Saturday, August 1, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Heavenly Interruptions
I am home, a little tired, a little sweaty, and extremely grateful for the experience of Ecuador. I went to Starbucks today to pick up my paycheck and a much desired latte and say hi to people I had dearly missed, and while I was there one of the costumers asked me what I learned. Difficult to sum up in a simple sentence or even conversation, but based on the events of the past few days I told her I learned the beauty of God's interruptions. We make plans, we have ideas, and Heaven enters in and shatters those plans and transforms our ideas with beautiful glimpses of Glory. I guess I should explain how I came to this conclusion and finish chronicling the details of the rest of my time in Macas and Ecuador.
Thursday was our last day with the students. It was bittersweet for sure. We were excited about the carnival and the closing program, excited to see all the hard work come together, but the thought of saying goodbye to my students who had exhausted and inspired me was saddening. I will say one thing--the kids here have a surprising patience for very long ceremonies. Ecuadorian style, the music and skits and thank-yous of the final VBS day lasted about an hour and half THEN the students were able to go to the carnival stations and win prizes and eat ice cream. And the majority of the kids sat through the whole ceremony! Even I was feeling fidgety. I did bask in a moment of pride when my class won the prize for memorizing the most bible verses. First time in my life I have ever been a part of successful verse memorization, and it was fun to see my students cheer and then scramble to the front to claim their spoils--gel pens and notebooks. Fun!
During the carnival I mostly wandered around and chatted with my students, or held their prizes for them as they played the various games. At one point my student Elmer came up to me with a cup of strawberry ice cream and said, "Teacher, I found an extra ticket for ice cream so I got this for you." That boy knows how to win a teacher over! This is also the same student who, in order to get my attention, pinches the rolls on my stomach. Not pleasant. But it was still very endearing to have him offer his extra ice cream to me. A heavenly interruption to show the beauty of generosity.
As my students said their goodbyes, they all asked if I would be returning next year. When I told them no, I would be in school, they shrugged their shoulders and said, "Well, the next year then!" The boys all gave me kisses on the cheek as they left and the girls all asked to take a picture as they said goodbye. I am not sure if they learned much English, but I hope they knew that a crazy girl from Los Estados Unidos loves them and will miss them dearly. I hope they were able to gain a small glimpse into the love Jesus has for them and the Joy He brings.
After lunch some of the older students in the program asked us Spanish speakers to ask the teenagers from the team out to ice cream. I thought this was a fantastic opportunity for cross-cultural relations, and I was also amused at the clear excitement of some of the American girls to hang out with some of the Ecuadorian boys, and vice-versa. Then I remembered that American dads are still American dads. We arrived at the ice cream parlor and the teenagers were sitting in one corner and the dads were sitting in the opposite corner in a vain attempt to be discreetly present. Us translators soon realized that awkwardness among teenagers transcends cultures and borders. We tried to encourage conversation but the first 45 minutes were a bit of a challenge. I don't remember the breakthrough moment, but soon conversation flowed and they were laughing and sharing a plate of fries. Our work was done.
That night dinner was bittersweet and emotional. One of my students, Linda, is the daughter to one of our cooks so I have had the chance to spend more time with her throughout the VBS as she hangs out at the school with her mom each afternoon. Thursday evening at dinner I went into the kitchen and sat down next to her to tell her how much I enjoyed teaching her and how special she was to me. What I didn't expect was for her to burst into tears, which of course caused me to burst into tears, and the two of us sat at that little table in the middle of the school kitchen alternately laughing and crying. A heavenly interruption to show me the value of relationships and the impact of Love. And as I sat there I wished Macas weren't so far away, and I wished that my response to whether or not I would return were a resounding YES.
After dinner there was the prayer service at the church. We were under the impression that it would be a send off ceremony for the team and a time of thanksgiving and prayer. When we arrived, however, we were treated to an hour long cultural celebration of Uzbekistan. The church sends missionaries from Ecuador to Uzbekistan, so we listened to traditional music, ate some food, watched music videos, and heard speeches on the culture and norms of Uzbek society. It is moments like this when you begin to truly appreciate the scope of globalization--a team of Americans sitting in an Ecuadorian church learning about Uzbekistan, in Spanish of course. Toward the end they prayed over the team and then we all hung out and said our goodbyes to the church members.
The four of us girls went to our favorite coffee shop, the Pasaje, along with our Ecuadorian friends to "despidernos" (say goodbye). It was such a fun evening of playing cards, darts, listening to guitar music, and tapping into our final stores of energy to follow along with the conversation in Spanish. Then some of our friends suggested we go down to the river for a bonfire. Though it was already approaching 11pm, this prospect of a river bonfire was exciting. We should have known to shed our expectations...We drove down a bumpy dirt road to a sand bank along the river and wondered, "where is the firewood?" Our friends pointed to the piles of driftwood and weeds and said, "there is the fire!" Then it started raining, but no worries. They also had a two liter coke bottle filled with gas rolling around the back of the truck, so fire was possible! Until the rain really picked up and the idea of throwing gas and matches on random piles of river weeds just didn't seem quite right. So we went home and went to bed.
Friday was our last day in Macas, and the sense of finality began to sink in as we took our last taxi ride to school, ate our last breakfast with the team, and said our last goodbyes. Linda was there again, and she gave me a pillowcase she had cross stitched. It had a cute bird and flower and a bible verse in Spanish from Ecclesiastes 12:1, which states: "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them"- Not exactly something you see on a pillow, but good to remember I am sure. And I will treasure and display that awkwardly beautiful pillowcase Linda made for me.
As we were returning to the apartment, I noticed a man blow torching a pig outside a restaurant. I really can't explain this very well and will be sure and post a picture, but despite my revulsion towards pigs and all things pork, I just had to take a photo. Not as easy as I would have thought. When I asked the gentlemen if I could take his picture, he called over his wife to take MY picture, giving me his knife so I could pose with the pig. Then his wife suggested I take a picture kissing the pig, and then of course they asked me where I was from and what I was doing on this street corner of Macas taking pictures of a dead pig. After a short conversation about why I was there they insisted on giving me some pig to eat. My stomach immediately started to turn as I agreed. Fresh pig! Yum! Segundo, the kind pig roaster, grabbed his knife and sliced off a piece of the pig skin for me to eat. How kind. I sat at the table in their restaurant, broke off a piece, and I knew I would puke all over myself if I went any further. So I asked for a plate to go, since I had friends who would love to try this tasty pig skin--and I was free. Dear old Segundo hopefully never knew that I quickly placed the pig skin in the nearest trash once I was out of view. But I will be forever thankful for their hospitality. A heavenly interruption to show that when I think I am just taking a picture of a pig, I am given a picture of kindness.
Before our plane left we walked around Macas one last time, stopping at parks and for ice cream before our plane left. At the airport, a few of the teachers from the school came to say goodbye. We boarded the tiny plane bound for Quito, filled with nuns, business men, and Americans, and looked one last time over the jungle terrain of Macas before being lost in the clouds.
We arrived in Quito and tried to acclimate ourselves to the high elevation, cold night air, bustling city life, and modern marvels such as giant shopping malls. A bit of a change from sleepy, sticky, small Macas. After dinner we took a bus tour of the city at night and visited a giant statue of Mary on the top of one of the surrounding hills. A common feature in Latino culture I have noticed. This particular statue was a little disturbing because it was Mary of the Apocalypse, she she was standing on top of a serpent, which was on top of the world, and holding a chain. I need to re-read Revelations because I do not remember that being part of the second coming. But it did offer a beautiful view of the city at night!
Saturday morning we boarded a bus for Otavalo, a town about three hours outside of Quito and near a beautiful lake and volcano. It is famous for a huge market so we went to do our shopping damage. Recognizing that shopping in strange marketplaces in other countries is one of my great weaknesses, I only brought a certain amount of cash to resist the urge to bring back the whole country. I was grateful since this gave Lauren and I the chance to walk around and enjoy the park, the church square, street musicians, and of course a panaderia for some fresh bread. We returned to Quito that night grateful for a bed and rest...despite the not-so-heavenly interruptions of jack hammers, loud music, and traffic.
Sunday morning we went to a church service in English, which was especially nice I am sure for the team who had been unable to worship in the mother language for a few weeks. It was also inspiring because the pastor welcomed the various teams and missionaries from around the world who were taking part in ministering to the people of Ecuador. Within our individual and unique experiences we are all connected to this universal desire to share Love and Hope in the name of Jesus.
After church the four of us girls, Lauren, Amelia, Elaine, and I, went to Old Town Quito to have lunch and explore. We didn't so much have a plan, or an idea of where we were going, and we ended up in the presidential square with the government buildings and the Ecuadorian White House. It was a sunny day, the square was filled with activity, and I was soaking it all in. Until, as I was rounding the corner to head to the rather fancy restaurant we had picked out for lunch, a very pregnant woman darted in front of me and bent down as if to pick something up off the ground. As I quite literally ran into her backside, a few more women swarmed around me and I slipped through, wondering what was on the ground that she so eagerly wanted to pick up. We walked into the restaurant, which was the most opulent place our dirty flip flops had entered since coming to Ecuador. At first we weren't sure if we could afford such luxury, until we saw the menu prices were less than $10. We decided for the splurge. As I reached into my bag for my hand sanitizer, I noticed it had somehow already fallen on the floor. Odd. Upon further inspection I realized that my bag had been slashed. And the pieces started to fall into place. Pregnant woman, bending over, swarm of women, escaping through crowd. Panic set in as I thought about my camera and money pouch, but nothing was lost. Not even my hand sanitizer or sunglasses. I felt like a less than vigilant traveler, I was a little shaken up by the fact that a knife was so near my body and my camera, but more than anything I was extremely thankful that nothing was lost. After lunch I searched for the woman but she had clearly moved on. I wanted to find her, to tell her I knew what she tried to do, I was sorry, to give her a few dollars. Clearly she has lived in a state of desperation I will never understand. She will bring her child into a very different world where survival, not celebration, is the only form of living.
The purse slashing incident was quickly overshadowed by an amazing lunch--chicken salad, fresh fruit, plantain chips, and rice pudding--complete with live Spanish guitar music. The restaurant has a rich history and is a favorite for members of congress and even the Ecuadorian president. Still less than $10 a plate, though we were a little bummed to find that bottled water cost $3 (and a glass of wine was only $3.50. We made the wrong choice apparently). Overall it was a lovely last lunch.
Since the day was so sunny and the square filled with life and activity, we picked out a promising bench and sat down to soak up some rays. We were quickly greeted by a greasy little boy asking if we would like to have our shoes shined. Clearly he did not notice the fact that we were all wearing flip flops. We chatted with him for a while, and he shared the words he knew in English. A few of his friends came too and soon the conversation turned to their desire for us to buy them lunch--a phrase they knew in perfect English. Feeling slightly guilty in our recent lunch indulgence, we acquiesced. I asked them to take us to a place they liked, and their faces immediately lit up and they began rapidly conversing amongst themselves in Quechua, their native language. Soon our group grew to nine beautiful and greasy shoe shining Ecuadorian boys and four overwhelmed American girls. We said a quick prayer that God would lead us to the right place (preferably not a dark alley where their dads were waiting to mug us. Shamefully we couldn't help but wonder) and we walked a few blocks away to a tiny hole-in-the-wall cantina. The boys quickly chose seats towards the back while we asked the waiter about providing them lunch. For nine lunches consisting of soup, rice, beans, fried chicken, bananas, jello, and fresh juice it cost us $16. NINE lunches.
We joined the boys for a while. They were pretty excited about choosing which American girl they wanted to sit at their table. And then they proposed and told us how beautiful we were, which was a pretty nice thank you for lunch. A few of them wondered why we didn't eat and offered to share in case we were hungry. Their easy generosity despite their own hunger was inspiring. Many of the boys ate very quickly (even the mysterious meat in the soup that I would have been hesitant to devour) and I wondered when their last meal had been. They were so curious about life in America, curious about why we were in Ecuador, excited to showcase their knowledge of English, and eager to take pictures with us and teach us Quechuan (I have no idea how to spell that). At one point in the conversation I asked them if they went to school still. All of them did, and each of them had dreams of studying further. One boy wanted to be an accountant, another a doctor, and another the president. Their favorite subjects were math and computers, and they wanted to continue learning more English. My prayer is that God provides people in the lives of these boys to encourage them, provide for them, and help them to pursue the dreams of their hearts. I take so much for granted, and obviously being in a place such as Ecuador magnifies this. As I begin grad school, I even more clearly recognize the support and sacrifice that my family has given in order to enable me to pursue the calling I feel God has given me. My fervent prayer is that my blessings may spill over so that others, such as these shoe shining boys in Quito, may be supported and encouraged. Those boys may soon forget the lunch we bought. Others will step into their lives and show them equal and greater love. But I will never forget the heavenly interruption of lunch in a tiny cantina in Quito with boys whose spirits touched and illuminated my soul.
The rest of the afternoon we wandered through the streets of Old Town, chatting with local shopkeepers and coffee makers, taking a break for chocolate cake and lattes, and taking lots and lots of pictures. Just in case our day wasn't random and full enough, as we were walking up a hill toward a cathedral we noticed a music video being filmed. We secretly hoped we would make an appearance in the background, but we didn't need to worry about that. Shortly after visiting the church we spotted the entourage again and the lead singer took pictures with us while his camera crew filmed on. His name is Fernando Pacheco and he is not as famous as we hoped, but still--being in any music video doesn't spontaneously happen very often.
As the sun began to set we took a walk around a huge park in downtown then ate a quick bite of dinner before heading back to the hostel. Each of us agreed that the day had been full and one of the best. Not because we anticipated any type of greatness, but because we allowed heavenly interruptions to enter into our day and show us Mercy, Goodness, and Joy.
Goodbyes with the team and with the girls were also emotional, but slightly easier because there is a much greater likelihood of me seeing each of them again. And we can always be facebook friends right? Lauren and I laughed over the thought that this entire journey started with a facebook chat. I had no intention of going to Ecuador, yet God placed this heavenly interruption in my life to grow and challenge me in ways I am still processing through. Even the journey home was a challenge to what I have learned and experienced in Ecuador. After multiple delays in flights and finding out that I would be spending the night in Dallas, without a change of clothes or a toothbrush, it was so hard for me to keep a spirit of humble servant hood. My parents will be the first to tell you I was angry, slightly panicked, and somewhat devastated at the prospect of being stinky, tired, and alone for another night before reaching home. But even in those moments, when we feel like life isn't very profound--in fact, it is mostly disappointing--God gives us the grace we need and calls us to live missionally. It was hard for me to step out of my worry and frustration, but after a few packs of peanut m&m's, a latte, and a lot of prayer, I realized that my time is not my own, that God speaks in every situation, and even an annoying plane delay is a chance to praise Him.
In my first post I quoted a verse from Habakkuk. When I went back to reread that verse, I realized much of the meaning was lost because I did not include the verses preceding. Here is the rest of the passage:
Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.
Habakkuk 3:17-19.
It is easy to sing praises when life is going in a direction we are comfortable with. But God calls us and gives us the strength to praise him even when life seems empty and things do not work out. I know that my plane delay was small compared to grave life and death situations, but it served as a time for me to evaluate my heart and consider my praise. And it gives me hope that in the midst of the darkness and difficulties of the situations I witnessed in Ecuador, God is pouring out His love and enabling His children to go to the heights.
Thursday was our last day with the students. It was bittersweet for sure. We were excited about the carnival and the closing program, excited to see all the hard work come together, but the thought of saying goodbye to my students who had exhausted and inspired me was saddening. I will say one thing--the kids here have a surprising patience for very long ceremonies. Ecuadorian style, the music and skits and thank-yous of the final VBS day lasted about an hour and half THEN the students were able to go to the carnival stations and win prizes and eat ice cream. And the majority of the kids sat through the whole ceremony! Even I was feeling fidgety. I did bask in a moment of pride when my class won the prize for memorizing the most bible verses. First time in my life I have ever been a part of successful verse memorization, and it was fun to see my students cheer and then scramble to the front to claim their spoils--gel pens and notebooks. Fun!
During the carnival I mostly wandered around and chatted with my students, or held their prizes for them as they played the various games. At one point my student Elmer came up to me with a cup of strawberry ice cream and said, "Teacher, I found an extra ticket for ice cream so I got this for you." That boy knows how to win a teacher over! This is also the same student who, in order to get my attention, pinches the rolls on my stomach. Not pleasant. But it was still very endearing to have him offer his extra ice cream to me. A heavenly interruption to show the beauty of generosity.
As my students said their goodbyes, they all asked if I would be returning next year. When I told them no, I would be in school, they shrugged their shoulders and said, "Well, the next year then!" The boys all gave me kisses on the cheek as they left and the girls all asked to take a picture as they said goodbye. I am not sure if they learned much English, but I hope they knew that a crazy girl from Los Estados Unidos loves them and will miss them dearly. I hope they were able to gain a small glimpse into the love Jesus has for them and the Joy He brings.
After lunch some of the older students in the program asked us Spanish speakers to ask the teenagers from the team out to ice cream. I thought this was a fantastic opportunity for cross-cultural relations, and I was also amused at the clear excitement of some of the American girls to hang out with some of the Ecuadorian boys, and vice-versa. Then I remembered that American dads are still American dads. We arrived at the ice cream parlor and the teenagers were sitting in one corner and the dads were sitting in the opposite corner in a vain attempt to be discreetly present. Us translators soon realized that awkwardness among teenagers transcends cultures and borders. We tried to encourage conversation but the first 45 minutes were a bit of a challenge. I don't remember the breakthrough moment, but soon conversation flowed and they were laughing and sharing a plate of fries. Our work was done.
That night dinner was bittersweet and emotional. One of my students, Linda, is the daughter to one of our cooks so I have had the chance to spend more time with her throughout the VBS as she hangs out at the school with her mom each afternoon. Thursday evening at dinner I went into the kitchen and sat down next to her to tell her how much I enjoyed teaching her and how special she was to me. What I didn't expect was for her to burst into tears, which of course caused me to burst into tears, and the two of us sat at that little table in the middle of the school kitchen alternately laughing and crying. A heavenly interruption to show me the value of relationships and the impact of Love. And as I sat there I wished Macas weren't so far away, and I wished that my response to whether or not I would return were a resounding YES.
After dinner there was the prayer service at the church. We were under the impression that it would be a send off ceremony for the team and a time of thanksgiving and prayer. When we arrived, however, we were treated to an hour long cultural celebration of Uzbekistan. The church sends missionaries from Ecuador to Uzbekistan, so we listened to traditional music, ate some food, watched music videos, and heard speeches on the culture and norms of Uzbek society. It is moments like this when you begin to truly appreciate the scope of globalization--a team of Americans sitting in an Ecuadorian church learning about Uzbekistan, in Spanish of course. Toward the end they prayed over the team and then we all hung out and said our goodbyes to the church members.
The four of us girls went to our favorite coffee shop, the Pasaje, along with our Ecuadorian friends to "despidernos" (say goodbye). It was such a fun evening of playing cards, darts, listening to guitar music, and tapping into our final stores of energy to follow along with the conversation in Spanish. Then some of our friends suggested we go down to the river for a bonfire. Though it was already approaching 11pm, this prospect of a river bonfire was exciting. We should have known to shed our expectations...We drove down a bumpy dirt road to a sand bank along the river and wondered, "where is the firewood?" Our friends pointed to the piles of driftwood and weeds and said, "there is the fire!" Then it started raining, but no worries. They also had a two liter coke bottle filled with gas rolling around the back of the truck, so fire was possible! Until the rain really picked up and the idea of throwing gas and matches on random piles of river weeds just didn't seem quite right. So we went home and went to bed.
Friday was our last day in Macas, and the sense of finality began to sink in as we took our last taxi ride to school, ate our last breakfast with the team, and said our last goodbyes. Linda was there again, and she gave me a pillowcase she had cross stitched. It had a cute bird and flower and a bible verse in Spanish from Ecclesiastes 12:1, which states: "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them"- Not exactly something you see on a pillow, but good to remember I am sure. And I will treasure and display that awkwardly beautiful pillowcase Linda made for me.
As we were returning to the apartment, I noticed a man blow torching a pig outside a restaurant. I really can't explain this very well and will be sure and post a picture, but despite my revulsion towards pigs and all things pork, I just had to take a photo. Not as easy as I would have thought. When I asked the gentlemen if I could take his picture, he called over his wife to take MY picture, giving me his knife so I could pose with the pig. Then his wife suggested I take a picture kissing the pig, and then of course they asked me where I was from and what I was doing on this street corner of Macas taking pictures of a dead pig. After a short conversation about why I was there they insisted on giving me some pig to eat. My stomach immediately started to turn as I agreed. Fresh pig! Yum! Segundo, the kind pig roaster, grabbed his knife and sliced off a piece of the pig skin for me to eat. How kind. I sat at the table in their restaurant, broke off a piece, and I knew I would puke all over myself if I went any further. So I asked for a plate to go, since I had friends who would love to try this tasty pig skin--and I was free. Dear old Segundo hopefully never knew that I quickly placed the pig skin in the nearest trash once I was out of view. But I will be forever thankful for their hospitality. A heavenly interruption to show that when I think I am just taking a picture of a pig, I am given a picture of kindness.
Before our plane left we walked around Macas one last time, stopping at parks and for ice cream before our plane left. At the airport, a few of the teachers from the school came to say goodbye. We boarded the tiny plane bound for Quito, filled with nuns, business men, and Americans, and looked one last time over the jungle terrain of Macas before being lost in the clouds.
We arrived in Quito and tried to acclimate ourselves to the high elevation, cold night air, bustling city life, and modern marvels such as giant shopping malls. A bit of a change from sleepy, sticky, small Macas. After dinner we took a bus tour of the city at night and visited a giant statue of Mary on the top of one of the surrounding hills. A common feature in Latino culture I have noticed. This particular statue was a little disturbing because it was Mary of the Apocalypse, she she was standing on top of a serpent, which was on top of the world, and holding a chain. I need to re-read Revelations because I do not remember that being part of the second coming. But it did offer a beautiful view of the city at night!
Saturday morning we boarded a bus for Otavalo, a town about three hours outside of Quito and near a beautiful lake and volcano. It is famous for a huge market so we went to do our shopping damage. Recognizing that shopping in strange marketplaces in other countries is one of my great weaknesses, I only brought a certain amount of cash to resist the urge to bring back the whole country. I was grateful since this gave Lauren and I the chance to walk around and enjoy the park, the church square, street musicians, and of course a panaderia for some fresh bread. We returned to Quito that night grateful for a bed and rest...despite the not-so-heavenly interruptions of jack hammers, loud music, and traffic.
Sunday morning we went to a church service in English, which was especially nice I am sure for the team who had been unable to worship in the mother language for a few weeks. It was also inspiring because the pastor welcomed the various teams and missionaries from around the world who were taking part in ministering to the people of Ecuador. Within our individual and unique experiences we are all connected to this universal desire to share Love and Hope in the name of Jesus.
After church the four of us girls, Lauren, Amelia, Elaine, and I, went to Old Town Quito to have lunch and explore. We didn't so much have a plan, or an idea of where we were going, and we ended up in the presidential square with the government buildings and the Ecuadorian White House. It was a sunny day, the square was filled with activity, and I was soaking it all in. Until, as I was rounding the corner to head to the rather fancy restaurant we had picked out for lunch, a very pregnant woman darted in front of me and bent down as if to pick something up off the ground. As I quite literally ran into her backside, a few more women swarmed around me and I slipped through, wondering what was on the ground that she so eagerly wanted to pick up. We walked into the restaurant, which was the most opulent place our dirty flip flops had entered since coming to Ecuador. At first we weren't sure if we could afford such luxury, until we saw the menu prices were less than $10. We decided for the splurge. As I reached into my bag for my hand sanitizer, I noticed it had somehow already fallen on the floor. Odd. Upon further inspection I realized that my bag had been slashed. And the pieces started to fall into place. Pregnant woman, bending over, swarm of women, escaping through crowd. Panic set in as I thought about my camera and money pouch, but nothing was lost. Not even my hand sanitizer or sunglasses. I felt like a less than vigilant traveler, I was a little shaken up by the fact that a knife was so near my body and my camera, but more than anything I was extremely thankful that nothing was lost. After lunch I searched for the woman but she had clearly moved on. I wanted to find her, to tell her I knew what she tried to do, I was sorry, to give her a few dollars. Clearly she has lived in a state of desperation I will never understand. She will bring her child into a very different world where survival, not celebration, is the only form of living.
The purse slashing incident was quickly overshadowed by an amazing lunch--chicken salad, fresh fruit, plantain chips, and rice pudding--complete with live Spanish guitar music. The restaurant has a rich history and is a favorite for members of congress and even the Ecuadorian president. Still less than $10 a plate, though we were a little bummed to find that bottled water cost $3 (and a glass of wine was only $3.50. We made the wrong choice apparently). Overall it was a lovely last lunch.
Since the day was so sunny and the square filled with life and activity, we picked out a promising bench and sat down to soak up some rays. We were quickly greeted by a greasy little boy asking if we would like to have our shoes shined. Clearly he did not notice the fact that we were all wearing flip flops. We chatted with him for a while, and he shared the words he knew in English. A few of his friends came too and soon the conversation turned to their desire for us to buy them lunch--a phrase they knew in perfect English. Feeling slightly guilty in our recent lunch indulgence, we acquiesced. I asked them to take us to a place they liked, and their faces immediately lit up and they began rapidly conversing amongst themselves in Quechua, their native language. Soon our group grew to nine beautiful and greasy shoe shining Ecuadorian boys and four overwhelmed American girls. We said a quick prayer that God would lead us to the right place (preferably not a dark alley where their dads were waiting to mug us. Shamefully we couldn't help but wonder) and we walked a few blocks away to a tiny hole-in-the-wall cantina. The boys quickly chose seats towards the back while we asked the waiter about providing them lunch. For nine lunches consisting of soup, rice, beans, fried chicken, bananas, jello, and fresh juice it cost us $16. NINE lunches.
We joined the boys for a while. They were pretty excited about choosing which American girl they wanted to sit at their table. And then they proposed and told us how beautiful we were, which was a pretty nice thank you for lunch. A few of them wondered why we didn't eat and offered to share in case we were hungry. Their easy generosity despite their own hunger was inspiring. Many of the boys ate very quickly (even the mysterious meat in the soup that I would have been hesitant to devour) and I wondered when their last meal had been. They were so curious about life in America, curious about why we were in Ecuador, excited to showcase their knowledge of English, and eager to take pictures with us and teach us Quechuan (I have no idea how to spell that). At one point in the conversation I asked them if they went to school still. All of them did, and each of them had dreams of studying further. One boy wanted to be an accountant, another a doctor, and another the president. Their favorite subjects were math and computers, and they wanted to continue learning more English. My prayer is that God provides people in the lives of these boys to encourage them, provide for them, and help them to pursue the dreams of their hearts. I take so much for granted, and obviously being in a place such as Ecuador magnifies this. As I begin grad school, I even more clearly recognize the support and sacrifice that my family has given in order to enable me to pursue the calling I feel God has given me. My fervent prayer is that my blessings may spill over so that others, such as these shoe shining boys in Quito, may be supported and encouraged. Those boys may soon forget the lunch we bought. Others will step into their lives and show them equal and greater love. But I will never forget the heavenly interruption of lunch in a tiny cantina in Quito with boys whose spirits touched and illuminated my soul.
The rest of the afternoon we wandered through the streets of Old Town, chatting with local shopkeepers and coffee makers, taking a break for chocolate cake and lattes, and taking lots and lots of pictures. Just in case our day wasn't random and full enough, as we were walking up a hill toward a cathedral we noticed a music video being filmed. We secretly hoped we would make an appearance in the background, but we didn't need to worry about that. Shortly after visiting the church we spotted the entourage again and the lead singer took pictures with us while his camera crew filmed on. His name is Fernando Pacheco and he is not as famous as we hoped, but still--being in any music video doesn't spontaneously happen very often.
As the sun began to set we took a walk around a huge park in downtown then ate a quick bite of dinner before heading back to the hostel. Each of us agreed that the day had been full and one of the best. Not because we anticipated any type of greatness, but because we allowed heavenly interruptions to enter into our day and show us Mercy, Goodness, and Joy.
Goodbyes with the team and with the girls were also emotional, but slightly easier because there is a much greater likelihood of me seeing each of them again. And we can always be facebook friends right? Lauren and I laughed over the thought that this entire journey started with a facebook chat. I had no intention of going to Ecuador, yet God placed this heavenly interruption in my life to grow and challenge me in ways I am still processing through. Even the journey home was a challenge to what I have learned and experienced in Ecuador. After multiple delays in flights and finding out that I would be spending the night in Dallas, without a change of clothes or a toothbrush, it was so hard for me to keep a spirit of humble servant hood. My parents will be the first to tell you I was angry, slightly panicked, and somewhat devastated at the prospect of being stinky, tired, and alone for another night before reaching home. But even in those moments, when we feel like life isn't very profound--in fact, it is mostly disappointing--God gives us the grace we need and calls us to live missionally. It was hard for me to step out of my worry and frustration, but after a few packs of peanut m&m's, a latte, and a lot of prayer, I realized that my time is not my own, that God speaks in every situation, and even an annoying plane delay is a chance to praise Him.
In my first post I quoted a verse from Habakkuk. When I went back to reread that verse, I realized much of the meaning was lost because I did not include the verses preceding. Here is the rest of the passage:
Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.
Habakkuk 3:17-19.
It is easy to sing praises when life is going in a direction we are comfortable with. But God calls us and gives us the strength to praise him even when life seems empty and things do not work out. I know that my plane delay was small compared to grave life and death situations, but it served as a time for me to evaluate my heart and consider my praise. And it gives me hope that in the midst of the darkness and difficulties of the situations I witnessed in Ecuador, God is pouring out His love and enabling His children to go to the heights.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Life in the Amazon...
I find myself playing catch up again with blogging, so here goes another infinite post. Good luck readers (mom)!
Saturday we awoke to pouring rain. Of course this would make sense seeing as we are in the rainforest, but still it was slightly disappointing after many dry days. And since we had plans to tour Macas and shop in the morning, it quite literally rained on our parade. Thankfully taxis are cheap and abundant here so us girls were able to take a few team members by taxi to do some shopping and visit some of the markets and a panaderia before lunch time. After lunch we took a much needed and desired nap and changed out of our rather wet and muddy clothes before hopping on the tour bus and heading into the hills.
First we stopped at the new land that the school purchased with plans to eventually build a much larger school that can serve the outlying tribal villages. It was so beautiful and fun to walk around, until we noticed that the putrid smell came from lack of sewage and random piles of human waste. Too close to the Keens for comfort.
After leaving the land we went to a place called ¨La Juarta de Eden¨ which means the Garden of Eden in Spanish. Not going to lie, I envisioned the Biblical garden a little less muddy and a little more beautiful, but it was still gorgeous and a great experience. We saw boa snakes, monkeys, parrots, monkeys attacking parrots in a disturbing manner, and even a giant guinea pig (I am talking like 200 pounds. I have a picture). We played on some swings over a muddy pond, took a ride on a muddy boat, and relaxed on hammocks over mud. There was a volley ball court there as well, a fav among the locals, so Lauren and Elaine and Amelia played Eddison and I, and of course we won! They actually play with soccer balls here so we ended up with bruises the next day but what can you do? We were served pure sugar cane juice after so that relieved any pain we would have had for sure.
That evening on our way to go out to eat, the bus broke down so the team had to squeeze into another bus. And quite literally squeeze. Imagine 30+ Americans on a bus that holds maybe 20 on the twisty road to nearby Secua. With spanish music blasting. So I took one for the team and stood up front, and made friends with the bus driver and a few locals who were with him. That night we were exhausted and so we just hung out in our little apartment which has become like a home and watched a movie. It was a good day!
Sunday morning we had church again and it was so great, again. Though it also lasted about two and a half hours, I was thankful that I could at least understand what the pastor was saying. Strangely they didn´t have anyone translate, so I felt for the team members who had no idea what was being said for the duration of the service. We did sing a few songs and hymns that are also in English, and they did sing happy birthday to all the members of the congregation who had a birthday that week, so some of the team members were incorporated.
Sunday afternoon we had Chinese food for lunch--sick. That is about the last thing I would want to eat in a South American country, but you have to go with the flow! And we washed it down with ice cream, so not too much damage was done. After lunch we took another quick nap and then returned to the church to board a bus for San Isidro, a poorer village about 30 mins outside of Macas. It is a place known for witchcraft and other pagan religions, as well as extreme poverty and lack of education.
When we arrived in San Isidro, on our giant bus filled with Americans, it was a little awkward at first. It was a typical Sunday afternoon in the town--people just chilling on their steps and the field was filled with soccer players. We set up a sound system in a covered area and made announcements every few minutes that Americans were here to play games with the kids, do crafts, and share bible stories and songs. Then we would have an evening service for the adults. At first we recieved many strange stares and glares, but eventually a few brave souls ventured into the covered area into the eager company of the Americans. At first I had no idea what to do...We had only brought a few soccer balls and toys, and my attempts to strike up conversation with the people there didn´t exactly go so well. But soon some music came on and I found one little girl, grabbed her hands, and asked her if she wanted to dance. Thus commenced how I spent about 45 minutes of my time...dancing. My joy grew and grew as our circle slowly filled with more girls ready to dance in circles to the strange American VBS music. I might have shed a few tears watching their timid faces break into smiles and hearing their laughter as I danced and danced with them. How much more the Love and Delight of their Heavenly Father! That night I was reading in Zephaniah 3 and I want to share these verses:
Sing, O Daughter of Zion;
shout aloud, O Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
O Daughter of Jerusalem!
The LORD has taken away your punishment,
he has turned back your enemy.
The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you;
never again will you fear any harm.
On that day they will say to Jerusalem,
"Do not fear, O Zion;
do not let your hands hang limp.
The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing."
At that time I will deal
with all who oppressed you;
I will rescue the lame
and gather those who have been scattered.
I will give them praise and honor
in every land where they were put to shame.
At that time I will gather you;
at that time I will bring you home.
I will give you honor and praise
among all the peoples of the earth
when I restore your fortunes
before your very eyes,"
says the LORD.
What a beautiful prayer and promise for the little girls who danced with me, for the people of Ecuador, and for each of us who ever feel or witness oppression or sorrow. We serve a God who delights in us, who gathers us near to him, and who promises restoration.
The delight carried through the evening as we made bracelets, colored pictures, and yes, continued dancing. I was amazed at how easily these children who were so timid began to show love and laugh with us, climb up on our laps, and even wipe their snotty hands and faces all over us. True love. We shared more time of worship, did cardboard testimonies (youtube card board testimonies and you will get an idea of what we did) and then had a time of tea and cookies after. Just your typical Sunday evening service in a village in Ecuador.
Monday we were all pretty sleepy, since we didn´t get home until past 10pm the night before and had to be at the school ready for class at 7. Okay, doesn´t sound that rough, but things take a long time here! And so the whole team looked a little dead that day, but thankfully our students are always a source of energy. At least they require copious amounts of energy and God provides. I had some good laughs with my students and we enjoyed another day of maybe learning some English and for sure having a lot of fun. They stayed after to practice their memory verses again and this is definitely time I treasure with them.
Monday afternoon we ate cow stomach for lunch...all thinking it was strange chicken with the skin still on. Awesome. Then we went back to the apartment with the best intentions to take a quick rest then head back to work, but we ended up falling asleep for about two hours. I guess we were tired. After our amazing nap, it was time to get ready for dinner! That night Elaine and I were able to go to the home of one of the church families for a Macas favorite treat--Iampacos. They are difficult to explain but it is a chicken and potato mixture cooked in banana leaves, and you eat it with rice, yucca, and salad. I took pics, don´t worry. We arrived at the home of Hermana Patty, and she had set out a table for us in her basement-ish area. Their home is set on a hill and it is very open air--like no windows and in the middle of the jungle. It was a beautiful experience. They took us through a walk in their garden, aka the jungle, and showed us the various tropical plants and palms. It was pretty dark though so that added a definite element of intensity. The jungle--at night. I have grown close with their oldest daughter, Valeria, and we were making lots of jokes about Tarzan...not really sure why. But it was a very fun night of food, laughter, and giant moths and cockroaches. All are welcome at the table right?
Tuesday was yet another great day with my students. I might have made a bit of a language slip and asked one of my male students an inappropriate question in Spanish when I was asking for his egg shaker back during music time, and still haven´t really lived that one down. And I faced additional challenges at snack time when one boy just chucked his juice glass all over another student. I had to whip out the angry Spanish and I made him sit out during play time, to his constant complaints of ¨Profe! Porfavor! Profe quiero jugar!¨and so I might have caved after a few minutes. But this is summer school, you can´t be TOO strict right? and the kid with juice all over his shirt wanted to play with him, so I guess they worked it out amongst themselves.
In the afternoon we continued to work and then that night we went to dinner and quickly left to join our friend Eddison at the local community center for dance class. We were only planning on observing, but dance and observation are two words that never go together in latino culture. So, we snuck to the back row and laughed at ourselves as we realized we don´t even know where our hips are, let alone how to move them. It was more like an exercise class and we were certainly dripping with sweat by the end. But we also had a bit more of a grasp of the dancing by the end, so that was exciting. A lot of the music was very traditional, but there was also a few twists and thrusts thrown in that made us blush--and we were all jealous of the fifty year old women in too tight spandex who clearly knew how to shake what their momma´s gave them.
After dance class we hung out at the park and watched a soccer game then went out to pizza (change it up after ice cream). We were still sweaty and gross so showers felt amazing when we returned home. And gracias a Dios we had water! It has continued to go on and off lately...not fun for washing hands and flushing toilets. But I am still not sick, so I guess that hand sanitizer really works!
I woke up pretty darn sore today, seeing as I attempted to move parts of my body I didn´t even know I had at dance class last night. Did I mention we were barefoot? And that the class lasted over an hour? Intense. And amazing. Anyway, so we got to school this morning, knowing it would be the last day of class before the carnival tomorrow. I brought my students candy, they went crazy, we played games, took pictures, and just hung out. It was fantastic. Until one of my students was like,¨I saw you dancing last night.¨Small town. No good. But he was gracious and said that us girls did pretty well and knew how to dance. And this class isn´t even graded so that had to be honesty right? And yet, it is never comforting to know that your student saw you at latino dance class making a fool of yourself in the midst of people who move like butter. Or something smooth like that.
After class today we started to get to work on some paperwork for Robin and Wendy, until we were asked, no, begged, to join some members of the team for an airplane ride over the jungles of Macas. It was basically part of our job description. So, after learning again the concept of Ecuador time and patience, Lauren, Elaine, Eddison, and I, along with two memebers of the team, boarded a tiny six passenger propeller plane and lifted off. It was such a blast. We said a prayer before we left and then screamed as the plane bobbed through the air and showed us the incredible views of the river, the villages, the mountains, and all of Macas. It was such an awesome ride. Not sure what the air traffic rules are here but the pilot took us right down into the river canyon, we zoomed up along a cliff, hovered over towns, homes, and huts, and made a fake landing attempt in a field that had us pretty much screaming. It was amazing! And only 30 dollars and they didn´t even need to see ID. Might have felt a little nautious after that though, but it was still soooooo wonderful.
After our plane ride we had a quick bite of dinner, headed back to dance class--which lasted two hours since they had a party with coffee and yucca bread before hand. The sweet old ladies kept handing us rolls and we felt obligated so Lauren and I ended up eating four. Not a good idea before intense sweaty dance class, but oh well. After that we hung out at the park a little more and then made our way to the internet cafe. Unfortunately we had to take a few detours to avoid the police. Not what you might think...while I am sure the police are here to protect, they have more of a reputation for whistling, honking, and making remarks at us Americans. They actually flashed their siren at us and stared out the window and whistled, so we turned around and went around the block and nervously laughed at the fact that only here do you run away from the police in order to feel safer. But don´t worry, I have always felt very safe in Macas and we almost always see people we know from church or school wherever we go. There is an incredible community feel about this place.
Tomorrow is our last full day here. Still can´t believe that my time of service here is almost over. I am thankful for things like the internet and facebook so I can hopefully maintain contact with some of my students and the friends I have made here. My heart has grown and been broken and humbled by what I have shared in and learned here in Macas. I am oh so thankful...
Saturday we awoke to pouring rain. Of course this would make sense seeing as we are in the rainforest, but still it was slightly disappointing after many dry days. And since we had plans to tour Macas and shop in the morning, it quite literally rained on our parade. Thankfully taxis are cheap and abundant here so us girls were able to take a few team members by taxi to do some shopping and visit some of the markets and a panaderia before lunch time. After lunch we took a much needed and desired nap and changed out of our rather wet and muddy clothes before hopping on the tour bus and heading into the hills.
First we stopped at the new land that the school purchased with plans to eventually build a much larger school that can serve the outlying tribal villages. It was so beautiful and fun to walk around, until we noticed that the putrid smell came from lack of sewage and random piles of human waste. Too close to the Keens for comfort.
After leaving the land we went to a place called ¨La Juarta de Eden¨ which means the Garden of Eden in Spanish. Not going to lie, I envisioned the Biblical garden a little less muddy and a little more beautiful, but it was still gorgeous and a great experience. We saw boa snakes, monkeys, parrots, monkeys attacking parrots in a disturbing manner, and even a giant guinea pig (I am talking like 200 pounds. I have a picture). We played on some swings over a muddy pond, took a ride on a muddy boat, and relaxed on hammocks over mud. There was a volley ball court there as well, a fav among the locals, so Lauren and Elaine and Amelia played Eddison and I, and of course we won! They actually play with soccer balls here so we ended up with bruises the next day but what can you do? We were served pure sugar cane juice after so that relieved any pain we would have had for sure.
That evening on our way to go out to eat, the bus broke down so the team had to squeeze into another bus. And quite literally squeeze. Imagine 30+ Americans on a bus that holds maybe 20 on the twisty road to nearby Secua. With spanish music blasting. So I took one for the team and stood up front, and made friends with the bus driver and a few locals who were with him. That night we were exhausted and so we just hung out in our little apartment which has become like a home and watched a movie. It was a good day!
Sunday morning we had church again and it was so great, again. Though it also lasted about two and a half hours, I was thankful that I could at least understand what the pastor was saying. Strangely they didn´t have anyone translate, so I felt for the team members who had no idea what was being said for the duration of the service. We did sing a few songs and hymns that are also in English, and they did sing happy birthday to all the members of the congregation who had a birthday that week, so some of the team members were incorporated.
Sunday afternoon we had Chinese food for lunch--sick. That is about the last thing I would want to eat in a South American country, but you have to go with the flow! And we washed it down with ice cream, so not too much damage was done. After lunch we took another quick nap and then returned to the church to board a bus for San Isidro, a poorer village about 30 mins outside of Macas. It is a place known for witchcraft and other pagan religions, as well as extreme poverty and lack of education.
When we arrived in San Isidro, on our giant bus filled with Americans, it was a little awkward at first. It was a typical Sunday afternoon in the town--people just chilling on their steps and the field was filled with soccer players. We set up a sound system in a covered area and made announcements every few minutes that Americans were here to play games with the kids, do crafts, and share bible stories and songs. Then we would have an evening service for the adults. At first we recieved many strange stares and glares, but eventually a few brave souls ventured into the covered area into the eager company of the Americans. At first I had no idea what to do...We had only brought a few soccer balls and toys, and my attempts to strike up conversation with the people there didn´t exactly go so well. But soon some music came on and I found one little girl, grabbed her hands, and asked her if she wanted to dance. Thus commenced how I spent about 45 minutes of my time...dancing. My joy grew and grew as our circle slowly filled with more girls ready to dance in circles to the strange American VBS music. I might have shed a few tears watching their timid faces break into smiles and hearing their laughter as I danced and danced with them. How much more the Love and Delight of their Heavenly Father! That night I was reading in Zephaniah 3 and I want to share these verses:
Sing, O Daughter of Zion;
shout aloud, O Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
O Daughter of Jerusalem!
The LORD has taken away your punishment,
he has turned back your enemy.
The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you;
never again will you fear any harm.
On that day they will say to Jerusalem,
"Do not fear, O Zion;
do not let your hands hang limp.
The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing."
At that time I will deal
with all who oppressed you;
I will rescue the lame
and gather those who have been scattered.
I will give them praise and honor
in every land where they were put to shame.
At that time I will gather you;
at that time I will bring you home.
I will give you honor and praise
among all the peoples of the earth
when I restore your fortunes
before your very eyes,"
says the LORD.
What a beautiful prayer and promise for the little girls who danced with me, for the people of Ecuador, and for each of us who ever feel or witness oppression or sorrow. We serve a God who delights in us, who gathers us near to him, and who promises restoration.
The delight carried through the evening as we made bracelets, colored pictures, and yes, continued dancing. I was amazed at how easily these children who were so timid began to show love and laugh with us, climb up on our laps, and even wipe their snotty hands and faces all over us. True love. We shared more time of worship, did cardboard testimonies (youtube card board testimonies and you will get an idea of what we did) and then had a time of tea and cookies after. Just your typical Sunday evening service in a village in Ecuador.
Monday we were all pretty sleepy, since we didn´t get home until past 10pm the night before and had to be at the school ready for class at 7. Okay, doesn´t sound that rough, but things take a long time here! And so the whole team looked a little dead that day, but thankfully our students are always a source of energy. At least they require copious amounts of energy and God provides. I had some good laughs with my students and we enjoyed another day of maybe learning some English and for sure having a lot of fun. They stayed after to practice their memory verses again and this is definitely time I treasure with them.
Monday afternoon we ate cow stomach for lunch...all thinking it was strange chicken with the skin still on. Awesome. Then we went back to the apartment with the best intentions to take a quick rest then head back to work, but we ended up falling asleep for about two hours. I guess we were tired. After our amazing nap, it was time to get ready for dinner! That night Elaine and I were able to go to the home of one of the church families for a Macas favorite treat--Iampacos. They are difficult to explain but it is a chicken and potato mixture cooked in banana leaves, and you eat it with rice, yucca, and salad. I took pics, don´t worry. We arrived at the home of Hermana Patty, and she had set out a table for us in her basement-ish area. Their home is set on a hill and it is very open air--like no windows and in the middle of the jungle. It was a beautiful experience. They took us through a walk in their garden, aka the jungle, and showed us the various tropical plants and palms. It was pretty dark though so that added a definite element of intensity. The jungle--at night. I have grown close with their oldest daughter, Valeria, and we were making lots of jokes about Tarzan...not really sure why. But it was a very fun night of food, laughter, and giant moths and cockroaches. All are welcome at the table right?
Tuesday was yet another great day with my students. I might have made a bit of a language slip and asked one of my male students an inappropriate question in Spanish when I was asking for his egg shaker back during music time, and still haven´t really lived that one down. And I faced additional challenges at snack time when one boy just chucked his juice glass all over another student. I had to whip out the angry Spanish and I made him sit out during play time, to his constant complaints of ¨Profe! Porfavor! Profe quiero jugar!¨and so I might have caved after a few minutes. But this is summer school, you can´t be TOO strict right? and the kid with juice all over his shirt wanted to play with him, so I guess they worked it out amongst themselves.
In the afternoon we continued to work and then that night we went to dinner and quickly left to join our friend Eddison at the local community center for dance class. We were only planning on observing, but dance and observation are two words that never go together in latino culture. So, we snuck to the back row and laughed at ourselves as we realized we don´t even know where our hips are, let alone how to move them. It was more like an exercise class and we were certainly dripping with sweat by the end. But we also had a bit more of a grasp of the dancing by the end, so that was exciting. A lot of the music was very traditional, but there was also a few twists and thrusts thrown in that made us blush--and we were all jealous of the fifty year old women in too tight spandex who clearly knew how to shake what their momma´s gave them.
After dance class we hung out at the park and watched a soccer game then went out to pizza (change it up after ice cream). We were still sweaty and gross so showers felt amazing when we returned home. And gracias a Dios we had water! It has continued to go on and off lately...not fun for washing hands and flushing toilets. But I am still not sick, so I guess that hand sanitizer really works!
I woke up pretty darn sore today, seeing as I attempted to move parts of my body I didn´t even know I had at dance class last night. Did I mention we were barefoot? And that the class lasted over an hour? Intense. And amazing. Anyway, so we got to school this morning, knowing it would be the last day of class before the carnival tomorrow. I brought my students candy, they went crazy, we played games, took pictures, and just hung out. It was fantastic. Until one of my students was like,¨I saw you dancing last night.¨Small town. No good. But he was gracious and said that us girls did pretty well and knew how to dance. And this class isn´t even graded so that had to be honesty right? And yet, it is never comforting to know that your student saw you at latino dance class making a fool of yourself in the midst of people who move like butter. Or something smooth like that.
After class today we started to get to work on some paperwork for Robin and Wendy, until we were asked, no, begged, to join some members of the team for an airplane ride over the jungles of Macas. It was basically part of our job description. So, after learning again the concept of Ecuador time and patience, Lauren, Elaine, Eddison, and I, along with two memebers of the team, boarded a tiny six passenger propeller plane and lifted off. It was such a blast. We said a prayer before we left and then screamed as the plane bobbed through the air and showed us the incredible views of the river, the villages, the mountains, and all of Macas. It was such an awesome ride. Not sure what the air traffic rules are here but the pilot took us right down into the river canyon, we zoomed up along a cliff, hovered over towns, homes, and huts, and made a fake landing attempt in a field that had us pretty much screaming. It was amazing! And only 30 dollars and they didn´t even need to see ID. Might have felt a little nautious after that though, but it was still soooooo wonderful.
After our plane ride we had a quick bite of dinner, headed back to dance class--which lasted two hours since they had a party with coffee and yucca bread before hand. The sweet old ladies kept handing us rolls and we felt obligated so Lauren and I ended up eating four. Not a good idea before intense sweaty dance class, but oh well. After that we hung out at the park a little more and then made our way to the internet cafe. Unfortunately we had to take a few detours to avoid the police. Not what you might think...while I am sure the police are here to protect, they have more of a reputation for whistling, honking, and making remarks at us Americans. They actually flashed their siren at us and stared out the window and whistled, so we turned around and went around the block and nervously laughed at the fact that only here do you run away from the police in order to feel safer. But don´t worry, I have always felt very safe in Macas and we almost always see people we know from church or school wherever we go. There is an incredible community feel about this place.
Tomorrow is our last full day here. Still can´t believe that my time of service here is almost over. I am thankful for things like the internet and facebook so I can hopefully maintain contact with some of my students and the friends I have made here. My heart has grown and been broken and humbled by what I have shared in and learned here in Macas. I am oh so thankful...
Monday, July 20, 2009
Me Encanta Macas.
I have only been away from "blogging" for about four days but I feel like so much has happened and I will not be able to fully capture anything...especially since I am so tired, but here is my attempt to describe the events of life here in Macas this past weekend. Knowing that I only have one week left is crazy. This place and these people have become precious to me in such a short time and I know saying good-bye will be difficult.
Thursday was another great day of class. My students really don´t care about learning English much, this I have realized, but when a prize is involved all of a sudden they become the most studious and dedicated ten and eleven year olds. Thursday after class I told them I would stay after to work on memory verses with them and that the class with the most people to memorize verses would earn a¨"premio" or prize. Little did I know I would be swarmed by students eager to say verses in English and Spanish and see me put that star next to their name. So much for simly the joy of learning! It was so fun to be able to spend this extra time with them, and they asked to see my pictures again and ask about things like snow and where I live and how old I am. Most people think I am barely 17, so that´s just fantastic for classroom authority.
Thursday afternoon we worked in our classrooms again and even managed to squeeze in an ice cream break. Unfortunately I now also have to manage to squeeze into my pants... After dinner on Thursday night we went to a prayer meeting at the church. The beginning of the service was in Spanish but at the end we broke into groups and prayed for individual needs and the needs of the church body. It was such a priviledge to be able to pray for the community and to lift each other up in prayer, as exhaustion can easily cause us to lose our focus. I have learned much from the church here about the importance of collective prayer, and the dedication of the church body to pray for one another is an inspiration.
After the church service us girls were chatting with some of the people from the church and we decided to go have some tea (a favorite evening pasttime). I may or may not have noticed one of the church guys sitting on a moto, and I may or may not have jokingly asked for a ride, which he took very seriously and insisted that I ride along. In an effort not to be rude, I agreed, and I was soon zooming through the streets of Macas on the back of a motorcycle somewhat fearing for my life but mostly having the time of my life. We rode around the whole city (which is not very big) and Estuart offered to let me drive but I declined, preferring to cling to the back and soak in all the sights and sounds of nighttime Macas on a moto. We soon met up with the rest of our friends and Lauren took a spin as well, then we enjoyed some tea and Spanish conversation.
Friday was a field trip day for the students, and I was so glad to spend a few hours simply playing with them. We went to this place called Las Tolitas and there were pools, a garden area, a small river, a maze, and other interesting places for the children to explore. Of course my students first dragged me to the labrinto, maze, and I wished I had worn better shoes as it was a muddy mess. But we made it through the maze and they even let me hold a giant ant. Yes, they insisted and as their teacher I agreed, but they assured me the ant would not bite me as long as it was carrying a leaf. They were more than amused at my nervousness. After the maze I came up to the river and found in a tiny boat filled with dirty water three of my boy students, chilling in their underwear. Apparently swimsuits are over-rated. Technically they are not allowed to be in a boat without a teacher, so they asked me to join them...in the tiny boat that appeared to be sinking in the middle of a dirty river in Ecuador. How could I say no? I sat on the back and they rowed me around, with their wooden sticks as paddles, and for a few fleeting moments I thought this must be what Venice is like. Until they said they saw a boa and reality struck. But it was just a joke to make their teacher freak out. They know me too well...
The rest of the field trip went well and the bus ride home was fun, since I sat in the back to regulate and ended up translating songs for them and listening to them try and sing Michael Jackson. Some things you just cannot escape. As we got off the bus one of my students, Kevin, was carrying his sleeping three year old brother, who also was on the trip. I asked him if he lived far and offered to carry his sleeping bro for him. It was such a special time to walk through Macas (he said he just lived around the corner but corners apparently are blocks long around here) and talk with Kevin and then see where he lives and gain a small glimpse into the picture of his life.
When I returned we ate lunch and then prepared to paint. Painting here is interesting. They mix the paint with quite a bit of water and the brushes and rollers aren´t exactly recent home depot purchases. The ladders...well, we won´t mention the ladders. But it was a good afternoon to laugh and get paint all over myself and us girls were fairly sweaty, tired, and dirty. Imagine how much we were looking forward to a shower...
But that was not to be. Apparently it isn´t uncommon for the power to go out around here, and strangely when there is no power, there are no phones and there is no water either. So the power went out in not only Macas, but the entire province. Which, though it is the Amazon and fairly sparsley populated, is an area about half the size of Washington state. All without power, phones, or water. So after eating a dinner of bread, cheese, and cold carrots, we sat despondently and attempted to muster the faith to pray. But no power in an entire province? On a friday night? After painting all day? We couldn´t even wash our hands, and hand sanitizer does not exactly remove paint. Wendy and Robin bought us candles and drove us to our apartment to grab some things to take bucket baths in their house since they have a water reserve. So, by candle light and with a bucket of cold water I was able to wash off the paint (that I could see) and hope began to return. At about 9pm the lights came on and we all started to scream, we were so excited. We could flush the toilet! Wash our hands! See! It was amazing.
While this is a funny story that certainly helps me appreciate the daily pleasures of life, Robin pointed out that the power outage was very similar to what a life without knowing Jesus would be like. Yes, we could use candles, we could try and get by, but the chaos and the uncertainty were a little overwhelming. We felt so disconnected, so out of control. But Light brings joy, peace, and security, even in the midst of chaos and loneliness.
Okay....that was two of the past four days...I will try and write tomorrow! I am sleepy and we still want to squeeze in ice cream run number two for the night...
Thursday was another great day of class. My students really don´t care about learning English much, this I have realized, but when a prize is involved all of a sudden they become the most studious and dedicated ten and eleven year olds. Thursday after class I told them I would stay after to work on memory verses with them and that the class with the most people to memorize verses would earn a¨"premio" or prize. Little did I know I would be swarmed by students eager to say verses in English and Spanish and see me put that star next to their name. So much for simly the joy of learning! It was so fun to be able to spend this extra time with them, and they asked to see my pictures again and ask about things like snow and where I live and how old I am. Most people think I am barely 17, so that´s just fantastic for classroom authority.
Thursday afternoon we worked in our classrooms again and even managed to squeeze in an ice cream break. Unfortunately I now also have to manage to squeeze into my pants... After dinner on Thursday night we went to a prayer meeting at the church. The beginning of the service was in Spanish but at the end we broke into groups and prayed for individual needs and the needs of the church body. It was such a priviledge to be able to pray for the community and to lift each other up in prayer, as exhaustion can easily cause us to lose our focus. I have learned much from the church here about the importance of collective prayer, and the dedication of the church body to pray for one another is an inspiration.
After the church service us girls were chatting with some of the people from the church and we decided to go have some tea (a favorite evening pasttime). I may or may not have noticed one of the church guys sitting on a moto, and I may or may not have jokingly asked for a ride, which he took very seriously and insisted that I ride along. In an effort not to be rude, I agreed, and I was soon zooming through the streets of Macas on the back of a motorcycle somewhat fearing for my life but mostly having the time of my life. We rode around the whole city (which is not very big) and Estuart offered to let me drive but I declined, preferring to cling to the back and soak in all the sights and sounds of nighttime Macas on a moto. We soon met up with the rest of our friends and Lauren took a spin as well, then we enjoyed some tea and Spanish conversation.
Friday was a field trip day for the students, and I was so glad to spend a few hours simply playing with them. We went to this place called Las Tolitas and there were pools, a garden area, a small river, a maze, and other interesting places for the children to explore. Of course my students first dragged me to the labrinto, maze, and I wished I had worn better shoes as it was a muddy mess. But we made it through the maze and they even let me hold a giant ant. Yes, they insisted and as their teacher I agreed, but they assured me the ant would not bite me as long as it was carrying a leaf. They were more than amused at my nervousness. After the maze I came up to the river and found in a tiny boat filled with dirty water three of my boy students, chilling in their underwear. Apparently swimsuits are over-rated. Technically they are not allowed to be in a boat without a teacher, so they asked me to join them...in the tiny boat that appeared to be sinking in the middle of a dirty river in Ecuador. How could I say no? I sat on the back and they rowed me around, with their wooden sticks as paddles, and for a few fleeting moments I thought this must be what Venice is like. Until they said they saw a boa and reality struck. But it was just a joke to make their teacher freak out. They know me too well...
The rest of the field trip went well and the bus ride home was fun, since I sat in the back to regulate and ended up translating songs for them and listening to them try and sing Michael Jackson. Some things you just cannot escape. As we got off the bus one of my students, Kevin, was carrying his sleeping three year old brother, who also was on the trip. I asked him if he lived far and offered to carry his sleeping bro for him. It was such a special time to walk through Macas (he said he just lived around the corner but corners apparently are blocks long around here) and talk with Kevin and then see where he lives and gain a small glimpse into the picture of his life.
When I returned we ate lunch and then prepared to paint. Painting here is interesting. They mix the paint with quite a bit of water and the brushes and rollers aren´t exactly recent home depot purchases. The ladders...well, we won´t mention the ladders. But it was a good afternoon to laugh and get paint all over myself and us girls were fairly sweaty, tired, and dirty. Imagine how much we were looking forward to a shower...
But that was not to be. Apparently it isn´t uncommon for the power to go out around here, and strangely when there is no power, there are no phones and there is no water either. So the power went out in not only Macas, but the entire province. Which, though it is the Amazon and fairly sparsley populated, is an area about half the size of Washington state. All without power, phones, or water. So after eating a dinner of bread, cheese, and cold carrots, we sat despondently and attempted to muster the faith to pray. But no power in an entire province? On a friday night? After painting all day? We couldn´t even wash our hands, and hand sanitizer does not exactly remove paint. Wendy and Robin bought us candles and drove us to our apartment to grab some things to take bucket baths in their house since they have a water reserve. So, by candle light and with a bucket of cold water I was able to wash off the paint (that I could see) and hope began to return. At about 9pm the lights came on and we all started to scream, we were so excited. We could flush the toilet! Wash our hands! See! It was amazing.
While this is a funny story that certainly helps me appreciate the daily pleasures of life, Robin pointed out that the power outage was very similar to what a life without knowing Jesus would be like. Yes, we could use candles, we could try and get by, but the chaos and the uncertainty were a little overwhelming. We felt so disconnected, so out of control. But Light brings joy, peace, and security, even in the midst of chaos and loneliness.
Okay....that was two of the past four days...I will try and write tomorrow! I am sleepy and we still want to squeeze in ice cream run number two for the night...
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
One week done already!
As I woke up this morning and realized it was already Wednesday, I could not believe that I had already spent a whole week here in Ecuador. Much has happened and I definitely have the tendency to be rather profuse and, well, just plain wordy with my posts, so I will try and keep my thoughts organized and succinct :)
So Saturday night we returned from the pool and felt so relaxed. Granted we ended up taking a bus back and had to wait long enough for the mosquitos to do their damage, but we felt we truly earned our dinner that night. And the ice cream we went out for later. A rather dangerous habit since ice cream is only a dollar and we tend to frequent the local ice cream shops quite often. Just supporting the locals every way we can!
Sunday morning was fantastic. Not only were we able to sleep in later than we ever had, it was a gorgeous sunny day and made the walk from the apartment where we are staying to church much more enjoyable--since normally it is a good 20 min walk and we end up taking taxis because we are lazy. I mean, exhausted from so much work. As we arrived at church, I was reminded of one thing I absolutely love about Lainto churches that at the same time causes me to cringe--the volume and quality of music. They were singing and playing for all of Macas to hear, and they were making a joyful noise to the Lord, I am just not sure if they were able to hit every note quite right. Lauren and I smiled at each other quite a few times during the service. But that was beside the point. It was wonderful to be worshipping with my brothers and sisters who immediately welcomed us and greeted us with holy kisses on the cheek as is the custom. I was able to understand the worship songs and the sermon, and was encouraged, challenged, and blessed by the pastors (hour long) message.
After church we went out to lunch for another delicious and traditional ecuadorian meal, then we prepared the church for the arrival of the American team. While we waited we went and enjoyed another ice-cream, of course. When the team arrived, it was so fun to see all the families together. There are 27 people from Salem Alliance Church ranging in ages from 5 years old to, well, a grandma, and they all bring unique gifts and interesting perspectives to our time here. We had a team meeting and a nice dinner at the church, then we attended the evening serive at the church as well. There are actually about five services a week including Bible studies, so the church is a very central part of life. While much of this may stem from the fact there is not much to do in Macas, it is a challenge to me as I evualate how much time I spend in fellowship and discipleship.
Monday could not come quickly enough for me. After all the cleaning, planning, and organizing of supplies I was greatly anticipating the arrival of the children for the English VBS camp. One interesting thing is that we are doing the VBS program Son Rock Kids Camp, which is the same one my church at home is doing. I have been thinking and praying about that program, which I believe starts next week so will run concurrently with what we are doing here, and it is amazing to me that God´s children from all parts of the world will be learning His truths in much the same way. Granted, the kids here don´t quite understand everything that is going on and I need to translate a bit, they LOVE LOVE LOVE the songs and can belt those out in English, hand motions included.
So Monday I found out that I had twelve students in my english class (ten and eleven year olds) and I could feel my heart bursting as they sat in my classroom and learned their numbers in English. It is a little tricky because we only have 45 minutes of actual class time, then I take them to all the traditional stations, music, games, snack, and computers (instead of crafts). So I am not sure how much English they are actually learning, but I am having so much fun getting to know them and biting my cheeck as they attempt to repeat bible verses in English. They all call me "Profe" or if they remember they will call me Teacher but never Miss Linnea, which is how I introduced myself. They just stare at me and say, "¿Como?"
After the VBS camp we had lunch with the team and I hung out a little longer with one of my students, Linda, whose mom is our cook, and I loved chatting with her and trying to keep up with her excited ten year old spanish as we waited for lunch to be ready. Amazing food by the way...you would never think it but bananas stuffed with cheese, chicken soup with french fries, and rice and beans can truly satisfy.
After lunch we had a much needed coffee break and then went back to work getting things set up for Tuesday. It was also mine and Lauren´s turn for laundry, and the whole time I thought about how much I appreciated our new washing machine. While I knew there wouldn´t be any hot water (showers are generally electric here and the water that runs through the house is always cold) I didn´t anticipate needed to scoop water, bucket by bucket, into the waching machine before starting the cycle. But I am grateful that I have a washing machine facility to use, becuase my clothes get pretty disgusting after a day of working and, well, sweating here in Macas. The rest of the afternoon seemed to fly by and before we knew it dinner was being served. After dinner we just went to an internet cafe for a while then went to bed a little earlier, so that was nice.
Tuesday I had three more students and I learned to be more flexible in my lesson planning. One of my favorite parts of the day is music. After trying for 45 minutes to get my students excited about speaking english, or making any noise in general, to see them belting out songs, more or less in English, and dancing is so awesome. The only not so awesome part is we all have the songs stuck in our heads all day long. I still have a fancy little jingle in my head right now about Keepin My Eyes on Jesus...and not even the spanish rap music in the internet cafe can take it´s place, so that is saying a lot about how memorable those songs are. I also love snack time, because I can just sit and chat with my students and laugh with them--I hope I am laughing with them and it isn´t them laughing at me...My second favorite part of the day is games because my students go CRAZY playing vollyball, soccer, doing relay races, and all those things. We played dodgeball tuesday and I hope it was a sign of endearement that they kept chucking balls at me. I was grateful when the siren bell rang and it was time to go to computers for sure. Though the computers station is probably the most boring. I understand that it is important for the students to have exposure to technology, but I would much rather be doing crafts with them than watching them type on word. But they do learn a fair amount of English through these activities as well, so that is good.
Tuesday afternoon we did more lesson planning and cleaning and such and then as I was walking down the stairs of the school a large truck came filled with wooden chairs for the school. As I helped unload the truck, Edison, one of the full time teachers here, asked if Elaine and I would like to go back with the truck to pick up a second load. Riding in the back of pick up trucks is one of my new favorite things to do here in Macas and so I gladly agreed, and despite the fact that I was wearing a skirt I hopped into the truck and the adventure began. We went a little further out of town and had a view of the river valley and it was gorgeous. Of course I didn´t have my camera, but the photos are forever in my heart. Oh, and did I mention that we were in the back of the truck with a group of boys from a place called Hope House, which takes in boys who have been abandoned or who would be incarcerated and gives them a home, an education, and teaches them carpentry. I am sure they were pretty amused by two white girls riding with them to unload chairs--and one of them in a skirt. When we arrived at the house it was gorgeous and it was so amazing to hear the story of the couple who runs the home for the boys. It is actually an American woman how lives here now with her Ecuadorian husband. Don´t worry mom, I didn´t get too many ideas :) It was fun to talk with the boys and see them laugh at our pathetic attempts to load chairs into the truck, and our equally pathetic screams of surprise as we went over bumps and up large hills in a very unreliable pick up truck filled with heavy wooden chairs. I know I can´t really capture in words how beautiful and meaningful to me this unexpected side journey was, but I hope you can imagine a large, dirty old truck filled with giant wooden chairs, "delinquent" boys who now know Hope, and a few white girls just trying to soak it all in as they wander the streets and jungles of Ecuador.
Tuesday night we spent time getting to know the team members more, and what an incredible encouragement they have been to me. One of the other English teachers is a professor of TESOL and had many good stories and perspectives for us girls as we are scrambling to find a way to instill any amount of English in our students. After leaving the church we went out to ice cream (I suppose you can see a pattern here) and then went back to bed, thankful for the opportunity of rest.
Today was similar in routine to yesterday, my students still call me just Profe, they still don´t speak very much English, but we have a lot of fun together. When I pulled out pictures of my family and friends to show a few of the girls during snack, they all swarmed my table and had so many questions about Los Estados and my family and where I lived. It was fun to just share in conversation with them and laugh with them. This afternoon we went home and took a nap. It was so nice to rest and feel more refreshed to come back to the school and tackle the task of organizing the donations that have come in so far...which I wouldn´t say I accomplished much because my brain was still foggy from my nap, but it was a fun afternoon anyway. Then it was time to eat again, crazy, and now we are back in an internet cafe and hoping to maybe get some guayusa (a type of tea) with some newly made friends and then head home to bed. Last night we put our beds on frames (previously we had been sleeping on mattresses on the floor, and when Elaine found a cockroach in her sheets we knew some changes needed to be made) and so it was even nicer to go to bed somewhat reassured that no little friends would be joining us.
May you continue to see God working in the mundane and the extreme places of your life as I have here in Ecuador. And if you get the chance to jump on the back of a pick up, think twice before you say no.
So Saturday night we returned from the pool and felt so relaxed. Granted we ended up taking a bus back and had to wait long enough for the mosquitos to do their damage, but we felt we truly earned our dinner that night. And the ice cream we went out for later. A rather dangerous habit since ice cream is only a dollar and we tend to frequent the local ice cream shops quite often. Just supporting the locals every way we can!
Sunday morning was fantastic. Not only were we able to sleep in later than we ever had, it was a gorgeous sunny day and made the walk from the apartment where we are staying to church much more enjoyable--since normally it is a good 20 min walk and we end up taking taxis because we are lazy. I mean, exhausted from so much work. As we arrived at church, I was reminded of one thing I absolutely love about Lainto churches that at the same time causes me to cringe--the volume and quality of music. They were singing and playing for all of Macas to hear, and they were making a joyful noise to the Lord, I am just not sure if they were able to hit every note quite right. Lauren and I smiled at each other quite a few times during the service. But that was beside the point. It was wonderful to be worshipping with my brothers and sisters who immediately welcomed us and greeted us with holy kisses on the cheek as is the custom. I was able to understand the worship songs and the sermon, and was encouraged, challenged, and blessed by the pastors (hour long) message.
After church we went out to lunch for another delicious and traditional ecuadorian meal, then we prepared the church for the arrival of the American team. While we waited we went and enjoyed another ice-cream, of course. When the team arrived, it was so fun to see all the families together. There are 27 people from Salem Alliance Church ranging in ages from 5 years old to, well, a grandma, and they all bring unique gifts and interesting perspectives to our time here. We had a team meeting and a nice dinner at the church, then we attended the evening serive at the church as well. There are actually about five services a week including Bible studies, so the church is a very central part of life. While much of this may stem from the fact there is not much to do in Macas, it is a challenge to me as I evualate how much time I spend in fellowship and discipleship.
Monday could not come quickly enough for me. After all the cleaning, planning, and organizing of supplies I was greatly anticipating the arrival of the children for the English VBS camp. One interesting thing is that we are doing the VBS program Son Rock Kids Camp, which is the same one my church at home is doing. I have been thinking and praying about that program, which I believe starts next week so will run concurrently with what we are doing here, and it is amazing to me that God´s children from all parts of the world will be learning His truths in much the same way. Granted, the kids here don´t quite understand everything that is going on and I need to translate a bit, they LOVE LOVE LOVE the songs and can belt those out in English, hand motions included.
So Monday I found out that I had twelve students in my english class (ten and eleven year olds) and I could feel my heart bursting as they sat in my classroom and learned their numbers in English. It is a little tricky because we only have 45 minutes of actual class time, then I take them to all the traditional stations, music, games, snack, and computers (instead of crafts). So I am not sure how much English they are actually learning, but I am having so much fun getting to know them and biting my cheeck as they attempt to repeat bible verses in English. They all call me "Profe" or if they remember they will call me Teacher but never Miss Linnea, which is how I introduced myself. They just stare at me and say, "¿Como?"
After the VBS camp we had lunch with the team and I hung out a little longer with one of my students, Linda, whose mom is our cook, and I loved chatting with her and trying to keep up with her excited ten year old spanish as we waited for lunch to be ready. Amazing food by the way...you would never think it but bananas stuffed with cheese, chicken soup with french fries, and rice and beans can truly satisfy.
After lunch we had a much needed coffee break and then went back to work getting things set up for Tuesday. It was also mine and Lauren´s turn for laundry, and the whole time I thought about how much I appreciated our new washing machine. While I knew there wouldn´t be any hot water (showers are generally electric here and the water that runs through the house is always cold) I didn´t anticipate needed to scoop water, bucket by bucket, into the waching machine before starting the cycle. But I am grateful that I have a washing machine facility to use, becuase my clothes get pretty disgusting after a day of working and, well, sweating here in Macas. The rest of the afternoon seemed to fly by and before we knew it dinner was being served. After dinner we just went to an internet cafe for a while then went to bed a little earlier, so that was nice.
Tuesday I had three more students and I learned to be more flexible in my lesson planning. One of my favorite parts of the day is music. After trying for 45 minutes to get my students excited about speaking english, or making any noise in general, to see them belting out songs, more or less in English, and dancing is so awesome. The only not so awesome part is we all have the songs stuck in our heads all day long. I still have a fancy little jingle in my head right now about Keepin My Eyes on Jesus...and not even the spanish rap music in the internet cafe can take it´s place, so that is saying a lot about how memorable those songs are. I also love snack time, because I can just sit and chat with my students and laugh with them--I hope I am laughing with them and it isn´t them laughing at me...My second favorite part of the day is games because my students go CRAZY playing vollyball, soccer, doing relay races, and all those things. We played dodgeball tuesday and I hope it was a sign of endearement that they kept chucking balls at me. I was grateful when the siren bell rang and it was time to go to computers for sure. Though the computers station is probably the most boring. I understand that it is important for the students to have exposure to technology, but I would much rather be doing crafts with them than watching them type on word. But they do learn a fair amount of English through these activities as well, so that is good.
Tuesday afternoon we did more lesson planning and cleaning and such and then as I was walking down the stairs of the school a large truck came filled with wooden chairs for the school. As I helped unload the truck, Edison, one of the full time teachers here, asked if Elaine and I would like to go back with the truck to pick up a second load. Riding in the back of pick up trucks is one of my new favorite things to do here in Macas and so I gladly agreed, and despite the fact that I was wearing a skirt I hopped into the truck and the adventure began. We went a little further out of town and had a view of the river valley and it was gorgeous. Of course I didn´t have my camera, but the photos are forever in my heart. Oh, and did I mention that we were in the back of the truck with a group of boys from a place called Hope House, which takes in boys who have been abandoned or who would be incarcerated and gives them a home, an education, and teaches them carpentry. I am sure they were pretty amused by two white girls riding with them to unload chairs--and one of them in a skirt. When we arrived at the house it was gorgeous and it was so amazing to hear the story of the couple who runs the home for the boys. It is actually an American woman how lives here now with her Ecuadorian husband. Don´t worry mom, I didn´t get too many ideas :) It was fun to talk with the boys and see them laugh at our pathetic attempts to load chairs into the truck, and our equally pathetic screams of surprise as we went over bumps and up large hills in a very unreliable pick up truck filled with heavy wooden chairs. I know I can´t really capture in words how beautiful and meaningful to me this unexpected side journey was, but I hope you can imagine a large, dirty old truck filled with giant wooden chairs, "delinquent" boys who now know Hope, and a few white girls just trying to soak it all in as they wander the streets and jungles of Ecuador.
Tuesday night we spent time getting to know the team members more, and what an incredible encouragement they have been to me. One of the other English teachers is a professor of TESOL and had many good stories and perspectives for us girls as we are scrambling to find a way to instill any amount of English in our students. After leaving the church we went out to ice cream (I suppose you can see a pattern here) and then went back to bed, thankful for the opportunity of rest.
Today was similar in routine to yesterday, my students still call me just Profe, they still don´t speak very much English, but we have a lot of fun together. When I pulled out pictures of my family and friends to show a few of the girls during snack, they all swarmed my table and had so many questions about Los Estados and my family and where I lived. It was fun to just share in conversation with them and laugh with them. This afternoon we went home and took a nap. It was so nice to rest and feel more refreshed to come back to the school and tackle the task of organizing the donations that have come in so far...which I wouldn´t say I accomplished much because my brain was still foggy from my nap, but it was a fun afternoon anyway. Then it was time to eat again, crazy, and now we are back in an internet cafe and hoping to maybe get some guayusa (a type of tea) with some newly made friends and then head home to bed. Last night we put our beds on frames (previously we had been sleeping on mattresses on the floor, and when Elaine found a cockroach in her sheets we knew some changes needed to be made) and so it was even nicer to go to bed somewhat reassured that no little friends would be joining us.
May you continue to see God working in the mundane and the extreme places of your life as I have here in Ecuador. And if you get the chance to jump on the back of a pick up, think twice before you say no.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
His grace is sufficient
Having been in Ecuador four whole days, many of my previous expectations of what this trip would look like have been significantly altered. While I initially felt pure joy and excitement to be speaking Spanish, visiting Lauren, and coming alongside the ministry of Robin and Wendy, long-term missionaries here, I have come to realize ministry is not always as glamorous or exciting as I would hope. After cleaning so many classrooms, running errands, preparing posters and English lessons, and moving lots and lots of furniture on Friday, I went to bed exhausted. We weren´t even able to take time for dinner until about 9:15 that night, and I was covered in dust, had killed two cockroaches that day, and just wanted to sleep in my hammock in the backyard (at home in america, definitely don´t have a hammock here). Needless to say these thoughts caused me to really question the heart of service that I liked to flatter myself to possess. I guess I expected serving in a church in the middle of the amazon would be a little more extreme and exciting than exhausting and mundane. (We are just an hour away from the village where Jim Elliot began his ministry for those of you who are familiar with ¨The End of the Spear.") But I have learned that God calls us to the mundane, and He has emptied and exhausted me in order that I may be filled with His grace and His joy, love, and compassion for the people here in Macas.
So these thoughts have been floating through my head the past two days. Saturday I did dishes for a good portion of the morning, then returned to the school for final preparations. After lunch we were planning on going swimming at a nearby spa (which sounded amazing since Saturday was the first blazing hot day) but we had to run a few errands first and learn the concept of ecuadorian time--and patience. We spent a lot of time sitting on curbs waiting for vendors to make keys, deliver water, fix the internet, and other random things that needed to be done in preparation. This waiting, post an amazing ecuadorian lunch of chicken soup, complete with chicken innards and legs and other chickn parts, started to make me feel a little queasy. The heat was no help, as it tends to make the smells of Macas especially pungent. So, I must confess that I enjoyed my lunch a second time, just out my mouth instead. Yes, though I pride myself in never being sick and being able to eat anything, something about the chicken feet did not go well. But once my stomach was emptied, we were finally able to go to the pool!!! The taxi´s here are pick-up trucks mostly, in order to drive through the rough roads and mountainous terrain, so we hopped in the back of one and rode up through the jungle hills to a beautiful pool where we ate ice cream (I was fully recovered) and swam and even went into a eucalyptis steam room. So relaxing! God demonstrates His mercy to us in strange and beautiful ways. It was a refreshing time for sure....
okay, my internet time is up and I need to go to bed because I have to be at the church at 7am tomorrow! But all is well, I am so looking forward to the team being here now, and God has been good as I have wrestled with what it means to be His servant. As they say here in Ecuador, Chevere! still not sure what that means...
So these thoughts have been floating through my head the past two days. Saturday I did dishes for a good portion of the morning, then returned to the school for final preparations. After lunch we were planning on going swimming at a nearby spa (which sounded amazing since Saturday was the first blazing hot day) but we had to run a few errands first and learn the concept of ecuadorian time--and patience. We spent a lot of time sitting on curbs waiting for vendors to make keys, deliver water, fix the internet, and other random things that needed to be done in preparation. This waiting, post an amazing ecuadorian lunch of chicken soup, complete with chicken innards and legs and other chickn parts, started to make me feel a little queasy. The heat was no help, as it tends to make the smells of Macas especially pungent. So, I must confess that I enjoyed my lunch a second time, just out my mouth instead. Yes, though I pride myself in never being sick and being able to eat anything, something about the chicken feet did not go well. But once my stomach was emptied, we were finally able to go to the pool!!! The taxi´s here are pick-up trucks mostly, in order to drive through the rough roads and mountainous terrain, so we hopped in the back of one and rode up through the jungle hills to a beautiful pool where we ate ice cream (I was fully recovered) and swam and even went into a eucalyptis steam room. So relaxing! God demonstrates His mercy to us in strange and beautiful ways. It was a refreshing time for sure....
okay, my internet time is up and I need to go to bed because I have to be at the church at 7am tomorrow! But all is well, I am so looking forward to the team being here now, and God has been good as I have wrestled with what it means to be His servant. As they say here in Ecuador, Chevere! still not sure what that means...
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Primer Dia en Ecuador
As the plane began to land in Quito two nights ago, I finally reached that point of full realization that I was going to Ecuador. The lights of the expansive city were glorious as we circled around and touched down, and I was so excited to be in a new place with a familiar language. I was grateful for my Spanish knowledge as not a single person even attempted to speak English to my very out of place white self while I went through customs. After lugging my giant 67 pound suitcase (full of bibles...and other things) out the door, I found the man holding the sign with my name. Robin (one of the directors of the program and husband to Wendy, my lead contact in Ecuador) took me to a nice hostel where I spent my first nigh--since it was too late to fly to Macas.
In the morning I boarded a tiny plane that made the 40 minute flight to Macas without problems. Landing in Macas was a completely different experience. It was pouring down rain, and as I looked out the window I thought we were going to land in the middle of a jungle rainforest until at last the tiny landing strip came into view. I was then greeted by Lauren, and we lugged my giant suitcase (filled with bibles, remember) to a nearby taxi, then made our way to the home.
After heaving my giant suitcase (full of you know what) up three flights of stairs, I went with Lauren, Elaine, and Amelia to the school, Unidad Educativa Cristiana Emanuel, to finish preparing the classrooms and materials for VBS. This included painting giant murals and cleaning everything with bleach since there is a rat and cockroach infestation problem. And no one wants the remains of rat feces on their school desk--that would be distracting to the learning process. After a late lunch and coffee break we returned to our work then went out to dinner. A group of four, young, white girls is apparently an uncommon sight in Macas--we received a few stares and hisses (the catcall of choice). But we thoroughly enjoyed our first Macabean meal, complete with batido de moda, a deliciously refreshing milk and marionberry beverage. Now we are in an internet cafe and tomorrow brings more prep and cleaning. Though I haven´t been in Macas long, I am so happy to be here, walk along streets where I hear Spanish and see crazy construction practices and stray dogs, and prepare English lessons with the other girls.
The rest of the team arrives on Sunday, and there is much work to be done but we hope to have a little time on Saturday to explore and perhaps go swimming. In the meantime we will continue coloring english charts, painting vbs backdrops, and cleaning up rat poop with joyful hearts, trying to remember Who we are working for.
In the morning I boarded a tiny plane that made the 40 minute flight to Macas without problems. Landing in Macas was a completely different experience. It was pouring down rain, and as I looked out the window I thought we were going to land in the middle of a jungle rainforest until at last the tiny landing strip came into view. I was then greeted by Lauren, and we lugged my giant suitcase (filled with bibles, remember) to a nearby taxi, then made our way to the home.
After heaving my giant suitcase (full of you know what) up three flights of stairs, I went with Lauren, Elaine, and Amelia to the school, Unidad Educativa Cristiana Emanuel, to finish preparing the classrooms and materials for VBS. This included painting giant murals and cleaning everything with bleach since there is a rat and cockroach infestation problem. And no one wants the remains of rat feces on their school desk--that would be distracting to the learning process. After a late lunch and coffee break we returned to our work then went out to dinner. A group of four, young, white girls is apparently an uncommon sight in Macas--we received a few stares and hisses (the catcall of choice). But we thoroughly enjoyed our first Macabean meal, complete with batido de moda, a deliciously refreshing milk and marionberry beverage. Now we are in an internet cafe and tomorrow brings more prep and cleaning. Though I haven´t been in Macas long, I am so happy to be here, walk along streets where I hear Spanish and see crazy construction practices and stray dogs, and prepare English lessons with the other girls.
The rest of the team arrives on Sunday, and there is much work to be done but we hope to have a little time on Saturday to explore and perhaps go swimming. In the meantime we will continue coloring english charts, painting vbs backdrops, and cleaning up rat poop with joyful hearts, trying to remember Who we are working for.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)