Cutest thing so far!

Last week we were able to go back to the Orphanage and I was so excited! The previous week they were rearranging their schedules and had a ton of volunteers from the states, so we couldn't go. I missed all of my babies so much and I was excited to go back. The baby house was full so Chelsea and I went into the house with the toddlers. I was sad to not to get to hold my babies, especially my Antoinella, but we went anyway and it was soooo good!!! 

So, I was washing some dishes and getting some children their dinner and I looked over and this is what I saw!!

This is Fabian feeding Leslie. Fabian is one of the cutest kids I've seen! He always has a huge smile, he's so loving and he has begun to big a "big brother" figure there in the Orphanage. He was so sweet with little Leslie helping to feed her and I HAD to get it on camera! They were laughing and she was loving having him help her eat. What a cutie pie!!

This is why I love it here and I never want to leave, haha!

Teaching English

One of the other ministries I am privileged to be in charge of here, is teaching English to the six Peruvians that are staying with us. The six here make up the band, Corban. They are a worship band based out of Peru. They have left their family, friends, and country to live in Ecuador for six months until going on tour in the states from July-September. I am in charge of planning and organizing this tour, which begins in Miami and ends in Canada! They are planning to be in a different city every night! It has been so fun to get to know them and they have been so helpful in teaching me Spanish, as well!!

The first lesson I planned was to pair all the Latinos with a Gringo and learn basic words around the house. I live with the youth pastor and his wife who also want to learn Spanish. So, true to the teacher in me, I gave 10 index cards to each pair and assigned them a different room in the house. As they were naming items in their specific room, they had to write it in English and also in Spanish and tape it on the item! After reviewing their words, they were told to visit each room and review the other words as well. These cards are still up (two weeks later) and have been very helpful for both the Latinos and Gringos!

Gomita learning words in a living room from Erica.

Lucy & Janet learning all about kitchen English words.

Tyler teaching Aaron English words for things outside. 

The next lesson was on colors and parts of the body. We also reviewed commonly used greetings and questions/responses. After learning body parts, to help them review, I chose a Gringo to come up to the front and I gave all of the Latinos some little stickers. I would say a body part (in English) and they'd have to come up and place the sticker in the correct spot. This was hilarious and they had so much fun! Jim was a great sport, in the end he had stickers everywhere, even on his tongue and teeth!

I am no artist, but here are my teaching tools. 

My Gringo helper, he was a good sport!

Jim getting stickers all over his face!

Haircuts for the Peruvians!

One of the band members needed a haircut, so as I always do, I volunteered my non-professional, but adequate services. I love to cut hair and any chance I get, I jump on the opportunity! So, this is Percy praying as I cut his “precious” hair. He gave me specific instructions, in Spanish!! So, if he didn’t like it, I could blame it on the language barrier, right?!  All went well and he loved it. Man, I need to start charging! Haha, just kidding!

Saddest day so far...

Today was our second time at Opcion de Vida (Option of Life). Last week we went for our “orientation” and to just get acclimated with the ministry. Ok, so I will give you a little background. The CMA (Christian Missionary Alliance) has funded this organization that helps out street children. And by street children, I mean, kids would have no family and sleep and work on the streets. So, this organization helps out children of all ages by providing them with a place to shower, get clean clothes, and have a nice meal (Tuesday-Friday). They are serving about 40+ children right now who have come from all over. Most of these children have run away from home because either their parents were abusing drugs and could no longer care for them or they were being abused. These children have run away to Quito to find work. Most of them are not in school because they do not have papers, so they spend their days on the street juggling and doing magic tricks for money. I have seen boys just like these when we’ve been stopped at a red light. They jump out in the middle of the road and do juggling acts and magic tricks. It’s something that you get use to here, the begging and the multiple people in the streets selling random things or doing random things for money. My heart always breaks, but it got to me in a different way today.

Opcion de Vida

The five of us interns took the hour treck (walking, bus, walking some more) to Opcion de Vida and arrived around 3:30. Some of the boys were there and were greeting us with smiles and eager to show us what they could do, with four balls, or four pins. It was cute! We quickly began working on cleaning one of the three buildings. This particular building is were the boys eat their dinners and do most of their hobbies. The woman who runs the ministry has taught the boys how to make home-made paper.

Some of the boys from the streets.

Helping out in the kitchen.

Cuties eating up their dinners and being silly!

This is the laundry room at the center. (I love the organization!) Each crate has a different boys' name on it. There's a window that the boys come up to, hand in their dirty clothes and get a clean pair. They also receive a cup with some shampoo and soap in it for their showers. 

One of the big-wigs from the Alliance Mission is coming to visit next week, so they needed the place spotless! We moved out all of the furniture to sweep and mop, then we organized (yay!) their corner of hobbies. They have tons of recycled newspapers, scrap papers, magazines, ect. After we finished cleaning that room, we moved to the next building to clean, which housed some computers and a room with meds and things for when the boys get sick. While we were in this room one of the little boys, Victor, came in to hang out. This was a blessing because I know they don’t get much attention and he was able to get all of our undivided attention. He was loving it! He was making these snowflakes by folding up paper and cutting out fun designs. Even though we were having a good time, my heart was absolutely breaking! We were asking him questions about his life and he explained that his family is in Guayaquil, Ecuador and he ran away from home one year ago to find work. He’s eleven years old now and he is one of the boys without papers, so he does not attend school. He told us that he and about 20 others all live together in the same spot on the street. They have taught themselves how to juggle and sit on this one corner day after day to make money. Today was pouring outside and we asked what he did on cold, wet nights like this. His reply…plastic. Talk about your heart sinking. Being in Ecuador for a little over a month now, I have seen my fair share of poverty and my heart breaks for the hardships that I’ve seen, but this was the ultimate for me. I know that I can’t save the world, but it just doesn’t seem fair for Victor and his friends to live like this. This is the only life they know. You hear stories of poverty, you see commercials, but to look at these kids and meet the actual ones who have made their home on the side of the street, is just something I can’t seem to shake. I can’t sleep. I am in my room tonight, awake at 1am praying for these boys and thinking about them sleeping on the concrete while I’m in my bed with three blankets.

This is Victor. He loved showing us his juggling!

I know that all God wants me to do is to love them, hug on them, share Jesus with them, and to give of my time and service as I can. But I want to do more. I wanted to scoop Victor up and take him home right then and there! Well, that’s what I’ve wanted to do with all the children I’ve met so far; in the prison, in the orphanage, and now here. I’m so torn. I feel like there’s something I can do, something I have to do! How can I go back home to the States and live my day to day, I just can’t. Please pray for me, pray for these children. Pray that God would show me what He wants me to do and how I can help. I came here wanting a taste of missions, because I’ve always wanted felt called to missions, but I just don't know in what capacity. Please pray for clarity, discernment, and direction.

Street Children

Every Saturday we get to go into this little town and minister to 40+ children who come off the street to play and hear God's Word. This is one of my other favorite ministries (besides the Orphanage, of course). Theses children are sooooo sweet and they love coming to play, they were hanging all over us and had smiles on their faces the whole time! A woman, named Anita, from a church here started this ministry 3 years ago and has done it every Saturday since. When we showed up in the morning she told us we'd be doing a little skit about forgiveness. They all volunteered me to be the mother in the skit, so I had to learn some lines in Spanish, it was funny! The children started showing up shortly after we arrived  and we gathered them around to begin playing games outside. After the games we sang some songs and did the skit. Then the children all got some crayons and colored a picture, which they loved doing! When they were finished, we were able to hand out a snack and drink to all of them! (I think this was their favorite part!) During snack we were able to just sit and talk with all of the children. I taught a group of them the days of the week in English and they taught me some Spanish words! I am excited to be a part of this ministry and look forward to going every weekend! Enjoy the pictures of the cute kids!

Some cuties with stickers after finishing their coloring pages.

My little buddy, him and his sisters followed me around all day.

Helping to color and eat a popsicle.

Yes, that is me in the center. I know it's hard to tell, I totally fit in down here, haha!

Enjoying their snacks!

Me and Aaron with some cuties! (I held that little girl the whole time, not sure if she wanted me to, but I loved it!!)

Quito '09

One of the main reasons that I came to Ecuador early (before Christmas) was to help prepare for Inca Link's big International Mission's Conference.  Last week we held the annual Missions Conference for college-aged and 20-somethings. We had over 150 attend from all over Latin America (Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Bolivia) as well as those from North America. We had an amazing, busy, fruitful, hard, but fun week! Our days were packed full of sermons sessions, times of worship, times of prayer, times of service in several compassion ministries, as well as some tourism. I was in charge of leading the groups to the orphanage each day (my favorite!) and was able to share with so many the great need here in Ecuador. All who came were touched and never wanted to leave! The babies were so excited to see new faces each day! God stretched my in so many ways during this week and I am grateful and blessed for it!

Aaron (from Peru) feeding some babies!!

What an awesome experience to see God move in so many young people’s lives. Many felt the clear calling to international missions and many felt God calling them to help missions through a commitment to giving financially, committing to pray for missionaries or simply bringing the gospel into the business world through the work they were already involved with. I spent a lot of time in prayer, seeking how God would have me use my time and resources to help with missions. My heart’s desire has always been for missions, and I am continuing to ask God to reveal how involved He’d like me to be. I would LOVE to open an orphanage one day somewhere in Latin America…we’ll see!!!

I met a ton of new friends throughout the week and am always sad to say good-bye to all my Latino amigos!! 

Some friends after the last night of the conference.

Cheese...from a unique view!

Posing with a proud Peruvian!

Some interns and some natives!

And one more of the brother & sister...per mom's request!