Zoo and Plane Trip Photos

Here are some pics from our trip to the "zoo" and my airplane trip to the jungle.




In the monkey "section"- these guys were climbing all around, including over our heads.



Micah training for his future career as a snake charmer.



This bird was just as colorful in person.



There was no fence between me and this alligator- a little unnerving



Micah and Jadyn petting an animal (I forget its name) that looked like a cross between a donkey, rhinocerous, and anteater.




You can see why I'll never be a pilot, and why I have so much respect for the people who can fly these machines.



A crowd of people poured out onto the runway after the plane landed.



The village (MRT) is only accesible by airplane or foot.



A view of Shell from the air.

Saturday Specials

A couple interesting trips the last two Saturdays- one with all 6 of us and one for just me (or just me out of our family).

- Our family went to the "zoo" with Andi and Olivia Irwin two Saturdays ago. Fatima is a pretty informal place a few miles outside of Puyo. We saw monkeys, snakes, turtles, birds, alligators, pigs, and some other things that I'm not real sure what they are. The alligators were not behind any type of fence or cage and Jads and I walked down fairly "close" to one to get a picture. This trip is better told with pictures- hopefully soon.

-Last Saturday I went on a flight to a jungle community to pick up a lady who had been bitten by a snake. I flew along with Chad Irwin to a village that I can't recall the name of right now. It's 3 letter "airport identifier" is MRT- I do remember that. The flight was pretty cool, my first flight in a small plane (all of the Alas de Socorro planes here in Shell are Cessna 206s). After we got east of Puyo, there was basically nothing (no roads, and only a few scattered dwellings) but jungle below us until we got to the village (a little less than 30 minute flight). I can't imagine how many hours it would take to walk that distance. As we approached for our landing there were people lining the runway and after we landed they all poured out to meet the plane. I just observed as Chad and a man from the community loaded the patient in. She was accompanied by two others on the flight back to Shell. An ambulance was waiting for her as we landed back in Shell to take her to Hospital Vozandes de Oriente here in Shell. What a neat experience to get to see first hand how Alas de Socorro meets the needs of the people in the jungle communities here in Ecuador.

Check back soon for a few pictures of both trips.

More Pictures

It's been awhile since I've posted pictures. Here's some more shots of our first couple of months (today is our 2 month anniversary here) in Shell.


The first day of school in Jodie's classroom at Nate Saint Memorial School


This produce truck delivers fresh fruits and vegetables right to our front door


Many of the streets on the west side of Shell are "under construction".


Luke helping Elsa out with the dishes. Elsa, who's also an employee at the hangar, comes 3 evenings a week to help us clean up after dinner. The kids, Jads and Luke especially, love her!


Gym class with the 3rd & 4th graders (Jodie's class)


The kids enjoying one of the many Shell rainshowers.