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!”