a day to remember.

Today we flew out over the jungle in a tiny little plane with a missionary pilot (from Fort Wayne - holler!) and landed in a Huaorani village (part of the same people that killed the five missionaries in the 50s). They led us through the jungle to a traditional house, painted our faces with some red plant and put bands around our heads. We practiced throwing spears and using blowguns (I was unsuccessful with the spear and successful with the blowgun.). Then the women of the tribe performed a dance and sang for us. They made Jacki and me participate, and afterwards the men performed, and then everyone was dancing. Somehow Ben was forced to marry one of the indigenous girls, and I was forced to marry a little indigenous boy (For those of you who told me not to come back from Ecuador married, I'm sorry - I was forced against my will to marry a little boy half my height today.)

I was smiling and laughing all day. I couldn't believe I was experiencing what I was. It made my day when an old indigenous women put a grass headband on my head. And the dancing. And the singing. And the marrying.

The flight back was just before sunset, and the skyline was beautiful. We were just above the lowest clouds above the jungle top. Ahead of us were two volcanoes (Tungarahua and Sungay) both spewing ash. It was a breathtaking view.

Today was by far the best day of my entire semester in Ecuador.