down to 0 degrees: Quichua - the people and their language

The indigenous people of Ecuador are called Quichua. As with many other indigenous people around the world, they have been mistreated. You see many Quichuan people here in Cuenca. The women wear full skirts and often wear their hair in long braids.

We went out with the Quichuan group on Sunday. They tell us the Quichuan language is easier to learn than Spanish, but we have our doubts, especially looking at the length of the words! We met a brother from Germany who has been in the Quichuan group for 4 years. His wife is from France. They speak 5 languages and he works as a translator.

Lisa's blog: I worked with Ericka, a pioneer from Chicago. She has been here for 2 1/2 years and speaks Spanish and Quichuan (and English of course). She supports herself teaching English for a couple hours a day. Her life is very simple, basic apt., furniture, no frills whatsoever, plus she has a roommate so her expenses are low. Her parents were worried about her coming here. They aren't Witnesses, but after visiting and seeing the brotherhood they don't worry as long as she is with them. Many of the Quichuan people live around the marketplace where they sell their wares. We did some RVs and I was able to see another world. We went to one family's apartment which was basically one room about 8 x 10 for a family of 3. The bed took up most of the floor. The wife was beginning to prepare lunch on a small side table. They had no running water, just a few buckets of dirty water. A small ledge on the wall held a few carrots and some eggs. Seeing this really makes you want to share the truth with people to give them a hope of something better.

We also went on a study with a little girl about 7 years old. Her whole family had been studying but one by one they discontinued. It was here that I had to read in yet another language - Quichuan!! Very strange and difficult. It seems that every other word has about 8 syllables. Ericka said I did okay. Apparently, there is a great need for kingdom proclaimers as the ratio is 1:20,000. Anyone interested? I can give you the contact name. Bye for now - Lisa.