Same Adventures with New Surprises.. Take #4!

So, here I am! I’m in Ecuador for the fourth time yet still being surprised. I’m sure you all were just dying to know what my life has been like (probably not!), so here is my first update! Bear with me because it might get a little more interesting later on…

Between Worlds

            So today is my last day in Ecuador, and it’s bittersweet. Though I can’t wait to take a warm shower without worrying about it becoming ice cold in .5 seconds or losing the water halfway through, and though I can’t wait to eat some pop tarts and have the beach only an hour away, I’m also going to seriously miss this country, these people, and this life here. I always feel like I’m in between worlds here, and it sucks. At times I’m blessed to have two homes, two families, and two languages to call my own, but at the same time, it becomes such a burden when I have to choose between them. I don’t like having to go back and forth to these houses. I don’t like getting to have brothers and a sister for only a few short months. I don’t like mixing up my English and my Spanish or having to choose whether to watch a movie in one or the other. But honestly, this is my life. I have another family and a boyfriend overseas, and this is what it’s like to have that. I just hope that one day I’ll be able to balance it, but I’m pretty sure we’re going to end up going back and forth for our entire lives, and at some point, I think I’ll be okay with it. I’m at least thankful for it. Honestly, I probably wouldn’t have it any other way…

Like A Child

 

            Quite a bit has happened since the last time I posted! Last Sunday at the church we watched the kids perform their drama. The adults got to do their ‘exposition’ a few weeks ago, showing the church what they learned from their baptism classes. It was time for the younger kids, who Santy taught, to give their exposition in the form of a drama. It was extremely interesting to watch and even more wonderful watching my boyfriend do such a great job leading the whole service.

Who They Are

 

Santy's new buddy from Michigan, Luke

our class! don't worry- they're actually NOT miserable.

my little cousin in the mime group :)

            My last post was a little bit about who I am as a person, and, on the other side, this post is going to give you a little taste into the people of this small town that I live in here in Ecuador…

Who I'm Not

 

waiting to go in the ring with...

this big guy!

me & friends in the bull ring

baby girl for her graduationnn

            Not too much has gone on the past week, but God keeps being faithful with “Jesus Calling”. What a great devotional! It really is one of those things where every day has the perfect word. Today’s was really great because I was being weighed down by the expectations of others here in Ecuador, but today’s message read that we have ONE master and ONE man who wants us to be who we are in Him and does not expect us to be who we aren’t. It was so perfect for me today because I just have been feeling like I haven’t been involved in as much of the culture as last year. Yes, I have to deal with there not being any water during most of the day, and I work in the kitchen with my Ecuadorian host mom sometimes, and I help hand wash dishes at home, but I’m talking more about relationally. I’ve closed myself off to a lot of people here because, since college, I’ve become more emotionally distant as a person. When I got rejected for being outgoing, my “sociable” personality went down significantly to the point where I feel uncomfortable being around a bunch of people that I don’t know. This makes it hard to bond with people who come to my house here or people who come to Santy’s house. There are always a MILLION people at the house, and it bothers me. I’ve tried to open up more, but it’s become harder. So it was quite refreshing to hear that message today that, although I can push myself to be a better person, I can’t spend all my energy trying to please people in being someone that I’m not. It’s more worth it to focus energy on God, and that leads to our authenticity.

Hidden Treasures of Ecuador

me with the bulls with fire on their horns!

 

            So since the last time I’ve written, my life has been pretty interesting. That Saturday Santy was at school all day, so I just kind of hung out at his house til he got back. He got back super late, so he surprised me with purple flowers because he knows it’s my favorite color. We also got caramel apples from the parade which, like I’ve mentioned before, is like a week long!