The traffic in Quito can be grueling. Among the thousands of cars one stands out. Señor Ortega’s wooden car is a sight to behold. 
He made a promise to his daughter that he would drive to U.S. in a wooden car to visit her for her birthday. His first attempt ended in Colombia where his first wooden car experienced un solvable mechanical problems. The 54-year-old cabinet-maker returned to Peru and made a more reliable design. 
Señor Ortega is now in Ecuador and will soon enter into Colombia. Once he reaches the Colombian-Panama border he will have to put his car on a boat to enter Panama as there is no drivable international border between the two countries. Once he reaches Panama he has good roads ahead of him. 
Señor Ortega has put a lifetime’s worth of work and skill into his wooden car to keep a promise he made to his daughter.
His sacrifice to keep his promise encourages us. How about you? Are you encouraged?
With much love, 
The Downings
