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]:

-Went in a ring with a bull with fire on his head

-Bought and wore a bikini at the beach for the first time in six years

-Voluntarily ate (and LIKED) several foods, such as fish, chili, and steak

-Ate (and semi-liked) birthday cake

-Started dating a nice Ecuadorian boy (who is quite the gentleman, might I add)

-Watched my boyfriend play in a band

-Had full conversations in a completely different language

-Danced in a ‘discoteca’, as well as other Ecuadorian fiestas

-Sang worship with a group [Geneva] in El Refugio and did a bunch of the girls1 hair (not to mention getting close with some of the people!)

-Attended a graduation ceremony

-Went on a boat ride at the beach

-Went to a waterfall

-Watched bootleg movies only available in Spanish and Russian

-Took a few classes of Spanish and learned a lot

-Went to a baptism party and met a bunch of Santiago’s family

-Went on a sky ride over the city of Quito (Teleferico)

-Washed my hair with a bottle of water (not a fun time)

-Went grocery shopping in the crazy packed super market (Condado)

-Went to the zoo (standing on the back of a taxi truck) and got hit in the stomach by cows

-Worked with the missionary Susie and her husband at VBS and saw the beautiful city of Cayambe

-Successfully made some American foods, such as pancakes, pasta, and macaroni

-Ate the most incredible pizza, as well as McDonalds

-Went to the movie theater and watched a movie with Spanish subtitles

-Watched several Ecuadorian parades with fire works and live bands

-Attended several birthday parties

-Did my host mom’s hair and makeup for a wedding

-Watched indigenous Ecuadorians dance

-Hiked up a mountain (kind of) to see horses (that I didn’t get to ride!)

-Went on a motorcycle with my host parents!

-Sang a worship song in a different language for a bunch of kids in VBS

-Spent 60 days falling in love with a culture, family, and language that isn’t my own, learning more about God and myself, and making incredible memories in this beautiful country of Ecuador

            Today I give my gifts to my family, as well as celebrate my last day in this country (and I get to ride a motorcycle!). I know it will be tearful. This morning Santy and I made our family peanut butter pancakes and eggs for breakfast. It was a delight serving them and preparing everything; I was "mom" for the morning.

             So I will leave my house for Quito around 2 in the morning, and my first flight is around 6:30am. I fly to Panama then to Florida then to New Jersey. I should be in New Jersey around 10pm on Tuesday, so Wednesday will be my real first day back in the States. Please keep my flights and health in your prayers

            Thanks everyone for all of your support, for all of your “likes” on my Facebook pictures and statuses, and for all of your wonderful comments. I have definitely enjoyed my time here- that’s for sure!

            However, I leave behind many things. Last night I packed up all of my things to be ready and found shells Santiago and I collected at the beach. I picked two of the same and wrote in one that Santiago had my heart (as well as other things). I gave it to him, and he started to cry. Then he took the other and wrote the same thing. After some tears, I picked up my old Ecuador journal from January and read the pages to him where I mentioned him. Then I read the last entry, where I wrote, “I leave tomorrow, but a piece of me will forever be in Ecuador”. Santiago then said to me, “but you leave behind more now”. And I am. I’m leaving behind so many pieces of my heart. I’m leaving a place I have finally called home. Yet here I am, returning back to my other “home” tomorrow. After all, you can’t return until you first say goodbye.

            Thank you, God. [Gracias, Dios]