The right to repair

 Well, it's actually more than just a right to fight for, it makes a lot of economic sense. We've had and 18" computer monitor for probably 15 years and it would turn on for about 1 second and then turn off. If I kept trying, eventually (maybe after 10 minutes) it would stay on and I could use the computer. 

I finally had enough and started investigating as to what the problem could be. Many blogs on the internet pointed me to some bad capacitors in the power supply.  I opened up the monitor with a bit of dread and found that yes, there were three capacitors which seemed to have reached their end-of-life. I went on a search to find the components to replace them and eventually ended up spending $2.80 on the replacement parts. 

Thirty minutes later, I had a working monitor. I felt rather pleased with the results!

Strange weather

 

This is downtown Quito. Rain can be a common occurrence, but hail is quite rare. This afternoon was cool and saw a fair bit of hail fall. The rain didn't stop that afternoon. For a Canuck, it was "cool" to see the white stuff again (even if it was hail).

Senior year

 

Joshua and his classmates pose for a senior year class portrait. It was a time where the school celebrates the oath to the flag of Ecuador and honors the scholastic achievement of the students. 

Made in the image of God...

One must always stop and observe the beauty that is around us. Sometimes, I just look for different things which look different, bright, unique and beautiful. I am then reminded of how each of us is made, unique, but in the image of God. It lets me see things with a different perspective, from the view of eternity spent with our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Matthew 6:27-33 (ESV)

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷ And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? ²⁸ And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, ²⁹ yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰ But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹ Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

 

A photo of flowers from my in-laws' garden.

Christmas Carolling 2020

 We went Christmas caroling this year! This past Sunday, with the help of some musical friends from our local church, we went around the block singing some well-known Christmas songs.

Unfortunately, our time was cut short due to some serious rainfall. But we did enjoy singing in four different areas of our block. Several people greeted us and thanked us for bringing a bit of energy to the neighbourhood.

Flowers...

Scenic shots from our neighborhood

Here are a few pics I took recently as we were walking through the community.

In this photo, if you look real close, you can see the cross that the following closeup shows.

This is Mt. Cotopaxi, a volcano that 5 years ago was spewing steam and ash.