Familia!

 ALL the feels about this day! We spent a full, perfect day in Pintag. Pintag is one of two places Maddie has lived for the past 5 months. This was the first place she came upon arriving in January and lived with a host family here. This is where she fell in love with Ecuador, learned so much about community and family, and generally was embraced by this absolutely unique community. I feel so lucky that she wanted us to come and see her world here, and meet the family she created. My mama heart is full watching her in her element!

We started our day with a quick bread breakfast (Ecuadorian bread is amazing!) and then caught a "taxi" from Pintag out to the little community of Pintag Amaru where Maddie lived. The taxi's are pickup trucks that drive through the very bumpy roads in the surrounding communities. Maddie said standing in the back is the way to go, I felt that sitting was better until I realized my tailbone would never survive! I should have known to listen to her!


The taxi dropped us off and we walked up the rock/dirt road to Maddie's home and her family screamed with excitement to see her! Her dad saw us first and went running up to the house to get her mom yelling, "Maddie!! Maddie!!" They ADORE her! Lots of hugs all around. Her brother, Pancho, was also home and he and Auguste immediately bonded over holding chickens and getting chased by the rooster. They are the absolute sweetest family. 

These two are now WhatsApp pals!

After a quick visit, we went down to Casa Amaru, the neighborhood center, to visit with some other friends. Again, lots of hugs and yells of "MADDIE!!". We got a tour through the 3 buildings of the community center, and 2 others that are in the process of being built. We met several members of the community, shared coffee, tea and a tasty tamale. Everyone was so lovely. They showed us the buildings that were designed and built by community members in completely sustainable ways. Lots of questions for Maddie and all of us, brags and laughs about Maddie's time here, and just general hanging out and enjoying company. Watching Maddie just laugh and chat in Spanish was amazing!







We headed back up to Maddie's family after the visit to the community center for lunch. Maddie's sister Pame was there and was SO excited to see Maddie! We spent the next couple of hours sharing a fabulous meal, chatting and laughing. Lots of teasing Maddie and bragging about all the things she did and learned while with their family. (She milked a cow! She rode a horse!) They are the warmest, most genuine family. They were so interested and engaged, and truly loved having Maddie there. When it was time to go, her dad gave me a big hug and said we're all family now and their door is always open. They will be waiting for our return. 

The sibs! Pame, Pancho, Maddie and Auguste
Familia con Pame...
Familia con Carol!

Auguste loved the baby cows!
This rooster chased Auguste into the kitchen - huge laughs all around!
The choclo was just harvested.
Heaven!

We took another truck taxi back into Pintag and then stopped by an ice cream store to see another friend of Maddie's. Again, screams of "MADDIE!!" and big hugs. We enjoyed some amazing ice cream with cheese that we heard so much about, and again heard how much Maddie will be missed and how loved she is. 

Helado con queso!
Maddie and Miriam

My heart is full and I'm so grateful to this special community. What an absolute gem of a place nestled here in the Andes. The warmest, most genuine people. A whole little world with people who are connected to one another and the natural world they are a part of, focused on community, full of support and interconnectedness. I'll be soaking up the warmth of this day for a while!

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