Since being stationed in the town of Mindo for my service portion of SST, I’ve noticed a big cultural difference between U.S. Mennonites and Ecuadorian “Mindo-nites” – pun intended 🙂 approaches to life. There’s a palpable sense of serenity and…
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Ol Pejeta Conservancy Game Drive
Feb 28 2022
Sunday Feb. 27, 2022
After an intense week of burning, the Goshen team was ready for a relaxing day of fun. Naturally, that meant we woke up bright and early at 6:30 to head to Ol Pejeta, a ranch that specializes in conservation. After a bumpy ride, we were excited to see the first elephants and rhinos of our trip! We spent most of the day observing hartebeest, buffalo, and almost more baby elephants than we could handle. And, as a birdwatcher, I was excited to add several new birds to my life list, including the funky Secretary Bird.
One of the most thought-provoking parts of the trip for me was getting to see the last two (known) Northern White Rhinos in the world. It was both an amazing and sobering experience, and really made me think about how humans interact with other animals.
After being out in the heat all day, I was happy to rest under a fever thorn tree enjoying a cold Stoney Tangawizi—which is quickly becoming my favorite soda—while chatting and bonding with my other team members. Overall, Ol Pejeta was a fascinating and educational experience!
– Mira Yoder
What Mindo Taught Me to See
A Day in the Life: Working on a Flower Farm
For my service, I work in Cayambe with an organization called FACE. Under FACE there are other organizations; Casa Hogar, Sumak, Centro Medico Emmanuel, and Forever Flowers. They work together to help break the cycle of abuse and neglect in…