Emmett and John visit a finca

This past Saturday Emmett and John visited the house of some friends outside our town of Guadalupe.    Before the government assisted with building cinderblock homes closer to town, most families resided outside of central Guadalupe in houses constructed of wood.    Many people maintain their country house or "finca" as a base for maintaining their gardens and livestock on land that surrounds their finca.   Many families still do not reside in a barrio (neighborhood) closer to town because they live closer to the farming and planting that is their livelihood and sustenance.   Often older people continue to live in fincas and typically only come to town on Sundays for church and market.    On Saturday, Emmett rode on our friends' horse and John walked about 40 minutes to visit the family of Jose and Mercedes.   They live in a finca which does not have electricity.   They have running water but the children bathe in the local creek.   Jose and Mercedes have 12 children but some of the older children are married and live in town.      Jose works as a groundskeeper for the Catholic mission so Emmett and Annalise often play with his children.    Mercedes has been teaching Annalise, Emmett and Kate how to make traditional Saraguro beaded jewelry.

Jonder leading the Emmett and Jorge on the horse

greenhouse to help keep the plants from getting too wet

another neighboring finca

outside the entrance to our friend's finca

Jose, who built the finca with his sons.   All of the wood for the house was cut by chainsaw and machete on his land 

Everyone tried to get on the horse 

descending to the creek

the creek below is where the family bathes. 

look at the saddle, made of rebar and wood, placed on folded grain bags

neighboring finca

Emmett and Rosita

Jonder standing on the horse to pick fruit (in his underwear after swimming)

Emmett and Jonder on the way back to Guadalupe

view from the inside of a truck that I hitched a ride back to town in

Later on Saturday Emmett playing soccer with a coach who is forming a new soccer team in town 

Emmett and the soccer players after soccer practice