Trip to the Amazon Rainforest
 Last December (2005), I started reflecting on where I was in my life which goals I would like to accomplish in 2006.
After a lot of prayer, I decided to focus on three main goals for myself. One of these goals was to take a trip by myself this year. I really wanted to be able to get away from all my crazy busyness, take a "mom" vacation, and spend a week somewhere away from home, just me and the Lord. I didn't know where this would be, but I prayed and asked for direction (no pun intended). Last year, one of my goals was to see the ocean with my daughters. I was 31 and had never seen the ocean. God sure blessed us with a great time, and made yet another one of my dreams come true, when we went last July.
By February, I knew I was to take a trip in a Spanish-speaking region. At first I thought about New Mexico, then I started considering Mexico itself. After looking at different options, I knew that if I was going to go that far from home, I might as well go "all the way"- a trip completely out of my dreambook- the Amazon Rainforest. God had been telling me to THINK BIG! I began looking at jungle lodges in different parts of the Amazon region. The first place I considered was Bolivia, which did not work out as a single traveler. The travel agent I contacted recommended Ecuador, and I guess the rest is history.
So I will be packing lightly- a few clothes, mosquito repellant (lol), a couple of immunizations ;), brushed-up Spanish (it's been years since I spoke it well), and my Bible. The fact that I will be hanging out in a hammock in the jungle, just me and the Lord, exploring His wonderful creation, meeting some of His Napo river indigenous people, learning some of the skills that they survived on for thousands of years blows my mind. I am really excited.
I will be spending the last day-and-a-half in Ecuador in a village called Otavalo. I am really excited about that also. The Otavaleño Indians are the majority in this town, meeting for a market they have been running since at least 1600, dressing the same way, speaking the same language. It will be kind of like stepping back in time- minus the trucks and modern conveniences. I expect to take up that extra room in my luggage with plenty of handmade goods from this village- some for my National Geographic home, and lots for my family and staff at work.
Here are some links within my site with photos from where I will be going:
Update: Pics from my trip
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