A day (or two) off for the interns!

A few weeks ago, we had two days to explore Quito a little more. It was so fun and we were able to see so much of the city! Old Town Quito is amazing! Ecuador is different than any country I have been to in South America. Because we are in a the city of Quito it's pretty "americanized" however, at the same time, there are many things all around that remind me I am still in a 3rd world country. Once you leave "central city", you will see much of the poverty that makes up the rest of this country. However, Old Town Quito's streets are lined with beautiful old buildings, huge churches filled with gold, and amazing statues all around!

Kirsten and I in central Quito. Apparently we're looking at different camera, haha!

Fun statue, I can't remember who that is...details!

One of the many beautiful Catholic churches.

The inside of the church...pure gold!

This is one of my favorite buildings because of its rounded corners!

The Chicas!

 (Ashton, me, Chelsea, Kirsten, & Janet)

The next day we hopped on the bus to "Mitad del Mundo" (Middle of the World). I couldn't wait to see the actual equator...funny thing (and this could only happen in Ecuador) but years back a park was built around the equator. It's a big tourist attraction with huge monuments marking the middle of the world. Inside the gates are many little tiendas, restaurants, and a museum all dedicated to the "middle of the world". Well, years later and many scientific tools later they figured out that the location they thought the equator was, was NOT really the equator. Oops! So, you have to walk down the street to this tiny dirt path leading to the real equator. It's not the sight or the "greatness" of the fake one, but here you can do many fun little things that you can only do at the equator. Such as, flush a toilet on either side of the line and see the toilets flush opposite ways, balance an egg on the line, try to balance yourself (you can't) on the equator. It's hilarious that they messed up on such a major thing. But, it is Ecuador, so what can I say! Ever since I've been here I've been making this "Only in Ecuador" list, it just seems like crazy things happen here and this is no different.

How often do you get to see that in real life?! Fun stuff!

Standing on opposite sides of the earth!

Mitad Del Mundo

The entrance to the real "middle of the world"

Not quite as elaborate as the other one!

To be honest, as I was writing this blog, it reminded me of Christ, in a way. (Not the mistake part, of course!) Matthew 7:14 says, "But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." The people in Ecuador spent all this time, money, and effort to make something that was, in the end, really a lie. But the real attraction is at the end of this narrow, tiny, secluded, dirt path. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to Him except through the Son...the narrow way that only a few will find! Thank you Father for this truth you revealed today.

Que lindo!!!!!

Hay dos cosas que son lindo a mi hoy. 

La primera cosa es el nuevo bebé en el orfenato. Su nombre es Ashlei. Ella tiene una semana y es muy muy muy pequeña!! Que linda!

La segunda cosa es mis flores que yo recibí para el día de San Valentín!

Ok, English now. I was sitting at the kitchen table yesterday and the boys came in with these guilty grins. I was like Que? Que estan haciendo? And they pulled these beautiful bouquets of flowers from behind their backs. They walked to the store that morning and bought each of the girls some flowers! They are so thoughtful! Que lindo!

My heart is full

I have the best small group! I had only been involved for a few months before leaving the country, but these girls embraced me and showed so much love and acceptance. On the last Wednesday before leaving for Ecuador Heather informed me that all of the girls had previously written a number of cards for me to have while in Quito. They wrote enough for me to open one every other day! I cried when they showed me the pile of sweet encouraging cards that I'd have to remind me of God's love, faithfulness, sovereignty, and their love for me as well!! I cheated today and opened a few more than just one, haha! And my heart is full!! I just wanted to thank you all, Heather, Kylie, Danielle, Cindy, Maria, Christie, Amy, Lizzy, April, Diana, Cristyn, and Melissa! You girls are the best and I am so blessed to have each and everyone of you in my life. Know that you are being prayed for and you are very missed! I can't wait to join the group again in a month! 

A day in the life...in Quito

So, a lot of you have emailed and asked what my days look like here. So, I decided to show you!

Now that I've been here for a month and a half, I have become more familiar with the ministries here and I have a good feel for where I'd like to spend the rest of my time. So, here's what my week looks like, it's pretty much the same each week (which I like because I'm completely Type A and OCD!).

On Monday's we have an Inca Link Meeting with all of the interns, Corban, and The Browns. This meeting is a long one, usually about 3 hours!!! I teach English in the afternoons (on Thursday's too) for about 2 hours and then we join the other missionaries in the area for their weekly prayer meeting at the Alliance Guesthouse.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday I have Spanish class in the morning across town and I work at the Orphanage later in the day, which is close to where I live (we walk). I have changed my schedule with them and now I'm there for dinnertime (which is crazy with 17 babies under the age of one and a half!) After dinner and clean-up, we play for about about two hours, with multiple feedings and changings during that time, and then I get to put them to bed! I get to sing to them and rub their little backs in their cribs for a bit (I love this part!)

Oh, p.s. there are two brand new babies. One is 28 days old (Mateo) and the other is less than a week old (Ashlei). I don't have any pictures of them yet, but I will soon. Ashlei must have been a premie because I've never seen a baby so small! She looks like a little doll baby, she's as long as my forearm!

Some of the babies during "play time". Sophia, Nicolas, and Sakae. 

They have a great little indoor playroom with swings and other fun play toys!

Reading to my favorite little girl!

This is her, Antoinella. My mom and I were brainstorming the other day about how I could adopt her and take her home with me. Hmm, she's going to be a hard one to leave behind! She knows me now and gets super excited when I come in the door. She cries when I leave at night...

Cute little boy at the toddler house! He gives kisses on each cheek, the whole time I'm there!

Tuesdays and Fridays I go to the Brown's house and help Lisa and Rich get organized and when I'm not doing that I have work to do with Corban's Tour in the States and Inca Link stuff, so I stare at my computer typing away for a few hours after Spanish class and before going to see my babies! 

Wednesdays we have a Bible Study at the Women's Prison. It is usually packed every week, which is really encouraging. The women love when we come and I get to practice my Spanish with them as well as when I'm trying to follow along with the Spanish sermon. The lady in charge is from Texas, but speaks fluent Spanish and when she talks, she has the most hilarious Southern draw. Aw yes, Southern Spanish...

(I don't have any pics from the prison because we're not allowed to bring cameras)

Saturdays we get to play with the street children. We ride the bus to the other side of town and about 30-40 children come out each Saturday to play games, sing songs, hear Bible stories, and color, and get a snack. We look forward to this just as much as they do. This past week was our first time we took over for Anita and planned all of the games, songs, the Bible story, and memory verse. It was fun and hilarious to watch us fumble trying to sing in Spanish, but way worth it! 

Some of the girls at the Saturday Street Children's ministry. The one on the left is my buddy, she stays right by my side the whole time. It's cute!

This is my cute buddy, again!

Playing a game with the children.

They love getting their picture taken.

Precious little girl eating her snack.

No words, he's just too cute. He didn't want to play any games this day.

Walking on the way to the Street Children's Ministry. Just another view of Quito, on the outskirts of town.

Chau! The Children leaving!

Saturday nights we go to our cell groups from church. The interns and Latinos here have been split up according to our age groups, and we have a little fellowship with those from the church here.  I have met some really great people through these groups and enjoy their company each Saturday.

This is my cell group.