The prize for the craziest event of theweek goes to yesterday's wedding between Fatima and Oscar. We had done months of talks and preparation, filling forms. The usual. So when they came for Tuesday's rehearsal and giggled their way through, I thought it was just pre-wedding nerves. The wedding was set for 3pm on Saturday. I was shocked, then, when Fatima phoned late on Friday to cancel the wedding ... as a result of some family member that was seriously ill. Are you sure you want to cancel? Yes. Oh well, I thought, I will just get on with my other Saturday activiites. So I was stunned when they then phoned up at 2pm on Saturday to ask if the wedding could go back on? What, are you joking? No, seriously, Padre! So there we were, we had an hour to get everything ready: flowers, readers, music etc. Well, we actually had more than an horui because naturally enough she was about forty minutes late causing a near motorway crash in my Saturday religious activities with eight Baptisms at 4pm followed by two Masses. Another occasion when I just had to smile and realise ---- the only person anxious about all of the craziness was me, the grino priest!

I met Padre Gonzalo last weekend and the meeting settled my mind a lot. I gave him lunch and we were together about four hours both in the house talking and then around the Parish visiting the various areas and chapels. At no point did I hear a person who would destroy thing; more than anything, I heard Gonzalo saying he would continue projects and build on them. You see, it’s not so much for me that I would be worried but the people around me, especially in the school. They are worried that the new priest would come in, sack them all and bring in his own people. But I am convinced he will not do that rather that he will simply be there to support and build up. In particular, we set two dates: the handover Mass for Sunday 9th August when the Archbishop will come and lead us in the Mass to present the new PP. Then on the 12th itself when I leave, Gonzalo will be here for the departure and the handover of keys etc. We also met up yesterday at the offices of Hogar de Cristo to discuss what will happen with the planned Medical Centre. In recent weeks, the money to build the new centre has been secured from sources back home, namely the ‘2 Hands’ charity. And also recently the local Rotary club has secured funds for the Medical Centre’s equipment. So we needed to work out what will happen now that I moving on. Basically the money will be sent over to our architect, Pedro Mogrovejo, who will oversee the building project supported by the new priest. Of course, we are still waiting on planning permission from the Council; myself and Pedro went into their offices this morning and that permission is moving forward. I would therefore imagine that the building can start by the end of August, in time for a Christmas completion. As with so many projects I have been part of here, the phrase is most definitely ‘we shall see’! I was down at the St. James’ house at Ayangue for the last time this week. We had the usual meeting and Mass and, as usual, there was time for rest and relaxation. But it was filled with some ‘lasts’: my last swim in the Pacific, my last run along the beach, my last time watching a beautiful sunset over Ayangue bay. But most of all, my last time with a group of priests who have always supported and encouraged me. It would be true to say that the Ecuador priests in St. James have been and inspiration to me at every turn in this amazing journey. However, I don’t think it was because it was my last time in Ayangue that they ‘let’ me win at cards: I won fair and square our two-hour long duel. My Prize? Getting thrown in the pool fully clothed at midnight. Lovely! So I most clearly in Farewell Period. This week I have been doing many visits to bless parishioners’ houses, arranging multiple Baptisms before I head off, doing wedding rehearsals and taking the altar servers out for a final trip. This is in the midst of wrapping things up (literally) and beginning to say tearful farewells. There is a fortnight to go but I think it will be a busy and tearful fifteen days.

Well, last weekend was very difficult as I announced that I was leaving the Missions having completed my five year stay. I first of all told Adela and Freddy at the school, the people who work in the Chapel House – they were very upset – tears and snotters etc. Then on Saturday I told the Catechists who had gathered for a regular in-service: they were shocked as none had suspected. I think they knew that my five years were up but didn’t realize it was actually coming to an end. And so chapel by chapel over the weekend, I went round telling people that I was leaving. Since this wasn’t the first time I had ever left a Parish, I thought maybe I was prepared for the reaction but, hey, they’re Latins and they know how to grieve! Grown men crying, young boys as well as women and girls. Of course, the prize for the best reaction goes to Victor Orellana who threw up when he heard. Well, I mean, no-one has ever thrown up for me before!!!! So the weekend was bad and by the time I came to Sunday I was completely drained of all energy. I had cried more or less at every Mass and at every group meeting as I explained my departure. So I was glad, more than ever, of my break day on Monday. And, since Bishop Joe Toal was out for the inauguration of Colin’s Church, I was glad to have a Scots-priests night away. After lunch we drove up the coast to Salinas, the posh seaside resort where the rich ex-presidents live. We had a rest, a walk along the shore, a good chat and a good meal. I was glad of the break away…. Because now that I am back it is just going to be one farewell after another. While I was away they apparently had a couple of secret meetings where they were arranging a farewell concert and Mass. I don’t think I need to weary for what to do over the next month. I will, though, have to be careful in how I organize my time. One of the big concerns from everybody is ‘what will happen now? Who is the new priest? Will he close things down or keep them going?’ These are legitimate concerns, I think, because even when I asked that Archbishop about people’s negative reactions to an Ecuadorian being appointed, he said those sometimes local priests who have followed foreigners have dropped special projects. Although I do not know the new priest (he is coming for lunch tomorrow), I do believe, however, that he is not that type. As far as I am aware, he is an intelligent, talented man who has been liked everywhere he has gone. He may change things, and I hope he improves things but, come the 12th August, I leave it all in God’s hands ….

Well, my visitors have left – Andy, Christine, Gerard and Christine, along with Johnny have left amidst tears and snotters! Literally as we were all suffering from a cold and cough in the last few days. It was a sad time tonight at the airport as there was a big crowd who came along to ach of the five who had become their friends in the last three weeks. Together we had done loads: visiting parishioners’ house and really getting to know them, working with them (big Christine in the Nursery and the rest down the school). Of course it was different from Andy’s last visit in 2005 because then I didn’t even live in Nueva Prosperina and hardly knew many people; now I have got to know so many people that there is tremendous opportunities to visit people and see how families truly live here. The highlight of their visit was the farewell we had this morning: Mass at the school followed by a presentation of traditional dances from the pupils along with handfuls of presents – school jerseys, Ecuador flags and home-made cards. This was followed by the visitors treating everyone in the school to hot chocolate and a bun. The school makes a real impact on anyone that visits. Last weekend we had the Parish Fiesta Football Competition. In good Ecuadorian spirit, although it was scheduled for an 8am start, it didn’t get underway until 9.30am. Some chapels had sent two or three teams but some only one. In any case we had enough teams to make three leagues: boys 10-13; boys 14-16; and girls 14-16. Gerard and Johnny got involved in two different teams and Gerard even got to the final in his category although he didn’t actually get the winners medal (we suspect a bit of cheating from the ref!). Once again though it was a good occasion for people to come together and enjoy themselves! I had also gone down to Ayangue with Andy and Christine and the crew. They were good days to relax and enjoy the seaside after all the pressure of the Parish Fiesta. One of the days we took a two-hour walk to Playa Rosada where Paul Sanders and John Keane got stranded last year. There were no problems for us about getting stranded – the only hassle was the very large waves. We all started off paddling but ended up fully in the water – fun all round! We also have another Scots visitor out in our area: Bishop Joe Toal is out visiting Colin MacInnes who is inaugurating another Church this coming Sunday. It is great to see him out here since he has himself supported both this mission and Colin’s. It is the first time I have seen him since he became Bishop last year. Bienvenido, Joe!

What a Fiesta that was! On Sunday there we had around 1400 people out at El Cenaclulo retreat centre for our Parish Fiesta. And what a great day it was. It took a lot of organizing and it was clear from about 0630 onwards that the crowds were going to be big! They were lined up all around the Church from early on … and, as I suspected, it was the people without tickets that arrived first!!! When we eventually got there – 25 buses and more on their own steam – it was a great day. We started with the presentation of the individual chapel who put on chants or songs around our theme of ‘missionary disciples’. After that we had a very moving Benediction service with Freddy and his youth group from Resucitado chapel leading us – it seemed that Freddy was transfixed in a heavenly gaze. Powerful! After that we split up into four very large groups – toddlers, kids, youth, and adults – for talks on the theme. After that I had organized a Treasure Hunt for the young folk around the Retreat Centre – that was terrific fun too. Lunch and then get ready fro Mass. Throughout the day we had music from Tito and Damian, raising above the roofs most of the time but also getting us to be truly quiet and reflective when it was needed. Tito is a great trouper. Most of all what I loved was the smiles on people’s faces. For families and young folk who live in dusty sectors where there are no places to play football, it was just great to see the kids playing on the swings, the young people playing football and basketball and the adult sitting around chatting. A great Parish day all in all. After that it was a quick turnaround as we had to get Elise and Rachel off to the airport for their farewell. Their final touch was to donate the bed they had bought and used to their new-found friend, Carmen. She had been great with them throughout their three weeks and it was moving to see how they had got close to one another, especially in the Soup Kitchen. For Elise and for Rachel it was very clear that their time here had been moving – every day was a new experience, new people and a new perspective on how poor people live. They started off knowing that poor people live in shanty towns and ended up knowing some great friends in poor conditions. Of course that is not the end of the friends as I am still surrounded with Andy and Christine, their tow kids, Gerard and Christine and their pal, Johnny. Wherever we went last week it was all eight together in the truck – a little bumpy but good fun. We went to meet the other St. James guys for our regular Monday meal, we saw the Iguanas, and we visited the Napos family, Freddy’s family and many more. More than that, they worked down the school and in the Nursery each morning so that was, as ever, a great way of getting to know the people. Now that Rachel and Elise are away, it is the Hands that will be doing the visiting and the work for the week ahead. One of the constant events of last week was the Novena in preparation for Sunday’s Fiesta. We had split it up amongst each of the chapels: they brought their own music and musicians; they lead the prayers; and they each put on a moving ceremony about the theme for that night. We also had invited speakers to lead us in the talks about being ‘missionary disciples’. In general they were good but one, in particular, was far too long – 35 minutes – which meant that people were falling off their seats …. Literally! All in all, it was much better than previous years and I think made a deep effect on many people. The Church was packed for each night. Now we have moved into a period of calm after the storm and the only remaining part of the Fiesta period is the football competition next Saturday which, with the Hands here with their footballing expertise, should be great fun!

We’re on the threshold of being overrun with guests here. Elise and Rachel continue to flourish in their Latin home but tomorrow we have five more coming: Andy, Christine, Gerard, Christine and Johnny. This has meant that part of my week was getting the house ready, moving furniture all over the place and getting new beds and sheets. It will be great to have the house so busy. We are also in the midst of our Parish Novena. We are now on Day Three and it seems to be going well. Different from previous years we have all the nights in the Parish Church where a different chapel leads the liturgy and there is a guest speaker to lead the reflection. The main theme is that we are ‘missionary disciples of Jesus Christ who came to give us life’. The Masses and Novena are all lively and there are some imaginative ideas coming out too. This morning we had our Parish Eucharistic Walk when I carry the Blessed Sacrament through the whole of the Parish visiting the eight chapels on the way. As in previous years people popped in and out of the Walk. Damian and David kept the singing going (Tito is laid up in bed) but we had to stop every so often to let the oldies at the back catch up --- I was at the front. At each chapel the catechists had prepared small prayer services and had decorated the chapel. Of course, a great innovation this year was that, when we finished at Narcisa chapel, they had prepared Hot Chocolate for us; it went down a treat. Next Sunday we have our Parish Fiesta at the retreat centre of ‘El Cenaculo’. It promises to be a great affair although there could be too many folk! Booking buses and keeping a check on them is a nightmare. At the start of the week we headed off to Ayangue with Rachel and Elise for our monthly meeting of the St. James’ Society. It was excellent weather the two days we were there and I had a chance to jog along the beach and then swim in the pool. Fantastic! As ever there were decent meals and good craic so it was terrific.

The big event of last week was my 45th Birthday. Birthdays are real serious affairs here and you cannot let one go by unnoticed. So I was not surprised that the celebrations go going two days early when I was at Friday night Mass in Narcisa chapel. They had a big banner behind the altar ‘Feliz Cumpleaños’ so there was no mistaking they were in party mood. After Mass we went back to Helena’s house where we were treated to popcorn and cake, after we had shown off our dancing skills! Then on Sunday there were two Masses where a cake made an appearance – La Paz and Resucitado chapels – and I celebrated in Ecuadorian style by biting the cake so that the people behind me could shove my face in said cakes! After that it was get-to-bed-early because there was to be a party at the school on my Birthday morning. However at 12 midnight I was awoken with a long bang as a ten-strong group serenaded me from the street. So it was up again and have more cake, more songs and more dancing. Back to bed at 1.30am. Then up again at 5am as another group of seranaders came a-calling! After that there was no point in going to sleep because it was time to get down to the school. And, as I opened the door into the main yard, there was a column on either side, fifteen fifth-year girls in pink ball gowns and fifteen fifth-year gentlemen in suits (all hired I suppose) as an entrance to what can only be described as a school show. Amazing that they had taken the time and effort. Fantastic! And, of course, I had to do a Highland Fling, although I wasn’t kilted-out! By the time the evening came, I was fiesta-ed out but not before we had the last party and the last cake of the year. Once again my face was in it! Feliz Cumpleaños! All of this was done in a backdrop of my niece, Elise, had her pal, Rachel being out here visiting for three weeks. Their plane arrived ahead of schedule and I don’t think they have stopped since they got here. After the weekend of getting to know all the people and the chapels, they got going with work down the school: peeling tatties, cutting up onions and then teaching English. In the afternoons, after catching up with sleep, we have walked around the town and met various families in their homes. Of course, the people immediately have taken them to their hearts and invited them to various places: a group took them into the city on Wednesday night; and then Carmen, their ally in the Soup Kitchen, asked them round to paint their nails. You come out to the shanty and you end up getting your nails painted!!! A big event of last week was the visit of a possible donor from the USA, Rachel Blair who had come through the local Rotary club that has done various jobs for us. Basically she is interested in helping with the equipping of the Medical Centre that we had been working on for some time. Unfortunately the funds have been slow in coming but Rachel was keen to help. So we showed her around the area, the site where the Centre is to be built and we had a long discussion with the housing charity that will run the Centre. There are still a few problems: the housing charity have still to get the legal papers to the land; the charity ‘2 Hands’ is confirming how much money is pledged for the construction; and Rotary is to sort out its paperwork. However, it all looks as if things can maybe move forward in some sort of way???? All of this happened after my fantastic visit to Quito. Of course, in the company of Colm Hogan from Tipperary, the best thing about the visit was staying with Paddy McIntyre, a very funny priest from Derry. It was indeed laugh a minute. But we managed to pack a load into the two days we were there: tourist attractions of Quito city; visit up north to wood-carving town; and a run up the cable car that gives you tremendous vies over the capital city! Thanks, Paddy!

I am up in Quito for two days with Colm Hogan making a visit to Paddy McIntyre, an Irish priest who has been working here with St. James for over 25 years. Apart from great admiration for his work, he is a great personality with a great laugh. We have not stopped laughing since we arrived. AS well as laughing though we have been doing some shopping for Church things: statues etc, for our Churches back in Guayaquil. Of course, I have just seen off Joe Bradley and Gerry Croall after their week with us in Nueva Prosperina. What a great week they had. Such a short time meant that we had to squeeze a load in. They both worked in the school each weekday morning: while Joe was shadowing Tito in music classes (tin whistle) and English, Gerry was showing off his culinary skills in the Soup Kitchen. Being part of the school community is always a tremendous thing for our visitors as it brings them into very close contact with 500 shanty residents. However the key for Joe and Gerry was then to visit some of the houses in the afternoons to show how these well-dressed pupils lived once they leave the safety of the school. I think it would be fair to say they were shocked at what they saw: the very basic living conditions without running water, sewerage and electricity and so many family members squashed together in cramped surroundings. We also went to the various Masses in the week and over the weekend which allowed them to see further into Parish life. I personally loved having them out with me here – Gerry I have met on several occasions back home but I have known Joe through HCPT and his family over many years. Both have done a lot to raise money for us over here. They are great sports. The sad event of the week was the farewell for Ed Veasey. After 20 years with the Society and eighteen of them in the poor south-side area of Guasmo, he has decided to take a sabbatical fro six months. He will be going to preach in Boston and then in Scotland before heading to a retreat centre in England. We had had a farewell from the missionary priests last week but last Friday there was a big Mass with the Archbishop in Ed’s Parish. It was a very emotional affair as Ed had been part of that Parish and of people’s lives for all those years. Best of luck, Ed, in these months ahead. The other event I want to mention is the Baptism of 40 children on Saturday. Normally I have a big number of Baptisms towards the end of the year as we approach First Communion season. However, the other Catholic school in our Parish, San Ignacio, had done a sweep to find out how many kids were not baptized within their school roll. So that was the result. And more or less you could say it was very difficult trying to Baptise so many and keep control. But I think we got there.

So we’re all feeling a little down after yesterday’s result! This week has been a bit of a whirlwind in terms of construction. The wall at Maestro was finished and looks as good as it did before it fell down last time!!! Hopefully, with the new structure put in place, it will survive any further landslides. Either that or the whole chapel will slide down the hill?? Then, just as that was finishing, I asked the architect to look at the path and staircase outside the Parish Church and all the way down the side past the house and Nursery. Basically the rains over the past two years have caused quite a bit of erosion of the stairway. So it needed restructuring and a proper drainage system put in place (since the city council will not do it, it’s up to individuals to get that sorted). What amazed me was that the architect decided to go for it right there and then. And, within a day, had ten men working on it. As a result it was completed within three days finishing on Saturday there. And, as if it were a test from heaven, the rain came on just as they were finishing seeing if the drainage they had constructed was going to be effective. Positive result. Which was just as well since I was already “toasting” their good work in the usual fashion. Thanks, lads. We were at Ayangue down the coast for our monthly meeting with the St. James’ priests. That is always good occasion with a lot of singing, craic and catching up. This time there was sadness in the air as Ed Veasey, who has been here for twenty years or more, is leaving to do a six month sabbatical. He has been in Guasmo, a really poor area of the city for the last eighteen years and has done a power of work with a very simple manner. He is a true missionary. We wish him well as he moves into a new phase of missionary work.

I was glad to go to Bismarck’s 3rd birthday party the other day. His Dad had just made a passing comment on Saturday about his party and I thought I might not have time what with Masses etc. But, on my way to another Mass, I stopped by the house and I was glad I did. Not only was the main man in good birthday form but there was a swimming pool inside their shanty house. An amazing experience. I didn’t actually go in the pool but I did dance and I did eat the cake. So I was suitably birthday-ed up!!! Feliz Cumpleaños, Bismarck!

The funniest part of this week’s agenda was on Thursday. I was taking my computer into the shop to get a check-over. The computer shop is in a posh part of the city and, while I was explaining to the guy what was wrong with the machine, I looked out to see my car getting clamped and towed away! Hey, my car! One of the things that I have learned here is that the traffic cop sometimes let you off if you speak nicely. So I tried all my charm, but to no avail. The young cop was taking so many photos of my supposed ‘badly parked car’ that it could have made a big album. In the midst of it all, the strangest question was whether I wanted to ride in my own car while it was getting towed to the car-pound. No! So there then ensued a whole procession of going from office to office across the city trying to get my paper work in order so that I could get the car back. Several hours later I arrived at the place only to find that the lady needed a ‘lawyer’s letter” to accompany a certain signature. Having been all over the city getting what I thought was the right papers, I took a deep breath and brought into play another thing I have learned about here: the word ‘no’ doesn’t actually mean ‘no’, it is only the beginning of a conversation! So, after explaining what job I did and how the car would be indispensable, she went and asked a supervisor who asked another supervisor who then let me off! A lot of running around all day, a fine yes but luckily no points on my licence. I have just come from the early morning Dawn Rosary. It is tradition here in the month of May that a group meets near each chapel at 5am each Saturday to walk the streets prayuing the Rosary. It is a real drag getting you out of bed and praying at that hour but they always seem so enthusiastic! The other way of looking at it is there are only two Saturdays left! Catechism and the preparation for First Communion and Confirmation take up quite a bit of time. Firstly I have been helping with the training of the teachers (catechists) themselves and then there is the ordering of the books for the kids. And with over a thousand kids split between the various chapels, there is a lot of running around to do. But we love it! The building of the Maestro wall continues onwards and upwards. It seems stronger than the last time and I get the impression that it will not fall or slide with the next rains!

Another sad day! Clare & Stu, Dave & Jen have now headed home after a very fast week of hard work and laughs. Hard work in the sense that they painted the entrance wall down at the school (complete with school & title small designs) and many visits around the Parish. And laughs in the sense that wherever we were, it was always fun. Even to the wee hours, it was laugh after laugh. Of course, not everything went to plan: they missed a connection on the way over and so had to stay an extra day in Miami. This might have been a good place to stay for an extra day but actually it meant they missed a day here. As well as painting, they also were guests of honour at the Inauguration Ceremony last Monday for the new classrooms: as is the custom here, the ceremony included dances and songs as well as the Blessing itself. They even put on a small play about how the school developed from bamboo huts to brick built classrooms. All four guests thoroughly enjoyed themselves throughout the week and were able to get so close to all members of the community. And, once again, it was the home visits that made the deepest impression on them. Personally I am soooo grateful for their giving and for the friendship. Muchas gracias. A few days before they arrived, I was over in the very wealthy part of town for a wedding reception. David Cupery is an American friend I met through our school. He is over here doing a post-grad course. One of the off-shoots of his Uni work here, however, was that he met his future wife. I think she comes from a fairly wealthy background for they got married in a lavish civil ceremony on an exclusive beach and then had their reception at this very wealthy part of town. You should have seen the size of the mansions as I drove in to the reception – massive, like you only see in movies. And I thought to myself how ill-divided the world is. Here are so many people in Nueva Prosperina living in abject poverty and thirty minutes away they are in absolute dripping wealth. Still I wish Dave and Karen all the best for their married life together. On the building front, we are still repairing the wall out at Maestro. At the start I had said to the architect that, since we were short of cash, I only wanted a bamboo structure on top of a solid foundation but then he told me that he owed me $3000. He owed me???? So I took the cash back and said to him that he should use the extra money to repair the wall as best as he can! The Catechism classes have started again. In six of the Parish chapels we have many kids wanting to make the sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation. I think there is almost three hundred for First Communion in December and over 1,000 in total for all levels of our catechetics programme The saddest story from this week is the visit I made with our four Scots pals. I went to see Luis, his wife and six kids, four of whom attend our School and Soup Kitchen. I wanted to see the situation of the families behind the Soup Kitchen. Basically Luis was knocked down by a falling tree a year and a half ago. After many operations (costly) in the “poor man’s hospital”, he was left paraplegic, disabled from the neck down. I went out with Dave & Jen and Stu & Clare and I think we were just bowled over by how happy the family was, in the midst of great poverty. Yes, they are poor but the mother works so hard to try and get whatever the kids need. The Scots were able to give them a Celtic top each so they were out playing football in the street. I wish I had visited them so much earlier so that I might have been able to help a bit sooner but now that I know them, I will be able to get out every other week.

The big visit of the week was of Natalie & Fiona from Ambato up north. They are doing a year-out from Strathclyde Uni and are teaching there. I have been in touch with them by net over the year and was glad that they were able to manage down fro the weekend. We went to various Church events while here and also had a chance to have a walk around the Parish with yours truly pointing out the high spots. Thanks girls. Disaster zone! Out at Maestro chapel, which was only inaugurated in October, we have had a disaster. Basically there is a fault line running through the ground on that hillside which skirts the edge of the plot of land. Although there is no damage to the actual chapel, the outer wall has been buckled beyond recognition. There is no blame with the architect or the way he built it, but it is just amazing how nothing of this appeared in the past four years. There is a whole line of houses down the hillside that have been damaged and a crater, like in an earthquake, has opened up in most gardens/houses all along that line. So we are doing basic repair on it at the moment – further cost – and then we will see if it can be properly replaced. Last Sunday was Election Day – the fourth general election there has been in five years. Rafael Correa, our President, set up a new Constitution last year and it called for fresh elections. It is the first time in Ecuador’s history that a President can be re-elected and, with two years already under his belt, it is possible that Correa could be in for a further eight years until 2017. I am glad of the result – Correa as President if for no other reason that changing President every two years is not good for stability. Apart from that the nearest candidate was Lucio Gutierrez was ousted only four years ago as President and had to leave the country in a helicopter and under armed guard???? Our school year is well underway now and I go down every other day for classroom visits and Masses. Actually last week was my first Mass because they were using the chapel as a store for all jotters and books etc. So it was good to get back to it being a chapel. Of course it was secondary school kids whoa re the same unresponsive kids the world over. I wasn’t upset about it, just chuckling inside, but the teachers thought it was a disgrace. Not me, just the usual. We can’t be jumping up and down singing alleluia all the time. I had the head Rotary President out last week to make a visit to our water project (which is working so well that no-one is talking about it). She came with a big entourage and we walked down to the school and back. I think they were impressed. Basically they sunk a well in the school two years ago and now they have brought water 300 metres away up to my house – which provides water also to the Nursery and the Church. On the way we give water to the state primary and to the state secondary (which our blessed President is building). So loads of water all over the place and, now that it is in place, two other schools are asking for water too! Progress, progress!

Well Duncan has now left – in fact by now he should be back in Scotland resting. He had a terrific time while here – he gave his all in the building site at the school sweating through the heat and gave his all at the various services. His farewell speech on Sunday night was heartfelt to a community that he will carry inside him for many years to come. Naturally enough last week had a lot of Duncan in it. The school build is almost finished – only a few tidying up jobs left. Duncan spent his days I think sifting sand and, as the days went by, communication got better. So that, when we came to a meal on Friday to say thanks to all the workers that had taken part in the 3 classroom build, he was very much part of their friendship. The classrooms are being used but we will have a formal opening ceremony I think when the next visitors are out. On Thursday night I took Duncan along to the Hilton hotel where the Rotary Club was meeting. I am not a member but went along last week to say thanks for the Club laying the water pipes up from the school. Getting free water from our well at the school means that in the Nursery and Church we are saving $250 a month!!! This money can now be used for other things. The Rotary members are a bit posh and certainly very very wealthy but they have been generous to us. So I took along a bottle of whisky to say thanks! We had a big day on Saturday for Catechists. The housing charity, Hogar de Cristo, ran it as they do a whole course for catechists and had invited around 150 catechists from five of the neighbouring Parishes. I was involved in the initial animation of the day and it was amazing to see how “up for it” they were from the beginning, literally it was jumping! After a few sessions of catechist work, we retired to the swimming where I was able to practice my dives. Good fun spending time with catechists who work so hard. This week I have also been quite heavily involved in the Parish youth work – it seems that myself and Tito, our Parish youth leader, were at all of the groups talking and encouraging. The young people are so enthusiastic for the work and keen to get all sorts of activities going. I am up for it too. So, once Duncan was safely dispatched to the airport, it was off to Ayangue with the priests from the St. James’ Society for our monthly meeting, catching up on all the chat and resting for a day after the rigours of Easter.

Paul came and went since I last wrote. Duncan Smith arrived before I came back from Scotland but Paul arrived last Monday and stayed for over a week. The two of them went down the school to work so that was good and worked out well: Duncan helping in labouring at the classroom build; and Paul in the English classes. I would say though that Duncan seemed the most tired when they came back to the house. In any case, the school were very happy to have them working and appreciated their work!!!! They gave them a welcome/farewell meal on Wednesday with the usual handicraft gifts. Of course, they were both here during the busiest week of the year – Holy Week. All the ceremonies went well. The Mass of Chrism on Thursday morning I attended myself while they were working at the school. It was good enough although the ‘rammy’ at the end to get the Holy Oils was terrible. Then at night time the Mass of the Lord’s Supper was very well attended and I washed 16 feet – Paul reckoned that there would have been more then just the apostles in the Upper Room so maybe there were more than 12 feet to be washed. On Friday we had the three-and-a-half hour epic Stations of the Cross up past the Rubbish tip. It was so well done (in particular Victor’s acting as Jesus was superb) I was moved to tears as it was going on. The actual crucifixion scene was incredible. At night we had a full Church for the Good Friday celebration. Saturday morning saw our youth convention – well attended in Carmen chapel by around 120 young people. Twas very good with great enthusiasm. Then the Easter Vigil turned into the Piece de Resistance of all celebrations with 0ver 500 people filling the Church. As the night went on and people’s participation in the readings passed the numbers dwindled but, as light came into the Church around 6.30am on Sunday morning, we were still very busy. Highlights were the Good and Evil drama from the chapel here, the fireworks at the Ceremony of Light and Tania receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation. Once again it was very worthwhile in having an all-night vigil. Of course, Duncan, Paul and myself were absolutely shattered at the end of it all. But, after five or six hours sleep, we got into the car and headed up the coast so that they could see a little bit of a different Ecuador than the shanty towns of Guayaquil. We went to Puerto Lopez and it was great just to have a night of chatting and eating beside a beautiful Pacific sunset. In the morning we walked into the ocean and then headed down the road. A very worthwhile relax after the hectic Holy Week.

Okay that’s me just about ready to go out the door as I head home for Mum & Dad’s 50th Wedding Anniversary. It will be a great occasion and I am really looking forward to being at this proud event. Of course, the folk here want to be involved in the moment and are sending a few home-made presents. I am sure they will be appreciated. Last week I was at Ayangue with the St. James’ guys for our monthly meeting. It was the usual business mixed with a bit of swimming. It is always great to get together with the other priests every so often to catch up but also to encourage one another and to hear everyone’s story. Of course, with a strong Irish contingent, we celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with a fine meal – roast beef, as far as I remember. When the priests went away on Wednesday morning, I stayed on because I had a teachers retreat to give; the teachers from the Parish School normally start the year with a retreat and I suggested that we could have it in Ayangue since I was going to be there. It was a relaxed affair – we prayed and shared but there was also time for the teachers to get a swim in the sea! The most touching part of the retreat was when we had a night-time Stations of the Cross through the village with each teacher carrying the heavy cross. The prayers in the night-time were at the very least poignant as each person related something of their own life-story. Once back in Nueva Prosperina I got stuck into work with Lent and the Masses. It was a busy weekend as we also had three youth meetings with the parents. There are a few youth events planned for the next month or two so we had to bring the parents up to speed with what is happening. The youth work is something that I love as it is full of life. The school building is now nearing its completion and should be fully ready by the time I come back from Scotland. I can see it from my house and I could see the second floor going up and the roof going on. My only concern is that we might be losing a few pupils this year. The school year starts in April so a lot of parents are signing up in these last days of March. However, Ecuador’s President has offered free state education and many people are taking advantage of that. Our school cannot compete with FREE education but hopefully the proof of our worth is in the good education we have provided now for six years. It remains to be seen how well we do with numbers once April comes. So it’s off for Scotland and the celebrations. Chaocito!

The big disappointment of this week was that Rachael Blair cancelled her visit to us. She is a member of a Rotary Club in the USA whom I had met (when Disco Dave was out) up north in Manta. We have been planning for some time to renew and extend the small Medical Centre that is at one corner of the school. You may remember that in recent weeks we secured the land beside the Nursery for the building of the new Medical Centre; all that was needed was one or two more donations. Rachael had promised us a donation …. But, at the last minute she got the flu. So we were all pretty disappointed at the cancellation but I do hope that she gets better, that she will come out soon and that she can help us with the building work. Down at the school it is work, work, work. This week they have put up the walls on the second floor classrooms and started putting the iron roof-structure on. In spite of heavy rains which have really hampered the work, they have made good progress. Good on you, Pedro. I was party to a bit of really good news last week. One of our young catechists, Jose Luis, from La Paz chapel has decided to go to the seminary. We took him along to an Applicants’ fortnight last Sunday (so he’s still there just now) and it was great to see so many – about thirty – taking part in this selection week. Jose Luis is a really dedicated person and recently got a big Community award from his secondary school in the centre of town. HE really wants to do this and I hope he gets into the seminary and finds happiness through the years there as he tries to listen to God’s call. I went with Tito, our Parish youth co-ordinator, to El Triunfo on Friday. Along with his wife, Lourdes and three-year old daughter, Yerly, we set off early. I had thought the journey would be much longer; as it was, it only took us an hour and a half. The reason for the visit was to go to a retreat centre where we will have our big youth Convention in June. I think there are about 120 already signed up for it. It promises to be a really fun-filled but deeply spiritual event. And I am looking forward to it. At that time, my niece, Elise, will be out with her pal, Rachel, so I am sure they will enjoy it too. More Catechism visits this week as I try and get the catechists to sign up for our training programme: so far we have just short of ninety catechists, up on last year. The very nice moment of the week came in the shape of a Full English Breakfast. I met Les Dickens, from the east end of London, last year by accident. He is FIFA’s rep for Ecuador and also runs a pretty successful perfume business that supply all over South America. He has made several donations to the kids at our school (he helps with their fees) but each time he does that he invites me to his house for a big fry-up. Fantastic. Which is where I was on Tuesday. Oh, and he also can get his hands on back-copies of Coronation Street!!!!

Well there we are the second House Swap and I am still standing. This week I swapped house with Freddy and once again it was a wonderful experience. I suppose the idea of the whole thing is to get a closer experience of how people in the sector live without running water (therefore no showers and no flushing toilet) and with poor electricity. I had Freddy’s house at the back of his Mum’s house. Freddy’s brother, Diego and his sister, Yesenia along with her two daughters (Nicole and Brittany) live there so it is a busy house. Basically I lived in Freddy’s house but ate with the larger family – Freddy’s house is so small there is no room for a kitchen. Of course, I did a house swap last July so I was quite used to the toilet beside the pigs but I decided that I would just wash (throw water over myself) in Freddy’s house – it was just as easy. I made good friends once again with the pigs, although one spat on me today! The big difference this time round is that we are in the rainy season so there is a large pool of lying water in the middle of the back yard which I presume has all sorts of bacteria living in it. As well as that, there was one night that the rain was coming in on top of the bed where I was sleeping. As I got into bed, I realized that I was underneath a drip but then though there is no solution …. So I just put my head under the covers and went to sleep. And it worked!!! Of course, the best bit about the whole experience was sharing time with Freddy’s family. Like Freddy, they are lovely people and it was just great to sit round at nighttime and share all the stories of the day, rest in the hammock and then head off to sleep. By way of thank you to them I invited them for lunch today so, as well as eating well, they went away with extra plates of leftovers which I am sure they will devour. Muchas Gracias, Freddy. The other side of this week was that I did not use the car at all – apart from one emergency. So it was up and down hill to get to visits and up and down hill to get to Masses. And buses into the city centre the twice I needed to get there. I was shattered most nights but glad of the extra opportunity to live simply and meet the people in a much closer way. The school build continues to move forward. This week they are putting the pillars up on the second floor. So I really do think they will be finished more or less for the start of the new school year on April 5th. I have also continued to make my visits to the various chapels to meet with our Parish Catechists as they too prepare to start a new Catechetical year. And then there’s the youth work so……. It’s no rest for the wicked!

I was out to see Colin today – for the second time this week. I was there on Monday with Bob Thomas and Paddy (down from Quito to see him). He is in a priests’ recovery home on the other side of the city after getting an operation to correct a bad hip operation last year. He seems in good form but it will take him several months I think before he is back to normal. Slowly but surely. While out in that direction I stopped off to see another of our priests, Liam Reilly, who stayed a couple of weeks in my house as he was starting out his missionary journey. He took over a Parish last year and has really taken to it - at the moment he is building the chapel house and it looks as if it will be very good. Although his parish is on the other side of the city, it is still very poor. Indeed one of the striking things about his area is that, even outwith the rainy season, it seems to be under water. So now that we are fully into it (we had more torrential rains this week), Liam is positively swimming. I was down at the school build today and, amazingly for only having been at it for three weeks, they are going to lay the second floor tomorrow. Manuela and his team just seem to get on with the work. There never seem to be any fights or disagreements (maybe they stop when I am there) and they certainly get on with the jobs. I think this particular job will not last very long – they can build classrooms with their eyes shut – although I hope they keep them open. Rotary Club business took up a bit of time for me this week. Firstly they are still finishing details for the water getting pumped up to the house – I think it might take a few more days. Then, and perhaps more importantly we are preparing for the visit of Rachael Blair the week after next. We met her up in Manta last October at the Projects Fair, with her Scottish husband, Loudon Blair. I am looking forward to seeing them and introducing them, to life in Nueva Prosperina not least because we hope she might make a contribution to the Medical Centre. This week as well as pouring rain was also Carnival week which meant that people were either throwing water at one another or chucking people in it. Well you know how I disapprove of all that tomfoolery. But I made an exception this time and got involved. Funnily enough it was last Sunday morning after the Masses at La Paz and San Ignacio where all the tricks were. As ever the people presume I will not take part but then do. So it was dirty and wet clothes all last weekend. Lovely. This of course leads into Ash Wednesday and the five celebrations I had throughout the Parish. I am always amazed how people know it is Ash Wednesday if they never go to Church for they come out in their droves. I was late for every celebration because the crowds were so big and they services took longer and longer. And, when I eventually got to the main chapel for 8pm service (started at 8.30pm), it was jammed packed. So happy Lent everyone. And finally, I have recovered fully. Yip I was not well last week – upset stomach etc etc. And when we had our welcome party at Frank Jones’ place last Monday for Dominic, I was so ill I did not know which way to turn. However, after a few tablets and medicated drinks, I am on the mend.

The big news of the week is that Dominic Quinn has arrived in Ecuador to star his missionary journey here. After having spend a couple of weeks in Peru at the Centre House there (getting paperwork sorted) he arrived this afternoon. The welcoming committee was there with its Celtic strip on and, after the initial banners & hugs etc, we went off to have a wee lunch together. Dominic has been appointed to work with Frank Jones in his Parish in a nearby part of the city so we all wish him all the best as he sets out on this journey. From one Scots missionary to another. Colin MacInnes, my friend and neighbouring parish priest is in hospital. Basically the hip operation in Scotland last year did not set as it should have and, for some time, he was in considerable pain. After a few tests he went in this week to get the procedure corrected. And, when I went in to see him the other day, he was in good form chatting away. And tomorrow he is going off to a rest home in Duran on the other side of the river. It is a place run by nuns and will give Colin a good chance of a recovery away from the hassle of the Parish door bell going every few seconds. A speedy recovery, Colin. Having been away in Peru last week, it was good to get back and see how the school building programme was going. Two weeks into the project you can now see the three classrooms taking shape – 2 up and one down. I am always amazed at how quickly the initial weeks go – very quickly it all takes shape. And, of course, with our trusted foreman, Manuel, at the helm, it will always be a happy team. Having said that there are a few new faces this time – and a couple of top year students who are doing it as their summer job… it looks like they are good workers too. I have just had the electrician in for the water pump. Basically the water from the school well is being pumped up to the Nursery and Church, bringing water to two schools on the way. It will be a tremendous bonus to us here as the water that comes in in water tanks is so costly. In any case, it should be flowing within two weeks. Aye right! I have been out and about this week all over the place on foot, visiting folk in their houses and just generally getting out. As a result, my shoes have been caked in mud. When I was going to get Dominic today I thought maybe I should clean my shoes up and then I thought ‘no, this is how we live here’. It’s like a muddy badge of honour. I also try to get into the Nursery at least once a week and I was there yesterday. Basically I go from class to class and talk to the weans and get them high. At the moment there are not so many kids as they are on their long holiday. Having said that, it is always great to get in and, as a book on school chaplaincy used to say ’waste time with the kids’.

Last Saturday I went to Jose’s Graduation party. I don’t much like Saturday night parties because Saturday’s are the nights that I really want to get to sleep early. But hey, Jose is a music group member and youth group leader, so I was happy to be with them. Unfortunately it was on the other side of the city and my going meant that I became a taxi for about twenty young folk in the truck. The party itself was good with dance, cake and chatting. The downside was that I was shattered for the Masses on Sunday morning, not least the First Communion Mass I had at Resucitado!!!

Well, the St. James Society AGM came and went and, as ever it was marked with meetings and talks of one kind or another. The talks were very good: child protection and what it means for our Parishes; preventative medicine; as well as our business meetings for St. James’ internal matters. And I can tell you that I have made St. James history: I have held the post of Ecuador country co-ordinator for the shortest period of time – 80 days. Basically I was elected at our November meeting but there was a call for a re-election and, at the new election, Frank Jones was elected as country co-ordinator. As someone then said: “there is not a post in St. James that Martin has not held …. Well for at least ten minutes!” In any case, there was a lot of time to sit around chatting, catching up with all the guys who had come also from Peru and Bolivia. And there was even a sing-song. So I come back to Guayaquil refreshed and, indeed, relieved of the pressures of office

I loved getting out and about this week through the mud which, as a result of the growing rainfalls, has appeared all over the Parish. Basically what happens is that, during the day, it gets hotter and hotter so that it is unbearable and then it starts to pour around about 6pm (just when I am thinking about going out for Mass somewhere). This week was marked by Graduation ceremonies and fiestas. Jose Luis is one of our catechists, guitarists and youth group leaders at La Paz chapel (he is also applying for entry to seminary in April). So, when he invited me to his Graduation (not Uni just Secondary school), I was happy to take up the offer. He goes to a school nearby our Parish that, like many poor schools, gets subsidized by a rich school. So the Graduation ceremony was in the hallowed halls of San Jose L Salle, secondary school to future Presidents. The ceremony was very fine and was marked by Jose Luis getting a special one-ff prize for Service to the Community. He was smiling from ear to ear. After that it was back to Andresito’s house (he came to Scotland last year) where he was having a fiesta for his Graduation: it is fairly traditional here that the fiesta meal is rice with chicken so I wasn’t let down! And then tonight, Tonio, our drummer at the Parish Church and also youth group leader, is having a Graduation ceremony but, since it is on the other side of the city, I might not be able to manage it. In any case two days and three Graduations!!! This week was slightly unusual in that I had to go on three separate occasions into the city centre on various bits of business. Since I didn’t need to carry things back and forward and was only going for meetings and stuff, I decided to take the new Metrovia bus back and forward. Basically it operates like a mix between a tram and the subway: there are only two or three main lines in the city and only set stops. However, two weeks ago they out in a feeder line that runs right past my house. So I decided to hop on and, fifty minutes later, was in the city centre. The only drawback is that for most of the journey you are squashed together like sardines. But who can complain for 25 cents each way? After a pause of a few months we started construction again. One of the local Rotary clubs had been offering for some time to lay water pipes from the school water supply up to the Nursery and Church. On Monday they started for real and, after moving incredibly fast, they got all the way from Nursery to School. Next week they will do the electrical work at the school and also the pipe work through the Nursery. But I would imagine that, within ten days, I will have a better and cheaper water supply …. Since, at the moment, water is costing me $50 per week!! The other project is the school where we are building the last three classrooms that are needed to make it a fully brick-built school. Since we have been adding a year group each year, this April (when we start a new school year) we will need two new classrooms. So the plan is to build three classrooms and a playground. All in time hopefully for an April start. We shall see.

Well, I am sitting here like a ripe red tomato. The reason being, once again, I went out on the beach without sun protection. You always think ’oh, well, it’s not actually blazing sunshine’ so it’ll not burn. But it does so I have been putting on cream and more cream and more cream. I was away with the teachers up the coast for their annual trip except this year we went for an overnight. The reason for that, if you remember, was that we had been due to go on retreat for a few days in October but a problem came up in the staff and we stayed back to do in-service. Anyway, this time we were off no problem: we went in country up to Manabi province and Puerto Lopez. There we went to a small community called ‘Aguas Blancas’ where a man took us around the countryside for an hour and showed us all sorts of animal life and vegetation. It was very interesting (mmmmmm) but much more so was the sculpture pool where we went bathing. The idea is that you cover yourself in sulphur mud and it helps the complexion (mmmmmmmmmm?). We then made our way down the coast – standing on the back of a truck for an hour and a half) till we got to Libertador Bolivar and the parents’ house of Asucena, one of our teachers. There we stayed for the night, after we had danced a bit and gone a midnight walk on the beach. Next day was the ‘getting-burnt-on-the-beach’ day but it was great fun. The waves were enormous and you had to have your wits about you to withstand the strength of them. In any case, it was a fantastic two days and once again showed that the staff at our school are a great bunch of people. Before that on Wednesday we had our Primary 7 graduation ceremony. This year it was in the Parish Hall and not in the school – mainly, I think to get more people in. It was very fine with the usual formality (Let’s stand for the National Anthem), a plate of rice and chicken and loads of photos at the end. Still smiling. The heavy rains have continued to fall – this week, and last night in particular, the heavy heavy stuff has arrived. It is amazing how it just sweeps everything in its path. Last night, being Friday, I was in Narcisa chapel when the rain started. So when I returned through San Ignacio I saw how the rain was flowing so fast that it was bringing all the rubbish left at the top of the street. It was like rubbish and waste spread out all over the long street. Today there is a big clear-up going on all over the place. Leonor from San Ignacio has been in the news again – her retention wall fell away last year as a result of the rains and God alone knows what might happen this year. I think she sleeps at the front of the house away from the walls that might fall in. (I have just come back in from Divino Nino 5pm Mass on a Saturday and I think it would be fair to say it is chucking it down. Thunder. THUNDER and Lightning. Just going from the Church to the car I got soaked. And yet the guys are out playing football … now that is dedication. Talking of water, I got a call today from the Guayaquil Rotary Club to say that the laying of the pipes that will bring water to the Nursery, Church and House here will start on Monday. This will be a tremendous saving as we spend $50 a week on water for the Nursery and Church. I will be able to have shower again!

The visit up north to see Martin Kelly, a St. James priest from Motherwell Diocese, dominated last week. I had not been to see Martin in his Puerto Quito home since coming here and he had always been at me to visit. So, with Colm Hogan at my side, I took the bull by the horns and got the bus up north. It was a great ride (I got some sleep in) as we passed hours of rice fields and banana fields. And when we eventually got to Puerto Quito it was an amazing experience. It is very much countryside parish but is so extensive – there are something like 90 wee communities that Martin needs to attend – some he gets to every week, but most are once a month. Martin has been in that parish for over sixteen years and things have definitely been built up during that time: roads have been built where once Martin had to walk across fields; new communities have appeared; and, on a Church level, Martin ahs set up Chapels and community centres as well as the main Church and Hall. There are as well a few well-based social projects that help the people develop their farming skills. All in all, I was very glad to have visited and seen how a ‘campo’ parish can work so well. My car has been causing me problems recently: last week it started to shake quite heavily while I was out and about. So I took it into the garage to get the wheels balanced and alignment done. Naturally enough for Latins it took two days longer than they had said. However, like the Gospels, I was just insistent and kept phoning every three or four hours. In the end, I think they were just glad to see the back of me! However, without the car, this allowed me to indulge in my favourite shanty pastime: get out walking and visiting people. Two afternoons last week I got my wellies on and trudged through the muck, up and down hill, to see as many people as I could: I visited Aida in her simple house and, once again, I got to see Richard as he develops his house with Scottish money. One of the lessons I have learned here is to ditch the car every so often and get out walking – you are able to spend time chatting with folk which you obviously cannot do when you are in the car. A simple lesson, eh? I have started two courses this week: my regular guitar class and a course for new Eucharistic ministers. My guitar class is taking place in La Paz chapel at the far end of the Parish; it is great to see the enthusiasm of the young folk. I had bought six cheaper guitars and amazingly I got six participants so they each have a guitar in their house to practice. It is also clear at the very start that has good skill and will advance quite a bit during eth classes. The other course is for Eucharistic ministers to help with Communion: once again the people, young and old, are glad of the opportunity to advance in their faith. Of course one of the things that would frustrate anyone from back home is that, although I set the time for the start of the class each week, no-one turns up on time, they all arrive at least fifteen minutes late!!!! I met with Pedro Mogrovejo, our architect, through the week. He had been working on plans to build three more classrooms. It looks like we might have enough money to do that build. In spite of the economic crisis, it looks like our friends back home have continued to be very generous! My two good nun friends, Louisa and Isabel, are off to Spain for a month’s break. They need it I think as they were completely run out for weeks. They work in another Parish nearby but have worked here on various occasions and what I like about them is that they are a good sounding board for many ideas and frustrations of mine. They always give me time to let off steam! Louisa is from Gibraltar (so is bilingual) and Isabel is from mainland Spain. Together they have worked well fro five years but it really is funny when you go and visit: you would think they are always fighting and arguing but I think they need that spark to get them going.

Well the rains have started – almost every day and night this week it has been raining. I am surprised how every year the start of the rainy season seems to take me by surprise as if I wasn’t expecting it. Having said that it has been heavy and steady rain 0 not yet torrential …. So we wait for that to start. In any case, I am now walking around in my three-monthly muddy shoes. And there are certain parts of the Parish where water simply gathers so the pools have started appearing. Connected with the rains was an evening’s power cut. We have power cut all the time – this one was on Thursday from 4pm until 10.30pm. But what was surprising about this one was that it affected 80% of the population. 80%? If that had happened back home, it would be called a national crisis. Just another day here. Wee Andres’ Dad has been in hospital getting treatment for his diabetes. Basically he stood on a rusty nail and, because diabetes had affected that foot, didn’t feel it until it had infected the foot. There was a fear that he might have to get his foot cut off but, with treatment (and with cash), the foot has been saved. I went to see him in hospital the other day along with wee Andres and Andres’ Mum. The good news is that he had the operation on his infected foot on Thursday there and everything seems to have gone well. If the doctor gives him the all-clear on Tuesday, he could be home within a fortnight. I have promised that we will have Christmas meal when he comes out!!!! Talking of rusty nails – I stood on one this Wednesday. I was at Maestro chapel for evening Mass and, while ringing the bell to get people to Church, I stood a piece of wood with a rusty nail – which went through my shoe and pierced the skin. As Mass went on I realized that that piece of wood had been there since the construction which finished in June. Over six month? An old nail? So I decided to ask at the pharmacy what I should do – Alberto, the pharmacist, is very good on advice fro gringos. He said I should have a tetanus jab. Okay, where? Over the road. So there I was Wednesday in the living room of a neighbour, who just happens to be a nurse, getting my cure. So far there have been no side effects. In Ecuador we are moving into the long holiday season and several people have already ‘shot the crow’ and are off. All sorts of bus runs take place. Even the priests. The priests of our area went to a sports complex nearby on Wednesday – I took part in swimming. Then in the big raffle. Hey there were good prizes, an air conditioning unit as well as a large TV. I had a good time and, as ever, it was good simply to talk to folk that normally through the year you just work with. I was surprised, though, that one of the priests, knowing I was Scottish, offered me a glass of Johnny Walker as I walked in. I had to refuse – I was driving and, in any case, it was 10am!!!!! We also a catechists party – the usual mayhem and games. I had provided the eats so everyone was happy about that. This time, though, I made sure the cake was given out at the start … I seem to remember if it is given out at the end, it often ends up in a food fight!!!! Nothing to do with me, guv! One of the things that occurs the world over, I think, is fall-outs between Church musicians. I don’t why but wherever you go there seems to be disagreements. For the past month we have had a fall-out between Tito, our main musician at the Parish church and Damian, the young guitarist who has got a music group around him. I had worried about it for a while and I had tried to get them together for a chat but they refused or simply didn’t want to come. Anyway, they came finally on Thursday and we had a head-to-head. It amazes me here that people are so frank to each others’ face in an argument. That was what it was like on Thursday with each person saying how much the other had got up their nose. However, after a half an hour, it was all sweetness and love; all proclaimed their love to the Parish ….. and this weekend we are back to where we were two months ago!

Well the real personal excitement this week was telling my family that I would be home in March for Mum & Dad’s 50th Wedding Anniversary. I had booked my ticket some months ago but had kept it a secret. So when Ian phoned to ask if I would be able to manage a few days home – seeing that the 31st March is so near to Holy Week! You can’t publish the words that were spoken when I told them about me keeping it secret. I am really looking forward to be home for ten days around eth anniversary. Parish life keeps me busy and, as ever, my best thing is simply to get out and meet folk. Yesterday among others, I went to old Louisa (she still wears the clothes that Tracy and Suzanne bought her), to Aida who is looking for a new bed and a chair, and to Silberio who is still getting to grips with losing a leg last year. I also had a sad occasion on Sunday morning after early Mass – I was called to the house of Alvarito: this six-year old had special needs and had taken a fit that morning and died. It was so sad to see the distraught family and friends who clearly had a great affection for their little star. Sad also to see the way that poverty affects even in death – six-year old Alvarito was not in a coffin but wrapped in a shawl …. They would be getting a coffin once they had traveled the country to his place of rest. This week we were back at Ayangue for our regular meeting with the St. James’ guys. After all the activity of the Christmas weeks, it was great to get there and enjoy the rest. Strange to be able to swim in the ocean – knowing that back home the temperatures are way below zero!! Yesterday I went to visit Richard one of our very committed catechists. He lived with Gisella, his wife and their one child, Omar. Their house was falling to one side and was so small that even a cat could not be swung. In any case, several people have made donations to his new house. I had seen the house at the start of the project but it was amazing to see how much it has developed in the past weeks. It is also great to see that Richard, at the moment unemployed, is doing it all by himself with some help from his brothers. This house will last for ages and will be a great present from Scotland.

Well a Happy New Year to “ yin and a’ “! I hope that your celebrations went well for Hogmanay and that you are not in too much of a National Recovery position! Here Hogmanay is a fantastically noisy affair. It really is a mixture of Hogmanay and Guy Fawkes’ night; for the 31st December they do all the things that people do back home for Guy Fawkes – they make a ‘Guy’ our of paper and go round the streets asking ‘penny for the Guy’. The only difference is when the clock strikes twelve for the New Year, their Guy is stuffed with firecrackers so the burning doll starts to go wild with noise and light. The first time I was ever here for Hogmanay, I thought I was in a war zone with all the noise going off. Having said all of that, there is a great atmosphere with everyone walking the streets (I did too) and meeting folk. I went in to people’s houses as I passed by – sharing their food and drink. I needed up at the Bells in Jose Carlos’ house (he was one of the group in Scotland last year) and it was a very happy evening. So, having partied for a few hours on the streets it was time to put my head on the pillow and try for some sleep in the face of opposition from the massive speakers of the street party next door! Happy New Year! On New Years’ Day a group of the priests from here met in one of the hotels in the centre of town. It was a great afternoon with a great meal (smoked salmon was even on the menu but sadly no steak pie) and the good craic meant that we stayed all afternoon chatting and getting extra rounds of water and coke!!!! Earlier in the week I had gone out to Ayangue on the coast to see the work going on there. With my new responsibilities in the St. James’ Society, I have to look after the work there. At the moment they are building an outer wall around some of the land next to the house. Basically Ecuador’s President has decreed that any unused land is to be taken back into the control of the state – so there has been a mad rush to fence in all sorts of land. We only have a wee parcel around the house there but in any case it is getting fenced. So it was good to see the workers and see how it was progressing. And, taking Jose and Arisela with their kids meant that we had a morning on the beach. Mmmmm, Christmas week and swimming in the sea – lovely! I also took a group last week along to one of the orphanages we regularly visit – Sor Domingo Bocca. We went with a group of the youth group here. They has asked us for a Christmas Mass but we also put on a few numbers and they acted out a wee sketch. So, with the Christmas sweeties that we took along, it turned out to be a great afternoon also. Apart from that things have been quiet around the sector as people go away into the countryside to visit their families there for the Christmas week. And today – the 2nd – things are still in recovery mode after New Years. I am enjoying the quiet and rest.