I Have Run The Race

For the past 2 months I have been getting up 3 days a week at 5:30. I walk 5+k to the Magic Bean, drink a cup of coffee and taxi back home. Recently, another missionary has joined me and made it a lot more enjoyable. I entered the Quito Nike 10k. I did it this morning and finished. Not real fast, but I finished. The VP of Ecuador was at the finish line (the man in the wheelchair). I have been joking that I would win if they had a Super Heavyweight division and I think I did! Not bad for 9000 feet above sea level.

On a related note, my baby brother completed his first triathalon yesterday. Brad, we rock!

Too Cute

We took Woody and Indiana Jones to McDonald's last night. They met up with our friends from Peru who now live in Quito, as well. They included Darth Vader, a flamenco dancer some sort of bug and a soccer player.

He Just Saved A Lot of Money On His Car Insurance!

It was Bug Field Trip day at Calacali. Thomas and Frank went and Thomas caught a lizard. Now we know what happened to all those bugs. Thomas named him Geico.

The picture of the kids having a picnic is to tell you about the international flavor of their school. Some of the children had hot dogs, while other brought knockwurt, pizza and I think the funniest...sushi!

This Is the House That Matt Built (or is building)

The school that our children attend has a retreat area an hour or so out of town. I was out there for Thomas' field trip and got to see something that Matt's housing and construction class is working on. They are building a scale model of a cabin that will be built at the camp. This seemed to be "Brag on Matt Day." First, his soccer coach told me how well he was doing. That he is still rough around the edges but makes up for it with work. Then, his construction teacher told me, "Matt sure asks a lot of questions...but they make sense." I told him that Matt was asking questions as soon as he could speak. Finally, his class sponsor said how Matt was just soooooo funny.

It is good to have a Superhero for a son.

Ecuador 5 - El Salvador 1

Ouch! That had to hurt. The boys and I went to another friendly match, but it weren't none too friendly! El Salvador had two Direct Reds, meaning that 2 different guys got ejected for flagrant fouls. Playing 11 men to 9, Ecuador wiped em up.

Now, we get ready for the next 2 matches which are World Cup elimination games. Venezuela in October and Peru in November. That Peru game...I am not sure any die hard Ecuador fans will want to sit with us :)

Foto: Ecuador scores into the upper corner on penalty kick. (Thanks to Jon Fields for the picture)

My Own Coffee Plantation

Some people like coffee. I think it is safe to say that it goes way beyond that for me. When we used to travel to Trujillo, I would notify the pastors I would be in town and would be at my " office " in the morning. Then, those who could would come to the Café Oviedo and we would together solve the problems of the life, church, family or whatever we were facing. On our recent trip to Trujillo, Matt got to see that first hand. He noticed that these pastors were much more relaxed and “fun” over a cup of café than in their church office.

Here in Quito, we like the Magic Bean. The food is okay, the prices high (for Quito) but the coffee is always good. We are now launching out into uncharted territory. We are going to be getting our own coffee tree! It will be indoors as it needs to be protected from the cold. Hopefully in 3 years, we will be harvesting our beans! Be looking for Café Pancho at a store near you.

Off To A Good Start At School!

It is Friday night at the Lamca house. Bryan is off at Arizona State. Matt is at band camp. Katie is having supper with a friend. Thomas invited two buddies over to spend the night. They are right now, putting up a tent in the back yard and plan to spend the night out there...we'll see!

Everyone is doing real well, but we are especially happy with Thomas. After the first week and a half of school, he is doing great. Everyone at school seems pleased by the progress he made over the summer. For the second summer in a row, we requested summer work for both he and Katie. They did a little of the 3 R’s each day. If you can make it out, he is holding up a 15/15 A+ spelling test. He also got an A+ on his Bible verse. They are retesting him in reading because he appears to be reading much, much better than last year. We hope and pray that everything is coming together for him. He not only has done his homework, but even turned it in!

Top Picture: A+

Next Two Pictures: Thomas and two buddies making their own pizzas at a place here in Quito.