Sufficiency

Sufficiency

8/17/12

            I took a good glance at every person in my living room that night, in hopes of trying to freeze that moment in my memory so that I could stay there. I heard their words, but I didn’t listen; I just watched them and the clock as every minute brought me closer to the end of my time in Ecuador.

A Piece of My Heart

A Piece of My Heart

7/30/12

            So here it goes… my final thoughts about my trip to this beautiful country…

If you didn’t read the last two months worth of blogs, here is a summary of what I’ve done here [in bullet-point form]:

It's Never Enough

It’s Never Enough

7/29/12

            I didn’t miss much in updating these past few days. The day after Santiago got sick, I got sick… really sick. I’m still not completely over the sickness, which kind of sucks because we bought all this food to eat, and I haven’t been able to eat barely anything.

Things I'm Leaving Behind

Things I’m Leaving Behind

7/25/12 

            What an awesome weekend! On Friday we left for the beach at 12am (actually that’s technically Saturday but whatever!) and arrived at 6am. I must have been in like twenty different positions just trying to sleep the whole six hours. It was hard when there was loud Spanish music playing and a bunch of people talking, singing, and laughing. Those crazy Ecuadorians didn’t sleep until like 4am, and when we arrived, they were just as awake as before. However, the ride wasn’t AS bad as I thought it would be because we actually stopped for bathroom breaks every so often, and Santiago bought me Yuca chips at a rest stop. He knows they are my favorite. =)

Small Paradise

“Small Paradise”

7/20/12

            So I have quite a weekend/week planned ahead of me, and I’m pretty excited to spend my last days here doing some really awesome things. After I last wrote, Santiago and I went to the mall to see if we could go see a movie. Unfortunately, the only movie in English with Spanish subtitles was Spiderman… much later that night, so we had to pass on seeing a movie. Instead we went shopping and got some things I will need to last me through this next week. Then at night we watched “About a Boy”, which was interesting, to say the least! Buttttt enough about Monday because Tuesday was definitely my favorite day this week.

Making the Most of Life

Making the Most of Life

7/16/12

            On Thursday after my last post, Santiago and I spent mostly the whole day watching my church’s service on the internet. I translated for him, but it took a long time to get through the whole thing.

            On Friday Santiago and I started our Bible study. We started reading Colossians. Santiago made me read in Spanish, while he read in English. We basically talked about what it looked like in our relationship to be what Paul was telling the Colossians to be.

God Puts Us Where He Wants Us

God Puts Us Where He Wants Us

7/12/12

            On Friday night after my last post I went to a wonderful church service with Santiago. Santiago gave the message about God using us where we are- literally! Last week at Supermaxi, Santiago and I went in line to buy all of my items plus a ton of chocolate for the El Refugio store. After using his mom’s card (works like a card for like CVS or ShopRite would and gives you discounts on your products) for my stuff, he paid separately and used the Youth World (organization that El Refugio is branched) card to pay for the chocolate. The young man that was at the register asked what organization is was and what its purpose was. Santiago told him about the organization and the different things they do to help people in Ecuador. I was busy bagging all of my items when I realized that they were having more than just a regular conversation about groceries. I heard the cashier start to talk about a boy who he met that later I found out was coming to Supermaxi to buy chocolate that he sold in order to get money for drugs. This cashier was asking Santiago for information on the organization and a number and person to call in order to find help for this young man. As they talked for at least ten minutes, I looked to see full lines in every other aisle except ours. It was as if God was not allowing anymore people in our line so that Santiago had time to talk to this cashier. It was an extraordinary event, and afterwards I explained to Santiago that “God always puts us where He wants us”, even in a simple trip to the grocery store.

I love my Ecuadorian life!

I Love My Ecuadorian Life!

7/6/12

            After I last wrote in my blog, I went to Santiago’s house very frustrated after Spanish class. Yet to my surprise, Santiago and his brothers and friends all encouraged me about my Spanish, telling me that I had improved and things like that. I started to realize how much better I was than I thought, seeing as I could understand all of them and have a conversation with them.

Learning Gratefulness

Learning Gratefulness

7/3/12

            Friday after I last wrote, Santiago and I came home to eat our fish! They were delicious! Before I eat (and even while I was eating), Rebecca kept asking me to play with her. Basically she always goes, “ALLIE! Look!” This really means, “Allie, play with me!”

Sad Days

Sad Days

6/29/12

            So as you last read, yesterday was a really sad day for me. I literally sobbed for hours on my bed. Santiago made me a sandwich and helped me to eat because I just couldn’t stop crying. I miss Madeline and the Geneva team so much, and every time one of their faces came into my head, I just started crying more.

Rainbows

Rainbows

6/27/12

            It’s currently 10:21pm, and I cannot sleep. I know that I would likely have this same issue if I was in America, but it just feels so much more painful here. This entry isn’t going to be about what I’ve been doing the past few days, and not just because I haven’t been doing a whole lot, but because I need to just reflect more than anything else.

Encouragement

Encouragement

6/25/12

            This past week has been so busy that yesterday was the first time I got online in a week! It has been my favorite weeks out of the three, and I already dislike so much how fast time has gone by. I’m sure you all back at home have been having some exciting things happening, too. I’ve seen plenty of official Facebook marriages and other cool trips! My good friend is having a wedding a few days after I get back, which I am super excited about, too! But anyway, it has been incredible here, aside from a bit of sickness that I had.

The Abundant Life

The Abundant Life

6/22/12

            I cannot even describe accurately to you how awesome the last two days have been. My day working on Wednesday was great! I think I permanently have tomatoes, carrots, and watermelon stuck underneath my fingernails. However, it’s actually been a really great experience. I’ve gotten to the point where I don’t usually need to ask what needs to be done; I already know! Now I can be in charge of the Geneva team (Madeline’s group) that helps with lunch and dinner clean-up. It has been such a blessing not only working with Angelica and Anita, but also with the Americans, too. They always come to me asking what to do and all, but what was really my favorite part was that night!

Days At Work

Days at Work

6/20/12

            After I last wrote on Saturday, Santiago and I had quite the adventure making pancakes. They tasted good but had the weirdest shape I have ever seen. Since then, we have improved in our pancake-making skills, but that night is what I’d rather be writing about!

Frustrations

Frustrations

6/16/12

            Yesterday was officially two weeks of being in this wonderful country. I’ve been blessed to be able to make up sleep enough for the last like year of my life (I know I’ve stayed healthy BECAUSE I’ve been able to sleep!). I’ve also been blessed with an incredible family that I’ve gotten to spend time with and gotten closer to these past few weeks. I can definitely see my relationships getting stronger- with my family, with my friends, and most importantly, with God. I’ve really had so much time to reflect on things, as well as have some legitimate Ecuadorian experiences! I think most of all I have really learned to calm down my intense reactions to my rollercoaster emotions. Yesterday was definitely one of those “test me” days…

My Ecuador Bucket List

My Ecuador Bucket List

6/14/12

            After my last post, I stayed pretty late at Santiago’s house and hung out with his brothers and cousin. We listened to Justin Bieber, danced, and laughed. It was quite the good time! However, we got home kind of late, so I had to be quiet making a PB&J while Santiago ate his favorite and my least-favorite, rice.

Weakness

Weakness

6/12/12

            Yesterday I got to Skype with my mom and dad for a good three hours; it was wonderful. People in Santiago’s family kept coming in, so my mom got to meet Santiago’s two brothers, as well as his mom. Santiago’s mom told him that she wanted to talk to my mom, so she came and sat down to chat with us. The silences were a bit awkward, but we would just laugh. She didn’t say much to my mom, but what she did say I would translate. It was interesting.

Time is a funny concept...

Time is a Funny Concept

6/11/12

            On Friday, Santiago and I hung out and talked for a bit before going to his church service. There weren’t many people, but it was a good service. Santiago translated into Spanish that I could understand, and the songs were really powerful. One of my favorites is called “Suenos De Morir”, which you should stop reading right now and go look up on Youtube. It’s a song about the dreams of Jesus before his crucifixion. It’s awesome.

I Think She Likes Me!

“Mom, I think she likes me!”

6/8/12

            So yesterday when Santiago came to pick me up, he told me there was STILL no internet in CalaCali. Only some places and houses have it. He told me that in Ecuador, “la systema no funciona”, which basically means the system doesn’t really function as it should here. I can definitely see that in place here on the streets! People are always passing each other when cars are coming on the other side, and so the cars just move over into the pull-over lane. Since “la systema no funciona”, Santiago and I went into his school to get internet access. I explained that I can’t even go to the school I went to for high school because you basically have to be invited! He was surprised at that, but I was surprised that you could just walk into his school. So I was able to get on the computer (hence my three other blogs that I posted)! I also posted pictures on Facebook, for anyone who is curious to see my adventures!

Expect the Unexpected

“Expect the Unexpected”

6/7/12

Today in my Daily Bread, it said, “I know who holds the future, and I know who holds my hand; with God, things don’t just happen—everything by Him is planned”. The title was “Uncontrollable Unexpected” and gave the verses in James that talk about making plans without remembering that at any time they can change. I’m a pretty “go with the flow” type person, so it usually isn’t hard for me to not know every single thing that comes next. However, I’m still human, so it gets frustrating to not know the future. I wanted to have every single thing planned out before I got here, and unfortunately, that wasn’t able to happen. It can get frustrating wanting to do so much and having to wait to figure out what I will be doing, but at the same time, I remember that I’m flexible and am able to do whatever, whenever. I’m looking into several options on how to spend some of my time, but just spending time with my “family” and friends here has been awesome.

Curiosity

“Curiosity”

6/6/12

            After writing my last post, I went inside for a little bit and sat down with one of the little boys to see his homework. This may sound crazy, but for some reason, I was so impressed and somewhat surprised. It’s not like I think America is the only country with good education, but I guess I never realize how awesome God is to have put in place so many countries and so many languages, yet have the same universal truths, like mathematics and science. As I looked through his writings, I read math word problems, and it reminded me of when I was in middle school. The little boy was learning about pi (which is pronounced like the letter ‘p’ here) and circumference. It was quite interesting.

My Home

“My Home”

     6/4/12

It has been such a blessing being here. All of these seemingly small things impact me in such a big way. As I said before, the fact that this family is allowing me to live in their house is first and foremost such an incredible thing. I have never understood such hospitality in my life this strongly. My mom always welcomed people into our home, especially if they really needed to be there, but somehow I never truly grasped fully that accommodation is a big deal.

Es Ecuador!

***6/3/12

OKAY! SO I'm officially in Ecuador, and today is my second day! Yesterday was a pretty decent day. I'm going to post what I wrote yesterday at the bottom of this post so that you can read about my flight info if you want to.

Straight paths.

So it's been quite a while since I last posted, and much has happened. First of all, I left the country for about a week and a half last month. I went to Ecuador, and it was incredible. [to read updates, click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/257699264289961/]. I enjoyed hanging out with llamas, eating awesome food, putting rock climbing walls together, planting trees, and singing with the Ecuadorian youth!