Padre Jorge's farewell and Emmett dancing

After twenty-five years in Guadalupe, Padre Jorge returned to Austria on Sunday, May 28th.   He will be greatly missed by the people of Guadalupe and the surrounding towns.    I imagine he has witnessed tremendous progress in Southern Ecuador.    He himself is responsible for establishing the mission medical clinic, building a new church, a residence for the nuns, a retreat center and a dormitory (not to mention a regulation soccer field).   Clearly, much of the town is grateful for his spiritual guidance and hard work.    Consistent with Latin American style and tradition, Guadalupe has honored Padre with celebrations before he departs.   On Saturday there was a big celebration in the Coliseo.    Many parishioners arrived in their finest traditional clothes to show their respect.   The Coliseo was decorated with flowers and had a fabric walkway bordered by rose petals leading to Padre Jorge's chair.    On a side note, Emmett participated in two Saraguro traditional dances at the celebration today.   Emmett has been practicing with a dance troupe 3 hours per day for the past week to prepare for the show.    Emmett joined the dance troupe entirely on his own and he has really enjoyed working hard with his new friends.    He met the dancers through his soccer club.     It was fun watching the dynamic dance routines especially when the dancers shout in unison.   The dances are highly energetic and fast-paced.    I have videos that I can show anyone after we return to the USA.   This past week Emmett has been quite busy touring with the dance troupe to festivals in the bordering towns.  

Saraguro women forming two lines to honor Padre when he walks to the Coliseo

Saraguro men 

Padre Jorge graciously accepted the fanfare and parties leading to his departure, despite his reserved and humble demeanor 

Padre Jorge seated at the big chair on the right 

A mariachi band from Loja entertained everyone.   On the same day there was a festival in nearby Kansama Bajo, where I suspect much of the hard-core partiers chose to attend. 

Saraguro dancers

Emmett hydrating before his first dance.  The colored ribbons remind me of the pole with hanging ribbons used for the Easter Mass celebration each year.   

Emmett and male dancers performing their first dance 

Emmett dancing on the top left (second dance)

Dance troupe getting ready for their first dance.   Woman on the left is holding a full-face mask for the young boy, Jose, on the right. 

Emmett in the middle.  Each of the male dancers used a hand-held scarf as part of the dance routine. 

Padre Jorge, the sisters and town leaders sharing a dance

Emmett and Annalise's school bids farewell to Padre Jorge

Emmett and Annalise's school, Inti Pakare, honored Padre Jorge's departure with traditional dancing, singing and food.  Inti Pakare is a small bilingual Saraguro school where students are taught in Spanish but also receive instruction in the indigenous Kwichua language.    Inti Pakari parents are very grateful for Padre Jorge.   All of the students seemed to embrace the opportunity to honor Padre.     Annalise worked hard with her class to learn the new dance routine.    She and her friend, Klebe, are leaders in her class and both seem to occasionally function as teacher assistants.  Kate and I have videos of the dance routines that we can show anyone who asks when we return home.  Without music the pictures really do not do justice to the vibrancy and spirit of the dances.

Annalise, her classmates and her teacher Rosita

Annalise, classmates and teacher Berta

Emmett's teacher, Berta

Angeles Eliana, Alondra, Angeles in front 

Annalise with her Saraguro outfit

classmates reciting a poem for Padre Jorge

getting ready to start a dance (waiting for Emmett)

the finale 

students sang the Austrian national hymn to Padre Jorge (his native land) while displaying placards representing the Austrian flag.  

Emmett and his dance troupe performed a Saraguro dance

another dance in honor of Padre Jorge 

Luz, Yudie, Dominica and Leidy watching the dance

the district school superintendent presented a beaded goblet to Padre Jorge 

Saraguro elders performing a dance

Emmett and his dance crew

Saraguro elder presenting Padre with a beaded necklace 

Annalise's trip to a Jose and Mercedes' finca; and an avalanche blocks the road on John's shopping trip

Some friends at our neighbors house after they went digging for worms for fishing bait.   Notice the middle boy is holding a machete. 

 On the way back from a shopping trip to Zamora on Wednesday, everyone on the bus was startled when the bus driver decided to take a different road. After seeing torrential rains this morning, it occurred to me that the road may have been blocked due an avalanche.    After some discussion and a few passengers getting off, I started to wonder what route we would take.   We traveled on a remote road for about 20 minutes and then the road was blocked so we backed up and returned to the established route.    Above is a small tree that the bus driver had to get out and chop with a machete to clear the road.  

a town we passed on the alternate route.  

Travel delay caused by the avalanche.  

backhoe clearing the road 

Annalise visiting with Jose and Mercedes' children and grandchildren before her trip to the finca (farm).  Annalise is holding a chick

Annalise showing a chick to a baby

Annalise riding a Mercedes' horse 

Annalise with Rosita behind her

Rosita, Annalise and Abigail holding some kittens at Mercedes house.  

Neighbor boys of Mercedes.  Oliver is sitting on a bicycle frame.  

Annalise drinking some freshly cooked sugar cane juice (jugo de cana).  Annalise has a red face after walking 45 minutes to the finca.  

Mercedes was cooking the sugar cane juice in a pan measuring about 12'x10"x3'