Dawson update on demonstrations in Ecuador, Thursday, Sept. 30 8pm hour

Dear family and friends,

First off, thank you SO MUCH for your e-mails and prayers...how great to hear from so many of you!  Here's an update from the last few hours:

The president of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, is sequestered in the police hospital where he was taken after the national police demonstrations earlier today.  The national police are on strike apparently over newly passed legislation concerning benefit/bonus cuts (we have heard various versions of what they are concerned about, or what is actually the issue). The president has been conducting various interviews with the media from the hospital.  Many people have flocked to the plaza in front of the presidential palace in a show of support for him.  In the 6pm hour or so, we saw the mayor of Quito on TV and he said the airport in Quito would be opening shortly (we have not heard confirmation of this happening yet, though it may have).  In Guayaquil -- the largest city in Ecuador, toward the South -- the police are back to work, according to the national television station (reported just before 7pm). 

And how are we?  Everything with us is fine.  Once we got everyone home (they closed the schools in the middle of the day and for tomorrow, too), we had a pretty typical afternoon and evening.  I wondered if any stores would be open; many have closed because they handle money and the police have been on strike so they are worried about robberies, looting, etc.  But a little bakery store near our house was actually a buzz of activity, with many hanging out talking and listening to the news on the radio.  They weren't fully stocked, but the store was far from empty, either.  We do wonder how long certain main arteries (roads) will be blocked -- we're not even sure what is or isn't blocked -- and if that will make it tougher for delivery vehicles to move through the city or not.  Of course, things may calm down more and be fine.  That's certainly our prayer and thank you for keeping the whole situation in your prayers, too.  You're awesome!

Love,

Tim, Amy and kids