Justification for Going to Ecuador for a Year

Why are we going to Ecuador? For those of you who have heard this story, guess what? You get to hear it again! We were driving back from a visit to CA and talking about things we’d still like to do, when Marilyn said she’d always wanted to do some sort of overseas missionary work. Then she casually added, “But I guess I’ll have to wait till you die.” Whoa! This didn’t sound right to Glenn. A wife already making plans for when her husband kicked off? Just as casually, he replied, “Why wait till I die?” (We won’t try to divine his true thoughts, will we?) Well, we already had a relationship with an organization in Ecuador called FEDICE because of previous mission trips, so they were the first people we approached. We also knew that, with Glenn’s disability, we couldn’t be placed just anywhere. Since FEDICE was familiar with us and many of our needs, it seemed logical to inquire there first. They didn’t give us the nod. Instead, they enthusiastically asked, “When are you coming?!” The past few months we have steadily put things into place for our year’s stay in Ecuador. Mail, bill payments, insurance, shots, visas, plant sitters, packing away part of the house for the people who will live here in our absence, buying what we think we can’t get there, stockpiling enough medications, etc., etc., ETC. It’s the most work we’ve done since retiring! A huge weight was lifted off Glenn’s shoulders when friends from church said they would stay in our house while we were gone. It was perfect because they were looking for a new house anyway. (Just hope they’ll go quietly when we’re ready to return!) Are we crazy? Glenn has asked himself that more than once. So far, the answer keeps coming back negative. We’re in good health. We can afford it. We’re both adventurous. If we’re ever going to do something like this, now seems like a very good time to do it. In preparation, Marilyn has taken (and aced) two semesters of Spanish at Austin Community College. Marilyn is the volunteer, here. Glenn has made it clear that he’s going to support Marilyn, though he’s aware he could get roped into some computer work. We also figure he may be a decent role model for Ecuadorians with disabilities, especially since they don’t know what a real beast he is. We’re not entirely sure how Marilyn will help FEDICE at this point. It could be that she teaches rudimentary English. It could be that she helps with FEDICE’s community work. It could be that she helps organize a Sunday School program in various local churches. It could be she helps with groups who come down on mission trips. It could be some of all of the above. We’ll let you know as time goes on.