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!

            After finishing some work and hanging out a bit, Madeline asked me if I wanted to go help her lead worship that night. If you know me at all, you’d know I said of course! So I went to practice with her and her group. We both played melody on guitar, while another Ecuadorian facilitator at El Refugio, Willy, played rhythm. There was another guy that played a bongo, and there were a few singers. They were a great team!

            I rushed back after practice to get ready for dinner. After eating, I had another awesome group of three that helped with clean-up. When they finished, we walked up to the group’s bonfire (if anyone from my January team is reading, don’t you miss those nightly bonfires?!). I got to sing songs with the group then stay to hear Madeline’s dad give a message. Then I was surprised to see them do SO many encouraging things. This group is huge; I think there’s like 50 people or so people! Yet they all encourage and build each other up more than I have ever seen any other group do! It was so wonderful.

            Madeline introduced Santiago, Willy, Pablo (another facilitator), and I before we played the last song. I got to tell them what a great group they were and how happy I was to be there! After the last song (and Santiago’s favorite, Revelation Song), we were ready to go when maybe four different people stopped me and told me that they liked my voice. I was a bit embarrassed that they heard me so well (I’m such a loud mouth!), but yet so encouraged by that! It was probably one of my favorite nights here.

            When we got back, I tried to start on some of my homework, but I was pretty tired. The next morning I woke up earlier to come to work at 10 because Anita was sick. They gave me several different things to do, like peeling and shredding carrots, making juice, and slicing watermelon. At lunch, I was asked by a few people if I was going to sing at the bonfire that night, one person telling me “someone that didn’t come last night told me they were upset that they missed your voice!” It almost melted my heart to hear some of the kids greeting me by name. (Yes, my heart almost melts a lot!)

            After a little while, I started on some homework. Some of the Geneva team came over to talk for a bit, and so I’ve learned quite a few names by now! After finishing up homework, I went to practice with Madeline. I learned everyone on the worship team’s names!

            I ran back to get ready for dinner, and we served steak and rice. I had yet another great team of helpers, and once we cleaned up, we headed to the bonfire. Madeline came up to me and said, “I just had a girl ask me if you were coming, and when I said you were, she was like, ‘YES!’”. Oh, I felt blessed to be there!

            The team played an awesome set, and then we had to leave because Lydia, one of the interns, is leaving next week after being here for one year, and was having a party! We went to the party and played a crazy game where you had to make up a question for Lydia and guess how she would answer. It was interesting! Then we prayed for her, talked a bit, and she told us her plans for when she returns home. We took a group picture, and then Santiago and I headed out because I had a lot to do. When we got back, I finished some homework, in which I learned about Ecuadorian celebrations before going to sleep around 11.

            This morning I woke up to a text from my mom telling me that my dog was probably going to be put down today. This was inevitably going to happen for a while, and honestly, I’m glad that I’m here rather than there. I’ve said goodbye to him every night since we thought he’d be put down a year ago in April.

            I couldn’t help think about him, though. I’m just going to start randomly throwing some memories out there, but this is what was in my mind at 6am this morning in my Ecuadorian bed. I thought about when Murphy was a puppy, and we would literally play games together. I would play hide and seek with him by telling him to stay at the top of the stairs. I would hide under the couch and yell, “OKAY!” Murphy would come running down the stairs to look for me. He has a pretty good nose, so he would always win.

            Murphy also liked to play “hide the ball”. One time I watched him literally pick up a big book of crossword puzzles with his little paws and put the ball underneath it. It was the funniest thing I have ever seen. He also had some other great hiding spots, and it was always fun to try to find them. His red light-up ball was his favorite.

            I also remember a time when I was ten years old and crying on my couch. I was lying down with my arms covering my face, when Murphy came over and literally started to use his nose to lift up my arms and head so he could lick my face. He always cuddled, unlike Joey (my other dog), who cuddles for like five seconds. Even though he barked whenever someone (even me) came into the house, he was just the sweetest dog, and I think I might miss his obnoxious barking and his howling whenever we sang “Gloria” on Christmas.

            I am praying for my family back at home, and I hope you can be, too! I miss you all and am wishing you the best.

            One thing I think I’ve learned to really do while I’m here is just to soak up everything I can. I’ve heard maybe four times while I’ve been here a message on the verse about God giving life so that we can live it abundantly. In Spanish it’s “abundancia”. I’ve always been pretty “outrageous” in my life, and now I’m just learning to breathe in the air here and smile, taking in every experience, good or bad, as something to be cherished. THAT is the abundant life.