I returned to Salt Lake on Thursday night after flying from Sao Paulo, Brasil to Lima, Peru to Quito. I stayed overnight in Quito and caught an early morning flight on American to Miami to Dallas to Salt Lake. On the flight to Dallas I sat by a very nice couple from Denver. You all know that the airlines do only drinks now on the flights. The lady next to me asked if I wanted some peanuts. I took some. She then insisted that I have some M&M's with the peanuts. I had some. She then insisted I have a piece of banana with the M&M and peanuts. I had some. Then she insisted I have a little piece of a brownie she had to finish of the treats. I had some. Such good people. I am going to remember to do that next time I fly. He, the husband, is a water expert and I told him about the bad water on Galapagos. He might be willing to go down and take a look.
Lynn Blake picked me up at the airport and we drove to his house. Sharon soon showed up and we had dinner. It was good to see them again. I then went over to see Leon and Suzanne. They hadn't changed a bit. I hope to get them involved in Charity Anywhere.
Blake was in Provo and wanted to stay in the Condo in Park City. I borrowed Lynn's key and drove up there at 9 pm after visiting with Leon. Mom flew in from Twin the next morning and we spent the day together. Blake went to Scot Jones wedding in Logan. He finally showed up at midnight so we didn't get to talk much. On Saturday we spent the whole day together. We delivered some Spanish books to the Rose foundation for a library in Guatemala.
We then went shopping for grand kids and then went to the condo to watch college football. I was very tired and took many naps. I was very surprised at how exhausted I was. Two days flying from Asunscion, Paraguay to Salt Lake is very trying.
We went to church on Sunday in Park city and saw Drew Blake there with his daughters. Those girls are growing up to be very beautiful. We tried to rendezvous with Lynn and Sharon but they were busy with visiting people. We drove home late in the afternoon. We visited Clint and family to see what they had been up to. On the way home from clints house we stopped at the Stallings. All was well for them.
Monday was a catch up day and I was busy trying to get bills paid and other problems solved. I think in 90 days it will all be over with the business. I did visit a shoulder doctor and have scheduled a right shoulder operation for Oct. 23. It has gotten progressively worse.
Today, Tuesday I worked hard on trying to get a buyer for the business. There is some interest out there that I think might pan out. I am at home now and got our old phone number working. One of my old mission companions, Stephan Phelps, called and we talked for quite some time. He was the pianist for the Mormon Sons. He has 10 children and 29 grandchildren. We had some good laughs.
Susan goes in for an exam for her colon tomorrow. She has me scheduled for me to do the same next Wednesday. We are trying to get all the checkups we can get before we loose our health insurance.
I am going to be better at writing daily. Gordon
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Where is Gordon NOW?
I just arrived Quito. It is 5 pm. I stayed overnight
at the airport in Sao Paulo, Brazil. I about froze to
death until I realized the Paraguayan Foundation gave
me a hammock. I wrapped up in it and was just fine.
It took me until 2 pm to figure that out. I had no
problems in transit. Walked right to the gate and it
left on time.
In Lima they didnt have a plane for us so I had to
wait 6 hours until they found one. I was suppose to
meet with the Mayor of Otavalo at 5 and he has not
shown up yet. I will just hang around the hotel to
see if he comes. The traffic is terrible. It took me
30 minutes to get from the airport to the hotel. In
the morning at 4:30 they say it will take 7 minutes.
By the way, this is one fancy hotel. Two chocolates
on the bed when I arrived. Thanks, Washington.
Paraguay is definately poor.- WE went to a little
village next to the school complex and found an
indigenous tribe. They used to hunt and wander to
survive. Due to the modern society wandering is no
longer a possibility. They are having a very hard
time adjusting to living in one place. Very poor
conditions to live in. I have a few stories on some of
the terrible conditions I saw.
PARAGUAY
WEll, I am going to leave you now.
Love you all. Be good and do good.
Gordon
at the airport in Sao Paulo, Brazil. I about froze to
death until I realized the Paraguayan Foundation gave
me a hammock. I wrapped up in it and was just fine.
It took me until 2 pm to figure that out. I had no
problems in transit. Walked right to the gate and it
left on time.
In Lima they didnt have a plane for us so I had to
wait 6 hours until they found one. I was suppose to
meet with the Mayor of Otavalo at 5 and he has not
shown up yet. I will just hang around the hotel to
see if he comes. The traffic is terrible. It took me
30 minutes to get from the airport to the hotel. In
the morning at 4:30 they say it will take 7 minutes.
By the way, this is one fancy hotel. Two chocolates
on the bed when I arrived. Thanks, Washington.
Paraguay is definately poor.- WE went to a little
village next to the school complex and found an
indigenous tribe. They used to hunt and wander to
survive. Due to the modern society wandering is no
longer a possibility. They are having a very hard
time adjusting to living in one place. Very poor
conditions to live in. I have a few stories on some of
the terrible conditions I saw.
PARAGUAY
WEll, I am going to leave you now.
Love you all. Be good and do good.
Gordon
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Service in Paraguay
I had a very interesting experience yesterday. I
visited 13 Paraguayan women in a microcredit loan
program by the Paraguayan Foundation. They started 2
hears ago with just a $20 loan. They pay it back at
$7 per week over 6 weeks. They each pay the leader
every week and the leader pays the foundation. After
6 weeks they can apply for another loan, $50. It goes
for a longer period of time. They were applying for
their 3rd loan which could be $180. Their pay back
record was so good that they all decided to take the
bigger loan.
Some of the businesses they had going was selling
milk, 5 cows, making and selling charcoal, candy on
the streets, little stores in their houses, clothing
sales, baked goods. This has really helped their home
income. If one can´t make the payment for the week
then the others help her come up with the money. It
is a team effort and they don´t want their credit hurt
with the foundation. I visited the little store that
one woman has and she had just a few items. She said
that 50% of her profit came from pop and beer sales on
weekends. She was out of pop waiting for the money to
come in so she could buy more goods. It is high
interest but the team effort certainly was impressive.
After the meeting and I was driving away from the
group walking down the street and I stopped to take their
picture. They all waved and seemed like they were in
a wonderful club. The foundation makes money, the
mothers make more money for the family and others are
also employed. Win win win.
The Paraguayan Foundation has really rolled out the
red carpet for us. Yesterday our group helped 400
people. This morning they had over 500. 300 traveled
over 4 hours to be here. The church has put out the
word and they are coming in droves. Our volunteers
work so hard. They are doing a wonderful job. The
plastic surgeon took a boy with 4 fingers and gave him
five. When the boy was born, both hands had the 3rd and
4th fingers were hooked together. Last year the
surgeon did the right hand and then the left hand this
year. The dentists are soooo busy.
We have local professionals that are coming to help.
I am so pleased to see that happen. We hope that they
will do more volunteer work seeing our people doing
it.
Construction has been a disaster. The Padre keeps
telling us that the building materials will show up
but at the end of each day some, but not all, has
arrived. We have done some work, but nothing like we
had wanted. There is always tomorrow down here.
The weather right now is just like Twin in the spring
and fall. Cool nights. Our first day was hot and
muggy but it has rained and cooled off.
Sunday church was interesting. The chapel is very
small. About the size of the relief society room at
home with a small over flow room. 6 of us went. They
made us sit on the stand. The music was interesting.
A member played the piano with one finger and didn´t
know about sharps and flats. It was a different
melody for sure.
Well, I must leave to see how the construction is
going. I eat at 1 and start for the airport at 3. I
am concerned about Brazil. They were not nice to me
or the Ecuadorians. I don´t know why but they treated
us very poorly.
PS. I have caught 12 little frogs, 1.5 inches square
so each family can have 2 frogs each. They are
soooooo cute.
gordon
visited 13 Paraguayan women in a microcredit loan
program by the Paraguayan Foundation. They started 2
hears ago with just a $20 loan. They pay it back at
$7 per week over 6 weeks. They each pay the leader
every week and the leader pays the foundation. After
6 weeks they can apply for another loan, $50. It goes
for a longer period of time. They were applying for
their 3rd loan which could be $180. Their pay back
record was so good that they all decided to take the
bigger loan.
Some of the businesses they had going was selling
milk, 5 cows, making and selling charcoal, candy on
the streets, little stores in their houses, clothing
sales, baked goods. This has really helped their home
income. If one can´t make the payment for the week
then the others help her come up with the money. It
is a team effort and they don´t want their credit hurt
with the foundation. I visited the little store that
one woman has and she had just a few items. She said
that 50% of her profit came from pop and beer sales on
weekends. She was out of pop waiting for the money to
come in so she could buy more goods. It is high
interest but the team effort certainly was impressive.
After the meeting and I was driving away from the
group walking down the street and I stopped to take their
picture. They all waved and seemed like they were in
a wonderful club. The foundation makes money, the
mothers make more money for the family and others are
also employed. Win win win.
The Paraguayan Foundation has really rolled out the
red carpet for us. Yesterday our group helped 400
people. This morning they had over 500. 300 traveled
over 4 hours to be here. The church has put out the
word and they are coming in droves. Our volunteers
work so hard. They are doing a wonderful job. The
plastic surgeon took a boy with 4 fingers and gave him
five. When the boy was born, both hands had the 3rd and
4th fingers were hooked together. Last year the
surgeon did the right hand and then the left hand this
year. The dentists are soooo busy.
We have local professionals that are coming to help.
I am so pleased to see that happen. We hope that they
will do more volunteer work seeing our people doing
it.
Construction has been a disaster. The Padre keeps
telling us that the building materials will show up
but at the end of each day some, but not all, has
arrived. We have done some work, but nothing like we
had wanted. There is always tomorrow down here.
The weather right now is just like Twin in the spring
and fall. Cool nights. Our first day was hot and
muggy but it has rained and cooled off.
Sunday church was interesting. The chapel is very
small. About the size of the relief society room at
home with a small over flow room. 6 of us went. They
made us sit on the stand. The music was interesting.
A member played the piano with one finger and didn´t
know about sharps and flats. It was a different
melody for sure.
Well, I must leave to see how the construction is
going. I eat at 1 and start for the airport at 3. I
am concerned about Brazil. They were not nice to me
or the Ecuadorians. I don´t know why but they treated
us very poorly.
PS. I have caught 12 little frogs, 1.5 inches square
so each family can have 2 frogs each. They are
soooooo cute.
gordon
Friday, September 21, 2007
Toilets in Paraguay
When I got to the hotel here in Paraguay I went into
the bathroom. I saw some black stuff in the stool so I
decided to flush the toilet before using. Well, as I
watched the flush a frog jumped out from under the
side of the flushing stool. The water had forced him
out. It scared me to death. He jumped back up into
the hiding place in the stool. I jumped higher than
he did. Well, in my room was a side room with a
bathroom. I went into that toilet. I flushed. Yup,
you guessed it, another frog. He jumped out of the stool
at me. I again jumped higher than he did. He jumped
out of the room. I then decided to flush again to
make sure I had no more unwelcomed guests in my
toilet. No frogs. I carefully sat down and wondered
what my private parts would do if a frog jumped on
them. I decided that they would yell and then of
course I would yell and jump very high. It added a new
adventure to my life as I sat there on that toilet.
I just came back tonight and I have another frog
friend on my wall. Before using the toilet I flushed
again and guess what? No frog. I sat in peace and
comfort. NO I lied, I again thought what would happen
if a frog jumped on my --------------.
Going to the bathroom here is going to add a new
dimension to my thoughts as the natural activities of
my body do their thing. I hope this is put in tactful
terms to satisfy everyone.
the bathroom. I saw some black stuff in the stool so I
decided to flush the toilet before using. Well, as I
watched the flush a frog jumped out from under the
side of the flushing stool. The water had forced him
out. It scared me to death. He jumped back up into
the hiding place in the stool. I jumped higher than
he did. Well, in my room was a side room with a
bathroom. I went into that toilet. I flushed. Yup,
you guessed it, another frog. He jumped out of the stool
at me. I again jumped higher than he did. He jumped
out of the room. I then decided to flush again to
make sure I had no more unwelcomed guests in my
toilet. No frogs. I carefully sat down and wondered
what my private parts would do if a frog jumped on
them. I decided that they would yell and then of
course I would yell and jump very high. It added a new
adventure to my life as I sat there on that toilet.
I just came back tonight and I have another frog
friend on my wall. Before using the toilet I flushed
again and guess what? No frog. I sat in peace and
comfort. NO I lied, I again thought what would happen
if a frog jumped on my --------------.
Going to the bathroom here is going to add a new
dimension to my thoughts as the natural activities of
my body do their thing. I hope this is put in tactful
terms to satisfy everyone.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Ecuador to Paraguay
We spent Wednesday flying from Galapagos to Quito. We
are now getting ready to go to the airport to fly to
Brazil and then onto Asuncion, Paraguay. We have a
lot of luggage.
We are still working on the container problems. We
are learning as we go. We might have to hold the
containers in Mexico until we get all the paper work
straight.
I will leave Asuncion on Tuesday at 6 pm. Get to
Quito at noon and then Thursday morning leave Quito
for Salt Lake. Arrive at 6.30 pm. Probably will
drive home that night.
I will keep in touch.
Be good and do good.
Gordon
are now getting ready to go to the airport to fly to
Brazil and then onto Asuncion, Paraguay. We have a
lot of luggage.
We are still working on the container problems. We
are learning as we go. We might have to hold the
containers in Mexico until we get all the paper work
straight.
I will leave Asuncion on Tuesday at 6 pm. Get to
Quito at noon and then Thursday morning leave Quito
for Salt Lake. Arrive at 6.30 pm. Probably will
drive home that night.
I will keep in touch.
Be good and do good.
Gordon
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Still on Galapagos
I will give a report from Sunday to Tuesday, today.
We went to Washingtons new ward. It is very near the House of Good and the US Embassy. Washington is moving in October. This ward is very high class. It will be good for the Zambranos.
We then picked up Bob and Dee Wake and drove to Otavalo in the CAF van. As soon as we arrived we drove to the new building. The Wakes were very surprised at how nice it was. The mayor and his group treated us to lunch and then we got down to business. We told them what we were shipping on the container. They were very excited. I had also prepared the sale of a power vac sewer truck and a bobcat. I had found these items used in SLC and Idaho Falls. They were totally excited about the price. I think they will get with me before I leave to book these to items to ship to them.
We toured Otavalo and then headed home.
We got up early Monday and flew to Santa Cruz Galapagos island. We met with the mayor and told them what we were shipping them. We visited there hospital and it is nice and new but the medical equipment is old. They were excited to hear about our equipment that is coming. I am shipping 24 hospital beds to them. They took us to dinner last night.
Funny experience. We took the Wakes to the Darwin museum with the turttles and iguanas. On the way out of the museum, Washington wanted some sushi at a restaurant nearby. He loves sushi. I gave in and we had Sushi. Dee loves Sushi.
We were out at 7 pm and the mayor wanted us to go to dinner. We rendezvoused with him and headed for the restaurant. We were on the same road as the sushi restaurant and we thought for sure we were going there. We were cooking up stories on how we knew the waiter and cook, etc at the sushi restaurant. Well, we were just one block away and we went to another restaurant. We had a good laugh.
We got up this morning and went to the volcanoes and lava caves. We meet with the mayor at 2 pm. He has some other projects he wants us to look at. This morning we went to the Red Cross and they are duplicating the work of the city hospital. We find out that the two political parties are at each other on what medically is going on. The Red Cross is much better than the city hospital but its political party has lost power. They need equipment. We wonder how it will work if we help both the city hospital and the Red Cross. Politics is getting in the way.
This afternoon they are taking us on a boat tour. Haven´t done that here. The Wakes are planning on bringing a group here in JUne. They are very excited about helping.
Washington told me about a conversation he had with a dentist, Jeff Hill, in SLC. Jeff is doing dental implants and he invited Washington to come and learn how to do a new implant system. The system costs $12000. Washington wants to do it because he can do implants on Saturday and make big dollars doing it. WE mentioned it to the Wakes and they offered last night over sushi to loan him the money and he would pay it back in one year, interest free. Not a bad deal for a plate of Sushi. I was tickled to hear them offer.
I am well and must go to lunch now. Be good and do good. Gordon Carter
We went to Washingtons new ward. It is very near the House of Good and the US Embassy. Washington is moving in October. This ward is very high class. It will be good for the Zambranos.
We then picked up Bob and Dee Wake and drove to Otavalo in the CAF van. As soon as we arrived we drove to the new building. The Wakes were very surprised at how nice it was. The mayor and his group treated us to lunch and then we got down to business. We told them what we were shipping on the container. They were very excited. I had also prepared the sale of a power vac sewer truck and a bobcat. I had found these items used in SLC and Idaho Falls. They were totally excited about the price. I think they will get with me before I leave to book these to items to ship to them.
We toured Otavalo and then headed home.
We got up early Monday and flew to Santa Cruz Galapagos island. We met with the mayor and told them what we were shipping them. We visited there hospital and it is nice and new but the medical equipment is old. They were excited to hear about our equipment that is coming. I am shipping 24 hospital beds to them. They took us to dinner last night.
Funny experience. We took the Wakes to the Darwin museum with the turttles and iguanas. On the way out of the museum, Washington wanted some sushi at a restaurant nearby. He loves sushi. I gave in and we had Sushi. Dee loves Sushi.
We were out at 7 pm and the mayor wanted us to go to dinner. We rendezvoused with him and headed for the restaurant. We were on the same road as the sushi restaurant and we thought for sure we were going there. We were cooking up stories on how we knew the waiter and cook, etc at the sushi restaurant. Well, we were just one block away and we went to another restaurant. We had a good laugh.
We got up this morning and went to the volcanoes and lava caves. We meet with the mayor at 2 pm. He has some other projects he wants us to look at. This morning we went to the Red Cross and they are duplicating the work of the city hospital. We find out that the two political parties are at each other on what medically is going on. The Red Cross is much better than the city hospital but its political party has lost power. They need equipment. We wonder how it will work if we help both the city hospital and the Red Cross. Politics is getting in the way.
This afternoon they are taking us on a boat tour. Haven´t done that here. The Wakes are planning on bringing a group here in JUne. They are very excited about helping.
Washington told me about a conversation he had with a dentist, Jeff Hill, in SLC. Jeff is doing dental implants and he invited Washington to come and learn how to do a new implant system. The system costs $12000. Washington wants to do it because he can do implants on Saturday and make big dollars doing it. WE mentioned it to the Wakes and they offered last night over sushi to loan him the money and he would pay it back in one year, interest free. Not a bad deal for a plate of Sushi. I was tickled to hear them offer.
I am well and must go to lunch now. Be good and do good. Gordon Carter
Monday, September 17, 2007
Loading containers headed for Ecuador
I watched Gordon work so hard to wrap and strap the 40 pallets that were sent in 2 containers to Ecuador. He worked for almost a week every day. The pallets had to be international pallets and so each piece of equipment had to be moved, wrapped and strapped on to it. The equipment had to itemized and listed on a bill of lading and then the pallet numbered and photographed. Each night he would come home so tired with his arms and body exhausted. The containers were filled with 18 pallets each with cargo valued over $50,000 each. They were picked up and tranported to Seattle on there way to Ecuador. We have prayed for safe arrival and their ease through customs. I know when they are opened the people will be overjoyed.
Susan
Saturday, September 15, 2007
First day of Blog
First day on my blog. Tiffany has challenged me to start a blog. Here goes. I am in Quito, Ecuador at the House of Good for Charity Anywhere Foundation. I had a big travel day yesterday. I started at the Salt Lake Airport at 5 am. I was in the security check line for 30 minutes. That was the longest line I have ever been in. They took my big tube of toothpaste. It was half used and they still took it. I had 3 checkon luggages and they charged me $125 for the third piece. It would have been just $100 but I was 15 pounds over weight. You are allowed 50 pounds with no extra charge. They all were full of medicine, medical supplies and dental equipment. When I opened the suitcases this morning, Washington told me that the sutres I brought were $18 each here. I brought him over 100 . I guess it was worth the $125 to buy the extra suitcase.I also tried some thing new. We had a doctor from Quito buy a laptop computer in Salt Lake but was unable to take it with them. They gave it to me in a backpack to take to Quito. I also had my satchal and suitcase. So I had 3 carryons. Guess what, I was not challenged once on the three flights I was on. It was a little challenging to get the 3 pieces placed in the luggage racks but it worked.The Chicago to Miami flight was a little late and I had a 15 minute connection time. I was in concourse c and had to get to concourse a. I made it with 5 minutes to go. When I arrived in Quito , Washington was there to meet me. I had 3 huge suitcases, and 3 carryons. He marched me right through customs with out a problem. I probably had over $5ooo worth of stuff. Since we are an NGO now we are able to walk through Customs. I slept in Washingtons house again and used Clints bed that he slept in when we were here in August. Clint, the bed is still bad. I have changed a mattress on the other bed and hope to sleep better tonight. We have sorted through the suitcases I brought and I was surprised at all I could bring. I went to Thursdays and bought all of their vitamins. I probably brought over 100 bottles of vitamins for $35 at Thursdays. Washington was totally thrilled with the vitamins. They are always running out when we are in the back country doing medical work. Could you all see if you can find us the cheap vitamins. I got over 50 childrens chewable vitamins. I always get excited when I know we can help the children. Tonight we pick up a couple from SEattle that are with the Wings World Foundation. They are coming to see how they can help us in Otavalo and on the Galapagos island. We have committed to help them develop a medical clinic in both places. Last week I shipped a container full of medical and dental equipment for Otavalo. I will ship another container to Galapagos next month. Washington just told me that since we are now an NGO we can have special privileges here. We can arrange very cheap housing for any of the family. I know Melinda is talking about coming down next summer and spend a month in Otavalo. Washington said she should plan on one week on Galapagos. We have very cheap housing in both places. Both places love Charity Anywhere foundation. Well, I have blogged long enough. Some one write and let me know they have read all this stuff. I do thing it will end up in the big black hole of the internet.
Love all.
Be good and do good.
Gordon CARTER
7:51:00 AM
Love all.
Be good and do good.
Gordon CARTER
7:51:00 AM
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