November 3 - continued

Busy day. We spent some time in the office with Bishop Ramos. He showed us some plans and we talked about the diocese and about Ecuador. We met Faustas who helps in the office.
It's cold! We weren't expecting this but we soldier on - and it's raining.
We took a trip and met people at the cathedral. It was built in the 80's and is now in need of repair. Wilfrido shared how he was there with Bishop Arthur Walmsley when it was built in the 80's.
We met Felix, a deacon who is from Tecusa and married to Gladys who is a priest who is also from Tecusa. They showed us the school and offices. There was a little girl who was born in Tecusa who goes to the cathedral school.
I was impressed by the space in the cathedral, and also at the ambition. At one time the school had 200 students. But I was also impressed by the ruin; the neglected and damaged buildings. There were empty rooms and abandoned places. It feels like the cathedral and its buildings are barely holding together. Wilfrido says that there is new leadership, but there are still struggles with old leaders hanging on. Time does not heal all wounds and it seems to take a long time for some things to die.
I feel like Bishop Ramos is tired and overworked. His spirits are good and he jokes about how much he is responsible for. He has to be a builder and a teacher and a pastor. It's all on his shoulders. There is also no doubt that he is ready to enjoy retirement.
Later that day we stopped at a restaurant that is only open on weekends and holidays. You can catch your own fish in the trout pond next door and have it cooked. We opted for the pre-caught variety. Nicely grilled.
The countryside was beautiful - deep gorges and mist and hills. The twisty roads test my constitution. We stopped at the diocesan "finca", or farm. Wilfrido lit up. He grew up on a farm and it showed that he still loves it. Not everyone in our group was too thrilled to be tip-toeing across the fields. We saw vacas and a llama. They also raise pigs and guinea pigs. They have a project to grow "tomatoa trees" (a kind of fruit). They graft the plants onto another plant so that it will produce fruit for thirty years instead of three years.
Wilfrido was full of plans to make the farm a place of retreat - a conference center with a nature trail. I observed that the bishop has to a kind of farmer. You have to grow things. You have to work hard to feed others. Some of what you plant is for a future you will never see. (sounds like every kind of ministry)
We had a long ride home with a little time in the mercado. We got blankets to keep warm. When we got back we met the engineer of the project - Patricio. He explained the scope of the project; the details, costruction, time, cost , people. The big news was that the cost just leapt to $30,000. I'm gratified that everyone there was willing to move ahead but I'm a little worried. From my perspective I feel as if support for this is already pretty soft. I don't know how much more help we can expect.
I've been through a lot today. I feel I can understand Spanish a little, and I'm grateful. Our little party seems to get along. That's good. We'll be able to work together in the future - we'll need to. I'm still mulling over my conversation with Wilfrido. What are we called to do? We're building a church. That's enough for now.