move you in mysterious ways to donate more, it will be more than appreciated and make up for those who chose not to participate in this blessing. If the goal is exceeded the extra funds will be used to increase teacher wages, hire new teachers, refurbish the property, improve student furniture and supplies and/or provide for student scholarships. To donate, go to this GoFundMe site here. If you would like to donate more than a few dollars but would rather send a check than put it on your credit card, you may send your check here:

Sendero School Ecuador

c/o Pastor Terry King

Bridge of Life Church

14 South Potomac Street

Hagerstown, MD 21740

Make your check out to “Bridge of Life” but be sure to designate it for “Sendero School”. With Your Help. . . .

This . . .

could become this.

This . . .

could become this.

This . . .

could become this.

This . . .

could become this.

To donate, go to this GoFundMe site here.  God bless you and thank you for your support.

Addendum: Some may be questioning why Sendero is pursuing a piece of property that is selling for $1.75 million.

There are several reasons.

First, after two years of searching for a suitable property, this is the first property that makes sense and is suitable for a school. While the price is steep (and there is hope that the actual purchase price will be far less), with God’s help, anything is possible.

Second, land values in this area of the sierra of Ecuador have skyrocketed in the last 5 years. There has been a building boom going on throughout Ecuador due to government spending of billions of dollars on infrastructure (roads, bridges, airports, universities, schools, government buildings, several hydroelectric plants, etc.) that has fueled both commercial and residential construction. Along with the highest influx of immigrants in Latin America (mainly Europeans and North Americans), real estate prices have increased 10x the value of a few years ago. In this area, bare land can sell for $100-200 or even $500/sq. meter (ca. 10 sq. ft.). A small 500 meter plot of land (about 5,000 sq. ft.) can sell for $50,000 or more.

Third, the Peace Corps property at 10,000 meters is reasonably valued at $100/meter = $1 million. With a modern 24-classroom building (with a bathroom in every one), large kitchen, offices, etc.) that is reasonably valued at another $750,000. Of course, the hope is that the school could get it for considerably less, but no guarantee.

Vargas Children Ministry Appeal

Let me introduce you to an incredible couple, Francisco and Juanita (Nita) Vargas.  Francisco is an Ecuadorian pastor and Nita an American missionary who came to Ecuador about 23 years ago.  We met them about a year-and-a-half ago.  They run a children’s ministry on the edge of Tumbaco about three miles from where we live.  They started the ministry about 13 years ago and minister to about 100 children, 6-21 years old six days/week.   Nita’s not sure, but possibly the last “real day off” they had was when they went to the U.S. three years ago.

Juanita (Nita) and Francisco Vargas

They literally live from day-to-day, not knowing how much they can count on for support each month.  There irregular support, all from the U.S., has dropped off over the last year and they are struggling daily to keep themselves and the ministry afloat.

The Saturday before Easter we were with them as they ministered to about 50 grade school children at their annual Easter celebration party.  Twelve children quietly accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior.  They didn’t ask for a show of hands, but over the last month they have noticed markedpositive changes in the behavior of the children that made the decision for Christ, as well as their insight into who God is and what Jesus did for them.  Some of the teens that now serve as youth leaders grew up in the Vargas ministry.

Their ministry has had a major impact on the (mostly poor) children of Tumbaco.  Because of some changes made by the President of Ecuador with the schools, their two summer camps are being moved to August.  The team that normally comes to do the youth camp can´t come this year in August but praise the Lord have agreed to sponsor financially a three day camp. Pray for this couple for strength and wisdom as they run this camp of 30 youth with little to no help.  

We have been helping whenever we can and however we can, but this is an appeal for you to prayerfully consider coming alongside this dedicated couple in service to the Lord.

How you can help.

If you would like to support some aspect of their ministry, please send your contribution to: First Baptist Church Indian Trail, P.O. Box 2550, Indian Trail, North Carolina 28079.  Again, mark your contribution “Ministry Ecuador-Vargas” and their ministry will receive 100% of your gift.  If you are not able to give, please, at least pray for the Francisco & Nita and their ministry.

Every little gift will help, whether it is a one-time gift, monthly gift or $40 to sponsor a child for summer camp.  If you live in Ecuador, just contact us and we will tell you how you can get your gift to them.

For more information on their ministry you can go to the following blog postings:

http://ecuadorlifeandculture.wordpress.com/2012/05/25/the-vargas-childrens-ministry/

http://ecuadorlifeandculture.wordpress.com/2012/11/15/vargas-ministry-youth-mission-trip-mishualli/

http://ecuadorlifeandculture.wordpress.com/2013/01/31/vargas-ministry-childrens-christmas-party/

God bless you and thank you for your prayerful consideration of support.

P.S.  The churches and people of Ecuador, while generous in some areas, do not typically support local ministries.  Therefore, the Vargases receive very little support from within Ecuador.

Vargas Ministry Children’s Christmas Party

Every Christmas season, Francisco and Nita put on a Christmas party for the center’s children.  Francisco leads the children in Christmas carols; they award prizes for attendance over the past year; prizes for best Christmas-theme costumes; hand out gifts and serve refreshments.

Children waiting patiently.

This year donations were slim and Nita did not plan on serving refreshments.  We did not know that but called the day before and asked if we could bring some homemade cookies and chocolate peanut-raisin clusters.  She was delighted and we were pleased to be able to accommodate.

The party was started with prayer and then Francisco led the children in worship songs.

Opening with prayer. Alexandra and Erika pay reverence to the Lord.

Francisco leads a Christmas song.

The children enthusiastically sing along.

Belting out a song.

After the Christmas sing-a-long of several carols, Nita award some special prizes to three children who had perfect attendance at the center throughout the year.

A special gift for those with perfect attendance. Paola, Dayana and Kevin (L-R)

Kevin was an especially happy guy.

Nita calls up those in costume to be viewed by the “judges”.

Many little angels, two shepherds, two caballeros and a bell came up front to stand before the “judges”.

About a dozen children participated in the contest for best costume.

A few tried to “charm” the judges.

One caballero found the tension mesmerizing.

A couple of weeks before the party, during the center after-school activities, the children made various ornaments to take home for Christmas.  These were not necessarily for a tree since many families did not have a tree.

The children received their christmas ornaments that they made the weeks before the party.

Homemade cookies and candy in waiting for expectant children.

After refreshments, gifts donated by churches and individuals in the United States and students from Seattle Pacific University that had visited the week before, were handed out to the children based on age and gender.

Nita hands out a present to a young boy.

Christmas “elf” Fernanda helps with the giving of gifts.

“Elf” Karen waits pensively to help with gift giving.

The children opened the gifts upon command with a flurry. Some were careful to save the wrapping for use at home.

As always the children were excited to receive their presents and eagerly checked out each other’s gifts.  For many, it was likely the only gifts they would receive for Christmas.

Children show off their presents.

Teens Jonathan, Cristian, Estéfani, Karen and Fernanda (L-R) await their opportunity to serve.

After the donated gifts were given, the children were also given the traditional bag of cookies and candy that were purchased locally.  Each represented household was also given a freshly killed (that morning) chicken in a bag (complete with head and feet which are used for soup).

Kathleen hands out the traditional Christmas bag of cookies and candy.

Nita hands out a chicken for the family dinner.

Teens form a chicken assembly line.

After the chickens were handed out the children were dismissed and headed rapidly for home, clutching tightly all their goodies, thanks to many generous people and the hard and dedicated work of Francisco and Nita.

For more on the Vargas ministry and how you can participate or support it, go to this blog.

A Pleasant but Challenging Ecuadorian Custom

Since returning from our visit to the U.S. our social calendar has exploded.   Not long after we returned we were being invited somewhere or people were stopping over.  And there-in lies my story.  It is a custom (among many customs) in Ecuador that when you are invited to an Ecuadorian home that you bring along a little gift: a potted plant, flowers, candy, baked goods, etc. as a show of appreciation for their hospitality.  While it is a custom often practiced in the United States, it is alive and thriving in Ecuador and we are still adjusting to it.

Since we returned from the U.S., my wife took on the pleasure of helping a bilingual Ecuadorian woman improve her English five days per week.  Almost every time she comes she brings a bag of fresh fruit, vegetables or a bouquet of flowers.  A few weeks ago I started working with her younger sister on her English 2-3 times per week and, yes, she also brings fresh fruit and vegetables from her garden.

To further add to our produce larder, when we moved here I brought a bunch of vegetable seeds from the U.S. hoping I would have the opportunity to plant them.  Not finding such an opportunity, I gave the seeds to some friends with a large garden area.  Now we receive an abundance of produce from them also.

Some of the veggies from our gifted seeds.

When we were invited to two different friends homes for Christmas dinner and a pre-New Years dinner, we brought our offering only to come home with far more than we brought, including a whole, freshly killed chicken (head and feet stuffed inside).

Our small apartment now rivals some of the smaller produce stands down town.  We’ve politely tried to say, “no mas, por favor”, but that has not worked.

This past Saturday, my wife’s English student invited us to go visit her mother.  My wife had just baked a couple of loafs of zucchini bread from a small portion of a zucchini the size of Cleveland (well, it was big).  She had duly intended to bring it with us but in the rush to get out and on our way, we forgot it.  While at the mother’s home, we decided to visit the other sister a few blocks away.  She and her husband were working in their garden.  You guessed it!  We came away with two bags of tree tomatoes and various vegetables.  Annnnd, before we left her mother’s, “mom” gave us a bag of lemons, avocados and passion fruit.  My wife stayed up to the wee hours making a large pot of vegetable soup to try to reduce our vegetable stores.  She only made a dent.

As I write this, my wife’s English student arrived bearing a bag of potatoes.

As if this has not been challenging enough, before all this gift-bearing began, I planted a salad garden of leaf lettuce and a couple of tomato plants off our balcony.  The lettuce is nearing harvest time.  I think we will have to enlist the help of some rabbits I saw for sale at the pet store, but then we will have to find room for them in our small freezer in a few months next to the chicken and the whole Christmas turkey we have not been able to get to.

No, I’m not complaining; to the contrary, it has been a very pleasant blessing and we thoroughly enjoy our Ecuadorian friends and their thoughtfulness and love.

Hamburguesas de Rusty

On June 7 we officially received our much coveted and prayed for residency visas.  To celebrate we were invited by Rusty and Maria Miller to join them for lunch at one of their Ecuadorian famous hamburger restaurants in Quito at N43-157 Av. de los Shyris just south of the Rio Coca intersection.  Rusty boasts, with good reason, to have the best American-style hamburger in Ecuador and the only place in Ecuador where you can enjoy a tall cold root beer or root beer float (something unfamiliar to Ecuadorians but sought after by North American transplants and now Ecuadorians too).

The Vargas Children’s Ministry

Let me introduce you to an exceptional couple, Francisco and Juanita (“Nita”) Vargas.  We became acquainted with Francisco and Nita a few months ago.  They live a short distance from us in Tumbaco in the barrio of La Esperanza (“The Hope”).  Both are seminary graduates.  Nita is an American who grew up in Paraguay where her parents were long time missionaries through New Tribes Missions.  She moved to Tumbaco 22 years ago,  met and married Ecuadorian pastor, Francisco.  About 12 years ago, in 2000, the Lord led them to start a ministry to the children of mostly low-income families in La Esperanza and beyond.  They have no children of their own and Nita admitted, “It’s an area of ministry I never thought we would be involved in.”

Artista Sanchez Returns (in color)

Yesterday, to our surprise, as we walked to the Tumbaco parque, we once again encountered the sidewalk artist, Walter Sanchez.  This time he was using a different artistic technique where he used various colors of instantly drying spray paint.  The range of crude resources and techniques he used to create desired effects was, indeed, fascinating.  The speed and imagery of his creations were entertaining.

Sanchez, the Sidewalk Artist

I really need to remember to carry my camara with me at all times.  I am not used to doing that and really do not like to, but I am slowly learning that in Ecuador, if I do not I might miss a once in a lifetime photo-op.  For instance, last week we decided to take a walk on the El Chaquinan trail near our place.  We have walked it many times and I have taken many photos along the way.  But this day I left my camara behind, thinking it would slow us down with me just taking more pictures of flowers and landscapes.  Bad decision.

Tumbaco Apartment for Rent

There are two exceptionally nice, modern, upscale, very clean and very secure two bedroom apartments for rent in Tumbaco just two blocks from the Tumbaco parque (town square).  If you are looking to relocate to the Tumbaco area or Ecuador in general and want something nice and inexpensive, you should consider one of these apartments.  The building is only five years old with only 12 apartment units and is scrupulously maintained by the bilingual (Spanish/English) landlords who live right across the street.  Unlike most small apartment complexes, this one features the convenience of an elevator and secure under-building parking stalls.